This Month in Astrology

September continues the creative, playful theme of August for you, Aries, but the subject of work and health grows stronger and stronger as the month advances. Even with recent romantic and creative excitement, you manage to get a whole lot of work done. In fact, motivation to produce something uniquely useful is powerful as the month progresses.

You can be thoroughly enjoying your work or daily routines --even finding yourself completely engrossed in them--and this shows in the finished product. When it comes to the pursuit of better health and well-being, you're far more patient with a solid goal in mind, which proves the successful combination now.

The 2-6 is a tricky but eye-opening period of the month. There can be animation surrounding children, a romantic partner, a friend, finances, or a creative project with Mars and retrograde Mercury meeting up in a sector of your chart that rules these matters. In fact, this meetup occurs on the eclipse point and can get the ball rolling for new beginnings in these areas of life. There may be surprises or excitement now, a desire to get to the bottom of a matter, and a need to solve a problem from the past. You can get very fired up about an interest or idea, and may be focused on past ideas, projects, or even people. You do need to watch for false starts (Mercury is retrograde until the 5th) and hasty moves and communications. Aim to resolve old, lingering problems. While Mars moves into your work and health sector on the 5th, the Full Moon on the 6th serves as a reminder to slow down if you've been pushing yourself too hard. Once again, it's a call to deal with old problems so that you can move on. Feelings about a past matter become undeniable, or a previously hidden or secret matter is revealed. This is a time for making the decision to either embrace or let go of a situation, relationship, or powerful feeling instead of staying on the fence -- a particularly uncomfortable place for an Aries to be!

From the 5th forward, you're in a fabulous position to take on challenging projects that you've either put off or that improve your lifestyle, daily routines, and sense of well-being. You're ready to apply yourself with vigor to getting well or producing in your job. This is a time for stepping up or starting a health and fitness program, although official launches may be best after the 20th. From the 19th, Venus enters this sector, and softens your approach, but also stimulates the desire to do something unique, creative, or beautiful in these areas of life. In fact, as Venus and Mars approach an alignment for the remainder of September (and into October), there's building excitement and motivation as you discover ways to channel your passion into productive pursuits. There could be a stronger desire to get your work "just right." Perfectionism can be a driving force and powerful motivator, but avoid taking this to counterproductive lengths! You are magnetic now, and could stand out for your services or the work you do. It's a very fertile time for your work and, for some, relationships blossom through the pursuit of your daily routines. The New Moon on the 20th is an additional boost for shining in the work you do as well as lifestyle changes.

The Sun moves into your relationship sector on the 22nd, turning some of your attention to partnership. Jupiter has been transiting this area of your chart for the last year and is now on the last leg of its journey, but won't go out quietly! In fact, there can be some drama related to relationships, freedom, and independence in the last week of September. Look for a compromise between togetherness and independence. Look for new ways to relate to others if old patterns are no longer working. Changes should be made organically, not abruptly, for best results.

September features building motivation and a feeling that you're in sync with the world around you, Taurus. While several planets are influencing your home and family sector as the month begins, your sector of romance and creativity gets increasing attention. The Sun is already in this house, and then Mars, Mercury, and Venus join along on the 5th, 9th, and 19th, respectively. There can be fun turns of events surrounding romance, children, entertainment, and creative projects. Small risks or innovations can be rewarding, especially as the month advances. A relationship or an exciting project builds. As you pour more of your energy and heart into romantic relationships and creative pursuits, your relationships and project take on new life.

All month, but especially from the 19th forward, personal magnetism is excellent. You are attracting positive attention. Enthusiasm for hobbies, entertainment, and other forms of playful expression increases, and opportunities emerge to enjoy yourself more thoroughly. You become increasingly freer of the need to sort out family and home matters, and confidence improves.

The 2-6 is a tricky but revealing period, however. Something from the past might resurface, and it can be refreshing as you uncover needs that you have either denied in the past or overlooked. However, your brain can feel overloaded now as there can be changes of plans and a strong desire to put a matter behind you. Watch for taking action too soon, however, since the information you need to make the right decision is still forthcoming. Mercury's direct turn on the 5th is useful for progress on delayed or stalled plans. The Full Moon the next day can point to sudden involvement with others, perhaps a friendship matter coming to a head. Love affairs, children, friends, and teams are areas of life that can involve revelations, unveilings, and important discoveries.

Challenges in September are mainly related to expectations in your social life, which can be up and down and not always in tune with reality! These struggles can be more prominent around the 5-6, 19th, 24th, and 29th.

With Mars energizing the area of your chart that rules romance, pleasure, self-expression, and entertainment from the 5th forward, these areas of your life are in focus and invigorated. You are more willing to take personal risks, with your heart and your creative impulses. Romance can become heated, and this can be stimulating or challenging, depending on how you handle the energy! Venus moves closer to Mars from the 19th forward, and this helps soften your approach and leads to more success! You now seem to know when it's right to make a move and when it's better to wait for something to come to you! As Venus and Mars approach a conjunction for the remainder of the month, your desire to connect, create, and share your feelings builds. You are on fire in the personal appeal department! While you should watch for impulsiveness, you may be getting the push you need to get going on a creative project, hobby, or even a relationship. This is a good time to bring a more lively spirit to your dating life or to a relationship. The New Moon on the 20th adds extra punch to all of this - you now have the chance to start fresh creatively or romantically speaking.

Jupiter is nearing the end of its transit of your work and health sector and will move on to bless your partnerships for over a year starting next month. For now, Jupiter's still making a splash. Focus on revitalizing projects rather than throwing them out. If something has indeed outlived its purpose and you'd be better off without it, then this is a good time to recognize the need to rid yourself of excess baggage.

The month begins on a busy note, dear Gemini, but quieter, more familiar and domestic themes pick up steam as September advances. Your ruler, Mercury, turns direct on the 5th and you feel lighter and more informed -- "in the know." It's easier to make decisions now. The Sun begins the month in your sector of soul/home, and then Mars, Mercury, and Venus join along on the 5th, 9th, and 19th, respectively. These developments bring many opportunities to improve relationships with family -- and with yourself. It's useful energy for creative improvements to the physical home as well, not only to your emotional life. Ideas for making home life more comfortable and livable are abundant. You'll need to be especially active on the domestic front in order to benefit from these energies the most - Mars here becomes temperamental and disruptive if it doesn't have something constructive to do! You can be laying down foundations, setting up a base of operations, or improving foundations already in place. You're thinking in terms of the long haul now.

However, the 2-3 is a potentially loaded period, with the 5-6 running a close second. Mars meets with retrograde Mercury at the eclipse point, and old problems can emerge for handling, setting you on a new path or getting the ball rolling regarding themes activated by August's eclipses (for you, this is about communication, transportation, and presentation). Watch for hasty communications, moves, and decisions now, however, as Mercury is still retrograde and you don't have all the answers just yet. As well, arguments entered into now can have a significant impact, so choose your battles wisely. This can be a great time for reviving an old mental interest or idea.

The Full Moon on the 6th can indicate a project reaching a turning point. There can be revelations related to your career or your general life direction. Discoveries made now can be emotionally-charged. Some of you may even discover or awaken to a dream job or path that motivates you in a new direction.

The major challenges in September have to do with juggling family, responsibilities, and relationships. Expectations, both of yourself and others, may be set a little high. This is not to say you should expect less from life, but it's about being reasonable about what to expect.

From the 5th, Mars charges through the sector of your solar chart that rules home, heart, and family. What you do with the extra energy available to you now will partially determine whether this is simply a period in which you work more heartily on home projects and are more actively involved with family, or if challenges and conflicts ensue on the home front. There can be chaotic energy on the home front if this energy is overdone, but once Venus enters this same sector (from the 19th forward), you'll find it easier to time making a move or waiting your turn. This can be an excellent period for getting a lot done in your personal life. 

From the 22nd, new adventures are in store, as you find ways to satisfy an itch for excitement and recreation. However, you're still highly focused on your home and family life. It's a fabulous time for creative projects. The New Moon on the 20th provides an additional shot in the arm to make improvements, and an impending Venus-Mars alignment colors the last week of September with excitement about creating something special. You're craving more emotional interaction or a deeper connection with someone, or with family in general. You can come up with inspiring and creative ways to improve your home or to enjoy family.

Jupiter is nearing the end of its thirteen-month transit of Libra, ruler of the romance and creativity sector in your solar chart. This planet of plenty will move on and bless your work and health sector starting in October, but for now, Jupiter is shaking things up before it goes! Your social life can be dramatic at this time, possibly related to the balance of attention you've been paying your friendships and dating life. For others, there can be a real desire to pursue certain hobbies or pleasures, but this can cause some ripples with friends. The fight to be freer is coming from a real place, but it's a good idea not to create too much of a stir as you go about making changes.

While the month begins with a play-it-safe attitude, you're breaking out of your shell and getting out and about far more as September progresses, dear Cancer. Relationships with classmates, siblings, and acquaintances are healthy and in focus this month. Connections are made, and a love opportunity through communications might emerge. You might be the go-to person for information and know-how this month. Studies and mental interests are rewarding.

September is strong for motivation and energy on mental levels, especially. Regarding connecting, learning, and communicating, you have a strong taste for something new, unique, and creative, and your initiative is powerful. You can get along particularly well with a co-worker, boss, parent, or family member now. You'll need to be fairly active and enterprising in your communications to benefit the most from Mars in this zone of your chart, or you may end up feeling undirected, spinning your wheels, and restless. Impatience is another thing to watch for as it can lead to costly mistakes.

When it comes to your finances and business matters, your mind is racing around the 2-3. Old problems crop up, and you want to put them behind you as quickly as possible. This can also be a time for making a stand about your own worth and the respect you are-- or aren't --receiving. However, it's important not to make hasty moves now. You are a little more impulsive than usual, and while it's a good time to revisit old ideas and update them, it's not the time to go all in since Mercury is still retrograde (until the 5th) and is aggravated by Mars.

The Full Moon on the 6th serves as a reminder of your dreams, wishes, and spirit for adventure. Buried feelings need some form of release. Epiphanies can be significant. Announcements, awards, or completed projects can generate quite a bit of attention. Lunations this month, as well as many Neptune oppositions to inner planets, can point to a real need to clarify your position, direct yourself appropriately in your studies or communications, and pay special attention to facts and figures without compromising your spirit for higher learning, concepts, and beliefs. Where you stand regarding school, travel, or communications and learning endeavors may be in question. Or, you may be feeling overwhelmed with what you need to learn, do, or understand at this time. Don't shrink from a challenge but rather take a break and make some changes to your plans. 

From the 5th forward, you have Mars charging through the house in your chart that rules your mind, attitude, and how you communicate and get around. This transit brings increased energy, motivation, courage, and initiative to your daily life, communications, and mental pursuits. You'll be making contact, writing, speaking, and learning more fearlessly and assertively during this period. Do watch for impatience while driving, talking, writing, walking, and getting around. Avoid using words as weapons, but do express your frustrations with words in a constructive fashion. When Venus moves into this sector of your chart on the 19th, your timing is better. Venus also helps you smooth out the rough edges and know when it's better to make your move or wait for something to come to you.

As September advances, in fact, you bring more and more appeal to your communications. You're also feeling growing passion and excitement for a project or study. Conversations are stimulating, and ideas are uniquely creative. You may be especially motivated to get a project started or to put finishing touches on a project already in progress. It's also a good time to make a romantic connection, particularly through third house avenues: school, running errands, your neighborhood, your daily commute, and even the phone.

Jupiter is on its last leg of its journey through your home and family sector, but is determined to shake things up before he leaves! Instability with work or feelings of being confined can reach a head now. Family and home matters can be a strong draw, but the need to excel is powerful as well, and there can be a tug of war happening that is the catalyst for making significant changes. You need to break free from some of the things people expect from you, but doing so mindfully will help your credibility. Jupiter will be moving on, but never leaves your chart, so you benefit from this planet of plenty's influences in another life department starting in October -- in your case, romance and recreation are the themes.

The month ahead is one of personal power, dear Leo, as you ride on the energy of last month's eclipse in your sign and find ways to apply changes you want or need to make. You feel a great need to push your personal interests and projects forward, and, after the 5th, it's a strong time to do so. There is an increasing focus on the building and development of your projects, plans, and ideas, as well as income, means, and resources. You're likely to receive gifts or happy financial news in September.

September can be very prosperous for you as you focus on putting your efforts into building and producing. You want results! It's a great time to explore and put your natural talents to good use. Favorable energy is with you for moving projects forward, gaining momentum as the month advances, but it's important to do so patiently and gradually. You don't want to rush through things and burn out -- with a substantial showing of cosmic energy in your solar second house, this is a time for patiently applying yourself to those endeavors that mean something to you -- or that spell security! While August was for setting goals, September is for pursuing them.

Both Mars and the Sun in your resources sector suggests a bolder approach to business, earnings, defending your territory, and proving your worth. Mercury and Venus enter the picture as well, increasing your opportunities for significant bonuses or gifts, job opportunities, or financial advances. Your attitude towards your practical affairs or business is proactive, confident, fresh, and positive.

However, on the 2-3, there can be some backtracking or frustration that serves as a push to clear the decks for new beginnings. Although this is a positive move, there can be mental tension now that could work against you if you succumb to impatience. Try not to make hasty moves or communications now, as Mercury is still retrograde (until the 5th), and you don't yet have all the information or resources to push forward. On the 6th, the Full Moon occurs in your intimacy sector, bringing illumination or culmination to a matter related to finances or close relationships. True feelings emerge, or epiphanies happen related to sharing, give and take, power dynamics, ownership, intimacy, and finances. You may be dealing with inflated feelings about a person, relationship, or situation, and this theme can recur from time to time throughout the month. Expectations may need adjustment to get you on even footing.

Energetic and assertive Mars leaves your sign and enters Virgo on the 5th, and this cycle can stimulate a desire to take charge of your money and things, and possibly a drive for more financial independence. Tap into this increased courage to earn what you need and deserve. This is generally a good time for discovering ways to boost your feelings of comfort or security. Venus enters the same sector on the 19th, and Venus and Mars build towards an alignment that won't perfect until early October, but that generates interesting energy for you now, stirring your passions and creativity and urging you to build, develop, or create something of value. It can be a strong time for creative, enterprising ideas.

Jupiter is on its last leg of its journey through your communications sector and will move on to your home and family sector in October. However, before he leaves, Jupiter is stirring the pot a little at the end of September! This is a call to deal with excesses in your life. Ideas are coming to you so quickly that it's a real challenge to make progress on any one thing before a new idea takes over your consciousness. Priorities may get lost in the shuffle now, and you may want to remind yourself of what is most important. Avoid abrupt actions, but listen to inner discontent. The Sun moves into your communications sector on the 22nd and Mercury follows suit on the 29th, and you take more pride and interest in your communications, projects, and studies as September draws to a close.

This is your birthday season, dear Virgo, which is always a time for grabbing opportunities. This year, you may get off to a slow start, but you'll find that the remainder of September compensates. The slow start has to do with the fact that the month begins with Mercury, Venus, and Mars in the sign behind yours, and you may feel a little behind and out of the loop, or simply not quite up to it! But as September moves forward, you come out of your haze, slowly but surely. It's a month of building ambitions, and it's a particularly fertile, creative time when you have great ideas and all the right motivation to do the work to get them going.

The 2-3 is a potent time for events related to August's solar eclipse. Your ruler, Mercury, is still retrograde at this point and aligns with aggressive Mars at the degree of the eclipse. A problem from the past may re-emerge now for handling. Try not to make hasty moves, both on physical and mental planes. In a smaller way, this advice applies to the first three weeks of September in general since Mercury and Mars are traveling so close to one another. Tap into the excitement factor of this combination, but don't put so much pressure on yourself that you blow your opportunities.

The Full Moon in your birthday month is always about close relationships. It can be a time of coming to terms with your feelings for someone or recognizing needs you've overlooked or brushed aside. Some partnership drama is possible around the 6th. This is also the time of Mercury's direct turn and Mars entering your sign, so there's a lot going on at this point. Listen to your feelings but don't make distracted decisions - wait it out.

At many points in September, you may have to wrestle with expectations, likely related to relationships. Dreams surrounding a person or partnership itself can come in and out of focus. This can feel quite wonderful at times, but at other moments, you can feel a little heavy with uncertainty.

Mars in your sign from the 5th forward is energetic, excitable, and exciting. This is the time to assert your needs and pursue what you want. Mars is now supplying you with increased personal energy, initiative, courage, motivation, and drive. Again, watch for hasty, impulsive, or impatient behavior. With that in check, you can use this period to pursue personal goals heartily. This can also be a time when support -- emotional or material -- can more readily come to you, even though you are more independent than you are usually.

Money matters can be a little problematic at times this month, particularly if you owe someone something (these obligations can extend beyond the material to the spiritual). Your desire to break free from these situations is powerful, but watch for hasty, impulsive, and premature moves in this respect, as you can be a little too anxious to put restrictions behind you.

Personal appeal is fabulous all month, but more apparently so as admirers come out of the woodworks from the 19th forward. You're both attracting things to you and pursuing who and what you want in September. The New Moon on the 20th makes it all about you. This is the first New Moon in a few years that isn't an eclipse, and you're likely to enjoy its more low-key energy, relatively speaking. This suggests you feel on top of things. It marks a new beginning - a time for a mini personal reinvention if you feel the need for a refreshing change. People see you a little differently, so work this in your favor as much as you can. While the Sun moves out of your sign on the 22nd, you still have a host of planets in Virgo boosting you up. This is a powerful time for building something creative that excites you, whether this is a hobby or related to your work.

The month ahead is important for winding down and tapping into your intuition, dear Libra. You're segueing from a connected, involved period to a period of retreat and rest. You begin September with the Sun in your privacy sector, encouraging you to consider ways to decompress and unwind. Mars checks into the same sector from the 5th, Mercury from the 9th, and Venus from the 19th, and more and more life departments require review and reflection as the month advances.

The 2-3 can present events related to the August eclipse -- including friendships, community, and long-term goals and dreams -- that push for a new beginning. Look for friendship and expansion opportunities, but wait until later for brand new beginnings when Mercury is no longer retrograde and your retreat period is over. The Full Moon in Pisces on the 6th brings issues related to work and life balance, service, and health to a head. With all Full Moons, seek out balance and compromise, and for this one, consider what's healthy for you, both mentally and physically.

With assertive, energetic Mars retreating into your soul sector from the 5th on, you'll be doing some reassessing of your goals, needs, and desires. It's not the most decisive or energetic of periods in your life, but you find more comfort in private moments and require a little more rest than usual. If you don't recognize this need, you could encounter circumstances that force you to relax more often! This can also be a quiet or more private time for relationships, especially after the 19th. It's an important cycle for discovering what you truly desire, and which pursuits may not be as worthwhile for you. You don't always feel in the loop or noticed this month, but you may very well need a break now.

Until the 19th, you are particularly invested in your happiness goals and social life. The 20th brings a New Moon that reinforces your ability to put the past behind you as you begin a new birthday year from the 22nd. Personal new beginnings are in store! You're moving into your birthday month a little "sleepy" this year, but you'll come into your own later in October.

You can feel especially excited about a behind-the-scenes project, activity, or even relationship this month, and this excitement builds through the second half of September. You may be taking an unofficial sabbatical of sorts when it comes to major decisions. While you may not be blossoming in an apparent sense quite yet, this is an excellent period for preparing yourself for busier times to come. Personal appeal is strong now, and creative pursuits can thrive, particularly if you're doing something behind the scenes or if you're on the last stretch of a special project. You may be better off saving the huge decisions for after Venus and Mars cross the horizon in your solar chart in October. There is still much going on under the hood this month, and it's important work, as you're laying the groundwork now.

Jupiter is on its last leg of its 13-month transit of your sign this month, and it opposes Uranus on its way out. This is a time for confronting matters related to freedom and beliefs in your relationships. You can be feeling some discontent or restlessness with the same old patterns of relating and living, and you're likely meeting challenges with others in order to realize your own potential. In your relationships, with both sides asserting their independence, it may seem that there is no coming together, but there is the chance to make a compromise. With openness, you may very well reach a breakthrough in a relationship now. Get ready for a new cycle, beginning in October, in which building up your resources, and possibly your bank account, is in focus.

You're moving from a strong focus on performance, work, and responsibilities to a more social theme in September, dear Scorpio. Creative, attracting Venus, logical, talkative Mercury, and assertive, energetic Mars join the Sun in your sector of community, friendship, teamwork, and long-term goals and happiness plans. It's a perfect time for making connections, contributing and sharing your ideas, and finding inspiration for new goals and projects.

You are feeling especially confident about what you have to offer. You may be taking the lead in a group or people may be looking to you for guidance. It's a brilliantly fertile time for networking, creative contributions, teamwork, hobbies, web sites, and money-making ideas.

Even so, events around the 2-3 can seem to push a matter related to career, work, responsibility, and achievement. Watch for impatient moves along these lines, including communications. Your words have considerably more impact than usual at this time! If you say something regrettable, it can be hard to live it down. Mercury turns direct on the 5th, Mars changes signs, and then a Full Moon occurs on the 6th, so it's an action-packed time when you may not be seeing things clearly, but you're getting important messages about your feelings related to friends and lovers.

Particularly from the 5th forward and especially with friends and associates, you'll find yourself in high demand. You are naturally taking the lead in group settings. More invites could come your way now, and you could be actively collaborating with others in group or team efforts during this period.

September's challenges are largely about wrestling with your expectations in your social life, with friends, and in your personal life. If you can keep them reasonable, you'll have fewer ups and downs. There can also be concerns about money, resources, talents, or earnings. Look for ways to restructure, organize, and budget as the means to boost up your sense of security.

You're in especially good form for coming across well on public and professional levels in the first three weeks of September. New people coming into your life could inspire you to make important changes and improvements. Love requires more emotional space, acceptance, and tolerance after the 19th, but it's also easier -- less pressured. Some of you could be finding love through group associations, networking, and friends. The New Moon on the 20th gives your social life another boost.

Jupiter is on the last leg of its journey through Libra and will begin a thirteen-month transit of your sign starting in October -- an exciting transit to look forward to and prepare for. For now, it's about tying up loose ends. It will be important to listen to Jupiter's message in September that changes are needed in your life, particularly related to work, health, services, and habits, but don't feel pressured to make sweeping changes abruptly. When it comes to ideas for self-improvement, you can be filled with ambition and ideas now, possibly to the point of feeling overwhelmed. Try to pace yourself. This is a time for tying up loose ends so that you're ready for the personal opportunities of the next phase in your life.

While there is a continuing focus on exploration, discovery, and experimentation in September, dear Sagittarius, increasingly your career, responsibilities, and life plan goals come into focus. You're gearing up for a rather ambitious and accomplished period, although all of these matters do have a strong social element to them. Very creative, dynamic energy is with you, particularly as the month advances, for manifesting your goals or for furthering your career goals. You're excited about a project under development or about what you have to offer, and this is highly motivating!

Seek out connections with people who can further your career or personal interests, if they don't find you first! The pace may be hectic, but you're enjoying it. It's a period for doing a bit of showing off or strutting your stuff.

The 2-6 is a tricky period, however. Problems from the past have a way of emerging now, but there is a tendency to make sudden moves or to speak too soon about a matter. Be cautious about what you express, and if something said to you causes your mind to race, try to wait before reacting, as the tendency to misinterpret runs high. You may be dealing with house repairs, family drama, and possibly even career changes that affect home life around the Full Moon on the 6th. For many of you, this Full Moon is about recognizing your need for family, or it's a call to action as your personal life needs some attention. You may need to deal with ambiguities related to living conditions or arrangements as they may be interfering with your outside responsibilities and goals.

Courage is with you for trying new things and even for starting something from scratch through redesign or renovation this month. Fiery, energetic Mars moves through your sector of career and reputation from the 5th forward. This is a period in which you may be pumping yourself up professionally, taking the lead and initiative more often, and pursuing your ambitions with vigor, but also with particular attention to detail. Mars at the top of your solar chart can sometimes point to strife on the job or with authority figures, or to challenges with your reputation, but toning down your manner can do wonders to prevent these things from happening. When Venus arrives in this sector on the 19th, you'll find this comes more naturally. In fact, as September advances, you seem to know exactly when to make the right move -- when to go all in and when to hold back and wait for things to come to you. The New Moon on the 20th gives your professional or public life a further boost.

