As Mercury and Venus embrace in the friendly intelligent sign of Aquarius today, it's the uncommonly different people, ideas and things in life that hold our attention. Expressing our appreciation for them feels easy — not only because they dazzle but also because the rare beauties we encounter really do possess a touch of sheer genius.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Someone tells you exactly what you want to hear. Can you help it if you're somebody that people want to please? Luckily, you're psychic enough to know the truth from pandering.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You're hard to resist now, and frankly, who would want to? There are such rich rewards for giving in to you. Furthermore, if you make it plain that you like someone, you can expect to be liked right back.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It's always a lark to find out everything there is to know about new friends, but now you'll be satisfied learning something new about an old friend. It's all in the questions you ask.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Matters aren't so clear cut "good" or "evil." A lighthearted and open-minded expression will free you to do what's really good — compassionately embrace ideas different from the ones you grew up with.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your dreams are like wild, unpredictable children. Dare to indulge them anyway. They'll start growing up and pointing you in a direction that's both imaginative and very possible.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 26). Your birthday gift is a windfall of luck over the next seven weeks. An investment of your energy pays off in an unexpected way. In May, interesting new relationships are both ego boosting and stirring. Finances improve because you make shifts in your habits in December. Wedding bells ring in July. Virgo and Pisces are immensely supportive. Your lucky numbers are: 36, 47, 21, 25 and 44.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Questions of character arise, the first of which may be: "What is my character?" You may learn that others see you in a kinder light than the one you use to for self-assessment.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Things are picking up financially, but still there's a need for balance. Do a financial inventory. Tonight there's some tension between people you love. You're the grease that keeps the wheels rolling.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). It's the kind of day that turns the intangible into something you can embrace with all of your senses.

Collective wishes are more than twice as lucky, so get together with a partner and state your desire.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You're feeling competitive lately, but there's no need to keep up with the Joneses — does anyone even remember who they are? Relax and let your own unique style come through in all you do.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). There's a psychological chasm between you and someone you care for. Make a bold gesture, take a leap. Because the thing about chasms is, you can't cross them in two small jumps.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Martha Graham said, "The only sin is mediocrity." By that standard, you should be a saint. Spurts of inspiration drive you to excel in ways no one else would have quite thought to do it.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Conflicts are custom made for you to sort out. With your ability to understand people, you can do much in the way of creating peace world peace now, one relationship at a time.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: "My girlfriend and I have been dating for almost two years. We have a fantastic relationship. We're very loving, affectionate, supportive and the best of friends. We've only had one problem: her parents. Specifically her father, who thinks an African American man, no matter how successful or genuine, should not marry his daughter. He has threatened to never speak to her again if our relationship continues. Are we strong enough to survive the heartache of her father disowning her?

Everyone has a parent figure who believes it's his or her responsibility to instill specific values into their children. In astrology, we have a planet for that — Saturn. The thing is, Saturn works from a very narrow base of conditioned opinions. What Saturn thinks is right, he learned from his parents and their parents, and so on. I love my dad, but if we listened to everything our fathers said, we would be stuck repeating the past. Understand he's from a different time, place and set of values. And whether they seem old-fashioned or downright crazy, he's just doing what he does. Strangely, he calls it love. Recognize and honor it as such. Then live your lives.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Pisces people experience the spiritual lift of music and art as a real physical need and thus spiritual calling. It's almost as though they were born with headphones on. Erykah Badu has her sun and Mercury in Pisces. Her inner ear is naturally attuned to a stream of universal consciousness, which pierces together sounds, thoughts and images and meshes them into a fresh, flowing, lyrical style.

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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