"Once you make a friend, a friend never leaves you, even to death. So a friend is really hard to find."
-- Wallace Black Elk, LAKOTA
Once, an Elder told me he made a decision to be my friend. He said this friendship wasn't based on my behavior or how I acted; he said the friendship was based on his decision. He decided to be my friend. This friendship has happened like he said. Even if I don't see him for a long time, or if I get mad at him, he has never changed his decision. This is true friendship.

Great Spirit, I'm glad you are this kind of Friend

ZODIACAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR TODAY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You feel too responsible today and may even endanger yourself somehow because of it. Think of safety first and be efficient about your actions. Avoid recurring thoughts of blame as these are a distraction.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You succeed best where you have practical experience. Theoretical knowledge is useful but not crucial now. It may be that you are teaching people as a mentor or instructor.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): What you need most is confidence. You can take humility a bit too far by closing off opportunities from yourself. Living up to your true worth and capabilities isn't boasting, just your right.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You must make decisions on your own today. You have a greater responsibility now and no one can tell you what to do. This is a good opportunity to put in place the responsible policies you've been wanting.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You would do well as someone who comes up with ideas and farms them out to others to develop. Most people, however, will have to record their thoughts so that they can pursue them at greater length at a later time.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You want to be a bold public speaker but a bad case of nerves can thwart you. Take courage from the fact that there are people who want to hear you. Let your information prove its worth.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You doubt your own leadership ability and are liable to place faith in someone else. On the other hand, there are those who have already been burned and are cynical about any new leadership change.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You don't take the easy approach today, which is why most people can't see the sense in what you do. Let results speak for themselves. Don't get drawn into explanations and justifications.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You tend to be a follower more than a leader today. You like to stay out of the way of danger, which is relative. In private, you take care of your own business as you please, such as finances or long-term goals.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You have to be in charge of everything that is realistically within your power. Don't rely on anyone to do something that you should be doing. Be prepared for disappointments, despite promises.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You are thrust into a position of responsibility today. You must deal with many people and their problems, which may stem from the organizational system itself. You may need to rethink and streamline bureaucracies.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You are liable to miss an opportunity because of worry. Clear your mind and be confident. Once you have mental distractions out of the way, you can think clearly about the implications of what you learn.

Fun Facts about Friday the 13th:

• Not all countries and societies consider Friday the 13th as unlucky. Quite the opposite is true and the unlucky date is actually considered to be lucky.
• In Greece and Spanish-speaking countries, Tuesday the 13th is considered unlucky, not Friday the 13th.
• Hollywood commercialized on people's fear with the cult horror film Friday the 13th and its sequels. The movie was renamed Tuesday the 13th ("Martes 13") in many Spanish speaking countries because the day of bad luck falls on Tuesday the 13th.
• According to CNN.com, one British couple bought their winning ticket on Friday the 13th after a mirror at their home fell down. The lucky couple won $17 million.
• The ancient Egyptians thought the number 13 was lucky because they believed that the 13th stage of life was related to the afterlife.
• It is considered especially unlucky to have 13 people at the table during a meal, such as in Agatha Christie's mystery novel, Thirteen at Dinner.
• Many hotels in Las Vegas do not have a “13” elevator button because it’s considered unlucky.
• In 2012, Friday the 13th occurs three different times: Friday, January 13th, Friday, April 13th and Friday, July 13th. A triple threat like this occurs only once every 11 years.
• Triskaidekaphobia is fear of the number 13.
• Many hospitals have no room 13, while some tall buildings skip the 13th floor and some airline terminals omit Gate 13.
• President Franklin D. Roosevelt would not travel on the 13th day of any month and would never host 13 guests at a meal. Napoleon and President Herbert Hoover were also triskaidekaphobic, with an abnormal fear of the number 13.
• Astrologers say Friday, January 13, 2012 will be particularly lucky because it coincides with the festival of Lorhi and the Hindu New Year’s Eve. In fact, they insist that it  is one of the luckiest days of the year because it falls just before Makar Sankranti and is influenced by the Sun, Venus, Uranus, Mercury and Moon.

