Horoscopes

ARIES: This week's stars suggest looking at life less as a competition and more as a sharing sort of venture. You know how you're so gung-ho about getting on top of fears and attacking your weaknesses - have you ever thought about getting to know them instead? It's said the bravest hero/ine is the one who turns their enemy into a friend.

TAURUS: You earthy individuals don't usually get too fussed over stuff you can't touch, eat or put in the bank. Okay so far as it goes - which right now isn't far enough. This week you'll need to venture deeper - into more intimate contact with yourself and others, so unhealthy relationships can disintegrate and more important ones grow.

GEMINI: You'll enjoy this week's royal performances and dramatic antics because they provide such entertaining anecdotes and great goss. Your enviable ease and almost yogic flexibility with changing arrangements is likely to get on more fixed sign's nerves, but so what? Let them watch and learn - or stick in the mud while you move on.

CANCER: This week's confident, show-off types could throw you complicated crustaceans into a mini identity crisis, questioning whether you're that fabulous and special and unique. Of course you are. Just like everyone else. Though don't be challenging any Leos for centre stage or audience applause unless you fancy being Crab flambee.

LEO: You so want to be top banana right now you're a bit driven, Majesties. But getting overly optimistic leaves you ill-equipped to deal with, or even recognise, losing prospects. Do be a bit cautious, Puss. And don't be taken in by flattery. There's a difference between artful blarney and honest feedback that's worth being aware of.

VIRGO: No matter how constructive, this week's people will react badly to any feedback less than glowing. Leo energy's operating, and no Leo has ever made a mistake in the whole history of time. None they've noticed anyway. Critical judgments upset them dreadfully - and while they mightn't show it, they'll certainly let you know it.

LIBRA: Libra's the sign of fairness. And this week's big-fish-eats-little-fish world needs some of your more equitable alternatives to its overriding I-win, you-lose mindset. Your personal agenda is, as always, balancing: de-escalating consumption of unlovely substances, gossip-dieting to shrink outrageous phone bills, etc etc...

SCORPIO: This week's fiery vibes meeting your Scorpion water activate yessssssss, steamy scenes - plus a sizzling surge of creative inspiration. Determination too - though you'll meet resistance if others suspect you'd stop at nothing to get your way. Not surprising, when a desire to win at all costs is so obviously hostile to most human interaction.

SAGITTARIUS: Someone say something that got up your nose? How tactless and insensitive! How offensive and upsetting! How often might you have done the same...? Polish people skills like tact, patience and understanding this week. Especially the understanding that since you need other people, their best interests are also your own.

CAPRICORN: From boardroom to bedroom, Capricorns like being on top. You're natural-born uberdogs - which of course means someone else has to be underdog. While you're out power steering this week, consider the concept of Pyrrhic victories - where you lose so much by winning, you end up wondering just what it is that you've won.

AQUARIUS: You could probably care less if your unconventional attitude disturbs others - but what if it stops you getting your way? This week's rat race is pretty racy, but that doesn't mean you can get away with behaving like a rat. Charm and smarm, even with gritted teeth, will get you much better results than smartypants shenanigans.

PISCES: This week's awash with people swanning round spouting winners-are-grinners, nobody-loves-a-loser propaganda. As a Pisces you know losing gracefully is one of life's more advanced survival skills, though pointing this out probably isn't wise. Opposition only infuriates them, so just mime vague agreement till they go away.