Horoscopes by Holiday by Holiday Mathis

Remember this dialogue from "When Harry Met Sally"? Harry: "There are two kinds of women: high maintenance and low maintenance." Sally: "Which one am I?" Harry: "You're the worst kind. You're high maintenance, but you think you're low maintenance." With Venus in fastidious Virgo, love itself seems high maintenance.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You're in a hard-driving mood. It's unrealistic to expect yourself to be thoroughly competent in all possible respects. Lighten up, though, and you'll perform to the height of your ability.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Take hold of your thoughts! Worrying about a possible danger doesn't ward it off, or even decrease its affect. More likely it has the opposite result. Steer your mind to sunny places.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Not everyone is as tactful as you, but if no offense was meant, let it go. You win by staying neutral. A new design in your bedroom will spice up your dreams.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Is "domestic bliss" an oxymoron? Not when the household is being run by a moonchild such as yourself. With a few snappy alterations you'll restore harmony at home.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Increase your number of pleasant interactions with loved ones. Chances are, they won't multiply on their own. Apply your expert flirting skills, and watch the electricity return to your love life.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (July 19). You feel as though you have magical powers — indeed you do! You blast through closed doors and find loopholes in impossible policies. This inspires you to find new things to want in August. You were probably shooting too low before. With some hard work and hard play, daring dreams come true in November. Taurus and Libra people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 20, 43, 24, 39 and 11.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Too many couples only talk when they have a problem to discuss. You're proactive in regard to your relationships and start interesting, lighthearted conversations — pointless and wonderful.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Can a person be cooperative and competitive at the same time? For most, the answer is no. And yet you find a way to bring home a personal win and still have the appearance of being the consummate team player.

SCORPIO (Oct.

24-Nov. 21). Make decisions the Scorpio way: Listen to many opinions, consider them carefully and ultimately go with your gut. You get a wink and a nod from someone you wanted to impress.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). There will be conversations with your inner critic. What a meanie! The negative comments you wouldn't accept from others, you also shouldn't accept from you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You'll notice a few remarkable differences. You're more powerful, for starters. Those who weren't responding to you quickly now snap to your request. Things didn't change — you changed.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It's not difficult to figure out what to do. You make mature choices based on what's right for a relationship. It just so happens that it's also what's best for you. Yes!

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). When you have no investment in how a relationship plays out, you become more attractive. So don't stress. Toss the situation into the wheel of chance and see what happens.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: "Has astrology always been so popular? It seems like everyone I know reads a daily horoscope! Why do you think that is?"

Astrology is an ancient art that was born in a simpler time, when the stars were the main attraction and people tuned in to them like people today tune in to the media. The stars told us about the seasons and the weather, when we should start planting or harvest, what direction we should travel, etc. In looking to the stars we began to find omens, to spin stories, characters and associations. To a civilization like the Greeks, for instance, stargazing was like watching a soap opera. Gods and goddesses interacted with humans and would rule planets and turn each other into constellations. These stories evolved and intersected, and the result is a rich tapestry of time-tested beliefs, characteristics and associations that are the basis of astrology today. The age we live in is complex because there are more choices available to us. We turn to astrology as a way to get focused. Reading your horoscope helps you home in on your internal questions so you can find answers.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Cancers are known for their spirituality; their watery souls are nourished by a divine and heavenly love. Just listen to Carlos Santana's supernatural tunes for unearthly transcendent sounds. His bold creativity runs wild this year as he makes an innovative leap in his music.

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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