When Oscar Wilde wrote, "The truth is rarely pure and never simple," he was likely penning a masterpiece on a typical multifaceted day, under stars that were not so closely knit together in the cosmic fabric as this solar conjunction to Mercury. Today offers an anomaly: pure, simple facts that will continue to mean exactly what they seem to mean in perpetuity.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You honor someone by giving them a gift that shows you were listening to who they are, what they like and what they need. Bonus: You're also paying attention to who they were and where they're headed. Witnessing means more than you could know.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Today feels like a pop quiz from the universe. The lesson arrives as if guided by fate. Something you experienced or learned in the past becomes relevant again, and you can apply it here. Trust that you have the skills, insight and perspective to ace this.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Some people play every game like it is a long game, and those are the ones you want on your side. The gracious and the generous may lose a play or two, but they always win in the end. The real prize is integrity.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). The ability to read a room comes to those who have been in many rooms and been many people, too. You'll do your best with it today and keep getting better with time and experience.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). No, you're not making it up. The things filling your day are actually necessary to your current role. Although, you might consider whether your ideal role is something else entirely, and thus worthy of a different routine.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Playfulness happens when there is room for it. If a person can be playful, even when the situation is serious, it's because their psyche is expansive, their emotional range as wide as a field. This is who you are today.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). What if the thing you've been avoiding is exactly the thing that changes everything for the better? Instead of seeing it as a chore, see it as a gamble. Once upon a time, something you almost didn't do opened a world to you, and it's about to happen again.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Intensity is so easy for you to create, wield and deal with. That's why you're fascinated by restraint. You observe, and life opens to you. You press or pry, and it closes. What matters will surface in its own time.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You're in a friendly mood today. The more inclusive you are, the more people you'll know. The more people you know, the easier it is to connect with the person who will help you solve a problem.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Knowing what's good for you and getting more of it is wonderful. What's less wonderful is finding out that what you like isn't all that good for you. Luckily, in today's case, substitutions abound.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). There are always pros and cons to consider. For instance, taller people have farther to fall, the richer have more to lose and the powerful few at the top are vulnerable to being conquered by the power of many at the bottom. You'll look at all sides of an issue today.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Your work will get the attention it deserves. You may not know exactly what to make of the feedback, but things are still settling in. For now, it's very good just to get the exposure.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Jan. 21). Welcome to your Year of the Evolving Love Story. People, places and projects receive your enthusiasm and heart, and wonderful feelings boomerang back to you, sending you sailing on clouds. More highlights: You'll lead where you once followed. You'll cash in on what's been growing in value for years. A problem is fixed once and for all, freeing your time and energy. Aries and Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 17, 32, 20, 18 and 25.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: The long-running animated series "Adventure Time" is in an elite tier for its unique blend of fun, depth, critical praise and lasting impact. At the heart of this cultural force is the heroic boy, Finn the Human, voiced by Jeremy Shada, who continues to voice the character in spinoffs such as "Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake." With Mercury, Venus and Neptune in assertive Capricorn, Shada's decisiveness and drive shine through, while his sun, Jupiter and Uranus placements in Aquarius fuel his imaginative, empathetic approach to storytelling and connection.

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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