Theresa Cheung - The Element Encyclopedia of Birthdays

Born today:Umberto Eco (author); Hayao Miyazaki (filmmaker); Diane Keaton (actor)

Potential:Inspirational, resilient

Dark side:Unrealistic, arrogant

“I can see what truly matters”

The life lesson:is to avoid allowing preoccupation with work to take over your life.

The way forward:is to find a balance between work and your personal life, and focus on what really matters.

Luck maker:Attract new opportunities by doing things differently, talking to people you normally wouldn’t.

People born on January 6 always look beneath the surface for deeper meaning. They try to see goodness in others, but this can come across as child-like or gullible at times and their intelligence can be underestimated. Although they are typically mild-mannered, they can also be ambitious and hard-working, perfectionist at times, tending eventually to get what they want in life. There is a danger of them rejecting alternative viewpoints and being labeled as stubborn.

Work or study is often their savior because it channels their creative energies and helps them discover what their goals and values are. They are born visionaries and may be drawn to spirituality, therapy and personal development. They also make great programmers, gamers, engineers, architects, artists, designers, journalists, writers, investigators and filmmakers, or may decide to go it alone and set up their own business. They are prone to stress and shallow breathing because of their perfectionist tendencies, so deep-breathing techniques can help ease tension. Inhale deeply through the nose from the belly rather than the lungs and let the lungs fill completely with air. Then push all the air out of the lungs through the mouth. Inhaling and exhaling deeply five times every morning is recommended. For self-care, “unplug” from your phone for at least one hour a day, preferably first thing in the morning. Use that hour to focus on who you are rather than what you do.

There is a tender side to those born on this day that can get easily hurt and they may respond with rebellion when people don’t take them seriously. After the age of 45 they often learn that, although cathartic, rebellion can never be the whole answer. These people can sometimes be self-sacrificing in relationships and more in love with the idea of love than the person themselves. But once they learn the importance of give and take in their relationships and in life, stop spoiling themselves with choice, and make a decision about what they should devote their life to, their destiny is to help others deal with their own fears and prove that there can be light at the end of every tunnel.

Tarot card, lucky numbers, days, colors:The Chariot, 6, 7, Saturday, Friday, black, pink

Born today:Kahlil Gibran (poet); Eddie Redmayne (actor); Mother Teresa (saint)

Potential:Visionary, insightful

Dark side:Gullible, stubborn

“I sense true magic in the ordinary”

The life lesson:is to stop worrying about what other people think.

The way forward:is to understand that what others think is solely their own concern.

Luck maker:Seek out the company of people who lift you up rather than drag you down.

Although January 7-born can appear accessible and appealing, they are drawn to the unfamiliar. They have a sense of responsibility but dream of living unconventionally. Unique in their ability to be both logical and intuitive, they are artists with a logical approach or scientists with intuition. They can sense the moods of others and often absorb negativity from others. These people find it hard to switch off from the suffering and injustices of the world, and humanitarian, charity or volunteer work appeal. They don’t believe in half-measures and will always push themselves to the limit, giving any project or goal they set their mind on everything they have got.

Born planners, they make great business leaders, educators, writers, architects, athletes, innovators and artists, excelling both individually and when working in a team. They have organizational skills and can do well as programmers, producers, researchers, team leaders and managers, and their caring nature may draw them to work as counselors, healers, therapists, doctors, social workers or vets. Stress and fatigue can be a big problem for people born on this day, so ensuring they have a good night’s sleep, get enough energy-boosting nutrients such as iron in their diet, and enjoy plenty of fresh air and exercise is essential. Unusual forms of calming exercise such as tai chi may appeal. For self-care, when you get up in the morning, set the right confident tone for the rest of your day by stretching as tall as you can and letting out a battle cry.

Although often surrounded by admirers, those born on this day are dreamers by nature and have a tendency to drift off into a world of their own, which can make them feel lonely, isolated and cut off from everything and everyone around them, even if they are in a fulfilling relationship. Their sense of connection with the natural world and an extraordinary imagination are a refuge for them. Fascination with the mystical, with unexplained phenomena, is common, especially after the age of 45, although fear of being criticized or thought “weird” may prevent them from pursuing their mystical inclinations. It is extremely important for January 7-born to develop resilience and self-confidence, and to accept that the opinions of others, although valuable, are not final. Once they have faith in themselves, their destiny is to lead the way by healing differences, crossing boundaries and uniting opposites.

Tarot card, lucky numbers, days, colors:The Chariot, 7, 8, Saturday, Monday, gray, blue

Born today:Lewis Hamilton (Formula 1 driver); Charles Addams (cartoonist); Gerald Durrell (naturalist writer)