Horoscopes by Holiday by Holiday Mathis

Usually, Sagittarius energy opens minds to cultural, generational and gender differences, but right now it might not feel like this is true. Mercury retrograde forms a hostile angle to Mars, and people will voice their concerns and fears in less than accepting tones. It might be hard not to take this personally as Mercury aligns with the sun.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). If only you could process information like a robot, without attaching emotional meaning to everything. But it turns out all those feelings, as inefficient as they may be, are what make you irresistible to a certain someone.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You can't be upset and have hope and optimism at the same time. Let yourself feel the upset and move through it — it won't last long. Then you can reclaim your hope and optimism.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You'll come to a juncture you've seen before. You'll make a choice that's better for you this time. It won't be easier, but it will make everything lighter and brighter in the end.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Peer pressure isn't just for schoolchildren. You'll feel a subtle strain of it among adults. It will appear that many around you share the same beliefs and attitudes — or do they? Some are merely succumbing to suggestion.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Sometimes it's OK to stop striving to live up to your potential. What if you simply stayed put? You won't be able to relax for too long, but whatever comfort you can manage will give you much needed perspective.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You'll be given a lot of raw ingredients and not too much instruction as to how they should all go together. This is good news. You're free to create. It will be what you make it.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You respect your elders; you always have. You may not always have had the proper manners, attention and awareness to express your respect like you do now, though. So in some way, you'll feel like you're making up for that.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You're a giver. But you also know that if you give too much up front, no one will be interested. And people would rather pay something than get it for free. So you'll make people work a little for your offerings, and everyone benefits.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You'll follow through with a thankless job. You know that no one will give you money, a trophy or even a cookie for this. But you don't care. You're doing it for personal reasons, and the reward will be significant, if only to you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). There are some behaviors you repeat that just don't make sense. But you're about to get to the bottom of this, and you'll soon exercise greater control over the matter.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Aquarius musician and composer Snuffy Walden said, "Music is the answer. Does the question really matter?" Today you'll use music to get into the optimum mood and solve your problem.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You need attention, and you'll get it. Realizing that you need it (instead of denying this fact because you think you shouldn't) will help you work in positive and constructive ways for the right kind of attention.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 3). There will be a fantastic addition to your home life. You'll take your time getting to know people, and much success springs from this approach. In January, you'll shoot for a particular aim, and it will feel so right. Someone falls in love with your winning ways this coming spring. You'll love how your work is presented in May. Aries and Cancer people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 3, 25, 1, 29 and 19.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: "Help, Holiday! I'm a Pisces who wants to fall in love — I really do. This guy I'm seeing, an Aries, says that I make it too hard for him to get to know me and that I obviously have a really tough time opening up. I don't want to lose him, but maybe he's right. Why can't I let down my guard?"

Because you don't feel like it. You will when you feel like it.

Pisces are so sensitive! If you let yourself, you could be a sponge, allowing others to fill you with their own emotions and agenda. That's why you're so reserved. You've done this in the past and felt the unique pain that comes from losing yourself.

To some extent, we all live behind emotional safety walls of our own construction. The height of the wall is determined by how we perceive the threat on the other side. If you really think you're going to be hurt, your wall will be thick, high and bulletproof. That's only natural and wise. I would be wary of anyone who wants you to open up faster than you really feel comfortable doing. For psychic Pisces, falling in love is a natural process and cannot be forced.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Sagittarius star Amanda Seyfried began her career as a model at age 11 and is now an A-list talent carrying films such as "Red Riding Hood" and "In Time." Five Sagittarian luminaries promise that Seyfried has the intensity and energy level for a long and bright career in front of the spotlight. Born under a Leo moon, she likely feels the most at home and creative as the center of attention.

If you would like to write to Holiday Mathis, please go to www.creators.com and click on "Write the Author" on the Holiday Mathis page, or you may send her a postcard in the mail. To find out more about Holiday Mathis and read her past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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