There are people who don't mind benefiting from another person's sense of obligation or lack of options. Then there are people who only want what's freely given to them. The first is about control. The second is about connection. False compliance is retaliation lying in wait. As the square between Venus and Mars breaks apart, we clearly see the interpersonal dynamics at play.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Your predictive guesses are more accurate than not. Use that today. Let it cue your preventative measures. As good as you are at solving problems in the moment, you get even better results if you prevent them before they happen.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Every group has someone setting the direction. Today's advantage comes from understanding that vision and helping move it forward. You don't have to be the loudest voice to become an indispensable one.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Small choices have outsized effects. Stay aware. Double-check your work. Keep reminding yourself what matters most. It's easier to steer a moving ship than to reroute one that's drifted miles off course.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Did you mess it up in some way? Good. Until you have a collection of interesting mistakes, you're not yet a master. The thing that doesn't work today may become the missing piece of something better later.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). People think refinement is something you're born with, but it's more about small, respectful choices made over and over. Today your lovely instincts and steady self-control make a favorable impression that will linger for years to come.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Talk can be cheap, and it can be expensive, too. The price is paid in attention. You'll notice who is asking for it and who is earning it. You're inclined to give your attention to the people who say less.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You've established a method that works, though it's not the only one that will. Switch the order. The beginning doesn't always belong at the beginning. Rearranging familiar pieces can reveal a stronger story, a better argument or a clearer path forward.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). There are very few things in this world that "always" or "never" happen. So the hyperbole may be unhelpful, especially today when the odd chance is the one that actually transpires and the open mind is richly rewarded.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Your first impulse is often worth following, but not always. Today it's those second through hundredth thoughts that are the most auspicious to follow. Well-considered strategies will be worth the time it takes to put them together.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You will sharpen your skills against the challenge of an equal. The match may end with a winner and a loser, but everyone walks away better for the match. A worthy opponent is a gift regardless of the outcome.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It's OK to leave a project unfinished until tomorrow or next week. Returning with fresh eyes helps you notice what today's version missed. Distance doesn't solve every problem, but it will make the next step rather obvious.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You'll deal with machines today, perhaps so much so that you'll develop a craving for the human voice, touch, and yes, the human foibles too. Because without human mistakes, there is no real connection.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (July 30). This is your Year of the Fuse, when one spark starts a much bigger chain of events: exciting, fortuitous and transformative. The high energy cycles are complemented by stretches of serenity. More highlights: An investment in yourself pays off. A casual acquaintance becomes an important ally. Your domestic scene gets a style update that also makes daily life less work. Gemini and Aquarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 14, 10 and 32.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Joey King flexes her lioness power by producing more of her own work and taking more creative control of her career. From child star to major movie star, King has become known for choosing roles that let her stretch and moving between genres. Her Queen-of-the-scene energy, creative confidence and loyalty to craft is an embodiment of Leo's magnetic courage. In the upcoming "Practical Magic 2," King joins Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock in a family of multigenerational witches.

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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