Horoscopes by Holiday for February 8

The energy of a conjunction of Venus and Neptune in Aquarius is still palpable. Relationships of all kinds are touched with interesting coincidences and unexplained feelings. There is a kind of magic afoot. Eliphas Levi, a famous French magician born on this day, wrote: "To practice magic is to be a quack. To know magic is to be a sage."

	ARIES (March 21-April 19). You find an opportunity that appears to have a reasonable balance of risk and reward. It’s true that you’ve been looking for a new direction. This might be it. Exercise caution, but don’t wallow in it.
	TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Changes in the flow of work are a nuisance, but you see the reasons for them, and that makes it easier to adjust. What you don’t see is the promotion. Keep your focus and maintain your high standards, and all will be as it should.
	GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You're not waiting around for handshakes and pats on the back. Still, the thing you’ve accomplished deserves some serious congratulations. There will be applause, and one person’s thanks in particular will mean the most to you.
	CANCER (June 22-July 22). You hear through the grapevine that someone is singing your praises. This might surprise you, but not because it’s undeserved. You just didn’t know the person liked you. Now you know you have fans everywhere.
	LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). What you first thought was a slight to your character was actually a misunderstanding. It was an honest mistake by both parties. Thankfully, you are quick to let bygones be bygones. Life is too short to bear grudges.
	VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your dreams have been more vivid lately because you have been taking chances. Little ones, it’s true, but real gains come to those who dare. You’re on the right path.
	LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You'll be reasoning with someone. Spend a little time figuring out what you want to say. Then spend double that amount of time thinking about where the other person is coming from.
	SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). It's very easy to get distracted from your work, especially since you'll be doing a task you've done a million times before. When the challenges aren't finding you, you have to go out and find them.
	SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Your attention to etiquette will only matter if the person you are dealing with shares your notions about what is proper. Do more listening and observing before you decide on a course of action.
	CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). It's not true that beauty is only skin deep. The emotions in your heart animate your face. That's why you become more beautiful when you let love expand your soul.
	AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You have a unique way of connecting ideas and understanding the relationship between things. Some will find your methods "trippy," but that won't keep them from admiring and respecting you.
	PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You don't know how it is that you're able to do a job with such effortless style, but the fact is that you do. It's as though you were born to do this. And just maybe you were!

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 8). You cut out some of the superfluous junk in your life and get to the heart of what makes you happy. It's the difference between being busy and being productive. A business deal in April has the potential to make you rich. A friendly connection leads to adventure in May. Stay ethical and invest shrewdly. Sagittarius and Scorpio people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 20, 15, 39 and 19.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: "What is the difference between being a doormat and being agreeable? I have a dear friend who is a Gemini. When her husband comes home later than he says he will, leaves a mess or does things that she finds irritating, she tells him and they argue. She says he is less likely to repeat the behavior afterward, but that his compliance is short-lived and soon he is back to the old pattern. I'm a Leo. I let my husband do whatever he wants. If he's thoughtless or irritating, I steam about it privately or tell my girlfriend, but I don't tell him. Then I just get over it. My Gemini friend says I'm a doormat, and that I should stick up for myself. What do you think?"

It sounds like your Gemini friend is tired of being your venting buddy. And truly, it's not fair to complain to her when you're unwilling to do anything about your situation. Being agreeable is a nice style to have, especially for the ever-gracious cat. But if something is really bothering you, you should find a better place to work it out — either in your diary, with a professional counselor or with your husband directly.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: All is well with astrology when the most followed user on Twitter is an Aquarius, the sign of technology and the future. Ashton Kutcher is the Aquarian actor/producer who holds the "Most Followed" status on the social-networking website. And this Aquarius has also upheld the philanthropic reputation of his sign with his substantial charitable donations to fight malaria.

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