Horoscopes by Holiday by Holiday Mathis

The moon is void of course at the day's start, signifying a lull in the action. This, however, is a matter of perspective. It depends on what plane you're on. A seed grows like crazy under the ground before it bursts through the soil. But to the one waiting on the surface, it's nothing. A lull. Followed by a glorious breakthrough.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Avoid roaming the marketplace unarmed against the seduction of today's persuasive sales force. Note: Getting the best deal can only happen after you've done your research.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Conflicts are draining. Most come from a belief that there is only one right way — yours. Self-importance can only lead to folly. You'll stay strong and powerful by remaining open-minded and working toward harmony.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). There will be a test of your character. Tolerance and restraint are easy to practice in theory, but now, you'll get to see how well you do in the heat of the moment and in the face of provocation.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You are human and therefore fallible. When you can't trust your own automatic response to a situation, retreat. Get calm. Connect to deeper resources inside yourself. You can take another turn at this one tomorrow.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You are not the boss of your own heart. It moves in mysterious ways, forming bonds before you even have time to wrap your mind around the connection. It will be liberating to admit that you are not entirely in charge.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Something will break your attention on the world as you see it. And suddenly, you can't see it that way anymore. This happens in a way that's similar to an alarm clock interrupting a dream.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Follow your hunches — they are right on the money. You'll be an inspiration to those who work with you and for you. As for those who work over you, note that they might be threatened by your current hot streak.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Affections will deepen with communication. It doesn't have to be profound, only consistent. Think of yourself as a bird making pleasant chirping noises in the direction of your beloved.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You get the information — that's the easy part. Then you will have to cobble together your own meaning, and that's tricky. Even trickier still is managing the quantity. Discern what is useful to you and chuck the rest.

CAPRICORN (Dec.

22-Jan. 19). Challenge your own logic. If you don't, someone else will. Either way, you'll learn of your own hidden motives in a situation, and the new information will lead to a change.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You will once again tackle a job that you have no idea, technically speaking, how to do. It's all possible because you have faith in your ability to execute the directives of your heart.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The sensible thing is not to rush into love. However, this might not be possible now, as life whisks you ever nearer to a person or endeavor that is quite simply and deliciously irresistible.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 12). Your personal triumphs come in all sizes this year — celebrate one and all. You'll serve your community well, and you'll find a fulfilling niche because of this. Friends talk you up to all the right people in December. You'll make money from a skill that you are exceptionally good at. Family unites in fun in October. Capricorn and Taurus adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 33, 14, 20, 46 and 1.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: "Which planets and signs are best for farming?"

Venus and Jupiter are both good for growth and abundance, while Saturn's stabilizing influence is helpful in weathering the ups and downs of the market. As for signs, Virgo has been associated with plants, while Taurus is the sign of pastures, stables and barns. There's a mathematical formula we also use in astrology to determine the "part of agriculture" in a natal chart. The formula is the location of your ascendant plus Saturn minus Venus. This equation was employed by astrologers in agrarian societies for hundreds of years, and is now gaining popularity again as people are becoming disillusioned with mass food production, the disappearance of the honeybee population and the rise in global hunger. To determine your part of agriculture, go to an Arabic Parts calculator online and enter the coordinates of your key planets. For example, let's suppose your ascendant is 13 degrees Virgo, Saturn is 5 degrees Leo and Venus is 23 degrees Capricorn. Your part of agriculture would be located in Pisces — you would find fortune with fishing or watery fields such as cranberry bogs or rice paddies.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Oscar-nominated Leo Casey Affleck stars as a charming sheriff deputy who just happens to also be a psychopathic killer in the noir thriller "The Killer Inside Me." Affleck's mysterious and private Scorpio moon lends a kind of intensity for such a role. Though, in reality, Affleck is so against killing of any sort that he's vegan.

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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