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Venus and Jupiter in conjunction recall how achieving glamour is like pulling off a magic trick. Fun in its falsity. Deliciously deceptive. And what's on the flip side of the glamour coin? Awkwardness. Looking bad. Humiliation -- not fun at all, but a side effect of honesty. Both are a byproduct of courage. Of trying something new. Of reaching for connection without knowing for certain if you'll be met in it.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You were made to feel like "too much," but your aliveness doesn't need to be reined in. Nothing you present today needs to be made digestible or prettied up. The work is good. All you need to do is believe that and give it.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). There's a lot of energy to read in a social circle. Don't worry about fitting in. Just focus on taking it all in. You'll learn more by reading the room than you will by trying to rule the room before it's your turn.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). There's transformative power in intention. When you commit to something, whether or not the outcome is as envisioned, your effort still shifts reality. The very act of setting an intention and beginning changes the landscape.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You're getting better at a craft. You're honoring a vision that's personal and somehow also universal. But mostly, you're enjoying the work itself. The work has to be the best part, or the rest won't satisfy.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Choose the option that energizes you the most -- the one you want to do, even if it's not the smartest on paper. Or do the one that just gets you moving now. You can re-evaluate later. Momentum matters more than analysis.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). What does it really mean to bring yourself wholly to the moment? You're absolutely right to push on the concept. Just because you're not hyper-focused on what someone else wants from you doesn't mean you're present to what you need.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Loud thoughts, an overwhelming number of details, too much responsibility ... It could start like this, but once you choose one energizing focus -- something that feels exciting, true or meaningful -- all the mental noise quiets down. Next comes relief, then fast action.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You will do something good without seeking or needing credit. Of course, you could be discovered accidentally, and the prospect gives you a thrill. The interplay of humility and vanity is paradoxical.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The right endeavor is one you feel curious about or lit up by. And if you don't believe it has value or impact, it won't last. When the task is well aligned with your values, you're willing to do it even when it's hard.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Great timing isn't about clockwork -- it's about synchronicity, intuition, sensing the flow of what's happening and showing up with the right energy. Today "perfect timing" and "perfect presence" are the same thing.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Don't let the thrill of showing off an asset or accomplishment overshadow the original, deeper reason you endeavored in the first place. Public reaction feels good, but stay connected to the deeper fulfillment of knowing you've earned a level of mastery.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Today's decisions won't feel like hard work. They will feel natural -- like they pull you toward them, the way gravity does. Instead of trying to figure out what's "right" with logic alone, you follow the centered feeling that comes with "right for you."

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 12). Your charms know no bounds this year -- not smooth social tricks but benevolent wit that draws relationships, deals and general good luck your way time and again. You'll feel yourself becoming the kind of person you looked up to as a child -- and yet you'll still feel like yourself, only freer. More highlights: A new relationship opens your world. Adventures unfold from a single "yes." Three causes thrive with your involvement. Scorpio and Capricorn adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 8, 14, 29, 4 and 11.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Whether in outer space or emotionally fraught small towns, Casey Affleck brings surgical precision to every role. The Leo with a quiet intensity recently starred in the space sci-fi mystery "Slingshot" about a compromised mission to Saturn's moon. His Virgo Mercury and Venus add layers of discipline to his soulful storytelling, while his strong Libra energy gives him the vision of a filmmaker -- one who not only acts but produces with taste and intention.

Holiday Mathis' debut novel, "How To Fail Epically in Hollywood," is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.

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