Today’s horoscope, Aug. 9, 2024: The nearness of a friend can make all the difference

HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY, BY HOLIDAY MATHIS

The lunar influence in Libra, the sign of partnership, reminds us how the nearness of a friend can make all the difference in our experience, which usually hinges less on what happens and more on how we feel about it. Another message of the moon in the sign of scales involves the highs and lows of the journey, which become rather difficult to tell apart in the presence of enjoyable company.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). There may be no tangible prize for the endeavor you spend so much time on, and yet there are rewards you can feel. They have no surface, but you can hold them. They are more real to you than anything that has mass.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Maybe there are no mistakes. Don’t be too quick to frame, score or account for things. Let the action settle in. Maybe you wouldn’t repeat the same move next time, and yet purposes were served; this you can’t deny.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). There are and will always be things you don’t know about others. These mysteries keep things interesting. Some groups are more passionate than others. You can match most any level, but it’s better to find the group at the intensity level you enjoy.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). The true essence of companionship is being in it together no matter what. Shared struggles with good company turn adversity into an adventure. Every moment, good or bad, becomes a meaningful part of your story.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Take your feet off the pedal of your ambition. Let yourself ride on the momentum you’ve already got in motion and it will take you further than you think. This will save “gas” or whatever you’ve been using to fuel this aim.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Freud said, “There are no jokes,” but whether he said it with a straight face or a gleam in his eye is a detail that’s eluded documentation. For today, what’s said in jest will be true, at least in part.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Being correct, effective, dutiful, respectful, kind, prudent… this is what matters most to you now. All contentment will be an outcropping of doing the right thing. You’ll handle important matters and focus on what’s crucial for a desired outcome.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). There’s no reason to judge yourself now; each moment is an opportunity for growth and understanding. Nor should you subject yourself to the judgment of others, for their perceptions do not define your worth or journey.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Relationships are co-created, so no one is completely in control. You can manage your end of things, but that in and of itself may not be enough to get a thing headed where you want it to go. It’s a day for realistic assessment.