Horoscopes by Holiday, Weekly

This week, love planet Venus will be in Leo, waving across the sky to Neptune in Aquarius. Is she flirting? Is she picking a fight? It's an opposition that is difficult to read, and so is its influence on us. There will be times when flirting comes in the form of arguing and love comes in the form of saying "no" to someone you adore. And with Mercury still retrograde in the relationship sign of Libra, the complexities will continue.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). There is much to distract, tempt and hypnotize you away from important but tedious work. Limit your options, and you'll be better able to focus on your top priorities. Once you recommit yourself to what you said you were going to do, something magical happens: The boring aspects of work disappear.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You need encouragement at every turn this week. You're not usually this sensitive, but you've been putting out a lot of energy lately and your returns are delayed. Positive comments go a long way toward helping you believe in yourself and what you're doing. Ask people to praise you, or give praise to yourself.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Impatience is seldom viewed as the character flaw that it is, since impatient people are so wrapped up in feeling superior for their quick timing. Ward against this vice for the next five days, as it shows emotional immaturity and creates an unhappy tone for all. Instead, be patient and you'll lead a charmed life.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). It's not what you say; it's that you say it in a way that makes others feel acknowledged, if not complimented or even loved. The early week sees you catching up on calls, mail and other correspondence. You'll find a piece of information you missed and get a second chance to take advantage of the opportunity.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You made a certain agreement in the past without understanding completely what you were signing on for. If you had known, you wouldn't have agreed. But now you're in a better place anyway. This week you're at a similar crossroads. Do more research than you did the last time, and stay optimistic.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). If you have something to sell, you're grateful for the opportunity to be in front of people to talk about your product. But if you don't have anything to sell, you might be tempted to forgo certain social events. Show up in spite of your trepidation. You can still sell yourself and gather more supporters to Team You.

LIBRA (Sept.

23-Oct. 23). You have a lot on your plate, and you'll realize that you can't do it all by yourself. People who want to support you have to be told exactly how to do this. You have nothing to lose by laying it all out on the line. If the same supporters can't give you what you need, you'll be one step closer to finding someone who can.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Look at where you are and what you're doing. If you could go back in time and tell the 8-year-old version of yourself what is in store, he or she wouldn't believe it. Similarly, the current you will be blown away by the wonderful future that is rushing toward you. (That is, if you get to work in creating a wonderful one.)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). It won't be unusual for you to find yourself among strangers this week. You purposely get out of your element — that's what it takes to expand your realm. Admit what you don't know, and ask some general questions. They lead to specific questions, and soon you'll be versed in a new area of study.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Give credit to the one who corrected your posture. You may not have appreciated the instruction at the time, but that habit of standing straight is doing you a lot of good this week. You command respect before you say a thing. Put thought into how to present your ideas, and you'll be mighty persuasive.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The friendships you make this week affect your work. You'll enter a new group of people, most of whom already know one another. Go slowly. Evaluate the scene and social dynamics involved before forming any alliances. Also, steer clear of the gossipy group, even though it might seem like a fun crowd at first.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You might be tempted to put all of your energy and charm into attracting the one you admire. But this is not your only option, and it's not your best one, either. Instead, cultivate a high self-approval rating that's independent of the opinion of others. This will have a positive, immediate and astounding effect on your life.

THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS: You shed layers of fear and doubt to emerge a fresh and vital force in the world. You'll be willing to take your chances in a highly competitive arena, and you'll eventually do quite well if you stick with it. If your first choice is not a winning one, you'll find a different way to succeed. You will be extremely selective as to how you spend your time and with whom. It will be lucky for you to expand your social circle in November and again in March. In December, family unites for a joyous purpose.

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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