Countdown to Totality

Millions will travel to tomorrow's total solar eclipse in Aries, making "The Totality" the biggest travel event of the year. The lunar conjunction to Venus is a love note to the event, and those who are already headed to romantic commitment could be moved to lock it down on bended knee. In general, today is for making preparations of heart and mind for the fresh journey ahead.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Not everyone can see the humor in a situation, and far fewer can re-tell it for a laugh. This is why comedians are revered. You'll bring your own charming point of view to bear on today's scene and be similarly admired for it.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). In a display of cleverness and social grace, you'll take many requests into consideration and come up with a solution that suits most. With a little salesmanship, you could even end up pleasing all.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). If everyone is not on the same page, you may have to speak up to get your due, which can feel uncomfortable, but don't let that deter you. In asserting yourself, you'll learn more about the nature of the others.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Excellence involves building on strengths and talents. But to be truly exceptional at a task, one needs plenty of practice messing it up. The emotion of humiliation and its subsequent acts of repair provide a superior education.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Challenges always grow you. Whether you're good at a task or not is beside the point. You know more about the world when you try more things. You'll go to bed smarter than you were when you got up this morning.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your success secret of the day is a two-parter. One, you set expectations low. Two, you count your progress by the things you can actually control. You'll follow these two steps to your happiness.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Silence is not empty -- quite the opposite. Silence is filled with noiseless wonders, like wisdom, imagination or the spacious expanses for emotion to stretch, play or pour. Quietude will heal.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You're excellent company -- fun, diligent, attentive to need. When you extend these qualities to yourself, you'll find that your own company is the one to beat. You can spend hours alone and never be the least bit lonely.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Effective communication is always situation dependent. The tone and style that works for one scenario might not serve the next. This is why if you're unfailingly polite and easygoing, some people may take you for granted. Change it up.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You will be charmed and disarmed. Being caught off guard can be a pleasant experience. It shakes you out of your normal reactions and challenges you to create a new response for the moment.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). No need to buy a single tool, class, supply or ticket. You have everything you need; it's just a matter of locating it. It's either inside you or in your circle. All you have to do is summon it or ask for it.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Change is hard enough. If you're doing it for someone else, it's much harder. Since you're the one who will do the work it takes to improve, it only makes sense that you should also be the one to decide what needs improvement.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (April 7). Welcome to your year of brilliant solutions. You welcome a certain kind of problem because it brings out the best in you, connects you to interesting people and presents opportunities to help others for philanthropy, fun or profit. More highlights: Relationships of balance and reciprocity, an investment that doubles and being uplifted by family. Leo and Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 2, 28, 1, 14 and 38.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: In the adrenaline-fueled new release "Land of Bad," Russell Crowe portrays a military commander, true to the warrior energy of his sign. Whether he's playing a gladiator or investigator, a mathematician or a master and commander, Crowe's work embodies the fiery spirit of his Aries sun. With natal Mars and Jupiter in hot-headed Aries, too, the energy is intensified in his natal chart, though tempered and grounded by Mercury in Taurus.

Holiday Mathis' debut novel, "How To Fail Epically in Hollywood," is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.