Puzzles and horoscopes

Cryptic crossword

Simon Shuker’s Code-Cracker

Your Stars

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19): The more you acknowledge that you're part of a collective, the more you feel that way. Put the group mind at the forefront of your thoughts and act in accordance with what the group needs.

TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20): Even though you are content with your own company, you enjoy diverse groups and one-on-one interactions with people who are different from you. Today, there's an interesting spark with an unlikely partner.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun 21): Of course no one is inherently better than another, but our egos have us flexing anyway, as though there's something at stake that can be won with an air of superiority. You'll win because you'll go in the opposite direction.

CANCER (Jun 22-Jul 22): Ask yourself if you are making something more complicated than it needs to be. Sometimes, handling what's bothering you doesn't need to be an investigation. What if you just tossed out the old and moved on?

ACROSS

1. Heaven's gatekeeper's not at home if one dies away (6,3)

5. One is no longer favouring this side of the field (3)

7. American man in journalism was habituated to it (4)

8. Mad to change it, Edward owned up (8)

10. Cycle around the establishment to find a base (8)

11. He sings, but might otherwise be pronounced fishy (4)

13. It's curious in red revolution to move with uncertainty (6)

15. Engine sounded starved, but was in the pink (6)

18. Solid body of Ursa Minor at the end of June? (4)

19. Look at the mirror and this may help one see (8)

22. Everything one puts in foie gras to soften it (8)

23. Return to the French to give the glad eye (4)

24. Half the snakes have gone to tot things up (3)

25. Err with one replacing nothing for the moment to produce fun (9)

DOWN

1. Opted for pleasantly rounded half of 7 (7)

2. Material is unwanted in the garden following half of it (5)

3. It's hard to go through gold and be a trader (6)

4. Journey on which one will fall over one's own feet (4)

5. Away from home with play-actors, not welcome in society (7)

6. Loses colour being fed as maybe (5)

9. Without a headmaster? It blooms! (5)

12. Stick out for Gershwin initially in his Blue composition (5)

14. Was an amateur artist bad? The reverse: he suffered! (7)

16. In the Sahara oasis finally provides what may be last course (7)

17. 'Why, then the world's mine _____' (The M W of W) (6)

18. In a particular pocket found coconut material turning up (5)

20. A street in Paris in which gendarme first appears to row (5)

21. Stable business (4)

Quick crossword

WordWheel

ACROSS

6. Sufficient (6)

7. Brilliance (6)

10. Sunbathing (7)

11. Skinflint (5)

12. Every one or thing (4)

13. Discovered (5)

16. Of this area (5)

17. Listen to (4)

20. Wilt (5)

21. Not certain (7)

22. Muffle (6)

23. Cowardly (6)

DOWN

1. Slow-witted www.thepuzzlecompany.co.nz

Sudoku

LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22): The main event is engrossing, and you are likely to forget yourself as you handle the challenge. Pause often to assess. You will have time if you take time.

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22): You've learned to be a little sceptical as to the motives of those who offer you favours. Today, you needn't be. More often than not, people are motivated by kindness and the satisfaction that comes with being able to help.

LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 23): You'll have fascinating exchanges, and people will consider you to be an essential part of their experience. They won't always tell you this, so it's a good thing you're excellent at reading the vibes.

SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 21): You send a message with your heart and hope for a return, but don't expect it. Joy is often a function of zero to subzero expectation. Though you don't feel like validation is a requirement, you'll get all you need.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): No, you're not imagining the signals. You're picking up what they're throwing down. Someone finds you interesting, and the next move is truly all yours. Wait three days to make it.

WordBuilder

WordBuilder S P E W E

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): The ability to entertain an idea without accepting it is the mark of a sophisticated mind. Play with ideas, try them on and take them off as it suits. You'll try to see things as others do to understand them better.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): You'll speak to the needs of others and feed them in more ways than one, lending the attention that makes them feel seen. It takes generosity of spirit to foster a sense of belonging. It's tricky today, but worthwhile.

How many words of three or more letters, including plurals, can you make from the five letters, using each letter only once? No words beginning with a capital are allowed. There’s at least one five-letter word.

WordBuilder S P E W E

How many words of three or more letters, including plurals, can you make from the five letters, using each letter only once? No words beginning with a capital are allowed. There’s at least one five-letter word.

PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20): While there's a time to ask why, this is not that time. Going down a rabbit hole of history or the upward spiral of possibility will only waste the resources that are best applied to things like acting in your own best interest in the current situation.

Across: 1. Minute 4. Turnip 9. Darning .10. Dodge 11. Troy 12. Bear 13. Rye 15. Seek 16. Hoop 19. Art 21. Diet 22. Doom 24. Usual 25. Bullion 26. Exhume 27. Spread

Good

Previous solution: cero, cor, core, corf, foe, for, force, fore, fro, froe, ore, orf, orfe, rec, ref, roc, roe

Previous solution: cero, cor, core, corf, foe, for, force, fore, fro, froe, ore, orf, orfe, rec, ref, roc, roe

Down: 1. Made to measure 2. Nervous 3. Tail 5. Underdog 6. Nadir 7. Predetermined 8. Ogres 14. Pendulum 17. Promise 18. Derby 20. Truth 23. Slap

Fill the grid so that every column, every row and 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.