Did you know that during the month of March, light increases more rapidly than any other month of the year? Spring is no longer merely a suggestion — it's happening! While today's serious Capricorn moon inclines our mood toward accomplishment and work, those who bask in the long view enjoy the promise of brand new life.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Others join you in your effort to set right what is so obviously wrong. Your small, unsung team could grow into an important force for good. Sagittarius and Aquarius are among your trusted cohorts.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Change it up. Due to your inherent tenacity, you sometimes keep pressing the same button over and over, whether or not it brings results. But today, what's working will stop working if you overdo it.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You get away with being directly honest because you deliver your message in honeyed tones. After all, you're not out to hurt anyone. You're only trying to get what you want!

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You can nurture and heal others without saying a word. In fact, today you find it so much easier to relate to others with silent communication. Your brand of compassion needs no articulation.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Be the first to introduce yourself. Your outgoing personality makes others feel instantly at ease. Ask open-ended questions. Someone new on the scene has the potential to enrapture you with his or her answer.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (March 1). This year, you learn things they don't teach in classrooms. The next 10 weeks will bring life-affirming rewards for your studies. Relationships alternately enrich your life and jam it up through the spring — both ways are a lot of fun. Save the financial bonus you get in May and December. You share a special connection with Gemini and Leo. Your lucky numbers are: 8, 20, 41, 26 and 28.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Don't stay in when you could be circulating. Every person you talk with increases your knowledge and wisdom. Capricorn will be particularly informative and eager to share with you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Beware of those you feel compelled to fix. It's not your job to repair broken hearts or make over other people's bad habits. When you focus on yourself, those who need work will be inspired to work on themselves, as well.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You're realizing that you don't need as much as you thought you did.

It's easy to let it go. Even if your generosity is foolish, it's so important for you to give. The ultimate benefactor will of course be you.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You're paying attention, so you notice what nobody else does. Talk about what you notice, especially when it involves the beautiful quirks of another. Your observations are a compliment.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Make a decision quickly. The more you learn, the harder it will be to know your gut instinct. Go with what you feel instead of cluttering your choice with too much information.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Get rid of all unnecessary props. The more talented you are, the less you need excess stuff. The fewer tools required to do your work, the better your results will be.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Enjoy the poetic justice you witness today. It's proof that the universe can be fair. A fellow water sign (Cancer, Scorpio) works so well with you — the two of you attract luck when you're together.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: "I've spent the past 34 years in what seems like a parade of endlessly bad relationships, and the only common element in all of them is ME! According to my natal chart, I am supposed to be challenged in the marriage/relationship sector of my life, but I have no idea how to overcome it. Any help you can provide on the topic of actually applying this knowledge would be wonderful! My birthday is Sept. 17, 1973, born in Clearwater Beach, Fla."

Even with a body of astrological knowledge, when looking at ourselves, sometimes it's hard to be objective. When I'm stumped by myself, I'll ask the stars their opinion as to what's going on as though they were real characters with needs and wants (they are!). Your seventh-house with Saturn in Cancer could say, in an authoritative baritone: "I absolutely need a responsible partner who is emotionally mature and who can handle my occasional freak-outs." Your Mercury in Libra squaring Saturn chimes in, "Well, I don't need all that — I love a good-looking intellectual." When you give your planets voices, you'll be surprised how much they'll tell you.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Is Bernadette Peters a drama queen? Critics laud the Broadway actress's prodigious talent and flawless execution of her craft. While her irreproachable performances reflect Piscean striving for wholeness and inner spiritual perfection, she works in the world of feeling. And when you feel everything so acutely, what better occupation to have than a drama queen?

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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