How astrology has made me more self-aware, reflective, and accountable in my relationships
A former zodiac skeptic says now, turning to astrology in relationships has made her more reflective, introspective, and aware. An astrologer backs her up.
How astrology has made me more self-aware, reflective, and accountable in my relationships
A former zodiac skeptic says now, turning to astrology in relationships has made her more reflective, introspective, and aware. An astrologer backs her up.
My newfound obsession with astrology started, as most things do nowadays, with an Instagram post. Last year, Co-Star, the personalized astrology app, shared an illustration of a Pisces bingo board, which looked exactly as it sounds: a card where you mark off Pisces traits you exhibit, like “using fantasies as an escape” or “giving good advice but can’t apply it to yourself.” Lo and behold, I ended up checking off most squares, and thought to myself how the traits felt different than a typical, one-dimensional horoscope reading. I got hooked—fast—and I have yet to look back. At that point, I didn’t even know what a moon sign was; now I can tell you that I’m a Pisces sun, Capricorn moon, Sagittarius rising with her Venus in Aries, and then some.
Many are hopping on the astro bandwagon (or, er, spaceship), and with increasingly numbers of people knowing much more than their sun signs (determined by the sign the sun was in when you were born, it’s what you commonly look to when you read your horoscope), readings have grown to be more holistic and complex—and the result is a lot more celestial-sourced wisdom to glean. “We have so many great resources available that go beyond sun-sign astrology. So, astrology in the mainstream has changed,” astrologer Rachel Lang tells me. “I think this is indicative of an overall shift—astrology has evolved to meet our ever-changing needs,” she says.
I’ve always understood that astrology can be a tool for learning more about myself, and since I’ve become a celestial devotee, I’ve been using my horoscope to explore who I already am. AKA, astrology has made me more introspective. In the beginning of my life as a born-again astrology follower, I’d explain, or even qualify, my behavior using the excuse of, “Oh, it’s because I’m a Pisces.” Examples: Romanticizing a person and then immediately falling for the idea of them? Pisces. Always having a crush on someone and always developing feelings? Pisces. Shrugging emoji.
Astrology can be a tool for learning more about myself, and since I’ve become a celestial devotee, I’ve been using my horoscope to explore who I already am. AKA, astrology has made me more introspective.
Eventually my behavior shifted away from assuming my actions were predestined by the universe, and I learned to harness my Pisces characteristics in a more thoughtful way—particularly in my dating life. Rather than throwing up my hands in the air and saying, “Oh well, I’m a Pisces—what can you do?” I conducted a nonscientific audit of my habits and actions. As a result, I’ve become more cognizant of them—both the ones that are working for me and those not doing me any favors—and I’ve formed healthier relationships with myself and others.
“Pisces can be imaginative and dreamy,” says Lang. “Being grounded in the practical helps Pisces manifest their dreams (including a healthy relationship).” In true Pisces fashion, I commonly fall for the idea of someone rather than who they really are, so holding myself accountable to not falling victim to my sun-sign pitfalls has helped me be more discerning on dates. I used to be excellent at overlooking the ugh feeling I got when a date was, say, super-pretentious about wine or wore flip-flops, because potential/he’s tall! I know. I’m eye-rolling at myself.
Being extra attuned to the facets of my chart, as they relate to romance, has helped me reframe my dating narrative from “Did they like me? Will they text me?” to “Wait, did I actually like them? Do I even want to see them again?” And it’s important, because in order to “honor my gentle, romantic Piscean nature,” I can’t forget to honor my own personal opinions.
“Astrology gives us a language of symbols to help provide that meaning and context,” Lang says. “If we can understand the symbolism of what’s happening in our lives, we can find solutions to challenges. It helps us become co-creators of our lives.” And it can also help you not go out on multiple dates with a nonstarter because you “see potential” but there’s really just smoke and mirrors.
