It's a common belief that hard work equals success. So why do some works appear to go unrewarded? Today's helpful meeting of Saturn and the Cancer sun explains: when you give your heart and soul to a persistent, focused effort, there's always a payoff — and often unexpected ones. Get clear about what you are trying to accomplish.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Making a friendship pact is not only for fourth-graders. There's something you might enjoy promising to your nearest and dearest, and there's an equally enjoyable demand they would, in turn, request of you.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). It's easy to know what your duty is. It's harder when you're in the realms above and beyond the call of duty to know what to do. But you have a sense about this now and will blaze the trail.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). There are exceptional people you have yet to meet who live within a mile of you. The timing hasn't been right to bump into these types until today. Sparkling conversation bubbles forth from this union.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Working alone, you'll run out of ideas. Keep your eyes peeled for people who are trying to accomplish a similar aim to the one you have been chasing. Competition drives you to make extraordinary choices.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You're drawn to controversy. If it's scandalous, edgy or just unorthodox, it excites you — and you're not the only one. Tonight, whatever you do, don't blend in. You're sure to bond with fellow thrill seekers.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (JUNE 24). You're in charge of this life and you prove it this year as you call the big shots. July brings advancement on the job, and your social options widen as well. In August you're aligning yourself with those who have what you want. A move is featured in October. Education is key to raising your financial position in December. Libra and Virgo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 30, 20, 13, 27 and 44.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You're figuring out how to coexist with someone. Try as low-key an approach as you can think up. Threats and ultimatums won't work anyhow. Saying what you will do, then doing it is a genius plan.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The politics of friendship plays a key role in today's events. Of course it's always better to take the high road, but your own bias might prevent you from making this your first choice. It's never too late for a course correction.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You're an expert at figuring out the motives of complicated characters. You feel where someone is coming from and then stay one step ahead of the game. Tonight, your style wins approval from a tough critic.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Stay on the lookout for someone who will be a fabulous influence on you, encouraging you to learn, earn and burn (calories!) These are the habits that make you feel self-expressive.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You're like a radio station with a 24-hour request line. The endless stream of suggestions may inspire you to lay down some new personal boundaries. The best ideas are the ones you come up with around 3 p.m.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Easy does it. There's no need to feel guilty for sleeping in or taking naps. You need more than the usual amount of rest now to recharge your body and heal your mind.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Being a nerd is cool. You care enough to learn everything about your subject of interest, and that's the attitude that will spring you ahead at work. Mesmerize the powers that be with your in-depth analysis and study.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: "I'm a Scorpio who dated my Virgo boyfriend for almost a year. We separated and are now just friends with benefits (as he calls it). We still talk to each other, he stays at my home on the weekend and has a key to my house. We really like each other, but he always makes the comment that he is single. It feels like we are together, but should I keep it the way it is, or should I tell him to make a change?"

Scorpio, there you go again, thinking you can change a person. It's a moot point. He'll treat you the way you allow yourself to be treated by him, bottom line. I'm concerned that you're not being valued and appreciated in the way you desire. Saying he's single, with you obviously at his side, sounds wacky, loud alarm bells to me: that either he's involved with another person, or he's looking. The louder he insists, the louder the bells. Even a loosely defined relationship still needs the basic elements of any relationship — mutual understanding, honesty, respect — to thrive. When you insist on all of these for yourself, you'll feel more confident about this relationship.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: The folksy, soft and soothing music of Carly Simon is dreamy. And as her astrology proves, songwriting — indeed poetry — is as much about being a wordsmith as listening to one's heart. Oh, that's why it sounds so sweet! With the sun, Mercury and Saturn in Cancer, she's super attentive to her feelings. However, her Saturn works so hard to understand and give form to those same emotions that inform her songs.

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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