Aries Monthly Horoscope August 2018

Aries (Born March 21 to 31)
AND Aries Ascendant from 0 to 10 degrees Aries:

August 2018 Aries Horoscope: Love, Career, & General Trends

Overview.

The Sun this Month: Central Focus, Consciousness

Until August 22nd:

The Sun continues to put a spotlight on your solar fifth house. This is a time when pleasure-seeking and creative activities come into focus and grab much of your attention. You are particularly personally charming in a spontaneous, natural way during this solar cycle. This is the time of year when you are ready to perform and to express yourself creatively.

This is a very playful cycle, when you are inspired creatively and emotionally. It's a good time for recreation, romance, connecting with children, and enjoying and performing the arts. Your ego is tied up in your children, romantic relationships, and creative output now, so that you can be especially proud of these people and things. You can also be over-sensitive about these matters if you feel you are not getting enough appreciation.

From August 23rd forward:

The Sun illuminates your solar sixth house. During this cycle, you take more pride in the work you do and in your health routines than any other time of the year. You are sorting through the experiences of the last several months, separating the worthwhile from the worthless. This is a good time to build your skills, to get organized, and to attend to your health and wellbeing. It's a great time to make improvements to your regular routines. Your self-esteem and your ego are tied up in the work you do and in the services you give. Details are more important to you now.

It's time to bring order to your life by focusing on the little things that make up the whole. This cycle presents an opportunity to get rid of what doesn't work in your life, while also discovering what does. You could seek distinction and strive towards perfection in your work. Efficiency should be your goal now. Your physical health, as well as the relationship between your body and your mind, are in focus.

Eclipse

A Solar Eclipse Occurs on August 11th: A general rule of thumb regarding eclipses is to avoid major decision-making in the week before and after an eclipse. This is because new information that could change our perspective often is revealed in the week after the eclipse. There is absolutely no need to suspend projects already in progress. Essentially, it's better to take in right now--to observe and get in touch with feelings. The Solar Eclipse marks a new beginning for you. Letting go of the past is necessary in order to move forward. This eclipse occurs in your solar fifth house, suggesting a new approach to love, children, or creative projects. A new set-up in existing love affairs or a new love affair altogether may be formed in the coming months, as well as a sense of renewal and reinvigoration with regards to your ability to express yourself spontaneously and creatively. This is a phase when you have an increased awareness of your need for fun and leisure activities.

Venus this Month: Love, Romance, Social Life, Comfort

Until the 6th: 

Venus continues to move through your solar sixth house now. This is a time when beautifying and/or bringing harmony to your working environment is a priority to you. You might find more opportunities to socialize with co-workers, perhaps even meeting a new friend through your work or health routines. You are likely to bring more tact and diplomacy to your relations with the people you work with now. You may not be as productive as usual during this period, as the focus is more on social relationships and pleasure than on getting the job done. Improving health and vitality through pleasurable activities such as massage might be in focus now.

From August 6th forward: 

Venus graces your solar seventh house during this period. This is a time for extra attention to a partner or significant other, as well as from that person! You are more inclined to flatter and charm others during this cycle. One-to-one relating appeals to you more than group activities or more casual connections. Smoothing out your close personal relationships is what makes you happy during this cycle. If single, you are more willing than normal to enter into a committed relationship. In general, you are adaptable when it comes to your affections--very willing to compromise, negotiate, and make peace.

Mercury this Month: Communications, Learning, Connections, Transportation

All month: 

Mercury continues to transit your solar fifth house. Increased communication with children, romantic partners, and people who share the same hobbies as you can occur now. Certainly, you are thinking about these people and about love and romance, child rearing, and/or creative pursuits more than usual. Mental exercises and competitions can be particularly enjoyable now. You express yourself with warmth and creativity, and you have an appreciative "audience" for your ideas now.

Mercury is retrograde until August 19th:

All Mercury retrograde cycles particularly affect you in terms of communications in general and job or health-related communications because Mercury rules these areas of your life. There can be delays or rethinking with these matters.

