Charting the second half of what’s been a very unpredictable year.

The first half of the year has been... unexpected, to say the least. What’s to come? We turn to the skies for a little astrological guidance.

THE EVENTS OF the past few months have brought all of our regular routines and plans for the future to a complete halt. And with endless hours spent alone and everything put on hold indefinitely, we’ve begun to ask ourselves big questions. Should we try to reconstruct what we had before? Or should we use this unprecedented period as a time to take our lives in a different direction? We need to find a way forward—to think about who we are, what we want and what our very different futures could look like. Regardless of what we decide, it won’t be an easy task. But, as always, the planets can offer a little help if we pay close enough attention.

We will need inspiration, energy and confidence in ourselves to make a new start. Astrologically, that kind of energy is symbolized by the power of Mars, while new beginnings are signalled by Aries, the first sign in the sequence. How good is it, then, to find that Mars moves into Aries in the last few days of June? And instead of passing through the sign in a few weeks, as it usually does, it will linger there right until the start of next year, lending us its steady strength for six whole months. Here is the fire and the spark that we need—and just at the right moment.

This summer will provide us with opportunities we never asked for, places we never expected to be and new friends we could never have imagined meeting. Every one of them is full of potential, easily capable of delivering the success and happiness we hope for. And as long as we are flexible enough in our thinking to see that potential and make use of it—instead of looking back in regret at what we have had to leave behind—then all will be well.

Aries MARCH 21 – APRIL 19

Y OUR PHYSICAL ENERGY has been drained for the past six months, but Mars will recharge your battery and get you moving again. It doesn’t matter if what you set in motion doesn’t work out the way you want it to; you’ll learn from your mistakes and start again. But the three outer planets—Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto—are all at the top of your chart, so the obstacle to progress that they symbolize is also still present. There are, however, plenty of short-term distractions to lift your spirits, particularly in July and early August, when the pace of your life will quicken and you’ll be happier. There is also the strong possibility of a new relationship starting now. You may realize that even if you can’t move on in your career the way that you had hoped, you won’t mind as much because there’s someone in your life who is worth staying around for.

Taurus APRIL 20 – MAY 20

T HIS IS A TIME OF conflicting emotions for you. This feeling of uncertainty is shown by the movements of the planet Uranus, which is still in Taurus and will stay there for the next few years. You have never been comfortable with its presence, and you are reluctant to accept the changes it brings. Yes, there will be moments when the pressure on you eases, but you should see them as chances to rest and recover before the next push forward. It’s a rhythm that you will have to get used to. One of the best things about this summer is your financial recovery. If you were used to a particular lifestyle but recent events have forced you to live differently, then the next few months should do much to restore your way of life and make you feel better about yourself. But be careful: Don’t be tempted to spend money on extravagances that your finances are too fragile to support.

Gemini MAY 21 – JUNE 20

T HE DARK DAYS OF the first half of the year are receding a little now, and wherever there is change, there is opportunity. In early August, you will have to make some decisions about your chosen career path. Two things will become apparent: that what you always assumed would be your future path is no longer an option and that you no longer want to go down that road anyway. What makes you different from many others who are facing similar decisions at this time is that you have no regrets. There is no sense of loss, and there are no thoughts of what might have been. You won’t be dragging old memories into the future, and this will give you freedom. Free of these restrictions, you won’t be rushing into any long-term plans either. Short-term ventures, of which there seem to be many during these summer months, are more than enough to keep you happy right now.

Cancer JUNE 21 – JULY 22

I T IS OFTEN SAID that Cancerians are shy and delicate creatures, but you are among the most determined of all the signs and your perseverance will pay off. When times get tough, you always do what has to be done to protect the people you care for. As July begins, there is a partial lunar eclipse in the sign opposite Cancer. This suggests that there will be no more than a minor setback and that you can still achieve much of what you want. Perhaps you should lower your expectations a touch and aim for a more reachable target. It is important to remind yourself that you are not giving up here; on the contrary, you are hanging on to all that you have achieved so far and taking practical steps to make sure you get the best results possible in your current circumstances. One person, in particular, will make time to support you, and you’ll find this tenderness very touching.