The History of Friday the 13th:

The earliest reference to Friday the 13th was made in 1869 when Henry Sutherland mentioned the date in his biography on Gioachino Rossini. Since then, Friday the 13th has come to be a day that as many as 21 million people fear. The fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskevidekatriaphobia. Whew! The actual origins of the fear of Friday the 13th are unknown, but some believe that Norse mythology might be to blame. According to legend, 12 gods were at a banquet at Valhalla when Loke, the demi god of mischief who was not invited, turned up, bringing the total number of guests to 13. He was responsible for the chaos that led to the death of one of the good gods – Balder – so all the gods grieved. Others believe that Friday the 13th relate to events from the Christian Bible.

Grandmother, Grandfather, today, lead me on the path of love

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You are in a difficult position of needing to know secrets while not divulging your own. You play an uncertain game of trading information and making sure that what you give is innocuous.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You're apt to feel that your responsibility lies in making more effort and putting in more time than others. This may in fact be so. If not, use your authority or persuasion to get more people to pitch in.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You enjoy learning today, especially if it makes you feel you've expanded you awareness and capabilities. Knowledge must be fun and transformative if it has any value to you today.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Your restlessness is a sign of the need for change. Don't latch on to just any movement; analyze your needs and what changes would best serve you. Don't replace one controller with another.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You're in situations in which personal reserve has to be broken down. Strangers in a room are just the sort of challenge you welcome. You work to get people introduced and talking to each other.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You have inconsistent attitudes today. You can be friendly, then irritable; easy-going, then opinionated. You need to even out your moods and strive to be consistent on the good side.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You like learning with people who share your values or are otherwise compatible with you. A study group would foster your interest and enthusiasm more than a formal classroom or working alone.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You need to guard against jealousy or excessive clinging today. You need security but you can be a bit too demanding and particular. Express your concerns but also be ready to stand on your own.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Your activities are very social today. You have a compelling air about you now and people can be attracted to your intensity and certainty. Be sure you're using this for the right goals.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You sense that a job well done requires supervision and discipline. You try to keep people in line now. You need to encourage the best out of people, not punish them for mistakes.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You want to be engaged with crafts and arts today. You like being creative and being involved with things of beauty. You enjoy doing this on your own, not as part of a group or under an instructor.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Suppressed aspects of your personality are more active in your mind, and less evident outwardly to others. Nevertheless, you may be tempted to defy conventionality and act on inner promptings.

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Great Spirit, today, let me listen to the warnings of the Elders

ARIES (March 21-April 19): A crisis develops today, which helps to define what kind of person you are. You must rise to the occasion but deal with power and authority responsibly. People look to you to tell them what to do.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You have many means at your disposal for dealing with difficult situations. You can lead by example; you can teach with cautionary tales. Some need to lay down the script of acceptable or expected behavior.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): An emergency forces you to make realistic plans for the future. Your savings, investments and plans come under scrutiny for their soundness. A stress test shows weaknesses.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): A crisis becomes an opportunity today. However, there are those for whom it means a downfall. Be extremely careful as you don't know which you are and may not be the one you think.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): There are challenges to what you believe and what you think is true. A crisis of conscience or of faith causes great despair. You may have to backtrack very far Into your intellectual history for where you went wrong.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Responsibility doesn't suit you today. You're sensitive to pressures but those who have great latitude in their decisions are happiest. There are some who will actively challenge certain conventions based on hierarchies.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You are pushed to take a side today. The right side is the ethical one, not necessarily the winning side. You need to feel you're on the side of justice, not selfishness.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You are in a difficult situation but it's important how you represent it in your thoughts. Are you a victim or the hero? Is it the end of the world or a chance to start over? What's the story you're telling yourself?

