It’s time for Christians to celebrate the birth of the Son of God and for celestial cycles to celebrate the birth of the sun center of our solar system as he returns after the longest night. Welcome to the Winter Solstice, a magical time of year that was celebrated by early humanity, as evidenced by prehistoric monuments like Stonehenge that are oriented to frame the sun on the longest and shortest days of the year.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). This will be a memorable week as you deal with a colorful set of characters. One in particular stands out. Though this person’s manner and thought process is about as foreign to you as any you’ve seen, your commonalities still outweigh your differences. Find shared interests and you can work through any problem.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’re even more sensitive than usual these days. You could walk into a room of people where no one is talking, notice the tension and start figuring out what happened prior to your arrival. In some cases you’ll probably decide that you really don’t need to know everything. Happiness is sticking to your boundaries.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’re mostly concentrated on one relationship now. All the years that you have been interested in a special person now seem as if they spanned mere weeks. The best times gleam in your memory. As for the future, the prospects are still exciting and the agreements you made will eventually be honored.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). The reason you are so smart is that you have endured your share of falls. You found out that if you frittered away insight learned through suffering, the suffering continued. At an opportune moment, perhaps Wednesday evening, gently share this wisdom with the one who’s going through a rough time.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Sure, you could find things to take issue with, were you so inclined. But being confrontational will only serve to wear you down in the end. Stay within your own boundaries and be strong there. Take care of what you can and let go of the rest. Keep it simple, do what’s fun for you, and by Friday your energy has doubled.

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS: For you, fashion is not simply a matter of sticking to the clothing dictates of the time. It’s noticing the nuances of the moment and allowing the surrounding moods and resources to influence you. This is your year to exert a style that goes beyond the material and makes a statement about your spiritual being. The way you choose to be generous, recognize others and give your attention to their highest actions will build relationships and make you wealthy in love.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). It’s funny how you are the one to give others advice, and yet your own inner monologue is besieged with unanswerable questions. Listen for answers anyhow, especially Monday, when you are sure to get brilliant bits of wisdom from your higher self and maybe even mystical harbingers of what is yet to come.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You will be tempted to fall back into the old habit of worrying about what your neighbors think. Head off anxiety by doing something wild. Dare to be like a peacock and you may just swagger your way into someone’s heart. By the end of the week, you won’t even give a second thought to how you are received.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Acknowledge the tremendous potential you possess for healing. It’s a beneficial time to wrap your head around the practicalities involved in making someone, especially yourself, feel better. Study of this subject brings positive results to all. An element of magic will kick in after you learn and apply the basics.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Others will spoil you, trying to entertain and interest you all week. Little do they know that they don’t have to work quite so hard. You are sharply focused on having a good time no matter what others do. Because of your easy attitude, life opens to you like a carnival of color, sound and excitement.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Your vision of the future gets better when your recognition of the present improves. For instance, the light coming through your window, when you really look at it, appears to you differently than it ever has before. Seeing the interplay of brilliance in your world helps you understand your own radiant qualities.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The group of people around you will wait to be led and entertained. Some will even want to be blown away. This would be a lot of pressure for normal people and luckily you’ve never been “normal.” You’ll provide one surprise after another and be absolutely dazzling in the manner that is most comfortable to you.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The stars grant you vibrant vitality, and you use it to appreciate the season. You’ll alternate between heightened states of reverence, enthusiasm, love and celebration. Saturday, a bosom buddy will offer you the chance to save money and time. Now, with a little bit of your savings, try your hand at the arts.