HOROSCOPE
TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018 Power and the Planets
The distribution of power is often much trickier and more nuanced than appearances suggest. Power rides on perception. Perception is governed by what is made public or kept private. Tomorrow’s Mercury-Pluto conjunction will be a light switch, able to illuminate or darken the halls with a flick. Get ready for a redistribution of power.
ARIES (March 21-April 19).
Today will present a “try before you buy” situation in the form of an item or an idea you can play around with awhile before it’s decision time. You might be surprised about what makes the cut.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20).
Steer clear of the “amateur therapy zone,” in which under-qualified people are overtly attempting to fix emotional matters. Leave it to the professionals. You can learn a lot more in the “zone of casual relating and observing.”
GEMINI (May 21-June 21)
. It is easier to be kind and loving when you feel safe. That’s why erecting an imaginary bubble of psychic protection around yourself will help your interactions. You’ll be open and empathetic, yet you’ll deflect negativity.
CANCER (June 22-July 22).
You won’t shy away from confrontation; rather, you’ll strive to face it the most effective way you can find. You won’t mind playing “bad cop” to someone’s “good cop” if it keeps the peace in the end.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22).
It’s a little weird when spending your money becomes a group activity. However, weird can be good! And anyway, today this committee approach will be way more fun than spending your money alone.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
Funny thoughts can be wise, and serious thoughts can be foolish. A great thing about today is that it won’t be necessary to categorize your thoughts in any terms other than “helpful” or “not helpful.”
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
You are stepping into the gravitational pull of a different sphere of influence. It could be a new crush that will get you orbiting, or it could be an idea, project or attractive interest that draws you ever nearer.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21).
There will be a strong inclination to rate yourself. If you must, then grade solely on what you’ve learned. Note that it would be ridiculous to grade yourself on money and resources you don’t have.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21).
Maybe you don’t really have bad habits after all. Maybe you just have a few different versions of yourself vying for ultimate power over you, each trying to do what will serve its unique purpose.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19).
You are always creating yourself. Sometimes this occurs in obvious, socially supported ways. But most efforts you make are quiet and internal -- decisions to be braver or more compassionate and patient.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18).
You feel limited in a situation, but it’s unclear whether these limits are real. The only way to know is to test them. If your small infraction causes an incommensurate reaction, it’s an indication that the boundary is false.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20).
The kind of change you want doesn’t just drop down from the sky or naturally occur if you wait long enough. It has to be made. That’s the main reason you’ll be so busy today.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Jan. 23).
You’ll see loved ones more often this year, and your days will be improved by friendship. February shows a financial breakthrough. March brings romance and creativity in abundance. A craving for freedom will lead you to new places and experiences. The skill you pick up in June will continue to enrich you for years to come. Aries and Virgo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 10, 5, 30 and 43.
COSMICALLY CURIOUS ABOUT... SAYING “NO.” Last week, a sensitive Pisces asked for tips on saying no without hurting anyone’s feelings. You can search the archives for the first four tips.
TIP NO. 5: Understand how “no” helps “yes.”
Marketers call it the law of scarcity: People want what they can’t have. If something is rare, it is perceived as having more value. If you decline most offers, the few that you accept will feel very special indeed. Those making the offers will cherish your time and crave your approval. On the other hand, saying yes to everything devalues what you have to offer. So you’re actually doing everyone a favor when you say no often. You’re building mystique and excitement around you, making your company into a prize.
TIP NO. 6: Grace takes practice. No one is born graceful, not even a prima ballerina. Like physical grace, social grace takes practice. Many hours go into building that core of strength that is the essence of grace. For this reason, “no” should be a daily habit of yours and just as easy for you to say as “yes” is. I hope these tips empower you to make the choices that best represent what you really want to do in life!
CELEBRITY PROFILES: Caroline, Princess of Hanover, has devoted her life to philanthropy, especially through her work with the Red Cross, with the Princess Grace Foundation and as a goodwill ambassador to the United Nations. Like a true Aquarius, she focuses on the protection of children, families and human rights at large. With Mercury and Venus in Capricorn, no challenge is too daunting.