Horoscopes for Dec. 15, 2012

Venus does a cha-cha-cha into Sagittarius, inspiring a fascination with the spice of distant lands. And though it seems improbable to crave something you’d never tasted in the first place, such cravings will become a regular occurrence between now and Jan. 8, 2013. Expectation and imagination mingle to create exotic appetites.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Go directly into the situations you are likely to fail. It’s the only way you learn the beauty of making mistakes. The only real failure is avoiding the unfamiliar situations that will help you grow.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’re not always the self-assured bull. Sometimes you’re the sensitive, flower sniffing Ferdinand who has no interest in fighting, no matter how insistently the matador taunts you.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). How can you praise what cannot be known? With a hopeful heart, that’s how. Your capacity for imagination, magic and wonder is boundless today.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). It is natural, preferred even, to question what you can do. Humility and success will walk hand in hand. The ones who are completely confident through and through are all, coincidentally, quite mad.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You have a private agenda and a public agenda – the two are closely related. It’s just that you can’t tell everyone the extent of what you want to do. That would ruin the surprise.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The ones who ignore or reject reality are at a distinct disadvantage. You may not entirely like what’s handed to you, but accepting it is the first step to change.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Everyone senses that you’re an independent. For you, social approval is not required. You act according to your values and the approval that comes or doesn’t has no bearing on your next move.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You will grow in awareness. It’s almost like you’ll spend the whole day waking up. You’ll become more alert with every hour and make an important discovery toward the end of the day.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). When you were a child you sometimes would forget to finish things. But life has taught you the importance of completion. Today you’ll wrap up all the loose ends so as not to leave things hanging.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Your clear goals are an attraction magnet. The people who are attracted to you may not be able to help you with those goals, but they will help you in other regards because you they admire your focus.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Your sign mate, Abraham Lincoln, said, “Reputation is the shadow, character is the tree.” Even though some of what you do to build your character is difficult, life is easier for those of excellent character.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). There is not one correct solution, but many correct possibilities for solving today’s problems. You are clever and creative, so you’ll come up with fixes that are interesting and not obvious.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY. As you count your blessings, more show up to be counted. Your work changes in 2013 and life improvements follow the change. January celebrations bond family. February ends a dispute. March brings fresh focus on love. The best times to invest are May and July. Do your research and follow known paths. Cancer and Scorpio adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 11, 15, 48, 37 and 28.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: “I think I need assertiveness training. Everyone walks all over me, especially this time of year. I’m always over-scheduling myself, cooking, hosting and giving until it hurts. How can a Leo woman be more assertive?”
Leos are known for their generosity, and they hate to let others down. Alas, if you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t have anything to give others. Try these assertiveness tips on for size:

• Use the words “no, thank you,” or “I’m sorry, I can’t” instead of “maybe,” ”not this time,” or “we’ll see.”

• Keep your communication short and sweet. Most times, you don’t owe anyone an explanation, and if you do, a simple one is best. For instead of droning on about why you can’t make it to a particular event, say, “I’m sorry, I have other plans.”

• Appreciate the other person’s feelings, but don’t let that change your answer. Example: “I can sense how my response is disappointing to you, and I’m sorry for you that it has to be this way right now.”

• Suggest alternate solutions if they come to you. If not, remember that there are two kinds of problems in the world, your problems and other people’s problems. Recognize the difference.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Heartthrob on the rise, Charlie Cox (12/15/1982), stole the spotlight in the 2007 romantic fantasy film Stardust and brings passionate tension to season two and three of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. The fiery Sagittarius was born when the Sun, Mercury, Saturn and Uranus were all in the sign of travel, adventure and other worlds. Moon in Libra indicate softhearted romantic with artistic flair.

If you would like to write to Holiday Mathis, please go to www.creators.com and click on “Write the Author” on the Holiday Mathis page, or you may send her a postcard in the mail.