Horoscope

ARIES: Just as you're managing a fragile equilibrium juggling money, love, work, community commitment, family obligations, social life, body, soul and the week's grocery shopping, Mars chucks in unexpected trouble dust. A major test of self-control and maturity - so stay cool, April fools. TAURUS: This week's Aquarian winds of change are likely to turn the Tauran comfort rut all topsy turvy. Rather like a combined psychic blow wave, colonic and Ground Force makeover, the Uranian experience is exhilarating if you go with it - excruciating if you don't.

TAURUS: In a Monkey Year everyone wants novelty; so people mightn't be interested in tried and true, safe and sure, Tauran-approved ways of doing things. Best strategies: Try anything - at least once. Don't waste time or energy on out-dated enterprises.

GEMINI: A people-and-groups week, in which you'll be effervescent, eloquent and exceptionally entertaining - nothing new there. Just don't get so absorbed in people pleasing you're unaware of how others respond to your words of encouragement/appreciation - or gossip/denigration.

CANCER: With this week's Aquarian scenario mental as anything, what you perceive as actionable cruelty is probably simply preoccupation. So don't book into Self Pity Palace, and if you're looking for empathy try the dictionary. This is a phase that will pass - just like your moods.

LEO: If you throw a royal hissy fit this week people will probably laugh, and how much madder will that make you? You can be patient, matter of fact and without unrealistic expectations where things are concerned, Majesties - how about extending this attitude to the human kingdom?

VIRGO: Why get riled if this week's citizens are aggravatingly unreliable or irritatingly unpunctual? The empire of sensible simply isn't operating while minds, agreements and beliefs change like traffic lights. So relax and let chaos come out to play - Mercury in Capricorn is protecting your interests.

LIBRA: This week's contradictory and contrary, radical and stubborn, generous and petty, amusing and infuriating energies call for one of your more outstanding Libran balancing acts. Stretching to include more rather than shrinking to deal with less will give classiest results.

SCORPIO: This week's mysterious twists, turns and reversals, unexpected starts and stops, bizarre strokes and pokes will give even you cool customers a surprise or several. And also - if you care to go there - some interesting insights into the reasons for Scorpionic control freakery.

SAGITTARIUS: The zodiac's merry pranksters, Archers love toppling pompous poppies. Aren't people taking themselves seriously hysterical? you laugh uproariously - till someone makes fun of something you hold dear, then don't we hear squeals? And this very Aquarian week takes no prisoners.

CAPRICORN: Times are tough for you structure lovers, because right now radical change is incessant and relentless. But if you've integrated recent learning curves regarding letting go certain ye olde retro behaviours, this week's visionary vibes could activate a paradigm shift in Capricorn thought processes.

AQUARIUS: Aquarians W. C. Fields, Germaine Greer and Oprah Winfrey all achieved success through essentially Aquarian characteristics: humour, a passion for radical change and social concern. While you're at your most brilliant and resourceful this week, what outstanding quality will you contribute to the world?

PISCES: As you offer the sweet sensitivity of Piscean Venus to this somewhat disinterested week, don't be downhearted (sigh...) if it doesn't seem appreciated - or even noticed. Venus can't infiltrate Aquarian headspace easily, so this week you'll have to make all the moves...