Horoscope: July 17

Aries (March 21-April 19): You’ll be speaking to a diverse group. Keep it simple. Complexity only muddles your message. Use the terms that everyone is likely to understand.

Taurus (April 20-May 20): You’ll be involved in negotiations. At first, you’ll be offered choices, all of which seem to fit another person’s goals and not your own. Much depends on your ability to come up with interesting alternatives.

Gemini (May 21-June 21): Right now, you consider your own development to be a do-it-yourself project. You see no need to hire someone to motivate you, either.

Cancer (June 22-July 22): Arrogance is a cover-up for fear. When someone is being high-handed, take this as a signal to shake their tree. Then stand back and see what falls out.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): Learning can be tricky, but it’s nothing compared to unlearning. Try to get the best teacher around, and ask plenty of questions.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You take initiative and in doing so prove to the others around you that you are courageous. The high level of responsibility you assume makes you more powerful.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): You will be so blown away by what someone says that for a few moments afterward, you will hardly be able to think straight.

Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): There will be parts of your social interaction that are not so smooth. But that won’t be a big deal if it happens in the middle of a visit.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Your parents’ philosophy doesn’t resonate with you, and neither do the philosophies of your teachers or friends.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It is precisely because a task is difficult that you will take it on and make it happen.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You’ll be relaxed and in control. You’ll influence others with your integrity. It is just a function of interacting with the world in your own very specific way.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): Today you have the confidence to strike up a conversation with an intriguing someone, and this will be the start of an enjoyable experience.

Today’s birthday (July 17): You’ll choose a new personal focus, and as you quickly advance toward it, you will be extremely happy with your choice. An artistic project brings pleasing results to your domestic scene. Your lucky numbers are: 45, 4, 21, 42 and 11.