Expect the unexpected on February 12 at 8:53 a.m. ET under the full moon in Leo. Full moons in Leo always bring some drama and encourage you to focus on yourself. In astrology, Leo rules the heart, which can often coincide with heartfelt admissions or making decisions that align with what your heart desires. Leo is a zodiac sign full of passion, play, generosity, and charisma, and this is your yearly reminder to take up space! There is no reason to dim your light to make others feel comfortable. Under full moons in Leo, you can also benefit from listening to your inner child or teen. Checking in with younger versions of yourself or visualizing a conversation with your younger self can lead to insightful breakthroughs.
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As a fixed fire sign, Leo’s energy also gives you the stamina, stubbornness, creativity, and determination to see your goals through to the end. This could coincide with exciting developments regarding some of your creative projects or passions and show up as a moment of manifestation. Sometimes, the full moon in Leo helps you cultivate more joy and reconnect with the present moment. The sun moving through Aquarius also highlights the natural opposition between the self (Leo) and your community (Aquarius). This is a powerful time to reflect on your unique gifts and talents. How can you leverage what makes you special and stand out to make a difference in your community and leave the world better than you found it? You’re meant to share your light with others.
When is the next full moon in Cancer?
The full moon in Leo occurs on February 12 at 8:53 a.m. ET. This brings you back to the intentions you set under the new moon in Leo on August 4, 2024.
What is the astrological meaning of a full moon?
When a full moon occurs, the sun and moon are on opposite sides of the Earth and sit in opposite zodiac signs across the sky from each other. The moon appears at its brightest, so astrologers associate this part of the cycle with illuminating previously obscured information.
A full moon also marks the halfway point of the monthly lunar cycle. In astrology, this symbolizes a turning point, a moment of culmination or celebration, or a point of release. While a new moon is a time to set new intentions, a full moon is typically associated with intentions materializing or coming to light.
What can you expect from the February 2025 full moon?
This year’s full moon in Leo is louder than ever, thanks to a harsh connection to Uranus in Taurus. Uranus is a planet of unpredictability, breakthroughs, surprises, and innovation. There are bound to be plenty of shocks and surprises in your personal life near this full moon. This is not the best day to hold yourself to a strict schedule, as unexpected events or invites could pop up at the last minute. When the sun and moon, two of the most personal planets in the sky, come into close contact with Uranus, you might crave more autonomy and independence and be in a mood to take risks. While this energy can feel disruptive and uncomfortable, it can help you be unapologetically yourself.
The full moon will also connect events, topics, and conversations that unfolded on February 10 and February 11, when Mercury in Aquarius and the sun in Aquarius met Uranus in the sky simultaneously. Look out for intriguing developments, and remember that people are a little more on edge and reactive than usual (yourself included)!
This full moon is taking place in the third decan of Leo, which is associated with the Seven of Wands. (Each zodiac sign is divided into three decans, which adds details and nuance to that section of the zodiac’s experience and characteristics.) This tarot card depicts a figure who is in a defensive stance. This can stir up competition with others, a need to stand your ground, or represent a conflict of sorts. There could be some type of unexpected disagreement you may need to navigate under these moonbeams. However, facing these challenges can help you express a more authentic version of yourself. It’s time to put yourself first!
You’re caught up in the moment, Aries, and it feels good. The full moon lands in your fifth house of joy, pleasure, hobbies, and creativity. You could learn some lucky news or make unprecedented progress on a personal goal or passion project. You could also stumble upon a new hobby or activity that you want to take more seriously. This is also a very romantic section of your birth chart and invites you to experiment with who and what you crave in partnerships. Singles might feel more daring and be willing to go on a blind date or put themselves back out there! Couples are ready to spice up their connection by trying new things.
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Your full moon self-care practice
Push yourself outside of your comfort zone and try out a new activity—you can make new friends (or even lovers) in the process.
