Jun 13, 323 B.C.:
Alexander the Great dies

Alexander the Great, the young Macedonian military genius who forged an empire stretching from the eastern Mediterranean to India, dies in Babylon, in present-day Iraq, at the age of 33.

Born in Macedonia to King Phillip II and Queen Olympias, Alexander received a classical education from famed philosopher Aristotle and a military education from his father. At the age of 16, Alexander led his first troops into combat and two years later commanded a large part of his father's army that won the Battle of Chaeronea and brought Greece under Macedonian rule. In 336 B.C., Phillip II was assassinated, and Alexander ascended to the throne.

Two years later, the young king led a large army into Asia Minor to carry out his father's plans for conquering Persia. Consistently outnumbered in his battles against superior Persian forces, Alexander displayed an unprecedented understanding of strategic military planning and tactical maneuvers. He never lost a single battle, and by 330 B.C. all of Persia and Asia Minor was under his sway. Within his empire, he founded great and lasting cities, such as Alexandria in Egypt, and brought about sweeping political and economic changes based on the advanced Greek models taught to him in his youth.

Although Alexander controlled the largest empire in the history of the world, he launched a new eastern campaign soon after his return from Persia. By 327 B.C., he had conquered Afghanistan, Central Asia, and northern India. In the next year, his army, exhausted after eight years of fighting, refused to go farther, and Alexander led them on a difficult journey home through the inhospitable Makran Desert.

Finally reaching Babylon, Alexander began constructing a large fleet to take his army back to Egypt. However, in June 323 B.C., just as the work on his ships was reaching its conclusion, Alexander fell sick after a prolonged banquet and drinking bout and died. Perhaps earnestly believing himself to be a god (as many of his subjects did), he had not selected a successor, and within a year of his death his army and his empire broke into a multitude of warring factions. His body was later returned to Alexandria, where it was laid to rest in a golden coffin.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You're in charge of ensuring that things get done. You have the responsibility of either doing it yourself or finding the people who can. Remember that it is no disgrace to delegate tasks, let you overburden yourself.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You pay close attention to your earning power. This is a good day to take a good look at what you may be doing wrong or how you can do better. Organization and planning are your strong points now.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You have a clear idea of your goals today and circumstances are right for you to proceed without disruption. You push events forward now, putting your strength and extermination behind your intentions.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You must have a stable and calm environment now. You feel that home is your refuge and you may want to use a lot of time in meditation or contemplation. From a point of inner calm, you can face responsibilities.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You feel renewed ambition today. You can start preparation for a long project. Projects require steady application of effort, not a quick fix. Don't expect that anything can be started and finished quickly.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You're easily scandalized today and you attempt to make people understand your outrage. You're sensitive now so it is probable that you're ahead of the curve in perceiving and understanding the trend.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You can see that further success comes from continuing education. Be willing to take a calculated risk to bring the levels of your education up to parity. Don't let yourself be lacking in essential knowledge.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Remember the ethical dimensions of your projects you must build trust and the only way to do that is to keep your word and deal in good faith. Many are tempted to do otherwise because they're so focused on getting results.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You have a practical approach to relationships today. You're very alert to what people need so that you can provide it to them. Those who have a position of responsibility have to be tough but fair.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): This is a good day to be more focused on a specialization on the job. Choose something that needs improving and practice at it until you're expert. It will pay off well in the long run.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): This is a good day for focusing on professionalism. Make a stronger effort to live by your ideals and make them a habit. Virtuous behaviors shouldn't be mere politeness but you can now start making them part of your character.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You need to be aware of the ways you are unnecessarily dependent on others. It's a good time to begin to think of ways to become self-reliant and to strengthen personal skills. How much are you asking someone to help you?

Creator, let me be open to the lessons that Nature can teach me

Jun 15, 1215:
Magna Carta sealed

Following a revolt by the English nobility against his rule, King John puts his royal seal on the Magna Carta, or "Great Charter." The document, essentially a peace treaty between John and his barons, guaranteed that the king would respect feudal rights and privileges, uphold the freedom of the church, and maintain the nation's laws. Although more a reactionary than a progressive document in its day, the Magna Carta was seen as a cornerstone in the development of democratic England by later generations.

John was enthroned as king of England following the death of his brother, King Richard the Lion-Hearted, in 1199. King John's reign was characterized by failure. He lost the duchy of Normandy to the French king and taxed the English nobility heavily to pay for his foreign misadventures. He quarreled with Pope Innocent III and sold church offices to build up the depleted royal coffers. Following the defeat of a campaign to regain Normandy in 1214, Stephen Langton, the archbishop of Canterbury, called on the disgruntled barons to demand a charter of liberties from the king.

In 1215, the barons rose up in rebellion against the king's abuse of feudal law and custom. John, faced with a superior force, had no choice but to give in to their demands. Earlier kings of England had granted concessions to their feudal barons, but these charters were vaguely worded and issued voluntarily. The document drawn up for John in June 1215, however, forced the king to make specific guarantees of the rights and privileges of his barons and the freedom of the church. On June 15, 1215, John met the barons at Runnymede on the Thames and set his seal to the Articles of the Barons, which after minor revision was formally issued as the Magna Carta.

The charter consisted of a preamble and 63 clauses and dealt mainly with feudal concerns that had little impact outside 13th century England. However, the document was remarkable in that it implied there were laws the king was bound to observe, thus precluding any future claim to absolutism by the English monarch. Of greatest interest to later generations was clause 39, which stated that "no free man shall be arrested or imprisoned or disseised [dispossessed] or outlawed or exiled or in any way victimised...except by the lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land." This clause has been celebrated as an early guarantee of trial by jury and of habeas corpus and inspired England's Petition of Right (1628) and the Habeas Corpus Act (1679).

In immediate terms, the Magna Carta was a failure--civil war broke out the same year, and John ignored his obligations under the charter. Upon his death in 1216, however, the Magna Carta was reissued with some changes by his son, King Henry III, and then reissued again in 1217. That year, the rebellious barons were defeated by the king's forces. In 1225, Henry III voluntarily reissued the Magna Carta a third time, and it formally entered English statute law.

