If it’s your birthday

You have two competing forces in your psyche at the moment: the desire to rebel, and the desire to please others. While these might be seen as having equal value, they don’t really. How much of your life have you spent conforming to what you think others want? Probably way too much. You have a strong independent streak, and you’re restless. You share a birthday with Mark Twain, Robert Guillaume and Kaley Cuoco. MARCH 21-APRIL 19 Make sure that you negotiate and use diplomacy rather than fight. You’re likely to lose a fight and win at negotiation. That should be more than enough incentive. However, there’s something else — which is that you’re currently negotiating some important long-term plan, and must think of the future. APRIL 20-MAY 20 You may be feeling agitated and insomniac, whether literally or figuratively. The next few nights, make an effort to wind down early. Slow your activity and put down your devices. Either that, or set things up so you can be awake all night, whether to work or play — whatever’s on your agenda. MAY 21-JUNE 20 In any controversy, public or private, you must be the voice of reason, or stay back. You may not be able to solve the problem, though you would be wise to avoid taking sides in any argument. There’s an X factor involved. There is missing information that will come out soon. JUNE 21-JULY 22 Expect the unexpected today, especially at work. People around you are under pressure that you may not have observed or given a name to yet; tune in and listen, though, and you’ll get a sense of what is going on. Do your part and be supportive, even if there seems to be no reward involved. JULY 23-AUG. 22 You may have all kinds of innovative ideas about what you want to do with your future. I suggest you draw up a set of plans that you have ready to proceed with starting right after the winter solstice. Set one modest goal and one you think is out of reach. Notice which is easier to attain. AUG. 23-SEPT. 22 You may be feeling an overwhelming need to break free of some emotional constraint, and just as hesitant to dare. If you sit with your situation, you’ll discover what it is that’s holding you back. Clue: it’s not anything new. It’s so old, your eldest relatives had to deal with it. SEPT. 23-OCT. 22 For the next few days, pay special attention when doing anything even vaguely dangerous, such as climbing on a chair, chopping an onion, or driving a car. Make sure you’re in the right state of mind, and that you apply mindfulness. As the Quakers say, walk lightly on the Earth. OCT. 23-NOV. 21 Venus is at the end of her run through your sign, which began three weeks ago. You might have some interesting conversations as she changes signs into Sagittarius. Intimate subjects that seemed impenetrable, or which you avoided, may be ready for a genuine conversation. DEC. 22-JAN. 19 Note your anxieties over the next few days. What, exactly, are you worried about? Then, as you discover one by one that they were not based in reality, by which I mean that they didn’t actually come true, let it inform your relationship to fear and worry. You can get on top of this one. JAN. 20-FEB. 18 If you’ve succeeded at nothing else lately, it’s been carving out a place for yourself and the work that you do. You may not think so, though you’ve made real progress at finding your niche. You can test that theory out different ways. For example, consider where else you might fit in so well. FEB. 19-MARCH 20 Watch your outflow of cash, even if your income is strong at the moment. You will need your resources for more relevant purposes, including a project that involves bringing in more money. If you have priorities, make a game out of accomplishing them in a way that costs little to nothing.