HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY

Happy birthday. To sum the world up in a word: magic. The spell is in this bit of knowledge: Most problems are caused inside the relationship with the self — a relationship that will be healed, nurtured and well-tended this solar return. With great daring and caring, you’ll help yourself become the hero of your own story.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You’re building a fortress of love around you now. Love cannot immunize you against all future sadness and emotional pain, but it will definitely make it much easier to bear.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You’ve plenty around you who, like dogs, love you unconditionally and are excited to see you. It’s the cat-like people who are featured today, though. They might ignore you until they’re suddenly in the mood for attention.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21): If you were a flower you wouldn’t be a rose with protective thorns to keep people from hastily plucking you up. You’d be a wildflower that grows where it wants. Being picked or not picked isn’t the point for a wildflower.

CANCER (June 22-July 22): It’s hard to do things just for your own self-improvement. Therefore, you don’t call it “fun.” It certainly isn’t selfish, as no one selfishly causes his or her own discomfort. Do things just for you anyway, if only as an exercise to prove that you can.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): There’s no shame in leaving the party at 9:30 p.m. Once you’ve done what you set out to do, found what you were looking for and gotten what you came for, there’s no reason to stay.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Some endeavors are like the carnival that comes to town to delight you then takes its music and roller coasters to the next location. So what? Play the games; lose some money; ride the rides. It’s more fun than staying home.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): To give your heart to another when you feel the impulse to do so is usually the right choice. That doesn’t mean it will work out. No one is guaranteed joy. But regardless of what happens next, you’ll be better for it.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): You so freely give your love to everyone who needs it. What about you? You need it, too, possibly more urgently than anyone else around you today. Turn it inward.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Do you wonder why the cold people seem to gravitate to you? It’s because you’re fire and they sense they’ll be able to warm up around you. They’re right about that today.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Any attempt to control essentially uncontrollable forces will fall somewhere between laughable and futile. Disturbing elements are part of the landscape of life. The trick is to go around them, paying as little attention as possible.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The bleak eventually gives way to sparkling interests — or does it create them? It will be your restlessness along with your enthusiasm that give meaning and color to your work and relationships.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The damage we do over the course of a relationship or a job can’t always be put right again, but when it’s beyond repair we can still rebuild from scratch. The important thing is to have a hopeful attitude.