Today's aspects present a good reason to question inherited work ethics. That reflex that says effort equals virtue will be challenged. The lunar position to Jupiter suggests that sometimes the easy way is also the best way. A bit of "laziness" serves you well indeed because it shows you where you've been working unnecessarily. When you stop equating difficulty with value, you start to notice smarter options.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Your sweetness is noticed. A dog lingers by you. A bird holds its perch. Even the wind seems to hug you. There's a wordless welcome from the living world — proof that gentleness is a language spoken fluently by every creature with a pulse.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). For most of Earth's history, pond scum ruled. At times you feel convinced it still does. Try not to get discouraged by the messes you'll sort out today. Evolution favors persistence, not slime.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Grandiosity is big thinking without the structure to make it happen. It's performance without a story. It's a rising balloon, easily popped. Take heart: Your aim is not grandiosity, but it is a grand vision you will build, revise and stress test.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Today features less self-awareness and a quieter inner narration — no self-judgment loops. The experience of self is more immediate, less story-driven. Even so, it still benefits you to get acknowledgment and a sense of belonging.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). There's truth underneath a disagreement — something you both agree on. For instance, your methods may clash, but you can recognize how you both have good intentions. Return to those and you can keep the relationship between you strong.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Tie up the loose ends. It's even more important today, like tying off the end of a balloon. The effort it took to blow it up and give it shape can be undone in a matter of seconds without that one little knot.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You already know what works, and it's pretty basic: sleep, water, exercise, sunlight and nutrition. In the spirit of reciprocity, you will nudge others toward the often overlooked but simple staples that have helped you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Big challenges activate you and don't give you a chance to get all up in your head. There's instinctive wisdom in your body. Reflexes will protect you and progress your interests, too. It's playing out faster than intellectual processing or planning.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Think of what you're playing at today as a team sport. It would be bad sportsmanship to try to play every position or try to make every point yourself. Sometimes it's better to set others up for the win than to take it home yourself.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Work politics get tricky; the cheese isn't worth the trap. While others whisper, posture and tally invisible points, you'll be busy doing actual work. Funny thing? The scoreboard favors the one who doesn't appear to be playing.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). When you feel overloaded and responsible for too much for too long, inner alarms go off: productivity alarm, paperwork alarm, relationship alarm, existential meaning alarm... these things are not equally urgent. Get calm. That's the most important thing.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You could insist on your way. You could draft a memo, build a case, hold the line. Or... you could smile and let this one go. The impact is harmless, the energy saved is real, and the kindness will go a long way.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (March 26). Enter your Year of Stardust Paths when imagination, insight and intuition guide you toward extraordinary experiences. Every single day holds a touch of wonder and reward, sometimes obviously and others because you refuse to see things any other way. More highlights: Luck and inspiration arrive in helpful and playful forms. Educational success, romantic spark and an unexpected windfall. Gemini and Capricorn adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 34, 17, 42 and 8.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Keira Knightley has joined the cast of the dark comedy "The Worst" and is working on the second season of "Black Dove." Aries energy often chooses strong, defiant characters, and she's repeatedly played women with backbone, intelligence and contained rebellion. Off-screen, she's known for being direct, setting boundaries with media and making decisive career pivots — very Mars-ruled behavior from one born with sun, Mercury and Venus in Aries.

For more Holiday magic, visit HolidayMathis.com. To find out more about Holiday Mathis and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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