With many getting together with family and friends in these Capricorn-sun moments leading up to the Christmas holiday, it will be pretty tempting to go on about whatever might impress the company. Whereas pride is attached to achievement and status, its ego-less cousin, dignity, can live inside us regardless of our successes or failures.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). The unconventional wisdom is that unconventional wisdom doesn't exist. If a thing works, it works for many other people, too. All you have to do is dig around a bit to see who else is using it.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Come up with a name for the feeling you're having — something all yours, to encompass both the sweeping scope and the minute specificity of the emotion. It will help you move through or use the feeling to good effect.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). There are different definitions for the word pride, some focusing on a feeling of self-respect and worthiness and others focusing on a feeling of superiority and conceit. Pride is a precarious matter. Go cautiously in its expression.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). A return to merriness will have to do with letting go of a few things, especially things that won't matter in a week or even tomorrow. Clinging tightly to things that will inevitably pass can only lead to misery.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Go on and make your rules, and then try to follow them. One a day is enough at first. Establish habits. Paradoxically, the more disciplined you are the freer you'll be.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Every day, you tolerate people who have different values, styles and preferences. Usually, it's not a problem, but it still takes self-control to live and let live, which is why it could be very relaxing to just stay home today.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). To be correct and to have the approval of those who recognize this can be a very stable sort of feeling, but it's even more stabilizing to know that whether or not you're correct and accepted, you're just fine.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). The attempt to achieve security is silly, really — considering we live in the timespan of a blink on a spinning sphere hurtling through a vast universe. Yet you probably feel you need a little certainty today, and you'll get it, too.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). In the past, you were punished for joy out of bounds. Now you restrict yourself needlessly. The biggest obstacle to your happiness is the simple fact that you're not allowing it. So give yourself permission.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Questions open options and keep you in loops of thought, but thinking doesn't always bring more clarity. Today it's better to go another route: Stop asking and start accepting.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It takes a strong person to acknowledge human vulnerabilities. A weaker person puffs up to compensate for limitations shared by most others on the planet. How unnecessary.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Some relationships are so transactional it doesn't matter who is on the other end; it could be a robot or a unicorn and make no difference. But there are intangible things your loved one does that can't be duplicated by anyone.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 23). You're good to others, and it comes back around. Passion will be tempered by companionship, loyalty, understanding and support. More points of interest include an exclusive arrangement you feel fortunate to take advantage of, a different mode of travel than you're used to and special clearance of some kind. Leo and Taurus adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 33, 1, 17 and 20.

FORECAST FOR THE WEEK AHEAD: The glow of the Venus and Neptune trine (not to mention the quick Mercury and Jupiter conjunction) that presided over last week's winter solstice celebration brings a halo of hope for the Christmas and Kwanzaa celebrations of the week. We're probably going to need it. Mercury and Neptune form a square that could impair our judgment and communication a touch. Why not view this cosmic marker as the yellow sign cautioning us to check ourselves? Do the diagnostic hookup that will check levels of privilege, attitude, balance and whatever particular weakness one might be prone to.

Essentially, this is about managing expectations. When in doubt, place those low. It will increase satisfaction and delight, as reasonable things can be suddenly taken for the miraculous blessings they really are. After all, for most of mankind's history, shelter and food were not givens, especially in dropped temperatures. So try not to let the lights, bells, hubbub and excess obscure the fact that for all our complaining, this is still one of the safest and most exciting times to be alive. Start with that and share the love.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: As the first self-made American female millionaire, Madam C.J. Walker built an empire out of hair and beauty products for African-American women. Capricorn is the sign of business moguls. The sea goat loves a challenge, is highly driven to set goals and work toward them, and is adept at maneuvering power structures to achieve a financial end.

Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis@gmail.com.