star signs in late summer

as cancer season washes back out with the tide and makes way for the fiery energy of leo, you may be wondering what the rest of summer has in store for you. should you plan that beach trip with your besties? is that situationship worth hanging onto any longer? fear not, for i’m officially branding myself as adolescence’s astro girlie. (my credentials? i’ve been studying astrology for over a decade.) each of the twelve signs has its own celestial message this season, and i’ve translated them below just for you. as always, take what resonates, and leave what doesn’t.

first, some major planetary transits for leo season:

●      mercury retrograde in cancer ended on july 23, though its post-retrograde shadow lingers until august 6, so keep double-checking those texts.

●      jupiter, the planet of luck and expansion, is newly settled in leo, where it arrived on june 30.

●      venus will enter libra on august 6.

●      mars will enter cancer on august 11.

ARIES – march 21 to april 19

element & modality: fire, cardinal | tarot pull: ten of wands reversed | themes: overwhelm, pressure, high expectations being placed upon you

you’ve been carrying everyone’s emotional support backpack, aries. and honestly? it’s getting heavy. stop convincing yourself you have to do everything all at once. this month is all about dropping what isn’t yours to carry and realizing that asking for help is a power move, not a weakness.

TAURUS – april 20 to may 20

element & modality: earth, fixed | tarot pull: eight of swords reversed | themes: avoidance, slipping into a victim mindset, listening to advice but not following it

you already know what advice your friends are going to give you, taurus. you just have to decide whether you’re actually going to take it this time. staying in your comfort zone might feel safe, but it’s starting to look a lot like self-sabotage. the door is open; now walk through it.

GEMINI – may 21 to june 20

element & modality: air, mutable | tarot pull: the moon reversed | themes: loneliness, sentimentality, living in the past, instability, doubts, seeking pity

quit doomscrolling your own memories, gemini. nostalgia is cute until you’re romanticizing people who weren’t even nice to you. trust your gut over your overthinking this month, and don’t take temporary loneliness as a sign to text your ex.

CANCER – june 21 to july 22

element & modality: water, cardinal | tarot pull: the chariot | themes: optimism, confidence, looking ahead, courage

main character energy has officially arrived, cancer! you’re moving forward with far more confidence than you realize, and people are noticing. don’t let imposter syndrome ride shotgun. you’re the one behind the wheel now.

LEO – july 23 to august 22

element & modality: fire, fixed | tarot pull: knight of wands reversed | themes: hasty decisions, avoiding confrontation

leo, before you hit send, buy that plane ticket, or make a dramatic announcement to your close friends story, take a beat. not every problem needs an immediate reaction. avoiding an uncomfortable conversation now only guarantees a more awkward one later.

VIRGO – august 23 to september 22

element & modality: earth, mutable | tarot pull: temperance | themes: harmony, balance, playful energy, diplomacy, finding joy

life doesn’t have to be optimized 24/7, virgo. this season wants you to loosen your grip on perfection and remember that fun is productive too. balance isn’t something you earn after burnout; it’s something you build every day.

LIBRA – september 23 to october 22

element & modality: air, cardinal | tarot pull: eight of wands | themes: taking action, making the most of your time, sharp focus, quick results

libra, your planner is booked, your notifs are popping off, and you. are. thriving! momentum is on your side right now. if there’s something you’ve been waiting to start, this is your sign to stop overthinking and hit the ground running.

SCORPIO – october 23 to november 21

element & modality: water, fixed | tarot pull: ten of cups reversed | themes: the gap between what is possible and what is real, conflict between self and others

not everyone is going to meet your expectations, scorpio, and that’s okay. this month asks you to separate fantasy from reality, especially in your relationships. the conversations you’ve been avoiding could clear up more than you think.

SAGITTARIUS – november 22 to december 21

element & modality: fire, mutable | tarot pull: judgment | themes: healing, release, success

you’re entering your comeback era, sagittarius! old wounds won’t disappear overnight, but you’re finally ready to stop carrying them everywhere you go. let yourself outgrow the version of you that survived. it’s time to become the version that thrives.

CAPRICORN – december 22 to january 19

element & modality: earth, cardinal | tarot pull: nine of cups reversed | themes: smugness, holding judgment, fear of making mistakes

despite what your inner perfectionist says, you don’t have to have all the answers, capricorn. give yourself permission to make a mistake without treating it like a personality flaw. humility looks good on you, and so does trying something new.

AQUARIUS – january 20 to february 18

element & modality: air, fixed | tarot pull: queen of cups reversed | themes: feeling overly sensitive, lacking boundaries, easily swayed opinions

your empathy is a gift, aquarius, but absorbing everyone else’s emotions isn’t. set. that. boundary. mute the group chat if you need to. not every opinion deserves equal weight, especially when you already know what’s right for you.

PISCES – february 19 to march 20

element & modality: water, mutable | tarot pull: the hierophant reversed | themes: sensitivity to criticism, fear of disgrace, arrogance

even if it feels like it at first, constructive criticism isn’t a personal attack, pisces. stay curious instead of defensive. the more you’re willing to learn, the faster you’ll grow. and trust me, that’s far cooler than pretending you’ve already figured everything out.

edited by Kayla Greer