Occurring in your solar fifth house this time, extra care should be exercised when it comes to matters surrounding romance, children, and creativity. Be as non-judgmental as you can with romantic partners and your children, if applicable. Re-thinking the suitability of your romantic relationships is possible now, but you should avoid jumping to any premature decisions. There may be the need to revisit old issues with your children or lover, or there could be some communication problems with the same. Arguments with a lover may be blown out of proportion far too easily. Both you and your lover should avoid harping on the words used and try to get to the meaning behind the words instead. Or, a romance may not be moving forward in obvious ways. It might seem like stagnation, but it's actually a period of review and rest. Other possibilities include calls that are not returned, a lover is late for a date, or dates get cancelled. Speculation and gambling are not advised right now. It's probably not the best time to launch a new creative project, but it's a good time for reworking an existing one. Same goes for romance! Things will change after Mercury turns direct, so you might decide to try to keep status quo for the time being. It would be wise to be especially clear when it comes to communicating with romantic partners, and children; or take this time to re-examine issues rather than communicating about them prematurely.

Mars this Month: Energy, Drive, Courage

Mars is retrograde from June 26-August 27

All Mars retrograde cycles affect you on a highly personal level because Mars is your sign's ruler. If you have an Aries Ascendant, Mars is your chart ruler, and Mars retrograde can also affect you on the physical plane as well as your personal presentation or image to others. You don't assert yourself or state what it is that you want as directly as you normally do, and you could be withdrawn and introspective, pulling back from life a little as you figure out what it is that you truly want from it. Pushing yourself during this Mars retrograde cycle will only lead to frustrations and slowdowns. It's time to review how you have been handling yourself in terms of self-assertion and expression of anger in general, and for considering making changes to your approach to getting what you want out of life.

From June 26-August 12:

Occurring in your solar eleventh house during this period, enthusiasm for generating business income, for working towards your higher goals and hopes, for group or community activities, and/or friendships may wane, perhaps due to some problems or setbacks in these areas of life. Some of you could be dealing with frustrations and buried anger with friends. Ambiguity in these areas of life may lead you to reassess your friendships, group endeavors and associations, or higher goals. There may be frustration with goals or dreams not manifesting soon enough, when in fact this retrograde period is strong for making important edits to your plans. Refocus, backtracking, and review become necessary and recommended now.

From August 12-27:

Occurring in your solar tenth house during this period, enthusiasm for career and public or professional matters may wane, perhaps due to some problems or setbacks in these areas of life. Ambiguities might have you second-guessing or reassessing your goals. You might feel less confident or you could simply feel more cautious now. Some projects may stall. You may be feeling as if you are only going through the motions when it comes to  your duties and responsibilities, temporarily lacking ambition, fire, or motivation. Refocus, backtracking, and review become necessary and recommended now. This Mars retrograde emphasizes practical and work matters. How you organize your time is in question now.

Mars is direct from the 27th:

Mars animates and energizes your solar tenth house. This transit stimulates your ambition and/or your desire to be recognized for your accomplishments. Whether it's professional or personal, you are likely to have an increased desire for others to notice you. This can be a good time to become self-employed or start a business if other factors (and Mars itself) are favorable. Conflicts with those in authority are possible now. You may pour more energy into self-promotion or business/career activities.

Overview Horoscope:

Aries Monthly Horoscope Summary for August 2018: There is a strong focus on pleasure and self-expression through hobbies, recreation, and leisure this month, dear Aries, even if there are related delays. It's a playful period when you're discovering your needs for pleasure, entertainment, and positive feedback. You're putting your unique personal stamp on whatever you're doing, and this is a wonderful process of self-discovery. However, there are times when you can feel in limbo or behind on some level, especially until the 19th, perhaps as you are waiting for news or need to do some backtracking. While more clarity is likely from the 19th, your ruler, Mars, is retrograde until the 27th, and it may not be until after that date that you have a stronger sense that life is moving at the pace you prefer. You tend to prefer a more straightforward approach to life, for certain, but the editing work you do now can pave the way for happy successes later.

Helping you to acclimatize to this season of retrogrades is a Jupiter-Neptune influence that makes it easy, natural, and fun to nurture your need for more imagination and time to absorb and digest recent experiences.

