Our love goddess Venus strikes up a serious argument with Big Daddy Jupiter, on matters having to do with loyalty, jealousy and the like. You can avoid turmoil by preemptively giving attention to loved ones as though you expect them to be overly sensitive or emotionally fragile. Symbols of affection help, too, under this Taurus moon.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). All is as it should be. You'll give priority to the youngest and smallest human being in your care and the rest will fall into a natural, logical order. If only every day were so simple!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You're driven to do what the others are doing and this will stir up mixed feelings. On the one hand, at least a road map is attainable. On the other hand, it will be challenging to make your work stand out from the rest.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You're comfortable with "full blast" mode, and so are the others you're working and playing with today. Just don't be surprised if their version of "full blast" only goes to about half what yours does.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Don't worry; it's not narcissistic to assume that someone likes being liked by you. You're actually just reading the obvious signs and finding a classic interpretation.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). It's like you're engaging fate in an arm-wrestling match. Do you think you can win this one? Well, you can. This is not a case of fixed destiny. Get strong; get leverage, and believe.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Today's victory will be quiet and personal, perhaps not even suitable to share with anyone you know, if only because most people wouldn't understand the nuanced profundity of it. But you know. That's what counts.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). What can you do to lower the stress level? It wouldn't be so hard, really. All you have to do is be bold enough for a few moments to either ask for help or be slightly more assertive about enforcing your boundaries.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You'll apply your artistic talent to things that most people don't think of as being artistic endeavors. As a result, you'll get a special quality of attention and gain a few fans.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You need time to sit around and do nothing. Otherwise your head will get so crammed with the responsibilities and busywork of ordinary life that it won't have any room to be brilliant.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You still feel like you have to repay someone for a past kindness (or for extended years of kindnesses), but you don't. If you're happy and productive, that is payment enough.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Somehow the people around you seem to think you're interruptible and eager to respond to their every want. You're not as eager as they think, but, you have to admit, it's nice to be needed.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You may find yourself craving solitude that is not coming anytime soon — that is, unless you chisel out bits of it from your crowded life. It will be worth the effort, as there's a knotty problem you need to reason out in a solo moment.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Jan. 17). You'll develop your talents and hit a few remarkable milestones in this regard. Give credit to teachers and muses when this happens! It may feel like your responsibilities are annihilating you from March to April and you'll be thrilled about it when the new version of you turns out to be more than you ever thought you could be. Pisces and Aries adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 4, 14, 32, 28 and 5.

FORECAST FOR THE WEEK AHEAD: The Hanging Gardens of Babylon is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World whose location is still a big question mark, if indeed the wonder ever did exist. Ancient texts attest to the grandeur of these tall, tiered feats of horticulture that were a source of pride for the kingdom and a lush green background to towering golden statues and other symbols of Babylonian greatness. The gardens were also a representation of technological superiority, since sophisticated irrigation systems would have been necessary to manage and control the water supply to this desert-scape. The 11th month of the Babylonian calendar was the month that brought heavy, life-giving rains, thus the Aquarius (11th sign of the zodiac) symbolism for this time of year. Aquarius is the water-bearer to the gods, holding, preserving and distributing what we need for our very survival. As the sun moves into Aquarius Jan. 20, our focus shifts from individualistic Capricorn concerns (like status, power, authority, rules and means of self-support) to Aquarian concerns that affect us all. If we don't survive and thrive as a race, there will be nothing to celebrate as individuals.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: First lady Michelle Obama is an Ivy League scholar, an advocate for healthy eating and poverty awareness, a fashion icon and a role model for women around the world. She describes herself first and foremost as Sasha and Malia's mom. Obama was born when the sun and Mercury were in organized and traditional Capricorn. The moon and Venus in Pisces suggest a highly developed intuition.

To write to Holiday Mathis, visit www.creators.com and click "Write the Author" on her page.

Photo credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture