It's an unusually quiet day. The Capricorn moon, making no aspects to other planets, gets a day off -- but on a Monday, you ask? Well, it is "Moon-day," so named for the day of the week we can best take care of moon business by being self-reflective or pondering the past. Examining the recent past can be a spiritually nourishing act.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). The world is aflame with optimism. Perhaps some of it is unwarranted, but isn't that the thing about optimism? Believe that good things will happen even when they are not likely to.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). There's no time better than now for doing what you've put off. Truly, you'll find that the energy expelled in procrastinating is greater than the energy it takes to do the job. Put a call in to your muse and dial up a little inspiration.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Believe what you want to believe -- it's not wishful thinking on a day like today. Instead, if you keep your focus on what your gut is telling you is true, it will be just that. Those who don't understand should be gracefully tuned out.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Life becomes quite simple. Exceptional deeds produce exceptional results. This evening, you make adjustments that will help you get where you're going with grace and style.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). A previously cold relationship gets an interesting heating up now. Is this anger? Attraction? Passion? Whatever it is, it ends quickly, but now before invigorating every aspect of your life.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (March 3). This year, you embrace what's true and win rich rewards, like peace of mind, health and wealth, in return. In April, what has been masquerading as love may be infatuation, obsession, convenience. But real love shows its face this in May, and it conquers all. Your relationships with Cancer and Virgo bring exciting surprises. Your lucky numbers are: 3, 23, 4, 33 and 20.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Get noticed, then get paid. If you don't advertise what you do, who will? Tonight's dreams may be mad. Your subconscious's way of working out this day's weird influence.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The gap between what happens and your reaction to it is longer than usual. You need time to process feelings -- and also time to ignore them in favor of dealing with a task that is demanding attention.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Too bad you can't learn other people's lessons for them! Alas, running interference for someone else only delays his or her mastery of life skills for dealing with adversity.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov.

22-Dec. 21). Get back the magic, the dreams and the big ideas about what you're going to be when you "grow up." Brainstorming every chance you get about the changes you are about to make.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You leap forward financially by doing exactly what you like. So you may as well go for that fanciful, foolish, utterly immature and totally-worth-doing endeavor!

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). There may be nothing you can do to change someone's mind about you. This works to your advantage when the person in question loves you madly. Tonight, go where you're completely comfortable.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). There's a mission you absolutely must follow through with. When you're not progressing that mission, you feel irritable -- like something is missing! Your mission needs you -- and never is that more clear than right now.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: "I'm a Gemini, born June 8, 1968, and I finally feel like I am in the relationship I have always wanted. He is respectful, kind and sensual and has all the qualities I've looked for in a man. Though through all his actions he acts like I am the one for him, he says 'He is not quite there yet.' Why do I feel hearing him tell me 'I love you' is that important when it's obvious in his actions? I feel that words won't change a thing."

As a Gemini, you need verbal reassurances of love. While it's true, actions do speak louder than words, words rule your heart. There's nothing wrong with needing to be spoken to lovingly -- sweet utterances make you feel cherished and responsive. For a Sagittarius, love is in the doing. He might be thinking, "I'm here right now, isn't that proof enough?" and that's his truth. It seems that if you ask someone to say "I love you" before he's ready, he will feel pressured. Real problems arise when one person can't reciprocate what the other is feeling. You already have his heart. The words will follow.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: If it seems Pisceans reclusively avoid the spotlight and simultaneously live for it, you've noticed the paradox of the fishes. Daniel Craig has said he doesn't like self-promotion, but he's an actor! This isn't an inner contradiction; it only mirrors the cross-impulses between two fishes, each swimming counter to the other. By basking in the public spotlight of his talent, he's freed from being owned by it.

Holiday Mathis is the author of "Rock Your Stars." If you would like to write to her, 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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