If it’s your birthday

Most authentic growth is emotional. You can do all the spiritual and intellectual work you want, though in the end, your emotions set the limits on your bliss, or set you free. You’re ready to let go of some old pain that’s held you back, and it’s about time. Be willing; be daring; let yourself feel your way to the next place. You share a birthday with Aretha Franklin, Elton John and Sarah Jessica Parker. JUNE 21-JULY 22 Keep a pulse on any shadowy emotions, such as fear, guilt or judgment, and get ready to let them go. Pay close attention and note whether they’re rooted in brainwashing you experienced as a kid, such as spooky, irrational ideas from your elders. Live and share your own personal truth. JULY 23-AUG. 22 Your long-term plans are a work in progress, which is the right place to be. You cannot control the future, though you certainly can envision it, and influence the course of your life. You’re in an excellent position to do that now. Pay attention as a bold, new path opens up. AUG. 23-SEPT. 22 Being authentically yourself necessitates being in relationships that support who you really are. You may notice that some encounters with others emphasize the past, while others emphasize the future. There’s a lot to this: choose consciously, and be bold. SEPT. 23-OCT. 22 A role-reversal is happening in an important relationship. This is giving you a rare glimpse at a viewpoint that’s usually opposite your own. The thing is, it’s not really opposite; it’s just another way to look at the world. You have many options and will benefit from exploring them all. OCT. 23-NOV. 21 You can be more experimental where creativity and sex are concerned. Yet when you do, you will have to move through the emotional territory that was cementing in the less-daring version of who you are. Bring your awareness into long-forgotten inner spaces and you’ll liberate yourself. NOV. 22-DEC. 21 You’ve been working with the principle of containment: of discipline, of holding yourself back, and of taking the safer options. You can afford to give yourself a longer leash, particularly emotional. Be fearless about pain and you will unleash an ocean of pleasure. DEC. 22-JAN. 19 A relationship partner may be pushing you to grow. But it does not make sense to tailor your life to be suitable to someone else. Set a standard of acceptability for you and you alone. When you do that, you can trust that those who stick around really do love you. JAN. 20-FEB. 18 You’re in a position of leadership on two levels. One is that you set an example for others on the level of ethics and community involvement. The other is that you’re willing to grow and evolve. Wear that on your sleeve. Admit that you’re someone who is actually willing to change. FEB. 19-MARCH 20 You’re more than the sum total of your past. Yet to truly embody that, you must stand in the present moment. The entire Zen Library is stuffed full of this message. Yet it’s true, and it’s especially true for you now. You’ll know you’re there when you feel your heart thumping.