The end of a Mercury retrograde is a reminder that the law of reciprocity is more than an idealist's dream about putting good in the world and getting it back. It's more like a physical reality, represented this week like a pendulum that cannot help but distribute weight and force with symmetry. All will be balanced emotionally, physically and poetically in the bounty and justice served up.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). There's hard work involved in your next venture, and it's not something you're particularly looking forward to. However, you know you'll have a sense of accomplishment at the end of it, which is something you'll carry long after the work has been done. You'll also have a lasting nugget of self-esteem giving you energy and new ideas.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). If you feel you can't express the whole of who you are in one relationship, this is a normal circumstance, as relationships are bound by roles and their accompanying rules. In general, you need more room to grow what it means to be you. This will involve meeting new people and participating in different communities and activities.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). People choose wrong. It happens all the time. Usually, there are more chances. So, if you don't love how a recent decision worked out, just remember your decisions may be important but they don't define you. You're the chooser, not the choice. A touch of detachment is like a best friend this week.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). This week offers mystery and spontaneity. You'll appreciate a story that doesn't spell out every last detail. The magic lies in the gaps. Also, relationships leave room for a bit of freestyling, which suits you beautifully. You're at your creative best this week. By dancing to the rhythms you hear, you find out who else hears them, too.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Given the billions of people in the world, worrying about the approval of any particular person may seem pretty silly indeed, though it certainly doesn't feel that way when passionate emotions are engaged. There are moments in which your very existence seems to tilt on the axis of one person's approval, which is only human.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Relationships with a touch of ambiguity in their rules will be more interesting to you now. The uncertain territory will have you focused more on the journey than the destination. You'll savor the unscripted moments and develop a new relationship with the unknown.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Although you might not succeed easily, you will certainly succeed. Believe in your vision and step into it. Attracted by your courage, others will follow your daring lead. Your influence will grow in the weeks to come, and as it does, you'll discover more inner resources than you knew were there.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Words can be powerful tools, but it's through deeds that true intentions are revealed. Whatever it was people wanted to say, they will do it instead. Action will move the plot, forge the characters, define the times. In the silence of action, the most profound statements are made.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Fun takes courage. Excitement only sparks when there's an element of risk. You're not always in the mood to dance on the edge, but there are certain people who inspire you to be more daring. You'll be around them this week and cherish the moments you create together.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Good fortune will spring from celebrating the stable, dependable parts of life we might normally take for granted, not because we are ungrateful but because our focus is usually better applied to managing life's uncertainties. It takes a special effort, or a loss of grounding, to appreciate the security of reliable things.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It's said that lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place, but the Empire State Building gets several strikes a year, sometimes multiple times in the same storm. The architectural beauty is built to withstand the electrical charge, and so are you. Whatever energy comes your way this week, you'll direct it to its best use.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Courage is like a conditioner that coats every surface and makes things glide into position. Be strong and courageous. The thing you dread will be a nonissue once you get face-to-face with it. It's the anticipation that's got you emotionally knotted, but all knots will unravel without effort once you get into the mix.

THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS: To be internally measured and calm is to align with the workings of the world. You master this powerful mode of being, slipping into it with grace and ease. It's your year to shine a beacon of tranquility and wisdom from your heart into the hearts of those who need you and learn from you. Your inner calm will guide you through 12 months of joy, growth and boundless opportunities. More highlights: two big sales, an investment that doubles and three memorable excursions to new places.

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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