Horoscope: Friday, Jan 2

There may be a great deal of conflict in your life today, Aries. Different people and situations seem to be pulling you in all directions. Your sanity is being put to the test. Try not to be too stubborn, because this will only cause more tension between you and the situation. You have the potential to stress out about the smallest things. Try to avoid this if you can.

You might have to do a bit of adjusting today in order to experience a harmonious understanding with the people around you, Taurus. Adopt a feistier and more aggressive attitude toward love and romance if you want to receive any attention in that area. Feel free to go for the gold. Sitting back and lying low will most likely get you nowhere. Take the initiative. Be brave and go out on a limb.

The question you most need to ask yourself now is: are my goals realistic? If they are then there is every chance that you will make progress over the next few weeks. If they are not then the results are unlikely to match up to your expectations.

You have always been a seeker after truth and over the next few days you will go even further in your quest for knowledge. Something you see or hear will open your mind to new possibilities and inspire you to find answers of your own.

Your ability to tune in to other people’s thoughts and feelings will help you today. Most importantly, it will enable you to reach out and do something for those who are desperately in need of assistance. You are one of life’s nice guys.

If a friend or work colleague wants to make an issue of something you think is of only minor importance you must let them know that you have no intention of wasting your time on it. Let them complain all they want, you have bigger fish to fry.

Today’s Mercury-Pluto link warns that people will tell you what they think you want to hear, and what will further their own interests. In which case, take everything you hear with a large pinch of salt – except when it’s your inner voice talking.

Some of the things that have been moving ahead quite smoothly in recent weeks are now beginning to stutter a bit. There is nothing to be alarmed about but it will pay you to look closely at situations you may have been taking for granted.

Why do you care so much what other people think of you? It’s not like you to seek approval. Whatever the reason you need to get past it today and get back to a position where what others say and do has no effect on you at all.

This is not the right time to commit yourself to anything new. Saturn’s influence warns that you are already up to your eyeballs in work and other chores, so reject any and all requests for assistance, no matter how tempting the offers may be.

There are too many people in your life who seem to take pleasure in reminding you what it is you should be doing. Tell them to give it a rest and, if they still don’t get the message, turn your back on them and go some place else.

Try not to get bogged down in petty details because there are so many more enjoyable things you should be doing. Make a point of getting out and about in the world. You have no idea how much it pleases people to see your happy face.

There is often a funny side to even the most serious of situations and if you look for that side today you will end up laughing while others are crying for no good reason. The cynic in you thinks life is a bit of a joke anyway.

You need to slow down in matters of love and romance, Sagittarius. You're likely acting on the assumption that things are fine and you can continue moving at lightning speed even though you long ago lost your road map. There's a degree of fantasy in your world. It doesn't take into account the fact that there are areas where you need to be more sensitive to your partner and perhaps take things more slowly and methodically.

If you made a promise to a friend or relative then you must keep it – there can be no wriggling out of it. Even if you managed to do so you would do your reputation for honesty a huge amount of harm. Honor the deal you made.

You may not be happy with the way certain issues are developing in your life but you are smart enough too know there is precious little you can do to change them. In which case maybe you should start thinking about changing yourself instead.

You may not want to move with the times but you no longer have a choice in the matter. Instead of fighting the future why not make it your friend? Change will always come, one way or another, so you might as well embrace it.

The most important thing now is that you do not show any sign of weakness. No matter who tries to intimidate you and no matter the reason you must stay calm. Once you start to react to their provocation you may not be able to stop!

You will be on the move constantly over the next 24 hours. This is one of those days when you won’t be able to slow down even if you want to – and you don’t want to. The more you cram into your life the more fun you will have.

You will receive something you did not expect to receive either today or tomorrow. Most likely it will be something you want or need, but even if it isn’t you would be wise to thank your benefactor – then it won’t be the last gift you get.