TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS

Aries (March 21-April 19):

To distinguish a face from all of the other faces is a human talent that goes back to our more primitive days. If only names were as easy to remember! That memorization will take effort and will pay off handsomely today. Taurus (April 20-May 20): Though it certainly will help to believe you can do something before you embark, it isn’t necessary. So if you’re having a crisis of faith, just ignore it and take the next step anyway. It’s the steps that get you there, not the faith. Gemini (May 21-June 21): Love what you do, and you’ll do great work effortlessly. That’s good for you and good for the world. If you don’t love it, you’ll force yourself to do great work anyway. That’s how character is built, which is also a benefit to both you and the world. Cancer (June 22-July 22): You know what it’s like to want something that isn’t a good fit for you. Seeing someone else with what you once wanted will be an eye-opening experience that makes you glad for the way things turned out. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): You’re naturally influential today. Even your most mild-mannered expressions will be powerful enough to get people to go with your ideas, follow your lead and generally give you the room to do as you please. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The more you want to accomplish something, the less it will feel like work. The struggle ceases to be a struggle; it’s just what needs to happen to get where you want to go. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): Find out who has the power to greenlight your project before you waste your time pitching to the wrong person. Also, “Never allow a person to tell you no that doesn’t have the power to say yes.” — Eleanor Roosevelt Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): “It takes one to know one” applies all over the place today. For instance, you’d almost have to slip into an unkind state to decide that someone else is being unkind. Also, you know when you’re loved because you’re loving. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’re brave. You stay awake to what you’re doing instead of burying your head in the sand like the ostrich myth. Maybe you can’t always control your behavior, but you’re aware of it. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): When you feel emotionally out on a limb, don’t ask anyone else to join you there. The branch could break. Make your way to the trunk, shimmy down and touch Singer Jay Black is 80. Political commentator Patrick Buchanan is 80. Actress Stefanie Powers is 76. Author Shere Hite is 76. Country_rock singer-songwriter J.D. Souther is 73. Actress Kate Linder is 71. Rock musician Carter Beauford is 61. Actor Peter Mullan is 59. Singer-songwriter k.d. lang is 57. Rock musician Bobby Dall is 55. Pulitzer Prizewinning playwright Lynn Nottage is 54. Actress Lauren Velez is 54. Actor Sean Kanan is 52. Actor David Schwimmer is 52. Christian/ jazz singer Alvin Chea (Take 6) is 51. Jazz singer Kurt Elling is 51. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is 51. Rock singer-musician Neal Casal is 50. Rock musician Fieldy is 49. Actress Meta Golding is 47. Rock singer_musician John Hampson is 47. Actress Marisol Nichols is 47. Rhythm-and-blues singer Timothy Christian Riley is 44. Rapper Nelly is 44. Actor Danny Cooksey is 43. Rock musician Chris Walla is 43. Actress Reshma Shetty is 41. Country singer Erika Jo is 32. Actor_singer Kendall Schmidt is 28. the roots. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Hearing the words “I love you” from one you hold dear may or may not give you a sense of security. The thing to work on is loving yourself — a much more dependable source of security. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): No stone gets polished smooth without friction. It’s the rub that makes things shine. You’ll put some muscle into that today, maybe physical or maybe emotional. Push through resistance to knock off the grime and get to the luster. Today’s birthday (Nov. 2): You’ll add seven meaningful achievements to your life list before your next birthday. It won’t be because you’re driven to impress anyone or to receive validation for your work. It will be because you are genuinely curious and/or so moved by certain events that you can’t help but throw yourself into the mission. Sagittarius and Cancer adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 8, 35, 2, 30 and 15.