Horoscopes by Holiday by Holiday Mathis

Lady Venus enters the sign of relationships. While Venus is in Libra, as she will be between now and Nov. 7, we are likely to go to great lengths for the sake of building harmonious bonds. We can no longer afford to hold on to old grievances — too much is at stake. The sweetest treasures of life are our connections with others.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Your opinions will suddenly carry more weight. This is a good thing, too, because an important situation needs your perspective. Speak boldly and save the day. Then close your eyes and savor the applause.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Someone you care about has been recently struck with a bad case of the gloomies. The situation is not desperate, but it could turn that way if left untreated. Your love and attention will go a long way.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Sometimes you're a sprinter. Other times you are a marathon runner. And right now you see no need to run for any reason. Keep that easy pace and expend very little energy. You'll get it all done just the same.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Change your ringtone. Change the wallpaper on your desktop. If you can change your alarm clock sound, do it. Shifting around the most seemingly trivial elements can bring a wonderful sense of the new.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Domestic bliss at home just won't transfer over to the workplace, but at least you'll feel emotionally supported enough to tackle the challenges. When you succeed, it's a source of pride for your loved ones, too.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Break out the champagne! Your hard work has paid off, and now you can chill out for a second, revel and reflect on the curious path that brought your unpredictable success. Life is smiling at you right now.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). How it is that some people get so worked up over nothing is beyond you. It's like you were born with some special gene that keeps you calm in the face of adversity. Spread a little of that serenity among your friends.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Something reminds you of an old romance. Take a moment to replay the whole story in your mind. You've come so far. The memory will have a positive effect on your current relationship.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Your mind decides things for reasons you don't understand. Is it intuition or an old pattern that keeps you returning to a certain subject? Go for a long walk and you'll get clarity on the matter.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.

19). You have extraordinary visual powers now. It will be lucky for you to sketch your ideas, rearrange your working space or put together a presentation. What you come up with will speak to others.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Your role as a lifelong learner is highlighted with a new "teacher" who arrives on the scene. This one may be very unscholarly indeed, perhaps someone much younger than you. But the lessons are strong.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You can do remarkable work in the morning, though you shouldn't try to push yourself for too long. A natural, easygoing pace will be much more productive. You'll be immune to the stresses that affect others.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Oct. 14). Your imagination is strong, and you will return from flights of fancy with ideas that will work in the real world. Follow through on the best of the best. A loving relationship rubs off on all your relationships. You'll make money through a big sale in February and June. Summer adventure begins with a surprise. Cancer and Scorpio people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 30, 25, 49, 12 and 19.

VENUS, IF YOU WILL: The planet of beauty, pleasure and romance tells secrets about you. She whispers about the kinds of things you enjoy, how you want to be treated by those you love and how you are likely to approach matters of the heart. Where was love planet Venus when you were born? If you don't know, check with an astrologer, an astrology book or an online horoscope generator. If your natal Venus is in SAGITTARIUS, you are drawn to adventurous situations. To you, romance means entering new worlds. You are willing and able to enter into the spirit of the one you are attracted to. You align yourself with your love in order to see the world from his or her eyes. You are likely to take more risks than most of the people you know, especially in the name of love. When you are completely smitten with someone, you want to explore with them and collect as many experiences as you can. You never want your union to be boring; if it is, you quickly become restless. You are not one to settle in quickly with anyone for the long term, because you have to be sure that a person can capture your interest over and over again.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: This multitalented Libra recorded his first album at 14 years old, and the love songs just keep coming. The Grammy Award-winning recording artist Usher has said that his mother is his best friend — not so unusual for someone born under a relationship-oriented Libra sun. Usher's moon, which represents mothers, is in Leo, the sign of children and creativity, so the feeling is likely a mutual one.

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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