HOROSCOPE
Mercury Takes On the Shadow Every human has a shadow side and possesses aspects of character that are tricky, to say the least. No one is immune, but some are more accepting of faults than others, even embracing and integrating them. Typically, this loveliness is indicative of an emotionally fortunate childhood, though Mercury in Pisces wants us all to give it a try.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). It’s better to let off steam little by little than to let it build and eventually blow up at an inopportune time. The perfect partner in letting loose will come along tonight.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Your life is full of gifts and blessings, so many that if someone off the street were to just step into your life, that person wouldn’t be sure where to start the gratitude list. But you know where to start it. So go there, and be happy.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It will be a scenario you feel familiar with but on guard about. You’ll prepare to say no, but inexplicably, when the moment comes, all won’t go as planned. Consider inviting a friend into this with you.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Whereas most people are not quite so effective as they think they are, you have the opposite dynamic going on today. You don’t know your own strength. Hint: It’s about five times more effective than you expect.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). When it’s not working, the answer can be to try harder and do more. This isn’t always the answer. Sometimes the answer is to stop or to go at it a different way. But right now, what’s needed is repetition of effort. Prove your stamina.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Greatness isn’t something that exists in a few rare souls. It’s in there inside all. The problem for many is that they just don’t believe in their own kernel of greatness. You’ll remedy this for someone today.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). This is not a time for leaping. Steps forward will be more than enough. There’s someone you want to know better. Allow things to build slowly and steadily. Small risks escalate the action. This is not a time for leaping.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Validation can be addictive. Knowing this, when you hear the praise, keep your head. Recognize it for what it is, a sticky bit of honey that can trap you if you land and rest too long there.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). It’s time to narrow your focus and home in on one goal. Can you pull this off with less? Can you involve fewer people? By getting small, you will accomplish big.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Sometimes it’s right to take “no” for an answer, and other times, such as this one, you have such a strong feeling that your offering will really help all involved that it’s worth it to move past “no” with a counteroffer.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). People will not sanction the cost of what they don’t understand. Your options are to make them understand or flesh it out yourself at whatever cost it takes and let them catch up later.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’ve an instinct to disclose that’s running counter to your instinct toward charm. Consider the wisdom of the French writer Voltaire when he said that the secret to being boring is to say everything.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 11). You’re not going for the trophy; you’re just going ever forward in the same direction, and the trophy is one of the inevitable takeaways. More importantly, your experience grows so vast that you’ll be asked to teach and lead. Also featured: an option to move and relationship ease that helps you focus on a dream project. Leo and Libra adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 8, 10, 3, 33 and 17.
LOVE AND THE AIR SIGN: Is your valentine an air sign? Gemini, Libra and Aquarius have an approach to relationships that’s all their own. These lovely intellectuals understand the magnificent role that the mind plays in romance. The games of love are best won with mental strategies. Air signs will spend a great deal of time thinking about how to delight, challenge and learn about their love interest. They also love imagining different scenarios involving their love that may or may not be in the realm of real-life possibility. Their fantasy of love informs the reality of the relationship, regardless of how unrealistic those fantasies may be.
Even though air signs can be wonderfully spontaneous and usually don’t have a problem adapting to surprises or last-minute decisions and changes, one of the best gifts you can give your air sign love is something to look forward to. A concert, trip or special night out that’s a few weeks away will be fodder for your air sign’s fantasy life. Your air sign will take almost as much pleasure in imagining how the upcoming event might unfold as he or she will in the actual event.