BIRTHDAYS

Aries (March 21-April 19): You’ll float to the highest level of conduct, as though life were an endless formal dinner. There’s great effort in creating an effect of restraint and refinement, which is why more people don’t bother. You’ll be richly rewarded.

Taurus (April 20-May 20): Being able to take a long view of things will save you from future discomfort. There are a lot of things you could take on. Consider what it would mean for your next few days and far beyond.

Gemini (May 21-June 21): Once you decide that you are going to devote yourself to making progress, you’ll stick to an endeavor until you get where you want to go. The game has started. To delay is to lose any advantage you might have.

Cancer (June 22-July 22): Consider that your most powerful asset is your reputation. So anything that lifts it will probably be worth the attention, effort and money that goes into the process.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): You’ll have a strong first impression to a situation. Note it — even formally with an actual note — but don’t act on it. There is more to learn here, and you’re playing a long game.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Success will be simple when you recognize what is and is not under your control, and then apply yourself only to the first group of circumstances. Applying yourself to the second group brings nothing but frustration.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): There will happen the sort of heated situation in which the best response is no response. The coolest person will literally be the one with the most chill attitude.

Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21):

You often have to comply to the authority in a situation, which is what makes opportunities like yours today special. You’ll call the game and make the rules.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In days of old, the black sheep was shunned by the herd. Now the black sheep goes on the internet and finds a virtual herd with numbers so strong, the black sheep are actually the majority.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Your choices do not have to be dictated by things like age, race, gender or even by how much money you have in your pocket. Waste no time accounting for limits. Go straight to the workaround.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Spite is very unattractive to you. The stronger stance is always the most compassionate one. Boundaries sometimes have to be laid down, and it’s the spirit of

Naturalist Sir David Attenborough is 94. Singer Toni Tennille is 80. Actor James Mitchum is 79. Country singer Jack Blanchard is 78. Jazz musician Keith Jarrett is 75. Actor Mark Blankfield is 72. Singer Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind and Fire) is

69. Rock musician Chris Frantz (Talking Heads) is

69. Rockabilly singer Billy Burnette is 67. Rock musician Alex Van Halen is 67. Actor David Keith is 66. Actor Raoul Max Trujillo is 65. Sports commentator/former NFL coach Bill Cowher is

63. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is 59. Actress Melissa Gilbert is 56. Rock musician Dave Rowntree (Blur) is 56. Country musician Del Gray is 52. Rock singer Darren Hayes is 48. Singer Enrique Iglesias is

45. Blues singer-musician Joe Bonamassa is 43. Actor Matt Davis is 42. Singer Ana Maria Lombo (Eden’s Crush) is 42. Actor Elyes Gabel is

37. Actor Domhnall Gleeson is 37. Neo-soul drummer Patrick Meese (Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats) is 37. Actress Julia Whelan is 36. Actress Nora Anezeder is 31.

the gesture that will matter.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): The issues that come up today are the sort you don’t have to reason your way through. Give your logical mind a break. Meditate, shower, drive, walk or sleep on it instead.

Today’s birthday (May 8): This solar return is like a permission slip to depart from conformity, delight in novelty and oddity, and generally investigate niche areas of interest. There are many who will be enthralled by your receptivity and will strive to delight you. In turn, you’ll share your world and brighten the lives of new and old friends. Gemini and Libra adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 30, 2, 22and 45.