If it’s your birthday

Aspiring to one’s professional goals is often an exchange; you must give up some things to have others, if only due to the limits of time and the demands of success. Make sure, therefore, that you select your ambitions based on your most cherished goals, and that if you must give something up, you do so willingly -- and make sure you can claim it back in the future. You share a birthday with Pierre-Auguste Renoir, George Harrison, and Sean Astin. MARCH 21-APRIL 19 This is the week to put your values into action. Do only what you think is right. Be true to your deepest feelings, and if you find yourself contradicting yourself, stop and ask why. We live in the age of hypocrisy, which verges on being an Olympic sport. You are not made for that. APRIL 20-MAY 20 Evaluate people based on how honest they are. If you find that someone you know has been any less than truthful, or if they tried to deceive you outright, you might consider parting ways. It’s one thing if our glorious leaders don’t think the truth exists. You and I know better. MAY 21-JUNE 20 This is a good week to enact a financial plan connected to your business. This might be about negotiating a raise, reaching new clients, or taking someone up on an offer to help you. Let any such decision be founded on human warmth and our deep need to take care of one another. JUNE 21-JULY 22 You may need to work extrahard at something today, though it will be worth it. You have the right idea, and you know how important it is to do the right thing. So take the time, make the effort, and bring your full awareness to the tasks at hand. Being selfless is not popular, but it’s satisfying. JULY 23-AUG. 22 When you do something meaningful, whether it’s a creative project, or the choice to be in a relationship with your whole heart, there’s an element of setting your ‘self’ aside, and living in harmony with a deeper purpose. Or, you could say, setting aside self-concept and finding the real thing. AUG. 23-SEPT. 22 You seem to be struggling with not getting certain emotional needs met in a relationship. You might feel as if someone needs all the attention. However, if you focus a little more on them, you might notice they’re focusing more on you. Increase rather than decrease your participation. SEPT. 23-OCT. 22 Take a positive attitude toward work this week, and be grateful that you have something meaningful to do. If you feel that aspect is lacking, then you’re the one who needs to stoke your own interest in what you do. Resolve never to waste your time. Strive to make the world a better place. OCT. 23-NOV. 21 You have many lavish options open to you this week, whether we’re talking about your romantic and erotic endeavors, your creative passions, or having some other form of fun. However, you’ll need to make the call, send the text, or step out and visit someone. Get things moving. NOV. 22-DEC. 21 You may feel a need to detach yourself from your feelings and your desires, but what fun is that? You might think you’ll be overwhelmed with emotion the moment you relax a little, though this is unlikely. The chances are you’ll feel better for being open to the people you care about. DEC. 22-JAN. 19 Make sure you balance out your efforts this week, distributing them evenly between work-related tasks and honoring personal priorities. These days it’s way too easy to feel like you don’t have time for yourself; though in truth, you don’t have time for anyone else -- if your life is indeed yours. JAN. 20-FEB. 18 Whenever you find yourself in a situation where group dynamics become an issue, consider your family. That’s the original group, and you may notice that the cast of characters keeps repeating itself. Once you know someone is playing the role of your mother, they will be easier to deal with.