Mercury retrograde can be an agent of chaos or a slight annoyance, a hiccup in the procedure or the traffic jam that makes us late. In all cases, it’s a chance to shine, as people prove their mettle under pressure. This Mercury trine of Pluto offers character reveals. The best way to know a person’s character is when it’s tested before your eyes.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). When you ask a question, you actually want to know the answer. You’ll field questions asked for different reasons — for instance, out of politeness, a need for validation or to fulfill an agenda.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Reacting to triggers and following impulses takes very little energy when compared with the energy required to exercise restraint. Honor and reward yourself for the things you didn’t do.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). When the show is running right, the spotlight operator follows your performance around the stage. Unfortunately, the tech is asleep. Don’t worry, this can still work; you just have to go to where the light is.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). The atmosphere lends profundity to your plot. When things work out the way you want, it feels like destiny. When they don’t, that also feels fated, like a hundred tiny arrows pointing you in a better direction.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Love yourself. The command is difficult because it is open. Its nonspecificity leaves a question mark on your to-do list, and maybe there is nothing to be done. You can love yourself without action. Make it a mood, a state of mind.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Appetite can be a gift. Some temptations aren’t worth the energy they take to resist. Temptation is proof that you’re vital, alive, curious, interested in life.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). In movies, you can see a whole lifespan in two hours. Time moves differently in the movies you make in your mind as well. You’ll do some mental time travel today to work out a problem.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Add happy thoughts to your endeavor. Encourage yourself and go where others are likely to cheer you on. Protect the dream by avoiding anyone who might be jealous or critical of it.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). They’ll give you the fantasy version of a story. You’d rather know facts, but fictions can be very revealing, too, as you listen closely and read between the lines.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You teach people around you how you like to be treated. Keep principles of consistency in mind. Actions that create the same results repeatedly facilitate quick learning.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). People make books, and books make people. You’ll mold yourself through reading and other media, mostly unconsciously, as the attractive ideas and traits of characters will stick to you.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). No matter how good your routine may be, if it’s all you do, it will hold you back. Vitality craves variety. Anything that gets you up and out of your comfort zone will be good for your well-being.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (May 25). Stars gift you with amazing portion control in all aspects of life. Ambitions are achieved as you take on just the amount of deliciousness that will fill you and fuel you without weighing you down. You don’t need approval, but you’ll get props anyway as you earn the trust and loyalty of many. Leo and Libra adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 3, 39, 2 and 18.
CELEBRITY PROFILES: From “Saturday Night Live” to Shrek to Austin Powers, Mike Myers brightens the world with versatile wit and effervescent humor. Gemini, ruled by Mercury, is a master communicator. At the heart of Myers’ comedic talent is the desire to communicate feeling. Myers has several huge projects on his plate, including a Netflix production, a creative collaboration with director David O. Russell and the much-anticipated “Austin Powers 4.”
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