When Mars is in Sagittarius, he's a centaur, a composite creature both wild and clever with a bow and arrow poised to shoot. In contrast, Neptune in Pisces is a poet and a dreamer with no agenda. And yet when these two square off, Neptune's vivid imaginings have real-world impact. Stay focused on what you want, not what you fear.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You are the one who places a value on your thoughts, deciding which ones deserve credence and action. Because you place a low value on negative and scary thoughts, you easily rise above them.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Sometimes you want something, but you forget to follow up with "the ask." Make a conscious effort to ask today, because you are as powerful as you are direct. Your specific requests will quickly be answered.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). There's a bit of fun brewing in your imagination. You will weave together your many interests into a single project. You will need to pull from your wide variety of skills to make a project work.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You are sincere and honest and real. Remembering your excellent qualities will help you gain the confidence you need to be stronger. You'll get an insight about something that has been bothering you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). If you seek to expand your circle, it will be as though the barriers between you and those you don't know melt away. You'll feel as relaxed and easy-going around strangers as you do around your nearest and dearest.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Maybe you still don't feel entirely secure about your future, but you know that whatever happens, you're just the type of person to find happiness while making the most of what you have.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You are powerful because you accept yourself fully and feel good about your weaknesses as well as your strengths. You can be happy about who you are even as you work toward improvement.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You respect yourself and others, and you take responsibility for your actions. With these principles guiding your day, you'll live honorably and enjoy much.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You may not dare to speak of gigantic goals, afraid that they'll ring ridiculous in your ears. But keep thinking about them. Mull over your dreams long enough, and they will start to enter the realm of possibility.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Change is positive, as long as your values stay the same. Like a child growing into an adult, you won't change into someone you're not. You will fulfill the potential of who you always were.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You'll be in a creative mood, and you'll want to explore new ways of putting things together. Make notes as you go. Later, you'll pass them on. Always share knowledge; your immortality depends on it.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Because you are so gloriously empathetic, you assume it's easy for anyone to put themselves in the shoes of another. Not so. Your gift is rare. Set an example for others, and eventually they may follow.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Oct. 7). Your playful attitude invites good fortune and affection this month. A financial transaction makes your life easier in November. In December, you'll frequently be a host. 2013 opens with a pervasive sense of calm. You become powerful as things slow down, and you enjoy life for what it is while plotting what could be. Aquarius and Taurus people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 7, 3, 19, 35 and 29.

FORECAST FOR THE WEEK AHEAD: At the end of last week, Mercury and Saturn shuffled their Libran coil for the time being to slip into the cool waters of Scorpio. This week presents an opportunity to gain a new sense of equilibrium. Like vacationers stepping onto a cruise ship, eventually just about everyone will adjust to the gentle rocking of their new floating world — but some faster than others. Those who've traveled by boat before may have an easier time finding their sea legs, but mal de mer, which is caused by stress in the balancing portion of the brain, can strike even experienced travelers. Eventually, the brain stops trying to see the walls and furniture as fixed items and accepts that even formerly still items can have a tendency to sway. And that is, to put it in a conch shell, what's happening on an emotional level for many of us this week.

Venus and Pluto form a harmonious trine that packs a powerful sense of fate and a vivacious optimism into relationships. The sentiment is beautifully expressed in a song by The Wallflowers, whose album "Glad All Over" will be released during the height of Venus trine Pluto on October 9. "Love is a country, better crossed when you're young." — The Wallflowers

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Simon Cowell was recently credited with saving the lives of nine people on a sinking yacht. His sun, Mercury and Mars in Libra show a harmonious nature, a love of art and great diplomatic skills. This may seem incongruous with Cowell's tendency to be brutally direct, but in day-to-day life, great powers of diplomacy must be employed to offset his role as "the bad guy."

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