The Magna Carta has been subject to a great deal of historical exaggeration; it did not establish Parliament, as some have claimed, nor more than vaguely allude to the liberal democratic ideals of later centuries. However, as a symbol of the sovereignty of the rule of law, it was of fundamental importance to the constitutional development of England. Four original copies of the Magna Carta of 1215 exist today: one in Lincoln Cathedral, one in Salisbury Cathedral, and two in the British Museum.

Great Spirt, today, teach me the old Sacred Way you taught my ancestors

Jun 15, 1300:
Dante is named prior of Florence

On this day, poet Dante Alighieri becomes one of six priors of Florence, active in governing the city. Dante's political activities, which include the banishment of several rivals, lead to his own exile from Florence, his native city, after 1302. He will write his great work, The Divine Comedy, as a virtual wanderer, seeking protection for his family in town after town.

Dante was born to a family with noble ancestry whose fortunes had fallen. His father was a moneylender. Dante began writing poetry in his teens and received encouragement from established poets, to whom he sent sonnets as a young man.

At age nine, Dante first caught a glimpse of Beatrice Portinari, also nine, who would symbolize for him perfect female beauty and spiritual goodness in the coming decades. Despite his fervent devotion to Portinari, who did not seem to return his feelings, Dante became engaged to Gemma Donati in 1277, but the two did not marry until eight years later. The couple had six sons and a daughter.

About 1293, Dante published a book of prose and poetry called The New Life, followed a few years later by another collection, The Banquet. It wasn't until his banishment that he began work on his Divine Comedy. In the poem's first book, Dante takes a tour through Hell with the poet Virgil as his guide. Virgil also guides the poet through Purgatory in the second book. The poet's guide in Paradise, however, is named Beatrice. The work was written and published in sections between 1308 and 1321. Although Dante called the work simply Comedy, the work became enormously popular, and a deluxe version published in 1555 in Venice bore the title The Divine Comedy. Dante died of malaria in Ravenna in 1321.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Break away from entrenched habits and attitudes. Don't oppose former enemies but open up to learn from them. Hardened positions need to be challenged so new and positive opportunities can develop.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You're drawn toward dialog today. You tend to depend on communication for personal meaning and importance. Important exchanges of information can occur as long as you encourage the free flow of information.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Pay attention to finances today. A resolution to your problems can be found by returning to the basics. The real question is how you can apply them innovatively to your specific situation.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You should be on the lookout for better opportunities today. You're not very ambitious but you won't decline an improvement. You need to be intellectually active and alert so you don't miss the people who could help you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): This is a good day to diversify your studies. Your intent should be to make yourself more marketable in the job search. Be sure that you include fields that genuinely hold your interest and can carry you for a long time.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): This is a good day to turn your attention to new projects. Where successful conclusions have been brought about, this is no time to rest. Get busy ramping up for the next item in line to be done.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You're prone to get into disagreements today but may be unable to back up your case. You need good preparation but may have to make the challenge early, anyway. Don't let yourself feel intellectually powerless.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): This is a good day to study different points of view and integrate them into a whole. You want to be inclusive but you also want to choose the best opinions that hold water and present them in a coherent argument.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You have cause to think that you are stalled in your ambitions. This is a good day to rethink your strategy, maybe discussing it with friends who have the sort of achievements you want.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You tend to act as a representative for a group and your message or delivery, or both, are very compelling. Attempt to reach a new audience for the cause you're espousing. It's an excellent day for getting the message out.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): This is a very busy day. You can't spend a lot of energy dwelling on the past because the present moment keeps you occupied. You need to exercise a lot of foresight so that your activities are worthwhile.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You have something to say to the public at large. Find the right way to get your opinions out in public. Write letters, leave comments, establish a blog. The more reasoned, yet impassioned, you can express yourself, the better.

Grandfather, today, let me know all people are my teachers and I am the student

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You're prone to be contrary today, especially in situations that you feel authority is pushing on your personal freedoms. You need an intellectual basis to inform your objections rather than simply acting out.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You're easily angered but you can put that energy to good use if you try. Don't confront a troubling situation head-on now but do something else that's useful while you think through the situation.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You need to show common sense about spending and other financial transactions today. Get your money's worth and don't be afraid to pull out if the situation isn't in your best interests. Don't feel obligated when you're not.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Your ambitions are hard to achieve unless you stick with a sound plan. You're apt to change your mind a lot or let yourself be diverted into multiple projects. Narrow your efforts so you can finish what you start.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You struggle to find the right mode of communication with people. Anger on someone's part is a sign that you're not in sync the way you should be. Don't rely on just one approach.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You feel an urgency to learn something today. Don't tackle problems you don't understand. I's better to study them first and then act instead of diving in and making a lot of unnecessary mistakes.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You must go back and rethink past ideas and see where they can be improved. Rewrites and reprogramming can be done for elegance, style and efficiency. Find ways to express yourself better.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A trusted partner could cause you to be angry today. People aren't all on the same page and you have to spend extra effort corralling them and getting to understand what the priorities are.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You need to look past what people say to understand their deeper meaning and feelings; that's what you need to respond to. In relationships, one of you has been taking the other for granted, causing offense.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You have a very emotional way of communicating. You are challenged not to let it get out of hand. Be aware that your likes and dislikes in people are showing obviously, even in situations where even-handedness is required.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You get questioned in ways that make you feel defensive. You're challenged to be reasonable no matter how offended you feel. Be alert to situations where you may actually be under threat.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You're liable to jump to conclusions now and get angry about them. Instead, hold your thoughts in check and verify whether what you think is really true. Remember that anger closes down honest communication.

Jun 17, 1579:
Drake claims California for England

During his circumnavigation of the world, English seaman Francis Drake anchors in a harbor just north of present-day San Francisco, California, and claims the territory for Queen Elizabeth I. Calling the land "Nova Albion," Drake remained on the California coast for a month to make repairs to his ship, the Golden Hind, and prepare for his westward crossing of the Pacific Ocean.

On December 13, 1577, Drake set out from England with five ships on a mission to raid Spanish holdings on the Pacific coast of the New World. After crossing the Atlantic, Drake abandoned two of his ships in South America and then sailed into the Straits of Magellan with the remaining three. A series of devastating storms besieged his expedition in the treacherous straits, wrecking one ship and forcing another to return to England. Only the Golden Hind reached the Pacific Ocean, but Drake continued undaunted up the western coast of South America, raiding Spanish settlements and capturing a rich Spanish treasure ship.

