The planets aren’t particularly busy this week—no one bold signature dominates the skies or earthly attitudes. And while I’m tempted to say the absence of astral activity translates into a lull in intensity, even as I succumb to temptation and write those words, I know my prediction won’t be true. Nature, as the rule goes, abhors a vacuum, which means while astrological intensity is somewhat diminished, all the other kinds of intensity, particularly emotional turmoil, are unperturbed by the celestial quiet and will continue to carry on. Because most of us are already accustomed to a high level of stress, and because recent planetary patterns have exacerbated the strain on personal and collective nervous systems, the trick this week is figuring out how to avoid the lure of brouhaha, yours or someone else’s. Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not promoting apathy. There are real dramas unfolding and some of those developments require participation. What I’m suggesting is, given the current state of adrenal activity, it might not be all that easy to distinguish a real emergency from an addiction to crisis. And while we finally have a break in the “weather,” it would be wise to use the next several days to recharge instead of discharge.

I realize some readers won’t consider this week a complete pause in astro activity. The Sun/Uranus trine is still operating, as is the Mars/Saturn conjunction. And while both of those configurations have stirred more than a fair share of unrest, as they continue to separate, their disturbance quotient diminishes. Certainly the Moon continues to interact with other planets as she moves through her cycle. Yet the week still feels like a respite.

But taking advantage of this planetary pause might not be as easy as you think. Very few of us know how to self-soothe because we were never taught how. From infancy to adolescence, we made it up as best we could, cobbling together coping skills and survival mechanisms. (Which, when we are adults, cost us thousands of dollars and years in therapy trying to understand neurotic behavior that only makes sense to a child.) Some babies cry themselves to sleep or dissolve in tantrums. Still more go numb, withdraw, and freeze.  We suck our thumbs, cling to a blanket, or eat. Even more learn to please. And when we finally do “grow up” many of those behaviors turn into addictions we just can’t seem to kick no matter how hard we try or how well we understand their detrimental effect. We can’t let go because we don’t know any other way of quelling our anxiety. The child in us still longs for a gentle voice to soothe our restless heart.

This week, take an intermission from the drama, and find a way to quiet your anxiety. Meditate, contemplate, walk, sit—just be sure to be gentle.