Historically, Halloween grew from Samhain, the Celtic festival marking the end of harvest and the start of the darker half of the year. Later, the church layered All Saints' Day on Nov. 1, a time to honor saints and the departed. This year, both aptly occur as the moon moves through Pisces, the sign of spirits and souls. Together they remind us that this is a season of thresholds, where endings and beginnings burn in the same flame.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Pass on the easy pickings and cheap thrills. You won't get much satisfaction from low-effort wins or surface pleasures. You're wired to go after goals that matter, where the outcome really counts. For you, the value is in the effort and growth it takes, not just the prize. Winning without challenge doesn't feel like winning at all.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You're a talented communicator, and this week, you're especially adept at storytelling. Perhaps it's because you realize that good stories aren't just born, they are developed. Attention to craft gives your words the power to inform, persuade, entertain and empower.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Picture your success and set your course accordingly. From there, any detour is fear in disguise. Distraction? Fear in disguise. Overpreparing, overpurchasing, second-guessing? Fear in disguise. Refuse those temptations and you'll hit your first milestone by week's end. Don't forget to celebrate!

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Frustration comes from pushing a personal timeline on an existence that resists following instructions. Your head says, "This should be done by now!" and life says otherwise. Accept that everything unfolds in its own rhythm, and every rhythm has its own beauty — even the one that runs slower than your heartbeat.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You dream vividly. The realism is not always fun. In some dreams, you're so committed to working things through that you forget all you have to do to end the scene is wake up. This week, waking life is also exactly this. When you're not fully conscious of the problem, noticing is the first real power you have.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). This week presents common problems you've solved many times before, but even if you already know the solution, it's still worth inviting others in. Why? You get to practice openness and connection. You learn how other people think and see things differently. And by comparing other answers to yours, you realize just how wonderfully distinct your perspective is.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Ideas can feel so feasible, plausible, simple and easy in your mind when, in reality, every plan has constraints. The two that stand out: money and time. This week, seize the chance to test your plans. A trial run or a prototype will show a more accurate picture of the effort and resources necessary to bring the idea to life.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Your desire to understand new territory is compelling, but what's even more remarkable is your willingness to traverse the landscape to know it. No theories or maps, no thumbing through the brochure or learning from the Travel Channel — you go there. Whether it's emotional, cultural or actual landscape, you walk it.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Your special charisma makes an impression. But what makes you unforgettable isn't your stance or your style — it's the rare gift of your attention. You listen fully, with an open heart and a curious mind. You believe there's something unique and fascinating in each person, and people feel more interesting and alive around you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). People ask questions using words that only loosely correlate to the real question. And the interesting part is that this week, very often, everyone knows what everyone else means. But not always. Just to be sure, leave a wide berth for interpretation in all communication. It also helps to assume the best.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Feelings have a curious way of sneaking up on you. When emotions arrive unexpectedly or feel stronger than you anticipate, instead of resisting the motion, let it move you. Let it churn up the beliefs, memories, needs from the deep. Let it surface. Everything below has the potential to enlighten, the potential to heal.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). In unpredictable relationships, your body tracks cues as a kind of weather report. It's OK to be in a better mood because someone reacted warmly or in a worse mood because they didn't. That's human. The goal isn't to become immune to connection; the goal is to become anchored in self-appreciation first.

THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS: Welcome to your Year of the Open Heart in which you trust enough to be vulnerable, receive enough to be fulfilled and overflowing, and give enough to change people and the world. You will be followed and tended with devotion. More highlights: There's a seemingly silly or frivolous pursuit that brings good luck to your financial sector. Your work life stretches into the future with new people, methods and tools. Travel connects you with family and shows you where you can next use your talents.

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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