The morning Pisces moon whispers of dreamy adventures that the childlike afternoon Aries lunar influence will want to act on, regardless of practicality. As one wise Pisces said, "Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood." — Fred Rogers

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You can spot irritable people at a distance. If you can't avoid them altogether, you'll take care not to arouse antagonism on any level. You'll be all smiles and relaxation.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Your self-sufficiency is important to you and apparently to others around you. Do they want you strong just so they can lean on you emotionally? It may seem that way today.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). The world has often been improved through happy accidents. You'll experience one such felicitous mistake today. The trick is in spotting the good that comes of it.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You can always be proud of what you did out of love, loyalty and a highly developed sense of responsibility. Even if the outcome is not what you expected, your intentions resonate beautifully.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Emotional reserve is warranted. True friends do not fill their own selfish needs at your expense, but emotional vampires do. Resist the devious charms of known offenders.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). If you don't quite feel like your abundantly optimistic self, it may be that there's a dynamic in your life that is siphoning off your energy. Once you handle this drain, you'll return to your usual brightness.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Bad timing is one of the biggest obstacles to progress, but it can easily be conquered by careful attention to detail. Your observations will put you inside the present moment where all cases of bad timing are remedied.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You'll be drawn to efforts that will increase your physical strength and require a more deliberate style of action. Ultimately, you are striving to gain greater control over your domain.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). A delicious feeling of accomplishment results from the handling of simple things. There's something oddly comforting in the kind of task that might fall under the category of "busywork."

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Someone hungers for the kind of emotional nourishment that you may hesitate to give. You don't want to set up a dynamic that will be unpleasant to continue later.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You'll be reminded that what you want is really important and not only to you. You'll appreciate the way loved ones honor your requests, especially if they happen to bring a reverent quality of attention to the task at hand.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Even the happiest of circumstances require you to process your reaction. It could take the better part of the day. Should you have seen this coming? Next time you'll know the signs.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Oct. 26). A financial bonus in the next three weeks will allow you to take an exciting risk. November brings solutions to tactical problems, the most brilliant of which emerge from your subconscious mind during sleep or meditation. In December, there's something new about the way you integrate your talents into your work. Aries and Gemini people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 12, 13, 32, 17 and 38.

WEEKEND LOVE FORECAST: ARIES: You'll let go of a situation and gain power over it for the first time. TAURUS: You like people to feel safe and comfortable around you, but not so safe and comfortable that they forget to show respect. GEMINI: You won't be able to change what you can't accept. It's time to start finding a soft spot for the flaws. CANCER: You may have to coax yourself into socializing, but you'll be glad you did when you wind up making an amazing new friend. LEO: Your fantasies take wing while your reality relaxes on the couch. VIRGO: The history of a relationship will vividly color your decisions. LIBRA: Putting some distance between you and a potential love will produce the feelings of longing that deepen your bond. SCORPIO: You'll be honing your style. Your best inspiration will come from your relations, culture and environment. SAGITTARIUS: You'll be generous with your hugs and stingy with your kisses. CAPRICORN: Your version of a story differs from your partner's. In some ways, you're both right. AQUARIUS: You'll now take notice of an inheritance and figure out how to make the most of it. PISCES: Pining after someone helps you realize what you like most about that person.

COUPLE OF THE WEEKEND: However difficult the connection between Aries and Scorpio is for outsiders to understand, the people involved understand it even less. The Aries moon injects the relationship with even more fervor. Their passion for each other scrambles logic like a cellphone jammer. Scorpio can be on the reserved side, but Aries has a way of pulling out the full force of mysterious Scorpio's energy.

If you would like to write to Holiday Mathis, please go to www.creators.com and click on "Write the Author" on the Holiday Mathis page, or you may send her a postcard in the mail. To find out more about Holiday Mathis and read her past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.