On this first full day of the Virgo sun, the Scorpio influence is also strong. The moon and Mars are both nestled into this mysterious part of the sky, amplifying the need for understanding and clarity on more than superficial levels. Between Virgo's analytical influence and Scorpio's tendency toward psychic surgery, much will be learned.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). The one who gives you a chance is giving you a gift. And when you seize the opportunity and do your best, as you are inclined to do, it's a living, breathing thank-you note.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Ordinary aspects of your life seem to shout out for extra attention — even your coffee mug and your breakfast seem worthy of a snapshot. Someday you'll be really glad to look at the pictures you took today.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). "Foodies" talk about the flavor, texture and presentation of meals. You're more concerned with the nutritional value. Your focus on substance will lend you luck in more than one area of life.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You prefer pleasant emotions, but you embrace whatever comes, knowing that laughter and joy are as essential to being human as are frustration and tears. Your willingness to accept all of it makes you strong.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You'll be rewarded for getting things done, not for getting things done perfectly. You'll find a balance as you strive for a good product without letting every concern stop you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Sometimes you feel like you've found your tribe, and sometimes you want to keep looking, believing that the tribe that found you is not a perfect fit. Today you'll experience both mindsets.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). It is difficult to measure and track your progress when your pursuits are as broad as yours are today. And the spiritual aspects of your life are impossible to quantify. For now, be content with a feeling that all is well.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You know what real love is and what it is not. Even though grand gestures can come from someone who really loves you, they are not proof of love. That comes in small, specific gestures that only the two of you understand.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Like it or not, you are strongly affected by the people you spend the most time with, and you'll become like them in many ways. A slight change in your social lineup will make a big difference.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). There are people who have done more with less than you have, and there are other people who have done less with much more. That's why making comparisons is useless. Keep your eyes trained on your own path.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Wanting too much from a loved one will create unnecessary drama. The most peaceful relationships involve expecting a loved one to be who they are and to do what they do.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Judging from today, the benefits of balanced living may be overrated. You'll see quick progress precisely because you focus all of your energy in one direction.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 23). Different people and settings will accommodate your need for excitement. It's as though you've entered a new world, and you'll deepen your investigation of it in September. You'll take an item to market in December and be pleased with the outcome. November and July are the best times for travel. Aries and Cancer people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 30, 1, 24, 7 and 18.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: "Our son-in-law has allowed my husband's grandchildren, age 7, to watch scary movies with him, and now they are so spooked that they have trouble sleeping. I told my husband to have a sit-down with his son-in-law, but he doesn't want to jeopardize his relationship with his daughter (from another marriage), as they have already had plenty of rocky times to overcome to get to a place where they can be in each other's lives. These poor children now talk constantly of macabre scenes, and I fear they've been psychologically damaged. What should I do? I'm a Leo, and my son-in-law is a Pisces. My daughter-in-law is a Cancer, and the twins are Pisces, too."

Let's agree that inappropriate media exposure can cause psychological damage and a deep sense of insecurity in small children. This goes double for Pisces twins who are born into one of the most sensitive and impressionable signs of the zodiac. Perhaps you can appeal to their Cancer mother and show her the joint study from the University of Michigan and the University of Wisconsin, "Tales from the Screen: Enduring Fright Reactions to Scary Media," which suggests that the long-term effects of scary movies can linger into adulthood. Follow your protective Leo instincts. It's time to step in.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Australian heartthrob Rick Springfield paved the way for subsequent Australian artists like Keith Urban and Hugh Jackman — and the Virgo rocker is still touring the world with Jessie's Girl and new material. Springfield is a down-to-earth Virgo with his moon and Pluto in Leo, the sign of the entertainer. His Venus in Libra shows him to be an incurable romantic.

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.