Horoscopes

Aries (March 21-April 19): Be on the lookout for ways to repurpose the past. Discarded scraps from one project/relationship/era can be reworked and turned into something new. Taurus (April 20-May 20): Giving is the theme. Give to the point where it feels good, and then go further. It shouldn’t hurt a lot, but it needs to hurt a little. The spiritual benefit of sacrifice can’t come if no sacrifice has been made. Gemini (May 21-June 21): Study and cultural exploration will bring you good fortune. You will feel determined to do your unbiased research, and you will refrain from forming an opinion until you have all of the facts.

Cancer (June 22-July 22): All superheroes know that most of the gig is hiding your identity until it’s time to shine. You’ve enormous strength and power; that’s a given. Knowing when to use it is the art. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): You’ll have ideas, and you need the right people to bounce them off of. People who absorb your energy and agree with you are not good bouncing prospects. Look for the hard and deflective types. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You can acknowledge your emotions without slavishly following their impulses. Your maturity allows you to objectively witness yourself. Your feelings will indicate how in line you are with your ethics and ideals. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): Though it feels safe and secure when others agree with you, it’s not going to help you grow. You’ll sharpen your wits and strengthen your case when you run up against those who disagree. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): Albert Camus said it’s necessary to fall in love, “if only to provide an alibi for all the random despair you are going to feel anyway.” Today’s events pose the question: Which comes first, the circumstance or the feeling? Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): There is something you are tired of carrying by yourself. Someone else can help you lug the burden, or even better, cast it off.

But you must be willing to share it. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The research suggests that improving your weaknesses, while noble in intent, is far less effective than leveraging your strengths. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Because of the complexity within the crevices of the human heart, people fit together unexpectedly and in ways so particular that they would be impossible to duplicate. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): Remember when you fell in love with a movie character? Remember when you believed in a book? Something doesn’t actually need to happen to feel real. Use this to your benefit.

DEAR ABBY » I am 19 and have been kicked out of my house. I’m grateful for everything my parents have done for me. My dad continues to compare me to my older siblings, although I’m the exact opposite of them. They are not going to college, they barely graduated from high school and continue to abuse alcohol and drugs.

I’m in college earning almost all A’s. I graduated from high school with flying colors and have a steady job. I provide for myself (food, gas, buying anything I need) and pay for car insurance. I have tried my hardest to be the best daughter and a good influence for my younger siblings.

I have asked my father multiple times during the last year to stop comparing me to my older siblings. He hasn’t. Our last conversation was a few weeks ago, when he told me to pack my stuff and get out of the house because I was an “ungrateful daughter” and “hoeing around just like my older siblings.”

I have been focusing on my education and can’t understand how he came to that conclusion. Frankly, I was very hurt he thought that of me. I’m not my siblings; I am myself, and I’m doing the best I can to give myself a successful future. My father refuses to see that. What should I do? — Bewildered daughter in Texas

DEAR DAUGHTER » I don’t know what’s wrong with your father, but something is. You appear to be mature and responsible and doing your best to lay the foundation for a successful future. I applaud you for it.

If it’s possible for you to live elsewhere, perhaps with other relatives, and avoid your father’s uncalled-for verbal abuse, it might be healthier for you. Do not expect him to be pleased about it, because no matter how hard you try, you may never be able to please him, so be prepared.

DEAR ABBY » My boyfriend and I have been dating for three years. The one issue we argue about is religion. I am a Catholic and he’s from another Christian denomination. I respect all religions and am open-minded.

However, after going to his church three times, I didn’t like it at all. They have many strict rules which, if not obeyed, will result in a person being shunned. What kind of church does that? They compare Catholics to themselves and say everything Catholics do is wrong according to the Bible. I have never felt so unwelcome in my life.

My boyfriend’s parents want me to convert, but I don’t want to. Because of this, his relationship with his parents is being affected. He plans to quit his church and become an atheist. I don’t know how to feel about this. It would be hard to convince him to join my church. We have had many fights over this, and I wonder if we should just break up. That way we wouldn’t have to discuss who is converting or where we are going to marry. Please give me some advice.

— Stressed in the islands

DEAR STRESSED » Considering the stance your boyfriend’s family’s religion has on marrying out of the faith, I’m surprised your relationship has made it this far. Fighting benefits neither of you. Talking about this calmly and rationally might bring you closer.

If he quits his church, his family and friends will make every effort to isolate and punish him. He may have to completely rebuild his social relationships. If he has any sort of religious inclination, rather than him overreacting by “becoming an (instant) atheist,” the two of you might like to explore finding a denomination together that fills your needs. But be prepared for pushback because his parents (and possibly yours) are not going to like it.