The Capricorn moon hosts the final stretch of Hanukkah. This is an excellent moment for making a plan for the coming week, which promises to be hectic. The cool, calculating influence of this moon could be utilized in the spirit of prevention, preparation and projecting a positive outcome.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). If facing your fear is the first step, laughing at it is the second, third and fourth. Through extended laughter, you'll find the right perspective to deal with it. Bonus: Your day will be enjoyable.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Spending time with people makes you happy. Spending time alone makes you happy, too. A balance of both is what you need for optimal productiveness.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You'll be called on to rescue a friend. You'll jump at the chance to pay back (or pay forward) the kindness and help you've been afforded in the past. You have all the necessary tools, too!

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You have a way of softening people up and lulling them to lay down their defenses. That's why, when your group wants to move forward, they will send you first to pave the way.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Unusual circumstances might be incredibly lucky, or they might just make for an excellent story later. Either way will be good for you, so when the action takes a weird turn, stay open-minded.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You may be physically full grown, but your heart continues to get bigger, especially with the kind of paces you've been putting it through lately. Loving increases your capacity to love.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). There are many things that can't be measured or detected by the usual methods, but just because you can't see something doesn't mean it's not real. When you sense it's there, that's because it is there.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Life gets interesting — maybe a little too interesting. It seems you've got followers, and this may not sit well with one as private as you. You'll only let them in so far.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Good fortune will come from being engaged in your surroundings. Something may trigger your inner alarm system, which will cause an adrenaline rush. This reaction will heighten your awareness and dial in your senses.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). If you accidentally missed the red flag, that's understandable — even the most observant people do from time to time. Just don't miss the sirens and flashing lights.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Everyone has a set tolerance for laziness. Yours is usually pretty low and even lower today. You can only tolerate but a small amount of rest and relaxation before you start thinking of all that needs doing.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Philosophical moods can help to stir up ideas and bring about realizations, bonding and more. Or they can spiral downward. Knowing things could go either way, the question will be: "How deep do you want to get?"

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 13). You're someone's favorite person, and you'll love the perks that come with that. The end of the year is sprinkled with your guilty pleasures. Next month is for doing something remarkable at work. Save up, even if you don't yet know what you're saving for. Lifestyle upgrades will happen in June. Capricorn and Gemini adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 1, 38, 29, 7 and 42.

FORECAST FOR THE WEEK AHEAD: All week Mercury echoes the tune of the white rabbit that Alice chases down a rabbit hole. The very important date that he's late for this time is a meeting with Pluto that will finally be realized on Saturday. Meanwhile, the whole week has a feeling of being "crunch time." The sun and Jupiter aren't helping matters as they form a tense angle early in the week. It's like our good fortune is being withheld from us until we prove we are deserving of it. How frustrating! Between all of the frantic rushing around, the potential for conflict and the general pressure of counting down to the end of 2015, this is far from an easy week. Still, there's something good about it.

When the pressure is on, it's an opportunity to become stronger or to learn that we are already much stronger than we thought. Emotional strength shows itself in the ability to remain calm, patient and effective, especially when others fall off their emotional center. As one American president suggested, "One cool judgment is worth a thousand hasty councils. The thing to do is to supply light and not heat." — Woodrow T. Wilson

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Even though Taylor Swift calls "1989" her first "official" pop record, this Sagittarius has long reigned as America's pop princess. Swift embodies the courage her sign is known for and has not only fought for herself through the years but has also stood up for her fellow musicians. Mercury, Saturn and Uranus all in Capricorn show mental toughness and tenacity as well as a serious head for business.

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