Though there are things about being busy that make a person feel important, the state of busyness in and of itself is no more a measure of importance than the state of being asleep. Ask always: What is really accomplished? Doing is different from seeming to do. Under this Cancer moon, fortune favors those who are sensitized to the difference.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Collaborate. The compromise you strike will be worth it, as long as you approach it like an experiment. What can you discover by working with others that you could not find out by working on your own?

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You're in the mood to uncover a mystery. It seems by now something would have come along to pique your interest. Alas, you're going to have to go searching for new inspiration, unanswered questions and purposeful quests.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Optimum productivity isn't really about how much you get done; it's about getting the right things done — the things that matter to you, make a difference to others and possibly enrich and improve your overall experience.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). The beautiful thing about a fantasy life is that it can be anything you want it to be and, no matter how big and wild it grows, it can always stay contained in your head and completely portable, with you wherever you go.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your wish will be granted precisely as asked. This will inspire you, in the future, to ask in even more specific terms. You're getting better and better at accepting help, by the way.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). If you're wondering why you can't seem to give a care about the work at hand, it's because the stakes aren't high enough to motivate you. So make it more fun. Impose a severe limit or an outrageous reward.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Though you may fantasize about making a drastic change, the reality is that a series of small steps will get you there with more grace, stability and certainty.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You have no interest in making a "good" impression. You want it to be spectacular. You want them to be thinking of you long after you're gone. If anyone can cast such a spell, it's you. Restraint and a sense of mystery are key.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You're in danger of digital overload. Try this radical idea: real life! Meet in person. Tell the joke or the story to someone's face. The payoff for actual human contact will be brilliant.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The one you interact with most, in your head or otherwise, is the one you're having a relationship with. The dynamic doesn't have to be positive for it to be meaningful.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The journey ahead gets increasingly interesting and demanding, too. Answer the challenge by planning to get more sleep. You'll need to be sharp, and sleep deprivation will only lead to mistakes.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Your patience is legendary, and you'll stick with the program, person or project long after others would have given up. Your intuition tells you to hang in there, and it won't steer you wrong.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 8). People want to know you and be a part of your team this year, not because of what you can do for them but because of who you are. You're cool. Your talents are a perfect match for the March agenda. There's a victory in April. August shifts the energy to your physical self, and you'll get stronger and fitter. Leo and Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 4, 20, 44 and 17.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: "I'm an Aquarius and I just moved to Los Angeles six months ago. I would have thought that in six months I could find a place to live and a job and make friends. Well, I'm still on my cousin's couch, I've had two jobs but neither stuck, and I'm friendless. I'm already considering moving back home. I am interested in learning about the entertainment industry, but I'm starting to think I might not have what it takes to 'make it' Maybe I'm just a Midwest kind of person. What do you think?"

Give it a full year. Even a friendly Aquarius needs to give it a full year. Los Angeles was incorporated on April 4 in 1950, and some astrologers would call it an Aries city. However, being the heart of the entertainment industry, I think it's more helpful to think of Los Angeles as a Leo. In fact, I think of her as the MGM lion, loud, proud and fierce, though trained (or tranquilized) enough to show up and roar on cue without snacking on the stagehands. You came to this intimidating city for a reason — to grow and explore. Don't let it beat you down so easily.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: James Dean was a bright star and the iconic "Rebel Without a Cause." Mercury, Venus and Saturn in cool Capricorn indicate stoicism as well as lofty ambitions and the talent to get there. Mars, the passion planet, in Leo, the sign of entertainment, indicates a strong need for attention. Dean's Scorpio moon brought the brooding intensity to this natal chart.

To write to Holiday Mathis, visit www.creators.com/author/holiday-mathis and click "Contact."