Horoscopes for Jan. 3, 2013

Tomorrow’s fortuitous alignment puts Mars in hero mode and makes a marvelous benefactor of Jupiter. Today’s task is simply to get ready. Know what you want and, more importantly, why. What feeling are you hoping to experience by acquiring it? The practical Virgo moon rules most of the day, helping you work out the answers to these questions.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). There’s a challenge before you. It all boils down to a question. Will you do what others expect of you, or will you let yourself do the things you need to do in order to succeed?

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You find a need, fill it and learn from the experience. If you can get your costs down and turn a profit, the whole process could be quite lucrative for you – possibly even the start of a new income stream.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). One hour a day may not seem like a lot, but over time it will be enough to write a novel, lose weight or complete another amazing feat that otherwise would rest solidly in the “not going to happen” category.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Though friends often do activities together, an activity companion is not the same thing as a friend. Knowing how people fit into your life and how you fit into theirs makes for smooth relations.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). At many points in your life, you have been attracted to the wrong kinds of people. They let you serve them and undervalued your contribution. They pulled rank on you when no rank was earned. That all changes this year.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). If you’re single and want to ask someone out on a date, just ask. This is your time. Better to make something happen, good or bad, than to wait around wondering whether anything ever could.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’re social, and you love people. They do need to pull their own weight in a conversation, though; otherwise, things get tiresome. It’s even more tiresome if they won’t pass the conversational ball. Avoid those types!

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Things have changed in your industry. There are more tools available to you now than ever before. You’ll spend your free time brushing up on the latest exciting advances.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Why worry? Answer: No reason. The chances of the worst-case scenario actually happening are practically zilch, and even if the worst did occur, you’d find a way to get through it.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You may not be conscious of your search for more people like you, but the success of finding someone isn’t lost on you, either. It’s something you’ll talk about later: the day you met so-and-so.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). When change happens, it happens in an instant. The thing is, you never know which instant. So keep the faith and keep moving forward. You’re closer than you think.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’ll be wide awake among people who are not living consciously. Should you wake up these sleepwalkers, too? The best way to do that is to stay aware. The ones who are supposed to notice will.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY. Do you feel it? Some deep greatness is coming to the surface. You will do wonderful things this year. In the next six weeks, you’ll bounce between organization and action. New friends point the way to a successful business venture. Love’s promises and domestic practicalities mesh beautifully in the spring. Gemini and Scorpio people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 17, 11, 4, 37 and 28.

RESOLUTIONS BY SIGN: A great resolution, when accomplished, will have a positive effect on many different parts of your life. Furthermore, it will have a positive effect on others. Here’s the one you’re likely to keep all year. ARIES and SCORPIO: Do it your way. Don’t start out with the compromised version. TAURUS and CAPRICORN: Let go of things. Saving, collecting or owning too much makes life cumbersome. This is true of people, emotional baggage and material goods alike. GEMINI: Promote kindness everywhere. CANCER: Do what you’re not good at a few times a week. This is your year to get good at more things. LEO: Choose worthy problems to solve, the kind that excite you and the kind that haven’t already been solved by thousands of others. VIRGO and SAGITTARIUS: Perfect your pitches. You’ll be selling people on many things this year, both personal and professional. Practice. LIBRA: Stop comparing your life to those of your friends and people in the media. AQUARIUS: Strive to understand the people in your life more deeply. Nothing will make you richer. PISCES: Try things in new ways. From your work to recipes to relationships, you’ll thrive on the variety of mix-ups.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: J.R.R. Tolkien has created mystical worlds where hobbits, elves and the like unite to fight evil. The maps, lore and languages of “The Lord of the Rings” series continue to fascinate modern audiences. This imaginative Capricorn was born when the moon and Venus were in fanciful Aquarius and Mercury was in Capricorn, suggesting high levels of self-discipline and a fascination with power.

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