January 7, 2003

Capricorn vibes permeate the atmosphere, which makes it all the more important to honor the traditions set forth by those before. You can’t go wrong taking a conservative approach to the holiday, but Venus in Aquarius promises that no matter how you try to stick to the book, there will be creative touches that smack of a totally fresh attitude.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Unfinished business causes strain and stress. The remedy is easy! Get it done, and get back your old zest. Kids want to help you, so let them. Tonight: People will know you according to the friends you keep.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Yikes, a conflict: Run for the hills! That’s what you wish I would advise, but unfortunately, my sweet Taurus, this one is better if you face it. It might even back down, cowering in the shadow of your great courage.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Look at people’s motives for doing what they do. Insist on the quality you deserve. Friends will be asking for small favors. Define the terms first. So much is at stake now, it’s not a time to get bogged down in details.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Valuable alone time accelerates your learning and inspired a more complete understanding of where you are now. A loved one goes above and beyond the call of duty, and you’ll feel like you don’t deserve it. Poppycock!

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ll probably assess your current scene and think that this is beyond your control. That’s when you roll with it. If you argued with loved one or mate recently, do something romantic this afternoon to make up for it.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (January 7). The dazzling successes of the coming year are indeed something to look forward to. Change it up next month. Moves are lucky and will help you get your name out to a wider audience. A windfall is the result of your good press! Singles find love while traveling in February or May. Your best partners are Sagittarius and Taurus. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 24, 19, 11 and 6.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Opportunities for soul-searching and philosophizing are plenty. It’s a more vivid, colorful world when you understand the way things work on many levels, especially spiritual ones. Intelligence makes you exciting to be around.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Don’t buy into the mentality that says you should be further along in life than you are. Such thinking is a waste of time and takes away from your ability to do something in the present.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). This engaging day causes you to forget all about yourself. Someone smart and funny steals your heart. Keep your perspective positive and routine regular. Stop fretting about how attractive you are; others see your sexy spark.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Home and hearth beg for attention, and projects you’ve been procrastinating forever will suddenly seem very doable – perhaps all you need is an hour to cross off your list the very task you thought would be a pain.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Mental clarity is what you need to take advantage of the opportunity today presents. Unexpected events can have a fortunate effect on your finances or your personal life if you’re ready to jump on them.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Though home and hearth are where kindness begins, they are not where it should end. Get out and share with the world. Reality is relative. Don’t reject crazy notions in favor of conventional wisdom.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). What’s old may break down – just the excuse you need to make a change. Be grateful for that awkward situation you get thrown into – this could cement a romantic bond. Your to-do list is just plain too long.

WHEN THE NEW YEAR SMILES ON AMBITIOUS SOULS, HERE’S HOW TO TAP INTO YOUR INNER GO-GETTER (PART TWO OF SIX): The coming year will bring help to those who help themselves and will rain luck down on the moving target. But the truth is, every sign finds its energy from a different source. Where will you get your motivation in 2004? GEMINI: As long as your project is hip, new and a little glamorous, too, you’ve got energy to burn. Then, you get to the part where you’ve got to work with less-than-"with-it" people, and it’s a big energy suck. Lose preconceived notions about what is cool, and embrace differences in individuals. Fighting them will only slow you down and make you doubt yourself. In the end, it’s differences of opinion that make your project better. CANCER: If there is one point of view that will give you motivation to conquer new goals in 2004, it’s gratitude. When you are grateful for all you have and all you’ve been given, motivation remains high to add more skills, relationships and dollars to your scene. The opposite quality, a feeling like nothing is enough, will be your nemesis all year. Fight this feeling as you would a fierce enemy!

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Ricky Martin has the strong, stoic influence of his native Capricorn sun but also the intuitive, highly sensitive side of his Pisces moon. This makes for a difficult combination sometimes when he’s not sure who to get close to – but when he does get close, he gives everything. Great joy and great pain could be wrapped into one experience this year for Martin and other Capricorn sun/Pisces moon people.

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– Copyright 2004 Joyce Jillson