Horoscopes: Friday, June 2, 2017

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Once the drama stirs, you're sunk. If you defend yourself, you look guilty. If you don't, you'll regret it. The best defense is prevention. Don't let conversation drift into dangerous waters. Stay in control.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Your attention is a treasured gift, but your neglect is not a terrible insult. It's just that you can't focus on everyone at once. Be careful not to set up expectations you won't be able to fulfill.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It's a good thing you have quick reflexes, because you'll need them today. You might have to backpedal, pull your foot out of your mouth, or jump in to save someone from embarrassment.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your No. 1 task will get done. The rest may not. What's the most important thing? It's not a trick question. You know the answer; it's just not the same one that another person wants you to choose.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The work will be much more pleasant when you have the right tools for the job. Do research. Getting this right before you start will save time, money, headaches.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). If you're too strict with yourself, you will rebel. Loosen up. Otherwise, you may find yourself craving forbidden fruits (maybe ones you didn't even know you liked) in reaction to trying to be perfect.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The rightness of an action makes you brave. You don't even have to think about it. You dive in and do the necessary thing. The time to be frightened is not before or during, but after.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Of course, no one is really better than another, but our egos have us flexing as though there's something that can be won with superiority. You'll really win by going in the opposite direction.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Patience isn't the most exciting virtue, and there are many who don't see its appeal. But those who have patience can win the game just by avoiding the mistakes that impatient people make.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). To complain is to release some tension. But this comes at a cost. Maybe the tension is a good thing if it forces you to take action instead of to complain.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). When a bee becomes incensed, it stings the offender - then pays a price with its own life. Anger is not usually as costly an emotion for humans, yet it's still a good idea to de-escalate conflict.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Just because you're not in step with the others doesn't mean your timing is off. Awareness is key here, because you're really good at adjusting to the pace of others when you want to. The question is, "Do you want to?"

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (June 2). Your work gets simultaneously more challenging and more creative over the next two months, and by the end of August, you'll have a prize to show for your dedication. Loved ones will have interesting propositions in September. You won't regret what you do, only what you don't do, so be adventurous in your choices. Libra and Capricorn adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 44, 42, 30, and 15.