Few things rankle you more than when someone says you're being defensive. And answering “no, I'm not” only makes matters worse. The best escape from this corner is to key into the Sun/Saturn sextile on June 2nd. Instead of justifying your actions, ask the other party why they said what they said. One of the beautiful things about Gemini energy is its curiosity about other people's perspective. Information is key for this Mercury-ruled sign because it lets you judge for yourself whether what they're saying is true. If it is, then you can benefit from the input and if not? You can politely disagree.

You've always lived by the maxim “if it ain't broke, don't fix it,” but that won't fly in the current climate of move fast and break things. It will be hard to feel like the only person in the room who knows better, but that's the way things will play out on May 26th when Mars squares Pluto. Not only do the Daisy and Tom Buchanans in your life have the power to wreak havoc, but chances are you'll have to clean up after their messes as they beat a hasty retreat. And the worst part? Not being able to say “I told you so.”

People will go to great lengths in order to get ahead, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that what they do is right. This will be something to keep in mind on May 18th when Mars, the planet of gumption and drive, enters your zodiac sign. Mars will be in Taurus until June 28th, which means that you stand to make more headway in the next six weeks than you have in the past six months. But you have to be careful about the toes you step on. Just because opponents yield the field now doesn’t mean that they won’t return later wearing combat boots.

Things fall into place effortlessly this week. It can be anything from running into the very person you’ve been wanting to see to finding what you’ve been searching for for months on Etsy to being bumped up in line thanks to a last-minute cancellation. Mercury, planet of guides, has always had a “sixth” sense for ins and outs and loopholes. What happens when it sextiles Jupiter (May 13th) is that these actually wind up leading somewhere. Needless to say, this is also a good time for buying and selling. Not only will you strike a great deal, you'll walk away with a handsome profit.

It's understandable that you'd be hesitant about pinning your hopes on anything with unpredictable Uranus having recently left your zodiac sign, but the Sun/Jupiter sextile on May 10th is encouraging. It may not restore your faith right away, but it will go a long way toward rekindling it when you see how a long-sought objective is now in easy reach. Taurus is often regarded as the gardener of the Zodiac, which means that despite droughts and floods, it's in your nature to keep planting seeds. It's this perseverance that has gotten you through the hard times, and this year you'll see it finally pay off.

A sextile is perhaps the most underrated aspect in astrology. Often treated like the trine's kid sister, a sextile is more conversational than unconditionally supportive. It acknowledges that every planet has its differences, which is why it's always searching for ways for two planets to work together. It's something that will become abundantly clear on May 1st when a Venus/Saturn sextile shows you meeting with someone you don't see eye to eye with but who's in a position to help you get what you want. And sextiles being sextiles, it only stands to reason that you’re here to help this person get what they want too.

Last July you were on the verge of ending a longstanding relationship, but decided against it. Maybe it wasn't the right time or circumstances didn't permit it. Since then you've been struggling with second thoughts, unfinished business, or it may have just taken you this long to figure out what you truly want. On April 23rd, Venus conjoins Uranus for the last time in Taurus, which means it's time to part company if that's what you want to do; but if you decide to stay, then you'll need to tear up that scorecard once and for all so you can make a fresh start of things.

How angry are you? It's a question worth asking when Mars conjoins Saturn at a sensitive angle of your horoscope. This creates a blind spot when it comes to recognizing how deeply frustrated you are. Moreover, there's a tendency to blame yourself, which can lead to short-tempered responses and brusque exchanges. It's important to remember that you were born under Venus, a planet that values peace and harmony. This might be a good time to check in with those people you trust most. Not only will they provide feedback and perspective, but they can also help you turn your anger into something more constructive – like motivation.

Everyone is called upon to reinvent themselves at some time in their lives, and your call will come this week. It’s clear that you’re struggling with all the changes that are going on around you. As people increase their pace, you appear to be slowing yours, perhaps even deliberately. It’s important to know that the same old, same old just won’t cut it anymore, so there’s nothing to be gained by burying your head in the sand. However, you are also more creative and resourceful than you give yourself credit for, and this sort of initiative only comes out when push comes to shove.

Venus in Taurus has always had a come-hither approach to love and money based on coaxing, cajoling, and the occasional bending of a rule. However, all of this falls under harsh scrutiny when Venus squares Pluto in Aquarius. Pluto's insistence on transparency, equity, and adopting a more corrective approach to what it regards as questionable dealings is bound to rub you the wrong way. You'll want to say “mind your own business,” but that won't work in an age when everyone is in everybody else's business. Times are changing, and you have to change with them – or at least create the impression that you are.