If it’s your birthday

Stay close to the edge of personal discovery. Never let yourself think that you know everything about yourself, or your past, or your family history. If you keep an open mind, you’ll have one revelation after the next. This may set you in a position of family leadership, since you would be the one driven by a questing spirit for truth. Let nothing deter you. You share a birthday with Mary Shelley, Lewis Black and Cameron Diaz. APRIL 20-MAY 20 There must be some distinction between who you present yourself as publicly and who you are privately. That’s not hypocrisy — it’s about having boundaries. You will learn something from the tension between what you reveal and what you keep to yourself. Work this line consciously and carefully. MAY 21-JUNE 20 It’s possible to make a lot of progress and not know it. That’s what you seem to be doing, as you persist day by day working out a question from your distant past, or a family or household issue. In a short time you’ll see how much ground you’ve actually covered. Have faith in yourself. JUNE 21-JULY 22 Today you’ll have the choice whether to work with an authority figure or work against this person. Rather than making this a matter of principle alone, get a sense of the mission, and the necessities at hand. You may discover that you share an important goal and corresponding sense of duty. JULY 23-AUG. 22 You seem to be getting underneath or behind the scenes of a financial issue or situation, though you still have some layers to work through. Be patient, and follow up on every lead. Don’t fall for the belief that money is the most important resource. Actually, that would be you; you’re the creative well. AUG. 23-SEPT. 22 If you’re feeling an emotional squeeze, or some pressure not to be yourself, you don’t have to struggle or fight. You merely need to do what is right for you. Nobody on Earth has the right to think you should do otherwise. This is not about being selfish; it’s about being yourself. SEPT. 23-OCT. 22 One cure for self-criticism is to open up to others. What you’re most likely to hear is that what you’re concerned about is no big deal. This may be all it takes to teach you that we’re pretty much all in the same boat, with mental training that’s not so helpful, but which can be rewritten. OCT. 23-NOV. 21 Ask yourself: what if the truth were known? That is, the truth about you, about what you perceive, and about all the situations that people tend to so vehemently deny. Get past any embarrassment and consider what would happen if reality was actually allowed to manifest. NOV. 22-DEC. 21 You have an idea that may radically alter a career plan or professional obligation, though you should keep it up your sleeve for now. You only have part of the information you need. More will arrive during the next seven or eight days, and your opinion will evolve considerably over that time. DEC. 22-JAN. 19 If you feel drawn inward, take some time to yourself. That might be a half-hour walk or a night in, or doing something separately from your partner. You need the opportunity to meditate and to consider something that’s deeply personal and not subject to discussion or evaluation. JAN. 20-FEB. 18 A project that you initiated last week or over the weekend is ready for another step. Invest some time and energy into this today, tackling the more challenging aspects, such as financing or a legal issue. But don’t make any firm commitments for at least another week. Mercury is still retrograde. FEB. 19-MARCH 20 Ultimately, you hold the authority and you must take responsibility for your own life. Therefore, the viewpoint of others is not as important as your willingness to be the adult in the room. Today you might need to make a decision that nobody else agrees with; and if so, then so be it.