With the temperature rising to feverish highs, this summer’s heat wave is making us all feel that brat energy Charlie XCX sings about. Yep, even Vice President Kamala Harris is giving off that vibe. Astrologically, the planets are causing havoc and dialing up the drama — from Mercury’s moonwalk lasting from August 5 to 28, the upcoming blue moon in Aquarius on August 19, and the lunar eclipse in Pisces on September 17 — it’s enough to make anyone’s head spin. Oh, did I forget to mention that a whopping five planets will be retrograde, too?!? Mercury, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are dredging up the past and making us rethink our futures. Definitely not the best mood for summer fun. Indeed, it’s a cruel summer! So, embrace your inner baddie and do what makes you happy!

2024 is giving us the messiest and juiciest summer

Aries

Being that you’re the bb of the zodiac, adulting can be hard for you. This summer, you’re yearning to break free from the constraints that are holding you back, which means you might regress. Before you start behaving like a toddler and forgo paying your bills — consider embracing your inner child and still acting responsibly during Mercury retrograde, which lasts from August 5 to 28. Treat yourself to an exciting day at the amusement park and an evening at a bonfire with your squad. Rock out to Charli XCX while driving with the wind in your hair without a care.

Taurus

Real talk: You rarely get out of your comfort zone and don’t like trying anything new. However, the stars are forcing you to change your ways. Switch up your aesthetic and vibe with brat green and less Barbie pink (both are the hues associated with your planetary ruler, Venus). You can mix them together to create a unique look. Not only will you love the fits and makeup that match, but it’ll also get you into the summer groove on August 4 and 29 (when Venus enters Virgo and Libra). Get with the program: Glam-up and glow-up to live your best life.

Gemini

All work and no play can make any Gemini feel like they’re locked in a cage and ready to rage. It’s crucial for your well-being to make social time with friends in an effort to remedy the lack of balance in your life. Put in a request for vacation time between August 14 and 20 to avoid issues that are manifesting at the office — more importantly, to hit up the pool STAT. Request a personal day during the lunar eclipse on September 17 and spend it soaking up fun with your pals instead of listening to your boss complain.

Cancer

You’re currently in need of an emotional rescue. Between the new and full moons, as well as an eclipse at the end of the season, you’re hanging on by a thread. There is a lot of push and pull in your life, causing you to be unsure of how to react and respond to dramz. Words of wisdom: Try not to keep your feelings bottled up. The more you keep things inside, the harder it’ll be to decompress. TL;DR, so make sure you can speak from the heart to avoid acting out in bratty ways. Express and don’t repress yourself.

Leo

IKYK that not everything is always about you, Leo. You can’t help but embrace the major Main Character Energy in your life. Now, you’re inserting yourself into everyone else’s situations and putting yourself in the mix in matters that don’t concern you in an effort to manage and influence others. Mercury retrograde’s rendezvous over your Sun from August 14 to 28 will have you acting like a combination of Veruca Salt and Miranda Priestly. Try to think and feel beyond your orb to be compassionate and empathetic towards others without having an ulterior motive that serves your personal advancement or cache.

Virgo

Fortunately, you’re steering clear of the theatrics and outbursts being projected onto you. Don’t engage with people who trauma dump their issues onto you and then ghost you for days. These moments of energetic vampirism shouldn’t be in your realm. Be aware: You’ll have moments during Mercury’s backside when you accidentally welcome the vampires back into your life and home. While you may not want to shove a dagger into their heart, you might decide to put the last nail in their coffin during the new moon on September 2 and the lunar eclipse on September 17 to sever ties.

Libra

Mercury’s moonwalk is making you super paranoid that your besties are gossiping behind your back. Chances are they are not because you always surround yourself with good peeps who care about you. But that won’t stop you from jumping to conclusions and accusing them of shadiness without any proof. Before you confront them with your fears (which is so out of character for you), try to be logical (a sentiment you often use) in deciding if you really believe you’re being lied to before throwing the hammer down and saying word vomit, you’ll soon regret when the truth comes out.

Scorpio

You are at an apex of power. TBH, it’s propelling you to act like the ultimate brat. You may be a boss, but that doesn’t mean you have to be bossy 24/7. Before you know it, your squad and family will be over your divadom, making you wish you hadn’t brought a ‘tude to them in the first place. One can be the loneliest number when everyone’s splashing around at the beach with their BFFs, so don’t push limits; stay in your lane, and be considerate of boundaries and emotions in order to have a fulfilling time with those you love.

Sagittarius

With your relationship status being in flux from the drama occurring on August 19 (Jupiter and Saturn retrograde square off under the blue moon, making your heart ambiguous about how you want to DTR), you might want to escape the blues and settle for disco lights. Your adventurous spirit wants you to engage in new experiences. So, when you go to the club, jump on the dance floor and into the foam party. You’ll be angelically clean after you whirl around in the soap for a few songs. Then, you’ll be wanting to share a moment with a stranger — no strings attached!

Capricorn

Come September 1, you will be back to your old tricks when the evocative planet Pluto realigns with your Sun. Love triangles are going to hit a metamorphic high during the last month of summer, making you yearn for control and dominance in your relationship. If your partner wants to flirt with another, then they should be put on ice with the intention of cooling down after you give them the cold shoulder. But, if you’re the one looking elsewhere for comfort and love, your sneakiness and nefarious plans could get exposed when you run your mouth after a few cocktails.

Aquarius

In mid-August, you might feel threatened by a picture an ex posted on social media, which shows them canoodling on summer vacation with their new boo. In retaliation, you’ll want to share several thirst traps of yourself living it up on the party scene. The caveat is that some of the photos on Instagram may not be a good look because they will show you out and about town, drinking and running wild rather than making your former love jealous. Post with caution to ensure you don’t have any regrets under August 19’s blue moon that falls on your sign.

Pisces

Depending on your mood, you have a sweet and sour disposition. You can overshare tea and stir the pot when pushed to the edge by a frenemy or even a member of your squad. But you’ll never admit you’re in the wrong, and everyone forgives your messiness at some point when caught because you have a kind and tender vibe. Mercury’s backward spin from August 5 to 28 and the lunar eclipse on September 17 urge you to reveal all the secrets you’ve been keeping on the DL. How you choose to spin the story is up to you.