Leo JULY 23 – AUG. 22

I T’S THE START OF a new era. This summer is all about accepting that the life you’ve lived for the past decade is over. Attitudes and ambitions will change forever. So will career structures, social networks and relationships. And your own personal world—your Leo territory of which you were so proud—will seem outdated. Your first impulse will be to carry on as usual, but that will only put you further behind. Whether you like it or not, you will have to adapt. This is a genuine new beginning at the most basic level. If you want to resume your position at the top, you’ll have to work your way back up there the same way you did once before—in competition with everyone else. You must expect setbacks and frustrations that you haven’t experienced for a long time. Your personal relationships will also need to catch the spirit of the new age if they are to thrive.

Virgo AUG. 23 – SEPT. 22

Y OUR SCHEDULE FOR this summer is very simple: Until the middle of August, you will have far too much to do and not enough time in which to do it. Whatever you are doing, you seem to be in demand. You are not used to this, but it certainly feels good. And for the first time, you don’t have to compromise your personal values just to make a living. Your personal affairs, however, are less straightforward. The stressful events of the first half of the year may have brought out underlying issues between you and your partner that had previously been easy to ignore. Before, you may have simply decided to end the relationship, but circumstances mean that you have to stay together for the time being. Even if you can’t work out your differences, having extra time together probably means that you will stay friends after it’s over, which, in the long run, will be a good thing.

Libra SEPT. 23 – OCT. 22 T

HERE IS A DEFINITE sense now that life is to be lived in the moment. Several months have already been lost, and you want to make up for that. Take a chance while you can and make an emotional commitment—it’ll be like placing a bet on a better future. Your main concern seems to be the future of your most significant personal relationship, but, really, it’s fine. It’s better than fine, actually. A passion like this is rare—and in a difficult year like this one, it’s very welcome since it allows you to escape from all your other problems. The relationship is full of edgy excitement, and you are enjoying every minute of it. You don’t want it to burn out; you want to make it stronger in any way you can, although right now that seems like a hard thing to do. But there is no need to worry: Your partner feels the same way you do. Everything else is just details.

Scorpio OCT. 23 – NOV. 21 S

INCE THE START of the year, your ruling planet, Pluto, has been closely guarded, with Jupiter on one side of it and Saturn on the other. For the next few months, the planets will separate, which means you’ll be able to breathe again. You’ll take control of your life instead of being forced by external events to make decisions you’d rather avoid. Freed from the crushing influence of Saturn, your daily routines will return to normal—although they’ll never really go back to the way they used to be. This is not the time for major career initiatives, so stick with what you know. You’ll make good progress in July and August, but you’ll start to feel the pressure of the outer planets again in September. There’s no point in giving your all in a battle you can’t win. Instead, focus on rest and recovery and, perhaps, find reassurance by stepping back into the past.

Sagittarius O NOV. 22 – DEC. 21

NE OF YOUR GREATEST VIRTUES is the ability to see the good in any situation. That sense of optimism will serve you well this summer. Many people will find themselves held back by the collapse of what they had before, struggling to extricate themselves from the wreckage. You will too, to some extent, but as the planets start to move forward again, they seem more advantageously placed for you than for some of the other signs and you will find it easier to imagine a better future for yourself. You’ll see the events of recent months as not just an interruption but also the end of a chapter. You can now start over again, doing whatever you like, with no reference to the past at all. For you, this is an exciting prospect, and you will soon see that rather than being limited, your options for the future are almost infinite.

T Capricorn DEC. 22 – JAN. 19

HERE IS NO MOUNTAIN you won’t climb; you’ll make your way to the top no matter what it takes. As the Sun and Mercury challenge the planets in Capricorn, they ask you to look at your own situation from a different perspective. Why do you want to climb this particular mountain? What else could you do instead? These are not just theoretical questions. You have been through a crisis, and now the planets are asking for your response so that you can move on to better times. And don’t expect instant results either. It will be a long process, and you will change your mind several times. The good news is that you don’t have to go through all this alone. Venus is in the partnership angle of your chart this summer, so someone out there cares for you—maybe not the person you think but definitely someone.