Audiobook Horoscopes for the Winter Solstice
By Erin Murphy
Whew. Sagittarius season has been a blast and a half, but it also feels like we’ve been blasted out of a cannon with all of these retrogrades, right?
Thankfully, we have found ourselves on the other side of mishaps and mayhem, and can now prepare for our formal introduction to winter care of the shortest day (and the longest night) of the year: the Winter Solstice.
There are so many ways to welcome the winter–you could make like the Romans and raise a glass in revelry, cozy up your space with candles and blankets, or commune with nature and take a brisk walk in the waning light.
Whichever way you choose to acknowledge the season, bring along an audiobook that’s been hand-picked just for your zodiac sign: it’ll guide you until the sun shines warmly again.
Sagittarius
Happy birthday, pony pants! Your hooves are painted as silver as the disco balls you’ve been dancing under. Despite your optimistic efforts, the retrogrades of this month have been a lot, so perhaps as we move into the solstice (and Capricorn season) it could feel really good to go mystery horse: lay low, stabilize, and plan for what’s next. For you, an escapist listen like The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love will revitalize you for the return to Actual Life.
Capricorn
It’s almost your time, sea goat. Are you ready? What have you got planned (because we certainly know there’s at least half a plan already)? You’re rarely without a project, so what if this time around, you make yourself the project. A new hair color, a birthday outfit: we’re on a mission to make your outsides match your insides in a way that makes you feel fantastic. The sun is shining on you like a spotlight, after all. And speaking of your insides, get them right with Not Sure Who Needs to Hear This But…, an audiobook of powerful essays interspersed with the WE THE URBAN’s signature quotes and affirmations. You’ll be fully aglow.
Aquarius
Well, if it isn’t the belle of every holiday ball! Your gifts are purchased, you have the perfect sweater for every gathering, and the energy you’re swanning around with is magnetic. Those of us who are scrambling are in awe of you, and grateful for your presence. You should listen to The Teller of Small Fortunes, a story about a wandering fortune teller with found family at its center. Because right now, magical you is at the center. Keep it up.
Pisces
Little fish! Take a moment to ponder how you’re feeling about your ecosystem. If you’re settled and happy: amazing, invest in a new lily pad to celebrate. But if you find yourself with a nagging feeling that something about your pond isn’t quite right–maybe the koi fish aren’t necessarily your friends or the water temperature just won’t regulate–perhaps it’s time to start looking for changes to make. It’s scary, but you’re allowed to refresh and remake your space (and yourself) as many times as you’d like. Take One Day I’ll Grow Up and Be a Beautiful Woman, a powerful memoir from a mother about her trans daughter growing into who she is amidst adversity in their rural town, on your journey.
Aries
You’ve been a busy bee, er, ram. Let me guess: you’ve been on a bender of sugar cookies and bubbly because you’re everybody’s favorite party guest and just can’t RSVP no. Happens when you’re sparkly! Post-holiday will give you a little downtime, but I encourage you to spend a minute reflecting on the connections you made at these soirees: perhaps there’s a new friend, a new lover, a new creative partner to bring into the new year among them. You should listen to What Wild Women Do, an audiobook about an aspiring contemporary screenwriter, a 1970s socialite-turned-feminist, and the camp in the woods that unexpectedly ties their stories together forever.
Taurus
Oh, homebody! You are keeping your body at home, wrapped in blanket, clutching a mug o’something, living your absolute truest truth. The phenomenon is called “wintering” for a reason. Let the movies and audiobooks you curl up with for comfort kickstart a brainstorm about a trip you should take after you’ve had sufficient couch time. Feeding two birds with one scone! You should listen to a destination-based audiobook like As You Wish by Leesa Cross-Smith, a heartwarming story about three American au pairs in Seoul, to get you in the spirit.
Gemini
You had a whale of a time with your Sagittarian sister sign, and somehow you’re one of the lucky ones who came out of this retrograde era relatively unscathed. You’re feeling confident right now, and I really love that for you: it makes your communication on point, and you know what and who you want in your orbit. You’re standing strong and steady, making you beyond ready for whatever the next few months throws your way. Statuesque, you! Listen to Rage by Lester Fabian Brathwaite, an audiobook that is one part memoir, one part cultural critique, and one part live grenade.
Cancer
Not to push New Year’s resolutions on you or anything, but might I suggest carving out some time for wellness. During this whirlwind time of year, it’s so easy for self-care to be the first thing that goes by the wayside. But try to operate under plane oxygen mask rules: take care of yourself first before taking on the peeps around you. Think: daily mile-long walks, a monthly facial routine, an adult tap dancing class. Whatever fills up the cup, crabcake. Go forth with sweetness alongside I Decided to Live as Me, which offers guidance and encouragement for celebrating yourself.
Leo
As the high noon of the zodiac, the long nights and chill temps of winter can be a bit of a downer for you. However, with the right kind of company, even cub-not-approved seasons can become…flowery. Now, I’m not suggesting you cuff up any old so-and-so who walks by, but perhaps you could open your eyes a little wider. Maybe there’s someone who you’ve been overlooking this whole time, or a friend of a roommate’s friend you’ll meet on New Year’s Eve. Crushes can live anywhere, if you only remember to look. You should listen to Right Where I Left You, a friends-to-lovers story set in the heart of summer. Self-explanatory.
Virgo
There’s no time like the holiday season to be nostalgic. Maybe it’s something about the smell of the air or how lights look when it’s dark at 3:48 PM, but if you find yourself reminiscing a lot these days, lean in. If anything, reflecting on the past could bring to light how much you have grown. Cook some childhood favorites, turn on your 8-year-old self’s favorite song, and be with your past for a moment. You should hear The Phantom Tollbooth, narrated by Rainn Wilson. The beloved story reminds us, from young Milo’s point of view, that life is far from dull. In fact, it can be downright astonishing.
Libra
Your mind is hard at work, you brainy thing you. Instead of laying low, you’re feeling the urge to use this winter wisely. Literally. You may have been noodling on learning something new. Your motivation is inspiring to us all. Now, all that’s left to do is figure out what hobby or subject you want to hyper-fixate on for the next 3 months! Mayhaps you’ll take up sewing, or audit a 101 class you missed the first time around. Give a listen to The Memory Palace, a collection of incredible true stories reveal strange new magic in American history, for a magical mystical re-entry into the world of learning for learning’s sake.
Scorpio
You may feel as if you’re flying under the radar, but I am here to tell you that you’re quietly thriving, my scorpion friend. Since you’re feeling settled and confident in all the big ways–home, job, relationships–you may want to use this time to set your future self up for happiness. Maybe that means getting into a meal prepping routine or squirrelling away a part of your paychecks for a rainy day. And when that rainy day comes, you’ll be so grateful for your past self. You should listen to How to Be Old, a memoir in which Lyn Slater shares how she chose to break the unwritten rules meant to make women invisible as they age in order to become the Accidental Icon we know and love.
