Horoscopes by Holiday by Holiday Mathis

His orbital plane is erratic. He spins in a direction that is reversed from the other planets. Also, he spins on his side. There are so many unusual facts about Uranus that he can be likened to an experimental, rebellious teen, working hard to try to be different. Yesterday, Uranus left Aries for Pisces, encouraging psychic and spiritual awakening.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You can speak candidly, and others will not be offended because your delivery holds within it the innocence of a child. Be careful not to take events too literally. Listen for what is meant, not merely what is said.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). What you can't overcome with sheer will or force, you can overcome with something more powerful: patience. In time, all things pass. Even the mighty mountains are worn to sand by the soft, rolling waves of the tide.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You don't have to pay big bucks to become more powerful — it's a matter of changing out the weaker beliefs for stronger ones. And the adoption of these better beliefs comes at the perfect cost — free!

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your fantasies are extremely powerful now so direct them carefully. Imagine outcomes that would in reality have a very positive effect not only on you but on those around you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You have diligently pursued your aim. Now, to stay on course, be consistent with your efforts. You're not in the final stretch yet — you're not even halfway there. Keep going.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your fellow Virgo, the heavyweight boxing champion known as "Gentleman Jim," famously said, "To become a champion, fight one more round." That is just what you'll do today.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You are usually the rock of stability for your people — calm and able, clear-headed and deliberate. But even you can fly off the handle when the emotions get hot. Avoid potentially volatile situations today.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You will be allowed to "try before you buy." This could be about a material item you'll be allowed to loan or an idea you can play around with for a while before you have to make your decision.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Your talents are unique. You've known this all along, and yet, you forget at times and work at "fitting in" a lot harder than you need to. Ponder how you can use your truly special gifts to serve humanity.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You're not even worried about what's in it for you. You want your loved ones to have a good time and your only concern is how you can best facilitate that.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). There is always someone who can do the task at hand better. But it's not always wise to jump ship for the mightier vessel. Take stock of what you have. It cannot be duplicated.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Toy around with a new ideology. Before you adopt it, consider that changing your school of thought will change everything — the people you know, the activities you become involved in, even where and how you live.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 14). This solar return hits you with an extra shine of glamour. You'll enjoy the perks of being automatically liked and accepted in new circles. You'll learn to be private, mysterious and graceful about protecting your time. December features unforgettable adventure. Seize January's financial opportunity. Gemini and Scorpio adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 30, 15, 2, 9 and 15.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: "What's a 'decan' in astrology? I'm an Aries and read that the first decan in the constellation of Aries the Ram is Cassiopeia. Can you please explain?"

Decans are groups of small constellations that each rise consecutively above the horizon, one right after the other, every hour for 24 hours. This is how the ancient Egyptians and, later, the Greeks used to tell time. Every 10 days, a new group of decans appears on the eastern horizon, and the process begins all over again. This progression of decans became the ancient people's calendar. Later on, the Egyptians superimposed the 12 zodiac constellations over the decan constellations to create 12 months of the year. Every zodiac constellation contains three smaller decan constellations. As these decan constellations rise within the larger zodiac constellation, a different quality — also called a decanic "phase" or "face" — is emphasized. The first decan of Aries is Cassiopeia. She is easy to spot; just look for the W or M, depending on your position.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: The loveable Steve Martin is a comedian, actor, playwright, novelist, songwriter, banjo master and No. 1 personal favorite celebrity of this astrologer. His astrological chart is as varied as his talents, with all four elements well represented. An intensely private Scorpio moon and Venus in emotional Cancer reveal his comedy to be a defensive response to protect a deeply sensitive soul.

If you would like to write to Holiday Mathis, 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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