The Solar Eclipse on the 11th can stimulate a strong desire for a fresh start in the areas of romance, personal enjoyment, and creative expression. Even so, the effects of an eclipse last six months, and it's best to wait for new launches or brand new beginnings until September or later. From the 23rd of August forward, more attention to work and routine is likely.

From the 6th, you benefit from Venus in your partnership sector. This transit helps bring helpful people into your life or is useful for making current relationships more friendly and pleasant. It's a time for making peace with people as well as for negotiations, compromises, contracts, and making connections. You're inclined to seek company more often than not, and partnership feels rewarding.

Uranus turns retrograde on the 7th, and while Uranus recently left your sign (in May) after a seven-year stay, it's heading back to Aries for a few months longer. This isn't happening yet -- in fact, this is going to go down in November -- but it's the first sign that Uranus isn't quite done with Aries! From November to March, you'll get a second chance to make some important breaks and innovations that ensure you're living your life more authentically. In the meantime, recent money-making ideas may need to wait or require some ironing out.

The 7-8 is also strong for new thinking along romantic and/or creative lines. There could be a reconnection with an old friend that gets you thinking or seeing a past relationship in a new way. This helps set up the new, slate-clearing energy of the Solar Eclipse on the 11th. You're reconsidering previous conclusions about your needs for romance and pleasure. It can also be a time for bringing back old hobbies and pastimes.

Mars remains retrograde this month (until the 27th) but spends its last two weeks of retrograde motion in your career and reputation sector There can be some second-guessing or reassessing of your goals now, and part of the process can involve taking a second look at old projects and plans.

Mercury turns direct on the 19th, and then Jupiter and Neptune form their final trine in a set of three that first happened in December. It's a wonderful influence for your intimate, inner, and emotional life. Imaginative activities or behind-the-scenes efforts can be rewarding, either spiritually or materially. It's a fine time for your dreaming world, education, publishing, and shared finances.

From the 23rd, work and routine assume more importance. Helping ground you at this time is a grand trine in Earth signs, falling in your practical houses. This influence supports improvements in your money-making and work projects, as well as with your reputation. Alternative arrangements, jobs, or approaches seem to work wonderfully well for you now. Applying yourself to your work comes more naturally, especially with new and improved ways of doing things that motivate you.

Mars turns direct on the 27th, and this is especially good news for you as an Aries (Mars is your planetary ruler). Mind you, this retrograde period has likely been useful for redirecting you along better paths. In the weeks ahead, career matters can improve, whether this has to do with conditions or confidence in your work and your broader goals. Blocks lift, and you are working more on your own terms. There is a stronger sense of direction and more time spent on moving things forward as you head into September. Your best bet now, and in a general sense throughout August, is to avoid seeking instant results. The last week of August is excellent for coming to a better work-life balance.

See our Time Line Forecast report for a personalized forecast for the year ahead.

Get your unique Personalized Horoscope for the year ahead—over 100 pages long—for a detailed guide to your best days and your most challenging days for attracting love, career success, communication, and more.

Know More About Yourself and Others

Try Cafe Astrology's in-depth
birth chart reports, relationship reports, future forecasts, and more.

Love & Romance Forecast Report

Love outlook for the year ahead. Try our Love & Romance Forecast report.

Romantic Compatibility Reports

Try Cafe Astrology's in-depth
romantic compatibility reports, including the Synastry and Love Ties reports.

See also general trends for Aries in 2018.

Aries (Born April 1 to 10)
AND Aries Ascendant from 10 to 20 degrees Aries:

August 2018 Career, & General Trends

Overview.

The Sun this Month: Central Focus, Consciousness

All month:

The Sun illuminates your solar fifth house now. After a period of "nesting", you are coming out of your shell, ready to perform and to express yourself creatively. This is a very playful period of the year, when you are inspired creatively and emotionally. After a period of self-protectiveness, you are now more spontaneous and more willing to take risks. You take more pride than usual in your creations, your love affairs, your children, and your hobbies. Pleasure and amusement play an important role in your search for freedom of self-expression now. Show off your best colors!

