WEEK OF August 7 - 1 3, 2023
There’s a big difference between giving people the benefit of the doubt and blindly assuming that there couldn’t possibly be a wolf lurking among the sweet-faced sheep in your flock. During a button-pushing square between the Sun in your security-conscious second house and disruptor Uranus in your communal eleventh on Wednesday, August 9, you may have a hard time excusing someone’s bad behavior as “atypical” yet again. After the smoke from these fireworks clears, you’ll see them for who they are and might be able to trace the pattern back to previous dustups. Once someone betrays your trust, it’s no easy feat to repair it. Even if the offender is someone you care for or hoped was redeemable, this can serve as a lesson for you, Cancer: When you truly respect yourself, you’re willing to cut a painful cord. You can wish all you want and see the glass as half-full, but that won’t make a narcissist or energy vampire change their ways. The silver lining? A platonic pall could divulge their feelings for you, and the next move is all yours. Should you cross that line? Up to you!
Here’s a pop-quiz question for you, Crab: Do you know the difference between a want and a need? If you’re not 100 percent clear, this week’s stars offer a crash course. Value-conscious Venus has been retrograde in Leo since July 22, activating your second house of finances, luxury and worth. The Leo Sun creeps closer and closer to Venus all week long, shining a spotlight on your money moves and asking the hard questions. When it feels like something is absolutely necessary and you “deserve” it, that might be your subconscious mind attempting to fill an emotional void that all the LBDs in the world can’t begin to address.
Is it time for a reality check? Open your banking app and take a look at that bottom line. If you’re in better shape than you thought and have more than enough to cover this month’s bills—AND you’re still salivating over that enticing object tomorrow, then it’s a solid “maybe.” But if there simply aren’t enough digits to the left of the decimal point, step away from the pay apps and credit cards and put your hands in the air. Then start focusing on boosting your 2023 income.
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There’s no rush, Cancer! The Sun and Venus meet up for their inferior conjunction this weekend. This phenomenon occurs every 18 months when Venus vanishes from the night sky and rises again at dawn several days later. Until Venus reappears on August 18, you have a golden opportunity to brainstorm. Give yourself a chance to ponder every possibility, from raising your rates to starting a side hustle. Consider how you might work smarter, not harder. Hire a VA, streamline your systems, dream up an evergreen product that you can sell all the time and anytime rather than having to create everything fresh to keep pace with trends.
Venus won’t finish the retrograde period until September 3, so there’s no need to put the wheels in motion with big initiatives. Be your cautious self and think through the whole process, step by step. And even more importantly, contemplate your desired destination. Begin with a crystal-clear vision of that target, and then reverse-engineer the game plan that will get you there.
Identical twin sisters Ophira and Tali Edut (a.k.a. The AstroTwins) are ELLE.com’s resident astrologers. They have written several astrology books, including Momstrology and Supercouple, and star as the astrological matchmakers for Prime Video’s Cosmic Love. The Eduts have read charts for celebrities the likes of Beyoncé, Karlie Kloss, and Emma Roberts. For their spot-on predictions, books, and online courses, check out our horoscopes coverage or visit astrostyle.com.