Holiday Mathis

The August moon hangs heavy in an Aquarian slice of the summer sky. This humanitarian lunar influence recalls the responsibility of each individual to the human collective and celebrates the accompanying sense of belonging. Associated names for this moon include: green corn moon, grain moon, red moon or sturgeon moon.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Though you take no pleasure in the suffering of others, sometimes the tragic television show or troubled friend makes you glad for your own position. It isn’t perfect by any stretch, but you’re better off than many.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You can take your time evaluating the trade, but more time won’t give you the answer. This is a matter of accepting what you know in an instant and can be summed up like this: If it’s too good to be true, it isn’t.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). The unbalanced thing will be set right. With a little communication, the one who has extra will flow some resources to the one who doesn’t have enough, and equilibrium will be established.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Even if you feel you have no news to share, make an effort to connect with friends and family. You’ll be surprised what fortuitous information comes up when there’s no particular agenda to the conversation.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). What you desire will not come about through direct means. There is no pushing, buying or persuasion involved, only attraction. The most attractive mode is modesty and moderation.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). If a person does not respond to you in the way you want, do not try for a different outcome. You are better off moving along to the next person, where you will get an entirely different response.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The wise choices are easier to make when you know what you care about. When you don’t know yet, don’t worry about being wise. Anything you choose will teach you more about what you care about.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Social status is one of those things you don’t really feel like you care too much about until you’re in a position to gain or lose it and become surprised by your behavior. You are, after all, only human.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Today’s problem isn’t so tough. Ask a few people, do a thorough internet search, read an article or two and you’ll know enough to make an informed decision.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Though you are typically highly responsible and able to make decisions that are best for the long-term, right now you’ll feel inclined to move based on the potential for fun.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The occasional slip-up might not matter too much, but you still feel an urgency to correct mistakes and figure out how to prevent the same ones from repeatedly occurring, which will be the cornerstone of today’s success.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). It will be important to check off all of the daily habits you hold so dear today because it is only after these rituals are complete that you feel you have the space to share freely.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 2). Make plans, and then offer them up to the rains of felicity. Though your strategies and intentions get an extra dose of cosmic love, it is what you do with the “now” that makes this year sing. Your capacity to absorb, join, celebrate and improve upon the moment is at the root of wondrous relationships and uncanny luck. Libra and Capricorn adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 4, 40, 27, 19 and 5.

FORECAST FOR THE WEEK AHEAD: Some believe that love is an entity that is either present or not, that it must be found, not created, that shows up with its own characteristics and cannot be changed or manipulated. Then there’s the school of thought that depicts love as an emotion no different from other psychological states such as fear or satisfaction. In this model, with the right elements, the feeling can be conjured up, led around, intensified and molded.

This week’s transit of Venus into Cancer highlights the role of the subconscious in relationships. Below the thinking of which we are aware, there is a vast neural network buzzing with the activity of keeping us alive. This hardworking mind takes in all the sensory and cognitive information of living and processes it at lightning speed, organizing those cues so that only the most relevant information comes into consciousness.

As for our attractions, by the time we realize them, they have already been vetted by the subconscious against hundreds of criteria, some superficial, some ancient and animal. An awful lot of psychological gauges are involved, too, having to do with our family of origin and how much the other person feels familiar and has similar strengths and weaknesses to that of our parents.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: After years of anticipation, Kevin Smith fans finally get the big bodega candy — the third installment of the original indie game-changer that was “Clerks.” Meanwhile, the auteur shares his creative Leo spirit in many ways, including live tours, podcasts and a bestselling tell-all Hollywood memoir. With his sun, moon and Mars all in the sign of show business, he will never tire of generating new entertainment.

Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.

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