The opposition of Venus and Neptune plays tricks with our emotional vision. At this time, the illusion of romance becomes sloppy, like a badly timed magician unable to hide the strings and magnets. The good news is that true love doesn't require a trick. Its magic is real. Whatever remains after the flash pots have gone off can be counted upon.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). It's pretty simple spiritual math: Those who feel that they have enough are generous with others. Stinginess and greed come from feelings of lack. A lack of love and attention is more profoundly harmful than any material lack.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Humans need rituals. It's part of the way we process experience. Consider how you might add to or change your personal rituals. Benefits will extend beyond the originally intended reason for a ritual.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It's really OK to be thankful to yourself. In fact, you should be. You're as deserving as any of the people you've been giving your appreciation to, if not more so.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). In a fair and balanced relationship, it is impossible for one person to feel satisfied and sufficiently loved if the other person does not. Whatever has a favorable or ill effect on the relationship affects both parties.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You'll notice that your thinking has evolved and, like all evolution, it is neither good nor bad, higher nor lower. Rather, it is a function of adaptation. This is not something to be assessed and rated so much as accepted.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). If you have a choice (and you usually do have a choice), go for the option that puts you before a greater number of people, as it will give you a chance to develop your style.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Maybe opposites will attract, but more likely this is a matter of filling in the blanks. We are all full in some areas and missing in others. You will be magnetized to those who possess what you lack and lack what you possess.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Advocating on your own behalf is just one of the duties that goes along with being you. You've been better at this in the past. It's time to return to taking a bigger role in the protection of your own interests.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Enthusiasm is attractive. You will be drawn to others who show signs of being as passionate as you are about forwarding the cause, discovering the information or revealing the mystery.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). There are those who only put in effort when they need something. Then, once they get what they came for, they become quite scarce. Make sure the trade is equitable all along the way.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It's interesting to see how other people live, and, at times, it is only human nature to be nosey in this regard. How else are we to understand the world and its standards?

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Strive for perfection but don't let the pursuit stop you from turning in work that's good enough. Play the long game. If you keep getting a little better each time, you'll grow ever closer to the ideal.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Sept. 4). Self-expression becomes a priority. You'll try different means and methods, getting to know yourself and helping others know you better. The clarity of thought, purpose and being your work inspires will give you more power and influence, which you'll use to improve lives including your own. Sagittarius and Gemini adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 3, 20, 18, 4 and 22.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTION: "I'm a psychologist, schooled in the Jungian concept of archetypes, a Libran man who has met his Venus. She's a Scorpio. Can that work? She's all I think about for months on end. I felt I knew her from the first time I saw her. One complication is that she's married with children. I didn't think there could be anything worse than falling in love with someone who has a life with someone else. Until I realized that there is something worse. She's also a patient."

Scorpio women can be so guarded in their everyday life that when they do fess up on their innermost secrets it's an explosion to rival the Big Bang. Furthermore, as a Libra, you hold the belief that love and soul connections will conquer all obstacles. These things matter little. As a therapist, a professional and a decent human being, the only choice you have — and you really have no other — is to assign her to a different therapist and sever all ties immediately. Everything is at stake. Furthermore, you should consider this incident of the heart to be a wake-up call and an urgent invitation to examine your own motives and priorities. Currently, they seem seriously out of balance with the Hippocratic oath you took, which ethically binds you to, at the very least, do no harm.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: If the world were a high school, Beyonce Knowles would be the perpetual prom queen. Last year, Queen Bey appeared in Vogue during her birthday month wearing a sun-like crown. This year, the portrait has been added to the permanent collection at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery — talk about maximizing one's solar return! The Virgo superstar was born when Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto were all in the highly aesthetic realm of Libra.

Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.