Saturn stands still before retracing its steps through Aries. In the days surrounding the station, its influence is especially concentrated. As the planet appears almost motionless before reversing direction, Saturn's lessons turn inward. The real test isn't what the world asks of you but what you ask of yourself.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). People rarely understand the difficulty of a task until they try it themselves. Today, that means letting someone struggle through a task, even if you could do it faster yourself. Experience teaches lessons that explanations couldn't.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Whatever you pay close attention to becomes more interesting. Other people also notice where your attention goes, and today they will follow along, so your curiosity creates more curiosity.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Whether you're doing something because you want to, doing it out of duty or acting out of fear of what will happen if you don't, the point is that you're in motion. Your work will have a lucky outcome.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). It's time to treat yourself like an athlete the day before the race. Sleep, water and nutrition in the proper amounts are the cornerstone of your well-being and the reason you can do your best work.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Inspiration can strike, but mostly it doesn't. Often it tickles. Other times it nudges. Sometimes it puts a hand on your shoulder and gently guides you in a direction. That's the kind that's happening now for you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Relationships run on a mix of spoken agreements and unspoken expectations — some obvious, others so deeply ingrained that they go undetected until someone breaks them. Today, you'll notice assumptions that have been running in the background. That awareness changes everything.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). If you followed your every impulse, life would get chaotic and exhausting. So when your options narrow, you may as well consider that a good thing. The path gets easier to follow once there are fewer exits to distract you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). The person you're with every moment of every day is you. When that relationship is easy, everything else requires less effort. Today, you're really not looking to any person, place or thing to complete you. You're looking, yes — but you're looking for the sake of discovery, not rescue.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Just because you love someone very much doesn't mean the relationship will be without conflict. Love doesn't guarantee agreement. It simply gives people more reasons to keep trying after they disagree.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). If you miss a beat, don't scramble back to try to pick it up. Be like the professional musicians — pick it up next time it comes around. Always be moving forward. The beat goes on.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Are you spending too much effort to keep something alive? That's what happens when the relationship, project or circumstance doesn't breathe on its own. Maybe it's time to release what asks more than it gives.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). However well you love a plant, it will grow according to the sunlight and soil. Today, focus less on trying harder and more on creating the conditions where people, projects and even your own spirit can flourish.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (July 26). It's your Year of the U-Turn. There's much going right, but for the areas of your life that just aren't working? You will turn them around, with or without permission. And after a bit of backtracking, your destination changes. More highlights: A relationship gives you what you've longed for. Your shining example will be followed. An income opens up — you're so good at this! Libra and Scorpio adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 2, 14, 9 and 30.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Like a Leo, if you start Mick Jagger up, he'll "never stop, never stop, never, never, never stop" writing, performing and collaborating. He's already working on the follow-up album for the recently released Rolling Stones album "Foreign Tongues." Jagger has the lion's hyper-wattage star power throughout his chart. Mars in Taurus is a sign of tenacity, longevity and an abiding love of the finer things in life. Venus and Neptune in Virgo are the indicators of a voracious appetite for work.

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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