Drake then continued up the western coast of North America, searching for a possible northeast passage back to the Atlantic. Reaching as far north as present-day Washington before turning back, Drake paused near San Francisco Bay in June 1579 to repair his ship and prepare for a journey across the Pacific. In July, the expedition set off across the Pacific, visiting several islands before rounding Africa's Cape of Good Hope and returning to the Atlantic Ocean. On September 26, 1580, the Golden Hind returned to Plymouth, England, bearing its rich captured treasure and valuable information about the world's great oceans. In 1581, Queen Elizabeth I knighted Drake during a visit to his ship.

My Grandfather, teach me a song today

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You are inclined to do the unexpected today. You don't want to be predictable as you see this as a way people can control you. Rebelliousness isn't too far beneath the surface of your actions.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Part of your social charm can be how you bring some drama into dull situations. You could also inject confusion into orderly situations and this would not be good. It's important that you be sensitive to the situation around you.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): While you welcome the assistance and company of friends, you are just as ready to go off on your own if it suits you. Today, you are very self-willed and perhaps just a bit eccentric in your behavior.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Be alert to propaganda today. It's unlikely you're being told the truth now. People have an agenda to push but it's not in your interests to fall for it. It's easier to avoid it than to investigate deeply.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You have certain goals you want to achieve but you're sensitive to situations that impede your progress. You take a dislike if you feel you're being toyed with. You need to control your urge to retribution.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You're open to sensationalism now. You're distracted by appearances when you should be questioning why these things are being put in front of you. You must be very suspicious about ulterior motives and hidden agendas.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You're sensitive to intellectual challenges today. You must give extra thought from the start about whether a debate or a flame war is something you really want to spend your time and energy on.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You vacillate between genuine interest and frivolity. It's hard to stay on one topic or even in one mood now. It may be useful to arrange discrete blocks of time, one for study, another for play.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): While you enjoy conversations with people, you're prone to be abrupt and, perhaps, rude. Your mind is jumping around and jumping ahead. You must have the self-discipline to stick with the discourse in logical order and linear time.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You're apt to put a lot of faith in people, setting yourself up for disappointment. Unreliability is something you can expect generally today, so you should make extra effort at relying on just yourself.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Your nerves are high-strung today. You should express yourself in writing, even if it's in a private diary. Don't spread the nervousness around, however, unless you also have a solution that people can follow.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Your imagination is overactive and can be very unreliable. This is a good time to spin yarns as a fiction writer but very troublesome for truth-seekers. Conclusions intended to be factual must be tentative.

Grandfather, Grandmother, teach me to live in harmony with the seasons

ARIES (March 21-April 19): People don't automatically have the reactions you expect today. You have an optimistic outlook and can be caught off-guard by different outlooks and opinions. If there's an objection, you don't see it coming.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You have the ability to connect with people today. Show an active interest in things that matter to them. Talk less about yourself and get people to share what's on their minds.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Your strong opinions are turned inward against yourself. Instead, you need to identify what is wrong with the system and argue against it. You can find that there are many who agree that the system is wrong and needs reform.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You are able to take care of the issues confronting you at the moment. It is hard to think ahead; doing so could save you unnecessary trouble. However, in the middle of a situation, you can give it full attention for resolution.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Your personal goals are tied in with providing general social goals. You can't go forward unless you try to advance others' interests as well. Help yourself by helping others, actively and happily.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You need to speak publicly at a time when you need a lot of privacy. The tension needs to be resolved constructively, probably by alternating them on a schedule. Keep to this timetable as being all one or the other is psychologically damaging.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Tread carefully at work today. People in authority may be absent or weakened. You must step in to keep things going but don't go off course on your own judgment. This temporary situation will change soon and you must look good under review.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): There is a mismatch between your desires and those of others. Being aware of this, you must make the effort to bridge the gap. You must try harder to communicate and to work with people to resolve differences of expectations and interpretations.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): People who want your attention will do things to get your help, even when they don't need it. Be alert to such acts of helplessness. It indicates that they don't think you're paying enough attention or giving the right attention.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You are willing to do just about anything for the people you like and love. You are eager to repair frayed friendships, build trust, generate love. At the very minimum, you want understanding and the ability to live and let live.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You tend to be blind to people's faults. It's good to actively encourage people to bring out their best traits but when they're not you need to be alert. For yourself, keep your ideals constantly in mind so you can fulfill them when opportunity arises.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You prefer having times of intimacy and connection with your family today. You alternate between dealing with your spouse and with your children, but possibly not both at the same time. You become aware of the need for picking up on non-verbal communication.

Great Spirit, teach me the songs and ceremonies. Make my eyes open to see

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You have trouble finding information you need. Some can experience problems in local travel: check your vehicle for structural problems. There can be communications delays: have backup systems available.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Pay close attention to finances starting today and the next 30 days. Increase your earnings, or at least control your expenses. Your budget cries out for responsibility now; ignore it at your risk.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You need to be alert to opportunities today, as well as for the next 30 days. You can feel as though you're being oppressed or closed off from your will but the right moment can arise. Dare to take it when it becomes apparent.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Be alert to your impracticality coming to the fore. You are willing to take great responsibilities with little personal reward. You should be paid what you're worth and get solid guarantees instead of vague promises.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You want to move forward on important goals but there is still a drag on you. Unfinished business is holding you back. Look at your relationships, your business, your psychology: ask yourself, what's the hold-up? Resolve the issues over the next 30 days.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Powerful emphasis is placed on your career and status today and the next 30 days. Don't resist what you can't fight, but make the most of opportunities and resources that are available. This is a good time to improve your public image.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Pay attention to your intellectual creativity. A definite project or direction can arise: follow it through to the end. Certain avenues are closed off, while others are wide open; don't fight it.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your approach to people is well-intentioned but unrealistic. You need to be firm and insist that decisions be made, promises kept. Too much indecision can't be allowed; information must be gotten to tip the balance.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You butt heads with difficult people today. The best tactic is be pleasant and reasonable. Argumentation only escalates the level of resistance. Try finding common ground instead of highlighting the differences, until discussion is possible.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You enter into a 30-day period of difficulties. Take criticisms seriously and respond to well-founded ones with an effort at self-improvement. Be aware of your health and make changes in diet and medication as necessary.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): There is intense focus on creativity today, an impulse that will last through the next 30 days. Your reaction to resistance is overreaction, probably with self-conscious deliberation for effect.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You feel close to your family now. The next 30 days gives you time to reconnect with your family, both immediate and extended. Ancestry can come to matter for some. Others want to renovate the domicile or increase land value.

