The Element Encyclopedia of Birthdays. Theresa Cheung

well to constructive criticism and can change their ways. Once they learn the vital importance of real emotional connections with others, and that needing to be loved is not a weakness but a strength, their destiny is to follow their inner wisdom and right social wrongs.

      Tarot card, lucky numbers, days, colors: Strength, 1, 8, Thursday, Saturday, turquoise, violet

      Born today: Li Na (tennis player); Johnny Cash (singer); Helen Clark (New Zealand prime minister)

      Potential: Wise, hypnotic

      Dark side: Detached, harsh

      

       27 FEBRUARY

       The Birthday of Hypnotic Allure

       “I am born to shine”

      The life lesson: is gaining emotional intelligence.

      The way forward: is to understand that you are in charge of your emotions. You choose the way you feel.

      Luck maker: Find ways to manage your emotions and let off steam without making enemies.

      February 27-born have the ability to turn heads and win hearts. They have a magnetic and striking intensity that can hold others spellbound. They like the limelight and seem destined for it. Others admire their easy confidence and sense of purpose. They are both open-minded and analytical. They like to understand exactly how things work and their accumulated knowledge base takes them to the very top. There is one area of their lives, however, that is their Achilles’ heel: their emotional life. Despite their charismatic image, they are impulsive and passionate and often have a chaotic personal life, with broken relationships and friendships littered around them.

      Born actors, these people seem destined to shine on screen or video and they make great performers. Any career where people can watch or learn from them is ideal. They make amazing teachers and creative writers. In business, they are drawn to sales, publicity, marketing and advertising, but they can also excel in entrepreneurship or setting up their own businesses. High-energy individuals, they need a regular exercise program to keep them toned, but also to ensure they work off their excess energy in a healthy way. For self-care, breathing exercises, yoga and meditation can encourage them to manage their emotions and find inner calm.

      These people need to apply discipline to their personal relationships and to stop making inconsistent, unreasonable demands on others, especially between the ages of 23 and 52 when they become even more adventurous. If self-love and setting boundaries isn’t learned during this period, the result could be personal chaos. At their worst, people born on this day can be social-climbing attention seekers. At their best, they are lovable and spontaneous creatures, who can both intoxicate and inspire. They may be described as a little crazy, but once they invest their energy into a worthwhile cause they can achieve truly great things. Their destiny is to enchant others and enjoy the limelight they seem destined for with their unique brand of magic.

      Tarot card, lucky numbers, days, colors: The Hermit, 2, 9, Thursday, Tuesday, turquoise, red

      Born today: John Steinbeck (author); Elizabeth Taylor (actor); Derren Brown (mentalist)

      Potential: Hypnotic, exciting

      Dark side: Highly strung, social climber

      

       28 FEBRUARY

       The Birthday of the Original Charmer

       “My life is an exciting ride”

      The life lesson: is to rein in your impulses.

      The way forward: is discovering willpower, and understanding that nothing makes you think, say, feel or do anything. You are in charge.

      Luck maker: Practice an attitude of gratitude. Appreciate what you have and how far you have come.

      Those born on February 28 can light up the world with their energy and originality. Natural performers, they are never short of admirers and are blessed with the ability to charm just about anyone. Articulate and entertaining, they go out of their way to get a laugh or reaction from others, even if this involves exaggerating the truth. They thrive on being noticed, but attention-seeking isn’t what drives them. Their motivation is a thirst for adventure. Underlying their restlessness, however, is a deep-seated fear of standing still, and this fear drives them toward sensation-seeking and self-destructive behavior. Underneath their bravado they secretly long to find a real purpose. This won’t be possible until they discover that self-esteem is not created by thrill-seeking but by being content with who they are.

      Born travelers, these adventurous people thrive in careers that offer them variety and an opportunity to indulge their curiosity, such as gaming, travel, tourism, science, research, modeling, vlogging, sports and teaching, and they can also thrive in management or business. Later in life they may be drawn to the caring or helping professions as well as to the arts, writing and the entertainment industry. They live in the fast lane and setting aside regular time for rest and relaxation helps them avoid burnout. For self-care, wearing, meditating on or surrounding yourself with the color purple will encourage you to look within for inspiration, rather than without.

      These people need to learn to be more comfortable with being rather than doing, because, until they find inner calm, their life may hurtle chaotically from one situation and one person to another. They should learn to cultivate this inner calm before their early fifties, when there is an emphasis in their life on new directions. They experience life more intensely than others, but it is vital they rein in their compulsion to indulge every whim. They should never suppress their optimism and curiosity, but if they can just look before they leap, they can become far more than original charmers; their destiny is to become life’s pioneers, boldly going where none have gone before.

      Tarot card, lucky numbers, days, colors: The Sun, 1, 3, Thursday, Sunday, turquoise, orange

      Born today: Paul Krugman (economist); Karolína Kurková (model); Linus Pauling (chemist)

      Potential: Vibrant, original

      Dark side: Reckless, chaotic