By Jack Fertig

Forecast for March 21-April 3, 2006

ARIES (March 20 - April 19): Erotic opportunities are easily found, and they confound plans and communications with platonic friendsÑwho are really more important in the long run. Keep priorities, messages, and appointments clear, and have as much fun as that allows!

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): You can get a raise and/or promotion now. Just be realistic about what you ask for. Borrow some of your partner's faith in you, and be clear about the many virtues you bring to your work.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): You're especially energetic, but a bit scattered right now. A little meditation will help, or take the long view to the tasks at hand and fit them into a framework that offers structure. Then focus on taking one step at a time.

CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Erotic impulses will come at you in funny ways, along with some desires you never knew you had. Play with the ideas even if you can'tÑor don't dareÑput them into practice. Even just fantasizing can bring great insights.

LEO (July 23 - August 22): Willfulness and extravagance at home will create problems. Entertaining out is a good idea, or at least be very considerate of your housemates. Your ideals can stir up local politics, but, for maximum effectiveness, listen to others, not just yourself!

VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Efforts at sly wit can get you into trouble. Focus your mind toward analytical insights and watch what you say. Intuition can be helpful at work if you can stay focused. Talk things out with the boss; clear the air of any problems.

LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Arguments, investments, and games are all out there to be lost. The good news is that success lies elsewhere. You could be lucky in love, or more likely, a short-term approximation of it, and your artistic expression is now especially eloquent.

SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Anything you say now is likely to sound confrontational or sexually provocative. This can stir up confusion at home, unless you say exactly what you wantÑassuming you know what you want! If you do, you're sure to get it.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): How well can you joke about your most paranoid fantasies? We all have fears and suspicions that are out of place. If you can exaggerate your own into Grand Guignol-style comedy, you can get a better grip on what's behind them.

CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Differing opinions about long-term goals can trigger arguments with colleagues. Remembering and discussing your basic purpose will uncover the source of the problem, but that's just the beginning of unraveling the mess.

AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): Uncertainty about yourself and hypersensitivity to others make you uncertain about your ambitions. A little breathing room to act out and play will help you come to some clarity. Some. There are no easy answers, but every step out of the muddle helps!

PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Religious or ideological differences exacerbate arguments at home. Trust your feelings and instincts more than teachers and theories. When it's all over, you can take another look at those theories and see what they're worth in real life.

Jack Fertig has been working as a professional astrologer since 1977 and is a founding member of the Association for Astrological Networking. He can be reached for consultations at (415) 864-8302, through his Web site at www.starjack.com, and by e-mail at QScopes@qsyndicate.com.