Great Spirit, today, teach me to respect the Earth Mother

ARIES (March 21-April 19): It's important to learn what's important from any source you can. Friends, associates, enemies, all have valuable lessons about success, even if it's a lesson in what not to do.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You have to position yourself to do what you really want. Do something you'd rather not in order to advance. A long-term plan is more effective than immediate gratification.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You're less interested in people and their feelings than in accomplishing your tasks. You take pride not only in accomplishment but in the artistry with which you do it. You don't feel you require approval from others today.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You take a conservative and considered approach today. You're mindful of the past and of precedent. For now, you want to reduce speculation and maximize certainty. You don't want to make yourself noticed.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Endeavor to be helpful and productive. You may not be able to work by yourself; consistent failures mean that you need to have a partner under you to assist, or over you to give direction.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You try to seize a larger amount of prestige today. At work, especially, you seek greater perks and more attention. You may be angling for a promotion or a raise or simply to get along better with co-workers.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You take a serious, if low-key, approach to work today. Getting the job done is all-important and you are good at shutting out distractions. You are very mindful of the lines of authority now.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You're adept at studying and learning but you have trouble putting it to use. For some, there can be external impediments, even people blocking your efforts. Others may have trouble finding the right venue or a lack of ambition.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You're quick with a new idea today but you have little staying power. You may be hoping that someone else will take it and develop it. You will find that that your ideas need your nurture since you're the only one who cares.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You prefer to do things by yourself and accept a partner only when necessary. Some may take self-reliance to an extreme; an inability to move forward quickly means it's time to share the effort.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Capitalize on the skills you already have. Access the demand for your talents. You need both the experience and the networking. You're apt to think the bar is higher than it actually is for you to participate.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You are trying ways to express yourself uniquely. You're aware of family traits and patterns but you want to break the mold and be yourself. You can spend a lot of time alone working out issues and practicing your craft.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You struggle to assert your individuality in a group demanding conformity. You need to assess how much you need to belong versus how much you want to think for yourself. You need support but there are costs.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You seize upon ideas that seem good but then appear contradicted. Hold news at arm's length and don't be so quick to believe. A certain amount of objectivity and further curiosity is required.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You're very concerned about monetary issues and the security of your possessions. Accept the fact that you need to learn more than you ever wanted to know about finances. You must know the system in order to make intelligent decisions within it.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Opinions differing from your own seem vaguely threatening so you react defensively. Instead, consider their merits. Enter into a discussion and clarification, not an argument. An entrenched position isn't warranted.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Take steps to get control of your mind and emotions early in the day. You are beset by an active and apprehensive imagination. Your expectations are making you unhappy, not what's actually happening. Live in the present.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The past pulls you back while the future pulls you forward. You're challenged to deal with the contradictions. In order to live for yourself, however, some things need to be let go emotionally; they can take care of themselves.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You need to keep good relations going with people. You like to keep everyone feeling good and engaged but you tend not to be emotionally connected with people. You communicate information but not your emotions.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Introduction to new or foreign concepts causes emotional turmoil. You have to re-think your philosophic concepts. Be aware this is a struggle around concepts and understanding, not of basic facts.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You are intensely interested in a variety of topics, most of them out of the mainstream. It's hard to make up your own mind because you're exposed to so many opinions. For now, study objectively; an intellectual allegiance is unnecessary.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It's hard to meet people who agree with you. You tend to see disagreements as criticism. Your ego is in the way and you must struggle to question and explore ideas instead of feeling personally offended.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You struggle with unfamiliar situations. You need to resolve conflicting emotions of determination and resentment. Accept the situation and become fully engaged. Make a full and complete study. The answers will become apparent.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A romantic relationship causes confusion today. Your moods swing from one extreme to another. You need a safe venue and a trusted friend to help you sort things out away from the person causing such confusion.

My Creator, I ask You to be a part of my life today. Whisper to me Your wisdom. Let me feel Your presence. If I am doubtful and afraid, show me, in terms I can understand, You are real

My Creator, faith is belief without evidence. Today, give me the faith. Let me trust that You are running my life. Let me know You are in charge of all things. Let my mind not wonder; let me stand strong on Your path today

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Sensitive to how people are behaving, you're apt to overreact. You jump to conclusions, which are usually wrong today. Let the facts come out explicitly. Stop second-guessing what people are about to do.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You have trouble applying your imagination and creativity to a practical or a settled project. You must discipline your focus and determination so that by the end of the day, you will have an accomplishment to point to.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You see a reduction in tension today. Relationships are unusually pleasant. Agreement comes easily. Many barriers to success disappear now so make the most of it while this lasts.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You don't have a clear understanding of what you have to offer compared to what is in demand. Your actions seem out of kilter to others and you may indeed need to de-emphasize individuality in favor of useful service.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You have trouble taking a disciplined approach to learning. You want to hop, skip and jump around as you see fit. You need to introduce at least a small amount of good research practice so you don't lose valuable references.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Your personal preferences need to take second place to your roles at works and at home. You'd rather let people be but you need to enforce discipline and keep people on track. Your style, however, can still be pleasant and inspiring.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Rifts can develop between you and a partner. There are disagreements, perhaps based in politics. It may be that you are growing apart from people as your views develop, opening the way for different associates.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You're prone to react instinctively and without forethought. The consequences can be unsettling, if not distressing. Stop and think things through. Give time over to studying and understanding before acting.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You're extremely sociable and agreeable today. You may have trouble saying no to people, setting you up for being taken advantage of. You tend to appeal to emotions, so you have to watch out for manipulating people.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You're prone to feel your contributions are more than they really are. You may think you're above the rules or the law but this can get you into trouble. Understand the consequences to yourself for your actions.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): This is a day ripe with romantic possibilities. It's a good day for taking an important relationship one step further. You generally prize being on good terms with everyone and you may try to mediate disputes.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Don't be afraid to make your needs, desires and opinions widely known. It's likely there are many others who feel the same way. Start communicating among each other; you may be able to take collective action.

