We care how we are perceived because we can imagine how we are perceived. All humans have some form of self-model, and most are sensitive to how that self is perceived by others. Social Gemini moon in a profound trine with Pluto and squared to Mercury offers up a mirror. Gazing into it isn't about vanity, but about making sure one's existence registers in the social world.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). It feels like the reward isn't enough or isn't there at all. That doesn't mean your work is meaningless. Yes, there are tedious aspects. Don't let exhaustion masquerade as philosophy. It all matters. Be sweet to yourself. Go easy.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Today calls for resolution. What can you tie up or move along? You may feel something is over, but if another person is still wondering, the loop will remain open. The next phase can only begin after this one ends.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It seems counterintuitive, but losing doesn't make a person a loser. Losing means you're in the game, and being in the game means you're winning at life, even though you may not be winning at the game in question.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You're asking the right questions today — questions such as, "What are my thoughts and feelings trying to protect me from?" and "What can be learned from this?" It's better to relate to ideas than wrestle them.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You'll make moves that don't have the intended outcome, and that's just part of the process. Calling them "mistakes" is shorthand for "different outcomes." You'll find there's something wonderful in what happens unexpectedly.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You're already good at thinking about what you want to do, so try it a different way today. It's fun and creative to think about what you want to feel first, then go from there. There are endless ways to get to the same feeling.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Habits can make your life better or worse. The new one you want to make will be easier than you think. Start now. Keep showing up. Soon the habit will carry you. You'll stop building it and it will build you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You don't need breakthroughs today. You need repetition. The basics are boring and powerful. In a way, it's a relief to know that you don't have to reinvent the wheel; you just have to show up and hit the basics over and over.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Your patience will be key — it's the secret to effective communication. Hear others out. Pause to consider how to respond. Hold up your hand to slow the discourse. Taking that extra breath creates space for reflection.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). There's more labor and responsibility in your world than people see. Instead of tightening your grip, look for leverage. What system can you adjust? What expectation can you lower? Put your strength where it counts, and let the rest redistribute.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). A dip in the old self-esteem? No worries. Fluctuations are normal, and a high opinion of yourself doesn't always serve you anyway. The best scenario is not to be preoccupied with evaluating yourself at all. The flow state is unselfconscious.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Your imagination is powerful today, which means it can either inspire you or unsettle you. Before you follow a worry too far, ask what's actually happening right now. Reality is gentler than the story. Stay with what's tangible, and let the rest drift by.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (March 23). Welcome to your Year of Declarations, in which you just say what you're going to do (often to a small group of supporters who double as accountability partners) and then you do it. Your amazing follow-through, decisiveness and keen instinct for efficiency have you crossing off major goals. More highlights: Relationships get sweeter, deeper, more numerous and lighter, too. An award or certificate helps you make more money. Pisces and Virgo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 2, 14, 33, 19 and 4.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: The award nominations keep coming in for "The Diplomat," a television series going into its fourth season of sharp political writing blended with messy realism, emotional tension and dry humor. Anchoring the chaos is the contained fire of Keri Russell, the Aries actress who epitomizes directness, independence and decisive energy. Russell's fiery Aries nature is balanced with many planets in intuitive water signs.

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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