Truth be told, warm fuzzies aren't Mars's deal, and its stay in nurturing Cancer provokes surprising sensitivities from the red planet. Emotional sharing makes the red guy a bit uncomfortable, like asking a cowboy to wear an apron. As Mars fires up the sun in Capricorn today, we can look tough or be vulnerable, but it's hard to do both at once.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Is it your imagination, or do you keep on running into a certain someone? This is too coincidental to be accidental. Yep, someone likes you. Or is it you who subconsciously designs a way to run into him or her?

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You believe in someone's creative potential, and you back up that belief with solid support. You deserve the same for your own creativity. Seek partners who believe in you.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). There's a simpatico between mates that's too profound to ignore. Best friends push each other to new heights of accomplishment. You'll find that you feel stronger and more independent knowing you can depend on one another.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). The ideas are flowing, and you have unencumbered channels of expression. But somewhere in your day, make your loved ones the most important people in the world.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Everyone has opinions that are best kept private due to their incendiary qualities. However, today, many of those opinions that ought not be shared, well, are. And once the words are out, there's no taking them back.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 24). Dare to want. This year, your wants are delivered to you in exactly the manner you can best handle them. Connecting with new ambitions gives you vitality and optimism — what could be more attractive? Spring is busy, social and filled with options. Work and finances go better when your love life is decided. Virgo and Libra adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 30, 10, 33 and 20.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). There's no need to worry about what to give family members and friends. A heartfelt card or letter is the most precious and memorable gift, and it's always the right color and size.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Your belief in yourself gets stronger. It has to do with developing your considerable talents. Love blossoms when you're hard at work perfecting the thing you do best.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You can accomplish a huge amount if you feel motivated. If you don't feel motivated, it's because nothing on your to-do list is juicy enough. Raise the stakes. Challenge yourself and those around you.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Your spirit of generosity extends in the usual ways and in some unusual ways, too. A casual flirtation could get snagged into the drama of the holidays — your heart melts like a snowman by the crackling fire.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). When you're in an imaginative mindset, it's almost funny to you how quickly a persistent problem is solved. The best place for you to get creative is around a Pisces.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). When you make special holiday plans, don't forget to include a little somethin'-somethin' for yourself. You deserve to be delighted. Libra and Leo understand this and oblige.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Bold moves are good for your heart. Break down the walls that keep you from individuality, if there are any. Sing out loud, talk to people you don't know, be the first to stand up for the one who can't defend herself.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: "My family of four consists of all fire signs. My husband is a Sagittarius (Dec. 17, 1962), my daughter is an Aries (April 4, 2005), and both my son (Aug. 2, 2006) and I (July 28, 1965) are Leos. I am wondering, are we destined for a life of high drama and conflict? Are there any positive qualities to having so many fire signs in the same household?"

Look at it like this: You'll never be bored again. Fire signs don't own exclusive theatrical rights to drama (water and even some air signs are your competitors). With fire, you each need to be recognized as unique individuals. If you've ever seen a wildfire burn, you've seen how fire thrives by burning up energy, taking up air and space. So sharing space and air time will be an issue. In a house of extroverts, spending family time together is one noisy (and thrilling!) adventure. You're all elementally compatible, which means you understand one another's basic nature because it's your own: intuitive, impulsive and enthusiastic, exclamation point! No one holds back from self-expression. When one family member is upset, everyone knows it. This is truly helpful for parenting — there's less likelihood of any one person's needs getting overlooked.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Ryan Seacrest is a self-sufficient Capricorn. Ryan is an expert handler — expert at organizing and managing the lives of people around him simply because he's good at it. With his sun, Mercury and Venus in Capricorn, the public has an avid interest in his image — how he looks and who he's dating. This year, Ryan's international popularity soars.

Holiday Mathis is the author of "Rock Your Stars." If you would like to write to her, 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.