Oh Great Spirit, today I want You in my life. The days that I know You are with me are the days that are perfect. Let me be joyful today

ARIES (March 21-April 19): A relationship can suffer today. Affection cools off; some may feel doubt or jealousy. It's important to keep events in perspective and to continue making the best of the situation. It may not be as bad s you think.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Keep tight control of your daydreams today. You're liable to substitute that for real action instead of using it for examining possibilities. This can be a fruitful day for those who know how to practice creative visualization.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Some relationships feel like a burden today. At the very least, the responsibilities are more apparent than the love. Discipline becomes an issue and you shouldn't be afraid to apply it when necessary.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You are enthusiastic and idealistic. You seek out ways to implement them and make them real. However, beware of those who are on the lookout for just such naive do-gooders as yourself, for their own agenda.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You benefit by remembering past mistakes and not repeating them. Exercise great care in how you express yourself. You should appear more reserved, not less, because too much openness can be embarrassing.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): People need your helpfulness more than they need your personality. You can be at the right place at the right time to make things go well. Trying to control people and situations, however, will fail.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You don't do well in a debate. Even if you're right, someone can still make you look wrong. Control the circumstances of a conversation, have well-prepared notes available. Have the luxury of checking facts and having resources.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your imagination must be balanced with information. When questions arise, find out the facts. It's very easy to spin out impossibilities that could have been rejected had you known what you should.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You feel you have to take control of a situation now. A partnership needs firm direction. Your goals need a plan of action. It's important to get emotionally in touch with what's very important to you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You like to spend today getting to know people and expanding your contacts. You want to understand people's aspirations, either because your own are uppermost in your mind or you are trying to define them.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You endeavor to reach an understanding with people today. Relationships need to be put on a fair basis. You're sensitive to inequities and to differences of opinion. A sound relationship makes you feel secure.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Your idealism can make you feel you can't fail. However, being right isn't a guarantee of success or acceptance. You need to look at the practical issues and at people's real motives. Adjust your approach accordingly.

Jun 24, 1675:
King Philip's War begins

In colonial New England, King Philip's War begins when a band of Wampanoag warriors raid the border settlement of Swansee, Massachusetts, and massacre the English colonists there.

In the early 1670s, 50 years of peace between the Plymouth colony and the local Wampanoag Indians began to deteriorate when the rapidly expanding settlement forced land sales on the tribe. Reacting to increasing Native American hostility, the English met with King Philip, chief of the Wampanoag, and demanded that his forces surrender their arms. The Wampanoag did so, but in 1675 a Christian Native American who had been acting as an informer to the English was murdered, and three Wampanoag were tried and executed for the crime.

King Philip responded by ordering the attack on Swansee on June 24, which set off a series of Wampanoag raids in which several settlements were destroyed and scores of colonists massacred. The colonists retaliated by destroying a number of Indian villages. The destruction of a Narragansett village by the English brought the Narragansett into the conflict on the side of King Philip, and within a few months several other tribes and all the New England colonies were involved. In early 1676, the Narragansett were defeated and their chief killed, while the Wampanoag and their other allies were gradually subdued. King Philip's wife and son were captured, and on August 12, 1676, after his secret headquarters in Mount Hope, Rhode Island, was discovered, Philip was assassinated by a Native American in the service of the English. The English drew and quartered Philip's body and publicly displayed his head on a stake in Plymouth.

King Philip's War, which was extremely costly to the colonists of southern New England, ended the Native American presence in the region and inaugurated a period of unimpeded colonial expansion.

Great Spirit, let my visions today be Your vision. Put within me a vision of the being you would have me be. Then help me to keep the vision in my mind

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Deep and important changes are under way. Some are taking the lead in forcing reform now. Those being affected by events have an excellent chance to use this opportunity to start making a living doing what truly makes them happy and vibrant.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You become aware of the big gaps between the ideal of social justice and the reality of institutional fraud; between the need for reform and your relative lack of contribution. Start with yourself first before taking on the world.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Security of investments and your personal future feel like it's coming apart. You must be actively engaged to keep the inevitable changes under control. Don't let wild chance create a future you do not want.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You're prone to behave wildly now. Pressures may be getting to you. It's important that you connect with people and institutions who can help guide you through your time of troubles. Negative situations require positive solutions, not desperation.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You are conflicted between the urge to rebel versus your responsibilities. All of your choices must be guided by morality and natural law. Avoid taking extreme actions that harm others.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Important financial information comes your way. It may be bad news but the knowledge could be turned to advantage if you're willing to entirely change the way you've been handling your money.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You're attracted to someone who promises the ability to make change. The best change is inner change but. if you want to become activist, learn what the plan is. Evaluate it carefully.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You may be waiting for change but you need to initiate it yourself. That way, you can ensure it's the transformation you desire or compatible with it rather than a wild force with bad consequences for you.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You should give intense thought to your true life's work. You're at a time when doing what makes you happy is better than working unhappily for survival. Seek vocational guidance.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The need for general change is dawning full force in you. You look at social alternatives; you're very keen on implementing them into the way you live your life. Radical solutions are appealing.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Your personal convictions are emphasized today, mostly by contrast with prevailing conditions. You can see that things are not right, and you need to listen to your conscience about what's best for you and society.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You have reasons to think about ways of becoming financially independent. Take responsibility for your income and your savings. Institutions that are not helping your interests should be abandoned in favor of those more agreeable.