Your ruler, Jupiter, is gearing up to change signs. In October, Jupiter moves into your privacy sector for a thirteen-month stay. This month, you're bound to deal with finding a balance in your social or romantic life. You can experience a real impulsive streak if you feel confined or restricted by others. Unexpected events can occur that push you along a new path. As much as you enjoy companions, there are times when you need to do things at your own pace. Consider drawing the line if expectations of you are too high. However, it’s important to avoid abrupt moves so that you can keep some measure of peace now. In fact, you're likely to find some resolutions coming to your social and romantic life in September.

Life is picking up pace for you this month, dear Capricorn, in a most enjoyable way. Introspection has been good for you, but now you're participating more than observing. You'll find that moving outside of your normal bounds and routines improves your opportunities, and this theme increases as September advances. You have a great hunger for new experiences and knowledge that feed your mind and spirit with the Sun in your adventure sector, and then Mars, Mercury, and Venus joining along on the 5th, 9th, and 19th, respectively. You bounce back much more easily from minor stresses and problems. You're blossoming now.

Even so, the 2-3 turns your attention to the past or pulls you inside of yourself. You can be especially busy going over previous work, researching ideas for future plans and goals, or doing editing activities. Try to balance logic and emotion. Be firm and genuine to yourself in your dealings with others but avoid hasty words and moves.

The Full Moon on the 6th brings a sudden awareness of the need to take better care of your daily affairs. There can be deadlines and realities of paperwork or errands to deal with now. In fact, September's challenges mostly lie in finding a better balance between personal interests and duties, and on a more personal level, some struggles with expectations.

With active, energetic Mars in your solar ninth house from the 5th forward, you're in a fabulous position to assert your needs and pursue your desires. This comes at a time when Mercury ends its retrograde, clearing up misunderstandings as well. This transit is one in which you're braver and more courageous than usual. You're drawn to new experiences and ideas. Mercury's influence here from the 9th can bring a larger audience or recognition to you for your ideas. It's a great time to self-publish, publish, learn, teach, travel, connect, and share. You might enjoy an exciting new project or a revival of one already in progress. Studies and the sharing of ideas are fertile grounds for you this month and next. Teaching or guiding can be in strong or stronger focus in the work you do. Opportunities for travel, friendship, learning, and love can emerge. The New Moon on the 20th can help bring all of this together and serves as a further boost to these pursuits.

Personal magnetism is strong and is set to increase, especially once Venus moves into harmony with your sign from the 19th forward. Again, opportunities arise as you reach out beyond your usual routines, and with Venus, these are related to love, pleasure, and money! As September progresses, your passion builds for a new idea, subject, course of study, or travel destination. This can also be a good time for competitions and athletics. Share your enthusiasm with others.

The Sun moves to the top of your solar chart on the 22nd, and you begin an important cycle for career, ambition, performance, and accomplishment. Watch for poor judgment, however, as there can be a real tendency to act out too quickly if you feel restricted in the last week of September. However, the need for change is valid and should be acknowledged – it simply needs to be approached with care. Uncertain home or living conditions could impact your work, plans, or ambitions now. Make small changes rather than abrupt large ones. Aim to work towards significant change, but do so gradually. Jupiter is on its last leg of its journey through your career and reputation sector, so take advantage. Your social life is set for a real boost starting next month when Jupiter changes signs.

You're coming out of a rather sociable period, dear Aquarius, and moving into a more introspective phase this month. Your private world holds increasing appeal in September. In fact, there can be times when you're entirely absorbed in quiet activities, research, and projects, and for some of you, close relationships. This is a time for going in deep and enjoying what you do. Support tends to be more and more available to you, that is, if you're seeking it. It's easier than usual to muster up some help, material or emotional. Some of you could enjoy support or backing for travel or educational plans.

Self-improvement efforts can be very successful this month. You're not interested in superficial harmony now -- you want to see deep, long-lasting changes. You're also more focused and able to concentrate now.

For people in love relationships or looking for love, this month and the next are strong for getting closer. Connections deepen. The desire for more intimacy in a relationship, or in your relationships in general, is increasing, and opportunities are likely to present themselves. Benefits come in the areas of finances, love, and pet projects. The themes are related to shared assets and transformational activities.

The 2-3 is a critical time for activities related to the recent Solar Eclipse, which occurred in your partnership sector, that set the ball rolling for change. Watch for hasty moves at this time, however, as you may feel you know the whole story, but there is more to come later! The Full Moon on the 6th comes as an important reminder or turning point related to your money, values, valuables, resources, and talents -- in other words, your greatest assets, material or otherwise. New discoveries are possible now, or there is a significant revelation about your assets or business that demands some action. At the same time, Mercury turns direct and delays lift and projects move forward. This is an eyes-wide-open period.

Mars, the planet of action and energy, charges through your solar eighth house from the 5th forward, marking a time for dealing with power politics in relationships, or for taking charge in your intimate life. Desires run more deeply than usual, or they seem a little more complicated! Some of you could be meeting with stronger personalities during this time, and the confrontations that result are learning experiences for you, or meant to draw out your own passions and desires. This can be a powerful time for work behind the scenes or on a special project. Once Venus enters this part of your chart (from the 19th), you'll find even more reason to get creative. An approaching Venus-Mars alignment affecting the latter part of September is motivating and builds excitement. There could be a sudden emergence of a buried desire. This can be an exciting period for your intimate life, and also a revealing time for understanding your own psychology. You're bringing more creativity and oomph to what you're doing now.

Next month, a great career period that lasts over a year begins for you. This month, the current Jupiter cycle is coming to an end, but it refuses to wind down! Your ruler, Uranus, confronts Jupiter near the end of September, and there can be an epiphany regarding an issue that you feel you can no longer tolerate. If you've been feeling hemmed in, particularly on mental levels, or restricted regarding what you can say and learn, this can reach a point of boiling over now. Tensions can lead to a breakthrough in your thinking or a fabulous idea for moving forward. Perhaps you finally recognize that a particular line of thinking or course of study is no longer the right one for you. While you are eager to get something started, make it a goal to say no to something new until you get organized. Resolve to make improvements to your life in the areas that are frustrating you, but avoid taking on too much at once.

There is a strong focus on the agendas of others and your close relationships this month, dear Pisces. New beginnings on the job front have been a feature recently, and further developments are likely in September. Health and fitness matters are prominent this month, as you develop new strategies to organize your life and structure your routines. Lots of chatter surrounding work goals and routines figure, and taking some time to get perspective and avoid stress is wise.

However, themes change as the month advances, and close relationships come into bigger focus. Your partnership ruler, Mercury, turns direct on the 5th and then enters its own sector on the 9th giving you a second chance to work things out or enjoy yourself in your relationships, particularly with one-on-one connections, business or personal, as well as counseling set-ups. Negotiations are well-favored.

The 2-6 is potentially loaded. Mars aligns with retrograde Mercury at the eclipse point, and events occurring now can push your buttons, leading to a new attitude towards work or health. Mars opposes your sign on the 5th, Mercury turns direct, and then a Full Moon occurs in your sign on the 6th. These events point to a watershed moment or a personal matter coming to a head. You recognize your true feelings about an issue, which can set you on a new path. You're making incredible discoveries about your life plan, body, and attitude/outlook. This can also be a time when a close relationship makes headlines in your life.

September's challenges are mainly related to expectations. The tendency to project problems onto others runs high. As well, people in your life may be bothered by your non-committal attitude. You could feel some pressure to define or lock something down.

You could be meeting with especially exciting or enticing people this month from the 5th forward, and for those in a partnership, a relationship is active and animated -- perhaps a little demanding at times, but overall contributing to growth and a learning process. Problems that have been festering have a way of surfacing. Mutually beneficial connections can be made, and networking can be rewarding, especially once Venus enters your partnership sector on the 19th. Some of you could meet a partner through your work. Relationships, in general, can advance to a new level. Be open to new ideas and stimulation, but experiment wisely and creatively. Be sure to get a word in edgewise, even if it's an important time to consider the input of others. A partner or special friend can inspire or motivate you to follow a dream or to work up to your potential. It can also be a time in which you have more courage to pursue a relationship. Watch that you don't pass the buck during this cycle – own and acknowledge your role in conflicts or strife that might emerge now.

There has been a tendency to stretch yourself to do too many things at once, and the chaos that emerges from this can reach a head in the last week of the month. Look for ways to make changes without doing so abruptly for best results now. Jupiter's transit of your intimacy sector is on its last leg. Jupiter will move into harmony with your sign in October, which has its rewards as well, only they're different ones! You're awakening to new worlds, experiences, and interests. For now, aim to enjoy Jupiter's final full month influencing your finances and relationships for the better.

September is an excellent month for a budding interest in a relationship or person. You are certainly magnetizing people to you now, and you're likely to seek out more excitement or passion in an existing relationship. Partnering up with someone can bring about wonderfully creative ideas, plans, and projects.

Love, creative expression, entertainment, and pleasure are the biggest themes of your life this August, dear Aries. This month may not be the ideal time to make long-term commitments, but it has all the potential to be a spirit-feeding, pleasurable time in your life. At the very least, you'll put plans in place for bringing more playfulness into your world. The Solar Eclipse on the 21st can affect you in various ways, as it occurs in your sector of romance, hobbies, creativity, and children. This eclipse acts to usher in change and new beginnings in one or more of these areas, and your life may feel as if it's been turned upside down, likely in a very positive way. You might commit to enjoy or express yourself more often, and since this eclipse affects you for half a year, this is just the beginning.

Since the New Moon, in a rather rare turn of events, occurred in this same sector of your solar chart last month, you've certainly been entertaining ideas for more recreation, romance, or creativity in your life. However, if you've lacked some confidence or haven't found the right channels for going after your heart's desires, August will take you there. Confidence is on the upswing, although a deep feeling of lack may be a catalyst for new beginnings for some of you.

Issues with friends that were left hanging or unresolved may blow up around the Lunar Eclipse on the 7th, giving you just the right motivation to make necessary changes and resolutions. This can be a good time for announcing or revealing a relationship or creative project. It might also mark a turning point in a friendship or project. However, with Mercury retrograde from the 12th forward, keep your cool and take your time with important decisions. Mercury's retrograde affects your work and routines most, however. You may need to spend time revising and reviewing certain projects, or a previous health issue may crop up again.

Venus spends most of August (until the 25th) in your sector of home and family, and this feels pleasant and warm. Activities with family or around the home are favored. Particularly from the 9-11, relationships with loved ones can improve with loving or compassionate listening and care. During this same window, you're growing and improving your relationships, love life, and creative life. You seek meaningfulness now, and you're proud of what you're producing and sharing. Someone may inspire you to be the best you can be.

Around the 14-16, you may be dealing with fears of being made irrelevant or dealing with the pressures of competition in your work or with your reputation especially, and this interferes with your increased desire for personal time this month. Look for ways to compromise rather than jump into actions that are driven more by fear than by realism. Thankfully, a Jupiter-Pluto square that's been driving and pressuring you since November forms for the last time on August 4th. This helps relieve you from tension, and as Jupiter and Saturn move towards a sextile exact in the last week of August, you'll find it natural to embrace a more moderate and comfortable pace. Phew!

The Solar Eclipse on the 21st is creative, romantic, and proud. You might begin anew on creative levels now. Fortunately, it's tied to advantageous and supportive aspects that help you achieve your goals in the months ahead. You'll find it easier to tune out distractions as you pursue heartfelt projects or relationships. Self-discipline improves. Creative projects that require a practical touch or detail work benefit most. Laying down clearer boundaries with a child or friend/lover can be helpful as well.

This is also a good time for forming or strengthening alliances. The practical side of partnering is emphasized. A partner could play a vital role in helping or motivating you to bring more order into your life. Some of you may be considering ways to strengthen your legal position in a business or venture. This can be a time for finding more joy in life from simplifying or some clever downsizing.

Your personal life, home, and family are in sharp focus this month, dear Taurus. With Mars in your solar fourth all month and a Solar Eclipse occurring in the same sector on the 21st, your domestic life is especially busy. Projects around or on the home are favored, and so are activities with family and loved ones. Because the energies centered on this sector of your solar chart are so dynamic, you'll want to do something special, take action, and make changes. In fact, changes in your family dynamic or home life are necessary--and may be a long time coming--as the Solar Eclipse ushers in powerful energy for new beginnings in your personal life. This can also be a time that you indulge in a luxury item for the home, or when money comes through to fund a project.

Uncertainty or lack of structure in your career can seem to undermine your efforts to improve and enjoy your family and home life. However, in truth, your personal life and public life shouldn't be vying against one another, and that's what the current set of eclipses are helping you to see. It's all about balance. If you can let things flow instead of pushing for direction, you'll be able to see this not as a hurdle but a call to see things more clearly.

The Lunar Eclipse on the 7th gives you a window into your heart when it comes to where you ultimately want to head in your life. People are noticing what you do, but don't let that idea intimidate you! The truer you are to yourself, the greater the opportunities.

Until the 11th, playful or creative communications, learning, flirtations, and engaging learning experiences can figure strongly. Mercury's retrograde turn on the 12th can introduce some complications getting your intended message across. August is a powerful time for getting in deeper touch with your innermost needs and desires, but it's not always a straightforward process. People from the past can be a theme now, whether it’s about someone reconnecting with you or thinking (obsessing) about the past. Slow down a little, give people space, and then talk things through from September 10-29. There can be some backtracking affecting your romantic relationships and creative projects, but it also gives you the chance to rethink certain plans.

Venus is in your communications sector until the 25th, boosting the pleasure you take in connecting, sharing, and learning most of August. You may be verbalizing your affections very well now, or there can be a focus on loving chats and sweet talk. Some of you will find or enhance love through the phone or chat lines, or with fellow students or in the neighborhood. It’s also a favorable time for pleasant relationships with siblings. Particularly around the 9-11, you can enjoy an excellent rapport with friends. Your conversations are revealing.

Resentments and frustrations tend to rise to the surface more easily around the 14-16. Be conscious of inclinations towards mind games or other forms of manipulation and avoid them if you can. Attempts to over-manage your life can only lead to stress. Fortunately, you're battling these pressures less and less this month. In fact, you're slipping into a more moderate, reasonable way of approaching your relationships, work, and leisure time.

August can be an important time for boosting your feelings of security, and possibly more freedom or enjoyment on the home front. Some of you could be moving to a larger space or freeing yourself of clutter so that your living space feels larger. If you're in need of a fresh start with family, the cosmos are supporting you. Helpful aspects imprint the Solar Eclipse on the 21st, and since the effects of this eclipse last for months to come, the changes you make in your personal life will have long-lasting, positive effects on your life. This is an excellent time for applying yourself to a meaningful project or endeavor. It's also a good time for launches of long-term ventures or laying the foundation for a major project or business. Taurus is a sign very capable of making plans years in advance and eventually putting them into action successfully. There can be a sense of accomplishment from taking care of important details.

There is super energy for attractions and flirtations in August, particularly in the first two weeks, although things may slow down mid-month. Creative, romantic, and recreational activities are in stronger focus in the last week of the month, but you may not see forward motion on these matters until September.

You are better able to manage your time, and you find work or your routines more rewarding now. This is also an excellent period for sensible fitness and health programs. You may be handling financial matters, especially debts and taxes, logically and realistically now, although you may want to wait until later in September--after Mercury's retrograde--to make big money moves. Two eclipses occur in August, and while these do prompt significant changes, you'll need time to sort things out before pushing ahead with new plans.

August can have a busy, sometimes maddening pace, dear Gemini, as your desire for variety increases and you seek out more mental stimulation and contact. It's a time for reaching out to others and enjoying the connections you're making. Many of you are all fired up over a new or renewed personal interest. In fact, this is a powerful time for new beginnings on the lines of communicating, learning, and commuting. There can be many errands and daily comings and goings to deal with now. For some, communication or transportation breakdowns prompt new beginnings, and while frustrating, new worlds can open up as you come at the world differently and discover new channels for expressing yourself and connecting with others.

Your mind is curious, excited, and hungry, and opportunities to feed it are likely to pop up when you need them most. Improved connections are in store as transportation and communication channels open up for you, although this can result from a challenge. It's time to diversify! Your success may depend heavily on others and word of mouth this month and next.

You can be exceptionally busy in your daily life as this theme builds, and around the Lunar Eclipse on the 7th, you could be feeling a little overwhelmed if your schedule is packed, and you have too little time to feed your desire to escape and explore. Even so, with a plan to find a better balance, your confidence builds, and little can stop you from finding inspiration and enjoying new interests and projects. This can also be a time for an unveiling or culmination of a project or learning endeavor.

Venus in your solar second house until the 25th tends to stimulate your desire nature, largely for material things and pleasures. You can be filled with creative ideas for using your natural talents in satisfying ways or for making money and doing business. Intuition runs high for creative and visionary business ideas, particularly around the 9-11.

However, around the 14-16, there may be a clash of values with a special someone, or issues of possessiveness can arise in a relationship. If you feel others have been controlling you or your money, then frustrations can emerge now. Or, if you've been overly attached to someone due to fear, this problem can reach a peak. Fortunately, love relationships become steadier and more straightforward this month due to Saturn's direct turn on the 25th and a fabulous Jupiter-Saturn aspect that helps you balance fun and responsibility. Realistic expectations of projects and people lead to happier moods all around.

Mercury's retrograde, occurring from August 12th to September 5th, is a time for slowing down and reassessing matters -- letting your heart catch up with your mind and looking at the world a little differently so that you gain perspective. Slowdowns in your home life or revisiting old problems with family may be in store for you now.

You could find that pairing up with someone to get a job done is very satisfying now. A partner or a relationship can inspire you to reach new heights or to learn a new skill. You have more confidence in your creative efforts, hobbies, or romantic pursuits now. There can be satisfying progress made in a friendship, community project, or team endeavor. Those of you beginning a new course of study are in particularly good shape for success.

The final Jupiter-Pluto square occurs on the fourth. This aspect was responsible for struggling with the level of intensity you want from your relationships in the past ten months. Sharing and power dynamics may have been tricky if you weren't sure what you wanted – or what others wanted from you! The pressure to do too much too soon dissipates now as you ease into a more stable period. A hobby might become a business or a fun relationship moves to a new level.

Major themes in your life this month are business, money, security, learning, and connecting, dear Cancer. August is a time for taking charge of your finances and generating new ideas, budgets, or plans for better management of your resources, money, and talents. You'll also focus on learning new things and improving your communications. Pay attention to important advice or newfound knowledge, but aim to put big plans into motion after Mercury's retrograde that lasts from August 12th to September 5th. Independent or competitive activities are highly favored in August, more so than cooperative ones, although you're also very well-liked.

The Solar Eclipse on the 21st happens in your solar second house and Mars charges through this sector all month, making you intent on bringing your recent ideas and endeavors to life and building or developing these projects. With this strong emphasis, many of you will be wanting to see tangible results, but you're also very willing to put in the necessary time and energy to achieve your goals. While the month can be intense at times, you're moving towards a more patient and moderate approach to life that truly works for you!

Around the Lunar Eclipse on the 7th, you may need to deal with funding problems. However, great energy is with you for new sources of, or increased, income from your own efforts not only this month but on some level in the coming year as well. For some of you, this can be a financial wake-up call. A payout or issue of debt, significant gift, or bonus may be part of the story. For others, it can be about awakening to previously hidden desires or a stronger desire for intimacy. You might reach a turning point in a partnership, and a decision about merging your resources can be a pressing matter.

With Venus in your sign most of the month (until the 25th), knowing and attracting what you want comes naturally. People seek out your company and desire you more than usual with this transit! Particularly around the 9-11, you are presenting an especially charming, slightly mysterious aura that draws people in. This same period is also good for enjoying more flexibility and freedom in your relationships. You can be enthusiastic about a person, an idea, or a feeling, and this kind of connection to something higher than you can be highly motivating. There can be a sense that you're growing and heading in the right direction with business or family – or both. There is contentment now, as well as a feeling that you're on top of things, particularly on financial and domestic levels.

The 14-16 has a way of pulling up underlying tensions in close relationships, however. Someone may be resentful of your good humor or the attention you’re receiving, and it could be due to fear that you're happier with others or drifting away. You may be dealing with touchiness, but intense feelings that emerge now can be very revealing. Even complicated interactions can teach you a lot about yourself and your needs. As well, excessive competitiveness in relationships tends to tone down by scores as the month advances.

While Mercury is retrograde from the 12th and eclipses tend to be better for reorganizing than pushing ahead with new decisions, the Solar Eclipse on the 21st is all about recognizing the need to make changes or clear the slate in some way. You have an exceptional sense of what is truly valuable to you, and also of your capabilities.

There can be great prospects involving your income, family or home life now, possibly through increased resources available to you for making improvements. Or, work and home life combine in wonderful, constructive ways. There can be more power and resources available to you for establishing yourself in a home or through long-term business endeavors. Family can be more supportive of your work, or your job works well around your family life so that you can enjoy both more thoroughly. You'll find that the major key to happiness at this time is moderation.

August is a powerful month and is particularly useful as a time for starting anew, dear Leo, whether this is about reinventing yourself through a new image or beginning a brand new path towards more personal fulfillment. A strong drive to take the driver's seat in your life overcomes you, and you're taking the necessary steps to get ahead. This is more about you personally than it is about your professional life which may take a backseat temporarily. Personal goals are in high focus.

You recently enjoyed a New Moon in your sign, pushing you along a new path, and this month another New Moon occurs, again in your sign (this doesn't happen often - we typically get one a year, and you have two in 2017). This New Moon is a Total Solar Eclipse, and it packs a whole lot of punch. It's a time for turning over a new leaf.

You're receiving an extra shot of energy and boost in confidence in August. For one, the Solar Eclipse in your sign happens on the 21st. This eclipse acts as a powerful slate cleaner. Something new begins, and it can feel much like a new chapter in your life story. You are ready to kick bad habits, start fresh, and present a more self-assured "you" to the world. However, this can emerge from a feeling that you're very much not in control or in charge, so there can be some discomfort involved. The eclipse receives incredible support, suggesting that efforts put forth now lead to successful, rewarding changes. For another, Mars is in your sign all month, stimulating your courage and bravery, as well as some healthy me-first energy, which of course you should practice in moderation. You're getting several boosts pushing you into the driver's seat. You feel driven this month, although where you're headed may not be exceptionally clear just yet!

The Lunar Eclipse on the 7th is a relationship wake-up call. There has been a tremendous focus on your personality and your needs, wants, and plans. This eclipse pushes for the realization of a partner's role in your life or your own relationship needs. This cosmic push does come at a time when Venus is moving through your privacy sector and heading into an opposition to Pluto, suggesting that you may be dealing with problems from the past that are re-emerging in relationships, as well as with issues related to over-work or perfectionism. Fortunately, there can be a project to focus on with a special person that strengthens a bond this month. August is better for personal announcements and celebrations than for relationship ones.

Finances need a second look with Mercury traveling through your values and resources sector virtually all month and retrograde from the 12th forward. There is a theme with money and business this month that involves looking to past projects for inspiration. You'll have to take a new approach to these ventures or ideas after dusting them off, but they can be true gems. Saturn's direct turn in the last week of August helps, but it won't be before September 9th that you feel ready to push business forward. Focus on refining and editing.

The eclipse set in Leo/Aquarius is still relatively new to you and will evolve until the final eclipse in the set occurs in January 2019. This is a period for discovering your independence, relationships needs, and what makes you shine. It's a time for turning points related to personality and partnership. There can be a temporary feeling of being invisible that motivates you to change your approach to the world. In the coming weeks and even months, you have take-charge energy and vitality for beginning brand-new projects, initiatives, and personal plans. There are pleasant and sudden events or surprises as your life moves forward in significant ways. Travel, education, legal matters, or publishing can be big players.

August is an assertive, active, and enterprising month. Mars is handy to have in your corner as it increases your drive and energy levels and is particularly effective with Venus helping to smooth over rough edges from August 26th forward. This can be an especially active time for educational or travel pursuits. Self-promotion or publishing may be in focus. Your desires are loud, and you're ready to pursue them directly. You exude even more strength, dynamism, and dominance than usual. Of course, you should be careful with this -- try not to take things too far. You receive cosmic help with this goal particularly on the 20-22, but you have support for most of the second half of the month -- you're finding ways to let your confidence and initiative work for you rather than against you.

