This will be a major, landmark month for one close relationship. As the month begins, a total eclipse of the Sun will occur on Friday, August 1, in your solar seventh house of serious, committed relationships. The contractual relationship that you may think about may be romantic or business in nature, and may center on the person you love and are living with, or a person with whom you have created a strong business partnership, such as an agent, business partner, publicist, lawyer, or other close collaborator.

Eclipses always change the status of things, mainly to keep you moving forward. The universe does not like relationships or endeavors to stagnate, so you will get just the right motivation to decide what to do next with your partner. This will most likely come though a piece of information that comes to you casually or an otherwise small incident that unexpectedly makes you see everything differently. Eclipses are known to dramatically move up timetables, so something you had planned to do perhaps five years from now may happen right now. If you are in love, you may be surprised to find that you will be getting engaged or married soon because of outside events that will come to bear on your relationship.

Here's an example. Let's say you and your sweetheart have delayed getting engaged so that you can save up to buy a house. You plan to get married in two years, but at eclipse time, say now or in 2009 (as this family of eclipses will continue), your lover may get a promotion and as a result relocate to London. When the news arrives, you both decide to get married quickly so you can go to London together. As you see, random events over which you have no control can really change things quite a bit in your personal life. Eclipses are known to bring the outside world to your doorstep, so you never know what may happen at an eclipse like this.

An eclipse will always illuminate a relationship or situation in a way that would have taken you much longer to understand. If your partner is in love with you, you will see this to be true in your heart, and may be very touched by the events that play out this month. This month, Venus will remain in your partnership house until August 5, so Venus will be there to smooth your talks near the August 1 eclipse. Not all eclipses are that positive however, for at eclipse time character is revealed quickly in a very outward, vivid way. You may be thrilled at what you learn or be horrified by news, but whichever it is, you will be protected by knowing what comes out.

I will admit that a total eclipse often takes someone out of the equation, especially if one of the two eclipses falls in your sign, as will be the case this month. If you break up with a partner, either romantic or business in nature, you will do so because you see things in that person that you find troubling. You may break things off immediately or in weeks to come. The time frame of an eclipse is always wider and broader than a regular new moon or full moon.

If it's not your decision to break up, let that person go and keep your pride by not begging that he or she come back. Eclipses bring a sense of finality, so there's no going back. Not every Aquarius will feel this eclipse, as it depends upon the mathematical degree of your birthday. You have a total eclipse of the Sun on August 1, so if you are born near January 29 or within five days of that date, the relationship will not be reversible.

This person who leaves - if you see one leave - appears to be a romantic or business partner, but it may be a family member or friend who simply moves away or goes off to school, as two examples - life changes afterward. In fact, it may turn out to be a boss or client or anyone else who plays a very prominent role in your life. Once the old relationship is over - IF this is a romantic relationship - you will not see that person again. An eclipse brings you across a bridge, and once you cross it, the bridge will fall away - there will be no path back to your old life. You wouldn't want to go back, but you may not come to that conclusion immediately, but rather later. Whatever you do, don't lose your dignity by trying to negotiate the relationship back afterward, because with a total eclipse, the door to that part of your life will bolt shut. You are ready to continue your journey forward, even if you think you are not.

As said, if your birthday falls on January 29 or within five days of this date, you will be most affected by the August 1 eclipse. I must reiterate, many Aquarians born near this date will have happy news to report with a partner, so wait and see what happens. This will be a month of extremes, with all or nothing due!

The second eclipse of the month - and the family of eclipses always come in pairs - will occur on August 16 in Aquarius. This will be a full moon lunar eclipse on that date, and at that time you will be ready to state your future intentions. Do so but only after testing all your most basic assumptions. Neptune will conjoin the moon on this eclipse, so your thinking may not be altogether clear. You may be guilty of a little wishful thinking, so why not run your thoughts by a friend or family member you trust. You are now in a very potent period, where one chapter will end and a new chapter will start up in a few months or weeks.

Creatively, however, you'll be VERY strong at the August 16 eclipse, and actually that would be a fine way to use the Neptune presence at this time. In this case, if you are artistic, disregard what I said about Neptune adding an obscured picture at eclipse time - you'd be using the best part of Neptune, the gift of imagination!

The closer your birthday falls to February 13, the more dramatically you will feel this second eclipse, August 16.

