July 22, 2001

The Aries sun, together with Venus and Mercury, helps us to break old habits in our lives and try a new approach to problem-solving. One win will lead to another, and soon you’ll have the courage to confront an old fear that has been holding you back in more areas of life than you care to admit. A Libra has the best advice, so start there!

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Recent romantic developments have you a little preoccupied. When you master some key communication techniques, problems will clear up. Self-evaluation will make you lucky tonight, so find what’s at the heart of your ambitions!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Stick to what feels right. Forget about former mates, and move ahead. Using your talent for decorating or painting will bring beauty into your home. Your hobbies will also give you the opportunity to make extra cash on the side.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Visualizing a desired result is all you need to get started on an overwhelming project. Spend time with people who bring out your competitive spirit. Your romantic partner has a surprise for you that may involve travel. Pack your bags!

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Align yourself with the forces of change. Juggling multiple love interests is too difficult. Choose one now to avoid future trouble. Travel will bring kindred souls together. Getting to know a Taurus is worth all the trouble.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The world holds many potential love interests for you. With so many choices, decision-making will become difficult – narrow the field. Something that used to hang you up is now easily surmountable. Brush aside petty problems.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (July 22). Certainty that you cannot lose makes you a big winner this year! Singles could marry as soon as next month! Your ideal partner is an Aquarius. Career demands are greater than the energy you can supply in August. A change in August will direct you toward a work schedule that’s more suitable for you. Interesting characters will come into your life in September. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 39, 33, 25 and 29.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Catch up on paperwork. Figure out what you need and what you don’t. A mystery will inspire you to be creative, clever and quick. Love relations will continue to be strained until you admit the truth, at least to yourself. Don’t hide behind lies.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You don’t have to feel guilty about engaging in a rivalry because competition is very healthy. Social recognition leads to a career advancement and vice versa. Tonight, your mate will find you irresistible, so ask for anything you want.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Take advantage of a financial opportunity; you’re entitled to it. Your imagination has no boundaries, and it will create opportunities for you in the future. It’s not your style to hold a grudge. You know how to take care of problems.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Someone close is in a position to help, but doesn’t know that you need it. Independent actions will heighten your sex appeal. Singles who dare to ask other singles out on a date will have a good time! Stick up for yourself.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’ll get a shot in the arm from someone you admire. You can take on the world and turn bad situations to your favor. A spontaneous vacation will refresh your mind and give you an eye for a business opportunity.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Your social and business life are intertwined now, so be especially mindful of how you conduct yourself. Tonight can be hard on a platonic relationship, unless you try to accept the limitations he or she gives you.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Don’t wait for the external trappings of success to tell you that you are a star. Accept that you are a valuable person now. Though a new love is ultrasexy, too much emphasis on the relationship will take the mystery out of it.

FORECAST OF THE WEEK AHEAD: This week marks the first full week of the sun’s transit through willful Leo. Mercury, the planet of communication, is in Virgo this week, so it may not be easy to act on all those feelings of goodwill. Leo is a generous sign, so don’t be surprised when you receive a very thoughtful gift. The unconscious moon in ever-so-aware Taurus keeps us in mind of the bottom line. This moon position is a challenge to the sun in Leo but has a kind of calming effect on the meticulous influence of Mercury in Virgo. Lay low – it isn’t pretty when the lion and the bull go head to head. By midweek, the swift moon will have moved into flirtatious Gemini. The moon in this air sign is all the sun in fiery Leo needs to inspire its flare for the dramatic. Not even the Mercury/Venus conjunction in Virgo can inhibit this combination. On Thursday, the moon enters its ruler, Cancer. Both the sun and the moon are in their rulers, so this is a time to reconcile your emotions with your purpose. Saturday, the moon enters Leo, conjuncting the sun. This spells fun.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Quirky Natasha Lyonne, best known for her roles in "American Pie" and "But I’m A Cheerleader," is an actress bound for a long-term career in the spotlight. Her Aries sun assures this up-and-coming beauty a powerful entrance, but she’s all heart with her moon in its home of Cancer. A steamy romance and breakup on the set will help make Lyonne’s next picture the talk of Hollywood.

To find out more about Joyce Jillson and read her past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

Copyright Joyce Jillson 2001