August brings a mix of introspective and sociable energy to your world, dear Virgo. Huge stirrings are happening inside of you, but you're also managing to get out and about and divide your time well. While you are in social demand this month, a part of you is likely to remain a little reserved or withdrawn, and this is healthy and necessary! Mercury spends virtually the whole month in your sign, but turns retrograde in Virgo on the 12th, giving you further reason to reflect and rest rather than push big decisions. If others are misunderstanding you in the second half of August, you may very well find new ways of expressing yourself that work and satisfy to boot.

Your mental energies are quickened with Mercury in your sign, favoring any task that involves getting your point across effectively! However, from the 12th forward, it's time to slow down on a mental level. Edit, refine, reflect, and refocus. Allow time for your heart to catch up before moving projects forward. Chances are good that they can wait.

The Lunar Eclipse on the 7th gives you a push to take better care of health, routines, and work. If you've been feeling unhealthy or if you've been slack with routines, work, or fitness, you'll feel particularly uncomfortable with the situation now. A powerful realization of the need to pick up your socks, so to speak, overcomes you now. A deadline or upcoming event may be the trigger. New information coming to light, or strong feelings and epiphanies now, lead to significant adjustments.

Friendships can be lively and smooth this month, with the possible exception of the 15-17 when others may find you withholding or unavailable. Address excesses in your social life, particularly if these are draining your resources, whether this is energy or money! Dividing your time between friends and lovers may be an issue for some of you. For others, you may be struggling with whether to go a project alone or involve others and delegate tasks. A particularly advantageous time for enhancing or attracting relationships is the 9-11. Others are attracted to your ideas and your intelligence. There is a need to nourish both the inner and outer life now, and you tend to see people as the means to feed your well. What you begin at this time may slow down, however, once Mercury retrogrades on the 12th, so aim to take things slowly.

The Solar Eclipse on the 21st reinforces a need to look within. August is important for seeking out a balance between doing and resting, and slowing down can, in fact, benefit you. The Sun moves into your sign just a day later, on the 22nd, and while you receive extra attention, you're nevertheless still feeling hesitant about throwing yourself into new situations.

Efforts to improve family life, particularly on the level of structure and order, resume full force in the last week of August. It's a powerful time for organizing your things. Much of August feels like you're doing preparation work or laying down foundations. Make it your goal to be patient and enjoy the process.

The state of your inner world is especially active and at times chaotic this month. Try to treat this period as a time for gathering your energies and closing those ventures that no longer serve you well.

You have wonderful cosmic support for home and family life, security, comfort, and finances in the last week of the month. It's also a time when you're coming into your own, seeking out more from life, but also asking what you can do to make life more rewarding.

Big changes are in the works for your social life, hopes, dreams, or community involvement this month, dear Libra. August is potentially powerful for payoffs from recent career or business efforts, networking, and connecting with friends. There is still the need to process recent events and get your footing, but you're also in a very sociable phase that's excellent for you. Taking some educated risks can expand your world now.

Eclipses this month pull up important themes revolving around friendships, group connections, long-term goals, romance, and creativity. The Solar Eclipse on the 21st brings a charge of energy to friendships and group associations. Some of you may have been pursuing a project on your own, and you now recognize the need to delegate tasks, collaborate, or start something brand new. The change is likely to be an empowering one, even if you resist it a little at first! With eclipses, sometimes we have to let go of something before we fully embrace moving on.

You've been wrestling with the desire to spread your wings and an equally strong urge or need to stick with what you know or at home this year, and solutions to this dilemma seem to emerge this month. The desire to have more control over your family and home environment continues, however, and you may need to loosen your grip for your sanity! The 15-17 can pull up this recurring theme. You may be dealing with personal insecurities and fears that undermine your confidence and performance, or that are preventing you from enjoying the work you do. Try not to shoulder all of this alone.

The Lunar Eclipse on the 7th opens your eyes to your feelings for someone or a current creative project. This can be an exciting time for love, creativity, and fertility. Emotions can be overflowing as you explore your feelings.

This is a super month for appeal on a professional or public level. You'll benefit most from this on the 9-11. You may be giving generously of yourself or your services, and this boosts your reputation and appeal. People are receiving you well, and possibly speaking highly of you as well. Take note of ideas that come to you now for future projects, but save them for future use. This is a month for making some bold moves, but not for pushing an idea or project that's not ready to launch.

There is certainly a theme of networking and the support of friends in August, but also a lighter underlying theme of introspection, preparation, and attention to physical and emotional needs that will grow further in September. Mercury's retrograde from the 12th on suggests a need to look back, reflect, and reconsider certain plans before moving forward with them.

As the month advances, pouring your energy into a special project can be consuming in all the right ways. The focus is on order and organizing, and this can be very satisfying. In fact, many of you will be putting significant projects or ventures into motion in the months ahead, and laying down the foundation begins now. You're also in a great position to expand your social contacts or improve a particular friendship. Some of you could partner up with a friend. The Solar Eclipse on the 21st has the effect of pushing you forward courageously with new initiatives or in your social life. You're willing to put in the effort for a friendship to work, and the same applies to your studies and communication projects. This is an excellent time for productivity.

This is one of the most ambitious times of the year for you, dear Scorpio, with Mars at the top of your solar chart all month and a Solar Eclipse occurring there as well. August is about starting anew and making some waves. Several strong influences are occurring in your chart that point to increased commitment to realizing success. You are particularly determined, ambitious, goal-oriented, and desirous of taking charge of your future. You seem to need more order in your life, and it's an excellent time for achieving this. This theme is with you for some time, in fact, and it's only just beginning to take flight, helped along with the Solar Eclipse on the 21st. Success may be about career, reputation, or simply staying on top of things. Whatever your particular definition of success at this point in your life, you are hungering for it!

The Lunar Eclipse on the 7th brings an epiphany about your domestic or personal life that pushes you to make significant changes, however. With so much attention to your responsibilities to the outside world these days, it's time to give your personal affairs their due consideration. This is also a time for recognizing your love for family or other special people in your life. If home life is out of balance, you're ready to do whatever it takes to make it more comfortable.

Even with all of your attention to game plans, career, and responsibilities in August, your social life is also moving forward. Venus harmonizes with your sign (until the 25th) and both Neptune and Chiron in your romance and creativity sector. It's a good time to stoke the fires of a current romance with activities that take you away from the routine as well as to meet new people in different places than your usual stomping grounds. There can be pleasure, motivation, and possibly even love connected to schooling, travel, or online activities. The 9-11 is fabulous for exchanging ideas with friends and forgiveness or more romance with a lover. It's also a fruitful time for meeting people, but Mercury's retrograde from the 12th forward can mean that new relationships might slow down very quickly. Something may be left up in the air. The retrograde can point to some distance in current friendships as well, but it's temporary. When it comes to friends, you may be taking a trip down memory lane now.

The 14-16 can pull up some fears of loss. Conflicts with others may seem to be a difference of opinion but are likely more about the fear that you've lost power in someone's eyes. Watch for obsessive thinking if it's preventing you from expanding, exploring new ideas and experiences, and reaching out.

The Solar Eclipse on the 21st can push a matter that's been teased since the last New Moon on July 23rd, likely related to your reputation, life direction, social status, or career. In the weeks and even months following this lunation, you're getting major attention. This is a time for entirely new direction or a brand new outlook on your goals. It's a great time for getting your financial affairs in order, and this can tie in beautifully to the whole "turning over a new leaf" vibe of this eclipse season. Your efforts to organize your affairs can lead to an increase in income or the discovery of resources you had forgotten about or didn't know you were entitled to. Delays with money are likely to lift from the last week of the month forward.

The month ahead is excellent for opening your mind to new ideas, dear Sagittarius, and your heart to new experiences. August is a period for finding more meaning in your life. You're trying new ways of approaching the world around you, exploring beyond your usual bounds, and breaking out of the normal routine. This can be about physical or mental travel. For some of you, publishing can be in focus. You are expressing yourself in new and exciting ways, finding additional audiences, and otherwise expanding your reach.

This can also be a major month for a loan or other form of support to come through for you. There is certainly more emotional bravery with you, in addition to the physical and mental courage. You are attracted to new experiences, people, and places all month, but in intimate relationships, this theme only emerges in the last week of August. In fact, your feelings run deep and intense for much of August, and you take great pleasure in exploring a particular topic or relationship more deeply.

The Lunar Eclipse on the 7th can bring a learning or transportation matter to a head, and a turning point in your life. New avenues for communicating and commuting can lead to fabulous improvements, ultimately. For now, it can be a bit chaotic, however, as you adapt to the changes!

From the 12th, there can be some battle with disorganization or fuzziness on facts as Mercury retrogrades at the top of your solar chart. It would be wise to double check your communications since your voice comes across loud and clear (and this applies to the written word as well!), but the chances of being misunderstood run high. Watch for slowdowns or miscommunications this month, particularly on the job. However, don't pass up on opportunities to redo, review, and strengthen plans and projects. Simply save new beginnings for later. In fact, looking to past ideas and projects can be useful now.

You more readily accept and enjoy your deeper feelings with Venus in your intimacy sector until the 25th. The 9-11 is particularly excellent for self-understanding and intimate expression. A creative approach to relationships and business works wonders now. This is a time for naturally drawing success and resources to you. Helping others or sharing with people can feel especially good. Promotional and marketing efforts may be particularly fruitful. You might be attracted to a new line of study or feel motivated to explore a topic more deeply.

Around the 14-16, however, avoid extremes and pushing too many of your usual boundaries temporarily, but don't back away from a chance to explore some of your deeper feelings, fears, and insecurities. Tensions surrounding money, ownership, or intimate relationships can emerge. Identify areas where you may be acting compulsively or possessively, and aim to release some of the control, as these may be preventing you from growing, improving, learning, and exploring.

The Solar Eclipse on the 21st brings desires to expand and grow to a turning point and helps clear the path for new beginnings. In the coming weeks and even months, energy levels smooth out, and you find a fabulous balance between responsibilities and pleasure. Becoming fired up about an idea, belief, topic, or course of study motivates you to pursue a new path. Your hunger may be for more knowledge, experience, or variety, but whatever it is, you instinctively know that you have to stir things up or make changes so that you can find your way. Shared activities can be especially fun and productive.

For the most part, August is more a month of keen observation than of bold moves, dear Capricorn, but this doesn't mean you'll be inactive. Shared finances, loans, support, intimate relationships, and deep personal changes are in sharp focus much of the month. There is likely to be an emphasis on deeper, more meaningful relationships with others or getting in deeper touch with your inner desires, fears, addictions, and vulnerabilities. If there are any insecurities about your ability to stand on your own financially, they are likely to emerge around the 7th. However, don't let these hold you back from pursuing who and what you want.

There are several significant astrological events for you this month. The final Jupiter-Pluto square happens in the first week of August, and then Jupiter harmonizes with your ruler, Saturn. These point to the very real probability of crystallizing lessons and resolving difficult problems, particularly related to overreaching! You'll find that you're getting back to your moderate self now. A Lunar and Solar Eclipse happen in August, and they're pushing you to figure out matters related to money, boundaries, support, and ownership. Both the Sun and Mars form a trine to Saturn, reinforcing this theme of making things work. Last but not least, your ruler, Saturn, turns direct on the 25th, and this is the final direct turn for Saturn before it enters your sign in December.

A revelation about financial matters emerges around the 7th. Changes in income sources may be part of this package. Whatever happens now nudges you along a new path towards a more organized, settled, and secure way of living.

Most of the month, Venus graces your partnership sector, and smoothing over close relationships is in focus. There can be an excellent psychic rapport with someone, particularly around the 9-11. This is also a time when opportunities emerge to gain a fresh new perspective on important people in your life. Solving problems or absorbing research keep you happily occupied.

The 14-16 is tricky. You may feel put upon or frustrated by a person's behavior. Instinctively you may toughen up and resist, but you'd be wise to work on releasing tension and learn more about yourself through questioning your reactions. Be kind to yourself by letting go of pressures and negative thoughts. Easing up on the impulse to try to control someone may feel a little scary at first, but can be the best thing you can do for yourself and your relationships.

The Solar Eclipse on the 21st impacts you for weeks and even months to come. Fortunately, it's tied to aspects that work particularly well for you in areas of intimate relationships, support, finances, and career. Learning more about your motivations and inner desires can help you envision your goals more clearly, and this, by extension, assists you in building life strategies. You are projecting your value and worth in favorable ways to those in authority or associates.

Teaching or guiding may be connected with your work now, and work done behind the scenes can begin to pay off. You're getting to a very healthy balance between optimism and practicality. Pacing yourself comes more naturally now. You may be joining with people who further your career or personal interests, and through their support, faith in you, or wisdom, you are encouraged to reach your highest potential.

Since the North Node entered your partnership sector in May, dear Aquarius, themes related to independence and companionship have been building in your life. This month, partnerships are in strong focus. You get a chance for a new beginning or a cleaning of the slate. A Solar Eclipse prompts you to take a closer look at relationship needs and lacks. You're starting anew, whether you're in the market to begin a long-term partnership, to enhance an existing one, or to go solo. This is a big theme for the coming year or two, and the wheels are set in motion now, although you've been feeling stirrings of this since February. Other people in your life, and particularly those closest to you, have much to show you about the direction you need to take. This may not be explicit, and in fact, can come through your reactions to people's actions, but the message will nevertheless be clear if you choose to listen to it. For some, a relationship crisis of sorts prompts a new beginning or approach.

The Lunar Eclipse in your sign on the 7th brings big epiphanies and may be a cosmic push to change gears in a relationship or to reassess relationship needs. This can also lead to an emotional renaissance of sorts in which you discover how you actually feel about a matter. This eclipse can also catapult you into a position in which you are quite suddenly making executive decisions.

From the 12th, Mercury retrograde in your solar eighth house suggests a possible delay or dilemma related to support, debt, income, or an intimate relationship. This may not resolve until September, but your workarounds can be creative and useful.

Venus spends the first three and a half weeks in your work and services sector, and while all sorts of feelings and action can surround relationships in August, this transit suggests that your heart isn't completely caught up, so give things time. It's also indicative of warm, pleasant energy related to daily routines and work. You may be finding ways to enjoy your job more thoroughly. The 9-11 is an opportunity period for discovering a great buy, a new technique, or relevant and useful health program. You're taking a visionary, intuitive approach to business, money management, and work and you can enjoy fantastic success.

On the 14-16, however, you can be particularly sensitive to imbalances in your work or working environment if you've been doing far too much for others and not getting enough appreciation for your efforts. You may have a tough time understanding some of your deepest emotions, particularly when relating to people involved in your daily routines. Events or feelings emerging now can be quite revealing. If tensions seem to rise out of nowhere, remind yourself that they’re real and part of you, and aim to work them out. Otherwise, you'll just keep meeting the same problems again and again. With so much going on below the surface, you're not always aware of how your feelings affect your actions, but you have an opportunity to see this connection more clearly now. As the month advances, you'll find it easier to pace yourself and to let go of unreasonable expectations.

Progress and self-improvement are in focus in August. Problem-solving is simpler this month, particularly when you pair up to find answers. You seem to need to stay active with people in your life, or else tension builds. However, there is refreshing honesty and openness in your relationships which you appreciate.

With the Solar Eclipse on the 21st and its effects with you for up to six months, new energy is brought to an existing partnership, a new partnership comes into your life, or an alliance is made in the months ahead. This is a time for repairing your relationships and for reminders of your need for closeness. It's also excellent for forming business or working alliances. This eclipse supports creative enterprise and collaboration. Others appreciate your realism and reliability and are drawn to you.

From the 25th, a friendship gains more clarity, and a venture or plan that you may have shelved begins to move forward. There can be excellent opportunities to learn and team up with others through study groups or friendships based on shared beliefs and interests.

Work, health, and service matters are in strong focus for you in August, dear Pisces, taking center stage particularly in the first three weeks of the month, but never falling out of focus. Attention to detail on the job can reap the rewards. You're also changing things up along these lines with a Solar Eclipse prompting a new beginning and assertive, go-getter Mars charging through your sector of habits and routines all month. Organizing the little things in your life will go a long way towards feeling confident and accomplished. You can work longer hours than usual, or push harder in health and fitness routines.

While the Solar Eclipse on the 21st can bring new energy into your daily routines, and new work or work projects altogether for some of you, it can also temporarily drain you if you are pushing yourself beyond your limits. Using the messages to slow down delivered by the Lunar Eclipse on the 7th will help prevent this energy dip.

You have all the power you need to make important changes to your habits, working life, daily routine, and any job you do or services you provide in August (and beyond). This can be about reorganizing your life, eating and exercising better, managing your time more productively, and working on the details of work, projects, and plans.

The Lunar Eclipse on the 7th illuminates a private matter - something that has been left unresolved and now needs settling. The revelations you have now can illustrate the importance of making more time for spiritual, imaginative, and reflective activities so that you don't lose the motivation and spark you have for your work. If you've been ignoring your needs for rest and reflection, you could be feeling especially drained and sensitive around this date.

You have Venus supporting your sign most of the month, and you're in particularly good shape on the levels of charm, creativity, and romance. You are a magnet right now, particularly around the 9-11, for people and good favor. During this same window, if you have the opportunity to work on a budget, work project, resumé, or whatever else that helps you advance your practical goals, do so, as you have special insight into practical affairs at this time. You can be filled with ideas and are especially open to making changes that contribute to growth and progress. An intimate relationship might blossom, or you come to a pleasing agreement with a partner.

While personal magnetism is particularly strong until the 25th, committed relationships may be a little distant or complicated from the 12th forward. Mercury's retrograde occurs in your partnership sector, and as the ruler of both your partnership and home sectors, you may experience some delays in these areas of your life. They're temporary, though, and can lead to clever workarounds. As well, watch for tension and power plays or mind games around the 14-16. If you're spending far too much time and energy on trying to figure out friends, consider ways to detach yourself enough to unwind.

After Jupiter's final square to Pluto on the 4th, you'll find it far easier to enjoy the benefits of its transit to your intimacy sector, particularly as it moves towards a sextile to Saturn on the 26-27. Your expectations, both of your finances and the people in your life, even out. You can see improvements as you let go of unhealthy expectations and pressures.

The Solar Eclipse on the 21st brings a push to move forward with new and improved plans to take good care of your health and work. Supportive aspects around this time leave their positive stamp on this event that will touch your life for many months to come. This can be a fabulous time for hobbies as well. Motivation comes from a clearer end goal or a sense of purpose and meaning. Look for new ways of approaching your work or services, making or handling money, and improving health. Alternatives can be introduced now that lead you to rethink old problems and concerns and manage your life far better.

Even with Mercury retrograde, the last week of the month holds a lot of promise for your financial picture as you instinctively know what to cut out of your life to succeed. There can be psychological discoveries that help liberate you from difficulties of the past or from attitudes that have been holding you back from moving forward. You also enjoy strengthened relationships with friends and associates.

Focus on your home or family life continues for the first three weeks of July, dear Aries. Extra activity and energy are with you in your personal life. There can be increased family activities or more animation to your domestic world. Additional involvement with family members, more traffic through the home, reorganization or renovation and other such endeavors can figure strongly now. Even so, around the 9th, a career matter or project can come to fruition, stimulating much activity surrounding responsibilities or professional life, particularly if you've been so deeply involved in your personal life that you've had less time for responsibilities to the outside world.

There can certainly be some hectic moments at home this month. Perhaps your responsibilities to family increase or you want or need to take charge and take the lead. You are not content with only thinking about what you'd like to do; you want to be proactive and get things done. These are not lazy days of summer! It can be a great time for taking action on repairs and improvements around the home, as well as for active family involvement or organized activities and reunions with family. Underlying tensions with family can indeed emerge, and the good news is that you're more assertive and direct in your dealings and can solve problems quickly and courageously. This is not the best time for sensitivity, however. Your priority seems to be to get the job done and take care of business.

Venus spends most of the month in your communications sector -- from the 4-31 -- an excellent influence for expressing yourself through your words more charmingly. You thoroughly enjoy your personal studies or interests and daily life. Good feedback is likely to arrive now and incoming communications or news can be pleasantly motivating. Particularly around the 18th, you're learning a lot about and through others, and you're in great shape for partnering and negotiating. There can be a nice sense that you're growing and that your future looks bright. People appreciate you, so be sure to allow for opportunities to mingle. Pleasant contact, friendly exchanges, or improved relations with classmates, siblings, neighbors, a partner, or a good friend can headline in your social life. Your attitude and mindset attract positive attention your way.

Mercury in your creative sector from the 5-25 is also excellent for communication success this month. If you don't already do it, consider writing about something you love and sharing it with others. Mars, your ruler, and the Sun move into your creativity and romance sector on the 20th and 22nd, after which a New Moon occurs on the 23rd and the Sun and Mars align officially on the 26th. You can expect a power-packed few days! Sudden and compelling motivation to pursue romance, fun, pleasure, hobbies, or recreation can figure strongly now. Children also come under the rule of this sector of your chart such that the desire to procreate, if applicable, or to enjoy activities with kids can emerge now for some of you. You are particularly bold about expressing your creativity or feelings now. This can be a highly-charged and animated time. You can be impatient and impulsive, however, but preferably confident and in charge rather than reckless. Inhibitions fall away. Tune into your energy and motivation, but tune out, as much as possible, egocentric or reckless inclinations now, as the former can bring you to the finishing line a winner, and the latter can lead to regret.

One of the things that sticks out and distinguishes this month as different than others is that you're absolutely not interested in repeating the same old patterns or in being tied to lifeless routines. Dealing with long-standing problems and even childhood issues can be successful as a result -- you are no longer comfortable with your comfort zone!

Your projects, studies, and personal interests continue to gather momentum this month, dear Taurus. July can be a busy, communicative, and connected month for you, and while the focus changes to home and family life later this month, it remains an energetic period. This is largely because the Sun and Mars are traveling rather closely together throughout July, riling things up! Assorted activities, work, and errands, studies, communications, getting around the neighborhood figure strongly in the first three weeks, and not very much rest or predictability.

Aim to manage your energy so that you avoid a hectic environment. Make lists and plans so that you avoid a haphazard approach -- something that happens all too frequently when Mars moves through your solar third house as it does now until the 20th. Watch for impulsive movements and communications -- you can be quick on the trigger, and you can have so very much on your mind this month! Impatience or unexpressed anger can lead to mistakes or missteps. However, if you need the courage to push a project forward, express your ideas, or initiate a connection, this is the time for doing so.

A period of heavier expense ends, and you feel a little less weighed down by material concerns this month. In fact, Venus spends the 4-31 in your solar second house, lightening the load and reminding you of the comforts and pleasures of simple, earthy activities. July is less about making money and more about enjoying what you have. It's a good month for income, bonuses, or gifts. Attracting rather than chasing resources is most successful now. While your daily life can be hectic, there is something very comfortable and pleasant about your work and practical affairs in July. Especially around the 18th, you're likely to take particular pleasure in solving problems and making plans. The social side of working through a problem or your job is of great appeal now. Social opportunities surrounding work are possible now.

The Full Moon on the 9th is loaded, but it falls in harmony with your sign, suggesting that the discoveries and lessons of this lunation are easier on you than many others. It can be a time for awakening to true feelings about a course of study or project, which can propel you in a new direction or reinforce your commitment to a path you're already on.

Mars and the Sun move to the bottom of your solar chart on the 20th and 22nd, respectively. A New Moon occurs here on the 23rd, and the Sun and Mars finally reach alignment on the 26th. These influences point to an exceptionally busy, animated, and active time for home and family matters. The trick is to channel and manage this additional energy well and to your advantage! Irritations or long-term problems that have been brewing under the surface things are now in your face, ready for resolution. Be direct but also sensitive to others' feelings. Take charge, but if someone wants to take the lead more than you do, know when to step aside. Egos can get in the way now. You may be coming to a loved one's aid or defense, working on home improvement or repairs, or spending more time with family.

Mercury's move into your romance and creativity sector on the 26th brings more attention to fun and games, romance, and recreational pursuits - a theme that grows in August.

