ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- By staying in the middle at all times, you'll fare much better in your dealings with friends. If you're smart, you won't let it be known which side you really think is right.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Spare yourself from calling in an expensive repairman by exercising preventive maintenance. If you play it safe, you won't be sorry.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Be sure to include an extremely introverted, shy friend in your plans. If the invitation doesn't come from you, it isn't likely to be issued at all, because no one else will think of it.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- The entire clan is likely to profit when the shopping duties are put in your hands. Your caring nature makes you very attentive to everyone's needs and wants.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- You should take advantage of the opportunity to clear the air with a friend when the opportunity presents itself. Don't hesitate to talk it out in detail until both parties are satisfied.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- It behooves you to follow your instincts when it comes to your business dealings. If nothing more, use these perceptions as support for your logical assessments.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Make it a point to take some of the slack out of a fading friendship that you haven't had much time for lately. There are few things more valuable than good chums.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- The race is likely to be won by the smartest, not necessarily the swiftest, when it comes to a career matter. Be sure to use that thinking cap of yours, so you don't trip over your own feet.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- If you're alert, you have a good chance of learning something extremely important from a good friend. However, what's said should be restricted to the parties involved.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Your determination in pursuing your objectives is impressive, but equally important is that others recognize your intentions and make it a point to get out of your way.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- If you believe it is necessary to make a difficult decision that everyone else is putting off, have the courage to stick to your guns and do so.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- This is likely to be the day when you promised yourself you'd embark on carefully laid out plans. If you know each step you must take, there isn't any reason why you shouldn't succeed.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- If you encounter someone who is as strong-willed and inflexible about his or her opinions as you are, any trivial disagreement can quickly be blown out of proportion. Be careful.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Make sure that someone whose cooperation is essential to you is handled with the utmost diplomacy so that he or she doesn't become an adversary instead of an ally.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Don't take something that you need repaired back to an establishment that gave you problems in the past. You'd be wise to look for a place that is more reliable.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- You should try not to be overly possessive of a person with whom you are emotionally involved. Unfortunately, the tighter you try to hold on to him or her, the faster she or he is apt to run.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- An outsider should not be allowed to try to help resolve a disagreement between you and your special someone. If you think things are heated now, outside intervention would only pour more gasoline on the fire.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Don't allow any outside influences to cause you to be unduly rushed regarding tasks that are detailed and intricate. Haste will most assuredly perpetrate serious errors or complications.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- If you try to juggle accounts around in order to rob Peter to pay Paul, all you'll do is create even more havoc in your financial affairs. Live within your means.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Your loved ones will follow the example you set when you deal with them. If you are cranky, short-tempered or impatient, it isn't likely that your family life will be pleasant.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- If you have to deal with a difficult person, it might be hard to keep your anger in check. It would be best to smolder in silence rather than respond in kind.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Financial arrangements with friends could cause problems. Should a disagreement arise over something material, suffer the loss rather than jeopardize the relationship.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Sometimes there is a fine line between being assertive and being just plain aggressive. If you're not considerate, you might have trouble distinguishing between the two.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- It's never a good idea to butt into a testy situation that doesn't directly concern you. You won't derive any benefits from getting in the middle of someone else's mess.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Do not be too disappointed if someone whom you're very fond of does not live up to your expectations. Leave him or her some room to be human -- no one is perfect all the time.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Stop and think before you open your mouth, or you could experience one of those embarrassing moments when you say the wrong thing, at the wrong time, to the wrong person.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Thinking you have to be a big spender in order to impress someone is barking up the wrong tree. If you have to drop a lot of dough to get someone's attention, then he or she isn't anybody you want to know.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- When it comes to one-on-one relationships, treat everyone as an equal and forgo all forms of brinksmanship. If you try to put on any airs or affectations, someone will trump you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Unless you keep pace with your obligations and duties, you are likely to sweep certain obligatons under the rug. If you do, you'll pay a hefty price later on.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Insincerity will be instantly detected and result in you being labeled a shallow person. If you can't honestly find something worth praising in another, there's something wrong with you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Thinking big doesn't mean a thing unless you put your words into action. The only way you can achieve noteworthy successes is to earn them through effort and application.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Instead of viewing matters realistically, you're likely to color facts to suit your expectations. Self-deception will result in huge disappointments.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Even though it might be hard to convince you otherwise, the world doesn't owe you any free rides. You shouldn't expect anything more than what you deserve.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Be mindful of your behavior, or else it will be far too easy for you to be overly attentive to someone who doesn't deserve it while totally ignoring someone who does.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- A commitment you make might be of little importance to you but quite significant to the person to whom you're making it. Be sure to honor your word.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Pretending to be something other than what you are will be detected by your friends and will make a poor impression on them. The world will love you more if you are your own sweet self.