If your birthday is today:

A number of things you take for granted will be turned upside down, and maybe inside out too, over the coming 12 months. It may take you a while to adapt to your new situation but adapt you will and by this time next year you will be thriving.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21):

Follow your instincts today, no matter how illogical they may seem. This is not a time to play safe, it is a time to reach out and take chances.

Deep down inside you know that you will be okay. As always, the thing to fear is fear itself.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21):

Your communication skills have always been good but today, and for the next few days, they will be superb. You will be able to persuade almost anyone to do almost anything for you. Should you take advantage of that fact? You would be a fool not to.

CANCER (June 22 - July 23):

Something you have struggled with in recent weeks will come easier to you today and, looking back, you will be glad that you did not give up on it when the going was tough. A positive attitude will always overcome a temporary decline in your fortunes.

LEO (July 24 - Aug. 23):

If you need inspiration today you are more likely to get it from what is going on in the world outside your door than from visions that might, or might not, suddenly just appear in your head. Open up to new ideas - they will spark a few of your own.

VIRGO (Aug. 24 - Sept. 23):

Someone in a position of authority is going out of their way to be nice to you and if you respond in kind today there is no telling how far up the greasy pole of success you might find yourself. Not that you are overly ambitious, of course.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 - Oct. 23):

You need to keep in mind today that there is always a reason for what occurs in your life. It might not be an obvious reason but it is there if you care to dig deep enough to find it. Nothing really happens by chance. The universe is a meaningful place.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22):

Why are you worrying about a mistake you made at some point in the dim and distant past? It's over and done with and no longer matters. Chances are it didn't matter much at the time either. Let it go. Fill your mind only with happy thoughts.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 - Dec. 21):

You may not see eye-to-eye with someone you live or work with today but you must not overreact and do something stupid such as cutting them out of your life altogether. It may seem like a serious falling out now but it's really just a passing spat.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20):

You have always been rather traditional in your outlook and there is nothing wrong with that, but according to the planets you are hanging on to a viewpoint or opinion that clearly has zero validity. It's time to bring (some of) your ideas up to date.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19):

The sun remains in the sympathetic sign of Gemini for another couple of weeks, so there is still plenty of time to get a creative or artistic endeavour off the ground. Having said that, don't leave it until the very last minute. Start slowly, but start now.

PISCES (Feb. 20 - Mar. 20):

At some stage today you will have to get tough and let someone know that the free ride is over. You don't mind being taken advantage of - you expect it to a degree - but this time they have gone too far. Don't ever let them go so far again.

The article was oroginally published in .theglobeandmail.com