Venus creeps in on kitty paws, stealth, ferocious and playful, mixing it up as she switches to her Catwoman costume at the top of the week. Mercury follows the trend, zipping into Leo on Wednesday. It's playtime. Leo energy is famous for taking dramatic license, too — all part of the fun. Knowing what to take seriously (very little) will be key.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). How do you change the world? By being yourself and tending to the things that matter to you. The answers are not "out there" today; rather, they are as close as the next task on your list.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Just because you think a punishment fits the crime doesn't mean you want to witness it. You'd rather align yourself with the softer side of life: Justice untempered by mercy can be a hard thing to watch.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). There's something you need to communicate, and it's a story that can only be told by you. You'll persuade others to think differently once you relay this. Try to spell it out different ways. Experiment!

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You'll be busy building up as much good will and happy karma as you possibly can. You may or may not need this friendship equity later, but either way, your life will be better for having generated these kinds of good feelings.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You can't follow through on every idea, and you shouldn't try to. Some ideas are best left in their ethereal form, from which they can still lead us to the next better idea.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). There is something that's been handed down to you through your mother and your mother's mother that will be extremely useful now. It will be something good to share — and give credit where credit is due.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The creative well has not dried up, but you need to reach out to the people around you in order to tap back into it. You have encouragement to give; seek it, too. The more you share with others, the better off you'll be.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). In a shallow sea you find a drop-off to the depths. The best part is that you're equipped to go deeper. You'll be safe as you explore the undercurrents. This is where you'll find your passion.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Before you jump into the project, take the time to build a solid base of research. Acquire essential skills and tools. The preliminary work you do will save you time and heartache later.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You're a giver. If you don't think you can add value to the situation, you'll likely move on until you find a scenario in which your presence and gifts are truly needed.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). There's nothing that needs to happen in a rush today. You'll be building on small, measured efforts. Maintain your relaxed pace. The big decisions can wait.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You can't always choose who's around you, so when you can choose, you want to choose super well. The song that's in you will burst forth soon. Mostly it's a matter of being with the people who can add to the music.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (July 10). You operate from a code of honor this year, and the people around you will trust and admire you as they learn to predict your loyal nature. The next seven weeks will seem to speed by, and you'll be super-productive. You'll sock money away mid-September for an important investment. The most romantic times will be October and May. Virgo and Aquarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 50, 41, 22, 25 and 11.

FORECAST FOR THE WEEK AHEAD: Without a sense of play, life and relationships can feel flat, dull and obligated. So when Venus slinks into Leo at the top of the week, beginning a playful cycle that lasts until Aug. 5, it's like the whistle that announces, "Let the games begin." This is the transit that reminds us that life is a gift that can be very fun to play with, especially when we know the rules. Here are a few tips for making the most of Venus in Leo.

1. Take turns. Engage, invite, entice. You never know what someone else will bring to the game until you let him or her in.

2. Think less; feel more. Unless what you're playing is a math game, give your brain a break and lead the play with your feelings. The intellectual part of play will usually take care of itself.

3. Pretend. Creating your own world is one of the best parts of being playful, and your world can be anything you want it to be — so why limit yourself to the same rules you'd have in other realities?

4. It's the spirit of it that matters. Play thrives in a generous spirit of acceptance. Catch what others are throwing and throw it back. Accept, agree, contribute.

5. Have fun. If it's not fun, it's probably not play.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Forbes magazine ranked vivacious Cancer Colombian-American Sofia Vergara among the most powerful women in the world. Look for the "Modern Family" star in the upcoming comedy, "The Brits Are Coming." Vergara was born when both the sun and moon were in the sign of the crab; Mercury and Mars were in entertaining Leo. Witty Gemini energy is also a strong theme in Vergara's astrological chart.

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