My Creator, remove from me today all resentment, anger, fear, guilt and selfishness. Do not let my weaknesses stand in the way of my usefulness to You. Make me a hollow bone so Your power can flow through me

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You make your actions speak for you so make them carefully but forcefully. Don't waste time and energy playing around; get right to the heart of an issue and address it once and for all.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): It's very important that you strive for integrity today. You can either become aware of ways you are hypocritical or your double-standards are glaringly obvious to others. Try to be honest and consistent.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You're apt to try for success beyond your immediate grasp. However, it's important to dream ahead in order to have goals for success. You can't have it right now but you can start planning how to achieve it.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You have an important thing to say today. You need to be as well prepared as possible. Script your speech carefully and worry about the impact of each word. A lot rides on what you say and how you say it.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You're prone to ask too many favors, or favors of the wrong type today. You must demonstrate that you've done everything possible, not just to claim it but for real. Test how self-reliant you can be and don't act helpless.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You're sensitive to both living up to expectations as well as being told what to do. The former is necessary, the latter is offensive but they come mixed in ways that are hard to sort out.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You are effective when you are promoting an idea or agenda you truly believe in. By word or by deed, you move it forward. You can be very convincing when your arguments are both sincere and address the facts.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A lot of self-discipline goes out the window today. It's hard to focus on anything serious. A lot of grandiose plans are simply unrealizable but you have a hard time seeing that. Ideals must be made practical.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Success is being held back by not networking with enough of the right people. Examine your methods with an eye toward what has been too optimistic or too unrealistic, and change accordingly.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It's important to take time explaining the rules and the reasons behind them. Procedures have been developed for a purpose and this must be laid out. Resist the tendency to just give orders. They must make sense for better execution.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): While income can be good, you are prone to excessive spending. You need to clarify financial goals. If you stop and think, you really need them. You don't need all the things you can afford.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You want to be successful but you can be aware of how much you are dependent on others. This can be good for intelligently organizing cooperative ventures. However, you can also become aware of ways you need to be more self-reliant.

Jun 26, 1541:
Conqueror of the Incas assassinated

Francisco Pizarro, the governor of Peru and conqueror of the Inca civilization, is assassinated in Lima by Spanish rivals.

The illegitimate son of a Spanish gentleman, Pizarro served under Spanish conquistador Alonso de Ojeda during his expedition to Colombia in 1510 and was with Vasco Nunez de Balboa when he discovered the Pacific Ocean in 1513. Hearing legends of the great wealth of the Incas in South America, Pizarro formed an alliance with fellow conquistador Diego de Almagro in 1524 and sailed back to the Americas. Their first expedition only penetrated as far as present-day Ecuador, but their second reached farther and discovered evidence of the existence of the Inca kingdom.

Securing aid from Emperor Charles V, and a guarantee that he, not Almagro, would receive the majority of the expedition's future profits, Pizarro sailed to Peru and landed at Tumbes in 1532. He led his army up the Andes Mountains to the Inca city of Cajamarca and met with Atahualpa, the king of the Inca kingdom of Quito. After winning his trust, Pizarro captured Atahualpa, exacted a room full of gold as ransom for his life, and then treacherously had him executed. The conquest of Peru came quickly to Pizarro and his army, and in 1533 Inca resistance came to an end with their defeat at Cuzco.

Pizarro, now the governor of Peru, founded new settlements, including Lima, and granted Almagro the conquest of Chile as appeasement for claiming the riches of the Inca civilization for himself. However, Pizarro failed to provide Almagro with all the land he had promised, and Almagro responded by seizing Cuzco in 1538. Pizarro sent his half brother, Hernando, to reclaim the city, and Almagro was defeated and put to death. Three years later, on June 26, 1541, a group hired by Almagro's former adherents penetrated Pizarro's palace and slew the conquistador while he was eating dinner. Shortly after his death, Diego el Monzo, Almagro's son, proclaimed himself governor of Peru.

Grandfathers from the four directions, come to me today with Your powers. Give me Your gifts so I can serve the people

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You require a partner to be creative. Bounce ideas off each other; make it a game. After a while, a workable plan can emerge. It's important to be positive and to lower inhibitions.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You are challenged to stand firm in order to accomplish what you want. You feel you must do what others tell you and this seems to divert you away from it. You're challenged to keep focused and stay on track.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You feel a renewed sense of fun and personal creativity today. A religious, mystical or superstitious mindset is dominant. You seek to understand ways people and events are related, in ways that go beyond the ordinary.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You are content to dream of success. Those skilled at creative visualization can put this to good use. Those who aren't may lapse into pointless day-dreaming. It's important you take real action.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You want very much to be believed and intellectually accepted but there is something getting in the way. It may be that you're ahead of the curve or it may be that your attitude diminishes your credibility.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You're aware of the moral dimensions of your responsibilities and actions today. You can see that success lies in showing that you are worthy of trust. The more you do, the more will be entrusted to you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You have great self-confidence today but you tend to think that's enough. Don't expect people to do you any favors; you have to push yourself and make opportunities and to take them when they appear.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You're apt to feel that your ambitions are going off-course today. You're challenged to re-evaluate what would really make you feel successful. Don't give in to despair or self-doubt; simply adjust your direction toward happiness.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You work well in groups and in clubs. You need some structure to be effective and to bring out your creativity. You may develop exaggerated expectations, so try o stay real.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You sense that side of your job that is helpful to people. You don't simply go through the motions, you want people to benefit and be happy because of what you do. You want to build togetherness.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You enjoy exploring new possibilities. You're curious and are willing to entertain unlikelihoods as real. You easily feel restricted by custom and habits, especially those imposed on you by others or by society.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You use your professional skills outside the workplace today. What you know from the job comes in handy in ordinary life. You are challenged to be alive and alert to the situations you're in now.

Oh Great Spirit, let me appreciate the role you have given me. Let my sense be sharp to hear Your voice. Keep my mind clean so I can do the things You would have me do

Jun 28, 1519:
Charles elected Holy Roman emperor

Charles I of Spain, who by birth already held sway over much of Europe and Spanish America, is elected the successor of his late grandfather, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I. Charles, who was also the grandson of Ferdinand II and Isabella of Spain, had bribed the princes of Germany to vote for him, defeating such formidable candidates as King Henry VIII of England, King Francis I of France, and Frederick the Wise, the duke of Saxony.

Crowned as Emperor Charles V, the new Holy Roman emperor sought to unite the many kingdoms under his rule in the hope of creating a vast, universal empire. However, his hopes were thwarted by the Protestant Reformation in Germany, a lifelong dynastic struggle with King Francis, and the advance of the Ottoman Turks into Europe. In 1558, after nearly four decades as Holy Roman emperor, Charles abdicated the throne in favor of his brother, Ferdinand. He had already granted much of the other European territory under his rule to his son Philip.

