Why feel guilty if you crave some time alone? A Mercury-Jupiter alliance suggests you’ve been overexposed to the opinions of others and now need peace and quiet. You mustn’t be afraid of offending people who’d be happy to spend every waking minute with you. You need something else right now.

No matter how much pressure you’re under at work or elsewhere, you mustn’t underestimate the needs of those closest to you. You might even have to ask if you’ve avoided playing an important part in a scenario involving a person who values your input enormously. You may need to rethink your priorities.

Not everybody is keen to contribute to a plan that’s close to your heart. Avoid speaking out in anger, especially with Mercury confronting Mars. You don’t want to make enemies over something well-intended. Recognise your limitations.

Those keen to discuss a get-together may wonder why you have little to say. You’re simply managing your expectations because you’ve been disappointed in this area recently. Find a middle ground; you don’t want to be known as a killjoy.

Rather than fret over a lack of communication with certain individuals, ask yourself whether the fault is one-way. Under the influence of the New Moon, you may have to admit you’ve been too haughty to reach out to those concerned. Do you really have time for that sort of attitude? Think of what you’re missing.

You’ve considered broaching a sensitive topic with someone close, but haven’t been able to envisage how to begin. The cosmos is about to give you a push and although it may feel awkward at first, you’ll soon be in your stride. Keep the dialogue going until a resolution is found; don’t give up.

Circumstances have forced you to focus on the more serious side of life recently, but that’s no reason to ignore that part of you that benefits from warmth and intimacy. Let the Sun’s tie-up with dreamy Neptune encourage you to indulge yourself and a loved one in a way that will touch your soul.

Instead of merely promising yourself that you’ll rethink ongoing commitments to lighten your load, do something about it. Perhaps you want to be seen as powerful and productive. But overachieving in this way can come at a price. Aren’t your private affairs suffering? One special individual has much to say on this.

No matter how many pleasant distractions present themselves, it’s important to take the lead when it comes to shared endeavours. True, you can’t be expected to do all the hard graft alone. So step aside occasionally, even though you know that you’re best equipped to achieve the desired results.

Having dreamt of enhancing your home and family set-up, you’ll suddenly decide you cannot wait any longer. You may have to juggle finances, but when you see the results, it will all seem worthwhile. Stop short of overspending though. You don’t want to solve one set of problems only to create another.

You’re about to have your arm twisted to take on some routine responsibilities and you’ll want to rail against it, which would be a pity. Instead, consider what benefits there are for yourself and whoever else is involved if you do rise to the challenge. You’ll realise you have far more to gain than to lose.

Once again, you may have to adjust your spending habits or confront those not paying their way. You obviously won’t want to cause a row, nor do you want to risk being taken for a fool. There may be hidden factors that have yet to be disclosed to you, which needs to happen sooner rather than later.