TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (July 8). Create a sense of sacredness in everyday life. July brings emotional nurturing, and later you’ll turn around and nurture someone else. You’ll get a loan in August, and invest in the education needed to be self-sufficient. In December, you’ll use your talents to make people happy. Leo and Gemini people adore you.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). When you were a child, your face transparently reflected your displeasure. Now you skillfully hide the sour faces of your youth as you opt for more mature and constructive ways to conduct yourself.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’d be wise to help the authority figures you’re dealing with to feel superior. They will appreciate your support, friendship and loyalty and do not need the threat of your competition.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Wake up and notice how rare your contributions are. No one else can do what you do in the way you do it. You don’t always get credit, either. But give yourself credit, and celebrate your uniqueness.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Have complete control over who you see today. So you’ll likely hang around a certain person who always seems to have a way of making you feel comfortable and acknowledged.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You won’t have the same reaction to today’s circumstances as others around you. However, you’ll still recognize that others have a right to their feelings, whatever they may be.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Your deep sense of inner security makes it unnecessary to acquire certain trappings. You know you’re not in competition with the rest of the world. What matters is what you think of you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You will work brilliantly on a team of two. Like an expert improvisational actor, you’ll have a complementary response to whatever twists your co-star throws at you.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’ll enter a “safe zone” in which it is acceptable to want whatever you want in whatever quantity would be most satisfying. This zone might be a space in your own mind.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20). Compliments must be true to be believable. You’d rather be acknowledged for something small than accept a big compliment that doesn’t seem to fit. You'll use this principle to make someone feel good.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19). Barraged with images of models and celebrities every day, it’s no wonder so many suffer from low self-worth. Those people center their lives on looking good. Measure yourself against your own standards of “normal.”

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20). You’ll be made to feel special. Someone will ingratiate him or herself to you by offering you passes and privileges not given to “just anyone.” Your enjoyment and appreciation of the act will ensure that it happens again.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Keep up a certain pattern so not to disappoint those who have grown used to it. As you go through the motions, you may question whether you still want to do these things.