A soldier is someone who agrees to stand between danger and others, even when the outcome is uncertain. While training, discipline and the chain of command serve the mission, it's the individual commitment to a group, a protective instinct and the willingness to risk for something beyond the self that forms the heart of what we honor in silence at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Envy is an effective teacher, specific and assertive in showing you precisely what to focus on to enrich your life. No, it's not trying to have what they have, it's finding the version that can be all yours.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Today brings the reminder that abundance isn't always the goal. There's a point in which too much becomes cumbersome, an obstacle rather than a boon. Travel light, keep operations lean and clean.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Someone who wants only your happiness will help create it by merely sharing experiences with you. You'll fall in and out of sync and that's part of the music, too. The rub, echo and syncopation is what makes it exciting.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). There's always going to be a gap between the way a person sees themselves and what others see. To have the maximum influence, empowerment and options, make this gap of perception as small as possible.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Doing the right thing will tie you down a bit because good choices often come with structures. Many jobs, relationships and roles limit your ability to be spontaneous. You can still have your free time though — you just have to plan it.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Oddly, running can feel more like flying than a ride in a jet does. You have options. Consider how they feel, not just what they are. The life that matters is the one that touches your senses.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). A situation comes with baked-in stress, expectations and timing. Even so, the pressure that goes with the job will not be a problem. After all, you've been known to do very well, if not your best, under pressure.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). The poker player keeps cards "close to the vest" so they remain a secret until the game forces their hand. Likewise, it will help you to play today's "games" with the kind of neutrality that keeps your position mysterious.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Remember when you were sad to lose something, only to be happier than ever once it was gone? There's something in your world right now that, were you to drop it, would significantly improve your mood.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Creatures in your care run on their own logic. They ignore instructions, follow impulses, create minor chaos and still win your devotion. You appreciate them for their nature, not their compliance, and that affection circles back to you.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You've been served — maybe even saved — by science and technology. And yet, these schools do not reign supreme over your quality of life. Today's enhancements will come from the realm of love, spirituality, philosophy or art.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Pattern detection is a superpower that can be applied widely. You track the plot, noting interactions and dynamics that repeat. Record and preserve your observations so others can learn from them, too. There may be money in this later.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (May 25). Welcome to the year of Just What You Want. You experiment and home in on what fits, then further refine your taste, letting go of the excess and zeroing in on what gives life potency. More highlights: Beautiful interactions will become stories for your legacy. You'll implement a stellar plan to lucrative result. Emotional fortification makes physical health more vibrant. Virgo and Aquarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 2, 19, 1, 11 and 41.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Mike Myers makes a return to the big screen this summer in the fifth installment of the beloved "Shrek" series. With his many characters, including Dr. Evil, Myers embodies the Gemini talent for impersonating one's own evil twin. The "SNL" star alumnus is a quick-witted, intellectual Gemini, born under an intuitive Cancer moon with Mars in entertaining Leo.

For more Holiday magic, visit HolidayMathis.com. To find out more about Holiday Mathis and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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