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A story needs three things: character, conflict and change. The dramatic Leo moon at odds with Mercury and Mars promises all three, including the conflict. Without the conflict, many theorists (from Aristotle through modern screenwriting gurus like Robert McKee) would argue it's not a story at all -- it's an anecdote, a vignette. Maybe a slice of life, but not a story.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). No need to justify your choices. You just choose. You don't audition for approval, you show up and do your thing. All the validation you need is already in your own pocket. Who has time to prove yourself when you're this busy being yourself?

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). It's possible to feel joy that is untethered from whatever is happening in your life and relationships. Maybe situations aren't ideal, but your emotional independence from circumstance is something to celebrate.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You are part scientist, part dreamer today as you gather the data needed to correctly assess what you're up against, what is yours to leverage and what you still need. Then you imagine your way through the rest.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Comparing your trouble to someone else's doesn't make it smaller. It just makes you harsher on yourself, which isn't necessary now. Heed the signals that your body gives you about the rest or activity that you need.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You're not a machine on a deadline. You're a cat on a sun-warmed windowsill. Rest isn't laziness; it's elegance. The world can wait while you purr. Tonight, trade one to-do for a long stretch.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Replay a moment in your head the way you wish it had gone. See yourself saying the right words and making the right moves. Your fantasy is like a practice run that lets the mind rehearse success. Reality will echo.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). There are some people you love so much, when they make a mess of things, it's like art to you. You even frame it, metaphorically at least. And you can count yourself in that group of zany artists. There's a fine line between "mess" and "abstraction."

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Strengthening your core isn't just about doing sit-ups. It's spiritual. Life can be like going through the car wash without a car. We're not built for it. A strong core keeps us upright, or it helps us turn back and go the other way before we get knocked around.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You'll be revered for your spontaneity, and rightly so. To achieve this level of playfulness with life, you have to trust yourself, trust others or trust life's process -- ideally, all three.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You have big feelings -- the gift that sometimes feels like a curse because the highs are as extreme as the lows. There's great power here. Learning what to do with these big feelings is like taming lightning, but it will be worth it.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Tasks take twice as long as you predict? Then your misestimation is in line with most people's. Minutes can be like jelly beans in a contest jar -- hard to guess the exact number, and the bigger the jar, the harder it gets.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Beauty isn't hiding in the commonplace. You don't have to use your imagination to see it, you only have to be awake. Today, you'll be reminded of the divine present everywhere, accessible in every speck of creation.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Oct. 15). Welcome to the Year of Your Heart's Music. You make the little moments sing, and the whole symphony of your life rises in harmony. There's poetry in unexpected things, like sports, math, logistics and more. You'll attract people who are a perfect fit for projects and plans and achieve milestones together. More highlights: teaching, profits you invest and turn into passive income, and big fun tickets. Sagittarius and Capricorn adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 4, 29, 21, 17 and 18.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: The literary world would not be the same without Oct. 15 Libras: Virgil, author of "The Aeneid"; Friedrich Nietzsche, the philosopher; novelists Italo Calvino and P.G. Wodehouse; Mario Puzo of "The Godfather" fame; and contemporary writer Roxane Gay. Each, in a distinctive voice, has explored philosophical themes and reshaped modern creativity. Air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) are noted for their intellectual reach, and Libra refines that energy through artistry, weaving thought into beauty, balance and cultural influence.

Holiday Mathis' debut novel, "How To Fail Epically in Hollywood," is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.

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