Horoscopes by Holiday by Holiday Mathis

Mercury is retrograde, but don't take that the wrong way. If you lock the doors, pull the shutters closed and retreat from the possibility of things going wrong, you'll miss out on the glorious hijinks and entertaining miscommunications that will certainly unfold. The Capricorn moon acts as a mature supervisor so the action won't get too out of hand.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Start thinking about that vacation you want to go on at the end of August. Now is the time to make some more concrete plans. Your forethought will increase the likelihood of a magical journey.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You'll be doing the same thing you've been doing for months now, and suddenly people seem to notice. You'll be loving the attention you get, even though you're not sure why it's all happening now.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Because you're so busy, you might be overlooking some obvious bit of healthy living — like drinking enough water or getting in a walk. It takes only a small effort to get back on track.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your friends have leads for you — interesting opportunities and special connections. A few social calls will start the flow of activity and you'll be following up for the rest of the week.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Even when you're not consciously aware of it, you'll be receiving messages about what's coming up next in your personal life. This is going to be an exciting chapter and you're already getting prepared for it.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (MAY 13). You have skills that you have practiced for many years and still you are learning. As you rise to elite levels of mastery, new worlds open up to you. Spiritual and emotional cravings will be answered in June. Assert your independence in August. You may even start a company. July and October are financially fantastic. Libra and Aries adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 20, 11, 4, 39 and 18.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You'll find guidance where you weren't expecting it — from the goodness of a competitor or even an enemy. You might see from this experience that you are on a parallel journey to the one this person is on.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). It feels like it's time to have an important talk with your loved one, but first have that talk with yourself. Working out your innermost feelings in a diary will help you relate to others clearly.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You have something to offer the people around you — more than a smile and a friendly word.

You have concrete help to give, introductions, referrals and problem-solving skills. You're really a giver.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Whatever you envision for your future, do not let that image encroach upon your current happiness. Be patient. This is your moment, right now! Don't waste it pining away for something else.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Long lost projects resurface. Old news takes a new angle and is suddenly relevant again. These bits of history show you who you used to be and who you are now.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). A loved one has business to attend to. You might be apart for a few days, which may seem like an eternity. You fully realize the depth of your love when you reunite.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Place your affections well. The people you give your attention to have a lot to do with your mood now. Seek relationships with those who can respond to you kindly. Don't feed your love into the personality equivalent of a black hole.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: More wedding bell blues!

"I'm getting married next month and am still having doubts about whether this is the right girl for me. I'm a Taurus and she's a Virgo. She's very gorgeous and I think I will always be attracted to her. However, I think she's trying to control me. She doesn't like when I stay out late with my buddies even though I invite her to come along, but she doesn't want to. She fights me on many small decisions that I don't think are a big deal, like which shirt goes with my outfit better or the placement of furniture or where we should go for dinner. She gets annoyed at the time we spend with my family. I'm just not sure, so what do you think?"

Taurus and Virgo are two earth signs and very compatible. And yes, Virgo women are so wonderful at keeping their looks fresh at any age so you probably would continue to be attracted to her physically. But I think you're having more than a bout of cold feet. Taurus men need to feel absolutely certain before taking this step. My advice is to postpone your wedding and work through the issues that are making you feel doubtful.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Hot heartthrob of the moment Robert Pattinson has literally caused a stampede of adoring fans while making a personal appearance in a San Francisco mall. How does this Taurus take it when his love life gets splashed across magazine covers? Though he stays strong and secure, his Cancer moon indicates a deeply sensitive soul who just doesn't want to hurt those close to him.

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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