ArcaMax

Words matter. They can wound you or swoon you. They can sell you or repel you. And today they can send you flying with the key to unlock your very own castle in the sky. The conjunction of Mercury (communication) and Jupiter (good fortune) is just the power combination for the inspired and even magical use of words. May your silver tongue bring you gold.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). The cosmic instruction today is a rather simple one: Look up, look around, look beyond. This chapter isn't meant to be lived in your own head. Reach out, accept invitations, ask questions and spend time where people gather.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Generosity has curious economics. The more freely it's practiced, the less scarce it feels. You can't tell how the tally will work out, but it really will. A giving spirit doesn't empty the cupboard. Somehow it keeps finding another loaf of bread.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Some people create excitement by turning small problems into major productions. Give them a wide berth. Your favorite company will be curious people with projects, plans and places they'd rather be than the middle of someone else's argument.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You try a little harder around certain people -- the ones you admire, the ones who admire you and the ones who have an expectation you feel obligated to meet. Seek this company to inspire your best work.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). It's as though you discover a magical place, hidden behind ordinary walls, where remarkable things flourish. Maybe it's a mindset, a vision or a realm of reality with more of what your soul needs. This is where you belong, and you'll get there.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You won't dismiss someone's conclusion, even if it's obviously wrong, annoyingly slanted or just plain silly. Often, it's not the idea that matters so much as how a person came to it. Your curiosity will take you down that road.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Support, disagreements, shared history, history you wish was never shared or never happened... these are all part of close relationships. Ponder and pontificate if you must, but you could save yourself some time by simply chalking it up to: That's love!

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You are part of the mechanics that spin the world. The small tasks and roles you take on unthinkingly -- those contribute to the spin. You, doing nothing... that contributes, too. There's no getting around making the world go round.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Anyone who gets on your nerves will be in fine form today. If you can't get away, put on headphones or their metaphorical equivalent and drown out the noise with beautiful music.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Reinforcements aren't coming today, but that's good news. The more you practice helping yourself, the stronger your skills get. Set yourself free. If you have to steal that freedom, you'll only be taking back what always belonged to you.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You're terrific at sniffing out trouble. You can meet someone and sense whether they're likely to complicate your life. You can walk into a room and get a quick read on the social weather. That instinct serves you well today.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The ancient warrior Sun Tzu said, "When we are near we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when we are far away we must make the enemy believe we are near." But when the enemy is within? Befriend it.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 15). It's your year of Standing Ovations when your work is extraordinary and you're not the only one who knows it! Because of this, places, people and possibilities that once seemed far away become part of everyday life. More highlights: You move instinctually. You'll buy tickets before they sell out, invest before everyone catches on and ask for what you want before you (or they) have a chance to overthink it. Aries and Libra adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 2, 33, 15, 20 and 9.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Perhaps it was the Lion's burning desire to entertain others that drove Jennifer Lawrence to take enormous risks as a teen, moving away from her family to pursue her career when she was still a minor. The superstar continues to take risks that set her apart, favoring unpredictable projects over the safest path a Hollywood A-lister could take. Lawrence was born when Venus, the love and beauty planet, was in Leo, the sign of show business. Her moon is in quick, bright Gemini.

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