Horoscopes by Holiday by Holiday Mathis

We start the day under a Scorpio moon and come out with a Sagittarian lunar influence. The old saying goes that sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. It's also said that there are times when you have to lose to win or drop out to gain ground. Such seemingly counterintuitive methods could be very effective on this split-toned day.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Your impulsive moves are so infused with your own special brand of mad-dash excitement that you could win the heart of an admirer by doing nothing short of just being you.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Actors understand the power of costuming. Humans tend to act in accordance with their clothes. Use this power to your advantage today, and dress the way you want yourself to behave.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). The good thing about the winter sun is that it sets earlier in the day, leaving you with all the night you need to work out your brilliant ideas. Your candle is burning hot right now.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You know better than to wait around for something to happen. You have a lot to do and little time in which to do it, so don't hesitate. Take a moment to consider your course, and go after it.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The traffic seems a little lighter than usual; the songs on the radio, a little brighter. You almost think the announcer is more cheerful. Actually, this is the cheer you yourself are bringing to the day.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You feel especially attractive today. Things don't always line up this well, but today the slot machine is 7's all the way across. Take advantage of this special moment.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). It's been so noisy lately that you can't hear yourself think. You need to get away, for a few days if possible, but even 20 minutes of quiet alone time will do much to restore your equanimity.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). It's surprising, the games people play. Thankfully, those closest to you seem to be exempt from the exhausting human dramas you see spinning out all around you. Your group of close friends will soon increase by one.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Some people have a hard time letting the wind carry them where it will. That's not your challenge. It's way harder for you to stay in one place for any duration. You're in luck. You'll be asked (and maybe paid) to wander.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Your strategy of keeping your problems to yourself is being threatened by a concerned (and tenacious) friend.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You remember what it felt like when you finally reached a long sought-after goal. You're headed for another such milestone. Keep moving toward it. You will get there.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Haste makes waste, but fast action gets the job done. You will negotiate the fine line between rushing and doing things quickly and well. Someone is watching you and learning from your methods.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 6). Imagination is your forte. Your fertile mind comes up with so many fantastic ideas this year that you could be hired in a creative capacity. You'll be introduced to new tools in March. April brings a happy end to a longstanding battle that has affected your family. July increases your financial means. Scorpio and Libra people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 5, 20, 10, 24 and 17.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: "I'm a Capricorn. A few years ago, I met a Gemini who I liked very much and decided to mentor professionally. At the time, I had more experience in a very competitive field and offered to work with her and show her the ropes. I enjoyed working with her so much that I decided to partner with her on certain deals. I shared everything — all my best ideas, my contacts, sweat, money and other resources. Well, our endeavors went well, and she parlayed the win into other deals without me. Now she has surpassed me professionally and basically left me in the dust. I'm bitter. Beyond bitter. How can I get past this?"

Oh, dear, deliciously ambitious Capricorn, you can really lean on your strengths for this one — your tenacity and audacious goal setting will serve you very well as you remedy the situation. My advice is to exact the best revenge that's ever been invented — success. Oh, how wonderful you'll feel when your colleague is seething in sickening jealousy. What professional goal can you achieve that will make her stomach ache with envy? Do that one. Get to work now — there's no more time to waste at this pity party. Best of luck!

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Mockumentary king Christopher Guest has a reputation for making people laugh with his movies and preferring not to do so in interviews and personal appearances as himself. His natal chart indicates that the Aquarian artist is highly sensitive, with Mercury and Venus in Pisces. Humor is perhaps his way of processing feelings about a world that can be as harsh as it is funny.

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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