This Week's Horoscope

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Maybe you don't need this advice. Maybe you already spent Thanksgiving on giant pillows, smoking from a hookah with a group of your best friends. Maybe you're planning on spending Christmas scuba diving and New Year's having a book discussion circle. You probably already believe in the concept of "more than one way to do things." Just in case, let me remind you?clinging to tradition is okay, but you'll get far more out of experimenting with creating new traditions that are tailored to fit the life you want to lead.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

George Harrison is dead. I'm speaking to you rather than his Piscean tribemates because they already get it; I'm not sure you do. His musical career (especially post-Beatles) was haphazard and inconsistent, but always inspired. He made albums only when he "felt like it" and not according to some driven agenda. Whatever you think of his music or ambition, I use it to demonstrate a point. There's something to be said for discipline and getting things done. But there's also virtue in waiting for inspiration. Historically, you've cleaved to the stricter side of the spectrum. I don't expect you to slide over to the touchy-feely other end, but may I suggest moving a little closer to a middle ground?

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

In the late 1970s, President Jimmy Carter increased fuel efficiency dramatically, caused oil imports from the Persian Gulf to drop by 87 percent and expanded the U.S. economy. Now, instead of wisely reducing energy needs through more efficient consumption, the current administration advocates a reckless energy agenda, including drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. According to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., "If overall energy conservation options available in 1989 were implemented today, each year we would save 54 times the oil that would have been used from the Arctic that year, at a fraction of the price of drilling there." Unfortunately for you, greedy politicians aren't the only ones who are taking advantage of your distraction (by a distant war or whatever) to advance their own awful agendas. Be smarter than they are and call them on it.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Although you enjoy the thick, soupy fog that surrounds your life a lot of the time, wouldn't it be great if you knew someone who could regularly burn through the haze and lead you to a little well-orchestrated excitement? You may be daunted by the knife-juggling unicyclist who pedals past you on the street, but don't be. Your fears that you couldn't possibly relate are groundless?anyone who's willing to risk life and limb for a goofy stunt like that is likely interesting in many other ways, too. Besides, I'm willing to wager that your one-wheeled prankster is craving someone like you just as much as you're craving him.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

It's not that you're not getting enough attention. It's that you're getting all the wrong kinds of attention. Perhaps your methods are partly to blame. Who do you think is going to be drawn to you by your flashiest knife-juggling unicycle stunts? There are a lot of amazing people?the kind of people you'd love to have fawning over you?who are eager to be appreciative of your fine sense of adventure. Want the geniuses and stellar elite of the world to notice you? You can run circles around the circles they run in?but first you've got to get in. Don't worry, you absolutely can. First step?shift the tangent of your exploits: less flash, more substance.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

I ended up in New York because I love Bangkok. Like Thailand's biggest city, New York embodies great extremes and diversity. In Bangkok, it was ancient, sparklingly magnificent temples alongside futuristic techno shopping malls alongside ageless sidewalk fish markets alongside a globally infamous red-light district. What New York lacks in layered history, it makes up for with its people, who span every race, creed and walk of life. I crave difference. Both places have worked their magic to get me out of many a minor funk. Seek out and embrace diversity of whatever kind this week?it might work for you, too.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

What are you, Amish? You're usually the last person I'd suspect of fearing or avoiding a radical development in your world. Usually you embrace newness, be it your fancy iPod MP3 player or your favorite tv show this season (Alias, probably) or simply the gorgeous stranger who just moved to town. Wait, I'm seeing a pattern here?all these supposedly new things you love are actually just fresh combinations of old and familiar favorites, while this latest occurrence is something that's truly new and unfamiliar. Don't balk now?at the very least you're about to expand your horizons for the first time in a long while, and at best, you might be just about to discover your new favorite thing.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Her New York Times obit included her definition of a woman's needs: "From 14 to 40 she needs good looks; from 40 to 60, she needs personality; ? after 60, she needs cash." She was Mary Kay Ash, founder of the billion-dollar empire that marketed beauty products. She started the company with $5000 decades ago and loudly trumpeted its advancement of women everywhere. Well known for her Pepto-colored Caddy (she was even called the "high priestess of pink"), she was empowered, in that she created the means to have and do what she wanted. Follow the spirit of her life's example this week by flouting definitions (in her case, both of feminism and femininity), and get what you want your own way, without apology.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

I wish I could consistently heap blessings and benedictions on you, Leo. But I fear shattering my dubious credibility by telling you what you want to hear, even when it's not probable. Besides, if I did that, it would rob some of the deliciousness from those moments when I can share something positive with you, like this week. Don't expect the ground to shake or fireworks inside your head?it's not one of those momentous milestone kind of weeks. But do expect brief little tastes of sweetness from unexpected places?like strangers giving you candy that you want to eat.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Lately you've been more literal and unimaginative than the Harry Potter movie. Although you get incredible results from following your own exacting set of rules, there are times when coloring a little outside the lines could do you good. Your little rulebook doesn't have all the answers to every situation. Instead of obeying your arbitrary set of life's laws in perfect detail, relax a little. Following the spirit and not the letter of the law is not only encouraged this week; to get what you want and need out of the situation in question?it's required.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

I'm such a geek. Thanks to me, the baseball diamond in the park where I run my dog every evening spells such highfalutin multisyllabic words as "phantasmagoric" and "cacophonous." To entertain myself while my dog does his thing (hey, I'm just trying to ensure he gets a good, long walk despite my boredom), I've been scrawling these words in the sand. I won't pretend that you're dorky enough to do anything similar, but you might consider emulating the spirit of my actions, which boils down to this: If you're not interested or disciplined enough to complete your tasks properly, add to them the elements that will make them compelling enough to do right.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

During this morning's shower, I plotted, in laborious Lawyerese, what my three wishes would be, should I encounter a benevolent djinni during my day's adventures. I debated order, priority and pondered the merits and drawbacks of giving myself too much power. Sound familiar? Like me, you've been spending an inordinate amount of time preparing for situations that will simply never happen. Instead of following my frivolous example, devote yourself to planning for the spectacular events that are already on your schedule. They're more than enough to keep your hands full; if you encounter any generous genies this week, stuff them back into their bottles until you've got time to deal.