TAURUS (April 20-May 20): We’re almost halfway through 2007. Let’s take inventory of how well you’re capitalizing on this year’s unique opportunities. Are you becoming a better judge of character? Have you cultivated your skill at reading people’s energy and understanding what motivates them? I hope so, because 2007 should be the year you generate big benefits for yourself by bringing out the best in your allies and cohorts. Whenever you catalyze their potentials, the universe will in turn conspire to catalyze your potentials.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In what areas of your life are you trying too hard? How might you be undoing your good intentions by grasping them so tightly that you’ve squeezed out all the juice? In what ways are you so boxed in by habitual thoughts that you’re not spontaneous any more? It’s a perfect moment to fix these problems, Taurus. To begin getting yourself in the mood, relax every muscle in your body — especially your achy-breaky desire muscles — and half-sing, half-shout an exuberant “YO!”

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “Idealism increases in direct proportion to one’s distance from the problem,” wrote English novelist John Galsworthy. In other words, most people find it easier to stick to their noble beliefs and neat theories when they don’t have to deal with the messy details of real life. I trust that you will be a stirring exception to this rule in the coming weeks, Taurus. Judging from the astrological omens, I predict that you’ll be a master of utopian pragmatism. As you penetrate further and further into the heart of every matter, you’ll come up with workable strategies for bringing out the best in people.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “Idealism increases in direct proportion to one’s distance from the problem,” wrote English novelist John Galsworthy. In other words, most people find it easier to stick to their noble beliefs and neat theories when they don’t have to deal with the messy details of real life. I trust that you will be a stirring exception to this rule in the coming weeks, Taurus. Judging from the astrological omens, I predict that you’ll be a master of utopian pragmatism. As you penetrate further and further into the heart of every matter, you’ll come up with workable strategies for bringing out the best in people.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The editors of Harper’s magazine took a survey of American organizations devoted to bigotry. They counted 151 different neo-Nazi groups, 163 chapters of the KKK, 62 congregations of Christian Identity, 48 skinhead cults, and 29 black separatist movements. But five states harbored none of these groups at all–Iowa, Alaska, Maine, and North and South Dakota. Racism undoubtedly exists there, but not so much that anyone feels a burning drive to formally organize the hatred. Take your cue from these relatively enlightened oases in the coming week, Taurus. Be a master of peace, acceptance, compassion, and optimism–especially when you brush up against people who are exuding derisive, judgmental cynicism. Do it for your own health as much as for your environment’s.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “Inspiration is highly overrated,” says photo realist artist Chuck Close. “If you sit around and wait for the clouds to part, it’s not liable to ever happen.” I share his assessment of the creative process. The books and music and columns I’ve produced owe their existence largely to my hard work, which generates a burst of inspiration every now and then but mostly gets things done without much flash. Keep that in mind, Taurus. Though you may not be inundated with a series of epiphanies in the coming days, you have the potential to spawn a lot of useful and original stuff. Your fertility quotient is high.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): It’s about time you got the chance to be knocked on your ass by a flood of positive surprises and good feelings. I hope you’re trusting enough to go with the tidal flow, even if it does temporarily render you a bit woozy. Naturally you’d like to know if this giddy surrender will land you in trouble. Is there any chance that you’ll have to endure some karmic adjustment at a later date because of the fun you’re having now? Here’s my prediction: absolutely not. If anything, your enthusiastic cooperation with the free-form dazzle will shield you from any negative repercussions.

I could use some of this. Just gotta relax and let it happen, right? Ha!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): To get misguided tips about how to invest, check out Henry Blodget’s “The Complete Bad Advice Column” (tinyurl.com/ys4al8). For crabby, mean-spirited counsel about how to conduct your personal life, listen to Dr. Laura’s syndicated radio show (drlaura.com). For silly chatter about trivial subjects, read the “most intelligent woman in the world,” Marilyn vos Savant (marilynvossavant.com). But if, on the other hand, you’d like brilliant guidance about where to direct your substantial life energy next, tap into your own intuition. The astrological omens suggest that it’s working better now than it ever has. It’s far more useful to you than any so-called expert’s blatherings.