Eclipses bring events that you can't quite sweep under the rug - if you don't take care of all that comes up, no matter what it happens to be, it will be taken out of your hands and taken care of for you by the universe.

Finances need very close attention during the first half of August. Your ruler, Uranus, will make a very confrontational opposition to Mars on August 6. Mars is the planet of aggression, anger, and inflammatory actions, while Uranus is the planet of unpredictability and explosive outbursts when in hard mathematical angle, as it will be to Mars this month. Both planets will be touring financial sectors, so the unanticipated outcome is likely to involve money. It may be that you assumed one outcome, but will be confronted with another when you come up against a very combative, arrogant person. Whatever happens, if it should happen, the incident may really throw you for a loop.

You need to know two things about this aspect that is due August 6. First, that you may see nothing and then suddenly, in a way you'd never expect, it will come at you out of the blue. Second, this aspect will have a wide area of influence. Mars opposition to Uranus can strike within ten days AFTER it peaks, so you need to be careful up to August 16. Essentially, you need to keep your antenna up for the first two weeks of August (yes, even a few days prior to the day these two planets conflict), so that's quite a long time. There won't be any subtle clues, so there's no way to prepare. Alas, I guess the universe is giving us all a course in being flexible.

Try to get a strong grip on finances, for that will be your best defense. Alas, more financial realities will hit home on or near September 3, and turbulence may also be evident at the emotional full moon next month, September 15. It may be that what you learn now about a monetary situation will have to be solved by then. Do the best you can, dear Aquarius. I know you are tired of these shock waves - you've had a number of them over the past year, and none of this seems fair. Perhaps things have to reach a certain stage before things can be fixed once and for all. I considered not telling you any of this, for I didn't want to raise your anxiety, but I felt you needed to know so that you would not be broadsided by events.

Before you punch the wall and scream, "I knew it! I am doomed! The universe has it in for me financially!" - Wait! That is not true at all! Help is on the way!

The universe works in mysterious ways, and it will send one of the most positive and financially helpful new moons of 2008 to you on August 30. This new moon will help your eighth house of financial matters, covering such things as credit cards, loans, mortgage, inheritance, insurance, taxes, financial aid, severance, venture capital, and other joint financial matters. This is a new moon that you should be enthusiastic about because on this new moon, Jupiter and Saturn will be so supremely angled to one another mathematically. Your prospects for getting an infusion of cash are really excellent on August 30 and in the ten days that follow it. What you do then will affect your whole year to come - it will be that powerful.

Jupiter is the planet of financial gain, and Saturn the planet that manifests ideas and also teaches us all the value of building structures, improving organization, and increasing self-discipline. It seems that building a blueprint for your finances - even a rough one on the back of an envelope - would benefit you enormously at month's end. Do so at the new moon August 30. Opportunities to make more money or to be awarded better benefits are strong and could flow to you in the days that follow, into early September.

Indeed, this new moon can help you find a bundle of money soon, or at least allow you to negotiate well with creditors. At the same time, it can help you restructure quite effectively how you manage your money in the future. This could represent a lovely win-win situation for you, so stay upbeat. The problems I foresee in mid-September seem to relate to something that already occurred, possibly as long ago as March, and will finally reach a point that requires fixing. It may have nothing to do with you, but with money owed you that someone else never sent you. You are very strong - you'll see that this month. Your resourcefulness has never been better.

All month it will be important to watch your health. An eclipse will sometimes highlight a health matter INSTEAD of a relationship, so you will have to keep an eye on both areas. If you see a health concern come up that requires advice, a medical procedure, or surgery, do not put things off. Eclipses bring events that you can't quite sweep under the rug - if you don't take care of all that comes up, it will be taken out of your hands and taken care of for you. Go for help and you will be happy you did. I always think of an eclipse that shows up a medical need as a friend who is trying to get you the help you need when you need it, before it goes on too long.

When it comes to romance, as you probably guessed, this month feelings will be all over the place. Truly, romance will be under the microscope for many, especially from August 1 to 16. How you will fare this month depends on where your relationship has been going all along. It is important to realize that while eclipses will bring events from the outside world in, they are not completely random. The eclipses will illuminate what has been there all along, but that no one noticed, as well as the propensities, loyalties, and character of the parties involved.

