Mercury enters Aries, and our words ring loud and proud. Like the old song lyric "we're free to be, you and me," strong statements potentially polarize opinions into two different camps. It feels good to talk, though. Nothing's finer than the freedom to express, which some nations consider a right, and others still consider a privilege.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You may be elected to clean up a mess. The cards you've had up your sleeve may need a little tweaking, but the powers that be love your chutzpah. Outline your ideas first.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Your self-concept is a delicate web, woven by your curiosities and your take on your life experience. Friends complement and contribute to this dream catcher. Their belief in you carries you higher.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It's hard to reconcile one choice with another when it feels like your hand is forced. This afternoon, one good idea changes everything, including your strategy for dealing in the future.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). When you're presented with a work dilemma, your imagination sets the limit. Like the little engine that could, you can change "I don't think I can" to "I think I can."

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Giving your time or ideas away without a long-term return is crazy thinking. Shift your focus from appeasing the masses to earning money while you sleep. It may not happen overnight, but it will happen.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (April 10). You're widely accepted and loved — you realize it this year more than ever. Your exceptional work in the next two months puts you in the spotlight — all your sacrifices were worth it. Promotion and money follow. There's no stopping your fun in August, which may involve a passport. Leo and Scorpio people are on your wavelength. Your lucky numbers are: 20, 44, 50, 11 and 17.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Any dissatisfaction you feel in your love life dissipates when you realize it's not about them, it's about you. You set the mood and tone of your relationship. Examine an old truth. You have nothing to lose.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). What you're tempted to keep to yourself will gladly act or speak out for you. Know what's in your mind. Observe yourself. You can view your own thinking as clearly as if it were coming through a high-definition screen.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). What's functional isn't always practical, and vice versa, but the impossibility of making an idea work challenges you on multiple levels. Grab what's in front of you and make a go of it. As you progress, momentum builds.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). When you give up one thing you gain another — such is life, but at least you're never bored. Don't rush forward too quickly. A love affair could be the real deal if you let it breathe.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Your ambitions are like family to you, and you coddle and feed them like an attentive mother hen. One ambitious chick yelps loudly, and one flies the coop. Keep clucking. You're doing fine.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You rarely get overemotional and moody, but today is a rare occasion. You're accepted this way, too. Emotions are a cleansing gift — part of what makes you human and loveable.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You can rationalize a position a million times over and still wind up at the beginning. But the beginning is a good place to be, especially regarding a moneymaking idea. Partner with someone more experienced.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: "I'm a Cancer dating an Aquarius. I looked up the astrology, and everywhere I look seems to agree that Cancer and Aquarius is NOT a good match. I've been dating mine for more than six months now, and though I can see the differences, we get along very well. Have I maybe not seen all I have to see yet?"

This is a common question, so thanks for asking! Your sun sign compatibility is only one small dot in a huge body of astrological information. Human beings are far more complex than just one planetary body — remember there are nine others to choose from. Your Venus could be softly kissing your sweetie's sun, or his Mars could be heating up your sun, vroom! But for a moment, ponder the sun's POV on the relationship. Your sun in Cancer makes you extremely sensitive, romantic and ultra-responsive to your partner on an emotional level. Your partner's Aquarius sun likes to shake things up a bit, but can be as security conscious as you, and approaches your relationship on a rational level. Differences make love juicy. Understand the differences in your personal styles, honor them, and you have the recipe for a great future together.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Joss Stone's voice sounds like honey, smooth and sweet. But it's her deep, powerful vocal range that's defined her soulful R&B style. Her Mercury is in graceful, strong Taurus, a sign noted for its great singers. She also gets jazzed about working with other artists thanks to Jupiter in Gemini. Expect this versatile lady to bring even more musical collaborations into her future work.

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.