For Wednesday, May 23

Those with birthdays today: This year presents a mixed bag. At times you feel empowered and able to handle whatever might drop in your path. Other times, you might want to cocoon or pull away. Reflect and think. Learn to work with both facets of your personality, focusing on the positive and appropriate. If you are single, hold back a touch on tokens of affection. Let an evenly balanced relationship evolve this year. If you are attached, spend more intimate, quiet time together. Re-create a first date or consider a special trip together. LEO loves hanging out; VIRGO can be disruptive.

The Stars Show the Kind of Day You’ll Have: 5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Jump on a creative project this morning. Deal with people you love or care about in between, sprinkling your attention. By the afternoon, you could be all work and no play. Efficiency becomes important. Tonight: Easy does it.

If you feel lackadaisical in the a.m., don’t worry, you will energize. A fun encounter or great conversation increases your zest for the moment and living. Tonight: Allow your imagination to add an idea or two.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Return calls and finish off a stalled conversation that wasn’t going anywhere. You might be able to connect more deeply at this point. Family and security move up on your list of priorities. Tonight: Happily homeward bound.

You are not inventing a difficult situation. What might be occurring would stress out many people. Knowing when to call a halt to spending could be important. Tonight: Say “yes” to an invitation.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Express your strong reservations about a financial risk. Others will hear you; whether they will listen could be a totally different story. Know when to cut back and say “enough.” Tonight: Pay bills.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Understand what motivates others. You could see quite a display of feelings and emotions this morning. For the reserved Virgo, this situation, at best, creates discomfort. Tonight: The world is your oyster.

Use the morning for what you deem important. You will put your best foot forward, making new possibilities. Do loosen up with a person who you confide in, or vice versa. Tonight: Togetherness is a great theme.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

As you handle responsibilities, you also bathe in the limelight. You accomplish what many considered impossible. Take compliments with a grain of salt. A meeting adds to a sense of direction. Tonight: Gather with friends.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

A last-minute effort to gain more information will pay off if done in the morning. Many demands and responsibilities drop on you. Accepting them is your choice. Think carefully. Tonight: Could be a late night.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

A partner really believes he or she understands more about the financial workings of a situation than you. Know when to pull back and let this person see the end results of his or her knowledge. Tonight: Watch a favorite TV show.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Let another person absorb the limelight. You ultimately could be relieved not to have everything drop on you. Working with an associate or friend one-on-one proves to be most effective. Tonight: Go with another’s suggestion.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

* Plunge into work this morning. The more you can get done before lunch the better. In the p.m., a networking or social opportunity just might be too tantalizing to walk away from. Tonight: Just don’t be alone.