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You can't enjoy the present if the past won't let go.
By Christine Schoenwald — Written on Aug 30, 2019
You can’t stop thinking about your ex. You think about what was good in your relationship, but most of all you think about what went wrong — the mistakes that were made, the apologies that weren’t attempted, and incidents that led to the breakup. The problem is that the relationship ended a long time ago, and yet, on some level, you figure out how to move on.
Perhaps it’s not a romantic relationship that haunts you but something you did in the past. Maybe you betrayed a friend or weren’t there when a loved one needed you the most. You regret your past mistakes and failings, and you keep going over them trying to work out what you could have done differently.
As with most things, astrology has a lot to do with how we process our life experiences. Some zodiac signs who are haunted by the past find themselves stuck in a type of limbo. How can you be fully present if the past takes up so much of your focus and energy?
When we’re unable to let go of the past, it has something to do with the things that happened to us and how we dealt with it at the time. Did we face it head-on, or did we try to avoid dealing with it?
1. CANCER (June 21 - July 22)
Cancer often have trouble letting go of the past, which makes it difficult for them to move on. When the past is prominently featured, it can block out opportunities in the present.
If, over time, you've started to forget the things about your ex that made a relationship impossible and they take on this false idea of perfection, no one is going to measure up. Cancers may feel as if they're not emotionally strong enough to take a chance on someone new whose flaws are still unknown.
2. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21)
Scorpios who are haunted by their past tend to make constant comparisons to the present and the past. If the new partner handles things differently than the ex, it may seem to Scorpio as if their partner is less capable and worthy than the one who came before. This creates a negative environment, both for the partner and Scorpio.
The partner doesn't know what's going on in Scorpio's head, but they can feel they're somehow failing. It's much better for all involved to focus on the here and now, and for Scorpio to look for ways their current partner is better than their ex.
3. PISCES (February 19 - March 20)
Pisces has many regrets, and these regrets can affect their self-esteem in negative ways. They'll often feel remorse for things they could have done better, the way they could have acted, or how they could have saved the day.
Pisces knows they can't change the past, but that doesn't stop them from trying. They will fantasize about the past but will change it in their head. Pisces has an easier time forgiving other people than they do forgiving themselves.
4. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22)
It's hard to get excited about the present when you're always reminiscing. Libras have great memories, which is both a good thing and a bad thing. It's good when they remember birthdays and anniversaries, but bad when they remember the sweet things their first love did or how they treated their ex unkindly.
When Libra is haunted by their past, they tend to put more value on their past relationships than they do their current ones.
5. CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
Sometimes Capricorn is holding on to their lost glory. Maybe it seems like their best lives have happened already and that they'll never feel that same spark they felt before. Or, perhaps they're secretly afraid of change, so they hang on to the past as a way to cope.
If they can extract the lessons they learned from things that happened before and use the information to help them in the now, looking backward can be helpful. However, if they get stuck in the past and start to believe nothing will ever be as spectacular as it once was, Capricorn may miss out on the wonderful things in their life.
Christine Schoenwald is a writer, performer, and astrology lover. She has written over 500 articles on the zodiac signs and how the stars influence us. She's had articles in The Los Angeles Times, Salon, Woman's Day, and is a contributing writer to Ravishly, I AM & CO, and YourTango. Check out her website or and her Instagram.