Horoscopes: Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Just because a situation once caused you pain doesn’t mean it always has to. Open your mind to other possibilities. Ask around; look for other routes. Maybe the easy way isn’t the best way, but at least find out if there is one.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The world of your thoughts matters to varying degrees, and usually only to you. It will benefit you to lose a certain amorphous, formless group of thoughts that’s holding you back right now. Just drop it.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Welcome help from many directions because the team that forms around you will help more than you. Providing a reason for people to come together is an important role, and you’ll wear it well.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Wouldn’t it be fortuitous to meet someone who will support your cause, share your fun and encourage you to new heights? You will first meet this person in the mirror, and later embodied in a new friend.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Hindsight will be tricky. Looking back, you may connect things erroneously, assuming that one action caused another. But what if events were unrelated? What does it look like when you pretend the past and future don’t exist?

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). If you want to know where a relationship is going, look at where it already went. The next place will be strikingly similar. If that’s not your desired destination, you can alter the course by altering the relationship.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The little ways you show and are shown love add up to a substantial foundation. These small exchanges are much more important than they seem. They form the launching pad of accomplishment.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You clear the way for getting what you need by ridding the path of what you don’t need. You can afford to be ruthless in this regard today. If it doesn’t work right or it brings no joy, let it go.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Self-care is tricky because each person and situation is different, so it’s always going to be a customized solution. Stay in the spirit of experimentation and you’ll land on interesting fixes and lovable routines.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Since you know what you want, you can get right to it. Brevity and brilliance go hand in hand, especially when you’re trying to sell something or influence a scene. People are impressed by words that are choice and few.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). When people around you don’t want the same things you do, there will be less competition, which is nice. There are ways in which your needs intersect, though, as well as ways to serve everyone’s interests simultaneously.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Smart people avoid useless knowledge by making sure to use what they learn. This involves multiple efforts and steps, but it’s worth it, especially since it’s the only way to grow true intelligence.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 18). Your cosmic birthday gift is a launching pad. So-called magical outcomes are actually the result of your excellent alignment of circumstance, talent and intent. Relationships will be brimming with support, understanding, affection and enthusiasm. More highlights: adventure, public position and something handed down to you from past generations. Scorpio and Aquarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 17, 4, 48 and 1.