ARIES (March 21-April 19). The Chinese proverb says, “When you go to buy, don’t show your silver.” This is only good advice if you have a lot of “silver.” If you don’t have much, just confess. You’ll be surprised at what people will give you because they like you and admire your spirit. Stay tenacious and keep thinking big, and you’ll be rewarded.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). When you’re in your usual environs, you know exactly what you’re supposed to be doing. But since you’ll be brave enough to venture away from your routine this week, it will take you a beat to get your bearings. You’ll be looking for a new purpose within the context of your foreign territory. Be patient and you’ll find it.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). One thing that all great men and women have in common is that they have failed often — sometimes spectacularly. Remember this as you make your daily choices. If you’re not risking failure, it’s a sign that your path isn’t challenging enough to engage your talents. Have the courage to go for greatness.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). They say lightning never strikes the same place twice, but you’re not worried about that. You’d like to see it strike just the one time, and you wonder how long you’ll have to wait to see it. Sometimes it feels like everything is happening everywhere else but here. Hold on. You’re going to be amazed at your luck.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Remember that road trip you once took? The blowing wind, the ever-changing scenery, the new friends. Well, you can’t go back, but you can make new trips. There’s always more road. You might not be inspired to travel right now, but plan something for the future, or start fantasizing about the adventures to come.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). There will be so much going on this week that getting lost in the shuffle will be, at times, inevitable. However, it will also be easy to anchor yourself. Make a short list of experiences you’d like to have in the near future. This is your touchstone. Pull it out and look at it often — 10 to 100 times a day. Really!

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You will choose the perfect mentor. It doesn’t have to be someone you know or even someone who is currently alive. Read up on this person, and converse with him or her on the higher planes of your mind. Your mentor will guide you as the stars guide the sailor. Look up and move in the right direction.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Go where the inspiration lies. Recognize that others won’t be inspired by the same things that move you. Even people you are close to and love very much may not understand. Don’t let that diminish your enjoyment. Ideally, you will be too busy following your muse to care what anyone thinks.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You play it cool this week. You won’t be inclined to move quickly, but rather, deliberately and with extremely successful results. While everyone else rushes through a half-imagined program, you will spend your time plotting the perfect plan. Then when you move, everything moves.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’ll be making up your mind about something important. Once you decide what you want to do, a new path will open to you. All week you will get hints to help you in this process. By Saturday, you’ll be able to connect the dots that create an arrow to point you in the right direction.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You jokingly tell yourself to “act normal” knowing fully that there really is no such thing. Everyone is unique, and in your corner of the world, there are a wide variety of personalities to consider. So just do what comes naturally to you. Everyone will feel comfortable when you do. You’ll be universally accepted.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). It is a very positive and lucky thing, that little voice inside you that chimes, “What will so-and-so think?” It is your awareness of others that has earned you their trust. That is precisely why you can now afford to turn that voice down in the sound system of your mind, or perhaps even off completely.

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS: Anyone can sparkle when the sun is out. Your trials of the past three years have helped you turn up your inner light, too, and you’ve sparkled through darker times. In 2010, you’ll use all of the knowledge and wisdom you’ve gathered to teach others. The difference you make will bring you profound satisfaction. November and June are your most romantic months. Love inspires you to create. December brings practical solutions and lifestyle upgrades. A financial stream opens in March.