Horoscope: Oct. 13

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You did what you did, and you had your reasons. Stand by them, but don't feel like you need to defend yourself. Forget about blame and don't bother explaining, either.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Though you may feel unrehearsed for the drama to come, you'll be quick on your feet, so go on and get into it. Note that the best resolution may not seem fair on the outset, but will somehow feel right anyhow.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). As the insightful Steven Wright said, "There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot." Go ahead and stand on the shore today because you'll finally get your fish.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). The opposite of love isn't hate; it's apathy. The thing you no longer care about but still have in your life may not be causing you strife, but it is still bogging you down. Get rid of it.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You'll meet the future with the same resources and enthusiasm with which you're meeting today. You'll handle it just like you always have. THerefore, there's nothing to fear.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The extra time, attention and money you spend on your appearance will prove a worthy investment. This is a day for dressing well, because your life will live up to the level of your clothing.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The wide-open roads are nice, if a little bit lonely. At least when you're sitting in traffic you can rest assured that you're going to an area where many people want to be.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Before you decide on the next move, consider how much freedom is built into your various options. You won't be happy with any option that you can't easily get out of if you need or want to.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Remind yourself of your gifts so you will not miss any opportunity to contribute what you can. The more you believe that you already have everything you need the more this will be true.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Welcome to an overwhelmingly pleasant day. It will be clear to you that happiness is a way of thinking, and therefore you needn't pursue it. Rather, you just decide it.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The music is just as much about the pauses between the notes as it is about the notes themselves. With this in mind, build the day's song around relaxed moments.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). British poet Robert Browning said, "A minute's success pays the failures of years." That doesn't seem like a very fair ratio to you, and yet you do look forward to savoring the sweetness of a hard-won success.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Oct. 12). New optimism rushes in at the start of your solar year, and the lift leads to a personal breakthrough within the first four weeks. November shifts your professional trajectory, and you'll excel thanks to training in January. Earnings increase in February. May and July bring romantic vows and friendly vacations. Aries and Leo people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 1, 3, 33, 38 and 40.