Do you sense your connection to things outside yourself such as time or other people's thoughts? There is something magical about the way these connections pop up now, and it all springs from the peaceful, easy early-morning feeling of the moon trine Neptune. From there, intuitive Cancer encourages us to trust the flow.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You've been enjoying plenty of unscheduled time. Now it's time to get back into a routine and get busy with various projects so you can have some of that unscheduled time again in the future.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Unintentionally hurting someone close to you is sometimes unavoidable. But you can mitigate the wound with a swift and sincere apology. Don't wait and allow that wound to fester.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You usually roll with the financial dips and dollops, accepting that reasonable fluctuations are a natural part of life. Today you'll experience such fluctuations and impress others with your unflappable courage.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Actors joke that "dying is easy; comedy is hard." Some troubles are hard to laugh off, but now you'll find that you can smile at memories that once brought only frowns.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Keep in mind that everyone is dealing with life on his or her own scale. It might be vastly different from the system of measurement you are using, but that doesn't make it better or worse. A storm in a teacup could be disastrous for a gnat.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). A friendship that you gave up on long ago is going to surprise you. It's OK to be cautious, but remember to give this person the benefit of your doubt, which you would want someone to give to you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). A recent injustice will be righted, thanks to your diligence and concern. But don't gloat over your victory. Remember to exercise magnanimity toward foes and head off future bad feelings.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows, but you might want to know if it's going to rain. Careful preparation and knowledge will save the day.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). It's true that time is money, but don't forget that money is time. Stop spending, and start saving — and not just for rainy days, but for unexpected adventures and the fun on your horizon.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). It's important to daydream and scheme about your goals. But remember to build your castle with the bricks of practical, everyday steps toward your goals, and not with beach sand.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). A work relationship suddenly blooms in unexpected, delightful ways, and praise for a job well done will come your way just when you think your hard work is going unappreciated.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). A wise man once said, "You have to be willing to be lucky." Even when it feels like you're surrounded by closed doors, look closer. Opportunity is often a door opened just a crack. Don't be afraid to push.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 13). You'll open the door to a new world that someday you will rule. You'll be given new resources in September. What you build in October lasts you a lifetime. The feature of September is a solid education and social connections to help you along. Family relationships make you proud in December. Aquarius and Sagittarius people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 4, 2, 49, 18 and 19.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: "I met her while surfing Mavericks. She is the most exciting, amazing woman I have ever known. It turns out she was married the whole time we were together, and now she's back with her husband. Should I fight for her? Is that what she wants?" — Surfing Scorpio.

As an experienced surfer who has taken on the discipline of big-wave surfing, you know that there are risks to taking on those 20-foot waves. In the event of a wipeout, you risk being plunged 20 to 50 feet below the ocean's surface. In that case, your survival depends on your ability to regain momentum and quickly figure out which way is up.

The thrilling rides sometimes don't last as long as we'd like them to. In a sense, this big wave has sent you under. Entire books have been written about how to wipe out properly, but as you know, one main factor to regaining your equilibrium can be summed up in four words: Don't fight the wave. It's a waste of energy. Wait for the wave to pass (they always do), and then struggle up to air.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: It hardly seems fair that Alfred Hitchcock won a Best Picture Academy Award for his very first American film. Then again, some people (Leos) are just born with an inordinately strong sense of drama. The legendary director who created more than 50 films had Venus in Leo, too, as well as a mysterious, suspenseful Scorpio moon.

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