SCORPIO (OCT Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Your soul ...

Your soul is an archipelago. Different facets of your personality have diverged so completely, it's as if they live on separate islands, and the transitions between them are more difficult and time-consuming than they used to be (and fraught with perilous storms, hull-puncturing reefs and vicious sea monsters). You don't want all your different selves to become so alike that they can live on the same island, however; it's important to preserve your versatility and variety. But please build bridges between islands?improve your ability to switch between your various aspects swiftly?because you'll kick yourself if you miss your goal because you got stuck wearing the wrong hat at the wrong time.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

It's been a long time since you truly believed your old philosophy, "If I can think it, I can do it," but it's no less valid than when you once espoused it wholeheartedly. In fact, in most ways you're more capable of realizing your most ambitious dreams than you were before. So why spend all this time doubting yourself? Count yourself lucky enough to have dreams and ambitions. Many people have no clue what to do with themselves. Don't squander your blessings: inspiration and aspiration. Honor those this week, and either go for your dream or forget about it.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Victorians came about as a reaction to the relative decadence of the generation that preceded them. They advocated rigid propriety and extreme civility as a desperate sort of answer to depravity they perceived. You Capricorns are bad about this. Name a Cap kid Moonbeam and give him acid at age 13, and he'll be a Republican corporate CEO in twenty years. Please be careful about that kind of knee-jerk reaction, where you end up embracing the opposite extreme of whatever situation you've been forced into. Transcend that trend, Cap, because even the shittiest events of your last few months have had some good parts that you'd miss out on if you just did an about-face and ran.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Writing is distilled thought. Reading what someone has written is the closest you'll get to hearing their thoughts, albeit condensed, purified and refined. Think about it. Trying to speak your mind sometimes turns out wrong, and you end up saying things you really didn't mean. But you're far less likely to write them. Writing is one sure path to a more profound truth of what you think and who you are. Do you see where I'm going with this? You're working very hard to put out into the world a very deep truth that you've been thinking about for a long time. Even if it's something you'd rather say or paint or film than have people read, write it down first anyway?so you can be sure to get it exactly right.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Many people see only two possible paths through any given situation: conformity or rebellion. But that viewpoint is simple-minded, and only for those who can't cope with ambiguity or contradiction. You're too complicated (and distracted) to pursue a linear path toward your dreams. Your course to your destination is meandering, to understate things. So what? Take the gorgeously circuitous route you prefer, without feeling like you have to cleave to some straight and narrow path. Most of the tangential side trips you end up taking (with a few notable exceptions) are more than worth the delay. Don't sweat it. As long as you know you're going to get there eventually, and as long as you keep moving, you'll be just fine.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

By the end of this week you should be more exhausted than?as my Texan roommate would say?a two-dollar whore on nickel-night. Luckily you'll have a lot more fun?it's just the kind of fun you'll really have to work for. So what? You've been slaving away for a month or three now for a lot less than a great time?just crap like rent money and new shoes. Now that the carrot dangling in front of you is less obviously a necessity, but way more enjoyable, you should work harder for it, not less.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

The Tiger Lillies require a sort of advanced sense of humor from their audience. It's not so much that they're excessively clever, but that they've transmuted the essential darkness of life and death into humorous takes on sacrilege or morbidity (a sample lyric from one of their cheerier songs goes: "I am crucifying Jesus/ and banging in the nails/ banging, banging, banging, banging, banging in the nails!"). The kind of people who find this funny have graduated from knock-knock jokes and been around the block a few times since then. Whether you're one of those people or not, I think you get the gist, anyway?let your cynicism make you laugh this week, not cry.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Geminis with pets, lovers or even pesky kids tend to live longer and more happily than those without any or all of these. That's because you function best when you have something to focus attention on besides your own complicated self, and who can reflect back your best qualities when you get a little crazy living inside that hyperactive head. Because astrological forces are likely to render your thoughts even more chaotic, confusing and heavy than usual, don't get bogged down inside your skull. Give love and attention to anyone's needs this week but your own (which won't be clearly discernible in any case).

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Some folks hang with rockstars and celebrities just so they can catch a bit of reflected glory. Your strategy has been almost exactly opposite, and much more self-destructive?you've been drawn to losers and sketchy con-artists, from whom you're likely to catch a bit of reflected trouble. I can't explain this odd urge of yours (and, I'll wager, neither can you?probably something about wanting to "save" them), but I suggest you curb it, immediately. These are not most of your friends I'm talking about here?just a couple of poorly thought-out companions who you can't help at the moment, and who'll only drag you down (or try to, unwittingly). Ditch them, kindly, before that happens.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Too many people embrace losing strategies. That is, they see how very unlikely it is that they'll achieve their fondest dreams, and instead of going for them, balls-out, they conserve energy and ego by not trying, and make do with what's left. Sure, in all probability they'd never have gotten where they were going?but I still don't think they made the best choice. Don't be a loser, Leo. By trying your best, you at least give yourself a chance?however slender you believe it is?of astounding success. Also, even if you never make it all the way to your far-flung destination, you'll probably end up someplace interesting, and better than where you are now.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

If I were to select a tarot card for you this week, it would be the Ten of Cups, inverted. It generally features ten chalices overflowing into each other. When a card is inverted, it usually means that there's some kind of obstruction to its pure manifestation. In other words, it's obvious to everyone but you that your life is spilling over with bounty and fulfillment, but you're just not quite noticing. You're focusing on the three measly things that are missing?without once admitting that they're absent specifically because you either haven't been pursuing them, or?even more likely?you haven't been letting them happen. 'Nuff said.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

You're unnecessarily held back by pettiness. Instead, do this: Play your rivals off one another. It's all very Machiavellian, really. Once they're occupied by infighting, ally yourself with the biggest, baddest motherfucker left over, so no one will be especially inclined to bother you with their ridiculous dramas. Now that you're temporarily free of those ludicrous theatrics, you'll make better progress on your own agenda than you have in months. By the time anyone sees past your Brobdingnagian protection to notice that you're the one who started all the trouble in the first place, you'll be so long gone it won't matter.

[Caeriel@yahoo.com](mailto:Caeriel@yahoo.com)