In much of the world the first of May passes as gently and quietly as a spring breeze. But peek into certain circles and you're likely to find feast, fire, ash, music and joyous revelry. The spiritual Pisces moon suggests good fortune will come of performing your own private ritual to honor all that grows and summon protection from all that eats it.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). When you feel yourself getting angry, it's actually a good sign. Anger makes things happen. You can channel this well and use the power and momentum to make a difference.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You may have a sense of being locked into your life, but don't forget that you're the one who put that safety harness on, and you have the key to it, too. Unlock anytime you wish.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). This is the perfect moment to examine the way you begin and end the day. A few healthful tweaks to your routine in this regard will move you swiftly toward the life you want for yourself.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You'll be right in the middle of some decidedly unglamorous task when a generous force chips in to help. As if by magic, the whole job will get lighter and the rewards for doing it will get heavier.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). In the art studio of life, seek the larger canvas. Your ideas will be big or they'll be small but plentiful. Either way, you'll have more than enough creativity to fill up the whole thing with color.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). New discoveries are all well and good, but if you can't integrate them into your daily life they will quickly fade from memory. That's why it will be important to act right away on what you learn.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Your truest sense of inner power comes from deep inside you. So you may find it curious how badly you want to possess a certain external status trophy for all to see and envy. Keep this motivation in check and all will be well.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Delegation is an art. Like all art, the way to get good at it is to practice. Keep reaching out. Eventually you'll become masterful at finding the right person for the job and at the right cost, too.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Words may escape you. Your brain is running on overdrive to work out problems you may not even be consciously aware of just yet. Don't worry about what to say. There are many better ways to communicate than talking.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You're too practical to build your day around your hopes for creativity, romance, fun and pleasure. You're also too practical not to realize that getting more of these things in your life is only going to make it fuller and longer.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). There are forgotten or newfound treasures lurking in your closets, kitchen drawers, garage ... anywhere you would go to store excess stuff will wind up being lucky for you today.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). It's one of those rare days in which the way you see yourself happens to be perfectly in line with the way other people see you. There are multiple ways to benefit from this dynamic. Don't waste it!

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (May 1). There is much to learn and even more to teach this year, as you enter a deeply satisfying cycle of reciprocity. June brings a kind of emancipation, and you'll go into a new venture personally empowered. Your family will grow in August. A global mindset will help you make money with October's opportunity. Capricorn and Gemini adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 3, 19, 22, 35 and 16.

FORECAST FOR THE WEEK AHEAD: The first day of May falls near the halfway mark between the spring equinox and the summer solstice, a time when Irish farmers would send their cattle out to pasture to fatten up. It was a frightening prospect, sending one's livestock/livelihood into the open where they were vulnerable to hungry predators and nature's whims. The farmers wanted to feel that gods were on their side in this regard: Their families' lives depended on it. The celebration of Beltane included rituals to summon protection of the gods. A great fire was built in the center of the gathering place. All other fires around were extinguished then relit with flames taken from the group bonfire. Cattle were paraded around the blaze and run through the ash and smoke to the green fields of tomorrow with heaven's blessings on their side.

The sun, Mercury and Venus are now all in the sign of the cow — or, more precisely, the bull, a symbol of livelihood. Most families are dealing in dollars instead of livestock these days, and the Taurus energy has us focused on what we need to do to protect our assets and balance them with our appetites. The supermoon on Friday, new in Taurus, will launch our best efforts in this regard.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Tim McGraw's inspiring hit single "Humble and Kind" is being turned into a book available just in time for graduation season. McGraw was inspired by his own graduating daughter to sing an encouragement toward mindfulness, compassion and selflessness. The Grammy winner was born when the sun was in rootsy Taurus, the sign of the voice, with a moon in Aquarius, the sign of altruism.

To write to Holiday Mathis, visit www.creators.com and click "Write the Author" on her page.

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