If Gemini moon makes minds hungry for clever distractions, the Virgo sun attempts to harness her brainpower for practical ends. We could gorge ourselves on mindless stimulation, or pursue only the things we can realistically accomplish. Indulging in a good book gives restless minds something to chew on — and proves a happy medium for both.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You probably haven't been remembering your dreams lately, but when you wake up in the morning you do have a strong sense of purpose. Your daydreams are the important ones now, and those are remarkably vivid.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Simple pleasures, it turns out, are not as easily enjoyed as you might like. Stuff happens — like bad weather, pesky flies and inconvenient phone calls. You rise above obstacles and have a beautiful time of it.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). If you're worried about the future, you're probably avoiding a piece of work that's right in front of you. This is not a big deal and you likely can get it done in two hours. Dig in and you'll immediately lighten up.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You're gathering knowledge from new sources, most notably from someone of a different generation. The tips you learn may not seem to apply so well to you right now, but in a matter of days, it all clicks in.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You know what you want out of a situation and you're not about to waste time dallying about. You're able to slip by under the radar, get what you need and make a speedy and undetected exit.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (AUGUST 24). It's one of your luckiest years. That said, it's not what you have but what you do with it that makes this year remarkable. New relationships take the glowing spotlight in September. You turn your home into a masterpiece in October. Your work requires loads of creativity in the new year and you deliver. Libra and Taurus adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 7, 10, 3, 22 and 18.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You have lots of questions now, though you're holding most of them back, waiting for the appropriate time and person to come along. The answers find you when you're ready.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). There are emotions to sort through. In some ways you're still healing from past hurt. Take a long walk or have a conversation that gets to the heart of the matter.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You can try to convince everyone that you're not keeping a secret and that you haven't stashed a few tricks up your sleeve, but the ones who really know you won't believe you. Doing magic is in your nature.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You are presented with a unique window into human behavior. Your observations are astute. You may know more about why someone is acting in a particular way than the person himself knows.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The old saying goes, if you want something done, give it to a busy person. Well, the busiest person you know now is you. It might be worth it for you to employ someone to help you out.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Go ahead — give romance and adventure a higher priority in your life. The minute you do, 10 practical issues get solved. Trust whimsy. Act impulsively. Do something just for kicks.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You're more equipped than ever to accomplish what you were striving for long, long ago. Now what was it again? As soon as you remember, you'll make quick work of attaining the goal.

FORECAST FOR THE WEEK AHEAD: Apropos to back-to-school season, the moon catches up with the sun for a super-industrious Virgo new moon this week. It's the season of plenty: plenty to figure out, plenty of pencils to sharpen, and plans to facilitate. And Virgo's copious organizational skills guide us on exactly how to divvy up and appreciate the rich field of goodness. You can harness the new-moon energy by focusing on the exact particulars of what you want to improve your life and use the resources you have (our modern-day Virgo tools are computers and expertise) to grow those changes. Since Virgo has a tendency to beat herself up about her shortcomings, think critically, but don't be self-critical. You could say it's in her mythical DNA. Legend says Virgo is responsible for opening Pandora's Box, releasing shadow and light, good and evil into the world, which explains both the existential guilt Virgo-born often carry and their self-appointed mission to remedy at least some of humanity's ills. So this week, be gentle with yourself. Change doesn't happen overnight; for Virgo it's incremental. It's the imperceptibly small but doable steps you take each and every day that really add up to something spectacular.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Rachel Bilson has a squeaky clean look about her, the kind that makes you think she could flash her megawatt smile and get away with practically anything. Yet, as a Virgo woman, she's unlikely to try this tactic — she simply wouldn't let herself get away with it. An immaculate Virgo keeps her integrity by keeping her conscience clear. Rachel has said honesty is her healthiest habit.

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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