Horoscope: April 21

The human maturation process is funny. Though we gather hundreds of new bits of information every day of our lives, that doesn’t necessarily make us smarter. The concept will be well illustrated today, when the playful Leo moon casts a natural spotlight on children and those who think like them. Creativity trumps knowledge.

Aries (March 21-April 19). You want to be involved with a certain person, although what this person really needs is a caretaker. Take a step back. Is that what you really want? Be mindful of your boundaries.

Taurus (April 20-May 20). A friend is more attached to you than you realize and may behave in a possessive or overly sensitive manner. You could find yourself tiptoeing around in order to avoid hurting this person’s feelings.

Gemini (May 21-June 21). A minor eruption of emotion this morning may be a bit messy, but it’s nothing too destructive. Do something about it quickly, and the rest of your day is positively dreamy.

Cancer (June 22-July 22). Your emotional and material environments will get a lift -- though you’ll have to start the ball rolling with your actions. Tidy up your own loose ends and clutter, and loved ones will follow your lead.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22). Your appreciation will be felt, even if you don’t make a big show of it. But if you do effervesce, the effort will encourage those around you to do even more for you next time.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’re so imaginative and filled with visions of your ideal future. Someone from planet Earth will try to bring you back down to the ground tonight. Reality is pretty good, too.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Life is an adventure, not an ordeal -- although sometimes the only way to tell those two apart is by observing the person who is going through it. Your attitude determines the level of fun you can reach.

Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). A person who means well will throw a wrench in the works. The element of unpredictability will be good for you, and so will the delay this causes. This person’s positive intentions will, in the end, produce a happy result.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Your sympathy for someone is so strong that it turns into empathy, and then suddenly you can feel the other person’s pain. But it’s not really yours to feel. Stay within your own emotional limits.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’ll be inspired to maintain a healthy perspective about the material world and your possessions. People are always more important than “stuff.” You’ll put the feelings of your loved ones first.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’ll mix things up. People around you are smiling because they are intrigued. What will you do next? And even when the trick doesn’t work out as planned, your banter will be brilliant.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20). The roadblocks on the path to romance are not big problems. They’re more like a dozen daily habits that don’t exactly engender closeness or excitement. Seize playful moments, and make the most of them.

Today’s Birthday (April 21). This year you learn that wishful thinking really can come true, as long as it’s followed by faithful action. You’ll take the necessary steps to launch a project, and by July, you’ll be making money at it. There’s a love connection that makes you feel wealthy in many ways. You’ll hear the words you’ve longed for in June. Pisces and Leo people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 3, 12, 4 and 16.

Questions: “I’ve been married for 10 years, and I do not believe in divorce. But there are days when I can’t stand my spouse and it’s all I can do to be in the same room without cursing under my breath. I don’t think we need to go to counseling or anything like that, because we only clash about 10 percent of the time. It has been suggested by one of my good friends that it’s not normal for people to dislike a marriage partner as much as I dislike mine. What do you think? I’m a Scorpio, and my partner is a Taurus.”

You may not think you need marriage counseling, but it could be helpful for you to talk to a professional on your own to air out some of your strong feelings. Scorpios like you are notoriously private and can do denial like no one else. Managing passionate emotions is a Scorpio specialty, but it’s just not healthy to keep those toxic feelings and opinions inside. And confiding in your friends can be less effective than sorting things out with a trained professional. Even though you think this is no big deal, it will benefit you to bring your issues to light in a safe and supportive environment.

Celebrity profile: Barbra Streisand exemplifies Taurus talent. Taurus rules the throat, and many excellent singers have the sign of the bull featured prominently in their astrological charts. Streisand not only has her sun in Taurus, but she also has the communication planet Mercury there, as well as Saturn and Uranus. Her moon is in Leo, the sign of the entertainer, and her natal Venus is in soulful Pisces.

Holiday Mathis writes her column for Creators Syndicate Inc. The horoscope should be read for entertainment.