Taurus
You’re ready to leave the past in the past, Taurus. The full moon travels through your fourth house of home, foundation, family, and the past. You could make some major personal decisions under these moonbeams that surprise your nearest and dearest! You don’t mind, though; you’re done settling and trying to live up to someone else’s expectations. This can feel like a liberating moment of showing up more boldly, confidently, and authentically. You could also learn important news about a family member or even decide to move across the country! Changes at work could also be on the horizon.
Your full moon self-care practice
Do a deep clean of your space to clear out energetic baggage.
Gemini
Here comes a sudden download, Gemini. The full moon activates your third house of dialogue, mindset, education, and travel. Any ongoing negotiations or conversations that you’re part of could reach a climax! Shocking and surprising information can be revealed. You could also land a contract opportunity when you least expect it. Others might also confide in you today, making you a magnet for secrets. You can also experience a shift in your mindset about something lurking within your subconscious. This can help you break out of a rut and try something new.
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Your full moon self-care practice
Speak your desires into existence. Your words are your wands!
Cancer
You’re dealing with some financial shake-ups, Cancer. The full moon illuminates your second house of income, resources, and possessions. Maybe you receive an unexpected promotion or decide to quit a job on a whim. This can also coincide with you making a last-minute purchase or investment. It’s also possible an investor or influential person in your network could step up and offer you a new gig or contract. This isn’t the best energy for making major financial decisions, as you could deal with some unexpected expenses. On the bright side, you could also receive a thoughtful and surprising gift from someone today.
Your full moon self-care practice
Make a budget. Maintaining your finances will help you feel more grounded and on track.
Leo
You might feel like you’re living in a movie, Leo. The full moon lands in your first house of self, identity, personal goals, and new beginnings. This energy can feel personal, but also liberating. There could be major shake-ups in your relationships, career, or living situation. Today, your life path and direction can take unexpected turns and experience rapid change. You’re also feeling more empowered to show up authentically and ditch any people-pleasing tendencies. A personal goal you set for yourself could also manifest in the tangible world, or maybe this coincides with sharing a shocking personal decision with others.
Your full moon self-care practice
Take up space and take a risk!
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Virgo
You’re ready to wind down, Virgo. The full moon activates your 12th house of subconsciousness, closure, and healing. This part of your chart can stir up big feelings, as you close out cycles and move on from situations, patterns, and people that no longer serve you. You could also crave extra rest today as you navigate these emotional changes. Give yourself time to surrender to what you can’t control or change. You could also learn some interesting news today—or even a secret! Working with your intuition and seeking guidance from a mentor, trusted spiritual advisor, or tarot deck can be revealing and illuminating.
Your full moon self-care practice
When you feel the urge to push yourself and power through your to-do list, opt for a nap or some self-care instead.
Libra
Your alliances are experiencing some shake-ups and turbulence, Libra. The full moon moves through your 11th house of friendships, allies, community, and hopes for the future. A friendship could abruptly end, or someone unexpectedly steps up and shows up for you when you need them most. This could also coincide with a goal you set for yourself starting to take shape or receiving some felp to make your dream a reality. Secrets are also on the menu today, which can be fun and light-hearted, but try to avoid gossip.
Your full moon self-care practice
Surprise a friend by sending an unprompted text expressing gratitude for their presence in your life.
Scorpio
You’re ready to give a new goal your all, Scorpio. The full moon resides in your tenth house of life path, career, and recognition. This could show up as a moment of manifestation. Something you’ve worked hard for could finally pay off. It could also serve as a moment of redirection—maybe there is a new calling or path you want to take seriously and pursue. You could also land a new job, accept a raise or promotion, or even have a contract or role end abruptly. There’s a little bit of instability in the air today, and while sudden changes can unfold, ultimately, these shifts will help you find more alignment and enjoy a more fulfilling future.
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Your full moon self-care practice
Take a risk and tune out the noise—as long as it feels authentic to who you truly are and what direction you want to pursue next!
