Three of my favorite people have birthdays this week. I'm especially fond of people born during this transition from regimented discipline and steady accomplishment (Capricorn) to erratic, freedom-loving genius (Aquarius). They tend to bear some of the best traits of both those signs, in my highly subjective opinion. Straightforward Capricorns bore me, and ungrounded Aquarians simply fail to interest me. Even if it's not your birthday, make sure your root (your sense of your life's overriding purpose) is thick, deeply planted and strong, but don't forget to grow myriad branches that can catch and play with every bit of sunlight, joyful gust of wind or child who climbs into your arms.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
While I respect the slightly cynical seen-it-all calm of city people, I also appreciate the gritty, grounded, slow serenity of wise country folk. What I dig more than either, though, is the person who can jive with both worlds. Too many city slickers are bewildered, disgusted and lost in a natural setting, and bumpkins in a metropolis are even more pathetic. You have a knack for expertly navigating two different worlds (the symbol for Pisces is two fish swimming in opposite directions). However, one is being seriously neglected. Perhaps it's time you escaped your cramped apartment and headed out to the woods to look at the stars. Or maybe you should tune out the birdsong and start listening to the beautiful siren song of your closest megalopolis. Either way, feed the part of your soul that's starving this week.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Your sometimes humorous lack of self-awareness is both a strength and a weakness. While your innocent realness is appealing, attractive and wonderful, it sometimes works against you when you need to come off as knowing and aware of how you're perceived by others. No matter; that's why you have friends who are good at this sort of thing. Since this is one of those weeks when your cool will be tested on many different levels, trust your amigos, especially when they disagree with you.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Daddy Saturn is hardly a benevolent father figure; he's no gift-giving Santa Claus. He's more like a military authority, rewarding discipline, determination and strict obedience to exacting standards. Since he's been working out in your sign, you've had to struggle extra hard to get anything done. While you're stuck with strenuous exertion just to accomplish basic tasks for some time yet, I predict this week that should ease up a little. As long as you do all the pre-steps right, you ought to be able to get the results you want on the first try; which, you have to admit, is a far sight better than how it's been the past few weeks.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
My blood is incredibly thin. After spending last winter touring sultry Asian countries and this one in sunny Los Angeles, I have so little tolerance for the cold, it's pathetic. It may be psychological rather than physiological, but I'm hypersensitive to winter. It doesn't matter whether it's in our heads or our toes?if we feel it, it's true. I'm not concerned about you getting too used to the temperature outside so much as the one inside. You've gotten so accustomed to "the way things are" in your emotional climate that I fear you'll forget how to cope with anything different. I know you like the status quo in this case?however, for your own sake, at least imagine what you could learn to appreciate if things changed. That way, when things do transform later this year, you'll know exactly what you want to manifest.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
While I'm philosophically opposed to legal restrictions on cigarette-smoking (like forbidding it in restaurants), I personally enjoy it when it means I won't have to inhale someone else's reeking fumes. I can't advocate a ban, politically, because I fear line-drawing like this: restricting freedom to protect it, supposedly. Not much further down that path are more prohibitions of dogs, babies, scooters or perfume?all things that could potentially infringe on others' "freedom." Ridiculous, huh? This week, instead of relying on some passive-aggressive external rule to protect you, do it yourself?open your big fat mouth and say something, already. Now that's freedom.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
I'm a wimp when it comes to standing up to my emotions. Like you, I'm occasionally swept along on tides of self-deprecation or self-doubt. Luckily, experience has given me perspective. I've learned that even the most intense emotions will pass, inevitably?and I'll usually be stronger and smarter for letting myself go through them. Now that I'm able to see beyond the next mood swing, the rides they take me on are much more enjoyable?because I know at some point they'll end, and I'll be allowed off and let free to wander the amusement park (um, life) to look for my next frightening thrill fix. Let me ask you: Do you like the ride you're on now? No? Then don't fucking get back in line for the same thing when you're let off this time! Look for a new soul-twister, one that you might actually like being freaked out by.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Maintaining a safety net of friends is important?that support network can take care of you whenever you're in over your head, which is often (usually helping other people). With your ruling planet, Mercury, in Aquarius, you may be feeling exceptionally individualistic and perhaps slightly more selfish than usual. Aquarius is also the sign of community, though?so spend this week developing and strengthening yours. That doesn't mean offering your help to your friends necessarily, even though that's your first inclination. Sometimes, the best way to make someone feel they can rely on you is by demonstrating that you depend on them once in a while. Ask your friends for aid. Let them feel needed. Then you know they'll never hesitate to admit they need you in the future, thanks to the precedent you set.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Looking at pictures of myself as a young child is like looking at photos of some other kid. I can't remember any of the activities I was involved in at all. It serves to remind me of how much a person changes. We become different people throughout our lives. In that light, it's obvious why some relationships simply don't last?the transformations each person goes through throw them out of sync, make them incompatible. This applies to friendships, too, not just romantic relationships. This week, allow your friend to grow beyond what you've known of her. Let her history be simply that, already.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Second place ain't good enough for me, either. My ego simply won't allow it. It's galling to admit that I'm simply not the best at everything I do. But I've finally reached a level of maturity that allows that truth. Sometimes, even for you, first place is just out of reach. Does that mean you should stop trying? No?for two reasons. First, because you may surprise yourself and achieve it anyway, and second, because sometimes second place is better than nothing, which is what you'd have otherwise.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Call the record books. This has got to be good enough for Guinness or Ripley's or someone. You think? Sorry, baby. Your accomplishment is something to be proud of, but it's not likely to get the kind of attention you desire?especially not from those folks (they seem to be more interested in bizarre nonaccomplishments, like "the world's largest facial tumor"). Without the recognition you so richly deserve (and probably won't get, unfortunately) hardly anyone will ever know how great you are. But you know, and your resulting confidence and poise will show, even if the feats behind it do not.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
I feel blessed to have friends who are dedicated to supporting me and who believe in me. Sometimes it's enough to ride along on talent alone. But in this complicated world, sometimes it takes a village to generate success. Sometimes the community that promotes you is more important than personal aptitude; just look at marketing geniuses like Madonna and Martha Stewart. Self-reliance is crucial?but so is knowing when to ask for help, and to accept it?like this week.
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