Social scientists have stated that it takes seven seconds to form a first impression, though under these skies you only need three. The moon shifts from Scorpio into the fiery, friendly realm of Sagittarius. From this pioneering station, the lunar energies mingle with the fiery impulse of Mercury in Aries, forging adventures and temporary partnerships.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Big opportunities hang in the balance today. All you have to do is show up — over and over and over. The rest of it will be worked out in the moment. You'll hit the pillow tonight, pleased with the way your day unfolded.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You force yourself to interact even when you don't want to. Will you remember this five years from now? Possibly. But if you don't, you'll still be a different person because you made the effort today.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Your cosmic gift of the day: mental expansion. The two best ways in which you grow yourself today are reading and conversation. Stretch yourself, too, because the best things happen just outside of your usual interests.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Pondering the small reasons why something has occurred will be counterproductive. Instead, think about the big "why." You're here to love and be loved. Making that happen will be of paramount importance.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You are not in the mood to play games. So hopefully you have some straight shooters around you who prefer the simplicity of honesty and who make a habit of doing the right thing

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You don't want the pressure that comes with running the whole scene, and yet you can see clear ways in which things could be done better. If you try to direct people, you'll be handed the entire responsibility. Go carefully.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Your efforts will be counted, but not by the measure that others are using today. So do what you do without the expectation of getting a gold star. Your prize will come later and will mean much more to you when it does.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). If each person is a world, your world is as different from your friend's as Earth is from Jupiter. You'll appreciate that you can stand on your world; whereas standing on Jupiter is an impossibility.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Your service to another will be the start of an interesting relationship. When you don't expect to be paid for a job, you'll approach it differently, get more joy from the experience and ultimately offer greater value.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You're up to your old tricks now: giving anonymously, setting up people you like for a win, helping behind the scenes... Sometimes you like to be noticed, but not today.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You might secretly think that someone's efforts to impress you are "lame," but you cannot help but be impressed by the fact that they took the time and energy to do so.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). After much consideration, you'll finally make a trade. If it feels a bit inequitable now, just know that had you waited any longer, it would only become more so. You've done well, and your energies are best spent moving on.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (April 27). You work hard, but you have an irresistible lightness in your approach to play. Your freewheeling style will attract a fun crowd. Your living space will improve. Take on projects now, and they'll be completed by August. June features a vote or a judgment in your favor. You will help and be helped by family in September. Cancer and Scorpio people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 4, 2, 37, 29 and 15.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: "The one area of my life that I can't seem to get control of is my weight. Can you help? I'm a Leo."

The No. 1 thing Leo can do to ensure the success of a weight-loss effort is to find a method of accountability. Leos are performers, and they will work hard to win the audience's applause. A coach, friend or weight-loss support group could serve as just the audience needed to keep this slim-show going.

Also note that so many factors play into this aspect of your life that you can't separate the issue from the rest of your life and work on it as though it were a stand-alone project. Be willing to think of weight loss as a regular part of your life, and you will get a handle on the issue. The factors that affect the number on the scale may surprise you. Stress is one of the biggest willpower-zappers. The mental effort it takes to make your life run may be draining your reserves of self-control to the extent that there is little left to apply to the world of food and exercise. A more manageable load of work and domestic responsibilities will restore those reserves.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: You may know that smooth-talking Casey Kasem set the standard for Top-40 radio programs that is now followed by Ryan Seacrest and others. But did you know that he also voiced the character Shaggy of "Scooby-Doo"? The golden-throated Kasem was born under Taurus, the sign that rules the throat, and has Mercury, Mars and Uranus in high-energy Aries.

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.