You want others to take notice, and you are more sensitive to whether people appreciate you. More than any time of the year, this is the cycle in which you focus on having fun, enjoying romance, and expressing yourself creatively. Your hobbies, leisure time, moments spent with children, gaming time, and so forth, all come into focus at this time of year.

This is a cycle in which you find joy in expressing who you are--when your "inner child" comes out to play. This is a time when you are more flirtatious than usual, and when you might take a few risks in life--not only gambling with games but with life itself. You might be a bit of a showman at this time. You are likely feeling good in general, and you tend to spread the joy.

Eclipse

A Solar Eclipse Occurs on August 11th: A general rule of thumb regarding eclipses is to avoid major decision-making in the week before and after an eclipse. This is because new information that could change our perspective often is revealed in the week after the eclipse. There is absolutely no need to suspend projects already in progress. Essentially, it's better to take in right now--to observe and get in touch with feelings. The Solar Eclipse marks a new beginning for you. Letting go of the past is necessary in order to move forward. This eclipse occurs in your solar fifth house, suggesting a new approach to love, children, or creative projects. A new set-up in existing love affairs or a new love affair altogether may be formed in the coming months, as well as a sense of renewal and reinvigoration with regards to your ability to express yourself spontaneously and creatively. This is a phase when you have an increased awareness of your need for fun and leisure activities.

Venus this Month: Love, Romance, Social Life, Comfort

Until the 17th: 

Venus continues to move through your solar sixth house now. This is a time when beautifying and/or bringing harmony to your working environment is a priority to you. You might find more opportunities to socialize with co-workers, perhaps even meeting a new friend through your work or health routines. You are likely to bring more tact and diplomacy to your relations with the people you work with now. You may not be as productive as usual during this period, as the focus is more on social relationships and pleasure than on getting the job done. Improving health and vitality through pleasurable activities such as massage might be in focus now.

From August 17th forward: 

Venus graces your solar seventh house during this period. This is a time for extra attention to a partner or significant other, as well as from that person! You are more inclined to flatter and charm others during this cycle. One-to-one relating appeals to you more than group activities or more casual connections. Smoothing out your close personal relationships is what makes you happy during this cycle. If single, you are more willing than normal to enter into a committed relationship. In general, you are adaptable when it comes to your affections--very willing to compromise, negotiate, and make peace.

Mercury this Month: Communications, Learning, Connections, Transportation

Mercury is retrograde until August 19th:

All Mercury retrograde cycles particularly affect you in terms of communications in general and job or health-related communications because Mercury rules these areas of your life. There can be delays or rethinking with these matters.

Occurring in your solar fifth house this time, extra care should be exercised when it comes to matters surrounding romance, children, and creativity. Be as non-judgmental as you can with romantic partners and your children, if applicable. Re-thinking the suitability of your romantic relationships is possible now, but you should avoid jumping to any premature decisions. There may be the need to revisit old issues with your children or lover, or there could be some communication problems with the same. Arguments with a lover may be blown out of proportion far too easily. Both you and your lover should avoid harping on the words used and try to get to the meaning behind the words instead. Or, a romance may not be moving forward in obvious ways. It might seem like stagnation, but it's actually a period of review and rest. Other possibilities include calls that are not returned, a lover is late for a date, or dates get cancelled. Speculation and gambling are not advised right now. It's probably not the best time to launch a new creative project, but it's a good time for reworking an existing one. Same goes for romance! Things will change after Mercury turns direct, so you might decide to try to keep status quo for the time being. It would be wise to be especially clear when it comes to communicating with romantic partners, and children; or take this time to re-examine issues rather than communicating about them prematurely.

Mercury is direct from August 19th forward:

Mercury continues to transit your solar fifth house. Increased communication with children, romantic partners, and people who share the same hobbies as you can occur now. Certainly, you are thinking about these people and about love and romance, child rearing, and/or creative pursuits more than usual. Mental exercises and competitions can be particularly enjoyable now. You express yourself with warmth and creativity, and you have an appreciative "audience" for your ideas now.