Sagittarius
Conversations are unconventional, Sagittarius! The full moon lands in your ninth house of communication, perspective, wisdom, and travel. You could learn news that catches you off-guard, or maybe you’re the one sharing something unexpected! News you learn today could also change your routine in some way—like maybe you’re considering signing up for a night class or a weekend workshop. This is also a powerful time to speak your truth—even if it disturbs other people’s peace. You deserve to share how you really feel.
Your full moon self-care practice
Spend some time with a pen and paper. Journaling your feelings and ideas can help you process and lead to unexpected ideas and solutions.
Capricorn
It’s time to feel your feelings, Capricorn! The full moon illuminates your eighth house of vulnerability, shared resources, and your shadow side. Emotionally, you could feel courageous enough to address some feelings you’ve avoided. While this may be temporarily uncomfortable, you can experience a moment of catharsis that feels liberating. This is also helpful energy for addressing feelings of resentment, jealousy, envy, or shame that have been simmering. If you’ve struggled to compare yourself to others, this energy can help you clear that and remember that comparison is the thief of joy. Practically, this can also show up as big finances shifts—like paying down debt, a seemingly random new contract opportunity, or the abrupt end of a contract or commitment.
Your full moon self-care practice
Dive deep and schedule in a good cry—it can help you release the past and create space for new beginnings.
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Aquarius
Your relationships might feel a bit unpredictable, Aquarius! The full moon activates your seventh house of one-on-one partnerships and contracts. You could decide to elope or maybe you’re ready to call off a long-term relationship that feels boring or restrictive in some way. This could also bring someone with long-lasting potential into singles’ lives or encourage couples to spice things up. With Uranus involved, all you can do is expect the unexpected! Remember that this can also affect any of your relationships—from BFFs to family members to roommates. If love isn’t a priority, this can also bring changes to some of your contracts or client relationships. A new collaboration or opportunity could show up when you least expect it.
Your full moon self-care practice
Push yourself outside your comfort zone in your closet relationship and soak up some new experiences together!
Pisces
You’re ready to change things up, Pisces! The full moon moves through your sixth house of daily routines, responsibilities, and well-being. This could align with the ending of a major project or obligation you’ve poured a lot of your time and energy into over the past few months. You could also receive a promotion or move on from an old role. This might also arrive with some surprising news or conversations. You might also have a sudden urge to set a boundary or step away from any commitments that leave you feeling drained and underappreciated in favor of pursuing some personal ideas that light you up. If you’ve been wanting to change a habit, this is helpful energy for disrupting any long-established patterns.
Your full moon self-care practice
Switch up your daily routine. Incorporating something new and fresh into your everyday life can help you access new sources of inspiration.
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Name a better feeling than crossing something off your to-do list. Not just metaphorically—literally taking a pen (or better yet, a just-out-of-the-box neon highlighter) and checking off tasks until every line has been crossed out. We’ll wait.
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Here’s an idea: What if you took that satisfaction and applied it to your health this year? According to Kelly Bristow, RDN, LD, registered dietitian nutritionist at Bayer, crafting a short and sweet 2025 wellness checklist is a great way to visualize your success and keep you on track.
In a recent survey conducted by One A Day®, the multivitamin and supplement brand from Bayer, 70 percent of women said they are focusing on self-care for their New Year’s goals. While nearly 9 in 10 women demonstrated a commitment to achieving their New Year’s goals, almost 50 percent said a lack of motivation has been their biggest barrier in the past.
That’s where the simple checklist comes in, Bristow says. “Lack of motivation can often be the result of doing too much too fast,” she says. “While it can feel good to just hit the ground running, keeping obtainable goals in reach can set you up for long-term success.” She finds that writing out wellness intentions in a tangible, visual way can provide a major sense of accomplishment.
So what’s on Bristow’s personal 2025 wellness checklist? Colorful eating, joyful movement, exploring a multivitamin habit, and a few more simple goals. Keep reading to find out why each one makes her top five, and get inspired to write your own list (with neon highlighters at the ready, of course).