You may get engaged, or you may break up - those are extremes, but soon you will know where you stand. Not all eclipses deliver their news directly ON or within five days of the date the eclipse appears. If you don't hear anything in the week of August 1 or 16, then keep your antenna up one month to the day later, September 1 and 16 plus or minus five days. If you get only small indications this month about your relationship, then it means you won't know fully until the next two eclipses arrive in this series, the solar eclipse in Aquarius on January 26 and full moon lunar eclipse in Leo on February 9.

If you are single and not dating, you will not feel these eclipses at all, but as said previously, you might notice changes in a business partnership. For you, dear single Aquarius, next year will be your big year for falling in love - all 12 months, beginning in January - and it will be the biggest year in the decade for your romantic life. You really have plenty to look forward to!

This month there are two tough days for love that I want you to avoid. Your first difficult day when it comes to romance will be August 15, when Mercury (the planet that rules your true love sector) will meet with Saturn. On this day, you'll become very practical and realistic about someone you are dating. This is considered a depressing aspect, because there won't be any glamour, moonlight, or magic. It will feel as though someone turned on the fluorescent lights in your love life - ugh! Actually, though, Mercury and Saturn in collaboration can protect you if you've been viewing a new person through rose-colored glasses. In love, the only route to a long-lasting love is a certain level of reality.

Be careful to avoid the next weekend of the month, extending from Friday night, August 22, to Sunday evening, August 24. Venus will oppose Uranus, your ruler, and love that weekend will become very unstable and even irrational. Breakups are often rampant with this aspect. Avoid a first date or any big discussions or initiations on this weekend! It just won't be lucky for you.

A vacation may be just the thing for the end-of-season fun. On August 19 until October 4, Mars will move though Libra, a madly compatible place for Mars to be, and will light your house of long distance travel. A quick weekend vacation may fit in perfectly with your plans, extending from Friday, August 29, to Monday, September 1. (Labor Day falls September 1 in the USA, a holiday for many.) Venus will enter this same travel sector too on August 30, so it's clear that travel and romance will be linked - it's your best time of the month to go.

Summary

With an enormous amount of planetary energy building up in Leo, you will have to compromise and deal as best you can with others this month, for you won't have the upper hand. A total eclipse in your opposite sign of Leo will occur on August 1 and may forever change the course of one close partnership that you hold dear in business or personal life. This will also be a new moon, so a whole new reality is emerging. You will be given a vital piece of truth this month about someone you've trusted, and you may learn what you do in a very casual offhand way. In fact, you may not understand the full extent of what is being revealed until weeks after August 1, for it may come as a delayed reaction.

Eclipses test the strength of all the vital parts of our lives, on a systematic basis. These eclipses will help you do what you could not do for yourself, namely, sever a toxic relationship if there is one in your life. If you were too trusting, the eclipses will bring evidence that you will feel compelled to see and learn from. On the other hand, as a testing eclipse, if your partnerships are strong, there will be no changes. Indeed, if you are in love, this eclipse August 1 could bring an engagement or marriage.

Sometimes an eclipse will bring a competitor, detractor, or rival, but if so, at least you will see this person plainly in front of you rather than someone who is lurking under the radar.

If your birthday falls on or close to January 29, you will feel this eclipse more strongly than most.

Clearly, when it comes to work, relationships, and other elements of your life, you are moving on. A new adventure lies ahead, and in six months, when Jupiter moves into Aquarius, you will enter your golden age. You will clean cobwebs out of your life this month, dear Aquarius, and afterward you will feel so strong and vital!

All month, all Aquarians need to watch their health, as eclipses will occasionally bring something to your attention that needs medical action. Act quickly and you'll soon be feeling yourself again.

Financially, you have a sterling chance to bring in a large amount now, just after the new moon on August 30. The money you will be discussing will be either bonus or commission-based, or have to do with an inheritance, scholarship, mortgage, bank loan, back child support, venture capital, or other infusion of cash that would arrive in one large check rather than through salary. Jupiter will be beautifully angled to planets in your house of "other people's money," which suggests even if you owe money, say in taxes, you can make a good deal now, one that would be workable and give you peace of mind. This aspect will help reverse any tough news you get earlier in the month due to the opposition of Mars and Uranus, so if you get any bad news about money, have faith that things will work out for you.

Travel and love seem linked this month - plot a quick vacation with your sweetheart for anytime from August 19 to 29.