Mars this Month: Energy, Drive, Courage

Mars is retrograde from June 26-August 27:

All Mars retrograde cycles affect you on a highly personal level because Mars is your sign's ruler. If you have an Aries Ascendant, Mars is your chart ruler, and Mars retrograde can also affect you on the physical plane as well as your personal presentation or image to others. You don't assert yourself or state what it is that you want as directly as you normally do, and you could be withdrawn and introspective, pulling back from life a little as you figure out what it is that you truly want from it. Pushing yourself during this Mars retrograde cycle will only lead to frustrations and slowdowns. It's time to review how you have been handling yourself in terms of self-assertion and expression of anger in general, and for considering making changes to your approach to getting what you want out of life.

Until August 27th:

Occurring in your solar tenth house during this period, enthusiasm for career and public or professional matters may wane, perhaps due to some problems or setbacks in these areas of life. Ambiguities might have you second-guessing or reassessing your goals. You might feel less confident or you could simply feel more cautious now. Some projects may stall. You may be feeling as if you are only going through the motions when it comes to  your duties and responsibilities, temporarily lacking ambition, fire, or motivation. Refocus, backtracking, and review become necessary and recommended now. This Mars retrograde emphasizes practical and work matters. How you organize your time is in question now.

Overview Horoscope:

Aries Monthly Horoscope Summary for August 2018: There is a strong focus on pleasure and self-expression through hobbies, recreation, and leisure this month, dear Aries, even if there are related delays. It's a playful period when you're discovering your needs for pleasure, entertainment, and positive feedback. You're putting your unique personal stamp on whatever you're doing, and this is a wonderful process of self-discovery. However, there are times when you can feel in limbo or behind on some level, especially until the 19th, perhaps as you are waiting for news or need to do some backtracking. While more clarity is likely from the 19th, your ruler, Mars, is retrograde until the 27th, and it may not be until after that date that you have a stronger sense that life is moving at the pace you prefer. You tend to prefer a more straightforward approach to life, for certain, but the editing work you do now can pave the way for happy successes later.

Helping you to acclimatize to this season of retrogrades is a Jupiter-Neptune influence that makes it easy, natural, and fun to nurture your need for more imagination and time to absorb and digest recent experiences.

The Solar Eclipse on the 11th can stimulate a strong desire for a fresh start in the areas of romance, personal enjoyment, and creative expression. Even so, the effects of an eclipse last six months, and it's best to wait for new launches or brand new beginnings until September or later. From the 23rd of August forward, more attention to work and routine is likely.

From the 6th, you benefit from Venus in your partnership sector. This transit helps bring helpful people into your life or is useful for making current relationships more friendly and pleasant. It's a time for making peace with people as well as for negotiations, compromises, contracts, and making connections. You're inclined to seek company more often than not, and partnership feels rewarding.

Uranus turns retrograde on the 7th, and while Uranus recently left your sign (in May) after a seven-year stay, it's heading back to Aries for a few months longer. This isn't happening yet -- in fact, this is going to go down in November -- but it's the first sign that Uranus isn't quite done with Aries! From November to March, you'll get a second chance to make some important breaks and innovations that ensure you're living your life more authentically. In the meantime, recent money-making ideas may need to wait or require some ironing out.

The 7-8 is also strong for new thinking along romantic and/or creative lines. There could be a reconnection with an old friend that gets you thinking or seeing a past relationship in a new way. This helps set up the new, slate-clearing energy of the Solar Eclipse on the 11th. You're reconsidering previous conclusions about your needs for romance and pleasure. It can also be a time for bringing back old hobbies and pastimes.

Mars remains retrograde this month (until the 27th) but spends its last two weeks of retrograde motion in your career and reputation sector There can be some second-guessing or reassessing of your goals now, and part of the process can involve taking a second look at old projects and plans.

Mercury turns direct on the 19th, and then Jupiter and Neptune form their final trine in a set of three that first happened in December. It's a wonderful influence for your intimate, inner, and emotional life. Imaginative activities or behind-the-scenes efforts can be rewarding, either spiritually or materially. It's a fine time for your dreaming world, education, publishing, and shared finances.