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You want to live with the way things are right now. You resist inevitable change and this is a certain source of unhappiness. Participate in the change so that you can help shape its outcome.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You have strong anxieties today and it's highly likely those involved with you have similar fears. People need to develop trust, to tell each other the truth. With everyone defensive, there can be no progress.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You take many issues seriously today. You strip away what's distracting and irrelevant, to see the core importance. Once you're at that point, you're suited to work toward solutions and answers,

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Circumstances make you feel helpless but more likely they're evoking memories of prior events. Such repetition is an opportunity to try a different response, a more creative action.

Great Spirit, create in me a clean heart

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You're not shy about expressing your opinions today. Most likely they tend to be caustic and skeptical with an underlying motive to control people. Be positive and promote free will, rightly used.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You have a burst of energy and enthusiasm. Your focus is on making money but you need to also watch how much you spend. Friends and family are central to your activity but beware of creating arguments.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You take charge of situations that could get out of control. Potentially unruly people, such as children, need close supervision. In general, you apply tough love to get what you want.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): A chance opportunity occurs that lets you develop or display advanced skills. You can establish yourself in a better position now but you must take the offer now while it lasts.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Your ability to critique people by their strengths and weaknesses allows you to place them where they belong. You want to get things done but you also want to foster talent.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You know what you want and you take steps to achieve them. You tend to be pushy but people have to understand that your business instincts are keen today. You enjoy a challenge now.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You have an emotional distance that gives you objectivity and a certain cold-heartedness that lets you say unpleasant truths to friends and strangers. Philosophically, you can face challenges to issues of faith.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You are enterprising and bold today. Those with children can encourage them to excel. You tend to see friends as rivals and might go into competition over who has the newest, best, biggest piece of new tech.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Your emotional sensitivity is strong but you're placed in situations forcing you to be harsh to others. You have to be stern in order to get the best out of people; easing up encourages laziness.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You're challenged to strike a balance between taking action but taking deliberation beforehand. You may debate too much before coming to a decision; stop when you know enough.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You see the need for making changes to improve your economic and social status. Toward that end, you try to bring respectable and successful people into your circle of friends, for their positive influence and for networking.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Getting your way is difficult, as you face powerful challengers with whom you must negotiate. You are challenged to seek common ground instead of being riled that your will is being thwarted.

Grandmother, teach me to love with the power of the Woman

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You take a leadership position today. Part of what you do involved challenging widespread beliefs and moving situations in a different direction. You have the power to shift the direction of discourse.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Your success depends on the support of many others and while you think you have it, you probably don't. You're prone to start big without having the resources for staying power. Work within modest means.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): While you want to be generous, your efforts could be misapplied. You can give too much of what you need or you can waste helpfulness on someone who squanders it. Give only what will be used.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You are not satisfied in a way that makes you try to succeed in ways you don't have to. Your ambitions are misdirected. Take time to quiet your mind and explore what you really want and need and how you can really achieve them.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Your success depends on your willingness to be of service to others. You get into trouble when you start getting haughty. Someone else's distress could easily become yours, so be helpful.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You're liable to feel that something or someone isn't good enough. You need to count your blessings, instead of carping about how your standards aren't being met. Imagine life without what you have.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You feel the need to make people do what you want. You resent secrets being kept from you but you have a lot you're not sharing. Get out the need to know mentality, as you don't know what people need to know.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The quantity and quality of your relationships wax and wane today. You need to hold on to the good people and be more tolerant of those who are showing their bad side now. Leniency, not judgment, is what people need.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Opportunities can come in abundance. You need to take advantage of them yet you may act as though they will be around forever. Get going on what offers the best chance for advancement, success and monetary well-being.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You tend to lack the discipline that could make you successful. Instead, you rest on past accomplishments and don't act on current inspiration. You need to do the opposite. You don't feel desperate enough for action.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You're apt to be strongly influenced by prejudices learned early in your life. You need to reassess your attitudes toward people and circumstances because they can be very different than what you believe.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You are feeling restricted and wish to expand your horizons. There may be real reasons frustrating this urge now. Be aware of consequences and assert yourself carefully so you don't get into trouble.

