Before there were fireworks or ice cream trucks or Bonnaroo, the ancients from Scandinavia to Egypt gathered to celebrate the summer solstice with fire, feasts and flower crowns. The longest day of the year is a threshold of abundance, vitality and light. Though modern celebrations may look different, the spirit remains the same: a joyful acknowledgment that, as long as the sun is shining, so should we.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Even with basic needs well covered, somehow other needs feel more essential to survival. For instance, relationships affect your appetite and can feel more important than food. And there are quests, entertainments and interests you're willing to pursue through discomfort. This week, you'll forge forward for thrills and experience.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Maybe you're not in a particularly social mood, but almost everything you need to move forward involves making connections. The more you engage with people, the easier and more rewarding it becomes. And this week, the more people you meet and get to know, the better and more interesting your opportunities will be.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Strong feelings can be difficult. They can disrupt plans or make situations messy. They can feel overwhelming or take a long time to process. But they also make life richer and more vivid. Your emotional intensity is part of what makes you feel deeply connected to people. This week, your experiences and creativity will be lit with the fire of your passion.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). The kind of praise you naturally give others: "I always believed in you." "Of course you succeeded." "You're extraordinary." You are not the least bit surprised when your people hit their stride, and because you're so generous, it genuinely thrills you to see them succeed. You'll get that thrill this week, and you'll give it to others, too, as they watch your wins.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). People admire your endurance. You'd rather they cherish you in other ways. Tenderness would be nice. To be resilient, adaptable, capable and game — those things feel very normal to you. But you don't realize how rare it is to have all those qualities braided into one lovely and consistent package. This week, don't forget to celebrate yourself.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You have been thinking about someone in a way that doesn't totally match reality. But that's part of the fun right now, the wondering and guessing. In a way, you're getting to know this person like a scientist studying something fascinating: through hypothesis. You imagine qualities and then test to see whether they are really there.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Negativity bias is just part of being human. So when you have a lot of good going on and all you can see is the "fly in the ointment," just know that it's normal to weigh negativity with greater significance and then willfully refuse the habit. Gratitude must be cultivated, and when you do this, you're part of human evolution.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Everything you say, choose, give and initiate will influence other events and people this week, though often in ways you don't immediately see. The emotional spirit behind your actions is important, not just the action itself. Caring, generous and loving actions will inspire warmth, connection and goodwill beyond the original moment.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The one who plants the tree won't get the shade. You've enjoyed being shaded, and you're excited to pay it forward. Along the same lines, there are negative things you've endured for a while, too. You can be the one who turns it around, and this week, you will. The first step is recognizing the pattern.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You do not need to reveal everything about yourself immediately. Trust should build gradually. It should be earned. Let people get to know you piece by piece instead of giving instant full access. Anyone who is insensitive with smaller disclosures or softer outer layers has not earned access to your deeper self.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It is easy to honor what is sacred to you. What's more difficult is honoring what's sacred to someone else, but not to you. And yet, your empathy, emotional intelligence and maturity allow you to recognize that respect does not require shared belief, only shared humanity.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The universe gives you a blank space to fill in with cool handwriting, and off you go. Don't worry, this pencil comes with an eraser, so you don't have to get it right the first time. Keep that experimental attitude, which means you don't get frustrated when something doesn't go as expected; you merely try another way.

THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS: It's your Year of Aplomb in which you shine with graceful confidence, show composure under pressure and are lauded and hired for your self-possessed coolness in the heart of a challenge. More highlights: Family gets closer through honesty, vulnerability and forgiveness. You gain skill in the area of reading people and understanding what they want and need. You'll apply this in your personal life and business ventures alike. A special interest has you taking part in exciting events.

For more Holiday magic, visit HolidayMathis.com. To find out more about Holiday Mathis and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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