With both the sun and moon in Scorpio, this day could trump Halloween on the creepy meter. Unexpected scares will thrill and in many cases delight. The evening brings a lunar shift to Sagittarius, which has an eye-opening effect. The tricks that worked only a few hours ago could seem a little hokey — all smoke and mirrors are revealed.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Focus on the basics: work and love. If you have those, the only other thing you need to be happy is a grateful heart. If you don't, there is one obvious thing you can do today to remedy the situation.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Knowing what needs doing is more important than doing it. You're wise not to dive into the day's activities without a plan. It may take several hours to plot out the rest of the week, and this is time well spent.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You have a solid social instinct. You can bring people comfortably together even though they may seem on the outset to have nothing in common. By the end of the day, you've made the world a friendlier place.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You're in the thick of a routine until you stop to realize that you don't have to be. Seize the opportunity to reach out, joke around and to dance. Years from now you'll look back and realize that these are the good old days.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The problem at hand requires that you go slowly and carefully. Doing things right takes twice as much time as doing them wrong, except when you take into account all the time you'll spend fixing and redoing.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (OCTOBER 30). You go into your year wholeheartedly, knowing your direction and committing to it without an ounce of regret or reservation. Your confidence attracts friends and followers. The next six weeks you are the frequent recipient of spontaneous kindness. February features a union of spirits and marriage of hearts. Sagittarius and Libra adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 4, 25, 40, 11 and 16.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The paperwork is piling up and so are your emotions. There's nothing too awful in that pile, so reach in and deal with it one document at a time. It only takes a few concentrated hours to free you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Your subconscious has a way of entertaining you through out the day. The images that pop into your head are surprising, sometimes fearful and often hilarious. That wild imagination of yours is something to celebrate.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Lines have recently been crossed. What was once a friendly competition is now in danger of becoming an all-out war. Make a coolheaded decision about what to do next. Is winning this one really worth risking the relationship?

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Your belief in someone has faded. Perhaps there is nothing this person has done wrong, but faith is like a muscle — if you don't use it, it atrophies. Believe again and your belief will get stronger.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Hidden facts come to light. This probably pertains to a bit of knowledge from many years ago. You may have even forgotten about it yourself. There's an important reason you are remembering now.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). This is no time to for clever subtleties. All hinting will be lost. So speak in a voice that's loud enough to cut through the din, write in big letters and ask for exactly the support you need.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Everything works out wonderfully if you simply refuse to worry. When you feel yourself headed in a mentally defeating direction, stop the thought. Take a walk. Conquer the habit of dwelling in fear.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: "I wrote you earlier this year about reconnecting via e-mail with the love of my life, a friend from my teen years. He's a Libra, I'm a Scorpio. I'm all for getting involved, but he avoids the topic whenever I bring it up — but he also never says no. Lately, horoscopes I read suggest he's working on past issues and will soon be open to love; mine say I'm also moving toward love. Does this mean we're about to get serious? Or is this never going to happen?"

With the sun giving you an extra edge in all things right now, you are right to believe that he is more attracted and open to you than ever. However, you need to stop making moves on him and start having more faith in yourself and in the processes of the universe. It's just not sexy to push. Furthermore, this long-distance relationship (said distance being either emotional, physical or most likely both) would benefit terrifically from your dating someone else. You need to take the pressure and expectation off. Furthermore, you'd do well not to connect with your Libra again until after Mercury enters your sign on Nov. 4.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Gavin Rossdale is back on the music charts this year. He's a sexy Scorpio dad and one half of unstoppable power couple. He and Gwen Stefani get the award for the coolest parents in Hollywood, (London, New York … wherever these jetsetters are living this week!) All glamour aside, Rossdale is a private Scorpio who wants a quiet and stable family life out of the spotlight.

Holiday Mathis is the author of "Rock Your Stars." If you would like to write to Holiday Mathis, 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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