Apr 18, 1521:
Luther defiant at Diet of Worms

Martin Luther, the chief catalyst of Protestantism, defies the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V by refusing to recant his writings. He had been called to Worms, Germany, to appear before the Diet (assembly) of the Holy Roman Empire and answer charges of heresy.

Martin Luther was a professor of biblical interpretation at the University of Wittenberg in Germany. In 1517, he drew up his 95 theses condemning the Catholic Church for its corrupt practice of selling "indulgences," or forgiveness of sins. Luther followed up the revolutionary work with equally controversial and groundbreaking theological works, and his fiery words set off religious reformers across Europe. In 1521, the pope excommunicated him, and he was called to appear before the emperor at the Diet of Worms to defend his beliefs. Refusing to recant or rescind his positions, Luther was declared an outlaw and a heretic. Powerful German princes protected him, however, and by his death in 1546 his ideas had significantly altered the course of Western thought.

"Our people don't come in parts. Either you are Indian, or you are not."
-- Nippawanock, ARAPAHOE
We really need to take a look at how Indian People are talking about Indian People. We say there are Rez Indians, Traditional Indians, Urban Indians and Breeds. This type of thinking will keep us separated. An Indian is an Indian, a brother is a brother, a sister is a sister. We are all related. Today, let us respect ourselves and our people. Today, let me realize Indians are Indians.

Great Spirit, let me see the Unity of the People. Indians are Indians

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You learn things that seem shocking. You are conflicted about how to react. Make a careful decision about what to say and to whom to say it. You may need time to integrate new insights.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Your imagination is hyperactive today. You need to either get it under control or find a situation in which you can put it to good use. You're valuable in a brainstorming session, less powerful in practical decision-making.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You're feeling anxious about impending events and you relieve it by being gregarious and chatty. This is an opportunity to deepen a relationship, not to keep it superficial. Talk about what really matters.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): There is a drastic change in your public status. Your intellectual or organizational skills serve you well now. Problem-solving is a key skill that allows you to become distinguished from the crowd.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You are attracted to news from far away. Foreign concepts gain your favor as they provide useful alternatives to the chain of reasoning you're accustomed to or fill in gaps in information.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You sense that events are liable to get out of your control so you tighten what control and influence you do have. It's wrong to think about it in terms of power. Think about having input instead.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You are heavily influenced by others today. Many may feel that this is what they need as they are unable to come to a decision on their own. It's important to surround yourself with sensible friends.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You find it hard to find the right balance of pleasing versus controlling in relationships. You may let yourself get pushed too far and then you push back. Set reasonable conditions and boundaries from the outset.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You are set to have a unique discovery or understanding today. A new way of understanding leads to a creative breakthrough. You can find that a different approach is what you need for success.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You don't feel comfortable with conservative opinions. You explore other options, reason through alternatives, learn about opposite viewpoints. A strong change of mind is developing.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You are both inquisitive and outspoken. By talking too much, you may either shut people up or invite arguments. This is no way to learn. Express yourself humbly and ask questions more than you editorialize.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A pressing monetary issue confronts you today. You must be clear in your language and be sure you understand all terms and contracts put before you. Don't assume everything is set up favorably for you.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You learn things that seem shocking. You are conflicted about how to react. Make a careful decision about what to say and to whom to say it. You may need time to integrate new insights.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Your imagination is hyperactive today. You need to either get it under control or find a situation in which you can put it to good use. You're valuable in a brainstorming session, less powerful in practical decision-making.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You're feeling anxious about impending events and you relieve it by being gregarious and chatty. This is an opportunity to deepen a relationship, not to keep it superficial. Talk about what really matters.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): There is a drastic change in your public status. Your intellectual or organizational skills serve you well now. Problem-solving is a key skill that allows you to become distinguished from the crowd.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You are attracted to news from far away. Foreign concepts gain your favor as they provide useful alternatives to the chain of reasoning you're accustomed to or fill in gaps in information.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You sense that events are liable to get out of your control so you tighten what control and influence you do have. It's wrong to think about it in terms of power. Think about having input instead.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You are heavily influenced by others today. Many may feel that this is what they need as they are unable to come to a decision on their own. It's important to surround yourself with sensible friends.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You find it hard to find the right balance of pleasing versus controlling in relationships. You may let yourself get pushed too far and then you push back. Set reasonable conditions and boundaries from the outset.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You are set to have a unique discovery or understanding today. A new way of understanding leads to a creative breakthrough. You can find that a different approach is what you need for success.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You don't feel comfortable with conservative opinions. You explore other options, reason through alternatives, learn about opposite viewpoints. A strong change of mind is developing.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You are both inquisitive and outspoken. By talking too much, you may either shut people up or invite arguments. This is no way to learn. Express yourself humbly and ask questions more than you editorialize.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A pressing monetary issue confronts you today. You must be clear in your language and be sure you understand all terms and contracts put before you. Don't assume everything is set up favorably for you.

