September 8 (Monday)

Friends will probably check in with one another just to be sure relationships are on solid ground. With the sun newly exploring Virgo, everyone needs to be nurtured. And the Leo moon is demonstrative, so we’ll want to experience encouragement in a showy way. We find fault within ourselves and hope that others will be forgiving toward us.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). A friend needs your help getting out of a difficult spot. Offer ideas with tact and tenderness. Your eye for style is impeccable. Tonight, looking back can be the best way to see into the future.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Love is at the top of the list, so go find it. A sexy encounter is a welcome change of romantic pace. You can improve your working dynamic with one broad move. Just make sure you know what you’re changing it into.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Go on a flight of fancy. Being too logical will stunt your growth. A break in your morning routine leads you to meet an influential person. Outdoor travel is a tonic for your over-worked brain.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’re always one to give others the benefit of the doubt, but today, this could be a misstep. The most likely scenario turns out to be true. Finish up time-sensitive errands such as photo developing and dry cleaning.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Make a play for that promotion this morning. You’re in the right frame of mind to make a strong case. It could be time to end a relationship that’s just not working. Bowing out gracefully is the only way to go.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (September 8). You’re like a magician this year, making impossible things happen. Someone you meet next month brings lucrative business. Be thorough, don’t expand too quickly, and you’ll be successful. Love with an Aries or Capricorn is favored in October. Wedding bells could ring in December. Travel at the top of the new year frees creative impulses. Your lucky numbers are: 2, 39, 11, 20 and 38.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Turn your work world on end by taking on a new persona. Anything to keep others from pigeonholing your talent will be lucky. A message arrives this morning. Use the information shrewdly – it proves profitable.

LIBRA (Sept.23-Oct.23). Phone calls eat up your time. Set limits for them. The spark of romance finds you yet again, but this time, there is no way you can get burned. Share your love as if you’ve never been hurt before.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Loved ones send confusing signals. Be tolerant. Nagging will not cause anyone to break a bad habit. A reward system is effective, though. Kids needs brain stimulation, so turn off the tube.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Your popularity is high today, mostly because you’ve been offering so much to others lately. Adoring compliments fly your way, and you’re the one everyone wants to talk to. Extra vitamins give you energy.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Trust your instincts this morning. They lead to answers regarding love and how to get it. Amazing deals are found at small shops near the office. Stock up on presents for friends and family.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Physically, you’re at a peak. Heart-healthy activities become easier today, thanks to your tenacity. Stretch before your workout. Key figures to help your financial life are Gemini and Capricorn.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’re running on pure adrenaline. Last-minute deadlines jolt you into working at a high speed. An extra assignment is actually a blessing. Social appeal is on the up and up. Worthy invitations stream in.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: "I’m a Leo who’s concerned about Mars coming so close to Earth! Is this going to be end-of-the-world stuff? I’m afraid of nuclear war."

Calm down, Leo. For starters, Pluto has more to do with nuclear energy, so you don’t have to worry about that. I don’t think the end is near, but the astrological tenor will ratchet up a few beats, and the changes happen quickly. For those of you who haven’t been following this Mars transit, it is indeed an exciting time both astrologically and astronomically. Mars gets chummy with the Earth, to the tune of 34.7 million miles away. At this distance, Mars is closer to our planet than he’s been in well over 50,000 years! Neanderthal man was the last to experience this Martian phenomenon, so there is no written history of this transit’s effect. Mars energy is male. It is passionate, fiery, innovative, spontaneous, revolutionary and ambitious. I predict that astronomers will notice very unusual events in the heavens. Freaky weather might be part of the deal, too – out-of-season climates and storms are likely. I also believe Mars will manifest changes in government that have an immediate economic result.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Claudia Schiffer is the consummate Virgo. Beautiful, professional and caring, Schiffer has had a long career as a supermodel and is a spokesperson for breast cancer and a volunteer for UNICEF. She never intended to become a model, rather she had her sights set on becoming a lawyer. This year, she could set up a fund for human rights lawyers to continue their important work worldwide.

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Copyright 2003 Joyce Jillson