July 9 (Wednesday)

With so much Cancer energy overhead, it’s a shame to let it go by without doing a little cleaning and updating of your files. There is plenty of motivation to do what makes home life more comfortable. The Leo moon says that if you haven’t figured out how to listen to what people need and want and then provide it, you’ll get the message now.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). It’s comforting to be in a love relationship that feels safe, but today, it’s a little too safe for you. Do something to get your mind off of a thought pattern that will only destroy a perfectly good relationship.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). People rely on you to brighten their horizon – a pretty hefty responsibility. Your optimism makes a great gift to a new friend, and you curb his or her trend of doom and gloom. A new romance unfolds tonight.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Ignore a heavy-handed critique from someone close to you. Delightful distractions in the form of cards and e-mails arrive this afternoon. Pencil in engagements for later in the week.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Paring down helps you get to the core of what’s really important. Transforming energy is around you. Going with your new flow leads to exciting, creative projects at work and great ideas for social outings this week.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Pair up with a water sign (Cancer, Pisces or Scorpio), and you’ll be led in a new social direction. You are tempted to let everyone know what your opinion is about events at work, but you find good cause to hold your tongue.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (July 9). Investments bring dividends this year! Raises and increased respect are part of the deal. Those looking for extra sources of cash will have luck in jobs that allow contact with the public mind. The next four weeks bring a happy social flow. Love with a Capricorn or Virgo is especially favored. In September, you could get it on the ground floor of hot ideas. Your lucky numbers are: 3, 1, 9, 20 and 18.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). It feels like a friend is begging you for advice, but really, he or she just needs an attentive ear. Lie low, and listen. This monologue provides you fuel for future creative works of art.

LIBRA (Sept.23-Oct.23). Stay on the path you’ve chosen even though it is tempting to stray. The natural way of relationships is to ebb and flow like the tide, always trusting the wave will return full of new and interesting things to say and do together.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Don’t base your day on a hunch. Stay practical, and ignore the hypothetical. Put your body in motion on a hike or long run to clear your head. A mystery has planted its seeds in your heart.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’ll think a relationship is more trouble than it’s worth. Energy is high – eat light. Gemini is so clever and charming, you listen for hours. It could motivate you right out of a rut.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You have the clarity to recognize the exact thing you are looking for even if it has been hard to articulate in the past. Concentrate on bringing out the achiever in your mate. He or she responds to motivation, not bullying.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It’s best not to over-think your love life as it develops. Analyzing everything to the nth degree is about as unromantic as you can get. You’ll uncover a way of making yourself essential at work.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Your ambitious and engaging attitude becomes a catalyst for change. Getting back to work ASAP after lunch helps you show a profit sooner rather than later. A friend will help with a serendipitous introduction.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: "I’m a Capricorn (born Dec. 22, 1961) who recently lost my brother to cancer. Though I pretend like life is normal, I’m so empty inside I don’t even know who I am anymore. Nothing feels the same."

You have your sun in lucky Sagittarius, as a matter of fact. In 1961, the sun entered Capricorn on Dec. 23. Your moon, Venus and Mars are directly opposite, in Gemini, which indicates that relationships – true companionships – are very important to you. We all lose someone important sooner or later, and the period of feeling lost that you describe is very natural, especially with a sibling. Brothers and sisters are a sort of anchor for our individual identities. Your Jupiter in Aquarius indicates that returning to your normal life may not be enough in this time of crisis. Add an environment where you can learn more about your feelings and open yourself up to new influence. A therapeutic or academic environment will be equally helpful. You’ll open up to a side of your nature that is fulfilled by learning, and you’ll find inspiring relationships. Find time for solitude and goal setting, but until then, learn and grow, and let time do its healing job.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Young pop star Michelle Branch reaches out to the needy this year, encouraging fans to donate canned food at her shows. As she develops in her artistry and as a person, Branch could become one of the more outspoken rocker activists, following in the footsteps of Bono and Paul McCartney. Branch’s commitment to others will help many answer "yes" to her musical question "Are You Happy Now?"

If you would like to write to Joyce Jillson, please go to www.creators.com and click on "Write the Author" on the Joyce Jillson page, or you may send her a postcard in the mail. To find out more about Joyce Jillson and read her past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

– Copyright 2003 Joyce Jillson