Great Spirit, today, let me see myself as a valuable contributor to the whole

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Important partnerships develop now. Cooperative projects go smoothly. It's easy to communicate now and people aren't feeling prickly and defensive. You can be more open about your positive feelings now.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You speak out on behalf of those more helpless than you. Don't let that take over your attention, however, as you must also strengthen your position and improve your own life.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You feel some anxiety about being properly prepared for the future. You enlist people for advice and for active help. You must be willing to do some of the important or initial work yourself first, however.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): It's hard to get your way today. You want to be pleasant but there can be people who use that as an excuse to be rude or pushy. You must give an impression of meaning business from the beginning.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): This is a good day to contemplate the direction of your life. Intellectual or educational goals should be reviewed, especially if they involve art or philosophy. You are eager to meet like-minded people.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Career advancement isn't under your control today. It would be wise to go with the flow and not make waves. Do what you're told but also make sure you understand instructions and know enough to be adaptable in unexpected situations.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You can act to bring people together today. You minimize arguing to get closer to a point of accord. You may give the impression that that you agree when you are merely refraining from arguing.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You suddenly have the opportunity to live up to your full capabilities. For some this can mean bringing professional skills to bear. You can be the one to save the day now.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Romance is a strong feature of the day. You like getting along with people and a special friend gets lots of attention. Spread your good will around so that everyone feels included.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You come face-to-face with how you are tied to the past and how it may conflict with progressing to a better future. You may need to come to terms with an emotional issue, to everyone's benefit.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You want to foster good relationships today. You want to bring many people together and let them connect and network. You want a good social life for yourself but you also encourage a good social environment for others.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You are interested in improving and beautifying your surroundings. Think of ways you can reduce stress around the home. A new color scheme, art, flowers, opening space are ways to feel better.

Apr 20, 1689:
Siege of Londonderry begins

James II, the former British king, begins a siege of Londonderry, a Protestant stronghold in Northern Ireland.

In 1688, James II, a Catholic, was deposed by his Protestant daughter, Mary, and her husband, William of Orange, in a bloodless coup known as the Glorious Revolution. James fled to France and in 1689 landed in Ireland, hoping to incite his Catholic supporters there and regain the British throne. Aided by French forces, James captured Dublin in late March and in April marched on Londonderry, the northern town where Irish supporters of Britain had fled.

On April 20, 1689, James, having encircled Londonderry, began a bombardment of the fortified city, causing devastating fires and significant loss of life. However, despite this and other assaults, the city refused to surrender, and its poorly supplied defenders managed to repulse repeated attacks from James' soldiers. In the face of famine conditions, George Walker, the joint governor of the town and an Anglican clergyman, gave inspired public sermons that roused the people to a fierce resistance. Finally, on August 1, after 105 days of siege, British forces arrived to relieve the defiant Protestant city, and James retreated.

Eleven months later, at the Battle of Boyne in eastern Ireland, James suffered a final defeat against the forces of William and Mary. George Walker, the defender of Londonderry, was killed during the battle.