The desire for action and ambition surrounding business affairs, material concerns, and finances figures strongly in July, dear Gemini. You're more inclined to go after what you want, and you expect more from others as well. With Mars and the Sun's continued presence in your solar second house for the first three weeks of July (since later June), money or resources come into your life, particularly if you actively pursue them. However, they might also seep through the cracks if you're tuning into the impulsive energy of this combination in this sector of your chart.

Regardless, you have the power to make a giant leap forward with income or security in your life. Your initiative and courage enhance your earning power in direct, obvious ways. You're impatient at times now, and this may work to your advantage if you need the motivation to finally deal with a long-standing problem, but try not to take shortcuts for the most benefits now. Get-rich-quick schemes, for example, should be avoided.

Jointly-held assets and intimacy may be in sharp focus around the 9th when a Full Moon pushes you to get in touch with your true feelings about a relationship or a situation. You may need to straighten out matters of support, ownership, dependency, or debt at this time. However, your income and natural talents get top billing now. It's an excellent time for actively pursuing what you deserve. There is a stronger focus in your life on money matters, valuables, comfort levels, and security.

Fortunately, Venus spends almost all of July gracing your sign -- from July 4-31. This transit is fantastic for personal appeal and magnetism. Attention turns to your gracious qualities. Opportunities for cooperation, loving and personal gestures, and shared happiness emerge, particularly around the 18th. Creativity and romance can blossom. It's an indulgent time when you more frequently pamper yourself. You might discover new ways of having fun or opportunities to express yourself. You're turning heads in July!

The pace of your everyday life slips into high gear from the 20-22 forward. You actively seek out information and contacts now. You're bolder about expressing your ideas, or you take the lead in your projects or studies with the Sun and Mars animating your communications sector now. This can be the start of a brand new initiative, particularly after the New Moon on the 23rd. While you should certainly be on the lookout for impatient or egocentric communications, this is a good time for the confidence and courage to say what you want to say and for expressing your ideas and stating your opinion. Venus in your sign helps out on this level, as Mars in your communications sector can lead to impatient or aggressive self-expression, and Venus softens this tendency. Be more cautious than usual en route since you have a tendency to rush things. Otherwise, this can be a fabulous period for new and innovative ideas, energetic work on your studies or a personal project, and following through on a missed connection or gaining the courage to reach out to someone. Verbal conflicts are possible now, but some mindful clearing of the air may be just what you need.

July continues the personally busy theme that began in the last week of June, dear Cancer, at least for a spell. Mars and the Sun stay in your sign until the 20th and 22nd, respectively, pointing to three weeks of personal dynamism and energy. Mercury is in Cancer until the 5th, continuing a theme of speaking up more often, after which your thinking is especially practical.

From the 4-31, you can be a little more past-focused, reflective, or private about your feelings, love life, and pleasures. You may be very giving of your time and energy, caring for someone, or playing a waiting game in love. You are attracted to the hidden elements of life, finding inner beauty most magical. You appreciate some level of solitude now.

Even so, around the Full Moon on the 9th, any frustrations related to dependence on others or irritations in relationships can come to a head. Aim to purge, release, and work on letting go of negative attachments or behaviors, but be mindful as you do so, fully owning your part in any exchange or interaction. Ideally, you see exactly what you need to let go of so that you can move more freely. You could feel blocked and vetoed, but from this, the drive to improve your life emerges strongly.

The first three weeks of the month find you more assertive and active than usual, as you take less time thinking about what you want to do and more time doing it!

But there are some sweet, quiet moments, too. Particularly around the 18th, the comforts of home and family draw you in. It's a good time for casual entertaining at home, or for simply kicking back and enjoying low-key activities. Bringing an open mind and heart into your close personal relationships can bring rewards. Good feelings in or about relationships can figure strongly now. There can be some tendency to indulge and possibly go over the top when it comes to spending, comfort foods, expressing affection, and pleasures, but this can also be a good time for learning more about yourself, your heart, and the people closest to you.

In fact, as July advances, you're increasingly interested in matters related to comfort, security, money, and stability. This can be a time of enjoying the moment but also building your nest. Whatever you're building now, whether it's a business, home, or relationship, you are in a good position to pay special attention to it. You're bringing muscle to current projects, and after the 23rd, to brand-new ventures.

The last week of July can be particularly suitable for launching money-making projects, starting savings programs, or committing to developing your talents. Aim to be as self-aware as possible now to avoid letting impatience driving your decisions. Business matters can suddenly move forward or require action. You might have the courage to ask for a raise or pursue a business deal. The last week of the month is also excellent for test-taking, sharing ideas, and information gathering.

July can be an in like a lamb, out like a lion month for you, dear Leo. You begin the month with several personal planets in the sign behind yours, and two of these, Mars and the Sun, stay there until July 20th and 22nd, respectively. This points to a low-key, under the radar period for the most. There may be a lot going on behind the scenes, but you tend to be wrapping something up or keeping something under wraps!

However, by the 22nd, you're in a personally powerful, active, energetic, and effective period. The New Moon on the 23rd and Sun-Mars alignment on the 26th add more power and muscle. You're in a fabulous position to turn over a new leaf in the last week of July.

In the first three weeks of the month, you need extra time to sort things out and avoid overload or burnout. This is a natural time of year for some level of repose, and this year, you have both the Sun and Mars needing a timeout, so the need to take things easy is even more prominent than usual. It's not an ideal time for brand new beginnings, but it's beneficial for healing and peaceful activities.

While there is quite a bit of attention to your private life or inner world, you're speaking a lot more from the 5-25, and social engagements or invitations are not absent, either, from the 4th forward. In fact, friends and group associations can be highly beneficial from the 4-31. Camaraderie is important to your frame of mind and well-being now. This is also a good time for instinctively knowing when to relax and enjoy yourself -- something that is often missing from your life these days with Pluto in your work and health sector. Some particularly happy moments with friends can be enjoyed this month. As such, you tend to move in and out of a need for outside contact in July.

Around the 9th, issues surrounding work, service, or health matters reach a head. There can be a new piece of information that gets your heart racing. Pay attention to what seems to push your buttons now as these can be very revealing. This is true on some level in the first ten days of July. Aim to let go and heal, particularly if it's clear that you've been holding on too tightly to something that's been causing you so much stress that it interferes with your work-life balance.

Many times this month but particularly around the 18th, you can have some fantastic brainstorming sessions and enjoy cooperative activities. You might be bringing a past project back to life or finding ways of making something old brand new, and this can be a project or even a friendship. Your openness and generosity attract positive attention.

Energetic Mars enters your sign on the 20th, the Sun joins in on the 22nd, and both assertive, fiery bodies join forces on the 26th. In between all of this, a New Moon occurs in Leo, too. This is a power period for reinventing yourself -- you're coming on strong. You are considerably more energetic, willful, and assertive. Certainly, you may need to watch for excessive yang energy now, but with impatience kept in check, you can have an easy time going after what you want. Your confident, direct approach to the world now is winning. Solo efforts can be formidable and projects that require independence, initiative, and a pioneering spirit can benefit most now.

July continues a theme from the last week of June in which you've had a busy social life or a stronger focus on personal happiness goals, dear Virgo. Some of you have found yourselves very much in demand, and this theme continues during the first three weeks of July. This month also adds a growing theme of more attention to rest, recuperation, and downtime.

Virtually all of July (from the 4th forward), your appeal on professional or public levels is excellent. Social standing or appeal and personality can play a significant role in your bottom line, as well! Venus at the top of your solar chart enhances your reputation and may bring social opportunities through your work. Venus, besides her role as goddess of love and pleasure, is also your financial sector ruler, and there can be a peak of sorts occurring for you with money or personal comfort now. This is not as much a personally popular transit as it is a professional one, but you have other planets gunning for you personally this month. It doesn't hurt, though, to pay extra attention to your sensitivity and warmth meters in your personal relationships since the planets pushing for you are quite assertive and sometimes a little overbearing.

You might also come across as a little unavailable even when you are physically present this month since your ruler, Mercury, is in your privacy sector from the 5-25, suggesting some rumination or indecision. This influence can also point to making some personal sacrifices to help others or to working on projects behind the scenes and wrapping up certain studies or ventures.

Possible themes this month include conflicts with friends or an emphasis on leading a group. Extra energy poured into networking and connecting or initiating in your social or love life is another expression of the Sun and Mars in your solar eleventh house in the first three weeks of July. For some, there may be increased interactions with male friends. Relying on or seeking support from a friend can be a theme, although it's also possible you're the one taking on the supportive role.

Generosity with others is beneficial during this transit and especially around the 18th. You could be feeling more comfortable than usual with your position in life at this time and, by extension, others have more confidence in you. Opportunities to make more money could emerge for some of you.

From the 20-23, you have Mars and the Sun moving into your privacy sector and a New Moon occurring in this area of your solar chart. These influences can pack quite a punch, and it's all happening behind the scenes or inside you. It's an important time for getting extra rest and laying low. You're going within for answers and support more often now. It's an important time for physical and spiritual replenishment -- when others may find you a little distant at times, but they'll simply have to understand that you've earned some time to focus on your emotional needs and digest or process the events of the year behind you.

Do your best not to push yourself hard as this is a natural time of year for backing up or pulling back a little to gain some perspective and focus on physical and mental health with particular attention to the latter. Themes now and continuing into the first half of August are renewal, healing, release, and preparation for new beginnings. Even so, around the 26th especially, take the opportunity to put a long-standing problem behind you. Because the Sun and Mars align in your sector of secrets, anonymity, privacy, service to others, and endings, you might boldly pursue a secret relationship or desire, or gain the courage to end a frustrating problem, drawing upon your considerable inner strength as you do. You now have little tolerance for things you've put up with for some time. Because this house of your chart is also connected with self-undoing, be careful that you don't act too quickly on matters that may need more processing.

From the 25th, Mercury, your ruler, moves into your sign and you find your voice and feel more in charge of your life. Your opinion or know-how is in higher demand. You're making your own choices and executive decisions. You're still working behind the scenes on many levels, and you should watch for talking ahead of yourself now, but you're also in excellent shape for mental and professional pursuits.

Growing themes of social and cultural focus move into your life this month, dear Libra. With Venus in your solar ninth house most of the month (from the 4-31), you're in a great position to enjoy new, non-routine experiences, information, places, and faces in July. You have a taste for something different and exotic, particularly when it comes to love, your social life, pleasures, and pastimes now. Cultural events may satisfy more than usual and connecting with groups or like-minded people can invigorate you.

An influence on your solar chart from the 5-25 is also excellent for your social life and ability to learn and innovate. There is a great openness to new ideas and methods now. Even so, the Sun and Mars at the top of your chart until the 20-22 suggest particular attention to responsibilities, duties, management or leadership, career, public life, and reputation. Ambitious themes dominate. Your desire to win and succeed comes to the fore. You're on display or under scrutiny now, but you're also ready to take charge of the direction your life is moving. The possible downside to this is that you are more accountable than usual, but the plus side is that it's one of the stronger times of the year for reward, visibility, and recognition.

There is a nice combination or balance between work and play influences on your chart this month. Even so, personal and home life forces are not very strong -- the outside world and larger goals seem to be priorities in your life right now. In fact, partnerships and ambition can clash here and there this month, particularly around the 17th and 20th. You don't always agree with others on your life path or bigger goals and ambitions, and these themes can be stressful at these times.

Your more philosophical side comes to the fore in July, particularly around the 18th. Sharing a broader vision with others can be exciting and beneficial. A sense that you're growing and moving forward with studies and friends is motivating. Others are finding you especially attractive and magnetic. You experience high hopes and enthusiasm, and others are attracted to your unique self-expression and vision. Aim to put grudges behind you, not so much for others but for yourself. Releasing emotional weight and burdens can be invigorating now.

From the 20-22 forward, your social life picks up even more pace. There can be an increased focus on humanitarian activities and personal happiness goals. Around the 26th especially, ambitions and competitiveness in your social life can be themes. The need to lead is high but you also depend on others to reach your goals or teamwork is essential to your success. For some of you, this can be a time of taking a courageous step in your social life. Collaborations can work well, but there is a definite need for more than just talk -- you need activity and movement and say about how to achieve your goals. Alternatively, you experience a sudden rush of courage and motivation to work on an ambitious venture or ready a project for a launch. All month and especially in the last week of July, developing skills and gaining knowledge are highly favored.

From the 26th forward, be sure to look within for some answers and consider projects or attitudes that may have run their course.

An adventurous theme that began later in June continues for three weeks in July, dear Scorpio. You want to be free to explore, discover, and be spontaneous now. Leaving your options open makes sense now. It's a good time for willful actions - taking the initiative, innovating, and getting going - without too many obstacles in your path. You feel freer to assert your desires and go after what you want now. This can be a time for a change of routine, of being outside your usual comfort zones, and for doing something you usually don't do.

Venus, however, spends much of the month (the 4-31) in your intimacy sector, and this suggests that when it comes to matters of the heart and personal pleasures, you're taking things to heart or more seriously. While you're seeking more freedom in general, love matters are different! This can be a time of greater attachment, whether this is a person or a memory of a relationship, or a project you are in love with! For many of you, there can be good energy for negotiating a deal, a fairer agreement, or a loan this month. People are reaching out and offering you support in July if you need it.

There can be a pleasant feeling of being at peace with the past when Venus in your intimacy sector forms pleasing aspects to other planets, most notably on the 7th, 18th, and 29th. This can also manifest as peace with the "darker" elements of yourself and others. This is not to say that you accept poor behavior, but that you are more accepting of the idea of taking the bad with the good and seeing flaws or imperfections as beautiful. There can be a strong focus on the past, emotions, and inner desires, particularly around the 18th. Something can surface now, such as an unusual coincidence, that brings joy to your life or sets you on a healing path. Putting your trust in someone can feel invigorating. Charity, giving anonymously, volunteering, and helping others is fulfilling.

The Full Moon on the 9th can have a way of pulling up all sorts of unusual feelings and perhaps big news about travel, education, or a project. It's a time for epiphanies and getting in touch with your true feelings on a matter, or for projects turning a corner. From the 5-25, you're in a good position to plan out your goals, work, or long-term propositions. You're heard now - your words have added punch so use this energy wisely!

Mars and the Sun enter your career and reputation sector on the 20th and 22nd, respectively, and a New Moon occurs here on the 23rd. The Sun and Mars meet in this sector on the 26th, pointing to a real rush of activity and attention to your career, life path, ambition, public standing, or reputation. You're not content to simply think about or plan out these matters -- you want to take action and take charge now! This sector also rules your relationships with parents, bosses, or other authority figures. This can be a time when you're sticking up for someone or yourself, asking for a better position or raise, or taking action that requires more confidence or boldness than usual. Aim to be courageous and commanding, but watch for blind impulsiveness now. Ego issues can get in the way of perfectly good opportunities to grow and advance. This can be a very good time for tackling ambitious projects, for working tirelessly towards a project launch, or for showing a braver or bolder face to others.

An increase in contact with friends and networks figures strongly in the last few days of July. You're in particularly good shape for teamwork, clubs, collaboration, or simply enjoying time spent with acquaintances.

Relationships with loved ones continue to have extra heat or edginess to them this month, dear Sagittarius, or you can find yourself working on or pursuing certain projects with extra dedication and passion. You're in a great position to look within for answers. It's not until later in the month when you're ready to jump into action in most life departments. For the first three weeks of July, you're inclined to plan and strategize, and this is good for you right now, as there is a natural ebb and flow to astrology. You can have the courage or necessary push to handle tricky intimacy, ownership, or debt problems now.

An influence from the 4-31 is excellent for attracting helpful or happy people into your life. It's a little easier than usual to find good company. You're not only more companionable, you find it more enjoyable to have someone along for the ride, and you seek out company for things you normally do solo. The 18th is particularly suitable for cooperation, partnership, and teamwork or negotiations. Someone might turn to you as a confidante this month, and their faith in you can brighten your life. You can feel especially hopeful about friendships, partnerships, and your future in general. Others extend kindnesses to you. Group activities and associations could be avenues for fulfilling your own goals.

The Full Moon on the 9th can stir up issues of debts or support. This can also be a time of getting in touch with your feelings about a person or project. Aim to rid yourself of burdens or excess now.

Places of higher learning or around the world and the internet may hold stronger appeal from the 20-22 forward, although you'll feel this theme building earlier in the month. These could be the backdrop for interesting developments in your life, or there can be an emphasis on pulling yourself out of your usual routines and enjoying a change of scenery. You'll have the courage or the motivation to pull yourself out of your comfort zone now!

With a New Moon and a Sun-Mars connection in your sector of spirit and adventure, you are seeking out more spirited, interactive life experiences. Routines can feel more limiting than usual. You may feel the need or desire to stand up for yourself or your beliefs. Competitive activities can thrive. Some of you might enjoy a new adventure of sorts, or otherwise experience a sudden detour from the routine. There is a strong tendency towards impatience and a desire for instant gratification, so do watch for this. Also, your ego can be very present in debates, which can lead to some problems. Otherwise, you thoroughly enjoy a more active, assertive, direct, and spontaneous approach to your life. Since Saturn has been in your sign for several years, the dropping of some inhibitions now can feel particularly beautiful!

From the 26th, you become more focused on worldly matters, your career, and being heard. July is strong for sharing your ideas and gaining an audience for them in general, and these things come together more solidly as the month wraps up.

There is a strong focus on partnerships and close relationships continuing this month, dear Capricorn, and it would benefit you greatly to be creative and dynamic as well as ready to take action. While the Full Moon on the 9th brings your emotional needs and personal epiphanies to the surface, most of the first three weeks of July are about better relating. Be careful, however, because as you follow your drive to make positive changes in your life, your heart and sometimes sensitivity may be left behind.

While there can be competitive feelings and frustration if others are not always taking your plans seriously, it's an important time to work with others instead of against them, and for getting to the point of more equality, particularly when it comes to the effort put forth, in a partnership or significant friendship.

Venus spends most of the month, from the 4-31, in your work and health sector, and this can reinforce the theme of working for your relationships, but it can also help you improve the environment you work in and increase your enjoyment and appreciation of your work and routines. Relationships with people you spend time with on a daily basis or as you pursue your daily routines and health goals can be extra special now. Social opportunities might arise at the office or the gym, or even at the health food store! Your work efforts and your ability to meet responsibilities outside of work as well are especially noticeable to others around the 18th. Coming to someone's aid can lead to good feelings and energy. This is a great time for offering your services. While this is not necessarily a standout month for explicit recognition, there can be very optimistic feelings about your career or social standing. You feel more motivated the more meaning you find in what you're doing now, so use this period to discover what you love doing, and aim to do it more often!

The Full Moon in your sign on the 9th is a loaded one, possessing the power to really motivate you to make a personal change for the better. Your feelings are undeniable now! Relationship problems are unavoidable, but this also means you have the chance to handle them.

The 20-26 is a period of a dramatic shift in your focus. With the Sun and Mars moving into alignment, together these bodies stimulate courage and impulse, although sometimes recklessness as well. This activity is happening in your solar eighth house, which rules intimacy, sharing, finances shared with others or received through others, and self-empowerment and can play out in many different ways. You can experience an impulse or push to pursue these things, or there can be an argument stimulated now revolving around power dynamics. The Sun rules your intimacy sector and Mars rules your home and family sector so the impulses you experience now may be emotionally driven, internal, or relationship-focused. This can be a time for drumming up support. You can be hungry for emotional stimulation, making this a good opportunity to pour energy into or seek out a passion project or self-improvement program. This is a time when you refuse to accept the ordinary or static and strive to make long-lasting changes that empower you so that quitting a bad habit can be particularly successful now.

This month continues a theme in which work or services are in strong focus, dear Aquarius, and these things benefit from the increased dose of energy and confidence with you now. You're learning new skills, organizing, tidying, and taking care of business, and you can be especially self-motivated. This applies to health and fitness or self-care, as well. You are taking more pride in the work you do or in your ability to manage the details of your life. If you need to get back on track when it comes to managing routines or pursuing health programs, this is a stellar time to do so, as long as you don't push yourself too hard or bring too much ego into your work (the Full Moon on the 9th will help keep this in check!). Close relationships, partnering, and negotiating come into stronger focus as the month advances.

Conflicts with others this month tend to revolve around impatience as they are unlikely to be working at the same pace as you. Fortunately, Venus spends most of the month in harmony with your sign. Creative and romantic feelings blossom and pursuits thrive. Particularly around the 18th, you're appreciated by others, and you're ready to share your good feelings. It's a good time for creative communications, romance, and adventure. You'll find pleasure and social or romantic opportunities through different places and faces. Connecting with people who share similar or complementary interests to yours can figure strongly now. Freedom of movement is of particular importance to you right now, as any feeling of being tied to a place or routine can leave you feeling stifled. Relationships with others can be strengthened through sharing personal philosophies and beliefs, ideas, and interests. Love and affection are both easier to give and receive.

From the 5-25, Mercury moves into opposition with your sign, and this is another strong influence for pleasures and benefits through and with others. It's an incredible period for collaborating or simply enjoying more interaction and fun exchanges with someone special. It's not the easiest time to arrive at decisions quickly, but the reason for this is also the beauty of this transit: you are seeing things from a new perspective and considering the other side of the coin. Others have something to teach you now. This doesn't have to take the form of direct lessons. In fact, you're likely to learn more about your own feelings, tastes, and ideas through exchanges with others, which really get you thinking this month.

The Sun, the powerful leader, and Mars, the planet of action, align in your relationship sector on the 26th. This happens at the heels of a New Moon in this same sector on the 23rd, pushing you to take action, make a fresh start, or reach out of your comfort zone to make something happen. It can bring stimulation to a relationship, possibly through a partner taking the lead in your life, or your own motivation to pursue a relationship can increase sharply. Alternatively, more shared activities with others can be in strong focus now. Conflicts can certainly ensue, but getting problems out into the open helps you find the right tools to resolve them. A fresh start in the relationship department is a theme in the last week of July.

July is an active month for personal charisma and enjoyment, dear Pisces. It extends a theme that began in the latter part of June that brings you into greater touch with your need to entertain or be entertained and to create and enjoy extra play time. You could be spending time and money on entertainment, recreation, hobbies, dating, or children but should watch for taking risks or acting too impulsively now, particularly around the 2, 4-7, 15, 17, and 20. Otherwise, this is a beautiful period for approaching the world of creativity and self-expression with more boldness. You might embrace a new hobby or share your creative work with others courageously now. You could also feel that you often act a little out of character when it comes to courage this month.

Throughout July, it's important to keep in mind that you run the risk of jumping into new situations or ventures before you know what's in your heart. This was the case in June and is likely to continue in July. Before saying "yes," think about whether you truly want this for yourself - get in touch! There is a tendency to bury feelings now. A work and health or "take care of business" theme emerges quite powerfully three weeks into July. As hard as you've been going with play time, you're likely to do the same with work now.

Venus spends most of the month, from the 4-31, at the bottom of your solar chart, pointing to the need for extra pampering and a period of reminding yourself of the comforts of familiarity. Home life can improve, or you seek out quieter times. Throughout this time, but particularly around the 18th, your senses are heightened, and you feel inspired, particularly through your deeper connections, intimacy, family connections, and realizations about psychological matters. Understanding your inner motivations or those of a special person in your life can be enlightening now. Aim to let go of resentment as much as possible. Joy comes from honesty with yourself. Attracting support, if needed, comes naturally. For some, a loan or support could come through, mainly related to home or family ventures. Redecorating or making the home more comfortable and friendly can be a theme now.

The Full Moon on the 9th can bring feelings, a connection, friendship, or a project to a turning point or point of blossoming. This is a time for putting something negative behind you.

Mars and the Sun enter your sector of work, health, and routines on the 20th and 22nd, joining forces on the 26th, and a New Moon occurs in this same sector of your chart in between these events! This points to extra muscle or punch, and perhaps powerful motivation, when it comes to taking action on and improving your work, health, daily routines, habits, and self-care programs. It's an especially busy and active period for taking care of business, organizing, seeking out work or improving work, and becoming more active or proactive with your health. The Sun and Mars are powerful, action-oriented, Yang energies, and their presence in this area of your solar chart can help supply you with added energy, initiative, and courage, which are things to nurture, but you should also watch for impatience and shortness with others, or impulsive actions.

