October 12, 2002

It’s nice to know you’re not a victim of circumstance. When you really start to look at it, you understand how one choice led to another to land you exactly where you are. These are the kinds of thoughts running around in your head through the weekend. Loved ones scrutinize their relationships sideways, backward and upside down.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Everyone is watching your next move, but you can take the pressure. It’s a perfect day for expanding your mind through art, culture or even travel. Hold steady to the course you’ve set out upon; the results are spectacular.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Assume an active role in family and community affairs. Friendships protect you and provide money-making opportunities. Tonight, let the conversation flow, and you might find there are things you didn’t know about your partner.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Love is blissful because you are content, not the other way around. Loved ones mean more to you than material trappings, so don’t be upset when accidents happen. New romance could extend your happiness even more.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Someone’s hard life is rubbing off on you if you spend too much time with this person. You are especially impressionable and need to make sure your friends are the kind that can lift you up.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). A romantic call tonight is best kept short. Build the mystery. Enjoy family moments. Bonding activities are practical – help each other with the laundry or repairing the car. When Capricorn is involved, everyone will make money.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (October 12). The winds of change stir up advancement opportunities. Be sharp. Altering your outmoded point of view helps you get ahead. Public relations efforts through February boost your cash flow by March. Firm up a connection with a backer in April. An innocent springtime romance turns steamy by July. Hunches are lucky all year. Your lucky numbers are: 17, 19, 24, 35 and 50.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Appreciating what you have is difficult when it appears that everyone else has something better. Not true. Get comfortable with life’s illusions. Friends influence you tonight, and by tomorrow, you’re back to your initial impression.

LIBRA (Sept.23-Oct.23). People want to be pursued; phone calls are not so readily returned. Asking too many questions is a turn-off, but posing one or two clever ones perpetuates the game. The quest to pin down elusive people is at least exciting.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). The more reasonable risks you take, the more options you’ll have. You may be giving a stressful matter more significance than it deserves. Try to gain perspective by speaking with a wise friend.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). It’s easy to know your next move when you don’t think too much about it; just let your body and intuition show you where to go. Romance heats up with one-on-one time. The truth makes confrontations healthy.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You derive pleasure from helping a loved one with career goals. New and stronger friendship bonds are forged. Intense relationships encourage your ambitions. Money comes in lump sums.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Express your opinions – you’ll find support from the most unlikely people. Instead of complaining out loud, put your thoughts in writing, but don’t send the letter. Business is low key, but you’ll be rewarded for good service.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You communicate with more clarity now that you are sure about what you want. Resolve any discrepancies in paperwork. It’s productive to read, get on the Internet or watch TV. Don’t buy what you don’t need.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: "I am a 19-year-old Taurus (born in 1983) taking time off of work to go to college. The only problem is, I haven’t been able to find and keep work for months. I’d like to write full time, but that won’t pay the bills. Please tell me, will I find any kind of work soon?"

Someone as driven as you are doesn’t realize the extent to which help is available. You just have to bend your pride somewhat and ask for it. A family member who knows how hard you are willing to work for what you want will help support you while you go to school – if you have the guts to make the case for yourself. There are also scholarship opportunities available – ask your counselor what’s out there for you. No matter what, don’t give up writing. At the same time, don’t think of it as a profession. Taurus are purists who need to do things for the sheer joy of it instead of worrying about whether or not the work in question will pay the bills. In the next decade, you will be making money from your writing, and that is certain. For now, make life easy for yourself. Get your education paid for, and make your next year about learning.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Libran actor/director/producer Tim Robbins shows Libra’s funny and dramatic sides in his work with equal skill. Libra natives have flexibility on their side, as do most air signs. Also native to air signs is keen intellect. However, of all the air signs, Libra is the most likely to stay in love forever. With two Libras in one family (Robbins’ lovely wife Susan Sarandon is a Libra, too), you can’t miss!

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Copyright 2002 Joyce Jillson