Horoscopes by Holiday by Holiday Mathis

It's a busy Monday in the celestial office. Venus and Jupiter, balancing their love for pleasure, reached an uncomfortable realization: The pleasures we love cost money, honey — and we need more! Today, the CEOs, the sun and Saturn, equate value with persistence. To those who are hammering out their dreams: Keep your eye on the prize.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You're at the brink — the jumping-off place for a new kind of experience, one that's sure to bring you extremes of emotion. Following your bliss is always a little scary. If it weren't, everyone would do it.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Life doesn't get better by chance. You're steering this ship. It's the little adjustments you make — there are at least three of them today — that keep you on course.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Boundaries are constantly being established, broken and reestablished — especially when you're dealing with someone you love or really like. You're flexible and cool with what comes, and because of this, you're so attractive.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You're gathering information and tools for living from artistic places. Music, inspired conversation, cloud formations, dreams … The list goes on. When you're ready for answers, they are everywhere.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You need a change of pace — oh, do you ever! Getting out of your usual environment is lucky. Different scenery makes you see loved ones in a new light. Suddenly, your relationships have more colors.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Oct. 29). This year, you expect yourself to be brilliant, and, coincidentally, so does everyone else. And it's doable for you. At work, all eyes are on you through the end of the year. In January, the past tugs at your conscience and the future seduces you. The challenge is to stay attentive to wonderful changes unfolding in March. Leo and Cancer adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 20, 31, 4 and 18.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Loved ones spill tenderhearted words. You don't hear this every day — and what would life be like if you did? Absorb kindness instead of deflecting it back to the giver.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You're not afraid of what anyone else thinks, which is what makes you very successful at getting your point across with originality. Discussions are highly illuminating.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). It's like a gigantic cosmic vacuum cleaner is lifting foreign particles from your life. But you love the foreign particles! It's disorder that makes life interesting! Hang on to only your most beloved dirt.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov.

22-Dec. 21). Can you endure the disappointment of not getting your way the first hundred or so times you try? If you are, you're destined for greatness in a field where very few ever attain it.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Stop counting the eggs in your basket and fretting about which should remain and which should go into another basket. If you knew there were an endless supply of eggs and baskets, what would you do then? Do that.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Still wondering where your slice of the proverbial cake is? The kind you want, well, you're going to have to bake it first and then serve it up to others. So, it's more work. But you will, when the effort is complete, get your slice.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You're in charge — there's no doubt about it. In fact, you feel so powerful now that it's as if the whole Earth is your spaceship and you can steer it toward any adventure you please.

ASTROLOGICAL TOPICS: Astrology and the Shadow. It's said that we can see beyond the mystic veil during Scorpio sun times, deep into our shadows. Like unveiling the little person running the big show, with a little awareness and a little magic, the shadow integrates into light. What lurks in YOUR shadow? LEO/SPECIALNESS: Feeling special in the eyes of others is important to everyone — it's wonderful to be adored and loved. While praise from others is central to the king, real and lasting validation comes from within. Leo is vulnerable to impressing others out of insecurity. We are hungry for praise, and when it's not around, it's OK to ask for it! Magic spell: "I am recognized in the world as a multi-talented being with endless creativity." VIRGO/ACCEPTANCE: When we need a helping hand, the virgin volunteers. But her serviceable generosity can hide deeper self-doubt. We've all had the experience of letting self-doubt or inferiority paralyze us. Never quite measuring up, we sacrifice personal happiness on the altar of perfection. Self-acceptance allows us to love ourselves for who we are, not for who we could be. Magic spell: "I acknowledge what I can and cannot change and humbly allow the universe do the rest." Come back for Libra and Scorpio.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Scorpio knows we can't get anywhere in life alone. Through pooling our innate resourcefulness with the skills of others, we up everyone's worth. Maybe this was Bill Gates' secret formula for building the most successful software company in the world. This wise scorpion transformed his ideas into tools that empower others. His philanthropy creates opportunity.

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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