HAPPY BIRTHDAY for Monday, December 18, 2017: This year you exhibit newfound strength and determination. Soon you will let go of whatever is weighing you down. You will be more content, but you’ll need to watch your spending. Your friends play a significant role in pulling you back into more actively living your life. If you are single, your inner circle widens. Look for a major relationship to enter your life sometime after the summer. If you are attached, the two of you connect on a much deeper level. As a couple, you enjoy your friends more than ever and make plenty of social time. CAPRICORN proves to be a source of well-oiled financial ideas.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You wake up mentally alert and full of spunk. Your ability to move through one errand after the next emerges. You could start feeling dragged down, which will encourage you to assume a take-charge attitude. Tonight: Touch base with an older friend or relative.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You have enjoyed a certain closeness with a loved one, and you finally opt to focus on the upcoming holiday. Many of you will travel, but others will have friends head your way. Someone might even surprise you with his or her visit. Tonight: Get some errands done.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You will make a decision that is likely to affect your finances. You will visualise a life that’s more to your liking with a new approach to security. You also will be unusually driven and committed, which will help you to establish this change. Tonight: Opt for togetherness.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Your popularity soars, though you could be discouraged by your interaction with a key person in your life. You might feel as if this person’s feelings toward you are changing. Ask questions, if need be. Listen carefully to what you are told. Tonight: Squeeze in some exercise.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22): You know how much ground you have to cover. To those around you, you could seem a bit overly serious. As a result, you might opt to cocoon at home or be more of a loner. Try to keep your tolerance for this type of isolation limited. Tonight: Wrap up any last-minute details.

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sept 22): Look for a more creative solution to an ongoing dilemma. Others will brainstorm with you to help you achieve the results you desire; they even might overwhelm you with ideas. Be aware that each person has his or her own agenda. Tonight: Talk through possibilities with a loved one.

LIBRA (Sept 23-Oct 22): You will move through a hassle with ease. You might not appreciate others’ suggestions, as you can’t really absorb them at the moment. You could do some unnecessary spending if you don’t stop to clear your mind and take a break. Tonight: Purchase a last-minute gift.

SCORPIO (Oct 23-Nov 21): You will express strong feelings and think that you have been heard, only to discover that the other party might have mixed up your words and confused your message. Consider taking a different approach in order to make your point more clearly. Tonight: Speak your mind.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): You will be reviewing your spending and wondering where you can cut some costs. Consider giving a loved one an “experience” type of gift. This person might delight in your thoughtfulness, especially if it involves spending more time with you. Tonight: Out late.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): You might feel insecure about pursuing a certain desire and doing whatever is necessary to make it a reality. Give up negativity, and drop the words “impossible” and “no” from your vocabulary. Witness the power of positive thinking. Tonight: Swap news with a friend.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): What you had planned on doing later in the day could be thrown off track quickly in the morning. You might need to regroup and let go of a feeling of dissatisfaction and insecurity. A parent’s or higher-up’s attitude could be aggravating. Tonight: Do whatever you want to do.

PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): Taking responsibility will result in some important and long-desired outcomes. You could be delighted by the ensuing possibilities and the support you gain from others. Communication flourishes between you and someone at a distance. Tonight: Go where the action and fun are.

(c) 2017 by King Features Syndicate Inc.