September continues the creative, playful theme of August for you, Aries, but the subject of work and health grows stronger and stronger as the month advances. Even with recent romantic and creative excitement, you manage to get a whole lot of work done. In fact, motivation to produce something uniquely useful is powerful as the month progresses.

You can be thoroughly enjoying your work or daily routines --even finding yourself completely engrossed in them--and this shows in the finished product. When it comes to the pursuit of better health and well-being, you're far more patient with a solid goal in mind, which proves the successful combination now.

The 2-6 is a tricky but eye-opening period of the month. There can be animation surrounding children, a romantic partner, a friend, finances, or a creative project with Mars and retrograde Mercury meeting up in a sector of your chart that rules these matters. In fact, this meetup occurs on the eclipse point and can get the ball rolling for new beginnings in these areas of life. There may be surprises or excitement now, a desire to get to the bottom of a matter, and a need to solve a problem from the past. You can get very fired up about an interest or idea, and may be focused on past ideas, projects, or even people. You do need to watch for false starts (Mercury is retrograde until the 5th) and hasty moves and communications. Aim to resolve old, lingering problems. While Mars moves into your work and health sector on the 5th, the Full Moon on the 6th serves as a reminder to slow down if you've been pushing yourself too hard. Once again, it's a call to deal with old problems so that you can move on. Feelings about a past matter become undeniable, or a previously hidden or secret matter is revealed. This is a time for making the decision to either embrace or let go of a situation, relationship, or powerful feeling instead of staying on the fence -- a particularly uncomfortable place for an Aries to be!

From the 5th forward, you're in a fabulous position to take on challenging projects that you've either put off or that improve your lifestyle, daily routines, and sense of well-being. You're ready to apply yourself with vigor to getting well or producing in your job. This is a time for stepping up or starting a health and fitness program, although official launches may be best after the 20th. From the 19th, Venus enters this sector, and softens your approach, but also stimulates the desire to do something unique, creative, or beautiful in these areas of life. In fact, as Venus and Mars approach an alignment for the remainder of September (and into October), there's building excitement and motivation as you discover ways to channel your passion into productive pursuits. There could be a stronger desire to get your work "just right." Perfectionism can be a driving force and powerful motivator, but avoid taking this to counterproductive lengths! You are magnetic now, and could stand out for your services or the work you do. It's a very fertile time for your work and, for some, relationships blossom through the pursuit of your daily routines. The New Moon on the 20th is an additional boost for shining in the work you do as well as lifestyle changes.

The Sun moves into your relationship sector on the 22nd, turning some of your attention to partnership. Jupiter has been transiting this area of your chart for the last year and is now on the last leg of its journey, but won't go out quietly! In fact, there can be some drama related to relationships, freedom, and independence in the last week of September. Look for a compromise between togetherness and independence. Look for new ways to relate to others if old patterns are no longer working. Changes should be made organically, not abruptly, for best results.

September features building motivation and a feeling that you're in sync with the world around you, Taurus. While several planets are influencing your home and family sector as the month begins, your sector of romance and creativity gets increasing attention. The Sun is already in this house, and then Mars, Mercury, and Venus join along on the 5th, 9th, and 19th, respectively. There can be fun turns of events surrounding romance, children, entertainment, and creative projects. Small risks or innovations can be rewarding, especially as the month advances. A relationship or an exciting project builds. As you pour more of your energy and heart into romantic relationships and creative pursuits, your relationships and project take on new life.

All month, but especially from the 19th forward, personal magnetism is excellent. You are attracting positive attention. Enthusiasm for hobbies, entertainment, and other forms of playful expression increases, and opportunities emerge to enjoy yourself more thoroughly. You become increasingly freer of the need to sort out family and home matters, and confidence improves.

The 2-6 is a tricky but revealing period, however. Something from the past might resurface, and it can be refreshing as you uncover needs that you have either denied in the past or overlooked. However, your brain can feel overloaded now as there can be changes of plans and a strong desire to put a matter behind you. Watch for taking action too soon, however, since the information you need to make the right decision is still forthcoming. Mercury's direct turn on the 5th is useful for progress on delayed or stalled plans. The Full Moon the next day can point to sudden involvement with others, perhaps a friendship matter coming to a head. Love affairs, children, friends, and teams are areas of life that can involve revelations, unveilings, and important discoveries.

Challenges in September are mainly related to expectations in your social life, which can be up and down and not always in tune with reality! These struggles can be more prominent around the 5-6, 19th, 24th, and 29th.

With Mars energizing the area of your chart that rules romance, pleasure, self-expression, and entertainment from the 5th forward, these areas of your life are in focus and invigorated. You are more willing to take personal risks, with your heart and your creative impulses. Romance can become heated, and this can be stimulating or challenging, depending on how you handle the energy! Venus moves closer to Mars from the 19th forward, and this helps soften your approach and leads to more success! You now seem to know when it's right to make a move and when it's better to wait for something to come to you! As Venus and Mars approach a conjunction for the remainder of the month, your desire to connect, create, and share your feelings builds. You are on fire in the personal appeal department! While you should watch for impulsiveness, you may be getting the push you need to get going on a creative project, hobby, or even a relationship. This is a good time to bring a more lively spirit to your dating life or to a relationship. The New Moon on the 20th adds extra punch to all of this - you now have the chance to start fresh creatively or romantically speaking.

Jupiter is nearing the end of its transit of your work and health sector and will move on to bless your partnerships for over a year starting next month. For now, Jupiter's still making a splash. Focus on revitalizing projects rather than throwing them out. If something has indeed outlived its purpose and you'd be better off without it, then this is a good time to recognize the need to rid yourself of excess baggage.

The month begins on a busy note, dear Gemini, but quieter, more familiar and domestic themes pick up steam as September advances. Your ruler, Mercury, turns direct on the 5th and you feel lighter and more informed -- "in the know." It's easier to make decisions now. The Sun begins the month in your sector of soul/home, and then Mars, Mercury, and Venus join along on the 5th, 9th, and 19th, respectively. These developments bring many opportunities to improve relationships with family -- and with yourself. It's useful energy for creative improvements to the physical home as well, not only to your emotional life. Ideas for making home life more comfortable and livable are abundant. You'll need to be especially active on the domestic front in order to benefit from these energies the most - Mars here becomes temperamental and disruptive if it doesn't have something constructive to do! You can be laying down foundations, setting up a base of operations, or improving foundations already in place. You're thinking in terms of the long haul now.

However, the 2-3 is a potentially loaded period, with the 5-6 running a close second. Mars meets with retrograde Mercury at the eclipse point, and old problems can emerge for handling, setting you on a new path or getting the ball rolling regarding themes activated by August's eclipses (for you, this is about communication, transportation, and presentation). Watch for hasty communications, moves, and decisions now, however, as Mercury is still retrograde and you don't have all the answers just yet. As well, arguments entered into now can have a significant impact, so choose your battles wisely. This can be a great time for reviving an old mental interest or idea.

The Full Moon on the 6th can indicate a project reaching a turning point. There can be revelations related to your career or your general life direction. Discoveries made now can be emotionally-charged. Some of you may even discover or awaken to a dream job or path that motivates you in a new direction.

The major challenges in September have to do with juggling family, responsibilities, and relationships. Expectations, both of yourself and others, may be set a little high. This is not to say you should expect less from life, but it's about being reasonable about what to expect.

From the 5th, Mars charges through the sector of your solar chart that rules home, heart, and family. What you do with the extra energy available to you now will partially determine whether this is simply a period in which you work more heartily on home projects and are more actively involved with family, or if challenges and conflicts ensue on the home front. There can be chaotic energy on the home front if this energy is overdone, but once Venus enters this same sector (from the 19th forward), you'll find it easier to time making a move or waiting your turn. This can be an excellent period for getting a lot done in your personal life. 

From the 22nd, new adventures are in store, as you find ways to satisfy an itch for excitement and recreation. However, you're still highly focused on your home and family life. It's a fabulous time for creative projects. The New Moon on the 20th provides an additional shot in the arm to make improvements, and an impending Venus-Mars alignment colors the last week of September with excitement about creating something special. You're craving more emotional interaction or a deeper connection with someone, or with family in general. You can come up with inspiring and creative ways to improve your home or to enjoy family.

Jupiter is nearing the end of its thirteen-month transit of Libra, ruler of the romance and creativity sector in your solar chart. This planet of plenty will move on and bless your work and health sector starting in October, but for now, Jupiter is shaking things up before it goes! Your social life can be dramatic at this time, possibly related to the balance of attention you've been paying your friendships and dating life. For others, there can be a real desire to pursue certain hobbies or pleasures, but this can cause some ripples with friends. The fight to be freer is coming from a real place, but it's a good idea not to create too much of a stir as you go about making changes.

While the month begins with a play-it-safe attitude, you're breaking out of your shell and getting out and about far more as September progresses, dear Cancer. Relationships with classmates, siblings, and acquaintances are healthy and in focus this month. Connections are made, and a love opportunity through communications might emerge. You might be the go-to person for information and know-how this month. Studies and mental interests are rewarding.

September is strong for motivation and energy on mental levels, especially. Regarding connecting, learning, and communicating, you have a strong taste for something new, unique, and creative, and your initiative is powerful. You can get along particularly well with a co-worker, boss, parent, or family member now. You'll need to be fairly active and enterprising in your communications to benefit the most from Mars in this zone of your chart, or you may end up feeling undirected, spinning your wheels, and restless. Impatience is another thing to watch for as it can lead to costly mistakes.

When it comes to your finances and business matters, your mind is racing around the 2-3. Old problems crop up, and you want to put them behind you as quickly as possible. This can also be a time for making a stand about your own worth and the respect you are-- or aren't --receiving. However, it's important not to make hasty moves now. You are a little more impulsive than usual, and while it's a good time to revisit old ideas and update them, it's not the time to go all in since Mercury is still retrograde (until the 5th) and is aggravated by Mars.

The Full Moon on the 6th serves as a reminder of your dreams, wishes, and spirit for adventure. Buried feelings need some form of release. Epiphanies can be significant. Announcements, awards, or completed projects can generate quite a bit of attention. Lunations this month, as well as many Neptune oppositions to inner planets, can point to a real need to clarify your position, direct yourself appropriately in your studies or communications, and pay special attention to facts and figures without compromising your spirit for higher learning, concepts, and beliefs. Where you stand regarding school, travel, or communications and learning endeavors may be in question. Or, you may be feeling overwhelmed with what you need to learn, do, or understand at this time. Don't shrink from a challenge but rather take a break and make some changes to your plans. 

From the 5th forward, you have Mars charging through the house in your chart that rules your mind, attitude, and how you communicate and get around. This transit brings increased energy, motivation, courage, and initiative to your daily life, communications, and mental pursuits. You'll be making contact, writing, speaking, and learning more fearlessly and assertively during this period. Do watch for impatience while driving, talking, writing, walking, and getting around. Avoid using words as weapons, but do express your frustrations with words in a constructive fashion. When Venus moves into this sector of your chart on the 19th, your timing is better. Venus also helps you smooth out the rough edges and know when it's better to make your move or wait for something to come to you.

As September advances, in fact, you bring more and more appeal to your communications. You're also feeling growing passion and excitement for a project or study. Conversations are stimulating, and ideas are uniquely creative. You may be especially motivated to get a project started or to put finishing touches on a project already in progress. It's also a good time to make a romantic connection, particularly through third house avenues: school, running errands, your neighborhood, your daily commute, and even the phone.

Jupiter is on its last leg of its journey through your home and family sector, but is determined to shake things up before he leaves! Instability with work or feelings of being confined can reach a head now. Family and home matters can be a strong draw, but the need to excel is powerful as well, and there can be a tug of war happening that is the catalyst for making significant changes. You need to break free from some of the things people expect from you, but doing so mindfully will help your credibility. Jupiter will be moving on, but never leaves your chart, so you benefit from this planet of plenty's influences in another life department starting in October -- in your case, romance and recreation are the themes.

The month ahead is one of personal power, dear Leo, as you ride on the energy of last month's eclipse in your sign and find ways to apply changes you want or need to make. You feel a great need to push your personal interests and projects forward, and, after the 5th, it's a strong time to do so. There is an increasing focus on the building and development of your projects, plans, and ideas, as well as income, means, and resources. You're likely to receive gifts or happy financial news in September.

September can be very prosperous for you as you focus on putting your efforts into building and producing. You want results! It's a great time to explore and put your natural talents to good use. Favorable energy is with you for moving projects forward, gaining momentum as the month advances, but it's important to do so patiently and gradually. You don't want to rush through things and burn out -- with a substantial showing of cosmic energy in your solar second house, this is a time for patiently applying yourself to those endeavors that mean something to you -- or that spell security! While August was for setting goals, September is for pursuing them.

Both Mars and the Sun in your resources sector suggests a bolder approach to business, earnings, defending your territory, and proving your worth. Mercury and Venus enter the picture as well, increasing your opportunities for significant bonuses or gifts, job opportunities, or financial advances. Your attitude towards your practical affairs or business is proactive, confident, fresh, and positive.

However, on the 2-3, there can be some backtracking or frustration that serves as a push to clear the decks for new beginnings. Although this is a positive move, there can be mental tension now that could work against you if you succumb to impatience. Try not to make hasty moves or communications now, as Mercury is still retrograde (until the 5th), and you don't yet have all the information or resources to push forward. On the 6th, the Full Moon occurs in your intimacy sector, bringing illumination or culmination to a matter related to finances or close relationships. True feelings emerge, or epiphanies happen related to sharing, give and take, power dynamics, ownership, intimacy, and finances. You may be dealing with inflated feelings about a person, relationship, or situation, and this theme can recur from time to time throughout the month. Expectations may need adjustment to get you on even footing.

Energetic and assertive Mars leaves your sign and enters Virgo on the 5th, and this cycle can stimulate a desire to take charge of your money and things, and possibly a drive for more financial independence. Tap into this increased courage to earn what you need and deserve. This is generally a good time for discovering ways to boost your feelings of comfort or security. Venus enters the same sector on the 19th, and Venus and Mars build towards an alignment that won't perfect until early October, but that generates interesting energy for you now, stirring your passions and creativity and urging you to build, develop, or create something of value. It can be a strong time for creative, enterprising ideas.

Jupiter is on its last leg of its journey through your communications sector and will move on to your home and family sector in October. However, before he leaves, Jupiter is stirring the pot a little at the end of September! This is a call to deal with excesses in your life. Ideas are coming to you so quickly that it's a real challenge to make progress on any one thing before a new idea takes over your consciousness. Priorities may get lost in the shuffle now, and you may want to remind yourself of what is most important. Avoid abrupt actions, but listen to inner discontent. The Sun moves into your communications sector on the 22nd and Mercury follows suit on the 29th, and you take more pride and interest in your communications, projects, and studies as September draws to a close.

This is your birthday season, dear Virgo, which is always a time for grabbing opportunities. This year, you may get off to a slow start, but you'll find that the remainder of September compensates. The slow start has to do with the fact that the month begins with Mercury, Venus, and Mars in the sign behind yours, and you may feel a little behind and out of the loop, or simply not quite up to it! But as September moves forward, you come out of your haze, slowly but surely. It's a month of building ambitions, and it's a particularly fertile, creative time when you have great ideas and all the right motivation to do the work to get them going.

The 2-3 is a potent time for events related to August's solar eclipse. Your ruler, Mercury, is still retrograde at this point and aligns with aggressive Mars at the degree of the eclipse. A problem from the past may re-emerge now for handling. Try not to make hasty moves, both on physical and mental planes. In a smaller way, this advice applies to the first three weeks of September in general since Mercury and Mars are traveling so close to one another. Tap into the excitement factor of this combination, but don't put so much pressure on yourself that you blow your opportunities.

The Full Moon in your birthday month is always about close relationships. It can be a time of coming to terms with your feelings for someone or recognizing needs you've overlooked or brushed aside. Some partnership drama is possible around the 6th. This is also the time of Mercury's direct turn and Mars entering your sign, so there's a lot going on at this point. Listen to your feelings but don't make distracted decisions - wait it out.

At many points in September, you may have to wrestle with expectations, likely related to relationships. Dreams surrounding a person or partnership itself can come in and out of focus. This can feel quite wonderful at times, but at other moments, you can feel a little heavy with uncertainty.

Mars in your sign from the 5th forward is energetic, excitable, and exciting. This is the time to assert your needs and pursue what you want. Mars is now supplying you with increased personal energy, initiative, courage, motivation, and drive. Again, watch for hasty, impulsive, or impatient behavior. With that in check, you can use this period to pursue personal goals heartily. This can also be a time when support -- emotional or material -- can more readily come to you, even though you are more independent than you are usually.

Money matters can be a little problematic at times this month, particularly if you owe someone something (these obligations can extend beyond the material to the spiritual). Your desire to break free from these situations is powerful, but watch for hasty, impulsive, and premature moves in this respect, as you can be a little too anxious to put restrictions behind you.

Personal appeal is fabulous all month, but more apparently so as admirers come out of the woodworks from the 19th forward. You're both attracting things to you and pursuing who and what you want in September. The New Moon on the 20th makes it all about you. This is the first New Moon in a few years that isn't an eclipse, and you're likely to enjoy its more low-key energy, relatively speaking. This suggests you feel on top of things. It marks a new beginning - a time for a mini personal reinvention if you feel the need for a refreshing change. People see you a little differently, so work this in your favor as much as you can. While the Sun moves out of your sign on the 22nd, you still have a host of planets in Virgo boosting you up. This is a powerful time for building something creative that excites you, whether this is a hobby or related to your work.

The month ahead is important for winding down and tapping into your intuition, dear Libra. You're segueing from a connected, involved period to a period of retreat and rest. You begin September with the Sun in your privacy sector, encouraging you to consider ways to decompress and unwind. Mars checks into the same sector from the 5th, Mercury from the 9th, and Venus from the 19th, and more and more life departments require review and reflection as the month advances.

The 2-3 can present events related to the August eclipse -- including friendships, community, and long-term goals and dreams -- that push for a new beginning. Look for friendship and expansion opportunities, but wait until later for brand new beginnings when Mercury is no longer retrograde and your retreat period is over. The Full Moon in Pisces on the 6th brings issues related to work and life balance, service, and health to a head. With all Full Moons, seek out balance and compromise, and for this one, consider what's healthy for you, both mentally and physically.

With assertive, energetic Mars retreating into your soul sector from the 5th on, you'll be doing some reassessing of your goals, needs, and desires. It's not the most decisive or energetic of periods in your life, but you find more comfort in private moments and require a little more rest than usual. If you don't recognize this need, you could encounter circumstances that force you to relax more often! This can also be a quiet or more private time for relationships, especially after the 19th. It's an important cycle for discovering what you truly desire, and which pursuits may not be as worthwhile for you. You don't always feel in the loop or noticed this month, but you may very well need a break now.

Until the 19th, you are particularly invested in your happiness goals and social life. The 20th brings a New Moon that reinforces your ability to put the past behind you as you begin a new birthday year from the 22nd. Personal new beginnings are in store! You're moving into your birthday month a little "sleepy" this year, but you'll come into your own later in October.

You can feel especially excited about a behind-the-scenes project, activity, or even relationship this month, and this excitement builds through the second half of September. You may be taking an unofficial sabbatical of sorts when it comes to major decisions. While you may not be blossoming in an apparent sense quite yet, this is an excellent period for preparing yourself for busier times to come. Personal appeal is strong now, and creative pursuits can thrive, particularly if you're doing something behind the scenes or if you're on the last stretch of a special project. You may be better off saving the huge decisions for after Venus and Mars cross the horizon in your solar chart in October. There is still much going on under the hood this month, and it's important work, as you're laying the groundwork now.

Jupiter is on its last leg of its 13-month transit of your sign this month, and it opposes Uranus on its way out. This is a time for confronting matters related to freedom and beliefs in your relationships. You can be feeling some discontent or restlessness with the same old patterns of relating and living, and you're likely meeting challenges with others in order to realize your own potential. In your relationships, with both sides asserting their independence, it may seem that there is no coming together, but there is the chance to make a compromise. With openness, you may very well reach a breakthrough in a relationship now. Get ready for a new cycle, beginning in October, in which building up your resources, and possibly your bank account, is in focus.

You're moving from a strong focus on performance, work, and responsibilities to a more social theme in September, dear Scorpio. Creative, attracting Venus, logical, talkative Mercury, and assertive, energetic Mars join the Sun in your sector of community, friendship, teamwork, and long-term goals and happiness plans. It's a perfect time for making connections, contributing and sharing your ideas, and finding inspiration for new goals and projects.

You are feeling especially confident about what you have to offer. You may be taking the lead in a group or people may be looking to you for guidance. It's a brilliantly fertile time for networking, creative contributions, teamwork, hobbies, web sites, and money-making ideas.

Even so, events around the 2-3 can seem to push a matter related to career, work, responsibility, and achievement. Watch for impatient moves along these lines, including communications. Your words have considerably more impact than usual at this time! If you say something regrettable, it can be hard to live it down. Mercury turns direct on the 5th, Mars changes signs, and then a Full Moon occurs on the 6th, so it's an action-packed time when you may not be seeing things clearly, but you're getting important messages about your feelings related to friends and lovers.

Particularly from the 5th forward and especially with friends and associates, you'll find yourself in high demand. You are naturally taking the lead in group settings. More invites could come your way now, and you could be actively collaborating with others in group or team efforts during this period.

September's challenges are largely about wrestling with your expectations in your social life, with friends, and in your personal life. If you can keep them reasonable, you'll have fewer ups and downs. There can also be concerns about money, resources, talents, or earnings. Look for ways to restructure, organize, and budget as the means to boost up your sense of security.

You're in especially good form for coming across well on public and professional levels in the first three weeks of September. New people coming into your life could inspire you to make important changes and improvements. Love requires more emotional space, acceptance, and tolerance after the 19th, but it's also easier -- less pressured. Some of you could be finding love through group associations, networking, and friends. The New Moon on the 20th gives your social life another boost.

Jupiter is on the last leg of its journey through Libra and will begin a thirteen-month transit of your sign starting in October -- an exciting transit to look forward to and prepare for. For now, it's about tying up loose ends. It will be important to listen to Jupiter's message in September that changes are needed in your life, particularly related to work, health, services, and habits, but don't feel pressured to make sweeping changes abruptly. When it comes to ideas for self-improvement, you can be filled with ambition and ideas now, possibly to the point of feeling overwhelmed. Try to pace yourself. This is a time for tying up loose ends so that you're ready for the personal opportunities of the next phase in your life.

While there is a continuing focus on exploration, discovery, and experimentation in September, dear Sagittarius, increasingly your career, responsibilities, and life plan goals come into focus. You're gearing up for a rather ambitious and accomplished period, although all of these matters do have a strong social element to them. Very creative, dynamic energy is with you, particularly as the month advances, for manifesting your goals or for furthering your career goals. You're excited about a project under development or about what you have to offer, and this is highly motivating!

Seek out connections with people who can further your career or personal interests, if they don't find you first! The pace may be hectic, but you're enjoying it. It's a period for doing a bit of showing off or strutting your stuff.

The 2-6 is a tricky period, however. Problems from the past have a way of emerging now, but there is a tendency to make sudden moves or to speak too soon about a matter. Be cautious about what you express, and if something said to you causes your mind to race, try to wait before reacting, as the tendency to misinterpret runs high. You may be dealing with house repairs, family drama, and possibly even career changes that affect home life around the Full Moon on the 6th. For many of you, this Full Moon is about recognizing your need for family, or it's a call to action as your personal life needs some attention. You may need to deal with ambiguities related to living conditions or arrangements as they may be interfering with your outside responsibilities and goals.

Courage is with you for trying new things and even for starting something from scratch through redesign or renovation this month. Fiery, energetic Mars moves through your sector of career and reputation from the 5th forward. This is a period in which you may be pumping yourself up professionally, taking the lead and initiative more often, and pursuing your ambitions with vigor, but also with particular attention to detail. Mars at the top of your solar chart can sometimes point to strife on the job or with authority figures, or to challenges with your reputation, but toning down your manner can do wonders to prevent these things from happening. When Venus arrives in this sector on the 19th, you'll find this comes more naturally. In fact, as September advances, you seem to know exactly when to make the right move -- when to go all in and when to hold back and wait for things to come to you. The New Moon on the 20th gives your professional or public life a further boost.