Great Spirit, today, I dance to honor yo

ARIES (March 21-April 19): It's a good time to slow down and pull back if necessary. After a string of relatively successful days, take stock and consolidate. If you don't, you can encounter blocks and reverses.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Pay careful attention to your health today. You may be at risk of catching the cold or some other minor infection that saps your strength. A bad mood could be a symptom of this.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): It's important to slow down and maybe lower expectations. Consolidate recent gains and realize that this is a day you can't make things happen as well as they have been. Protect what you have.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Whatever you have to do, start early. This is especially true at work and at home. You need lots of lead time to discover problems and fix them. Expect slowdowns and disruptions. Have alternatives to important plans.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): This isn't a good day to rely on what you already know. It's time to do some fact-checking and research. This isn't a very creative day but collecting solid data today lays the groundwork for cogitation later.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): There is a lot of expectation placed on you at work. It may be better to be the person people want to you be instead of trying to be individualistic and pushy. The challenge: to choose between belonging and separating.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You're apt to let an opportunity slip by because you let someone else take the initiative. You hold back too much. Emulate someone with common sense and be proactive in that context.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You pay more attention to small details that need completion today. Clear out the clutter, both physically and in terms of action. You will have difficulty moving forward unless you get rid of obstructions instead of living with them.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You sense an impending loss. You may lose motivation when you really need to prepare for life afterward. It is no disrespect to others when you start making adjustments before the fact.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Your mood makes you want to withdraw and be quiet but to be effective you have to act against it. Get involved and don't be satisfied with half-hearted measures. You need to push people into doing things the right way.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Travel can be somewhat hazardous today. Information is slow in getting to you. It's important to go over communications carefully making sure that you're saying everything you intend and mean what you say.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You feel you don't have as much to offer as someone else. You feel inadequate, unwanted. You need to work on self-estee, as well as on relying less on other people's approval and their opinions of you.

Apr 21, 753 B.C.: Rome founded

According to tradition, on April 21, 753 B.C., Romulus and his twin brother, Remus, found Rome on the site where they were suckled by a she-wolf as orphaned infants. Actually, the Romulus and Remus myth originated sometime in the fourth century B.C., and the exact date of Rome's founding was set by the Roman scholar Marcus Terentius Varro in the first century B.C.

According to the legend, Romulus and Remus were the sons of Rhea Silvia, the daughter of King Numitor of Alba Longa. Alba Longa was a mythical city located in the Alban Hills southeast of what would become Rome. Before the birth of the twins, Numitor was deposed by his younger brother Amulius, who forced Rhea to become a vestal virgin so that she would not give birth to rival claimants to his title. However, Rhea was impregnated by the war god Mars and gave birth to Romulus and Remus. Amulius ordered the infants drowned in the Tiber, but they survived and washed ashore at the foot of the Palatine hill, where they were suckled by a she-wolf until they were found by the shepherd Faustulus.

Reared by Faustulus and his wife, the twins later became leaders of a band of young shepherd warriors. After learning their true identity, they attacked Alba Longa, killed the wicked Amulius, and restored their grandfather to the throne. The twins then decided to found a town on the site where they had been saved as infants. They soon became involved in a petty quarrel, however, and Remus was slain by his brother. Romulus then became ruler of the settlement, which was named "Rome" after him.

To populate his town, Romulus offered asylum to fugitives and exiles. Rome lacked women, however, so Romulus invited the neighboring Sabines to a festival and abducted their women. A war then ensued, but the Sabine women intervened to prevent the Sabine men from seizing Rome. A peace treaty was drawn up, and the communities merged under the joint rule of Romulus and the Sabine king, Titus Tatius. Tatius' early death, perhaps perpetrated by Romulus, left the Roman as the sole king again. After a long and successful rule, Romulus died under obscure circumstances. Many Romans believed he was changed into a god and worshipped him as the deity Quirinus. After Romulus, there were six more kings of Rome, the last three believed to be Etruscans. Around 509 B.C., the Roman republic was established.

