Just because something is fun doesn't mean it's effortless. Mercury's retrograde in Leo teaches us what theme park designers already know: "Fun" is often something that looks easy, though is actually quite thought out and possibly more expensive, too. Ultimately, though, the universe aligns to support our sense of play. Extra points go to initiators. When in doubt, start with making yourself smile, and what follows will be for the uplift of all.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). It is possible to be very receptive and yet not very verbal, which is something to explore at choice moments of the week. The truth keeps things very simple, but not as simple as saying nothing. The most profound truth is beyond words. It's also the safest truth in some tricky social scenarios.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The week features an experiment in asking for what you want. It takes confidence to make a big ask. The things that are bigger than you'd usually go for seem out of your league. This is the advantage of naivete — not knowing the parameters of scale makes it easier to ask for what is preferred instead of what is typical.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). There's an element of risk that goes into being creative. An artist never knows how the thing they intend to make is going to turn out. You'd rather experiment on things that are uninteresting or things that seem like they couldn't possibly be worse. You'll take something boring and push it until it moves into absurdity.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Stiff competition will inspire you to work harder than you intend to. As you sweat, toil and figure things out, you are already winning. Perception and attitude will be the deciding factors of the outcome, though the results don't matter nearly as much as what you learn. There's no way to lose.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Remember the time you aggressively ignored someone and this somehow had the effect of drawing them magnetically toward you? People are complicated! But you're two steps ahead of it this week, and it's exciting to predict social behaviors that had you baffled in year's past. Now scenarios play out like a game.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Bravery is an admired quality for good reason. Without it, progress is impossible, as is adventure, leadership, change, creativity and even love. The brave will often take a hit or two and have the scar to prove it, which is a symbol of experience. Whether emotional or physical, wear the scars with pride this week.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You'll foresee the long-term effects of your actions with surprising accuracy. You'll project the outcome of not only the action but the action repeated thrice, a dozen or a hundred times. You'll also see the benefits to not doing a thing. More options make you feel free. You'll shape your future with intention.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). This week taps your talent for navigating nuance. Your clever way of managing complexity is not what the others around you would do, and that's why they're fascinated. Be confident. Everyone is different and so will be their style. Your method is not only valid but also groundbreaking. If it works, it works.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You'll embrace collaboration. There's merit to blending, agreeing and conforming, and you'll leverage the power of unity this week. Even so, taking initiative at a key moment will count for more points than what you do to join along. Strategize the matter. Do not act impulsively. Cherry-pick a choice opportunity.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Even in the best relationships, not every moment you create together is going to be agreeable. Take the moments of a relationship out of context and some may seem downright unbalanced. But long relationships are pendulums. Every move has a counter move, and what counts is the long game and how it all settles over time.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Leading others into the unknown requires a heart full of courage and a vision that sees beyond the horizon. You have both this week, which is why you'll be chosen to guide a group. You may not feel confident about it, but you'll act as though you do, which inspires trust and helps others embrace or ignore uncertainty — both effective.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Knowing well how unrealistic aims can lead to stress and self-criticism, you accept life at the pace it naturally settles into. Let go of ambition to aim instead for the sense that you're moving forward and improving. Avoid clinging to any particular idea of perfection. It feels so good to accept yourself entirely as a work in progress.

THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS: It's a thrilling puzzle of a year, and the picture coming together is grand indeed. You don't have to figure out how everything fits right away. It's more fun when you take your time, savor the game, and let new developments surprise you. Someone's smile will become your daily uplift. More highlights: Social experiments, travel and education lead to new relationships. You'll be an excellent predictor of people and markets. A location change has happy effects on your rhythms and schedule.

Holiday Mathis' debut novel, "How To Fail Epically in Hollywood," is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.

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