Flattery will get you nowhere! If you're going to win someone's trust, you have to back up your words with actions. Relieve your friend of a boring chore. Make a sacrifice on their behalf. Stand up for the underdog, even if it means stress for you. Grand gestures count for a lot today. A spiritual epiphany will come while dealing with a domestic matter. You're starting to realise solitude has a healing effect. Take a few moments away from the madding crowd.

Don't get too caught up in routine, or you'll miss something special. Take the scenic route to work. Read a chapter of a good book on your lunch hour. Treat yourself to a gourmet meal this evening. Putting a bouquet of flowers on your desk or dinner table can give you a tremendous lift. You've always been responsive to beauty. A friend will have an unexpected announcement. It's time to go out and celebrate! Don't worry about getting to bed late; just have fun!

You're playing fast and loose with money, which will lead to disaster. Scale back your spending, even if it means staying out of the stores and keeping away from the Internet. Concentrate on furthering your career instead. If you keep your eyes open, you'll get an opportunity to make money through film, fashion, or photography. Any industry with glamorous overtones has promise. By applying your technical skills to a creative field, you'll find great success.

There is a difference between nurturing and smothering. Take care you don't suffocate a loved one with your constant questions and safety precautions. By giving your friend an added measure of freedom, your relationship will become much stronger. You'll soon be given a chance to travel on business or study abroad. Find someone to look after your home and pets while you're away. This will require a leap of faith, but sometimes you need to sacrifice safety for something bigger.

You've been spoiled so far as distractions are concerned. Bombarding your senses with a bunch of loud noises and colourful images is wearing on your spirits. Instead of insisting on something new, savour a single activity. Read a book, take a walk through the park, or get a massage. Once you slow down and relax, you'll realise how crazy your schedule has been. Take this opportunity to pass some of your responsibilities onto a relative, roommate, or colleague.

Clinging too tightly to your money will make you miserable. Yes, you're struggling to pay the bills, but depriving yourself of simple pleasures will only deepen your sorrow. Do yourself a favour and buy ingredients for an extra tasty dinner. Buy yourself some luxurious toiletries. Go to the bookshop and get that bestseller you've wanted so long. An unusual romance or business partnership gives you the chance to take some time off. You're long overdue for a break.

Vanity will get in the way of a close relationship. Instead of focusing on your own appearance, put all your nurturing energy into your best friend, lover, or business partner. Although your friend puts on a good front, they're actually terrified of an upcoming challenge. By helping your partner look their best, you'll boost their confidence. Go on a shopping trip together, and refrain from buying anything for yourself. An unusual work assignment gives you a chance to flex your creative muscles.

Don't be too soft on someone who keeps making mistakes. This colleague has got into a bad habit of letting others pay for their carelessness. You may not have the power to dismiss them, but you can make your displeasure known. Others will take your cue, until people decide to clean up their act or find another job. An unlikely romance springs up quite suddenly. Resist the urge to go public with this juicy story. Let the lovers have a little privacy.

This isn't a good time to rebel. You need reliable structures and organisations to give you security and stability, but radically uprooting things now could cause tremendous tensions. There will be plenty of opportunities to come up with viable alternatives later. Right now, you need to get back on your feet. Money for a down payment or security deposit will become available just when you need it the most. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Demanding special treatment will create lots of enemies. You're better off obeying the rules, just like everybody else. Whether this means queuing for hours or accepting shoddy customer service is immaterial. The important thing is you experience what most people deal with every day. With a little luck, this could inspire you to make some improvements to an outmoded institution. A short trip for pleasure gives you a new lease on life. The change of scenery will inspire a creative project.

Don't put too much stock in what the experts say. Your situation is unique, and requires an unorthodox solution. Be willing to defy authority, even if it means causing a scene. You'll be surprised when your peers rally to your side. They're sick and tired of being given advice by authorities who really have no idea what their jobs entail. A well paid job or raise puts extra money in your pocket. Take this opportunity to buy a new computer or entertainment system.

Blind faith will get you in trouble today so don't put your trust in somebody who has failed you in the past. You can only rely on yourself now. The good thing about this situation is that you'll achieve heights you never dreamed possible. Push yourself harder than ever before, especially where art is concerned. Experiment with unfamiliar materials. Master a graphic design programme. Put an unorthodox twist on a traditional form.