For the Week of Sunday, November 15, 2009

The communication planet, Mercury, enters the adventurous, worldly station of Sagittarius at the start of the week. This combined with the new moon on Monday opens our minds and hearts to different cultures and ways of being. We'll be emboldened to try things. You might be inspired to cook differently, learn a language or talk to someone you usually wouldn't feel comfortable approaching. Life is rich because of its diversity.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Stadium lights are magnificent precisely because of the darkness that surrounds them. If you find yourself in bleak circumstances, consider it your moment to shine. You don't do anyone any good by blending into the shadows. Be bold and bright, especially on Friday when your talent will attract the perfect venue.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You are in the mood to live a bit on the edge -- it's more interesting to you. Strike up conversations with strangers. Start with the weather, and then see if you can get a little backstory. You'll be surprised at how much people will tell you with very little provocation. And the perspective these interactions lend is priceless.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You may attract an unsolicited opinion or two about your work, recent deeds or personal presentation. You won't be able to convince others of your rightness by defending yourself. Instead, work in spite of their comments, and they will eventually yield to you. By the end of the week, criticism turns into compliments.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Some believe it's bad luck to state your good luck, as though by saying it aloud the things you are grateful for will be taken away from you. It's a cynical view, and you're in just the mood to prove it wrong this week as you count the many ways in which you are prosperous and watch them multiply as you do.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You will be in touch with your own audacity this week. You know what you want to do and commit your whole self to it. If your heart were a sound, it would be a trombone scooping a bold tone out of the air, in a Dixieland jazz band, in New Orleans, on Mardi Gras, surrounded by wild cheers and laughter.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). There will be more than the usual amount of vacillation, procrastination and generally nonproductive activity. This is your chance to take control of the situation. You're a natural-born leader. And when you start to doubt yourself, as all great leaders will, just remember that your plan is as good as anyone's.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You're not into being big and obvious this week. You want to be around people who "get it" and don't need things spelled out for them. If you were a tree, you wouldn't be a giant sequoia. You'd be a stalk of bamboo, gently waving in the wind, quietly inspiring the painters and poets in your midst.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). A few years back, you had a decision to make. You chose the less-traveled path, even though you knew you would be less sheltered in your travels. You got rained on a little more, but the exhilaration of finding your own way was worth it. Continue on your path with the courage of your convictions. It's still right for you.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Tighten up your schedule. It's extremely beneficial to you to be prompt, or even early, all this week. Know when you need to start getting ready for the important events like meals, meetings, travel and bedtime. Your ability to show up organized, well-dressed and cheerful will advance your purposes.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). All work and no play makes ... you rich. It's your week to seriously get down to business. So what if you're behind on celebrity gossip or the latest silly trend that nobody will even remember three years from now? Later, when you're really raking in the bucks, you can pay someone to keep you "hip."

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). People will let you take on way too much responsibility if you ask for it. Don't ask for it. Resist the tendency to be a martyr. You will be making a sacrifice or two along the way, but there's no reason you should turn this into a lifestyle. Besides, there are plenty of ways to have fun and get your work done, too.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You want to get as many people as possible involved in your goals and dreams, though the one person who really must be highly committed is you. Make your list of tasks, and get down to it. Your vision is honed as you go. Others will contribute their energy and resources when the whole thing is already in motion.

THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS: You launch into this exciting new year with the strength of your convictions. Whatever has happened in the past to make you doubt yourself is now a moot point. You realize how many correct choices you have made in spite of your obstacles, and you repeat those successful actions. This month, a financial resource opens to assist your journey. January brings a chance to brush up on skills and update your education. What occurs in April will deepen a love relationship.