Horoscope: Thursday, Jul 9

Be honest about how you feel this week. Don’t give friends and family members the impression that everything is fine because if you do they will most likely carry on doing the things that upset you. Speak up and speak strong and plain.

The more a would-be business partner tries to convince you that their big idea is risk-free the more likely it is your cash will go missing if you get involved. Keep your distance – and keep your hard-earned dollars in your pocket where they belong.

At last you seem to be getting some recognition for all your recent efforts. Having said that, it will pay you to be suspicious if people who have opposed you in the past suddenly want to be on your side. Yes, chances are they’re after something.

Try not to let a minor setback knock you out of your stride. You are well ahead of your rivals and if you stay calm there is no way they can catch you. You have never been the sort to panic, so why would you want to start now?

If you don’t feel happy about what a friend or relative is proposing then don’t get involved with it. You may feel a bit guilty at leaving them to face the consequences alone but you are under no obligation to always be there for them.

You may not be able to do what you want to do today but come the end of the week you will look back and thank your lucky stars that your options were limited. Sometimes in life doing less is a more sensible option than doing more.

If you've been feeling sluggish lately, this will be a welcome day for you, Cancer. You'll feel a surge in energy that greatly increases your creativity and physical strength. Seize the opportunity to be outside for sports or a walk. Such things will direct your energy and give your mind a chance to clear. Don't be surprised if you have more focus later. Make the most of this.

There are things going on behind the scenes that in time will make everything clear but for now you will just have to accept that you don’t have the faintest idea what is going on or why. It will all come right in the end – somehow it always does.

Have you been too tunnel-visioned of late? Yes. Should you have been more open to alternative viewpoints? Yes again. But don’t sweat it. Now that mind planet Mercury is about to move in your favor again your awareness will expand dramatically.

It's important that you abandon the myth that you don't have any gifts or talents, Virgo. Consider thinking about your talents in the same way you think about your body. When you exercise, eat right, and get plenty of rest, your body responds. Your talents are no different. They need care and nurturing, too.

Today you might feel a powerful need to write down your thoughts, Libra, but they could prove a bit too amorphous for you to put into words. You might also have difficulty making contact with friends or loved ones. You may keep missing each other. Getting around in neighborhood traffic could prove frustrating. In spite of small irritations, this should be an enjoyable day. Hang in there.

A friend needs your support and you must give it with no questions asked. There were plenty of times in the past when they stepped in to help you, so now you can return the favor. Doing them good will do you good too.

A female visitor who needs some sympathy could come around today. She may want advice on some problems, Scorpio, but she could also bring information, possibly involving new scientific or metaphysical studies that you find fascinating and that you'll want to relate to others. This information could trigger your own insights. Write down your ideas. You'll want to remember them.

Are you getting hit with obstacles, Sagittarius? Could it be that you simply need to allot yourself more time to complete the monumental tasks you take on? This might be difficult for you to tolerate. You don't know how to deal with times like these when you must continue doing the same thing over and over until you get results. There's a lesson here for you. Remember that patience is a virtue.

Your slow and steady approach might be met with a bit of opposition today, Capricorn. People could be demanding of your time and energy. It's one of those days in which the people behind you in line at a coffee shop might give you dirty looks if you take too long to make up your mind.

Generally you're a very sociable person, Aquarius, and today you aren't likely to slow down. Invitations to parties, from intimate coffee klatches to big neighborhood bashes, continue to come in. There may be too many to handle, so you might have to turn some of them down. That goes against your nature! You don't want to miss anything. Pick the most important to you and leave the rest.

Your actions may be touched by a very fanciful frame of mind today, Pisces. Be careful about indulging in recreational substances that take you out of reality for a while. Your tendency will be to escape into the cosmos, but sooner or later you'll have to come down. Deal with your issues now before your thinking becomes even more clouded than before. Take action with a clear and sober mind.