As much as you may like what's going on for you this week, maturity teaches us that even the sweet life can turn into a stale trap if it all stays the same for too long. The trick is to enjoy the moment while simultaneously keeping plans in motion for an exciting future. In these last days of the Virgo sun, resist complacency and embrace the fear of the unknown. Continue to order new and different experiences off the menu of life.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Stories that are important to the heritage of a group will be told and retold. This is how they become a part of the shared culture. Each sharing is a unique experience. The tale means something different to you now than it did when you first heard it. You have the option to tell it differently to suit a new purpose.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Emotions are unpredictable. The same thing that makes one person feel positive is a negative trigger for another. You'll never be able to pinpoint all the factors, both conscious and unconscious, that influence your emotional reactions, but there's an intuition of body, mind and soul that you can trust.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You may have the same emotional needs as a loved one, but you prioritize them differently, and this is where the conflict comes in. For instance, your need for security may come up against their need for adventure. The stars favor a brilliant compromise that suits all better than any individual win would have.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Flaws are something people have, not something they are. Mistakes are actions, not definitions. It will help you to recognize the difference between behavior and character, and to count on the fact that people can change. This week brings opportunities to be compassionate toward yourself and toward others.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your interests naturally lead you to connect with a vast network of like minds making noble efforts. One thing you all have in common is a strong sense of personal responsibility that extends past what most people consider themselves accountable to. You'll try to fix something that you didn't break.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). When you were small, you played make-believe games to try out different roles. This is still how it's done! There's nothing that will get you to the goal faster than pretending. Some people think of it in a limited way, so they feel funny and false in this playful act. Instead, think of pretending as the early stages of becoming.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). When it's time to compete, you are intently focused on the game. But not every situation is a good fit for a competitive model. The spirit of competition will not be a good fit for many of this week's situations, so you'll let that go as you figure out what it's going to take for everyone involved to be lifted by the win.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Your voice will be heard, so you're keen to express the right thing. Matters of image come into focus. It's not vanity, rather it's the politics necessary for the advancement of aims that affect more than just you. You're daring but also tuned into the reactions of others, determined to leave a mark, not a stain.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Being very busy isn't always helpful or virtuous, nor does it indicate an inscrutable work ethic. In fact, doing too many things at once can be a method of self-sabotage. Decide where to focus and try to master that task or skill before you start anything else. Balance will be intrinsic to success.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). As you make your plans, you worry that some parts still leave too much to chance. But if you knew exactly what you were going to see and do, it wouldn't be an adventure. The most important part of the whole plan is who you're doing it with. Get that right and everything else will be gravy.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). What's actually occurring in your mind is different from what you express. Most people really wouldn't guess the nature of your thoughts and feelings. Those who are curious about your inner world are people to keep close and include as much as possible in your life. You give selflessness and you deserve it back.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You can be trusted to react quickly to situations and handle life like a boss — not perfectly, but appropriately. That's real confidence, and it will attract people to you this week. So don't feel like you have to impress anyone because what you're already doing, just by being you, is impressive enough.

THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS: Major striking moments juxtaposed with the dailiness of ordinary beauty makes for a vivid experience. The softness of love is a texture you'll get to trust and depend on. You'll change something about where you get your entertainment and/or who you rely on to do your work well, and this will make life better in ways you wouldn't have predicted. You've always recognized the influence of friends, society and media, but you now use it to help you become the person you want to be.

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