From the 23rd, work and routine assume more importance. Helping ground you at this time is a grand trine in Earth signs, falling in your practical houses. This influence supports improvements in your money-making and work projects, as well as with your reputation. Alternative arrangements, jobs, or approaches seem to work wonderfully well for you now. Applying yourself to your work comes more naturally, especially with new and improved ways of doing things that motivate you.

Mars turns direct on the 27th, and this is especially good news for you as an Aries (Mars is your planetary ruler). Mind you, this retrograde period has likely been useful for redirecting you along better paths. In the weeks ahead, career matters can improve, whether this has to do with conditions or confidence in your work and your broader goals. Blocks lift, and you are working more on your own terms. There is a stronger sense of direction and more time spent on moving things forward as you head into September. Your best bet now, and in a general sense throughout August, is to avoid seeking instant results. The last week of August is excellent for coming to a better work-life balance.

See our Time Line Forecast report for a personalized forecast for the year ahead.

Get your unique Personalized Horoscope for the year ahead—over 100 pages long—for a detailed guide to your best days and your most challenging days for attracting love, career success, communication, and more.

Know More About Yourself and Others

Try Cafe Astrology's in-depth
birth chart reports, relationship reports, future forecasts, and more.

Love & Romance Forecast Report

Love outlook for the year ahead. Try our Love & Romance Forecast report.

Romantic Compatibility Reports

Try Cafe Astrology's in-depth
romantic compatibility reports, including the Synastry and Love Ties reports.

See also general trends for Aries in 2018.

Aries (Born April 11 to 20)
AND Aries Ascendant from 20 to 30 degrees Aries:

August 2018 Aries Horoscope: Love, Career, & General Trends

Overview.

The Sun this Month: Central Focus, Consciousness

Until August 12th:

The Sun continues to put a spotlight on your solar fourth house. This is a period of recharge, of getting in touch with your innermost feelings, of connecting with your roots, and of spending more time and energy on home and family. Home and family matters capture your attention and are a strong source of pride now. It's a time when worldly matters are not as important to you.

Use this energy to find ways to improve your family relations and your home environment. During this heart-warming cycle, you would do best to allow yourself to explore your inner needs so that you can nurture yourself and others in a healthy, growth-oriented manner, in preparation for more outgoing times to come.

From August 12th forward:

The Sun illuminates your solar fifth house now. After a period of "nesting", you are coming out of your shell, ready to perform and to express yourself creatively. This is a very playful period of the year, when you are inspired creatively and emotionally. After a period of self-protectiveness, you are now more spontaneous and more willing to take risks. You take more pride than usual in your creations, your love affairs, your children, and your hobbies. Pleasure and amusement play an important role in your search for freedom of self-expression now. Show off your best colors!

You want others to take notice, and you are more sensitive to whether people appreciate you. More than any time of the year, this is the cycle in which you focus on having fun, enjoying romance, and expressing yourself creatively. Your hobbies, leisure time, moments spent with children, gaming time, and so forth, all come into focus at this time of year.

This is a cycle in which you find joy in expressing who you are--when your "inner child" comes out to play. This is a time when you are more flirtatious than usual, and when you might take a few risks in life--not only gambling with games but with life itself. You might be a bit of a showman at this time. You are likely feeling good in general, and you tend to spread the joy.

Eclipse

A Solar Eclipse Occurs on August 11th: A general rule of thumb regarding eclipses is to avoid major decision-making in the week before and after an eclipse. This is because new information that could change our perspective often is revealed in the week after the eclipse. There is absolutely no need to suspend projects already in progress. Essentially, it's better to take in right now--to observe and get in touch with feelings. The Solar Eclipse marks a new beginning for you. Letting go of the past is necessary in order to move forward. This eclipse occurs in your solar fifth house, suggesting a new approach to love, children, or creative projects. A new set-up in existing love affairs or a new love affair altogether may be formed in the coming months, as well as a sense of renewal and reinvigoration with regards to your ability to express yourself spontaneously and creatively. This is a phase when you have an increased awareness of your need for fun and leisure activities.

