Mercury facilitates sincere expressions of affection for the people and things we love, now joined with Venus in Virgo today. Even those shy about sharing their innermost thoughts seem to do so with well-chosen words, taking painstaking care to come across clearly. And we find their simple gestures inordinately charming and thoughtful.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You're genuinely interested in people. It's more natural for you to speak up and reach out than it is for you to hold back and silently judge. You can't help but make friends wherever you go.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Somehow the rest of the world missed your memo regarding how this day should go. It may take you a beat to get in step with the way things actually are now. Still, you'll deal in a loving way.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). When you ask for what you want, you'll get an unexpected response. It's only a problem if you choose to call it one. You're as successful as you are resourceful. Look at the facts and refuse to take things personally.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Life isn't compliant to your demands. It's more a wily teenager than a kindly butler. It rebels against your attempts to control it. The future comes in its own time and in its own way.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You have very little ego when it comes to your work now. You're willing to use the idea that will forward the interest of your entire group, whether or not that idea was generated by you. Sagittarius is your ally.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (AUGUST 21). New facets of your personality gleam and sparkle this year. You're asked to make a commitment in September. In November, you see the best in others and pick up those qualities in no time at all. You're inspired, motivated and driven to excel by a very determined person in your life. Aquarius and Pisces are your adoring fans. Your lucky numbers are: 30, 11, 20, 3 and 15.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You're happy with yourself, which comes across in a pleasant, friendly manner. Some would even accuse you of flirting. Because you appreciate what's special about you, it's easy to see what's special in others.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Prepare for wheeling and dealing. You feel that you deserve to get the very best money can buy and get it for a lot less than others would pay for it. And you'll find smart ways to make this happen for yourself.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You not only admire stellar professionalism, you feed off of it creatively. You may even get a buzz just being around people who know what they're doing at work and do it well. Pisces is such a person.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You're emotionally strong, which makes it unnecessary to have a huge ego about things. Review your victories and your mistakes. Put new rules in place to help you repeat what worked and leave behind what didn't.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Yes, you're working on a team. It's still crucial that everyone is individually acknowledged, and that includes you. When it's your turn to accept the applause, take a bow.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Sure, life is stressful. But it's a lot less stressful for the people who happen to be around you. You make them laugh — what a wonderful gift to provide a joyful release for others. You're funniest when you're vulnerable.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Reflect on relationships, finances and the state of your soul. It's important not to make any changes until you're very certain what is working for you and what isn't. Don't move until you're absolutely sure of your course.

ASTROLOGICAL TOPICS: Have you ever been haunted by love? Has the object of your affection ever had such impact on your life that you see your beloved's name in your breakfast cereal, hear his or her voice echoing in your head, lose all concentration for your work in favor of fantasizing about your next encounter? If this has happened to you (and keeps happening), you probably have romantic Neptune prominent in your chart. Neptune is the higher, spiritual octave of Venus — love on this planet has a soulful component. Especially attuned to the subtleties and sensitivities at play in love, those under the influence of Neptune experience an elevated sense of the transcendent thereafter in love. Unfortunately, this may manifest as a longing for a person or figure just out of reach; they're married, or we've fallen for a celebrity or the like — at least until we learn to understand the nature of our incomplete longing. Neptune provokes intoxicating self-forgetfulness (the rogue lulled the gods to sleep with glamour, wine, poetry and ecstatic bliss). Yet, the other side of this self-forgetfulness is spiritual remembrance. If you're yearning for a love just out of reach, consider entertaining other paths to bliss, too — like spirituality, art making, active fantasy and dance.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Women and men alike are drawn to sexy siren Kim Cattrall's "Sex and the City" character, Samantha Jones, as the epitome of an independent woman in charge of her sexuality. But just how alike are Kim and Samantha? Kim is a confident and in-command Leo sun, but with Venus in feminine Cancer, depending on a partner has benefits, too. Cattrall will get in touch with a softer side of herself this year.

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.

COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.