FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2011 by Holiday Mathis on Creators.com

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FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2011

The Virgo moon urges us to analyze our situation logically. While we know that what is reasonable and factual doesn't paint the whole picture, it certainly leads us to a more accurate understanding than could happen were we never to focus our left brain on the issues at hand.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Your ability to help others will depend on seeing how they really need help and — perhaps more importantly — how they don't. Some kinds of help will make things worse.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). There are times when you think that being shy isn't acceptable. You will feel compelled to reach out and risk rejection, partly because you see potential benefit and partly because it's the right thing to do.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Becoming a superstar depends on completing several actions in the direction of your dreams — not just one or two. Go over the top wherever possible. Use your imagination.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). If someone is pulling you down, say goodbye for a while. The break could be the best thing that ever happened to you or the other person. It's nice to know where you stand as an individual, outside of the context of a group.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You have a way of making things work out for the more neurotic people in your crowd. You calm them and help them relax into all that's going on beyond their control.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You are highly influential now, so use your powers for good. You can convince someone to do what's right even though it might also be the more difficult choice available.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You have no desire to do what everyone else is doing. In fact, there is so much activity going on around you that you may feel the need to sequester yourself to get some peace and quiet.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Your honest opinion will be appreciated by one who has proved strong enough to hear the truth. That same opinion might simply be too much for a person who is less mature.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You never stop improving. Your commitment to making life for you and yours better and better will be the driving force behind your choices for the next three days.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Rules and contracts may be restrictive, but those restrictions may not be enforced. People deal with other people — not with paper. Agreements come together outside of the norm.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). People around you may use sarcasm so they don't have to show their true emotions. Your compassion will help you see beyond what's being said and understand the deeper emotional implications.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You won't be met with rejection, but your ideas may be confronted with indifference. That's almost worse than a strong "no" if you let it hang you up in limbo land. Move forward with velocity.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 16). You'll benefit from a holistic approach to living. Adjustments in diet and your choice of entertainment will have a profound effect on seemingly unrelated areas such as your professional and romantic life. Education figures prominently into the year. Financial risk will bring a February reward. Your family expands in June. Taurus and Scorpio people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 11, 20, 14, 39 and 5.

WEEKEND LOVE FORECAST: ARIES: You have forgiven and forgotten the sins of a past love, but you'll not tolerate the behavior in a current love. TAURUS: Your perceptions of status will affect how much attention you'll give to a certain someone. GEMINI: You find many people attractive, but you are more inclined to spend your time with one ultra-attractive person. CANCER: The opinion of family members will affect how you and a loved one relate to each other. LEO: You'll maintain a good deal of flexibility in your plans because of your desire to include someone special. VIRGO: Your current needs for attention are different from what they were. LIBRA: To whatever degree you can, you'll trade places with your love so that you may carry this person's burden awhile. SCORPIO: You'll mind your own business, and a loved one will appreciate the privacy. SAGITTARIUS: Your care for a loved one's family will make him or her love you even more. CAPRICORN: You will be extremely grateful for all that friends do for you, including helping you come across well to the one you want to impress. AQUARIUS: What you read will spice up your love life. PISCES: You'll accept a loved one's condition, but at the same time, you are secretly intent on helping this person change.

COUPLE OF THE WEEKEND: With the moon in Virgo and the sun in Sagittarius, these two mutable signs discover the many qualities they have in common. Both have an expansive sense of the world, which Virgo expresses in a desire to nurture and grow things and people. Sagittarius prefers to exhibit the trait through exploration and acquisition. Combining their skills, they will build something quite magical together.

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.