Horoscopes by Holiday, Weekly

Mercury moving retrograde in Sagittarius will square off with Mars at the start of the week, sparking intense and possibly regrettable exchanges. Venus in Capricorn will try to grease the wheels on Monday, and it may be enough to restore the peace. The full moon of the total lunar eclipse in communicative Gemini at the end of the week will bring one more opportunity to talk — or hug — it out.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). It will be a challenge to stay open to the possibilities. It is all too easy to resist the ideas that don't come from you and that don't fit with your notion of how the world is or should be. But one such idea will be your key to accomplishing something meaningful in the next six weeks and entering a new stage of life.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Your impossibly high standards were forged in the hours of practice and work you put into refining your talent. Now you expect the same level of commitment from others. And you just might get what you're looking for this week. When this happens, realize and celebrate the rarity of the occasion.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Your tendency to mind your own business will come in handy. What people think of you falls under the category of "none of your business," as well. Furthermore, anyone intent on pointing out your flaws has big problems that have nothing to do with you. You'll stay on track with your own interests and prevail.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). As a rule, you are an extremely tolerant, patient person, though this week you may decide that too much tolerance is hindering a person's growth — maybe your own. By Thursday, you'll likely feel ready to put your foot down, to lay out new rules or to simply move on from a stagnant situation. Enough is enough.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You see it when people pretend at happiness. You notice the tiny breaks in voices that give away the emotion underneath. You see the behavioral patterns and tendencies that go unnoticed by the people enacting them. You will use this ability for good this week, giving caring tenderness to the ones who sorely need it.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You know that change is possible. You have a different and unpopular view of what can be changed and what can't. You see the mobility in seemingly fixed institutions, beliefs and structures. You understand how temporary states can seem permanent to the untrained eye, but there is always a way.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Your mind will go to great lengths to lead you away from the suffering of your past. But sometimes it's better to remember. The pain will lessen each time you do. Touching the raw emotion will release it, little by little, until it has no charge left. This week, you'll bravely be willing to go back in the name of moving forward.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Before Wednesday, you'll see the first signs that you actually could be getting what you want. You'll be faced with the kind of challenging situation that inspires you to play the "what if" game. Try to play this game in a positive way. For instance, instead of asking "What if I fail?" ask "What if I succeed?"

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). What you do is never as important as how you do it. The spirit you bring to your activities will speak volumes about who you are and how you see life now. Your beliefs will be apparent to anyone willing to study you in detail as you carry out the most mundane tasks, such as shopping for groceries or sitting in traffic.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You'll strike a chord that few are able to effectively carry off. You'll manage to be simultaneously honest and kind. The way you deliver the truth makes people open up to you. You'll be asked to lead a small group this week, and more followers will be added next week after you've done a stellar job.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You'll have a greater ability to stretch yourself into the world of another person. You'll understand your loved ones better this week, and this understanding will make you feel closer to them. What first struck you as an absurd idea will now seem to have a solid place in a certain line of logic.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You'll get people talking, partly because you'll be doing the kind of novel and interesting activities that lead to questions from the outside world, but mostly because you ask some pretty astute questions yourself. Your curiosity will open new parts of the world to you.

THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS: 2012 shows you using your talents and intuitive abilities to make others happy. That might not be your aim; you'll likely be too busy experimenting with ways to make yourself happy. But because you'll have so much fun, you'll lift the spirits of those around you. January brings people who are eager to put your vision in motion. Loving exchanges happen in March. The purchase of joint property will be lucky. Your mind will be open and absorbent in the spring.

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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