HOROSCOPE

A baby born today has a Sun in Aquarius and a Moon in Taurus.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY for Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021:

Sensitive, realistic and hard-shelled, you go to bat for yourself, others and what you believe in. This year, preservation of your individuality while doing good for others is vital to your happiness, and you make a fortune. If single, you meet your soul mate in June, surprisingly and unexpectedly. If attached, you like your partner to awaken and inspire you. This year, greater trust grows. GEMINI is the most fun.

The Stars Show the Kind of Day You’ll Have: 5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

HHHH Money can come from another source. There is something unpredictable about old financial patterns. Your values and priorities regarding finances are shifting. Learn by listening carefully to conversations. Tonight: The keyword now is “effort.” You must keep trying. Rewards will manifest.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

HHHH Today makes you the center of attention. Others seek your counsel and guidance. You’ll be very aware of companions’ limitations. Allow for the differences that generation and background make in their capabilities. Tonight: Faith is a factor in the quest for the best quality of life.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

HHHHH You’ll cherish your privacy today. Revel in solitude and begin a dream journal. Answers brought by dreams and self-reflection are preferable to the guidance offered by others. This brings a new sense of identity. Tonight: You are embarking on an odyssey of personal discovery.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) HHHHH

Today shows some intensifying of involvement with groups and organizations. Ambitious people become worthwhile role models. Your social and romantic prospects will blossom. It’s a perfect time to purchase new finery or pursue creative work. Tonight: Release all you’ve outgrown.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

HHHH Making contacts with helpful and powerful individuals, displaying your talents and abilities, and striving to climb a bit higher on the ladder of success will absorb you. Consider adding some feng shui cures to your workspace. Tonight: Take the night off.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

HHHHH Today shows wider mental horizons developing. You grow bored with old concepts and long to learn something new. You develop deeper insight into your own nature. The pursuit of a new study is favored. Tonight: A new vision concerning the direction of your life.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

HHHH The veil to the other world grows thinner, and a meaningful message from a spirit guide is due. You’ll experience a sense of deeper peace. Dreams and fantasy abound. Seek a wholesome creative outlet and don’t jump to conclusions. Tonight: Keep stress under control.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

HHHH Cooperation is a must. Others will have plans and projects that involve you. A legal matter might need your attention. You can make a decision about a partnership. The prospect of a more settled and committed situation can have appeal. Tonight: Dinner with a loved one.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

HHH Take time to understand precisely what is going on with your body. If appropriate, give a gentle alternative treatment enough time to work. You’re inclined to leap into aggressive procedures. This might not be wise at present. Tonight: You feel a wonderful healing influence.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

HHHHH Love and romance are highlighted favorably today. Attend social functions online and develop promising relationships by taking the initiative. Opportunities for love will abound. Get involved in sports and exercise functions. Tonight: Delightful invitations and at least one admirer.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

HHHH Living arrangements are about to improve. Real estate transactions can be more profitable than you think. For those with bittersweet memories of early home and family life, it’s time to process them for release. Tonight: A new sense of peace and acceptance develops.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

HHHHH Today brings a solution to transportation dilemmas. Select projects that can be completed sooner rather than later. A bond with a neighbor or sibling strengthens. Your happy thoughts act as a magnet to draw support from others. Tonight: Answer emails and calls promptly.

BORN TODAY

Actor Alan Bates (1934), basketball player Michael Jordan (1963), singer Ed Sheeran (1991)

The Christian tradition of Lent is celebrated across the globe by many different denominations of the faith. Lent is a 40- day period of sacrifice that begins on Ash Wednesday and culminates with the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.

Lent is designed to help Christians prepare for Easter through prayer, repentance of sins, almsgiving, denying the ego, and putting and end to sinful practices. Fasting is a component of Lent, as is abstinence from is certain behaviors.

In fact, in some Western countries, Catholics have been encouraged to adopt forms of abstinence that do not involve food and drink during Lent. All actions serve as forms of self- denial to mirror the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for his people.

Abstaining from alcohol not mandatory during

Lent. That might be traced to ancient times, when wine and other forms of alcohol were safer to drink than pathogen- filled water sources. But many people now choose to give up alcohol for Lent.

Today, fasting is primarily reserved for Ash Wednesday and Fridays during Lent, including Good Friday. Adherents may opt to fully fast, but most only eschew meat and poultry as a nod to self- denial, opting for seafood and vegetarian fare instead.

While much focus is placed on what is denied during Lent, it can be an ideal time to reflect on what is gained by living a life in which God is first and foremost. Spending more time in prayer and away from trivial distractions can be a way to live a more faithful life during Lent and beyond. In addition, aspiring to be more Christ- like during Lent can make this special season even more powerful. During Lent, Christians can make a concerted effort to help the poor, work with a charity or volunteer at their church.

Lent is a solemn time, but one that can bolster one’s faith.