Horoscope (July 13, 2014)

Venus Harmonizes with Mars

Venus in Gemini forms a coquettish angle to Mars in Libra, and interest between men and women is stirred. Men and women understand one another better. For a moment, it’s as though the natural differ- ences between the sexes are cast in such a light that they are seen only as intriguing and endearing. Flaws transform into mere quirks.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Without a written plan, your intentions, however good they may be, will not be enough to get to the end result you desire. So write it down and carry it with you. Don’t let your writ- ten plan slip from view today.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Whatever the things are that make you feel in control, make sure you have them today. If not, the interesting chaos around is sure to lead you away from what you wanted to do.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Sometimes the fast and complete change is the one that you respond to best, but today you’ll have more success with a gentle and workable plan. Small improvements will add up to big differences.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Good manners will be even more important than good sense today. You will be amazed at what comes of an appropriate and cheerful interaction -- much more than the situation had promised.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Someone will seek your approval. This is generally a turnoff for you, as you prefer decisive, independent types. However, you’ll also find the dynamic flattering and very telling, too.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). While standing straight, bending backward and molding yourself to assist or support another, your spine will send a mes- sage to the world about how far you’re willing to go to help.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Your ideas are good, and you’ll be most persuasive as you sell them. You constantly think of what’s in it for the other person and highlight all the benefits you can think of. In the end, you’ll get what you want.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You can’t polish a jewel without friction. So when life rubs you the wrong way, don’t run. Lean into it. You’ll learn from the ob- stacles you must overcome today.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Gentle chang- es are made over time. Revolutionary changes are made forcibly in an instant. When you’re not sure which kind of change would be best, don’t make a change at all.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Strategic think- ing will be necessary to carry out the demands of the day. Lay the groundwork for your plans without tipping your hand. The rest of them don’t need to know what you’re up to just yet.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Do not seek sup- port for what you want to do. No one will understand until you have already created the dynamic you seek. There is power in action. Do the deed and the support will come later.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You are loved. You lose touch with this fact too often and forget about the many people in your life who need and celebrate you. Pictures will be a reminder. Take a trip down memory lane.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (July 13). Your new solar year opens with a bang as good fortune in your personal life brings excitement and action. Somewhere in the excite- ment you’ll find moments of tranquility, too. You’ll find that family and the spiritual aspects of your life bring you great joy through September. A financial aim is furthered in October. Sagittarius and Scorpio people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 1, 33, 2, 38 and 18.

FORECAST FOR THE WEEK AHEAD: The week after the full moon starts off with a day-after-the-party feeling, though a favorable angle of Venus to Mars makes for an extremely pleasant experience. Men and women get along, have excellent communication, appreciate their differences and are naturally inclined to be playful, tender and upbeat with one another.

The harmonious angle of Mercury to Neptune at the end of the week gives a kind of poetry to our correspondence. Here are some of the many things that could be born of such a fortunate arrangement between the communication planet and the king of Dreamland. You could:

Say a profound thing in a simple way.

Create art that speaks to many, each with a differ- ent interpretation.

Communicate with long gone ancestors. Feel connected to all things. Dream dreams that are more vivid than the scenes

in real life. Love in the depths of the unexplained and unexplainable. Meet coincidentally.