Venus this Month: Love, Romance, Social Life, Comfort

Until August 28th: 

Venus continues to move through your solar sixth house now. This is a time when beautifying and/or bringing harmony to your working environment is a priority to you. You might find more opportunities to socialize with co-workers, perhaps even meeting a new friend through your work or health routines. You are likely to bring more tact and diplomacy to your relations with the people you work with now. You may not be as productive as usual during this period, as the focus is more on social relationships and pleasure than on getting the job done. Improving health and vitality through pleasurable activities such as massage might be in focus now.

From August 28th forward: 

Venus graces your solar seventh house during this period. This is a time for extra attention to a partner or significant other, as well as from that person! You are more inclined to flatter and charm others during this cycle. One-to-one relating appeals to you more than group activities or more casual connections. Smoothing out your close personal relationships is what makes you happy during this cycle. If single, you are more willing than normal to enter into a committed relationship. In general, you are adaptable when it comes to your affections--very willing to compromise, negotiate, and make peace.

Mercury this Month: Communications, Learning, Connections, Transportation

Mercury is retrograde until August 19th:

All Mercury retrograde cycles particularly affect you in terms of communications in general and job or health-related communications because Mercury rules these areas of your life. There can be delays or rethinking with these matters.

Occurring in your solar fourth and fifth houses this time, extra care should be exercised when it comes to family relations, romance, children, and creativity. Be as non- judgmental as you can with family members. New initiatives surrounding home and property are best left for a better time. Re-thinking your romantic relationships or creative projects is possible now, but you should avoid jumping to any premature decisions. There may also be the need to revisit old, nagging issues with family members, or there could be some communication problems with them. Family members may be on edge. Try to hold off on household repairs if you can. Put off decision-making with regards to home improvement, moving, and family matters for the time being. It would be wise to be especially clear when it comes to communicating with friends, groups, intimate partners, family members, romantic partners, and children, or take this time to re-examine issues rather than communicating about them prematurely.

From August 31st forward: 

Mercury transits your solar fifth house. During this cycle, there is a powerful mental connection with your creative self-expression. You are proud of your ideas, and very good at expressing them to others smoothly now. Your thinking is more creative than usual. You tend to entertain others with your conversation; and your sense of humor (and of mischief!) is especially strong.

Your thoughts turn to children, pleasures, or romance during this expressive cycle. You might enjoy researching speculative ventures now. You especially enjoy games that involve competing with others on a mental level. You have a stronger need than usual for intellectual stimulation. Therefore, your friends and romantic partner are best appreciated now if they are intellectual types. You're more willing to take risks on a mental level now, so take advantage of the increased spontaneity and creativity that comes with this position.

Mars this Month: Energy, Drive, Courage

Mars is retrograde from June 26-August 27

All Mars retrograde cycles affect you on a highly personal level because Mars is your sign's ruler. If you have an Aries Ascendant, Mars is your chart ruler, and Mars retrograde can also affect you on the physical plane as well as your personal presentation or image to others. You don't assert yourself or state what it is that you want as directly as you normally do, and you could be withdrawn and introspective, pulling back from life a little as you figure out what it is that you truly want from it. Pushing yourself during this Mars retrograde cycle will only lead to frustrations and slowdowns. It's time to review how you have been handling yourself in terms of self-assertion and expression of anger in general, and for considering making changes to your approach to getting what you want out of life.

Until August 27th:

Occurring in your solar tenth house during this period, enthusiasm for career and public or professional matters may wane, perhaps due to some problems or setbacks in these areas of life. Ambiguities might have you second-guessing or reassessing your goals. You might feel less confident or you could simply feel more cautious now. Some projects may stall. You may be feeling as if you are only going through the motions when it comes to  your duties and responsibilities, temporarily lacking ambition, fire, or motivation. Refocus, backtracking, and review become necessary and recommended now. This Mars retrograde emphasizes practical and work matters. How you organize your time is in question now.

