Horoscopes by Holiday by Holiday Mathis

Right now is not such a great time to ask for a raise. Mercury, the communication planet, gets snippy with Big Daddy Jupiter. Saying the wrong thing could turn the money tides in the wrong direction. The best way to get into an expansive, loving, abundance mentality is to create it in your own mind. Let your imagination loose and button the lip.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You've a growing sense of mischief. You'll have to strain to stay within the protocol, and still you might not be able to hold back a wisecrack. Everyone is relieved when the formalities are broken.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You'll meet someone with whom you identify strongly. Likely, this person represents a younger version of yourself, struggling in a way you once struggled. You'll be moved to contribute to the cause or act on this person's behalf.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It will be tempting, though not very helpful, to think in generalities. The stereotypes won't apply and furthermore, you might think less of yourself for buying into them. So open your mind to the outsider point of view.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your definition of a good time doesn't match up to a friend's. Avoid getting dragged into someone else's idea of fun because for you, it will just be a lot of work. Seek your own kind of pleasure.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Great forces come with an element of chaos. Turbulence, when harnessed, is energy. The unexpected ups and downs of this day will be a highly creative charge for tomorrow's creative work.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (JUNE 10). This birthday represents a shift in your internal world as you realize that you are capable of greatness. You need serenity and solitude through August — favorable changes and fantastic ideas grow from this period of introspection. July and October are important moments in your family's history. Love signs are Cancer and Pisces. Your lucky numbers are: 23, 1, 44, 19 and 6.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). If you're going to fight, fight fair. But the very best fight has no raised voices, sarcastic mumbles or biting insults — no words at all, really. When you don't agree with a loved one, just get up and take a walk.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). There will be some tension at the workplace, though you're probably too busy finding a mentor, forging new contacts and cracking glass ceilings to notice. You make stress work for you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You made commitments that turned into something more than you bargained for.

Luckily, nothing is etched in stone. Ask for leeway. Also, it's a wonderful day to request a more flexible work schedule.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The accepted rules of social interaction may not have been accepted by all you meet today. The one who stands too close, interrupts too often and talks too loud needs your forgiveness and understanding.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). In order to manage your busy life, you need everything to be user-friendly. There is no time to waste figuring out a gadget or being stuck in automated phone limbo. If it doesn't work the first time, forget about it.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You will be teaching others to treat you with care. Demanding or even requesting care won't do the trick, though. The best lessons come through your example. Treat yourself well and they'll follow suit.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Your head is filled with fabulous, fun ideas. Maybe there are not enough hours in the day to do everything you want to do, but you accomplish what you need to do and you can try again tomorrow.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: "I'm 15 and I'm a Pisces. My Aries mom is always harping on me for going along with the crowd. She says that I'm not my own person. It's true I've done some things because my friends convinced me to do them and I'm sure I wouldn't have behaved the same way if they hadn't pressured me. I'm not proud of it. But I like having a fun group of cool friends and that's just what goes along with it, right?"

No. Your mom is right. Pisces is one of the most impressionable signs of the zodiac. You have a gift for feeling what other people are feeling and you rather enjoy getting caught up in the moment. Peer pressure can be a positive force in your life, but only if you have the right peers. For instance, a group of friends who works hard to get good grades and contribute to making the world a better place will inspire you to do the same. Your so-called "fun group of cool friends" isn't doing you any favors. People who pressure you to behave in a way that goes against your gut feelings are not true friends and you're better off without them.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Happy birthday to Sasha Obama, a smart Gemini whose sense of spontaneity will take her far in life. When she was just 6, she unofficially gaveled the Democratic National Convention, delighting bored journalists by seizing the irresistible object and giving it a good whack on the podium. Sasha Obama has her sun, Mercury and Saturn all in the intelligent, advanced sign of the twins.

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.

COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.