Horoscope, Friday, August 17, 2012

This new moon in Leo will be especially inspiring and empowering on the heels of some challenging aspects involving Mars, Saturn, Venus and Uranus. There’s a sense that, whatever happened, it’s not exactly in the past, as it can be used to fuel your next success. Our purpose rises higher; the future is grander.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). The job you paid for might not turn out as hoped. All is not lost, though. This is a live-and-learn situation. Part of what you learn is that your needs and tastes are so specific that you might be the best person to serve them.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Semantics influence perception. That’s why car dealers advertise “pre-owned vehicles” instead of “used cars.” You’ll soften your approach and use semantics to your advantage.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’ll reveal a common misperception, champion an underdog or counteract a stereotype. “The cleverly expressed opposite of any generally accepted idea is worth a fortune to somebody.” F. Scott Fitzgerald

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You might be the person who always dedicates “Wind Beneath My Wings” to someone else, but don’t forget — especially when you’re feeling underappreciated — that you too are the wind beneath certain wings.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). It could be said that you’re in your own little world today, but you’re there by choice. Yours is a land where you see possibilities that others don’t. You play in the place of what might be, while others stay in what is.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You are in charge today. It’s not a group effort, though it takes a group to get it done. What’s happening is happening because you took responsibility or didn’t. You have the power.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). There’s something you can do that will later make others look at you and say, “I wish I’d had that idea.” If you know what it is, act on it now. If you don’t know, devote some time to thinking and dreaming.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Today is like an addition problem in which you already have the sum, but one addend is missing. What do you need to get to the other side of that equal sign?

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You may find this hard to believe, as you feel that you’re approachable, but some people see talking to you as a risk. They fear your rejection or judgment. Knowing this, you may work at being disarming.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You may as well scrutinize your spending; you can bet that someone else is. Invest only in the items that have a positive, justifiable effect on your overall picture.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The actions that were successful in the past might be less so now, but stick to the plan. Cycles happen. Everything will come around. Relax and ride out the one you’re in.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The thing everyone assumes to be beneficial has a few flaws. You may privately seek the truth. Should you expose the flaws to everyone? Not yet.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 17). Your genuine concern for others improves the world. Loved ones thrive under your care. Write down specific goals for the next 10 weeks to give yourself a crucial head start. You never stop learning, and the education you gain in September and October will be especially useful. Your earnings increase in 2013. Aquarius and Capricorn people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 4, 16, 42, 39 and 2.

WEEKEND LOVE FORECAST: ARIES: The very first rule of attraction is that people want what they can’t have. Use it well. TAURUS: Each time you’re with someone, you get some of your questions answered, and you leave with a whole slew of new ones. GEMINI: Your heart is captured by the unpredictable one. You’ll be in a state of excitement precisely because you don’t know what’s going to happen next. CANCER: The sense of safety you establish around you brings comfort to another. LEO: You’ll be open to whatever great opportunities arise. VIRGO: Knowing when to lean back and when to lean forward (metaphorically and perhaps actually) will be your key to a happy connection. LIBRA: The message you give yourself about relationships may be wired so firmly in your mind that you don’t even realize what exactly it is or the effect it has.  SCORPIO: When you reward a loved one’s sweet behavior, you’ll get even more of this in the future. SAGITTARIUS: Someone is getting hooked on you. CAPRICORN: You’ll earn the attraction of one person and the jealousy of another. AQUARIUS: Know where your loyalties lie. PISCES: You read between the lines, as well as reading above and below them. You read it all. That’s how perceptive you are now.

COUPLE OF THE WEEKEND: As the moon slips into Virgo where it will reside most of the weekend, the rest of the zodiac turns an eye to the many virtues of this attractive sign. Leo takes special notice. It doesn’t take much for this spark to ignite. Virgo has a way of calming Leo and creating a space in which Leo can be practically effective. In turn, Leo adds just enough impractical emotion to be a catalyst for passion.

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