Your ruler, Jupiter, is gearing up to change signs. In October, Jupiter moves into your privacy sector for a thirteen-month stay. This month, you're bound to deal with finding a balance in your social or romantic life. You can experience a real impulsive streak if you feel confined or restricted by others. Unexpected events can occur that push you along a new path. As much as you enjoy companions, there are times when you need to do things at your own pace. Consider drawing the line if expectations of you are too high. However, it’s important to avoid abrupt moves so that you can keep some measure of peace now. In fact, you're likely to find some resolutions coming to your social and romantic life in September.

Life is picking up pace for you this month, dear Capricorn, in a most enjoyable way. Introspection has been good for you, but now you're participating more than observing. You'll find that moving outside of your normal bounds and routines improves your opportunities, and this theme increases as September advances. You have a great hunger for new experiences and knowledge that feed your mind and spirit with the Sun in your adventure sector, and then Mars, Mercury, and Venus joining along on the 5th, 9th, and 19th, respectively. You bounce back much more easily from minor stresses and problems. You're blossoming now.

Even so, the 2-3 turns your attention to the past or pulls you inside of yourself. You can be especially busy going over previous work, researching ideas for future plans and goals, or doing editing activities. Try to balance logic and emotion. Be firm and genuine to yourself in your dealings with others but avoid hasty words and moves.

The Full Moon on the 6th brings a sudden awareness of the need to take better care of your daily affairs. There can be deadlines and realities of paperwork or errands to deal with now. In fact, September's challenges mostly lie in finding a better balance between personal interests and duties, and on a more personal level, some struggles with expectations.

With active, energetic Mars in your solar ninth house from the 5th forward, you're in a fabulous position to assert your needs and pursue your desires. This comes at a time when Mercury ends its retrograde, clearing up misunderstandings as well. This transit is one in which you're braver and more courageous than usual. You're drawn to new experiences and ideas. Mercury's influence here from the 9th can bring a larger audience or recognition to you for your ideas. It's a great time to self-publish, publish, learn, teach, travel, connect, and share. You might enjoy an exciting new project or a revival of one already in progress. Studies and the sharing of ideas are fertile grounds for you this month and next. Teaching or guiding can be in strong or stronger focus in the work you do. Opportunities for travel, friendship, learning, and love can emerge. The New Moon on the 20th can help bring all of this together and serves as a further boost to these pursuits.

Personal magnetism is strong and is set to increase, especially once Venus moves into harmony with your sign from the 19th forward. Again, opportunities arise as you reach out beyond your usual routines, and with Venus, these are related to love, pleasure, and money! As September progresses, your passion builds for a new idea, subject, course of study, or travel destination. This can also be a good time for competitions and athletics. Share your enthusiasm with others.

The Sun moves to the top of your solar chart on the 22nd, and you begin an important cycle for career, ambition, performance, and accomplishment. Watch for poor judgment, however, as there can be a real tendency to act out too quickly if you feel restricted in the last week of September. However, the need for change is valid and should be acknowledged – it simply needs to be approached with care. Uncertain home or living conditions could impact your work, plans, or ambitions now. Make small changes rather than abrupt large ones. Aim to work towards significant change, but do so gradually. Jupiter is on its last leg of its journey through your career and reputation sector, so take advantage. Your social life is set for a real boost starting next month when Jupiter changes signs.

You're coming out of a rather sociable period, dear Aquarius, and moving into a more introspective phase this month. Your private world holds increasing appeal in September. In fact, there can be times when you're entirely absorbed in quiet activities, research, and projects, and for some of you, close relationships. This is a time for going in deep and enjoying what you do. Support tends to be more and more available to you, that is, if you're seeking it. It's easier than usual to muster up some help, material or emotional. Some of you could enjoy support or backing for travel or educational plans.

Self-improvement efforts can be very successful this month. You're not interested in superficial harmony now -- you want to see deep, long-lasting changes. You're also more focused and able to concentrate now.

For people in love relationships or looking for love, this month and the next are strong for getting closer. Connections deepen. The desire for more intimacy in a relationship, or in your relationships in general, is increasing, and opportunities are likely to present themselves. Benefits come in the areas of finances, love, and pet projects. The themes are related to shared assets and transformational activities.

The 2-3 is a critical time for activities related to the recent Solar Eclipse, which occurred in your partnership sector, that set the ball rolling for change. Watch for hasty moves at this time, however, as you may feel you know the whole story, but there is more to come later! The Full Moon on the 6th comes as an important reminder or turning point related to your money, values, valuables, resources, and talents -- in other words, your greatest assets, material or otherwise. New discoveries are possible now, or there is a significant revelation about your assets or business that demands some action. At the same time, Mercury turns direct and delays lift and projects move forward. This is an eyes-wide-open period.

Mars, the planet of action and energy, charges through your solar eighth house from the 5th forward, marking a time for dealing with power politics in relationships, or for taking charge in your intimate life. Desires run more deeply than usual, or they seem a little more complicated! Some of you could be meeting with stronger personalities during this time, and the confrontations that result are learning experiences for you, or meant to draw out your own passions and desires. This can be a powerful time for work behind the scenes or on a special project. Once Venus enters this part of your chart (from the 19th), you'll find even more reason to get creative. An approaching Venus-Mars alignment affecting the latter part of September is motivating and builds excitement. There could be a sudden emergence of a buried desire. This can be an exciting period for your intimate life, and also a revealing time for understanding your own psychology. You're bringing more creativity and oomph to what you're doing now.

Next month, a great career period that lasts over a year begins for you. This month, the current Jupiter cycle is coming to an end, but it refuses to wind down! Your ruler, Uranus, confronts Jupiter near the end of September, and there can be an epiphany regarding an issue that you feel you can no longer tolerate. If you've been feeling hemmed in, particularly on mental levels, or restricted regarding what you can say and learn, this can reach a point of boiling over now. Tensions can lead to a breakthrough in your thinking or a fabulous idea for moving forward. Perhaps you finally recognize that a particular line of thinking or course of study is no longer the right one for you. While you are eager to get something started, make it a goal to say no to something new until you get organized. Resolve to make improvements to your life in the areas that are frustrating you, but avoid taking on too much at once.

There is a strong focus on the agendas of others and your close relationships this month, dear Pisces. New beginnings on the job front have been a feature recently, and further developments are likely in September. Health and fitness matters are prominent this month, as you develop new strategies to organize your life and structure your routines. Lots of chatter surrounding work goals and routines figure, and taking some time to get perspective and avoid stress is wise.

However, themes change as the month advances, and close relationships come into bigger focus. Your partnership ruler, Mercury, turns direct on the 5th and then enters its own sector on the 9th giving you a second chance to work things out or enjoy yourself in your relationships, particularly with one-on-one connections, business or personal, as well as counseling set-ups. Negotiations are well-favored.

The 2-6 is potentially loaded. Mars aligns with retrograde Mercury at the eclipse point, and events occurring now can push your buttons, leading to a new attitude towards work or health. Mars opposes your sign on the 5th, Mercury turns direct, and then a Full Moon occurs in your sign on the 6th. These events point to a watershed moment or a personal matter coming to a head. You recognize your true feelings about an issue, which can set you on a new path. You're making incredible discoveries about your life plan, body, and attitude/outlook. This can also be a time when a close relationship makes headlines in your life.

September's challenges are mainly related to expectations. The tendency to project problems onto others runs high. As well, people in your life may be bothered by your non-committal attitude. You could feel some pressure to define or lock something down.

You could be meeting with especially exciting or enticing people this month from the 5th forward, and for those in a partnership, a relationship is active and animated -- perhaps a little demanding at times, but overall contributing to growth and a learning process. Problems that have been festering have a way of surfacing. Mutually beneficial connections can be made, and networking can be rewarding, especially once Venus enters your partnership sector on the 19th. Some of you could meet a partner through your work. Relationships, in general, can advance to a new level. Be open to new ideas and stimulation, but experiment wisely and creatively. Be sure to get a word in edgewise, even if it's an important time to consider the input of others. A partner or special friend can inspire or motivate you to follow a dream or to work up to your potential. It can also be a time in which you have more courage to pursue a relationship. Watch that you don't pass the buck during this cycle – own and acknowledge your role in conflicts or strife that might emerge now.

There has been a tendency to stretch yourself to do too many things at once, and the chaos that emerges from this can reach a head in the last week of the month. Look for ways to make changes without doing so abruptly for best results now. Jupiter's transit of your intimacy sector is on its last leg. Jupiter will move into harmony with your sign in October, which has its rewards as well, only they're different ones! You're awakening to new worlds, experiences, and interests. For now, aim to enjoy Jupiter's final full month influencing your finances and relationships for the better.

September is an excellent month for a budding interest in a relationship or person. You are certainly magnetizing people to you now, and you're likely to seek out more excitement or passion in an existing relationship. Partnering up with someone can bring about wonderfully creative ideas, plans, and projects.

Love, creative expression, entertainment, and pleasure are the biggest themes of your life this August, dear Aries. This month may not be the ideal time to make long-term commitments, but it has all the potential to be a spirit-feeding, pleasurable time in your life. At the very least, you'll put plans in place for bringing more playfulness into your world. The Solar Eclipse on the 21st can affect you in various ways, as it occurs in your sector of romance, hobbies, creativity, and children. This eclipse acts to usher in change and new beginnings in one or more of these areas, and your life may feel as if it's been turned upside down, likely in a very positive way. You might commit to enjoy or express yourself more often, and since this eclipse affects you for half a year, this is just the beginning.

Since the New Moon, in a rather rare turn of events, occurred in this same sector of your solar chart last month, you've certainly been entertaining ideas for more recreation, romance, or creativity in your life. However, if you've lacked some confidence or haven't found the right channels for going after your heart's desires, August will take you there. Confidence is on the upswing, although a deep feeling of lack may be a catalyst for new beginnings for some of you.

Issues with friends that were left hanging or unresolved may blow up around the Lunar Eclipse on the 7th, giving you just the right motivation to make necessary changes and resolutions. This can be a good time for announcing or revealing a relationship or creative project. It might also mark a turning point in a friendship or project. However, with Mercury retrograde from the 12th forward, keep your cool and take your time with important decisions. Mercury's retrograde affects your work and routines most, however. You may need to spend time revising and reviewing certain projects, or a previous health issue may crop up again.

Venus spends most of August (until the 25th) in your sector of home and family, and this feels pleasant and warm. Activities with family or around the home are favored. Particularly from the 9-11, relationships with loved ones can improve with loving or compassionate listening and care. During this same window, you're growing and improving your relationships, love life, and creative life. You seek meaningfulness now, and you're proud of what you're producing and sharing. Someone may inspire you to be the best you can be.

Around the 14-16, you may be dealing with fears of being made irrelevant or dealing with the pressures of competition in your work or with your reputation especially, and this interferes with your increased desire for personal time this month. Look for ways to compromise rather than jump into actions that are driven more by fear than by realism. Thankfully, a Jupiter-Pluto square that's been driving and pressuring you since November forms for the last time on August 4th. This helps relieve you from tension, and as Jupiter and Saturn move towards a sextile exact in the last week of August, you'll find it natural to embrace a more moderate and comfortable pace. Phew!

The Solar Eclipse on the 21st is creative, romantic, and proud. You might begin anew on creative levels now. Fortunately, it's tied to advantageous and supportive aspects that help you achieve your goals in the months ahead. You'll find it easier to tune out distractions as you pursue heartfelt projects or relationships. Self-discipline improves. Creative projects that require a practical touch or detail work benefit most. Laying down clearer boundaries with a child or friend/lover can be helpful as well.

This is also a good time for forming or strengthening alliances. The practical side of partnering is emphasized. A partner could play a vital role in helping or motivating you to bring more order into your life. Some of you may be considering ways to strengthen your legal position in a business or venture. This can be a time for finding more joy in life from simplifying or some clever downsizing.

Your personal life, home, and family are in sharp focus this month, dear Taurus. With Mars in your solar fourth all month and a Solar Eclipse occurring in the same sector on the 21st, your domestic life is especially busy. Projects around or on the home are favored, and so are activities with family and loved ones. Because the energies centered on this sector of your solar chart are so dynamic, you'll want to do something special, take action, and make changes. In fact, changes in your family dynamic or home life are necessary--and may be a long time coming--as the Solar Eclipse ushers in powerful energy for new beginnings in your personal life. This can also be a time that you indulge in a luxury item for the home, or when money comes through to fund a project.

Uncertainty or lack of structure in your career can seem to undermine your efforts to improve and enjoy your family and home life. However, in truth, your personal life and public life shouldn't be vying against one another, and that's what the current set of eclipses are helping you to see. It's all about balance. If you can let things flow instead of pushing for direction, you'll be able to see this not as a hurdle but a call to see things more clearly.

The Lunar Eclipse on the 7th gives you a window into your heart when it comes to where you ultimately want to head in your life. People are noticing what you do, but don't let that idea intimidate you! The truer you are to yourself, the greater the opportunities.

Until the 11th, playful or creative communications, learning, flirtations, and engaging learning experiences can figure strongly. Mercury's retrograde turn on the 12th can introduce some complications getting your intended message across. August is a powerful time for getting in deeper touch with your innermost needs and desires, but it's not always a straightforward process. People from the past can be a theme now, whether it’s about someone reconnecting with you or thinking (obsessing) about the past. Slow down a little, give people space, and then talk things through from September 10-29. There can be some backtracking affecting your romantic relationships and creative projects, but it also gives you the chance to rethink certain plans.

Venus is in your communications sector until the 25th, boosting the pleasure you take in connecting, sharing, and learning most of August. You may be verbalizing your affections very well now, or there can be a focus on loving chats and sweet talk. Some of you will find or enhance love through the phone or chat lines, or with fellow students or in the neighborhood. It’s also a favorable time for pleasant relationships with siblings. Particularly around the 9-11, you can enjoy an excellent rapport with friends. Your conversations are revealing.

Resentments and frustrations tend to rise to the surface more easily around the 14-16. Be conscious of inclinations towards mind games or other forms of manipulation and avoid them if you can. Attempts to over-manage your life can only lead to stress. Fortunately, you're battling these pressures less and less this month. In fact, you're slipping into a more moderate, reasonable way of approaching your relationships, work, and leisure time.

August can be an important time for boosting your feelings of security, and possibly more freedom or enjoyment on the home front. Some of you could be moving to a larger space or freeing yourself of clutter so that your living space feels larger. If you're in need of a fresh start with family, the cosmos are supporting you. Helpful aspects imprint the Solar Eclipse on the 21st, and since the effects of this eclipse last for months to come, the changes you make in your personal life will have long-lasting, positive effects on your life. This is an excellent time for applying yourself to a meaningful project or endeavor. It's also a good time for launches of long-term ventures or laying the foundation for a major project or business. Taurus is a sign very capable of making plans years in advance and eventually putting them into action successfully. There can be a sense of accomplishment from taking care of important details.

There is super energy for attractions and flirtations in August, particularly in the first two weeks, although things may slow down mid-month. Creative, romantic, and recreational activities are in stronger focus in the last week of the month, but you may not see forward motion on these matters until September.

You are better able to manage your time, and you find work or your routines more rewarding now. This is also an excellent period for sensible fitness and health programs. You may be handling financial matters, especially debts and taxes, logically and realistically now, although you may want to wait until later in September--after Mercury's retrograde--to make big money moves. Two eclipses occur in August, and while these do prompt significant changes, you'll need time to sort things out before pushing ahead with new plans.

August can have a busy, sometimes maddening pace, dear Gemini, as your desire for variety increases and you seek out more mental stimulation and contact. It's a time for reaching out to others and enjoying the connections you're making. Many of you are all fired up over a new or renewed personal interest. In fact, this is a powerful time for new beginnings on the lines of communicating, learning, and commuting. There can be many errands and daily comings and goings to deal with now. For some, communication or transportation breakdowns prompt new beginnings, and while frustrating, new worlds can open up as you come at the world differently and discover new channels for expressing yourself and connecting with others.

Your mind is curious, excited, and hungry, and opportunities to feed it are likely to pop up when you need them most. Improved connections are in store as transportation and communication channels open up for you, although this can result from a challenge. It's time to diversify! Your success may depend heavily on others and word of mouth this month and next.

You can be exceptionally busy in your daily life as this theme builds, and around the Lunar Eclipse on the 7th, you could be feeling a little overwhelmed if your schedule is packed, and you have too little time to feed your desire to escape and explore. Even so, with a plan to find a better balance, your confidence builds, and little can stop you from finding inspiration and enjoying new interests and projects. This can also be a time for an unveiling or culmination of a project or learning endeavor.

Venus in your solar second house until the 25th tends to stimulate your desire nature, largely for material things and pleasures. You can be filled with creative ideas for using your natural talents in satisfying ways or for making money and doing business. Intuition runs high for creative and visionary business ideas, particularly around the 9-11.

However, around the 14-16, there may be a clash of values with a special someone, or issues of possessiveness can arise in a relationship. If you feel others have been controlling you or your money, then frustrations can emerge now. Or, if you've been overly attached to someone due to fear, this problem can reach a peak. Fortunately, love relationships become steadier and more straightforward this month due to Saturn's direct turn on the 25th and a fabulous Jupiter-Saturn aspect that helps you balance fun and responsibility. Realistic expectations of projects and people lead to happier moods all around.

Mercury's retrograde, occurring from August 12th to September 5th, is a time for slowing down and reassessing matters -- letting your heart catch up with your mind and looking at the world a little differently so that you gain perspective. Slowdowns in your home life or revisiting old problems with family may be in store for you now.

You could find that pairing up with someone to get a job done is very satisfying now. A partner or a relationship can inspire you to reach new heights or to learn a new skill. You have more confidence in your creative efforts, hobbies, or romantic pursuits now. There can be satisfying progress made in a friendship, community project, or team endeavor. Those of you beginning a new course of study are in particularly good shape for success.

The final Jupiter-Pluto square occurs on the fourth. This aspect was responsible for struggling with the level of intensity you want from your relationships in the past ten months. Sharing and power dynamics may have been tricky if you weren't sure what you wanted – or what others wanted from you! The pressure to do too much too soon dissipates now as you ease into a more stable period. A hobby might become a business or a fun relationship moves to a new level.

Major themes in your life this month are business, money, security, learning, and connecting, dear Cancer. August is a time for taking charge of your finances and generating new ideas, budgets, or plans for better management of your resources, money, and talents. You'll also focus on learning new things and improving your communications. Pay attention to important advice or newfound knowledge, but aim to put big plans into motion after Mercury's retrograde that lasts from August 12th to September 5th. Independent or competitive activities are highly favored in August, more so than cooperative ones, although you're also very well-liked.

The Solar Eclipse on the 21st happens in your solar second house and Mars charges through this sector all month, making you intent on bringing your recent ideas and endeavors to life and building or developing these projects. With this strong emphasis, many of you will be wanting to see tangible results, but you're also very willing to put in the necessary time and energy to achieve your goals. While the month can be intense at times, you're moving towards a more patient and moderate approach to life that truly works for you!

Around the Lunar Eclipse on the 7th, you may need to deal with funding problems. However, great energy is with you for new sources of, or increased, income from your own efforts not only this month but on some level in the coming year as well. For some of you, this can be a financial wake-up call. A payout or issue of debt, significant gift, or bonus may be part of the story. For others, it can be about awakening to previously hidden desires or a stronger desire for intimacy. You might reach a turning point in a partnership, and a decision about merging your resources can be a pressing matter.

With Venus in your sign most of the month (until the 25th), knowing and attracting what you want comes naturally. People seek out your company and desire you more than usual with this transit! Particularly around the 9-11, you are presenting an especially charming, slightly mysterious aura that draws people in. This same period is also good for enjoying more flexibility and freedom in your relationships. You can be enthusiastic about a person, an idea, or a feeling, and this kind of connection to something higher than you can be highly motivating. There can be a sense that you're growing and heading in the right direction with business or family – or both. There is contentment now, as well as a feeling that you're on top of things, particularly on financial and domestic levels.

The 14-16 has a way of pulling up underlying tensions in close relationships, however. Someone may be resentful of your good humor or the attention you’re receiving, and it could be due to fear that you're happier with others or drifting away. You may be dealing with touchiness, but intense feelings that emerge now can be very revealing. Even complicated interactions can teach you a lot about yourself and your needs. As well, excessive competitiveness in relationships tends to tone down by scores as the month advances.

While Mercury is retrograde from the 12th and eclipses tend to be better for reorganizing than pushing ahead with new decisions, the Solar Eclipse on the 21st is all about recognizing the need to make changes or clear the slate in some way. You have an exceptional sense of what is truly valuable to you, and also of your capabilities.

There can be great prospects involving your income, family or home life now, possibly through increased resources available to you for making improvements. Or, work and home life combine in wonderful, constructive ways. There can be more power and resources available to you for establishing yourself in a home or through long-term business endeavors. Family can be more supportive of your work, or your job works well around your family life so that you can enjoy both more thoroughly. You'll find that the major key to happiness at this time is moderation.

August is a powerful month and is particularly useful as a time for starting anew, dear Leo, whether this is about reinventing yourself through a new image or beginning a brand new path towards more personal fulfillment. A strong drive to take the driver's seat in your life overcomes you, and you're taking the necessary steps to get ahead. This is more about you personally than it is about your professional life which may take a backseat temporarily. Personal goals are in high focus.

You recently enjoyed a New Moon in your sign, pushing you along a new path, and this month another New Moon occurs, again in your sign (this doesn't happen often - we typically get one a year, and you have two in 2017). This New Moon is a Total Solar Eclipse, and it packs a whole lot of punch. It's a time for turning over a new leaf.

You're receiving an extra shot of energy and boost in confidence in August. For one, the Solar Eclipse in your sign happens on the 21st. This eclipse acts as a powerful slate cleaner. Something new begins, and it can feel much like a new chapter in your life story. You are ready to kick bad habits, start fresh, and present a more self-assured "you" to the world. However, this can emerge from a feeling that you're very much not in control or in charge, so there can be some discomfort involved. The eclipse receives incredible support, suggesting that efforts put forth now lead to successful, rewarding changes. For another, Mars is in your sign all month, stimulating your courage and bravery, as well as some healthy me-first energy, which of course you should practice in moderation. You're getting several boosts pushing you into the driver's seat. You feel driven this month, although where you're headed may not be exceptionally clear just yet!

The Lunar Eclipse on the 7th is a relationship wake-up call. There has been a tremendous focus on your personality and your needs, wants, and plans. This eclipse pushes for the realization of a partner's role in your life or your own relationship needs. This cosmic push does come at a time when Venus is moving through your privacy sector and heading into an opposition to Pluto, suggesting that you may be dealing with problems from the past that are re-emerging in relationships, as well as with issues related to over-work or perfectionism. Fortunately, there can be a project to focus on with a special person that strengthens a bond this month. August is better for personal announcements and celebrations than for relationship ones.

Finances need a second look with Mercury traveling through your values and resources sector virtually all month and retrograde from the 12th forward. There is a theme with money and business this month that involves looking to past projects for inspiration. You'll have to take a new approach to these ventures or ideas after dusting them off, but they can be true gems. Saturn's direct turn in the last week of August helps, but it won't be before September 9th that you feel ready to push business forward. Focus on refining and editing.

The eclipse set in Leo/Aquarius is still relatively new to you and will evolve until the final eclipse in the set occurs in January 2019. This is a period for discovering your independence, relationships needs, and what makes you shine. It's a time for turning points related to personality and partnership. There can be a temporary feeling of being invisible that motivates you to change your approach to the world. In the coming weeks and even months, you have take-charge energy and vitality for beginning brand-new projects, initiatives, and personal plans. There are pleasant and sudden events or surprises as your life moves forward in significant ways. Travel, education, legal matters, or publishing can be big players.

August is an assertive, active, and enterprising month. Mars is handy to have in your corner as it increases your drive and energy levels and is particularly effective with Venus helping to smooth over rough edges from August 26th forward. This can be an especially active time for educational or travel pursuits. Self-promotion or publishing may be in focus. Your desires are loud, and you're ready to pursue them directly. You exude even more strength, dynamism, and dominance than usual. Of course, you should be careful with this -- try not to take things too far. You receive cosmic help with this goal particularly on the 20-22, but you have support for most of the second half of the month -- you're finding ways to let your confidence and initiative work for you rather than against you.