Creator, I thank you for the opportunity of life

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Having a partner helps your confidence. You tend to feel you can't to things on your own and that you need someone as a crutch. That's fine as long as you learn how to be competent on your own.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You could be convinced to give up your own desires to please someone else. Don't let guilt rules your actions. Endeavor to negotiate so that you get satisfied and that everyone is happy.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You are generous and gregarious today. You may, however, simply think about people's material needs and miss seeing their intellectual and spiritual needs. Don't be too free with your money.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You feel a strong need to be accepted and you can be assertive enough to push your way into relationships. You can work against your interests in this regard, antagonizing some but intimidating others. Use your charming side.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You become aware of problems with your investments and should work quickly to make corrections. You can be on the edge of panic but this can be avoided if you give full attention to the situation.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You're able to throw yourself into work with gusto. You enjoy challenges now and you can be successful at it as long as you don't try to do everything yourself. Enjoy working with others toward a shared goal.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Today you must apply lessons you've learned in being polite and social. Remember what you know about people and adjust accordingly. It's important to improve relationships in professional settings.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You have the opportunity now to develop your talents in an orderly fashion. You are prone to misunderstand instructions, so pay close attention to the logical implications, not what your imagination makes of it.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You feel detached from situations and tend to regard real-life problems as abstract theories. It's important to offer solutions closely tied to what people can do, as useless suggestions are only annoying.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You need to address the needs of the people around you, but you can too easily get caught up in your own feelings. Are you doing something for yourself, regardless of who gets hurt? Then you need to think selflessly.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): While you have a calm and reasonable exterior, you can feel barely under control on the inside. Quirky mannerisms can slip out. It's a good idea to express your individuality but under your will and decision.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Family and domestic issues are your primary concern today. Emotions run high and you are challenged to strike the right balance between exercising your authority, showing love and allowing free expression.

Jun 29, 1613:
The Globe Theater burns down

The Globe Theater, where most of Shakespeare's plays debuted, burned down on this day in 1613.

The Globe was built by Shakespeare's acting company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, in 1599 from the timbers of London's very first permanent theater, Burbage's Theater, built in 1576. Before James Burbage built his theater, plays and dramatic performances were ad hoc affairs, performed on street corners and in the yards of inns. However, the Common Council of London, in 1574, started licensing theatrical pieces performed in inn yards within the city limits. To escape the restriction, actor James Burbage built his own theater on land he leased outside the city limits. When Burbage's lease ran out, the Lord Chamberlain's men moved the timbers to a new location and created the Globe. Like other theaters of its time, the Globe was a round wooden structure with a stage at one end, and covered balconies for the gentry. The galleries could seat about 1,000 people, with room for another 2,000 "groundlings," who could stand on the ground around the stage.

The Lord Chamberlain's men built Blackfriars theater in 1608, a smaller theater that seated about 700 people, to use in winter when the open-air Globe wasn't practical.

My Creator, help me to view and conduct myself in a manner of respect, dignity and honor to all creation. Let me see You in all things

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Your creativity is being activated now. Resist intellectual and creative inertia; let yourself think and do something different. This is a day when radical choices need to be made, though some can go to extremes.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You make a radical reassessment today because new information comes to you. It's essential that you rethink what you believe because it is likely that your beliefs are based on false or incomplete information.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You're apt to be condescending toward people today. You have a strong sense of being right, whether you really are or not. You're apt to be caught off-guard because of your smugness.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You perceive that this is a time for radical action. Compromise will get you nowhere, you sense, so you're prone to take an extreme position of action or of opting out. You completely rethink the rules of engagement.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Your confidence is very strong and probably unwarranted. You could collapse from complete confidence to utter confusion when faced with a real obstacle. If you are humble, people would be more willing to help you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You have friends and family who are in distress. You should see that it's not going to stop until you get involved or press for change. Others can see opting out as the best solution, creating your own answers.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Your vision needs to transcend concerns over your personal friends and foes. You can see you're in a class that is disadvantaged, even being cheated. Band together in order to force reform.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Shocking news should force you to dig for more and deeper answers. You have intellectual outrage now. Stop being complacent or willfully ignorant. Many can wake up to the outrages being committed against them.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You can be led astray when you start worrying about what other people think. Become informed; make up your own mind. You need to carefully consider the facts but beware of making decisions that allow you to lapse into disinterest.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You reach a breaking point in your patience today. You're liable to take a more extreme position or give up entirely. The system that's not working for you, but should, is the one with which you take extreme exception.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You're very concerned about what people think of you. The need for approval can make you do things you shouldn't. It's important that you cultivate a sense of self-worth and dignity.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You're amazed, maybe even unsettled, by what people are doing around you. You want things to be normal, but you feel that people are being anything but. Examine their reasons, and assess whether you're unknowingly involved anyway.

My Creator, take my hand and guide me through today

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Problems tend to make you self-pitying today. It's very important to step back and perceive any ironies involved. You need to exercise patience self-examination and have a better appreciation of ethics.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You react to provocations today even though they don't concern you directly. Someone or something you're invested in seems to need a defense. Just be sure it's really worth your time to get involved.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You enjoy being in a large group of people. You like nurturing talent and helping people be at their best. You look at the details that create an overall impression, with an eye toward improvement.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Your connections with people are important. It can seem as though other people drive your actions because you can't help getting involved in their lives. At the very least, take care of your own health.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You're apt to fear success because of unexpected responsibilities. This shouldn't stop you from doing better, however. You can adapt to any new range of duties and situations.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Your concern for others' welfare easily slips into trying to control them. You're very easily irritated and people have trouble understanding your moods now. Strive to be patient and even-tempered.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Worries develop now. You feel insecure, which should motivate you to improve rather than hide. Instead of worrying about what people think about you, pay attention to becoming the person you want to be.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You can feel overwhelmed. You try to match sufficient resources to the demand. Feeling that you are falling behind, anxiety can set in. An action plan is necessary to counter a sense of helplessness.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You have more faith in someone else's opinion than your own. You need to have ways to determine who is more right. It shouldn't be a matter of faith, trust or acquiescence to authority.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You are rash, getting into situations without knowing how to deal with them. Stay in familiar territory where you have certainty and control. Once you step outside that you have great risks.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You are highly conscious of the potential to win or lose. Some are complacent; others are fearful. Strike a moderate mood by being confident but prepared. Helpful friends can suggest scenarios you can't imagine.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You are irritable and on edge today. Be extremely careful with people as arguments can quickly erupt. Bend over backward to say nothing if you can't say anything kind. Exercise extreme restraint.

