Horoscopes by Holiday by Holiday Mathis

Hold on to your wallet, the key to your house and your cell phone — Mercury is going retrograde. It's all too easy to misplace items, lose the thought or misunderstand the message during this transit. The positive thing about Mercury retrograde is that it teaches us to be conscientious, thorough and to take nothing and no one for granted.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You have a strong presence and will shine more brightly than many around you. It is not wise for you to outshine a superior at work, though. Silently to yourself, give this person credit for being smart enough to hire you.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). It's tough to prioritize because you care deeply about the different people and areas of your life. Saying you need to do "this" almost feels like you are being disrespectful to "that." Use your intuition instead of logic to guide you.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It benefits you to take yourself out of a situation so that the other players involved will miss you. Choose the moment of your exit carefully and stay away for a strategic length of time. Your absence will make them value you more.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Though you have a definite knack for multitasking, it doesn't serve you now to double-time things. If you tax your mind, not to mention your hands, with too many demands at once, mistakes occur. Focus on one task at a time.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). It's sad that you cannot be with your loved ones all the time, and yet there is an upside, too. You will soon discover the joys of reconciliation. The distance and time between your visits will make the connection ever sweeter.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (MAY 6). You hit your stride this year and become powerful in a family or other organization. Over the next 10 weeks, you'll enjoy the prestige that comes with your position. You'll add a wonderful new habit to your daily routine in June and it enhances every aspect of your life. July brings a surprise visitor. There will be a windfall in October. Libra and Leo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 3, 5, 39, 15 and 5.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You're in a competitive mood. Study your opponent. You could defeat someone at their own game, so long as you learn their game first. Patiently watch. You'll have plenty of time later to make a move.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). It's difficult for you to ask others to act on your behalf. But once you ask, you'll find out that people need to give, they want to help and they enjoy being a part of your project, cause or personal whim.

SCORPIO (Oct.

24-Nov. 21). You will spot heroes and villains in every scene. Watch longer and the good guys will show flaws and the bad guys will show compassion. You'll be entertained by the complexities of human nature.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You have a talent for wheeling and dealing and will be able to put together a successful enterprise as long as you have a fairly solid plan. A business-minded Capricorn has advice you can take to the bank.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). About 5,000 new asteroids are found in our solar system every month. You will make a large discovery of your own in the coming days, not of a celestial body, but a body of knowledge, vast and fascinating.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You are in a hyper-giving mode. You cannot keep yourself from caring, helping and doing. However, when presented with the opportunity to relax, don't miss out on some well-deserved enjoyment.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You automatically try and make everyone around you comfortable. Focus on yourself for a change. The others will be at ease when you are equally at ease. Cut yourself some slack. Exhale.

ASTROLOGY 101: WHAT IS PISCES LIKE? The symbol for Pisces is two fish swimming in opposite directions and this sign is as complex as that symbol implies. Life is never one way. There are many layers to reality and many dimensions operating simultaneously. Pisces is able to understand the breadth of experience and still, miraculously, operate simply. Pisces spiritual nature limits the amount of time Pisces spends caught up in the world of the intellect. Sure, Pisces is an intelligent sign. But most Pisces do not consider reason to be the best way to sort through life. Pisces is comfortable following intuition even when it defies logic to do so. Wisdom and faith go hand in hand for this sign. Pisces people do not always know exactly what they think about God or the afterlife and these beliefs may change several times throughout a Pisces lifetime. However, usually Pisces honors some kind of faith and it is a strong current that runs through everything Pisces does. Pisces is a compassionate sign, deeply empathetic to what others are going through. Sometimes Pisces is a sponge, picking up on the good and bad vibrations all around. Because of their sensitivity, Pisces need to be extra vigilant to expose themselves to as much happiness and goodness as possible.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Academy Award-winner George Clooney uses his star power to illuminate situations in the world that could use some help, which is one reason the United Nations named him a Messenger of Peace. This megastar sticks to his convictions like a true Taurus. Unfortunately for the women of the world, one of those convictions is never to marry again and to not have children!

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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