Free Will Astrology | July 31-Aug. 6 

ARIES (March 21-April 19)
Work can be hazardous for the actors who portray cartoon and fairy tale characters at Disney theme parks. The U.S. Health and Safety Administration reports that one-third of them have suffered on-the-job injuries. A prime cause of the mayhem: kids who kick and punch, sometimes out of misplaced exuberance and other times out of Lord-of-the-Flies-style malice. I wanted to preface my advice to you with that story, Aries. Your assignment this week is to summon the angelic 85 percent of your inner child to come out and play. As for the other 15 percent—the part of your inner child that might be inclined to pummel Mickey Mouse or headbutt Cinderella: Keep that rascal under wraps.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
Sometimes hope is an irrelevant waste of time, even a stupid self-indulgence. Let’s say, for instance, that I’m really hoping that a certain disagreeable person I’ve got to communicate with won’t answer when I call on the phone. That way I can simply leave a message on his voice mail and avoid an unpleasant exchange. But it doesn’t matter what I hope. The guy will either answer or not, regardless of what I want. But there is another kind of hope that’s invigorating and transformative. Let’s say I have a hope that we humans will reverse the environmental catastrophes we’re perpetrating. Let’s say that my hope motivates me to live more sustainably and to inspire others to live more sustainably. Then my hope is a catalyst. Meditate on these things, Taurus. It’s a perfect time for you to get very clear about the two kinds of hope.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
The Futurist magazine predicts that by 2025, there’ll be a billion millionaires in the world. I hope you will be one of them. If you do end up in that fortunate position, it may well be because of the smart, aggressive actions you initiate in the next four months. Cosmic tendencies are in place for you to ensure your prosperity well into the future; now all you have to do is understand and capitalize on those tendencies. Here’s a good place to start: Spend some quality time taking inventory of your financial life and brainstorming about a 17-year plan to make you a millionaire.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)
The world record for attaching clothespins to one’s face is 153. Even if you’re tempted to surpass that mark, I beg you not to. Inflicting pain on yourself in order to impress someone or prove a point is never a good idea, but it’s an especially misguided notion right now. I wouldn’t object, however, if you did the opposite, which is to barrage yourself with pleasure in order to impress someone or prove a point. In my astrological opinion, it’s a perfect time to intensify your commitment to making yourself feel good. This is true for many reasons, but here’s one of the most important ones: It will have a magically tonic effect on your relationships with others.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
I would love to see you walking down the street dressed in a feathered headdress and white boots and leopard-print cashmere pants, plus maybe some scarlet velvet gloves and a silk t-shirt that says, “You don’t scare me.” To present yourself in such a bold and forthright manner would be in perfect alignment with your astrological omens. If that particular form of expression doesn’t feel right to you, please find an equivalent that does.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Could you get access to a crane with a wrecking ball? How about a chainsaw or sledgehammer? Metaphorically speaking, you may need some heavy equipment to do all the demolition work that’s necessary right now. Among the structures that could be due for destruction: a mental block you’ve been preserving out of perverse nostalgia; a prison cell you lock yourself inside on your off days; a half-built bridge you’re no longer interested in or capable of completing; a pedestal on which your fallen idol used to stand; and a door you nailed shut in order to seal yourself off from a person with whom you still have unfinished business.