August brings a mix of introspective and sociable energy to your world, dear Virgo. Huge stirrings are happening inside of you, but you're also managing to get out and about and divide your time well. While you are in social demand this month, a part of you is likely to remain a little reserved or withdrawn, and this is healthy and necessary! Mercury spends virtually the whole month in your sign, but turns retrograde in Virgo on the 12th, giving you further reason to reflect and rest rather than push big decisions. If others are misunderstanding you in the second half of August, you may very well find new ways of expressing yourself that work and satisfy to boot.

Your mental energies are quickened with Mercury in your sign, favoring any task that involves getting your point across effectively! However, from the 12th forward, it's time to slow down on a mental level. Edit, refine, reflect, and refocus. Allow time for your heart to catch up before moving projects forward. Chances are good that they can wait.

The Lunar Eclipse on the 7th gives you a push to take better care of health, routines, and work. If you've been feeling unhealthy or if you've been slack with routines, work, or fitness, you'll feel particularly uncomfortable with the situation now. A powerful realization of the need to pick up your socks, so to speak, overcomes you now. A deadline or upcoming event may be the trigger. New information coming to light, or strong feelings and epiphanies now, lead to significant adjustments.

Friendships can be lively and smooth this month, with the possible exception of the 15-17 when others may find you withholding or unavailable. Address excesses in your social life, particularly if these are draining your resources, whether this is energy or money! Dividing your time between friends and lovers may be an issue for some of you. For others, you may be struggling with whether to go a project alone or involve others and delegate tasks. A particularly advantageous time for enhancing or attracting relationships is the 9-11. Others are attracted to your ideas and your intelligence. There is a need to nourish both the inner and outer life now, and you tend to see people as the means to feed your well. What you begin at this time may slow down, however, once Mercury retrogrades on the 12th, so aim to take things slowly.

The Solar Eclipse on the 21st reinforces a need to look within. August is important for seeking out a balance between doing and resting, and slowing down can, in fact, benefit you. The Sun moves into your sign just a day later, on the 22nd, and while you receive extra attention, you're nevertheless still feeling hesitant about throwing yourself into new situations.

Efforts to improve family life, particularly on the level of structure and order, resume full force in the last week of August. It's a powerful time for organizing your things. Much of August feels like you're doing preparation work or laying down foundations. Make it your goal to be patient and enjoy the process.

The state of your inner world is especially active and at times chaotic this month. Try to treat this period as a time for gathering your energies and closing those ventures that no longer serve you well.

You have wonderful cosmic support for home and family life, security, comfort, and finances in the last week of the month. It's also a time when you're coming into your own, seeking out more from life, but also asking what you can do to make life more rewarding.

Big changes are in the works for your social life, hopes, dreams, or community involvement this month, dear Libra. August is potentially powerful for payoffs from recent career or business efforts, networking, and connecting with friends. There is still the need to process recent events and get your footing, but you're also in a very sociable phase that's excellent for you. Taking some educated risks can expand your world now.

Eclipses this month pull up important themes revolving around friendships, group connections, long-term goals, romance, and creativity. The Solar Eclipse on the 21st brings a charge of energy to friendships and group associations. Some of you may have been pursuing a project on your own, and you now recognize the need to delegate tasks, collaborate, or start something brand new. The change is likely to be an empowering one, even if you resist it a little at first! With eclipses, sometimes we have to let go of something before we fully embrace moving on.

You've been wrestling with the desire to spread your wings and an equally strong urge or need to stick with what you know or at home this year, and solutions to this dilemma seem to emerge this month. The desire to have more control over your family and home environment continues, however, and you may need to loosen your grip for your sanity! The 15-17 can pull up this recurring theme. You may be dealing with personal insecurities and fears that undermine your confidence and performance, or that are preventing you from enjoying the work you do. Try not to shoulder all of this alone.

The Lunar Eclipse on the 7th opens your eyes to your feelings for someone or a current creative project. This can be an exciting time for love, creativity, and fertility. Emotions can be overflowing as you explore your feelings.

This is a super month for appeal on a professional or public level. You'll benefit most from this on the 9-11. You may be giving generously of yourself or your services, and this boosts your reputation and appeal. People are receiving you well, and possibly speaking highly of you as well. Take note of ideas that come to you now for future projects, but save them for future use. This is a month for making some bold moves, but not for pushing an idea or project that's not ready to launch.

There is certainly a theme of networking and the support of friends in August, but also a lighter underlying theme of introspection, preparation, and attention to physical and emotional needs that will grow further in September. Mercury's retrograde from the 12th on suggests a need to look back, reflect, and reconsider certain plans before moving forward with them.

As the month advances, pouring your energy into a special project can be consuming in all the right ways. The focus is on order and organizing, and this can be very satisfying. In fact, many of you will be putting significant projects or ventures into motion in the months ahead, and laying down the foundation begins now. You're also in a great position to expand your social contacts or improve a particular friendship. Some of you could partner up with a friend. The Solar Eclipse on the 21st has the effect of pushing you forward courageously with new initiatives or in your social life. You're willing to put in the effort for a friendship to work, and the same applies to your studies and communication projects. This is an excellent time for productivity.

This is one of the most ambitious times of the year for you, dear Scorpio, with Mars at the top of your solar chart all month and a Solar Eclipse occurring there as well. August is about starting anew and making some waves. Several strong influences are occurring in your chart that point to increased commitment to realizing success. You are particularly determined, ambitious, goal-oriented, and desirous of taking charge of your future. You seem to need more order in your life, and it's an excellent time for achieving this. This theme is with you for some time, in fact, and it's only just beginning to take flight, helped along with the Solar Eclipse on the 21st. Success may be about career, reputation, or simply staying on top of things. Whatever your particular definition of success at this point in your life, you are hungering for it!

The Lunar Eclipse on the 7th brings an epiphany about your domestic or personal life that pushes you to make significant changes, however. With so much attention to your responsibilities to the outside world these days, it's time to give your personal affairs their due consideration. This is also a time for recognizing your love for family or other special people in your life. If home life is out of balance, you're ready to do whatever it takes to make it more comfortable.

Even with all of your attention to game plans, career, and responsibilities in August, your social life is also moving forward. Venus harmonizes with your sign (until the 25th) and both Neptune and Chiron in your romance and creativity sector. It's a good time to stoke the fires of a current romance with activities that take you away from the routine as well as to meet new people in different places than your usual stomping grounds. There can be pleasure, motivation, and possibly even love connected to schooling, travel, or online activities. The 9-11 is fabulous for exchanging ideas with friends and forgiveness or more romance with a lover. It's also a fruitful time for meeting people, but Mercury's retrograde from the 12th forward can mean that new relationships might slow down very quickly. Something may be left up in the air. The retrograde can point to some distance in current friendships as well, but it's temporary. When it comes to friends, you may be taking a trip down memory lane now.

The 14-16 can pull up some fears of loss. Conflicts with others may seem to be a difference of opinion but are likely more about the fear that you've lost power in someone's eyes. Watch for obsessive thinking if it's preventing you from expanding, exploring new ideas and experiences, and reaching out.

The Solar Eclipse on the 21st can push a matter that's been teased since the last New Moon on July 23rd, likely related to your reputation, life direction, social status, or career. In the weeks and even months following this lunation, you're getting major attention. This is a time for entirely new direction or a brand new outlook on your goals. It's a great time for getting your financial affairs in order, and this can tie in beautifully to the whole "turning over a new leaf" vibe of this eclipse season. Your efforts to organize your affairs can lead to an increase in income or the discovery of resources you had forgotten about or didn't know you were entitled to. Delays with money are likely to lift from the last week of the month forward.

The month ahead is excellent for opening your mind to new ideas, dear Sagittarius, and your heart to new experiences. August is a period for finding more meaning in your life. You're trying new ways of approaching the world around you, exploring beyond your usual bounds, and breaking out of the normal routine. This can be about physical or mental travel. For some of you, publishing can be in focus. You are expressing yourself in new and exciting ways, finding additional audiences, and otherwise expanding your reach.

This can also be a major month for a loan or other form of support to come through for you. There is certainly more emotional bravery with you, in addition to the physical and mental courage. You are attracted to new experiences, people, and places all month, but in intimate relationships, this theme only emerges in the last week of August. In fact, your feelings run deep and intense for much of August, and you take great pleasure in exploring a particular topic or relationship more deeply.

The Lunar Eclipse on the 7th can bring a learning or transportation matter to a head, and a turning point in your life. New avenues for communicating and commuting can lead to fabulous improvements, ultimately. For now, it can be a bit chaotic, however, as you adapt to the changes!

From the 12th, there can be some battle with disorganization or fuzziness on facts as Mercury retrogrades at the top of your solar chart. It would be wise to double check your communications since your voice comes across loud and clear (and this applies to the written word as well!), but the chances of being misunderstood run high. Watch for slowdowns or miscommunications this month, particularly on the job. However, don't pass up on opportunities to redo, review, and strengthen plans and projects. Simply save new beginnings for later. In fact, looking to past ideas and projects can be useful now.

You more readily accept and enjoy your deeper feelings with Venus in your intimacy sector until the 25th. The 9-11 is particularly excellent for self-understanding and intimate expression. A creative approach to relationships and business works wonders now. This is a time for naturally drawing success and resources to you. Helping others or sharing with people can feel especially good. Promotional and marketing efforts may be particularly fruitful. You might be attracted to a new line of study or feel motivated to explore a topic more deeply.

Around the 14-16, however, avoid extremes and pushing too many of your usual boundaries temporarily, but don't back away from a chance to explore some of your deeper feelings, fears, and insecurities. Tensions surrounding money, ownership, or intimate relationships can emerge. Identify areas where you may be acting compulsively or possessively, and aim to release some of the control, as these may be preventing you from growing, improving, learning, and exploring.

The Solar Eclipse on the 21st brings desires to expand and grow to a turning point and helps clear the path for new beginnings. In the coming weeks and even months, energy levels smooth out, and you find a fabulous balance between responsibilities and pleasure. Becoming fired up about an idea, belief, topic, or course of study motivates you to pursue a new path. Your hunger may be for more knowledge, experience, or variety, but whatever it is, you instinctively know that you have to stir things up or make changes so that you can find your way. Shared activities can be especially fun and productive.

For the most part, August is more a month of keen observation than of bold moves, dear Capricorn, but this doesn't mean you'll be inactive. Shared finances, loans, support, intimate relationships, and deep personal changes are in sharp focus much of the month. There is likely to be an emphasis on deeper, more meaningful relationships with others or getting in deeper touch with your inner desires, fears, addictions, and vulnerabilities. If there are any insecurities about your ability to stand on your own financially, they are likely to emerge around the 7th. However, don't let these hold you back from pursuing who and what you want.

There are several significant astrological events for you this month. The final Jupiter-Pluto square happens in the first week of August, and then Jupiter harmonizes with your ruler, Saturn. These point to the very real probability of crystallizing lessons and resolving difficult problems, particularly related to overreaching! You'll find that you're getting back to your moderate self now. A Lunar and Solar Eclipse happen in August, and they're pushing you to figure out matters related to money, boundaries, support, and ownership. Both the Sun and Mars form a trine to Saturn, reinforcing this theme of making things work. Last but not least, your ruler, Saturn, turns direct on the 25th, and this is the final direct turn for Saturn before it enters your sign in December.

A revelation about financial matters emerges around the 7th. Changes in income sources may be part of this package. Whatever happens now nudges you along a new path towards a more organized, settled, and secure way of living.

Most of the month, Venus graces your partnership sector, and smoothing over close relationships is in focus. There can be an excellent psychic rapport with someone, particularly around the 9-11. This is also a time when opportunities emerge to gain a fresh new perspective on important people in your life. Solving problems or absorbing research keep you happily occupied.

The 14-16 is tricky. You may feel put upon or frustrated by a person's behavior. Instinctively you may toughen up and resist, but you'd be wise to work on releasing tension and learn more about yourself through questioning your reactions. Be kind to yourself by letting go of pressures and negative thoughts. Easing up on the impulse to try to control someone may feel a little scary at first, but can be the best thing you can do for yourself and your relationships.

The Solar Eclipse on the 21st impacts you for weeks and even months to come. Fortunately, it's tied to aspects that work particularly well for you in areas of intimate relationships, support, finances, and career. Learning more about your motivations and inner desires can help you envision your goals more clearly, and this, by extension, assists you in building life strategies. You are projecting your value and worth in favorable ways to those in authority or associates.

Teaching or guiding may be connected with your work now, and work done behind the scenes can begin to pay off. You're getting to a very healthy balance between optimism and practicality. Pacing yourself comes more naturally now. You may be joining with people who further your career or personal interests, and through their support, faith in you, or wisdom, you are encouraged to reach your highest potential.

Since the North Node entered your partnership sector in May, dear Aquarius, themes related to independence and companionship have been building in your life. This month, partnerships are in strong focus. You get a chance for a new beginning or a cleaning of the slate. A Solar Eclipse prompts you to take a closer look at relationship needs and lacks. You're starting anew, whether you're in the market to begin a long-term partnership, to enhance an existing one, or to go solo. This is a big theme for the coming year or two, and the wheels are set in motion now, although you've been feeling stirrings of this since February. Other people in your life, and particularly those closest to you, have much to show you about the direction you need to take. This may not be explicit, and in fact, can come through your reactions to people's actions, but the message will nevertheless be clear if you choose to listen to it. For some, a relationship crisis of sorts prompts a new beginning or approach.

The Lunar Eclipse in your sign on the 7th brings big epiphanies and may be a cosmic push to change gears in a relationship or to reassess relationship needs. This can also lead to an emotional renaissance of sorts in which you discover how you actually feel about a matter. This eclipse can also catapult you into a position in which you are quite suddenly making executive decisions.

From the 12th, Mercury retrograde in your solar eighth house suggests a possible delay or dilemma related to support, debt, income, or an intimate relationship. This may not resolve until September, but your workarounds can be creative and useful.

Venus spends the first three and a half weeks in your work and services sector, and while all sorts of feelings and action can surround relationships in August, this transit suggests that your heart isn't completely caught up, so give things time. It's also indicative of warm, pleasant energy related to daily routines and work. You may be finding ways to enjoy your job more thoroughly. The 9-11 is an opportunity period for discovering a great buy, a new technique, or relevant and useful health program. You're taking a visionary, intuitive approach to business, money management, and work and you can enjoy fantastic success.

On the 14-16, however, you can be particularly sensitive to imbalances in your work or working environment if you've been doing far too much for others and not getting enough appreciation for your efforts. You may have a tough time understanding some of your deepest emotions, particularly when relating to people involved in your daily routines. Events or feelings emerging now can be quite revealing. If tensions seem to rise out of nowhere, remind yourself that they’re real and part of you, and aim to work them out. Otherwise, you'll just keep meeting the same problems again and again. With so much going on below the surface, you're not always aware of how your feelings affect your actions, but you have an opportunity to see this connection more clearly now. As the month advances, you'll find it easier to pace yourself and to let go of unreasonable expectations.

Progress and self-improvement are in focus in August. Problem-solving is simpler this month, particularly when you pair up to find answers. You seem to need to stay active with people in your life, or else tension builds. However, there is refreshing honesty and openness in your relationships which you appreciate.

With the Solar Eclipse on the 21st and its effects with you for up to six months, new energy is brought to an existing partnership, a new partnership comes into your life, or an alliance is made in the months ahead. This is a time for repairing your relationships and for reminders of your need for closeness. It's also excellent for forming business or working alliances. This eclipse supports creative enterprise and collaboration. Others appreciate your realism and reliability and are drawn to you.

From the 25th, a friendship gains more clarity, and a venture or plan that you may have shelved begins to move forward. There can be excellent opportunities to learn and team up with others through study groups or friendships based on shared beliefs and interests.

Work, health, and service matters are in strong focus for you in August, dear Pisces, taking center stage particularly in the first three weeks of the month, but never falling out of focus. Attention to detail on the job can reap the rewards. You're also changing things up along these lines with a Solar Eclipse prompting a new beginning and assertive, go-getter Mars charging through your sector of habits and routines all month. Organizing the little things in your life will go a long way towards feeling confident and accomplished. You can work longer hours than usual, or push harder in health and fitness routines.

While the Solar Eclipse on the 21st can bring new energy into your daily routines, and new work or work projects altogether for some of you, it can also temporarily drain you if you are pushing yourself beyond your limits. Using the messages to slow down delivered by the Lunar Eclipse on the 7th will help prevent this energy dip.

You have all the power you need to make important changes to your habits, working life, daily routine, and any job you do or services you provide in August (and beyond). This can be about reorganizing your life, eating and exercising better, managing your time more productively, and working on the details of work, projects, and plans.

The Lunar Eclipse on the 7th illuminates a private matter - something that has been left unresolved and now needs settling. The revelations you have now can illustrate the importance of making more time for spiritual, imaginative, and reflective activities so that you don't lose the motivation and spark you have for your work. If you've been ignoring your needs for rest and reflection, you could be feeling especially drained and sensitive around this date.

You have Venus supporting your sign most of the month, and you're in particularly good shape on the levels of charm, creativity, and romance. You are a magnet right now, particularly around the 9-11, for people and good favor. During this same window, if you have the opportunity to work on a budget, work project, resumé, or whatever else that helps you advance your practical goals, do so, as you have special insight into practical affairs at this time. You can be filled with ideas and are especially open to making changes that contribute to growth and progress. An intimate relationship might blossom, or you come to a pleasing agreement with a partner.

While personal magnetism is particularly strong until the 25th, committed relationships may be a little distant or complicated from the 12th forward. Mercury's retrograde occurs in your partnership sector, and as the ruler of both your partnership and home sectors, you may experience some delays in these areas of your life. They're temporary, though, and can lead to clever workarounds. As well, watch for tension and power plays or mind games around the 14-16. If you're spending far too much time and energy on trying to figure out friends, consider ways to detach yourself enough to unwind.

After Jupiter's final square to Pluto on the 4th, you'll find it far easier to enjoy the benefits of its transit to your intimacy sector, particularly as it moves towards a sextile to Saturn on the 26-27. Your expectations, both of your finances and the people in your life, even out. You can see improvements as you let go of unhealthy expectations and pressures.

The Solar Eclipse on the 21st brings a push to move forward with new and improved plans to take good care of your health and work. Supportive aspects around this time leave their positive stamp on this event that will touch your life for many months to come. This can be a fabulous time for hobbies as well. Motivation comes from a clearer end goal or a sense of purpose and meaning. Look for new ways of approaching your work or services, making or handling money, and improving health. Alternatives can be introduced now that lead you to rethink old problems and concerns and manage your life far better.

Even with Mercury retrograde, the last week of the month holds a lot of promise for your financial picture as you instinctively know what to cut out of your life to succeed. There can be psychological discoveries that help liberate you from difficulties of the past or from attitudes that have been holding you back from moving forward. You also enjoy strengthened relationships with friends and associates.

Focus on your home or family life continues for the first three weeks of July, dear Aries. Extra activity and energy are with you in your personal life. There can be increased family activities or more animation to your domestic world. Additional involvement with family members, more traffic through the home, reorganization or renovation and other such endeavors can figure strongly now. Even so, around the 9th, a career matter or project can come to fruition, stimulating much activity surrounding responsibilities or professional life, particularly if you've been so deeply involved in your personal life that you've had less time for responsibilities to the outside world.

There can certainly be some hectic moments at home this month. Perhaps your responsibilities to family increase or you want or need to take charge and take the lead. You are not content with only thinking about what you'd like to do; you want to be proactive and get things done. These are not lazy days of summer! It can be a great time for taking action on repairs and improvements around the home, as well as for active family involvement or organized activities and reunions with family. Underlying tensions with family can indeed emerge, and the good news is that you're more assertive and direct in your dealings and can solve problems quickly and courageously. This is not the best time for sensitivity, however. Your priority seems to be to get the job done and take care of business.

Venus spends most of the month in your communications sector -- from the 4-31 -- an excellent influence for expressing yourself through your words more charmingly. You thoroughly enjoy your personal studies or interests and daily life. Good feedback is likely to arrive now and incoming communications or news can be pleasantly motivating. Particularly around the 18th, you're learning a lot about and through others, and you're in great shape for partnering and negotiating. There can be a nice sense that you're growing and that your future looks bright. People appreciate you, so be sure to allow for opportunities to mingle. Pleasant contact, friendly exchanges, or improved relations with classmates, siblings, neighbors, a partner, or a good friend can headline in your social life. Your attitude and mindset attract positive attention your way.

Mercury in your creative sector from the 5-25 is also excellent for communication success this month. If you don't already do it, consider writing about something you love and sharing it with others. Mars, your ruler, and the Sun move into your creativity and romance sector on the 20th and 22nd, after which a New Moon occurs on the 23rd and the Sun and Mars align officially on the 26th. You can expect a power-packed few days! Sudden and compelling motivation to pursue romance, fun, pleasure, hobbies, or recreation can figure strongly now. Children also come under the rule of this sector of your chart such that the desire to procreate, if applicable, or to enjoy activities with kids can emerge now for some of you. You are particularly bold about expressing your creativity or feelings now. This can be a highly-charged and animated time. You can be impatient and impulsive, however, but preferably confident and in charge rather than reckless. Inhibitions fall away. Tune into your energy and motivation, but tune out, as much as possible, egocentric or reckless inclinations now, as the former can bring you to the finishing line a winner, and the latter can lead to regret.

One of the things that sticks out and distinguishes this month as different than others is that you're absolutely not interested in repeating the same old patterns or in being tied to lifeless routines. Dealing with long-standing problems and even childhood issues can be successful as a result -- you are no longer comfortable with your comfort zone!

Your projects, studies, and personal interests continue to gather momentum this month, dear Taurus. July can be a busy, communicative, and connected month for you, and while the focus changes to home and family life later this month, it remains an energetic period. This is largely because the Sun and Mars are traveling rather closely together throughout July, riling things up! Assorted activities, work, and errands, studies, communications, getting around the neighborhood figure strongly in the first three weeks, and not very much rest or predictability.

Aim to manage your energy so that you avoid a hectic environment. Make lists and plans so that you avoid a haphazard approach -- something that happens all too frequently when Mars moves through your solar third house as it does now until the 20th. Watch for impulsive movements and communications -- you can be quick on the trigger, and you can have so very much on your mind this month! Impatience or unexpressed anger can lead to mistakes or missteps. However, if you need the courage to push a project forward, express your ideas, or initiate a connection, this is the time for doing so.

A period of heavier expense ends, and you feel a little less weighed down by material concerns this month. In fact, Venus spends the 4-31 in your solar second house, lightening the load and reminding you of the comforts and pleasures of simple, earthy activities. July is less about making money and more about enjoying what you have. It's a good month for income, bonuses, or gifts. Attracting rather than chasing resources is most successful now. While your daily life can be hectic, there is something very comfortable and pleasant about your work and practical affairs in July. Especially around the 18th, you're likely to take particular pleasure in solving problems and making plans. The social side of working through a problem or your job is of great appeal now. Social opportunities surrounding work are possible now.

The Full Moon on the 9th is loaded, but it falls in harmony with your sign, suggesting that the discoveries and lessons of this lunation are easier on you than many others. It can be a time for awakening to true feelings about a course of study or project, which can propel you in a new direction or reinforce your commitment to a path you're already on.

Mars and the Sun move to the bottom of your solar chart on the 20th and 22nd, respectively. A New Moon occurs here on the 23rd, and the Sun and Mars finally reach alignment on the 26th. These influences point to an exceptionally busy, animated, and active time for home and family matters. The trick is to channel and manage this additional energy well and to your advantage! Irritations or long-term problems that have been brewing under the surface things are now in your face, ready for resolution. Be direct but also sensitive to others' feelings. Take charge, but if someone wants to take the lead more than you do, know when to step aside. Egos can get in the way now. You may be coming to a loved one's aid or defense, working on home improvement or repairs, or spending more time with family.

Mercury's move into your romance and creativity sector on the 26th brings more attention to fun and games, romance, and recreational pursuits - a theme that grows in August.

