Country cousins Mercury and Jupiter are traveling in earth signs. Each carries a useful bit of news in their suitcase for us today pertaining to work and how to make it more lucrative. Wrap your mind around new ways of marketing your talent, making creative partnerships or learning new skills that will improve your net worth.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). A certain friend never fails to put you in a competitive mood. It's healthy to want to do better than your best. It's not so healthy to strive to leave your friend in the dust. Be compassionate, especially when you don't want to be.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You may be misinterpreting the signals a new person is sending you, and the result is nothing but hilarious. Tonight, it's much easier to see who likes you and exactly the nature of their affection.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Your success depends on your ability to actively dream your way into solutions for a pressing problem. Think of 10 ways you might solve the issue that's on your mind.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You're an emotional sign, but you can also put your feelings aside and achieve objectivity. You see the need to analyze a situation and you're downright scientific in your approach.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). It hasn't been easy to figure out what you really want because the answer keeps changing. So it's a welcome moment tonight when the desires of your heart and the wisdom of your mind merge into one gleaming answer.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (AUGUST 17). The people who love you are growing in numbers throughout this year. The new environment you visit this month will indirectly boost your finances. There's a favorable change in your finances and by November you're more proud than ever of the work you turn in. The winter holidays are wildly romantic. Cancer and Capricorn adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 8, 19, 40, 17 and 6.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your integrity is intact and you're sure about what's right for you. From this honest point of view, you figure out where you stand in a given situation. You might also accept that you're in the perfect place, at least for now.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Though you're more concerned with thriving than you are merely surviving, it's nice to know that your instincts are honed. You automatically make the right risk to save what's important.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You can't be all things to all people. Deliver what you want to and what you're able to. Give what you'd like to receive, what you deem magnificent, and it will be accepted as such.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Relationship dynamics change when new people enter the scene. Anticipate that you will be entering into touchy territory. Avoid potentially incendiary statements.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The pressure is off. Except for, of course, the pressure you're putting on yourself, which is more or less a constant. Have a little fun or a lot. Either way, you'll be back in full production mode tomorrow.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Everything has its time. A past goal resurfaces, and now it's more appropriate, probable and doable. Tonight, someone close is dropping fairly obvious hints. Pick it up and spread the word.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). There's no use in struggling — nobody, including and especially you, will gain from the useless effort. Friends and family have the power to change your dilemma. Ask for help.

FORECAST FOR THE WEEK AHEAD: Summer's bright growth hints at autumn's bounty this week when the sun enters plentiful Virgo. Food and supply are abundant this time of year and that's where Virgo's efficacy comes in handy — and it's also why the ancients gave this sign executive ability over the harvest: to calculate, account for and divvy up natural resources needed to survive through the winter. Granted, this was before the advent of global supermarkets where a pineapple can be had any time of year! Yet modern Virgo remains a quick study: Smart and thrifty, we generally feel flush in ability to tap our resources while economizing them during the Virgo season. Virgo-born do this with an exceedingly practical magic — by employing their intelligence and skill with what's in front of them; for example, transforming a simple chaff of wheat (the virgin's inanimate symbol, held in her hand) into the world's major food supply! Since Saturn entered Virgo last September, linking hard work with eventual reward, we've had to economize and focus our efforts to yield results. Consider using the next four weeks to identify your harvest (your skills and talent), then streamlining a plan to share your gifts with the world.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Sean Penn isn't your typical movie star, as reflected by the close proximity of a maverick planet, Uranus, next to his Leo sun. Sean is at his most authentic when he goes against the prevailing grain. Uranus is associated with the myth of Prometheus, a wily titan who stole fire from the gods to liberate humanity from oppression. Politically outspoken Sean embodies this Promethean spirit.

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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