Horoscopes by Holiday by Holiday Mathis

There is no such thing as an overnight success, and all get-rich-quick schemes should be subjected to extreme scrutiny. Mercury and Jupiter angle off to create a great deal of work for anyone trying to attain a fast fortune. On the bright side, the sun and Mars in Capricorn will favor honest, diligent, hands-on long-term work efforts.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Give yourself a mental pep talk. Psych yourself up in the mirror or in a journal. These practices might feel odd, but do them anyway. They are the habits that will help you cultivate your winning style.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). In order to do all you want to do, you will need to acquire a few new resources. Put the word out. Enlist the help of the good people around you. You are most convincing in the afternoon.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Your day is full, and your energy surges to match the demand. Everyone around can read your body language. You command your space and attract attention for all the right reasons.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Keep track of your good deeds on paper. This is not so you can keep tabs on what others owe you. Rather, it's so you can look back at your list and feel an increased sense of self-esteem

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Every year, you get better. Consider where you were at this time last year. You didn't have the sense of purpose you now possess, and you're more aware and effective than ever. Let yourself feel proud.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). It matters less and less to you what people think of you. Because you are willing to risk injury to your ego, you will continue to expand your sense of who you are and what you are capable of doing.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The destination still seems very far away. Each milestone you reach deserves to be acknowledged, but save the big celebration for when you cross the finish line.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). It could be that you are holding on too tight and pushing too hard. Make things easy on yourself. Mentally and physically step away from the thing you want. Get perspective. Come back to it next week.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). If you are too available to a certain someone, you will lose this person's respect, and it's not good for your self-respect, either. Put your own agenda first.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Instead of deciding to make fewer mistakes, try making more of them, if only for a day.

This is how you can be sure you're living large enough and trying for big enough goals.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). A leader who is too soft won't help you. You don't want to be comforted; you want to succeed. That's why you'll venture toward the tough trainer who will tell you the truth.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). No one can keep you from feeling attractive, effective, powerful and appreciated unless you agree to let them. You have options that you are not exercising, and it's about time you did.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Jan. 8). You have terrific luck in business and finance this year, mostly because you're willing to work hard for what you want. This month brings reunions and surprising gifts. The end of a feud benefits you in February. There is special luck in the invitations and requests you get in March. June brings adventurous travel. Aquarius and Taurus people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 3, 14, 39, 23 and 11.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: "My husband and I have had several fights that begin on the subject of raising our child. From my point of view, he lacks parenting skills or the natural instinct for how to discipline a 5-year-old girl. He needs to educate himself. From his point of view, I undermine his parenting efforts by interrupting his disciplinary measures, which consist of arguing endlessly with a 5-year-old. I can't listen to it! How can a Virgo mother and a Gemini father get on the same page about raising an Aquarius child?"

You're right about the arguing. Young Aquarius is so bright that she can keep the conversation going for as long as it takes to get her way. And she's met her match in the Gemini father, who might get so caught up in his communication that he forgets he is dealing with a kindergartener's maturity level. However, your husband is also right. You need to get on the same page and present a united front. Whether it is a time-out or the taking away of privileges, the consequences you and your husband agree upon should be delivered in a brief and unemotional manner.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Genius theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking has indicated his belief in the existence of extraterrestrial life. He has also suggested that it is probably in man's best interest to avoid contact. With Venus in idealistic Aquarius, as much as Hawking would like to believe in the harmony of all species, his practical Capricorn sun and Mercury win the argument.

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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