Another Roman foundation legend, which has its origins in ancient Greece, tells of how the mythical Trojan Aeneas founded Lavinium and started a dynasty that would lead to the birth of Romulus and Remus several centuries later. In the Iliad, an epic Greek poem probably composed by Homer in the eighth century B.C., Aeneas was the only major Trojan hero to survive the Greek destruction of Troy. A passage told of how he and his descendants would rule the Trojans, but since there was no record of any such dynasty in Troy, Greek scholars proposed that Aeneas and his followers relocated.

In the fifth century B.C., a few Greek historians speculated that Aeneas settled at Rome, which was then still a small city-state. In the fourth century B.C., Rome began to expand within the Italian peninsula, and Romans, coming into greater contact with the Greeks, embraced the suggestion that Aeneas had a role in the foundation of their great city. In the first century B.C., the Roman poet Virgil developed the Aeneas myth in his epic poem the Aeneid, which told of Aeneas' journey to Rome. Augustus, the first Roman emperor and emperor during Virgil's time, and Julius Caesar, his great-uncle and predecessor as Roman ruler, were said to be descended from Aeneas.

Great Spirit, today, give me the tools to seek peace of mind

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You want to bring business to a successful conclusion today. It's important to consult with experts and with the people who have a stake in the outcome of your actions.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You have to balance you need to take initiative with sensitivity to others' desires. Your objectives have a lot more in common with theirs than you imagine. Open up, communicate, work something out.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You abhor routines today. At work, you need variety and movement. If this impulse is being stifled, find appropriate venues where you can make your own choices and do something exciting.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You are concerned with deep issues now. You work to get people to understand what's at stake. You're capable of making a strong and convincing case or of antagonizing those whose interests you oppose.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You're feeling brave today. You want to get into people's aces and confront the ones who are making life go wrong. You hold people accountable but you should pay more attention to those most responsible.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You are impulse and unfocused today. You like to be around a lot of people but your actions generally are for having fun, not for any specific purpose. You can waste the day by having nothing to aim for.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Inner tension gets released as humor but keep it under control. Break the anxiety but then get back to work. Some tend to avoid difficult situations because they don't want to face the stress to begin with.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You want a great deal of latitude to do what you want. You are willing to take risks for what you believe. You scoff at arguments of safety and security, sensing that this is mere coddling, encouraging people to be weak.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You make a breakthrough communication today. You can finally get the result you want, see the person you're trying to meet. An important purpose is achieved after efforts that require giving up a lot of fun.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You become deeply engaged with whatever project you choose so as to virtually take it over. You have important ideas to contribute. However a project starts out, you will transform it beyond recognition.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Perhaps the best way to conduct a romance is to do something unexpected. Change your routine now and do something you've never done but perhaps have wished to do one of these days.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You take a strong -- perhaps even extreme -- intellectual and philosophic stand today. You're out promoting a cause and looking for followers. Your zealous certainty, however, must be re-examined carefully.

Creator, today, help me discover and use my medicine to serve a greater good

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You're not satisfied with standard solutions and procedures. You come up with your own and may create quite a bit of controversy in the process. You need to explore options that others won't consider.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You are both ambitious and fortunate. You are successful as long as you put others' welfare first. Circumstances will go wrong if you start getting selfish and conceited.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You have the best of intentions but it is hard to translate them into positive action. You may find it easier to be support from the sidelines, letting others get involved in direct action.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): A fantastic window of opportunity opens for you today. Don't question your good luck; take it immediately before it closes. You may be so accustomed to stagnation but don't let that stop you from accepting improvement.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Important rewards come your way. You're feeling important for doing something that benefits a wide range of people. Very positive events can result in increased status, monetary reward or promotion.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You take a strong interest in abstract principles now. You want to learn more about the theories underlying such issues as science, religion, philosophy or the law. Application comes later; right now, you want the framework.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Your routine or relationships can break down completely today. You make a sudden shift to another side. It can seem as though everything you knew is suddenly seen to be wrong.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You are liable to meet someone who will have a big impact on your life. Be open to possibilities now. You can become involved in a movement that has wide appeal and aims to make a big, if not profound, social benefit.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You want to liven things up today. You can be the clown, the entertainer, the trickster. You need extra care so as not to step on sensitive toes but, in general, you can bring relief to boring or tense situations.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You commit to improving your finances, especially through better income and investment. You generally feel confidant and enthusiastic about everything you do. You feel assured of successful outcomes.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You pay more attention to your family and home today. You have a chance to make home improvements or do other things that bring the family together. For some a picnic or other outdoors activity is rewarding.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You enjoy learning new things today. There are opportunities to expand your awareness to far-away places and different customs. For example, a fascination with a foreign language can develop now.

