My love of horoscopes is no secret (because I keep telling you).

As a recap, I read three horoscopes each day: this and this and this absolutely poetic forecast.

This daily ritual is part research, part poetry, with a smattering of loose direction, chancy guidance, and good fun.

And when my mind is jumbled and hands restless, I grab pen and predictions and search for "hidden messages". It can be a challenge, this practice of elimination, but it's mostly fun. The pressure is low; I'm not trying to write good, I'm just exercising some mental muscle — and the results can be surprising.

A few from this week:

CAPRICORN

You may

ignore

a sharp

rotting

no.

AQUARIUS

Revive a

victory.

GEMINI

You think

about pressure

too much.

LEO

You resolve

to discuss

pain

often.

As you can see, these "horoscopes" turned a bit dark. And direct. But that's okay. It's practice, an exercise to help launch the next story, poem, essay, grocery list . . .