HOROSCOPE
THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2018
Trouble and the Scorpio Moon
Trouble is a normal part of daily life. Without it, our stories would be very boring indeed. Many expedient, capable people will move quickly through trouble and onto fixing the problem -- not the correct order! Stop and give yourself care and comfort first. Skipping steps under the Scorpio moon is not advised. Shortcuts will actually take longer.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’ll encourage a loved one to give you frequent feedback. You don’t want to be in competition with your love, and you’ll shy away from situations in which there will be a clear winner and loser.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Your conversational choices will make a difference. This is a matter of destiny. Choose topics that are likely to lead to enjoyment, optimism and happiness. This is no time to stir up controversy.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You have more in common with an interesting stranger than you do with many of the people in your own family. So go on and strike up a conversation. See what there is to know about others.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’re in the running for an important role. Your previous success qualifies you for the job, but it will be your charm and your excellent listening skills that get you the position.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You love to give: You’re a giver! And you expect nothing in return -- well, almost nothing. You do like knowing that your contribution made a difference. So a smile and a report back later will be awfully nice.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your cosmic gift will be strength, stamina and energy to burn. That’s a mighty gift, though it comes with a responsibility. Where should you apply it? Bonus: Exciting people will be drawn in by your vitality.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). There will be some frustration in the way events unfold, but don’t be discouraged. It’s bound to happen with smart, quick people like you who might prefer to have life go at their pace. Life has its own pace, though.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Listen to your critics with an open mind. Maybe they don’t know the proper, kinder or ideal way to phrase things, but there will be something valuable in their words nonetheless -- something that can give you an advantage.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You didn’t make the impression you wanted to make on someone. Good news: Now you will get another chance at it. Present your best self and you’ll become your best self.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). It’s said that there’s a price for every gift and all advice. Indeed, this is often true. But the cosmic forces can be kind in this regard, as they will be today, naming a price in the realm of what you’re more than prepared to pay.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Maybe you want people to like you, but you care more that they respect you. It’s not because this is what you need; rather, it’s for the good of all.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The social secret is very simple, and it’s a one-size-fits-all maxim. All people care about is how you make them feel. That’s all. If they feel powerful, happy and significant around you, they will come back for more.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 16). The solar return shows you surrounded by people who love and support you, as well as those who challenge and defy you. You would be hard-pressed to say which is better, as the first category will give you comfort and the second category will make you great, which in turn gives you a way to help many. Virgo and Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 20, 24, 48 and 12.
ASTROLOGICAL QUESTION: “My husband and I don’t seem to be communicating very well lately. We’re both Pisces, and we used to be able to practically read each other’s mind. It’s not like that anymore. I feel like he’s on another planet, speaking a different language. He is clueless about what I do with my day, even though I tell him. He seems constantly confused by my schedule with our children, even though it’s the same schedule every week. His dumb questions let me know that he doesn’t really ever listen to me. How can I get back on the same page with him?”
If you’re annoyed with him for not remembering that the kids have soccer practice on Wednesday, no matter how nicely you try to tell him where you’re going he’s going to get the vibe that you’re mad at him. That will shut off his ears to you. Anything you say afterward, he won’t hear. Pisces are emotional communicators, so it will be important for you to recognize the feeling and tone that comes across in your communication and try to adjust it in a genuinely pleasant direction. Also note that the first and last few minutes of the day are times when you both will be particularly receptive to hearing one another.
CELEBRITY PROFILES: Madonna may very well be the quintessential Leo. Having arrived in New York City with zero connections and $35 in her pocket, she rose to superstardom on blonde ambition and a talent for capturing people’s attention both on stage and off. Madonna was born when the sun, Venus and Uranus were all in the sign of entertainment.