As we build toward an interesting Full Moon in your opposite sign, with your own still playing host to all the inner planets, you may benefit this week from remembering just how far your capabilities stretch. If you tend to need frequent confidence boosts, or if you’re in a situation where you feel lacking in power, it can be much more difficult to see just how influential you are.

Last week’s astonishing New Moon in your birth sign has set off one or perhaps many chains of events, and these will keep going for a while. What you can rest assured of is that you are entering many new life cycles at once, which means many old things are ending.

We are now experiencing one of the most impressive Virgo alignments in many years. A New Moon is approaching consisting of the Moon and Sun joined by Mercury, a Chiron-like point called Transpluto, plus Venus, Mars and asteroid Juno. Here is the question: do you live your life in pieces, or do you live as one being?

Your astrology is calling you to set your priorities in order. It’s easy to let this fall to the side, though it’s now on the level of a necessity. Consider your priorities as being in two main categories — wellbeing and finances. They are related, as there is often some need to allocate resources to taking care of yourself.

The only thing more interesting than this week’s Full Moon are the aspects to the Sun when it happens. El Sol, your ruling star, is conjunct three points: Venus, Sappho and an unusual object in the Kuiper Belt called Sila-Nunam. Together, these should have you feeling excited about life, and your personal potential.

If certain creative plans or ambitions have been slow to develop, don’t be discouraged; gently persist. Part of the problem may be the degree to which you’ve depended on partners for energy, inspiration or encouragement. That is the likely energy drain. You might try a policy of maintaining containment on your ideas till they are well into development.

Wednesday’s New Moon marks your astrological birthday, the start of a new solar year. At this time, you’re naturally more focused on yourself in a positive sense, and can use power flowing in your direction to re-charge your batteries and consider priorities for the year ahead. This cycle brings with it a message of healing, of learning and spiritual growth.

Sunday, the Sun aligned with Mercury in your birth sign, which was also the indication of Mercury retrograde being halfway over (the midpoint was exact July 21 at 8:33:55 am EDT). Plenty else is happening on the Cancer-Capricorn axis, which has been a primary focus of astrology going back to May. It has been intense and dramatic, and you’ve probably had enough of all of that.