Apr 23, 1564:
William Shakespeare born

According to tradition, the great English dramatist and poet William Shakespeare is born in Stratford-on-Avon on April 23, 1564. It is impossible to be certain the exact day on which he was born, but church records show that he was baptized on April 26, and three days was a customary amount of time to wait before baptizing a newborn. Shakespeare's date of death is conclusively known, however: it was April 23, 1616. He was 52 years old and had retired to Stratford three years before.

Although few plays have been performed or analyzed as extensively as the 38 plays ascribed to William Shakespeare, there are few surviving details about the playwright's life. This dearth of biographical information is due primarily to his station in life; he was not a noble, but the son of John Shakespeare, a leather trader and the town bailiff. The events of William Shakespeare's early life can only be gleaned from official records, such as baptism and marriage records.

He probably attended the grammar school in Stratford, where he would have studied Latin and read classical literature. He did not go to university but at age 18 married Anne Hathaway, who was eight years his senior and pregnant at the time of the marriage. Their first daughter, Susanna, was born six months later, and in 1585 William and Anne had twins, Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet, Shakespeare's only son, died 11 years later, and Anne Shakespeare outlived her husband, dying in 1623. Nothing is known of the period between the birth of the twins and Shakespeare's emergence as a playwright in London in the early 1590s, but unfounded stories have him stealing deer, joining a group of traveling players, becoming a schoolteacher, or serving as a soldier in the Low Countries.

The first reference to Shakespeare as a London playwright came in 1592, when a fellow dramatist, Robert Greene, wrote derogatorily of him on his deathbed. It is believed that Shakespeare had written the three parts of Henry VI by that point. In 1593, Venus and Adonis was Shakespeare's first published poem, and he dedicated it to the young Henry Wriothesley, the 3rd earl of Southampton. In 1594, having probably composed, among other plays, Richard III, The Comedy of Errors, and The Taming of the Shrew, he became an actor and playwright for the Lord Chamberlain's Men, which became the King's Men after James I's ascension in 1603. The company grew into England's finest, in no small part because of Shakespeare, who was its principal dramatist. It also had the finest actor of the day, Richard Burbage, and the best theater, the Globe, which was located on the Thames' south bank. Shakespeare stayed with the King's Men until his retirement and often acted in small parts.

By 1596, the company had performed the classic Shakespeare plays Romeo and Juliet, Richard II, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. That year, John Shakespeare was granted a coat of arms, a testament to his son's growing wealth and fame. In 1597, William Shakespeare bought a large house in Stratford. In 1599, after producing his great historical series, the first and second part of Henry IV and Henry V, he became a partner in the ownership of the Globe Theatre.

The beginning of the 17th century saw the performance of the first of his great tragedies, Hamlet. The next play, The Merry Wives of Windsor, was written at the request of Queen Elizabeth I, who wanted to see another play that included the popular character Falstaff. During the next decade, Shakespeare produced such masterpieces as Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, and The Tempest. In 1609, his sonnets, probably written during the 1590s, were published. The 154 sonnets are marked by the recurring themes of the mutability of beauty and the transcendent power of love and art.

Shakespeare died in Stratford-on-Avon on April 23, 1616. 

My Creator, today, let me show respect to each family member