This week's horoscope.

Bide your time, baby. Save your strength. This first week of your birthday month promises to be a fun one, but you'll soon learn it's nothing compared to the next two. Don't blow your wad now?you'd regret it after the Leo New Moon on the 29th, when you'll want every bit of juju and mojo you've been storing up. Cash in your chips then, when the payoff will be exponentially more than the modicum of amusement you'd receive now. Yes, yes, be present?enjoy yourself in the moment. All I'm saying is don't burn out so you end up sitting out when the party really gets going.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

The hens have finally come home to roost. Okay, they haven't yet arrived, but you can see them on the horizon, clucking and pecking and working their way back to the coop. So be patient, and by all means resist the tangibly growing temptation to count your chickens before they hatch. In my metaphor, the poultry represents that project you've been putting every spare scrap of energy, attention and time into. But just because you've successfully enticed all those finicky fowl doesn't mean they're automatically going to lay eggs. So don't get cocky. You've got one more hungry fox to catch and kill before you have anything to crow about.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Whether or not you have a soulmate (or five, or hundreds) out there I don't know. I'll leave that debate to you. I'm just here to ground your vision a little, because too often people who believe in that stuff leave it all to chance. Unfortunately, most of us are just not that lucky. Usually you have to work to find your soulmate. Even, if by some extraordinary chance you meet some perfect prince(ss) charming in some destiny-evoking way, there'll be work involved, eventually. The other shoe will drop. Stop waiting for, expecting, or even hoping for perfection. Nothing's perfect?count that among your blessings. Perfection is a lot of pressure. Take the imperfections and run with them. Given a chance, you'll realize that they're more perfect than perfect could ever be.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

You're virtually impossible to get over. Believe me, I know; I doubt I'll ever be completely over the two big loves of my life (both Scorpios). The marks you leave are mostly indelible, whether they're scars from blows you've struck, or love bites. You can't help it, which sucks for you. I've known Scorpios who've cloistered themselves to keep from involuntarily hurting anyone. Unfortunately that doesn't help?people are just as likely to injure themselves by running into the walls outside your self-created monastic retreat, trying to get to you. So don't try in vain to hide your pheromonally charged combustible attractiveness from the world. Get out there and use it. If you want my experience-informed two cents, it hurts a lot less to run into your open arms (even if it means getting pushed away) than into your unfeeling back.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

This week is so unromantic. There'll be no red roses, no candlelit dinners, no scented lingerie. So fucking what? You've got something better. Don't mourn that cheesy crap, not when you could have copious amounts of frank discussion about anything and everything that crosses your mind. People have rarely been this eager to candidly engage you with back-to-back heart-to-hearts. Use this rare and ultimately amazing opportunity. You'll soon discover that getting and giving honest answers to longstanding questions can be more romantic than a heart-shaped hot tub could ever be.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

You may not have the first-glance impact of some of the other signs. But you do have something else?increased desirability relative to a person's experience. That is, with each spin someone takes around the block, you get hotter. It's sort of like reverse beer goggles; as illusions and self-deceptions get stripped away, the brand of consistency and reliability (and undercover sexual vigor) you represent becomes more and more appealing. That's good news for you Caps, who are often lonelier than most; when you do get some interest?like you may this week?you can be assured, it's as real as it gets.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Georgina Beyer is one of my heroes. She rolled into Carterton, one of New Zealand's most rural, conservative hick towns, as a Maori transsexual ex-prostitute and shortly thereafter she was mayor. A few years after that, she became the parliamentary representative for that district, chosen by a largely white, conservative electorate. The reason? Her candor and accessibility. From the get-go, she owned up to who she was and who she'd been. That's the only way for you to go, Aquarius. Don't hide anything about where you've been and what you've done. I mean it. Don't hide anything.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Right now, you're kicking yourself for having such bad timing, for starting that new venture at a time when you apparently weren't psychologically prepared for it. You've been questioning whether your rapidly increasing mental backpedal is a reaction to your frontier exploration or just an unfortunate coincidence. It sucks, regardless, because it's hard to forge new territory when you're fearful, lazy, undisciplined or all three. The good news is you're not allergic to the unknown. The bad news?exterior forces are influencing you to have adverse reactions to it. Still, that bad news can be good news?it's nothing you have to get over, just something to push through. Don't cave and give up. Forge ahead.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

I was at an event a couple weeks ago (thrown by an elusive veteran underground-party-throwing collective called Rubulad) that reminded me of you, Aries. People got half-price admission for wearing costumes. That kind of monetary encouragement of active participation instead of voyeuristic observation is right up your alley. You're sick of people only being half-there (or less). Your philosophy is, if you're going to do it, really do it. Start brainstorming ways to get people to truly go there (Hint: Try making it harder for them not to) and practice on the people who really need it. I'm not one; I only paid $5 to get in that night.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

What you need is someone who wants?nay, needs?to give you exactly what you crave. It's all well and good to find a companion who's willing to provide what you ask for (often as part of a mutual benefits bargain) but somehow that's not as satisfying as finding the person who absolutely requires being able to scratch exactly where you itch. See? I get the concept. But I urge you: Rethink it. Imagine this: That person can be "created." Desire can be taught. Willingness is a good enough start?given patience and enthusiastic encouragement, it can easily blossom into full-fledged desire. It's way more fun to get satisfaction this way than to endure the years of searching and waiting required to find someone who already knows how to give you exactly what you need.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Biting your tongue hurts so bad you rarely do it. You don't have time, patience or tolerance for self-censorship. As you know all too well, that gets you into trouble more often than not. That's why you're lucky when you get to enjoy weeks like this one, where your honesty and tactlessness create positive effects that outweigh the negative ones at least two to one. Speak out, you silver-tongued vixen. Charm, chastise, compliment and criticize with absolute license. Nothing you say can hurt you more than a slap on the face, and will ultimately get you more respect than contempt.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

My Saturn Returns is kicking my ass. Saturn Returns happens when the planet revisits the spot it occupied when you were born (which usually takes about 29 and a half years). Saturn makes you confront pressing unanswered questions, or face repressed fears. But you already knew that, on some level; with Saturn reigning from your sign, you're getting at least an echo of all those phenomena in your own life. People emerge from their Saturn Returns in their early 30s stronger, wiser, more directed and self-actualized than ever. When your close brush with Saturn is over, what will you emerge with?

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