Every year, Earth passes between Saturn and the sun, which we call a sun-Saturn opposition. The time around this opposition is the very best time to view Saturn, a.k.a. the Lord of the Rings, because it's closest to Earth and brightest in the sky. You'll also feel your life lessons strongly as Saturn, a stern taskmaster, looms nigh.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Do the ends justify the means? Ethical matters will arise. Everyone has a different idea about where the line is and who has crossed it. You don't have to draw a conclusion on the matter just yet. Think it over.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The Golden Rule only works well if what you want "done unto you" is the same thing the "other" in question would prefer. Better to find out what that person really wants first.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). When you spend time with your friend, what happens is more than conversation. There's a connection occurring that goes much deeper than words. You rely on your loved ones, and they rely on you.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). The simplest way to get what you want is to ask for it. Just because it's simple doesn't mean it's easy. In order to ask, you have to risk rejection. But if you don't ask, you risk more than that.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You will be keenly aware of your need for relationships with substance, and you'll be drawn to deep thinkers. It won't take much to start up an open and meaningful dialogue.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You'll be in a funny kind of mood. You may joke in a borderline appropriate way or issue a dare. You'll use the element of surprise. Your humor works because it's unexpected — and also because you're hilarious.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You usually like to consider every choice available to you. However, you'll currently be in an uncharacteristically decisive mood, and once you make a decision, you're not likely to back down, reverse it or change it.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Life will bring you superfluous ingredients. With so many choices available to you, it may be challenging to stick to the recipe. But if you do, you'll love what you accomplish with simply a plan and the patience to follow each step.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You'll be looking for opinions to guide your next move. You're not likely to trust advertisers or critics unless you know them personally. Friends will give you your best leads.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You'll finally get the chance to relax and release blocked emotions. As your sign mate Henry Miller wrote: "Our own physical body possesses a wisdom which we who inhabit the body lack."

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You're powerful, and you'll walk a fine line between being influential and being manipulative. Manipulation is when you trick someone into wanting what you'd like them to want and make them believe it was their idea all along.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Before you invent new methods to attain your goals, make sure you've given the old ones a try. The action that will be most effective may also be so obvious that it's easy to miss.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (April 15). The attitude of hope and optimism you developed as a child will color your world this year. Try to soar beyond the level of optimism you were taught, because what you believe will come true. May and June bring financial wins. You'll love the special attention you get in June. You'll present your works in a public forum in July. Aries and Virgo people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 30, 29, 1, 38 and 13.

FORECAST FOR THE WEEK AHEAD: Astronomers and astronomy enthusiasts with access to a telescope will thrill to the Saturnian views this week provides. As Earth passes between Saturn and the sun, Saturn and his rings will be both close in proximity and well lit. In astrology, Saturn is the planet of larger life lessons, the type that build character and shape destiny. And yes, these are not usually the easiest lessons to learn. Saturn likes to deliver like a mean ol' school marm in the days when rapping a child's knuckles with a ruler was a punishment considered neither cruel nor unusual. Whether Saturn decides to go hard or soft on you may depend on your attitude. As it is with all learning situations, if we are willing to give the lesson our full attention, and if we do not resist what is being presented, we placate the teacher and all is well. The Saturn opposition is exact on April 15 and will be strongly felt from April 9 through April 18.

Also featured this week is the solar transit into Taurus on Thursday, April 19. Taurus helps us value all that is sensual and beautiful. We value it so highly, in fact, that we want to own as much of it as we possibly can!

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Emma Watson grew up in the public eye as Hermione Granger and continues to enchant audiences with her graceful transition into adulthood and more mature roles. The glamorous Aries was born in France under an expansive Sagittarius moon. Venus in Pisces is an excellent aspect for actresses, lending tremendous empathy and the ability to slip easily into the psyche of different characters.

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.