Venus' transit through Taurus expresses pleasure in human luxuries — the love of love, and the love of stuff. We're drawn toward people and things that have cuddly, touchable and tangible appeal. As Jupiter and Uranus encourage Venus to think bigger today, if you're not going all out in the name of necessity, go all out in the name of love.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You're happy when you're busy. The only problem is that all the tasks you should be doing now don't compel you one bit. So, blow them off. Get busy doing what you want to do!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You've protected your work well by not showing it to people before it's complete. In this way you've maintained the integrity of your original impulse. It's now safe to share and get feedback.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It builds character and discipline to commit yourself to tall orders. Giving in to pressure can be a good thing when those who demand of you are really on your side. But do not agree to do anything for people you don't like and trust.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). It's nearly impossible to feel optimistic about life when you're tired. And it's pointless to take action when you don't feel cheerful about the outcome. So the best thing you can do is rest up.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). It's not that you feel entitled to have more than other people do. But you do feel entitled to enjoy it more. You may stop and realize at some point today that you are living "a dolce vita" and the sweet life suits you indeed!

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (MAY 18). It's a year of outstanding accomplishment. What you've had your mind's eye set on comes to you in the next 10 weeks. Loved ones contribute to your fun in June, and someone may even spring for your travel expenses. In September, you're picking up a new skill, which requires discipline. There's a windfall in December. Leo and Cancer delight you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 40, 33, 26 and 5.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You're getting in touch with your wild nature. It could cause you to take a lone journey, or you could go the opposite way and do something that's extremely popular and so zany that until today, you didn't think it was for you at all.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Being a resourceful person, you have all you need at any given moment. It doesn't stop you from wanting more, but even when you have a craving, it's manageable. You stay cool.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Confidence is knowing that you're in charge of your own security. You can provide for yourself and you don't depend on anyone else to keep you warm and fed.

Make this your mantra: I can take care of myself.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Someone is doing his or her best to please you. The effort is admirable, even if the effect is disappointing. You get the opportunity to be classy by seeing and complimenting what's right about the whole scenario.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Doing whatever you feel in the moment can have magic results. Especially if you've already thought of said "moment" a million times, and planned what you'll do. Important events shouldn't be left to chance.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The spirit of adventure in the air makes it hard for you to follow any direction except the dictators of your curiosity. Live it up to the fullest by refusing to feel pressured by anyone's expectations.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). There's something on your mind — a knotty little issue that you can't seem to unravel on your own. Luckily, you have angels, elders and wise souls around you who are happy to lend help.

FORECAST FOR THE WEEK AHEAD: This week presents a rare opportunity to enjoy a second full moon in Scorpio, coinciding with the annual religious holiday of Wesak, named for the second lunar month of the Hindu calendar. This holiday became significant in 1950, when the first conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists declared this full moon as the celebration of the birth, death and enlightenment of Buddha (it's said that Buddha became enlightened during a Taurus sun/Scorpio full moon). Celebrated worldwide, practitioners make temple offerings of flowers, incense and other ritual items that fade away, as symbolic reminders that life will inevitably end. Animals and insects kept in captivity are freed en masse as an act of liberation. These ritual practices coincide with the Scorpio and Taurus full moon season: everything blooms and dies, and through periodically releasing our emotional and physical attachments, our spirit renews itself. The intensity of Scorpio moon times can amplify our passions, prickle our emotions and ripen long-forgotten feelings. An enlightened response might be greeting everything this week with an open heart and engaged awareness, just as the Buddha did. And you can transform any difficult passion into compassion for the natural dance of life.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Tina Fey is a rare bird in the world of comedy: she's a woman, she's gorgeous and she's hilarious — a crackerjack combination. Yet in a business that can eat its young and its women, Mrs. Fey's amazingly well adjusted. That's not unusual for down-to-earth and humble Taurus. Fey states, "I like to crack the jokes now and again, but it's only because I struggle with math."

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

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