1. Eat a colorful plate
This year, Bristow is filling her day with fruits and vegetables in every shade of the rainbow to ensure she’s maximizing her nutrient intake. “So often we focus on what we should be removing from our diet versus looking at what we can add to our day for better health,” she says. “The more color variety, the more variation in nutrition you will get.”
Once her big intention is set, Bristow’s all about breaking it down into smaller steps. “Do you have vegetables in your house? Are they washed, prepped, and ready to go? Do you enjoy the taste of them? Fresh, canned, frozen, and dried can all add color and nutrition to your day at different price points. A checklist can help you accomplish your goal more specifically.” And don’t forget to celebrate along the way, she says. “If your current intake of vegetables is zero, adding one small snacking pepper or a few cherry tomatoes to your lunch is already an improvement.”
2. Explore a daily multivitamin
Despite her best efforts to eat the rainbow (alongside a diverse diet), Bristow recommends exploring whether taking a multivitamin is right for you to fill in any nutritional gaps you may have in your diet. Multivitamins such as One A Day® Women’s Complete Multivitamin can help fill those nutritional gaps.*
A single tablet offers at least 100 percent daily value of 14 essentials nutrients such as vitamins B6 and B12, C, D, and E, as well as folic acid, biotin, and iron. It also includes calcium, magnesium, and zinc, Bristow says. “It is specially formulated with key nutrients to support bone health, immune health, skin health, healthy energy metabolism, and more.”†* And if you prefer a convenient gummy, you could try One A Day® Vitacraves® Women’s Gummies with nutrients to support the same key vital functions.†
Between sedentary jobs and access to technology, Americans are sitting more than they ever have, Bristow says. So she’s committing to more physical activity in 2025, and encouraging others to join her. “There are so many ways you can be active,” she says. “Find things you enjoy doing so you’ll be more likely to stick with it. Start small and try new things: a few short walks at different times of day, stretching or yoga, standing at your desk, or new hobbies like pickleball can make a big difference.”
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While any kind of fitness is great, Bristow has outdoor movement on her checklist. “Fresh air is underrated for what it can do for health and wellness,” she says. “Just 15 minutes outside can help reset—even on a brisk winter day.” And that time al fresco is made all the better when it’s spent in connection with others. For Bristow, a support system is essential when it comes to mapping out, working toward, and achieving her goals.
4. Schedule health checkups
Real talk: Sometimes making an appointment can feel like climbing Mount Everest. But if you write down your scheduling to-dos on your checklist, Bristow says, you’ll feel way more motivated to pick up the phone.
Join her in setting up routine doctor’s appointments with regular blood work to assess for heart and kidney disease and prostate cancer risk. “For women over 40, make your annual mammogram appointments to screen for breast cancer. Regular visits can help catch potential issues early and keep you on track for a healthy year.”
5. Restock the medicine cabinet
“When was the last time you checked the expiration dates on your medications? The new year can be a good time to take stock and make sure you have the essentials on hand like pain relievers, allergy meds, or cough and cold essentials,” Bristow says. “Expired medications may lose their effectiveness, and it’s better to be prepared than caught off-guard.”
Believe it or not, seasonal allergy season is right around the corner, Bristow says, so consider stocking up on allergy medications like non-drowsy Claritin®, pain relievers like Aleve® for everything from fever reduction to back and body aches, or Alka Seltzer Plus® for the next cold or flu.†
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Take a minute to draft your own wellness checklist, and then text a friend to share your top five for 2025. You might just inspire them to pull out their own paper, pens, and highlighters.
*Always talk to your doctor about adding supplements to your routine.
Hey wellness seeker! Friendly reminder that—like all of wellness—the supplements you take are personal. Well+Good always recommends checking in with your health-care provider before adding a new supplement to your routine.
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