From August 27th forward:

Mars animates and energizes your solar tenth house. This transit stimulates your ambition and/or your desire to be recognized for your accomplishments. Whether it's professional or personal, you are likely to have an increased desire for others to notice you. This can be a good time to become self-employed or start a business if other factors (and Mars itself) are favorable. Conflicts with those in authority are possible now. You may pour more energy into self-promotion or business/career activities.

Overview Horoscope:

Aries Monthly Horoscope Summary for August 2018: There is a strong focus on pleasure and self-expression through hobbies, recreation, and leisure this month, dear Aries, even if there are related delays. It's a playful period when you're discovering your needs for pleasure, entertainment, and positive feedback. You're putting your unique personal stamp on whatever you're doing, and this is a wonderful process of self-discovery. However, there are times when you can feel in limbo or behind on some level, especially until the 19th, perhaps as you are waiting for news or need to do some backtracking. While more clarity is likely from the 19th, your ruler, Mars, is retrograde until the 27th, and it may not be until after that date that you have a stronger sense that life is moving at the pace you prefer. You tend to prefer a more straightforward approach to life, for certain, but the editing work you do now can pave the way for happy successes later.

Helping you to acclimatize to this season of retrogrades is a Jupiter-Neptune influence that makes it easy, natural, and fun to nurture your need for more imagination and time to absorb and digest recent experiences.

The Solar Eclipse on the 11th can stimulate a strong desire for a fresh start in the areas of romance, personal enjoyment, and creative expression. Even so, the effects of an eclipse last six months, and it's best to wait for new launches or brand new beginnings until September or later. From the 23rd of August forward, more attention to work and routine is likely.

From the 6th, you benefit from Venus in your partnership sector. This transit helps bring helpful people into your life or is useful for making current relationships more friendly and pleasant. It's a time for making peace with people as well as for negotiations, compromises, contracts, and making connections. You're inclined to seek company more often than not, and partnership feels rewarding.

Uranus turns retrograde on the 7th, and while Uranus recently left your sign (in May) after a seven-year stay, it's heading back to Aries for a few months longer. This isn't happening yet -- in fact, this is going to go down in November -- but it's the first sign that Uranus isn't quite done with Aries! From November to March, you'll get a second chance to make some important breaks and innovations that ensure you're living your life more authentically. In the meantime, recent money-making ideas may need to wait or require some ironing out.

The 7-8 is also strong for new thinking along romantic and/or creative lines. There could be a reconnection with an old friend that gets you thinking or seeing a past relationship in a new way. This helps set up the new, slate-clearing energy of the Solar Eclipse on the 11th. You're reconsidering previous conclusions about your needs for romance and pleasure. It can also be a time for bringing back old hobbies and pastimes.

Mars remains retrograde this month (until the 27th) but spends its last two weeks of retrograde motion in your career and reputation sector There can be some second-guessing or reassessing of your goals now, and part of the process can involve taking a second look at old projects and plans.

Mercury turns direct on the 19th, and then Jupiter and Neptune form their final trine in a set of three that first happened in December. It's a wonderful influence for your intimate, inner, and emotional life. Imaginative activities or behind-the-scenes efforts can be rewarding, either spiritually or materially. It's a fine time for your dreaming world, education, publishing, and shared finances.

From the 23rd, work and routine assume more importance. Helping ground you at this time is a grand trine in Earth signs, falling in your practical houses. This influence supports improvements in your money-making and work projects, as well as with your reputation. Alternative arrangements, jobs, or approaches seem to work wonderfully well for you now. Applying yourself to your work comes more naturally, especially with new and improved ways of doing things that motivate you.

Mars turns direct on the 27th, and this is especially good news for you as an Aries (Mars is your planetary ruler). Mind you, this retrograde period has likely been useful for redirecting you along better paths. In the weeks ahead, career matters can improve, whether this has to do with conditions or confidence in your work and your broader goals. Blocks lift, and you are working more on your own terms. There is a stronger sense of direction and more time spent on moving things forward as you head into September. Your best bet now, and in a general sense throughout August, is to avoid seeking instant results. The last week of August is excellent for coming to a better work-life balance.

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See also general trends for Aries in 2018.

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