Horoscope

Today's birthday (FridWy ,F eb .26 , 2021) Empathic, sensitiv ea nd magnetic, you move people deeply. This year, your dedicat eda ttention earns you many followers. July will be your most ambitious month. If single, you can bea shy lone wol f,a nd must mak ea n effort this yea ri f you want to be with your soul mate. Ifa ttached, you and your partner can communicate without speaking. Your bond is unbreakable. SAGITTARIUS helps you take yourself le sss eriously.

Aries (MWrch 21-Apr il1 9) ★★★ Your sense o fad venture deepens. You’ll yearn tow ander an de xplore. Dreams and visions must not be taken literally. Direct your heightened imagination an dc reativity into constructiv ee nds. Ad omestic matter demands your attention an dcan be sorted out. Tonight: An especially healthy meal.

Taurus (April 20-MW y20 ) ★★★★★ Today ushers in ac ycle of happiness. Reach out to those you car eab out (even one you haven’t talked to in a long time), visit an art display, or complet ec reative projects. Get all the facts befor eac ting. Tonight: Patience is a must.

Gemini (MW y2 1-Jus e20 ) ★★★ Seek inne rh armony and release stress. A family membe ris feeling very adventurous and may surprise you b yt akin ga gamble. Take sensible precautions an da ll will be well. Genealogical stud yun covers interesting facts. Tonight: It’s a wonderful time tor edecorate your workspace.

Cancer (Jus e2 1-Jul y22 ) ★★★ A sibling orn eighbor is changing. Don’t be in denia lwh e no bvious signs ar ebe ing sent. Be diplomatic when discussin gc ontroversial issues. Call ahead an dc onfirm plans. Transportation needs ar ebe in gc onsider eda nd information exchange isv ery important. Tonight: Return calls promptly.

Leo (Jul y23 -Aug .22 ) ★★★ Thoughts mostly revolv ea round your earning power. You work har df or your family’s security. Shop for a nit em you’ve long coveted in th eda ys before the pandemic. Kee pr eceipts; a purchase mig hth ave to bee xchanged. Tonight: Study your habits regarding money.

Virgo (Aug .23 -Sept. 22) ★★★★★ Today marks one of the most promising times a lly ear. Career and personal opportunities abound. Enjoy li fea nd put plans in motion for futur ed reams. Write your ne wr esolutions, schedul ea ppointments and begin projects you’ve been interested in. Tonight: Celebrate quietly.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) ★★★ Memories o fa lost love must be ke ptinp erspective. Your intere stinh elping th ed isadvantaged grows. Quietly, you will act an ddo much good in the world. Tonight: There are thoughts and feelings you’d prefe rto keep to yoursel ff or the tim ebe ing.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-No v.2 1) ★★★★ You will enjoy chance meetings with those from your past. A reunion with a longtim ef riend is likely. Y our econside rthe pursuit o fad rea mon ce abandoned. Get in touch with your inner voi cef or direction. Tonight: Consult with ag roup.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec .2 1) ★★★★★

Toda yis all about professional aspirations and your ambitions. You will attract attention. Pursue opportunitie sth at showcase your capabilities. You’r ee nterin ga more promising security cycle. You mig hth av eg on ef rom rag stori ches more tha non ce. Tonight: A sig ho f relief.

Capricorn (Dec .22 -JWs. 19) ★★★★★

Expect a nin crease in energy and motivation. Take time to exercise. Trave lis favored, as are journe yso f the min da nd spirit. There is muc htol earn. If you’ve alwa ysy earned to write, now is the time. Tonight: A sense of the miraculous prevails.

Aquarius (JWs .20 -Feb. 18) ★★★★

Today puts you in tune with your potential. Fate is at work in your life. Some things just are or are not meant to be. Appreciate synchronicities ,a nd you’ll be guided tom anifest what’s best. Heed signs. Tonight: Your energ yl eve lis especially high.

Pisces (Feb. 19-MWrch 20) Today reveals much about ac lose partner. Companions offe rsu ggestions. Reality is clouded. If in doubt, wait for the facts to be revealed before makin gc hoices. Revel in th ea ttraction of opposites. Tonight: A much sought-after dinner with a loved one.

Th est W rss ho wt he kisd of dW yy ou'll hWve: 5D ysWric; 4Po sitive; 3 AverWg e;2S o-so; 1 Difficult.

Dear Amy: When I started seeing my guy, we were so in tune and on the same page about everything!

About a month into dating, a switch was flipped.

While I’m making some of the biggest steps forward in my life and seeing incredible professional opportunities, he is facing jail time.

I know that it’s incredibly stressful for him.

He gets upset when I ask what happened to the honeymoon phase of our relationship; he’s hardly available for me, as he needs to save to pay his bills for the two to three months he’ll be gone.

We love each other and want to be together. But he won’t show up for me emotionally, and it’s hard.

I’ve suggested a break until he’s back in the summer. Now he promises to be more emotionally available.

I’m struggling to decide if it’s worth the sadness I feel waiting this out, but I want to be there for him.

But what if this is just what he’s always like? Sometimes he’s cold, other times demanding. He goes back and forth. He says things and doesn’t follow through. I’m always waiting.

I don’t want to wait for no reason or just so he can use me (and my pocketbook). But I also don’t want to leave because I know that facing jail time is extremely scary. I know I’m empathetic in love, to a fault.

What advice can you give me? — Empathetic

Dear Empathetic: It strikes me as extremely unreasonable to look at a man facing jail time and ask, “What happened to our honeymoon phase?”

That honeymoon ship has sailed.

Read your question and ask yourself: “What would I tell my best friend if she brought this messy relationship dilemma to me?”

As it is now, you play the relationship martyr, and he emotionally manipulates you. You should assume that the way he is behaving now is the way he always behaves.

Do not do the relationship work for him, and do not make excuses for him. That’s not empathy; that’s enabling.

Pay very close attention to

what he does, versus what he says.

You don’t say what crime this man was convicted of, but the wisest and most empathetic course for you to take would be to maintain a non-romantic friendship, while understanding that you both have jobs to do. You need to work hard to fulfill your professional potential, and he needs to pay his debt to society and then — once he has done so — reintegrate into the world.

Whether you are standing by when he returns will be completely up to you.

Dear Amy: Is it normal for parents to ask their young children if they love them?

My ex-partner sometimes asks our 2½-year-old if he loves him and I find it strange, if not inappropriate.

Our son is a loving boy who spontaneously gives hugs, kisses and says, “I love you” to close relatives.

His dad only sees him a few hours each week (by choice), so that could explain why he needs reinsurance. However, I wonder if it’s not too much to ask such a young child.

And of course, the answer is always “yes,” so I find it a bit disturbing that his father asks it every once in a while.

Recently, my son asked him that same question; something he has never done with me or anybody else, so he was just imitating his dad, I think.

How can I tell my ex not to ask our toddler that question anymore? — Uncomfortable

Dear Uncomfortable: Many parents and children relay similar prompts: “How much do you love me?”

“To the moon and back!” I agree that this probably started as a bid for reassurance from a distant dad, but — unless the relationship is otherwise imbalanced — I don’t believe it is harmful, at all.

Don’t police how this dad relates to his son, but do support both in growing a successful relationship. It is challenging to support an ex in this way, but it is genuinely best for everyone in the long run — and parenting is all about the long run.