Horoscopes by Holiday by Holiday Mathis

There are very few things you really need in life, and there are a great many people in the world who don't have even these. An opposition of the sun and Saturn urges us to be grateful for our abundant good fortune, however basic it may be. The moon is in Virgo, the sign of taking care of what you've got.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Giving gifts is one of life's true pleasures for you, as you look forward with youthful enthusiasm to the recipient's delight in receiving a well-chosen gift. A gracious recipient will keep you in this giving mood.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You bring projects to fruition, regardless of obstacles or delays. So don't bother getting mad or impatient when it's not going perfectly. This can only put a damper on the spirit of the project.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Your sense of adventure is highlighted. You're compelled to wander in order to satisfy your love of continual variety. Sometimes it's like your home is just a central location from which to move out.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Material possessions are important to you. You like your stuff. There's nothing wrong with that. But it's officially accumulated to a level that's out of control. It's time to let some of it go.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You can give advice without using your wisdom as a way to exert control over others. However, there are times when loved ones would benefit immensely from doing as you wish. This is one of those times.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 5). Your winning attitude brings outstanding success. Be tough, stay at it, and March brings long-awaited rewards. Exciting social circles are featured in April. Pursue hobbies to meet the most interesting characters. Love is among them. Trips in July are fortuitous. Wedding bells ring in October. Love signs are Sagittarius and Pisces. Your lucky numbers are: 35, 20, 45, 11 and 5.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Some have beautiful things surrounding them, and yet feel little happiness. Others take joy in whatever they have. You're somewhere in the middle now and will grow richer as you make gratitude your habit.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You're deciding who your true friends are. Maybe this will help: A friend is someone who, when you've fallen behind, will carry you — not point out your mistakes while passing you by.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). What you feel like doing doesn't make much sense. But your instinct is rarely wrong. Honor your process, go with your gut and ignore the advice that more cerebral folks have for you.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov.

22-Dec. 21). Your title should be Friend of the Most Excellent Order. This position doesn't get nearly the fanfare it should right now, but in the weeks to come you'll find out just how much you're appreciated.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You're in a quiet mood, yet strangely drawn to wildly outgoing people. This pairing may appear to be a case of the "odd couple," but it's actually a perfect balance. You and Aries people have an especially nice "click."

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You'd rather not get involved in other people's conflicts, but when it comes to family, it's hard to avoid. Besides, you can really shed light on the situation, and you do it with great diplomacy and empathy.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Your spirits are high. Leverage this optimism. With the right team and a vast network, you can do it all. Make moves to bolster those aspects of your life. Start by making a powerful friend.

PERSONALITY OF A PLANET: MARS: In 1900, the esteemed French Academy sponsored a contest. The first person to find life on another planet would win a hefty cash prize. The only exception being Mars — Mars was exempt. Why? Because everyone already believed there was life on Mars. Astronomers, after all, had seen impressive canals on the planet. This is perhaps why nine out of 10 sci-fi aliens are Martians, and not Uranians or Plutonians. As it turned out, the canals on Mars are an optical illusion, although water did exist on the surface of Mars at one time. Centuries before humans had ever sent probes to Mars, the planet had the reputation of a warrior. He was even named for the Roman god of war. Scientific investigation corroborated our intuitive beliefs that Mars represented volatility, action and physical force in that its surface is scarred by volcanic activity of epic proportion — one extinct volcano on Mars is three times as high as Earth's Mt. Everest. The energy of Mars can be destructive and frightening if it's not channeled into a higher purpose. But if well-guided, Mars represents energy and endurance, vigor and bravery, domination and confidence.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Mena Suvari has the intangible "it" quality that Aquarius women embody so well. Ruled by Uranus, the planet of surprises, there's something offbeat and unexpected about her performances. From her debut in "American Beauty" to a powerful stint on television's "Six Feet Under," to the upcoming remake of "Day of the Dead," Suvari is forging a career path that will take her into her 90s — really!

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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