The desire for action and ambition surrounding business affairs, material concerns, and finances figures strongly in July, dear Gemini. You're more inclined to go after what you want, and you expect more from others as well. With Mars and the Sun's continued presence in your solar second house for the first three weeks of July (since later June), money or resources come into your life, particularly if you actively pursue them. However, they might also seep through the cracks if you're tuning into the impulsive energy of this combination in this sector of your chart.

Regardless, you have the power to make a giant leap forward with income or security in your life. Your initiative and courage enhance your earning power in direct, obvious ways. You're impatient at times now, and this may work to your advantage if you need the motivation to finally deal with a long-standing problem, but try not to take shortcuts for the most benefits now. Get-rich-quick schemes, for example, should be avoided.

Jointly-held assets and intimacy may be in sharp focus around the 9th when a Full Moon pushes you to get in touch with your true feelings about a relationship or a situation. You may need to straighten out matters of support, ownership, dependency, or debt at this time. However, your income and natural talents get top billing now. It's an excellent time for actively pursuing what you deserve. There is a stronger focus in your life on money matters, valuables, comfort levels, and security.

Fortunately, Venus spends almost all of July gracing your sign -- from July 4-31. This transit is fantastic for personal appeal and magnetism. Attention turns to your gracious qualities. Opportunities for cooperation, loving and personal gestures, and shared happiness emerge, particularly around the 18th. Creativity and romance can blossom. It's an indulgent time when you more frequently pamper yourself. You might discover new ways of having fun or opportunities to express yourself. You're turning heads in July!

The pace of your everyday life slips into high gear from the 20-22 forward. You actively seek out information and contacts now. You're bolder about expressing your ideas, or you take the lead in your projects or studies with the Sun and Mars animating your communications sector now. This can be the start of a brand new initiative, particularly after the New Moon on the 23rd. While you should certainly be on the lookout for impatient or egocentric communications, this is a good time for the confidence and courage to say what you want to say and for expressing your ideas and stating your opinion. Venus in your sign helps out on this level, as Mars in your communications sector can lead to impatient or aggressive self-expression, and Venus softens this tendency. Be more cautious than usual en route since you have a tendency to rush things. Otherwise, this can be a fabulous period for new and innovative ideas, energetic work on your studies or a personal project, and following through on a missed connection or gaining the courage to reach out to someone. Verbal conflicts are possible now, but some mindful clearing of the air may be just what you need.

July continues the personally busy theme that began in the last week of June, dear Cancer, at least for a spell. Mars and the Sun stay in your sign until the 20th and 22nd, respectively, pointing to three weeks of personal dynamism and energy. Mercury is in Cancer until the 5th, continuing a theme of speaking up more often, after which your thinking is especially practical.

From the 4-31, you can be a little more past-focused, reflective, or private about your feelings, love life, and pleasures. You may be very giving of your time and energy, caring for someone, or playing a waiting game in love. You are attracted to the hidden elements of life, finding inner beauty most magical. You appreciate some level of solitude now.

Even so, around the Full Moon on the 9th, any frustrations related to dependence on others or irritations in relationships can come to a head. Aim to purge, release, and work on letting go of negative attachments or behaviors, but be mindful as you do so, fully owning your part in any exchange or interaction. Ideally, you see exactly what you need to let go of so that you can move more freely. You could feel blocked and vetoed, but from this, the drive to improve your life emerges strongly.

The first three weeks of the month find you more assertive and active than usual, as you take less time thinking about what you want to do and more time doing it!

But there are some sweet, quiet moments, too. Particularly around the 18th, the comforts of home and family draw you in. It's a good time for casual entertaining at home, or for simply kicking back and enjoying low-key activities. Bringing an open mind and heart into your close personal relationships can bring rewards. Good feelings in or about relationships can figure strongly now. There can be some tendency to indulge and possibly go over the top when it comes to spending, comfort foods, expressing affection, and pleasures, but this can also be a good time for learning more about yourself, your heart, and the people closest to you.

In fact, as July advances, you're increasingly interested in matters related to comfort, security, money, and stability. This can be a time of enjoying the moment but also building your nest. Whatever you're building now, whether it's a business, home, or relationship, you are in a good position to pay special attention to it. You're bringing muscle to current projects, and after the 23rd, to brand-new ventures.

The last week of July can be particularly suitable for launching money-making projects, starting savings programs, or committing to developing your talents. Aim to be as self-aware as possible now to avoid letting impatience driving your decisions. Business matters can suddenly move forward or require action. You might have the courage to ask for a raise or pursue a business deal. The last week of the month is also excellent for test-taking, sharing ideas, and information gathering.

July can be an in like a lamb, out like a lion month for you, dear Leo. You begin the month with several personal planets in the sign behind yours, and two of these, Mars and the Sun, stay there until July 20th and 22nd, respectively. This points to a low-key, under the radar period for the most. There may be a lot going on behind the scenes, but you tend to be wrapping something up or keeping something under wraps!

However, by the 22nd, you're in a personally powerful, active, energetic, and effective period. The New Moon on the 23rd and Sun-Mars alignment on the 26th add more power and muscle. You're in a fabulous position to turn over a new leaf in the last week of July.

In the first three weeks of the month, you need extra time to sort things out and avoid overload or burnout. This is a natural time of year for some level of repose, and this year, you have both the Sun and Mars needing a timeout, so the need to take things easy is even more prominent than usual. It's not an ideal time for brand new beginnings, but it's beneficial for healing and peaceful activities.

While there is quite a bit of attention to your private life or inner world, you're speaking a lot more from the 5-25, and social engagements or invitations are not absent, either, from the 4th forward. In fact, friends and group associations can be highly beneficial from the 4-31. Camaraderie is important to your frame of mind and well-being now. This is also a good time for instinctively knowing when to relax and enjoy yourself -- something that is often missing from your life these days with Pluto in your work and health sector. Some particularly happy moments with friends can be enjoyed this month. As such, you tend to move in and out of a need for outside contact in July.

Around the 9th, issues surrounding work, service, or health matters reach a head. There can be a new piece of information that gets your heart racing. Pay attention to what seems to push your buttons now as these can be very revealing. This is true on some level in the first ten days of July. Aim to let go and heal, particularly if it's clear that you've been holding on too tightly to something that's been causing you so much stress that it interferes with your work-life balance.

Many times this month but particularly around the 18th, you can have some fantastic brainstorming sessions and enjoy cooperative activities. You might be bringing a past project back to life or finding ways of making something old brand new, and this can be a project or even a friendship. Your openness and generosity attract positive attention.

Energetic Mars enters your sign on the 20th, the Sun joins in on the 22nd, and both assertive, fiery bodies join forces on the 26th. In between all of this, a New Moon occurs in Leo, too. This is a power period for reinventing yourself -- you're coming on strong. You are considerably more energetic, willful, and assertive. Certainly, you may need to watch for excessive yang energy now, but with impatience kept in check, you can have an easy time going after what you want. Your confident, direct approach to the world now is winning. Solo efforts can be formidable and projects that require independence, initiative, and a pioneering spirit can benefit most now.

July continues a theme from the last week of June in which you've had a busy social life or a stronger focus on personal happiness goals, dear Virgo. Some of you have found yourselves very much in demand, and this theme continues during the first three weeks of July. This month also adds a growing theme of more attention to rest, recuperation, and downtime.

Virtually all of July (from the 4th forward), your appeal on professional or public levels is excellent. Social standing or appeal and personality can play a significant role in your bottom line, as well! Venus at the top of your solar chart enhances your reputation and may bring social opportunities through your work. Venus, besides her role as goddess of love and pleasure, is also your financial sector ruler, and there can be a peak of sorts occurring for you with money or personal comfort now. This is not as much a personally popular transit as it is a professional one, but you have other planets gunning for you personally this month. It doesn't hurt, though, to pay extra attention to your sensitivity and warmth meters in your personal relationships since the planets pushing for you are quite assertive and sometimes a little overbearing.

You might also come across as a little unavailable even when you are physically present this month since your ruler, Mercury, is in your privacy sector from the 5-25, suggesting some rumination or indecision. This influence can also point to making some personal sacrifices to help others or to working on projects behind the scenes and wrapping up certain studies or ventures.

Possible themes this month include conflicts with friends or an emphasis on leading a group. Extra energy poured into networking and connecting or initiating in your social or love life is another expression of the Sun and Mars in your solar eleventh house in the first three weeks of July. For some, there may be increased interactions with male friends. Relying on or seeking support from a friend can be a theme, although it's also possible you're the one taking on the supportive role.

Generosity with others is beneficial during this transit and especially around the 18th. You could be feeling more comfortable than usual with your position in life at this time and, by extension, others have more confidence in you. Opportunities to make more money could emerge for some of you.

From the 20-23, you have Mars and the Sun moving into your privacy sector and a New Moon occurring in this area of your solar chart. These influences can pack quite a punch, and it's all happening behind the scenes or inside you. It's an important time for getting extra rest and laying low. You're going within for answers and support more often now. It's an important time for physical and spiritual replenishment -- when others may find you a little distant at times, but they'll simply have to understand that you've earned some time to focus on your emotional needs and digest or process the events of the year behind you.

Do your best not to push yourself hard as this is a natural time of year for backing up or pulling back a little to gain some perspective and focus on physical and mental health with particular attention to the latter. Themes now and continuing into the first half of August are renewal, healing, release, and preparation for new beginnings. Even so, around the 26th especially, take the opportunity to put a long-standing problem behind you. Because the Sun and Mars align in your sector of secrets, anonymity, privacy, service to others, and endings, you might boldly pursue a secret relationship or desire, or gain the courage to end a frustrating problem, drawing upon your considerable inner strength as you do. You now have little tolerance for things you've put up with for some time. Because this house of your chart is also connected with self-undoing, be careful that you don't act too quickly on matters that may need more processing.

From the 25th, Mercury, your ruler, moves into your sign and you find your voice and feel more in charge of your life. Your opinion or know-how is in higher demand. You're making your own choices and executive decisions. You're still working behind the scenes on many levels, and you should watch for talking ahead of yourself now, but you're also in excellent shape for mental and professional pursuits.

Growing themes of social and cultural focus move into your life this month, dear Libra. With Venus in your solar ninth house most of the month (from the 4-31), you're in a great position to enjoy new, non-routine experiences, information, places, and faces in July. You have a taste for something different and exotic, particularly when it comes to love, your social life, pleasures, and pastimes now. Cultural events may satisfy more than usual and connecting with groups or like-minded people can invigorate you.

An influence on your solar chart from the 5-25 is also excellent for your social life and ability to learn and innovate. There is a great openness to new ideas and methods now. Even so, the Sun and Mars at the top of your chart until the 20-22 suggest particular attention to responsibilities, duties, management or leadership, career, public life, and reputation. Ambitious themes dominate. Your desire to win and succeed comes to the fore. You're on display or under scrutiny now, but you're also ready to take charge of the direction your life is moving. The possible downside to this is that you are more accountable than usual, but the plus side is that it's one of the stronger times of the year for reward, visibility, and recognition.

There is a nice combination or balance between work and play influences on your chart this month. Even so, personal and home life forces are not very strong -- the outside world and larger goals seem to be priorities in your life right now. In fact, partnerships and ambition can clash here and there this month, particularly around the 17th and 20th. You don't always agree with others on your life path or bigger goals and ambitions, and these themes can be stressful at these times.

Your more philosophical side comes to the fore in July, particularly around the 18th. Sharing a broader vision with others can be exciting and beneficial. A sense that you're growing and moving forward with studies and friends is motivating. Others are finding you especially attractive and magnetic. You experience high hopes and enthusiasm, and others are attracted to your unique self-expression and vision. Aim to put grudges behind you, not so much for others but for yourself. Releasing emotional weight and burdens can be invigorating now.

From the 20-22 forward, your social life picks up even more pace. There can be an increased focus on humanitarian activities and personal happiness goals. Around the 26th especially, ambitions and competitiveness in your social life can be themes. The need to lead is high but you also depend on others to reach your goals or teamwork is essential to your success. For some of you, this can be a time of taking a courageous step in your social life. Collaborations can work well, but there is a definite need for more than just talk -- you need activity and movement and say about how to achieve your goals. Alternatively, you experience a sudden rush of courage and motivation to work on an ambitious venture or ready a project for a launch. All month and especially in the last week of July, developing skills and gaining knowledge are highly favored.

From the 26th forward, be sure to look within for some answers and consider projects or attitudes that may have run their course.

An adventurous theme that began later in June continues for three weeks in July, dear Scorpio. You want to be free to explore, discover, and be spontaneous now. Leaving your options open makes sense now. It's a good time for willful actions - taking the initiative, innovating, and getting going - without too many obstacles in your path. You feel freer to assert your desires and go after what you want now. This can be a time for a change of routine, of being outside your usual comfort zones, and for doing something you usually don't do.

Venus, however, spends much of the month (the 4-31) in your intimacy sector, and this suggests that when it comes to matters of the heart and personal pleasures, you're taking things to heart or more seriously. While you're seeking more freedom in general, love matters are different! This can be a time of greater attachment, whether this is a person or a memory of a relationship, or a project you are in love with! For many of you, there can be good energy for negotiating a deal, a fairer agreement, or a loan this month. People are reaching out and offering you support in July if you need it.

There can be a pleasant feeling of being at peace with the past when Venus in your intimacy sector forms pleasing aspects to other planets, most notably on the 7th, 18th, and 29th. This can also manifest as peace with the "darker" elements of yourself and others. This is not to say that you accept poor behavior, but that you are more accepting of the idea of taking the bad with the good and seeing flaws or imperfections as beautiful. There can be a strong focus on the past, emotions, and inner desires, particularly around the 18th. Something can surface now, such as an unusual coincidence, that brings joy to your life or sets you on a healing path. Putting your trust in someone can feel invigorating. Charity, giving anonymously, volunteering, and helping others is fulfilling.

The Full Moon on the 9th can have a way of pulling up all sorts of unusual feelings and perhaps big news about travel, education, or a project. It's a time for epiphanies and getting in touch with your true feelings on a matter, or for projects turning a corner. From the 5-25, you're in a good position to plan out your goals, work, or long-term propositions. You're heard now - your words have added punch so use this energy wisely!

Mars and the Sun enter your career and reputation sector on the 20th and 22nd, respectively, and a New Moon occurs here on the 23rd. The Sun and Mars meet in this sector on the 26th, pointing to a real rush of activity and attention to your career, life path, ambition, public standing, or reputation. You're not content to simply think about or plan out these matters -- you want to take action and take charge now! This sector also rules your relationships with parents, bosses, or other authority figures. This can be a time when you're sticking up for someone or yourself, asking for a better position or raise, or taking action that requires more confidence or boldness than usual. Aim to be courageous and commanding, but watch for blind impulsiveness now. Ego issues can get in the way of perfectly good opportunities to grow and advance. This can be a very good time for tackling ambitious projects, for working tirelessly towards a project launch, or for showing a braver or bolder face to others.

An increase in contact with friends and networks figures strongly in the last few days of July. You're in particularly good shape for teamwork, clubs, collaboration, or simply enjoying time spent with acquaintances.

Relationships with loved ones continue to have extra heat or edginess to them this month, dear Sagittarius, or you can find yourself working on or pursuing certain projects with extra dedication and passion. You're in a great position to look within for answers. It's not until later in the month when you're ready to jump into action in most life departments. For the first three weeks of July, you're inclined to plan and strategize, and this is good for you right now, as there is a natural ebb and flow to astrology. You can have the courage or necessary push to handle tricky intimacy, ownership, or debt problems now.

An influence from the 4-31 is excellent for attracting helpful or happy people into your life. It's a little easier than usual to find good company. You're not only more companionable, you find it more enjoyable to have someone along for the ride, and you seek out company for things you normally do solo. The 18th is particularly suitable for cooperation, partnership, and teamwork or negotiations. Someone might turn to you as a confidante this month, and their faith in you can brighten your life. You can feel especially hopeful about friendships, partnerships, and your future in general. Others extend kindnesses to you. Group activities and associations could be avenues for fulfilling your own goals.

The Full Moon on the 9th can stir up issues of debts or support. This can also be a time of getting in touch with your feelings about a person or project. Aim to rid yourself of burdens or excess now.

Places of higher learning or around the world and the internet may hold stronger appeal from the 20-22 forward, although you'll feel this theme building earlier in the month. These could be the backdrop for interesting developments in your life, or there can be an emphasis on pulling yourself out of your usual routines and enjoying a change of scenery. You'll have the courage or the motivation to pull yourself out of your comfort zone now!

With a New Moon and a Sun-Mars connection in your sector of spirit and adventure, you are seeking out more spirited, interactive life experiences. Routines can feel more limiting than usual. You may feel the need or desire to stand up for yourself or your beliefs. Competitive activities can thrive. Some of you might enjoy a new adventure of sorts, or otherwise experience a sudden detour from the routine. There is a strong tendency towards impatience and a desire for instant gratification, so do watch for this. Also, your ego can be very present in debates, which can lead to some problems. Otherwise, you thoroughly enjoy a more active, assertive, direct, and spontaneous approach to your life. Since Saturn has been in your sign for several years, the dropping of some inhibitions now can feel particularly beautiful!

From the 26th, you become more focused on worldly matters, your career, and being heard. July is strong for sharing your ideas and gaining an audience for them in general, and these things come together more solidly as the month wraps up.

There is a strong focus on partnerships and close relationships continuing this month, dear Capricorn, and it would benefit you greatly to be creative and dynamic as well as ready to take action. While the Full Moon on the 9th brings your emotional needs and personal epiphanies to the surface, most of the first three weeks of July are about better relating. Be careful, however, because as you follow your drive to make positive changes in your life, your heart and sometimes sensitivity may be left behind.

While there can be competitive feelings and frustration if others are not always taking your plans seriously, it's an important time to work with others instead of against them, and for getting to the point of more equality, particularly when it comes to the effort put forth, in a partnership or significant friendship.

Venus spends most of the month, from the 4-31, in your work and health sector, and this can reinforce the theme of working for your relationships, but it can also help you improve the environment you work in and increase your enjoyment and appreciation of your work and routines. Relationships with people you spend time with on a daily basis or as you pursue your daily routines and health goals can be extra special now. Social opportunities might arise at the office or the gym, or even at the health food store! Your work efforts and your ability to meet responsibilities outside of work as well are especially noticeable to others around the 18th. Coming to someone's aid can lead to good feelings and energy. This is a great time for offering your services. While this is not necessarily a standout month for explicit recognition, there can be very optimistic feelings about your career or social standing. You feel more motivated the more meaning you find in what you're doing now, so use this period to discover what you love doing, and aim to do it more often!

The Full Moon in your sign on the 9th is a loaded one, possessing the power to really motivate you to make a personal change for the better. Your feelings are undeniable now! Relationship problems are unavoidable, but this also means you have the chance to handle them.

The 20-26 is a period of a dramatic shift in your focus. With the Sun and Mars moving into alignment, together these bodies stimulate courage and impulse, although sometimes recklessness as well. This activity is happening in your solar eighth house, which rules intimacy, sharing, finances shared with others or received through others, and self-empowerment and can play out in many different ways. You can experience an impulse or push to pursue these things, or there can be an argument stimulated now revolving around power dynamics. The Sun rules your intimacy sector and Mars rules your home and family sector so the impulses you experience now may be emotionally driven, internal, or relationship-focused. This can be a time for drumming up support. You can be hungry for emotional stimulation, making this a good opportunity to pour energy into or seek out a passion project or self-improvement program. This is a time when you refuse to accept the ordinary or static and strive to make long-lasting changes that empower you so that quitting a bad habit can be particularly successful now.

This month continues a theme in which work or services are in strong focus, dear Aquarius, and these things benefit from the increased dose of energy and confidence with you now. You're learning new skills, organizing, tidying, and taking care of business, and you can be especially self-motivated. This applies to health and fitness or self-care, as well. You are taking more pride in the work you do or in your ability to manage the details of your life. If you need to get back on track when it comes to managing routines or pursuing health programs, this is a stellar time to do so, as long as you don't push yourself too hard or bring too much ego into your work (the Full Moon on the 9th will help keep this in check!). Close relationships, partnering, and negotiating come into stronger focus as the month advances.

Conflicts with others this month tend to revolve around impatience as they are unlikely to be working at the same pace as you. Fortunately, Venus spends most of the month in harmony with your sign. Creative and romantic feelings blossom and pursuits thrive. Particularly around the 18th, you're appreciated by others, and you're ready to share your good feelings. It's a good time for creative communications, romance, and adventure. You'll find pleasure and social or romantic opportunities through different places and faces. Connecting with people who share similar or complementary interests to yours can figure strongly now. Freedom of movement is of particular importance to you right now, as any feeling of being tied to a place or routine can leave you feeling stifled. Relationships with others can be strengthened through sharing personal philosophies and beliefs, ideas, and interests. Love and affection are both easier to give and receive.

From the 5-25, Mercury moves into opposition with your sign, and this is another strong influence for pleasures and benefits through and with others. It's an incredible period for collaborating or simply enjoying more interaction and fun exchanges with someone special. It's not the easiest time to arrive at decisions quickly, but the reason for this is also the beauty of this transit: you are seeing things from a new perspective and considering the other side of the coin. Others have something to teach you now. This doesn't have to take the form of direct lessons. In fact, you're likely to learn more about your own feelings, tastes, and ideas through exchanges with others, which really get you thinking this month.

The Sun, the powerful leader, and Mars, the planet of action, align in your relationship sector on the 26th. This happens at the heels of a New Moon in this same sector on the 23rd, pushing you to take action, make a fresh start, or reach out of your comfort zone to make something happen. It can bring stimulation to a relationship, possibly through a partner taking the lead in your life, or your own motivation to pursue a relationship can increase sharply. Alternatively, more shared activities with others can be in strong focus now. Conflicts can certainly ensue, but getting problems out into the open helps you find the right tools to resolve them. A fresh start in the relationship department is a theme in the last week of July.

July is an active month for personal charisma and enjoyment, dear Pisces. It extends a theme that began in the latter part of June that brings you into greater touch with your need to entertain or be entertained and to create and enjoy extra play time. You could be spending time and money on entertainment, recreation, hobbies, dating, or children but should watch for taking risks or acting too impulsively now, particularly around the 2, 4-7, 15, 17, and 20. Otherwise, this is a beautiful period for approaching the world of creativity and self-expression with more boldness. You might embrace a new hobby or share your creative work with others courageously now. You could also feel that you often act a little out of character when it comes to courage this month.

Throughout July, it's important to keep in mind that you run the risk of jumping into new situations or ventures before you know what's in your heart. This was the case in June and is likely to continue in July. Before saying "yes," think about whether you truly want this for yourself - get in touch! There is a tendency to bury feelings now. A work and health or "take care of business" theme emerges quite powerfully three weeks into July. As hard as you've been going with play time, you're likely to do the same with work now.

Venus spends most of the month, from the 4-31, at the bottom of your solar chart, pointing to the need for extra pampering and a period of reminding yourself of the comforts of familiarity. Home life can improve, or you seek out quieter times. Throughout this time, but particularly around the 18th, your senses are heightened, and you feel inspired, particularly through your deeper connections, intimacy, family connections, and realizations about psychological matters. Understanding your inner motivations or those of a special person in your life can be enlightening now. Aim to let go of resentment as much as possible. Joy comes from honesty with yourself. Attracting support, if needed, comes naturally. For some, a loan or support could come through, mainly related to home or family ventures. Redecorating or making the home more comfortable and friendly can be a theme now.

The Full Moon on the 9th can bring feelings, a connection, friendship, or a project to a turning point or point of blossoming. This is a time for putting something negative behind you.

Mars and the Sun enter your sector of work, health, and routines on the 20th and 22nd, joining forces on the 26th, and a New Moon occurs in this same sector of your chart in between these events! This points to extra muscle or punch, and perhaps powerful motivation, when it comes to taking action on and improving your work, health, daily routines, habits, and self-care programs. It's an especially busy and active period for taking care of business, organizing, seeking out work or improving work, and becoming more active or proactive with your health. The Sun and Mars are powerful, action-oriented, Yang energies, and their presence in this area of your solar chart can help supply you with added energy, initiative, and courage, which are things to nurture, but you should also watch for impatience and shortness with others, or impulsive actions.