36 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 4, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com ARIES (March 21-April 19): In 1953, Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay of Nepal became the first climbers to trek to the summit of Mount Everest. They both said later that the climb down was as important and challenging as the ascent. The lesson: Achievement doesn’t end when you reach the peak. Aries, you may be nearing or have just passed a high point. Soon you will need to manage the descent with aplomb. Don’t rush! Tread carefully as you complete your victory. It’s not as glamorous as the push upward, but it’s equally vital. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Aurora borealis occurs when highly charged particles from the sun strike molecules high in the Earth’s atmosphere, causing them to glow. The display that looks like gorgeous magic is actually our planet’s invisible magnetic shield and upper atmosphere lighting up under pressure of an intense solar storm. Taurus, I think your life has a metaphorical resemblance. The strength you’ve been quietly maintaining without much fanfare has become vividly apparent because it’s being activated. The protection you’ve been offering and the boundaries you’ve been holding are more visible than usual. This is good news! Your shields are working. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “Nothing in excess” was the maxim inscribed on the ancient Temple of Apollo at Delphi. “Moderation is a chief moral virtue,” proclaimed the philosopher Aristotle. But I don’t recommend those approaches for you right now, Gemini. A sounder principle is “More is better” or “Almost too much is just the right amount.” You have a holy duty to cultivate lavishness and splendor. I hope you will stir up as many joyous liberations and fun exploits as possible. CANCER (June 21-July 22): When sea otters sleep, they sometimes hold each other’s paws to keep from drifting apart. This simple, instinctive act ensures they remain safe and connected. I suggest making their bond your power symbol for now, Cancer. You’ll be wise to formulate a strong intention about which people, values, and projects you want to be tethered to. And if sea otters holding hands sounds too sentimental or cutesy to be a power symbol, you need to rethink your understanding of power. For you right now, it’s potency personified. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): To be healthy, we all need to continually be in the process of letting go. It’s always a favorable phase to shed aspects of our old selves to make room for what comes next. The challenge for you Leos is to keep showing up with your special brightness even as parts of you die away to feed new growth. So here are my questions: What old versions of your generosity or courage are ready to compost? What fiercer, wilder, more sustainable expression of your leonine nature wants to emerge? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to stop performing the hero you used to be and become the hero you are destined to become. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The Haudenosaunee people practice “seventh-generation thinking”: making decisions based on their impact seven generations into the future. You would be wise to incorporate the spirit of their visionary approach, Virgo. Here’s the problem: You’re so skilled at fixing what needs urgent attention that you sometimes neglect what’s even more important in the long run. So I will ask you to contemplate what choices you could you make now that will be blessings to your future self. This might involve ripening an immature skill, shedding a boring obligation that drains you, or delivering honest words that don’t come easily. Rather than obsessing on the crisis of the moment, send a sweet boost to the life you want to be living three years from now. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Are you open to the idea that new wisdom doesn’t always demand struggle and strain? In the days ahead, I invite you to move as if the world is deeply in love with you; as if every element, every coincidence, every kind pair of eyes is cheering you forward. Imagine that generous souls everywhere want to help you be and reveal your best self. Trust that unseen allies are rearranging the flow of fate to help you grow into the beautiful original you were born to be. Do you dare to be so confident that life loves you? SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Psychologist James Pennebaker did studies showing that people who write about traumatic experiences for just 15 minutes a day show improved immune function, fewer doctor visits and better emotional health. A key detail: The benefits don’t come from “processing feelings,” they come from constructing a narrative: making meaning, finding patterns and creating coherence. The healing is in the story you shape. You Scorpios excel at this alchemical work. One of your superpowers is to take what’s dark or painful and transform it through the attention of your intelligence and imagination. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to do this. