Horoscopes by Holiday by Holiday Mathis

Do you suddenly have the urge to give a toast or speak publicly on a matter of importance? Are you inclined to lecture your family, friends or students, quite sure that you now have the perfect combination of words that will influence them favorably? Mercury enters Capricorn, ready to show us what it means to be powerfully persuasive.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). A timely, tender word will build bridges where chasms once were. Sometimes suffering is an opportunity to bring people closer together. A hand held is a hand healed.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). It's not really your bag to delegate responsibilities to other people. When you want something done right, you do it yourself. However, today, if you delegate, your results will be quite favorable. Something new is stirring.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You look fantastic without trying. This effortless beauty has little to do with makeup or clothing and much more to do with making your outside a simple reflection of your inner loveliness.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Lest you forget what it was like to be a kid, do some playing around. Tinker with a toy, do a cartwheel or bounce a ball. You'll get a very intelligent and adult insight out of a trip back in time.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You have come to realize that the best life is the one lived to help others. Your sense of compassion for those less fortunate is your guiding force and has made you a gift to those around you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). No, you can't make everyone happy all of the time, but you manage to lift the spirits of most of them. The best part is that you won't tire of this cheerleading — it feeds you, too.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Your path up to this point has been a mixed bag of triumphs and tribulations, and today leans toward the former. You've sown your good seeds, and harvest time is here.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). A gathering of friends will make you feel like all is well in the world. You'll take part in the life-affirming laughter. And you'll also be reminded that you have much to look forward to.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The way to squeeze the most out of your life today is to live dangerously. You are no stranger to taking chances, especially with your emotions. Tonight, you'll have fantastic stories to tell.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19).

There are people who give up at the first sign of hardship, and there are people who, when confronted with adversity, increase their determination. You are of the latter, which is why you'll win today.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Do business with a water sign — that's Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces. These signs need to feel that their purchase is not only helping them, but also helping the world at large.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). In doing what's good for you, you'll set a fine example for the rest of the group. Give yourself what you need in order to feel healthy and vibrant, and don't deprive yourself unnecessarily of the things you enjoy.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 5). What you believe will always be communicated. You'll decide to prevail no matter what — and you will, both when the going is easy and when it's challenging. Others get on board and help you succeed. January brings financial luck. February features new and nurturing love. Adventure calls in June. Aries and Virgo people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 40, 3, 20, 18 and 41.

HOW TO GET THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS WITH GRACE: With a late December or early January birthday, the end of the year is usually a time when Capricorn feels powerful and vibrant. Capricorn is the sign of social standing and is accustomed to taking on many of the holiday duties — not only his or her personal responsibilities, but also the holiday planning for family and perhaps even at work. In other words, Capricorn is the one sending out the bulk of the holiday cards, arranging the festivities and serving up the eggnog, too. Saturn's rule over Capricorn enrolls this sign as the keeper of timeworn traditions, so Capricorn usually feels comfortable executing any holiday task — so comfortable, in fact, that Capricorn is likely to take on way too much. Even the simplest job of wrapping a gift will become stressful when multiplied or added to a heap of other tasks. Capricorn will do well to be a little like Santa Claus. Get some elves and reindeer to help with the work. And if elves and reindeer are in short supply, delegate to friends and family.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Model turned mogul, Tyra Banks is a sophisticated Sagittarius with her natal love planet Venus in Capricorn, the sign of business, ambition and power. This combination indicates that Banks is driven by an intense curiosity about the world, and also by a secret desire to rule it! Banks will continue creating new media vehicles in which to present her many talents.

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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