Wednesday, September 16, 2020

In a melodrama, the enemy is a villain who swoops in from the outside to ruin things for the good people. In real life, the enemies are already close -- in your innermost circle, or inside you. There’s increasing intensity on perfectionistic and critical tendencies as the Virgo sun and moon head toward convergence. Go easy with that inside voice.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Today will test your endurance, and if you persist, you will pocket a prize, tiny in comparison with the other takeaway, which is the enormous satisfaction that comes from knowing you can count on yourself.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’ll deal in a different culture, not having to do with regions but with a professional setting or a social group. It is possible to remain true to your core and still let some of the influence rub off on you.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). There are some things that cannot be accomplished with effort. In fact, the more effort you put into them, the worse they’ll turn out. To know if this is the case, pull away; do nothing; and watch for improvement.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Give a thought to the environment you’ll be operating within. The easier you make it for yourself, the better you can focus on the details that will make your work transcendent from the usual fare.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The desire for freedom is a trap. Whatever you choose, it comes with responsibility. The real freedom is loving your choice so much you don’t mind being trapped by it.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Accept your feelings, one and all, especially ones that might make you weak, vulnerable or unattractive. Approve them, because it’s the only chance you have at steering those emotions.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). While it would be wrong to impose your care, you’ll be dealing with people who won’t easily accept what they need. Ask whether you can help. They’ll probably say no the first time. Wait a bit and ask again later.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Your appreciation of the beauty around you is a kind of meditation now, especially when you can take it privately, without having to express with language what it means to you.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). In matters of trust, someone has to lead, and it will probably be you. You’ll give your trust, and the other person will behave in a trustworthy way. When you withdraw your trust, the other person will do the same.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Others won’t see the truth of the situation until you point it out. Of course, what you’ll point out is actually your truth, not the truth, which is still mysterious. Your truth is a start.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Follow your natural instinct to assess who gets what and why. In the animal world, territorial knowledge is a matter of life and death. For you, it will be a smart and lucrative thing to figure out.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Jealous people have been known to do terrible things. Avoid attracting envy. Keep your cards close to the vest. Today, the only one who needs to know about your assets and accomplishments is you.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Sept. 16). Yours will be a year of sharing -- your dreams, your struggles, the minutia of your life. The more you share, the better things get. A bountiful blessing comes at the end of October. There’s a lot you do for other people so be sure to reserve something for yourself every bit along the way. You’ll invest this savings in May. Sagittarius and Capricorn adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 7, 30, 33, 1 and 18.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTION: “I’m a Scorpio who is currently involved in a love triangle with a Capricorn and a Leo. Who is going to win the Leo?”

The one who best understands and abides by the principles of attention, as it is the language and commodity Leo most values. Here are 10.

1. Attention is power. Giving attention gives power. Taking attention takes power.

2. Attention has a signal strength and tone.

3. Matching attention tone and intensity to that of another creates connection.

4. People tend to respond to attention that is within a range they understand. To create an attention circuit, you must meet them inside of that range by a few degrees.

5. Avoid giving unwanted attention by being sensitive to and remaining matched with the intensity level of everyone’s signal.

6. Learn to control the volume knob of your attention by observing, and by making and correcting mistakes.

7. When at a loss, just listen.

8. Cellphones steal attractiveness by syphoning attention away from real interaction.

9. The most attractive, winning, exciting thing to do in any moment is to invest your attention in the action on the ground. Be where you are.

10. Love is a quality of attention. And if that is all love is, it would be enough to master in a lifetime.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Alexis Bledel, who played one half of the motherdaughter duo of the perennially popular television series “Gilmore Girls,” has much in common with the teenage character Rory, who kept a watchful eye on her single mom. With her sun in Virgo, Bledel has that rare quality of looking effortlessly at ease while taking on more responsibility than even she is sure she can handle.