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In Jewish mysticism, tikkun olam means “repair of the world.” This is the idea that we’re all responsible for healing what’s broken. The teaching also says you’re not required to complete the work; you’re only asked to not abandon it. This is your message right now, Sagittarius: You don’t have to save everyone. You don’t have to heal everything, and you don’t even have to finish projects you’ve started. But you can’t abandon them entirely. Keep showing up. Do what you can today. That’s enough. Your part is to not walk away from your own brokenness and the world’s. Stay engaged. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The Talmud teaches that “every blade of grass has an angel bending over it, whispering, ‘Grow, grow.’” I sense that you are now receiving the extra intense influence of your own guardian angels, Capricorn. They aren’t demanding or threatening, just encouraging. Please tune into their helpful ministrations. Don’t get distracted by harsher voices, like your internalized critic, the pressure of impossible standards or the ghost of adversaries who didn’t believe in you. Here’s your assignment: Create time and space to hear and fully register the supportive counsel. It’s saying: Grow. You’re allowed to grow. You don’t have to earn it. Just grow. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): A keystone species refers to organisms that have a huge effect on their environment. Remove them, and the whole ecosystem shifts. Aquarius, I believe you are currently functioning as a keystone species in your social ecosystem. You may not even be aware of how much your presence influences others. Here’s the challenge: You shouldn’t let your impact weigh on you. You don’t have to sacrifice yourself as you carry out your service. Instead, ask how you can contribute to the common good while also thriving yourself. Ensuring your well-being isn’t selfish; it’s essential to the gifts you provide. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I foresee a dose of real magic becoming available to you: equivalent to a handful of charmed seeds or a supernatural spell. But owning the magic and knowing how to use it are two different matters. There’s no promise you will instantly grasp its secrets. To give yourself the best shot, follow a few rules: 1. Keep it quiet. Only share news of your lucky charm with those who truly need to hear about it. 2. Before using it to make wholesale transformations, test it gently in a situation where the stakes are low. 3. Whatever you do, make sure your magic leaves no bruises behind. FREEWILLASTROLOGY In addition to this column, Rob Brezsny offers EXPANDED WEEKLY AUDIO HOROSCOPES and DAILY TEXT MESSAGE HOROSCOPES. To buy access, go to www.RealAstrology.com. Audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700. By Rob Brezsny • Jan. 29-Feb. 4, 2026 CHILL Sometimes the most indulgent drinks are found not on the drink menu, but on the dessert menu. That is the case with the Mexican hot chocolate at Alejandro’s, and to call it a drink or even a dessert is somewhat misleading; it’s more of a full sensory experience. First, a word of caution: expect a bit of a wait—the crew in the kitchen will be simmering it to temperature with a flavorful blend of spices like cloves and anise. When it is delivered, it comes in a tall pot, served next to a big glass mug that is empty for now, but topped with an elegant lattice of chocolate that is adorned with a puffy housemade marshmallow. The server pours the steaming hot chocolate over the small tower, melting the chocolate into the cup and allowing the marshmallow to topple in. Everyone at the bar is watching, because it’s a bit of a spectacle. When this reporter asks, “what do I do next?”—because this is the kind of presentation that demands instructions—the random guy to me right at the bar chimes in to say, “you give it to the guy to your right.” After a laugh, it’s onto the actual next step, which is simply to stir and sip. Served “borracho”-style, the hot chocolate comes with a gran centenario añejo tequila alongside. The bartender says some people pour it into the dessert drink, but it’s such a smooth, sippable tequila that that seems like it would be a shame, so alternating between the rich chocolate and the liquor is the preferred option. Alejandro’s, 474 Alvarado St., Monterey. alejandros.co. In Fashion The Mexican hot chocolate, borracho-style, at Alejandro’s is a feast for the senses. By Sara Rubin SEND IDEAS TO: chill@montereycountynow.com SARA RUBIN ♦ 3 Card Poker ♠ Century 21st No Bust Black Jack ♣ Texas Hold’em ♥ FULL BAR! BLACKJACK BONUS POINTS PAYS UP TO $20,000 SMALL TOWN BIG PAYOUTS! 1-800-Gambler • GEAR-000383, GEAR-000376, GEAR-000375 The Marina Club Casino ensures the safety and security of all guests and team members at all times, while providing exceptional service. 204 Carmel Ave. Marina 831-384-0925 casinomonterey.com ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ Just minutes from Downtown Monterey Where Monterey Comes To Play
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==