Relationships take work. When there's a strong attraction, the work is done at a chemical level and it doesn't feel effortful. When there are mutual interests to be served, it's the work of aligning them until momentum kicks in — easy once more. But when it's just work, you feel it. The grind is still worthwhile because relationships usually are.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Make your move. When you know it's the right thing to do, there's power in acting while your conviction is fresh. Some of the best things in life begin with one sentence that almost stayed inside your head.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). What's standing between you and change? Something you don't want to lose. Because while change brings new things into your life, it also makes room for it by dropping something else. You still haven't definitively decided if it's worth it.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Complaining is like sitting in a rocking chair — the motion can comfort even while going nowhere. Stay a while in the back and forth. Not every problem needs fixing, and not every fix is yours to make.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your efforts have been building something larger than today's results suggest. Choice by choice, you've become part of a story that extends well beyond your own chapter.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your favorite people are the ones who accept you so fully, you're able to dream a little with them, take risks and be silly. The humor could hit or miss, but the misses don't cost much and the hits are some of the most fun you have.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your fans at a distance see the broad strokes of your life, while the ones who adore you up close have that nuanced understanding of you that is closer to how you experience yourself, which is why their feedback means so much.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You have a big heart and an impressive tolerance for the kind of communicators who can't seem to throw the ball back. They need all the attention they can get and will keep going until you conclude things, so prepare for that.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Some of your preferences feel like they may have been borrowed, at least originally. Even if so, they're yours now, and you'll mix and experiment with them as you develop taste all your own.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Creativity isn't just for artists. It's one of the most practical tools you own. Some people think creativity belongs at the end of the process. Today, it belongs at the beginning.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Finally, it's the perfect opportunity to bring something dusty and dated right up to the current moment, and it won't cost you a thing. It's as simple as changing a word or noticing an idea no longer applies. In a blink, you're au courant.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The answers are out there. Never before in history have they been so readily available. And yet, knowledge can only rise to the level of the question being asked. You'll ask great ones today that get right to the root of the matter.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Ideally, you would have many people in your life with whom you feel comfortable sharing an unpolished version of a story. The person who listens while you figure out what you're trying to say is a true friend.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Sept. 6). In your Calliope year, life seems to rhyme with poetic magic, justice and epicness. People feel a profound resonance in the work you're doing. They respond to the power of your personal stories. Relationships sing with inspiration, and you'll make many lasting memories. Love has a tender specificity. A long-delayed payment arrives, closing an old chapter. More highlights: community events, parties and performances. Virgo and Cancer adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 3, 4, 19 and 22.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Idris Elba has never been content with a single career. Whether acting, producing, making music as DJ Big Driis or championing ambitious development projects in Sierra Leone, Elba approaches every endeavor with the serious sense of purpose Virgo is so famous for. Elba continues to expand his remarkable range with the upcoming fantasy epic "Children of Blood and Bone," arriving in theaters in early 2027. His Virgo sun reflects the sign's discipline, versatility and drive to build something lasting.

For more Holiday magic, visit HolidayMathis.com. To find out more about Holiday Mathis and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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