The annual entrance of the sun in Leo electrifies the atmosphere with a golden surge of power. This transit jumpstarts passions and begins epic quests. Nothing seems too grand to pursue with Leo's royal sense of entitlement fueling the mission. The bigger the dream the more likely it is to engage our full attention.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Your commitment to others will guide your way. This makes life more enjoyable for you because your involvement keeps you from over-thinking or being self-focused to a fault.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Even though you may not be paid in dollars for most or any of today's efforts, you will be compensated, and you will have a rather strong opinion as to the adequacy of that compensation.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Many claim that family is one of the most important elements of their lives, but few act on the claim with as much passion and commitment as you show loved ones today.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Cover the basics so you can move on. Once material needs are satisfied, it is easier to focus on your need for attention, affection and the general sense that what you're doing matters to those around you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Something strange happens when you put your own goals on the back burner and strive to advance another person's goals. You suddenly become more confident and relaxed. It's what gets you recognized as a leader.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You go the extra mile to understand where loved ones are coming from, and it pays off. There's a sense of flow happening in your personal life. Your quality of life improves when your relationships improve.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You're somewhat of an open book right now. Maybe this is brave, or maybe it just takes too much energy for you to guard your heart. The way you look at a person suggests that you might be falling in love.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). For you, it's not enough to feel a social responsibility. You won't be satisfied unless you are actively involved in making things better. You'll get the perfect chance to do this today.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Sometimes your thoughts line up in a neat line, and other times they ping-pong unpredictably. This is a day when one thought leads to the next, purposefully taking you in a certain direction.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You've applied yourself to a task with great energy and commitment. It's not indulgent but necessary to balance the hard work of last week with self-care, rest and play.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It may take you a beat to get "into" what your loved ones are "into," but once you get in step, you'll happily share activities, memories and dreams. What could be better than this?

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You'll get the inspiration you need. Learning a little about a person will make you want to know much more. You have a voracious appetite for the details.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (July 22). Your calculated risks pay off in August. You'll put yourself in new scenarios and wind up an object of affection. There's a change in the way you make money in October, and it will be fun to employ new skills. Make requests in November, your month of irresistibility. You'll be accepted into an exciting group in 2013. Aries and Taurus people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 30, 25, 4 and 18.

FORECAST FOR THE WEEK AHEAD: The era of Leo begins at the start of the week as the sun returns to the area of the sky it calls home. Saturday's conjunction of the sun and Mercury will have an effect on most of the week, as will Jupiter's angle to surprising Uranus. Between Mercury's retrograde and the dynamic of Jupiter and Uranus, there will be a few surprises, shifts of power and unexpected plot twists. All in all, this is an electrically charged passion-play of a week. In some cases, the drama is so heightened that it's hard to take seriously — which is excellent because in most cases it really shouldn't be taken seriously. Have some fun disassociating from who you think you are, and take on a new role and point of view just for laughs. Like a skilled actor in a theatrical presentation, you should be able to explore a part without becoming that character.

The lunar aspects of the early week bring bonding moments Tuesday through Thursday as the moon glides from Libra into Scorpio. Partners work together toward mutual interests, relationships are harmonious, and there will be some thrilling sparks of romantic interests, as well.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Happy birthday to Disney wizard turned mainstream pop star Selena Gomez. In the year Gomez was born, the sun was in both Cancer and Leo. Her exact time and place of birth are needed to know her sign, although with her natal Mercury and Venus in Leo, she has strong Leo qualities regardless of her sun sign. Look for Gomez in next year's horror/thriller "Aftershock."

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