Horoscope

ARIES: Don't let the critics get you down, Rams - but in case your confidence does hit a glitch, here's a useful Buddhist prayer: May my sense of being obstructed diminish. May my wakefulness expand. May I understand my fundamental wisdom. May my compassion for myself increase.

TAURUS: As the Beatles so famously sang: In the end the love you take is equal to the love you make. so give yourselves a love gift Taurans - something like lavishing yourself with outrageous praise till you really understand just how much you deserve it.

GEMINI: This week's about the C-word Twins - a commitment to be there for yourselves. Maybe start by promising to take yourselves on a date - only you, nobody else - for something special you love but never do. The commitment is keeping your promise and not standing yourselves up.

CANCER: To paraphrase Nelson Mandela's inaugural speech, you were born to manifest the glory of creation, so who are you not to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Playing small doesn't serve the world. Letting your light shine encourages others to do the same.

LEO: Lions don't like criticism, but how about this: others love you so much they're giving you tips on how to be even more fabulous. So what if there's an occasional slip in your magnificence? Criticism's simply another opportunity to love yourself more.

VIRGO: All the criticisms and judgements you make are self-criticisms and self-judgements. If you heard people in a restaurant speak to each other the way you talk to yourself, Virgo, you'd lose your appetite. Its time to treat yourself with the same kindness and care you give others.

LIBRA: The Japanese word wabi means a beautiful work of art with a distinctive flaw that expresses the humanity of its creator. Wabi includes imperfection as natural and irresistably attractive - so if you're cultivating wabi, forget about self disapproval. A loving heart's the best cosmetic anyway.

SCORPIO: This is a perfect (Virgo buzz word) time to remember who's always been your greatest lover, your wisest teacher, your best friend - the answer to everything you ever wanted. Who? You, Scorps - so reward yourselves with the full on dream lover treatment this week.

SAGITTARIUS: Regrets, you've had a few, but then again too few to mention - so why bother. No need to commit sins of lovelessness by wishing you'd been quieter, a better listener, whatever. Immerse yourselves instead in a nurturing liquid whirlwind of cell-drenching self approval.

CAPRICORN: Despite the hard time you give yourselves, existence has always been madly in love with you Capricorns. So why not start loving yourselves back with equal intensity? Make an alphabetical list of all your lovable qualities from adorably brilliantly cool to xerophytic, youthful and zymotic.

AQUARIUS: So you have the odd fault? So what - you're only human. A few little mini-flaws? They're adorable. Its way past time for you to acknowledge to yourself Waterpourers just what an utterly yummy and unique human artwork you really are. Go on!

PISCES: Maybe the cosmic pineapple hasn't given you all that much to smile about lately, so tune into the sweet, juicy, fruity part of life again with a little self kindness - some time every day send a tender inner smile to each part of your body.