Poetic License Horoscope for January 21-27

Aquarius (Jan. 21-Feb. 19): Do whatever turns you heart to Jello, makes you evaporate with praise, makes your face light up like Lite Brite pegs. You’ll find them everywhere.

Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20): According to Rumi, “This being human is a guest house,” into which we should welcome all of our emotions. Make pancakes for your Grief, fluff up pillows for Fear, let Joy plug in and charge all of its devices. They’ll be back on the road soon enough.

Aries (March 21-April 18): It’s hard sometimes to leave 2010 in 2010, but I sometimes make good on that resolution. Let old monsters go mute. Discover the cure for Mentionitis. (And email it to me, please.)

Taurus (April 19-May 18): “You are the one/solid spaces lean on, envious.”-Sylvia Plath

Gemini (May 19-June 21): “When your world feels like the bottom of an/ ocean, remember that bioluminescence isn’t just for the fish. / Open up your chest and shine. / Someone will catch you.” –McKendy Fils-Aimé

Cancer (June 22-July 23): From The Decemberists’ January Hymn: “What were the words I meant to say before you left? /When I could see your breath lead /Where you were going to /Maybe I should just let it be? /And maybe it will all come back to me "

Leo (July 24-Aug. 23): Your face is a picture of moving lights, a star map, a Map of the Stars’ houses. Your hands are fashioning gold out of snow, but your shoulders are getting tired.

Virgo (Aug. 24-Sept. 23): Turn off your screens and feel less jittery. (After you read this, of course!) Hear the hum of the heaters and the noise of the sheets. You are a religion of baths and blankets, a hibernation of books. Exhale.

Libra (Sept. 24-Oct. 21): Much like my friend Emily, your heart takes little Polaroids of everything and pastes them into a book. It writes out each date in neat block letters and carefully collects quotations.

Scorpio (Oct. 22-Nov. 22): Oh, dear. It’s time to take down the Christmas tree. This year, decorate for winter. 3-D snowflakes are easy to make, and so are the flat ones, if you fold and cut carefully.

Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 22): Not to get super-meta here, but horoscopes are a made-up system, and you are a free elf. Read whichever one sounds like the most fun. Identity is kind of a hologram anyway.

Capricorn (Dec. 23-Jan. 20): Watch Catfish. Think about art, identity, surveillance, smushed pennies taped to postcards, and Google Earth.