Great Spirit, let me honor and respect the forest and all the life it contains

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You have a crisis moment reconciling the demands of work and the needs of your family. An urgent rethinking of your overall strategies is necessary. You can't be superficial and use Band-Aid solutions.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Fundamentally difficult problems require radical answers. You must probe deeply, past immediate issues into root causes, even philosophic assumptions. You can begin to orient to a newer, more real way of thinking.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): A lot of your attention is on how successful is on how successful people are relative to yourself. You can open up issues of jealousy and one-upmanship this way. How successful are you relative to your true happiness? That's what you should be concerned with.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You have intense feelings today and this affects your relationships for good or ill. You include some and exclude others, often for reasons that make no sense. Be even-handed in your treatment.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): For some, health issues, especially allergies, are a concern. Certain social issues cause more general alarm. Activism must be combined with a spiritually centered mind-set.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): An external event can cause a strong reaction from you.

You're involved in a general sense of upset now and this is a chance to offer your ideas and your resources toward a cause you favor or an issue that concerns you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You have overwhelming needs at both work and home. Those with a strong constitution can handle the stress but many are in danger of being overwhelmed by the demands of one or both. Appeal to others' sense of personal responsibility.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You think of many questions but must develop enough confidence to ask them aloud. Keep at it until you have all the information you need, mindful of whether it makes sense and fits all the facts.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Your attention is dominated by finances today. A major change or the perception that one is coming can fray your nerves. This is a wake-up call to get active and make the changes you want.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You have a sense that an important phase of your life is ending but you should also be aware that another is beginning. If not, you should be taking charge of the changes so that life becomes better.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Your focus tends to narrow to material needs. You must make extra effort to open up to the spiritual or religious dimensions of life. Bad feelings are a sign that you are too closed off.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You are stressed over having enough money or about your standing in an organization. If you pay attention to troublesome issues with substantial action, you can come out ahead.

Creator, I ask you today to help me be humble. Let me spend the day listening. Help me to not brag or gossip. Help me today not to do those things that seek attention or approval from others. I am only accountable to You, Oh Great Spirit. You will tell me the things I need to know. Let me learn the lessons from my Elders. Let me teach the children by example. Today, let me walk the talk

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You like to create surprises for people. You're in a better mood than yesterday and can enjoy playing pranks. You may require a definite project with a deadline to put creativity to good use.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You can break free of a rigid habit or idea but you need an impetus. Someone can tell you what you already knew but were unable to acknowledge. Once the liberating idea is brought out in the open, you go with it all the way.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): An unexpected partnership develops now. You are emotionally open and inclusive but anxious about certain development. Advice comes from someone whom you least expect to help.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You're in a competitive situation in which you sense you're the underdog. Keep a low profile. Do what you must and try not to bring attention to yourself. You don't have many advantages, except for time.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You want free-wheeling conversations. You want and need fresh ideas. A person with a radically different background presents you with challenges and opportunities. Explore alternative perspectives.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Humor is a great healer today. It's preferred because the alternative is to cry. Problems go over better if you can see the ironies involved. Such a light and distant perspective is emotionally healthy.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You're prone to repeat bad behavior, passing along ways you have been mistreated. You need to break the cycle and train yourself to be fair and just but not judgmental. Be firm, but not harsh, with people.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You work well in partnership today. At work, you're the one who comes up with ideas. Some can prove far-fetched but that's what your partner is for: to take what works and screen out the rest.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Many relationships are transformed for the better today. Take the initiative by improving your behavior; let go of past habits and expectations. See how people respond to your openness, trust and good-heartedness.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Success is slow; people can mistrust you. You have to demonstrate reliability, which you think should be given automatically. Don't give in to resentment; be patient instead.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You are a compelling speaker and your charisma generally is very strong. Be mindful of this and so be aware that you are very influential. Be an influence for good; lack of awareness causes confusion and dissent.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You feel successful at work. Your suggestions for making improvements are taken seriously. People like you. Take advantage of the day to advance your ambitions and set the stage for a promotion.

My Creator, today let me know Truth. Let me live Truth. Let me risk the Truth. Let me make the Truth sweet. Help me to make my word good. Let Your spirit and intent be added to by words. Let My thoughts be Truth

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You have a lot resting on success at your job. There is a lot of tension and anticipation. You feel that the way to go is to do something different from everyone else is doing.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Your personal priorities can conflict with professional demands. This isn't necessarily a bad thing but you have to be aware of your priorities. It may be that family member in distress needs you.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Many bureaucratic barriers come down for you today. Your contacts can increase, especially if you work at it, and some of these can prove helpful. You are very aware of the need for social networking.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You want to have a fun and enjoyable time. Beware of people trying to move in on you and spoil the fun. Keep the choice about whom you let into your life; anyone trying to worm their way in warrants suspicion.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Having new friends and relationships is important to you. However, you feel conflicted about letting them in too close too quickly. You need time to assess people so keep them at arms' length so you can assess them properly.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You're attracted to spiritual ideals and may want to expand your circle of friends to include like-minded people. However, beware of people who are not grounded; you should learn ideals, and also learn to apply them to real life.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Professional success is important today but it has to be done in partnership with others. Let go of any ideas of competition. Focus on your personal goal and the bigger picture of a corporate goal.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You feel the pressures of competition at work. Your best option is to change the rules of the game instead of going head-to-head. If you're a target, make sure you're not where they think you are.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You are attracted to alternative ideas. You feel something is lacking in the standard narratives you're being given, so you seek out what others are saying. At least two of these different ideas will get your attention.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You enjoy stories today. Your connection to the real world is a bit tenuous now. A movie or a book draws you into its world. For some, it's another person who has the air of intrigue and mystery.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Relationships are full of suggestion and counter-suggestions. Compromise has to be worked on or else a scenario that fits a lot of pieces together. Don't be put off by the difficulties of making agreements.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You are strong on faith but are probably short on preparations. You need to supply the thinking and the initiative, since Providence can carry you only so far.