During the first two weeks of August, while things will be relatively calm, focus on your agenda. You can be quite productive during this phase, without fear that things will keep popping out of the bushes to throw you off course. You will be proud of all you accomplish.

In regard to your finances, it's clear you've been spending a great deal of money lately, perhaps because you plan to move or fix up your house, took a trip, or have been busy planning for (or providing for) a child, as a few examples. The strong outflow of cash from your bank account will end once Mars, your planetary ruler, enters Gemini on August 7. Whew! No more big expenses should come up.

Of course, I cannot see everything in your personal chart, so I hope you will notice a drop in spending. For example, if you have Taurus rising, you may have heavy-duty expenses over the coming seven weeks. For all practical purposes, you appear to be entering a comfortingly quiet financial period. (If you want to know your rising sign, you need to have a natal chart done. Once you know your rising sign, read for your Sun sign AND your rising sign each month, or you will only have half the forecast you need. (For more info, go to www.mypersonalhoroscope.com).

Mars in Gemini from August 7 onward will allow you to relax, see friends, and get out of town for fun little excursions. You'll enjoy fresh air, sports, and the pleasure of having lots of new things on your agenda. Your ruler has been in Taurus for two months, a rather stogy placement for such an active planet, so the move of Mars into Gemini will make life feel lighter, sweeter, and breezier than it's been so far.

Over the next two months, with Mars in Gemini, you'll notice that you'll have much more interaction with the outside world: friends, business associates, contacts, and new people who will cross your path. There will be many more phone calls, emails, and other messages coming in, so you'll need to keep up with it all by staying organized.

If you've anticipated certain paperwork or a contract that will finalize talks you've conducted over past weeks, those documents should come through too after August 7. A perfect day to sign would be August 9, when Mercury and Jupiter will be beautifully angled.

There's another reason you'll find the latter part of the first week of August important. Jupiter, the planet in charge of gifts and luck, will be going direct speed on August 6. From then on, for months ahead, this planet will be going at full throttle. This is major news, for Jupiter has been fast asleep since early April.

When Jupiter naps, he withholds his strongest powers, so we all are left to our own devices, stumbling along without his special benefic gifts of expansiveness, happiness, and financial luck. Now all that changes. While you weren't completely devoid of Jupiter's help, his assistance was greatly reduced, so chances are, you noticed that progress was slow. As an Aries, you like things to keep clicking quickly, and now they will, from August 6 onward.

Since Jupiter is in your ninth house, you'll see your very best progress in one or more of the following areas: long distance travel; relationships and talks with foreign people; discussions and progress concerning citizenship, working papers, and visas; and breakthroughs in regard to other legal matters. You may also find special progress in regard to academia, or in regard to publishing and broadcasting projects. One or more of these areas mentioned should bring you exciting news in the several days that surround August 6 and in weeks ahead. No more waiting, dear Aries!

The second half of August will have a different, more serious overtone. On August 12, you will have a new moon in your fifth house of true love. A plethora of planets, including Mercury, Saturn, Venus, and the Sun, surround that new moon and would ordinarily make for a very fun, lighthearted month. However, Saturn will move very close to retrograde Venus, so instead of looking forward, you will be more likely to look back and reassess your feelings about a present relationship, or, if you aren't dating, to your overall approach to dating.

If you have been dating someone seriously, you may decide to commit, but if so, you will do so with both eyes wide open. You will be in a very realistic, no-nonsense, practical mode now. There's a very strong likelihood that you will stop to ask yourself if the life your lover offers you is the life you feel is right for you. It may be - there is no harm in stopping to double-check your assumptions.

Venus, the planet that rules your marriage house, began to retrograde on July 27 and won't normalize its orbit until September 8, so if you can, hold off making a final decision about whether to marry this month. You may be pressured to do so, but indeed, it would be best to wait. New information will be coming to you now, so be patient. There is never harm in taking a few extra weeks to reflect on what you plan to do. If you ARE married already, then Venus retrograde suggests you will go back to an old issue that was never quite resolved, and you will have a chance to resolve it once and for all. Do so before the first week in September.

If you have been trying to have a baby, this same fifth house that you and I have been discussing here also rules conception. With the planets positioned the way they are now, you or your partner might have had a hard time getting pregnant. If you have tried for some time to no avail, this would be the right month to see a fertility specialist. Go in the week that follows the new moon, August 12. Although Saturn is close to Venus, that new moon will be in good angle to Jupiter (wide mathematical degree - I wish it were a little tighter.) Nevertheless Jupiter will be enough to help you get the right answers.

Still, this month has its speed bumps. One of the most difficult days of the season will arrive on August 21. It's the day Saturn conjoins the Sun, when you will be confronted with very harsh realities, mainly in regard to someone you love or in regard to efforts to have or care for children. In the latter case, for example, an older child may become very hard to control on this day and possibly have a run-in with an authority figure.

As an Aries, you have been tested by Saturn in the house ruling love and children since July 2005 - a period of two years. This has not been an easy period for you, for Saturn is the planet that demands lots of sacrifice and plenty of realism, but those qualities are often hard to maintain when emotions are involved.

Happily, throughout August, Pluto will be sending Saturn excellent vibrations. These two planets will work together to stabilize and transform your private life to something closer to the vision you have in your heart. Since Saturn is in your personal house of new love, relationships, creativity, and children, that is where you will see the greatest personal growth in coming weeks.

All the trials and tribulations you've suffered through over the past two years will begin to pay off. You have a clearer idea of who you are, who is right for you, and what path you should take to achieve happiness.

Saturn will move on to another part of your chart next month, and that should change your romantic outlook dramatically for the better, too. You will find it easier to find the love you want, for Saturn will not return to this part of your chart for another 29 years. Armed with all that you've learned about love, you won't make any of the same mistakes and can look forward to a much more fulfilling personal life. This is VERY good news indeed!

Decisions that you come to this month will affect you for years to come, for Saturn, the planet ruling longevity, will be meeting with no less than three planets: Venus (August 13), Mercury (August 18) and the Sun (August 21). Of these, August 21 will be the most difficult. A final break is possible, or at the very least, you'll be cognizant of some harsh realities. Plan to be very good to yourself on this day, perhaps in the evening after work. None of these days would be ones to pick for a major "talk" - wait on that!

Best romantic dates: August 2, 3, 7 - 8, 16 - 17, 25, 30 - 31. Stay away from August 21. (It's a wild card, either bringing increased stability, heartbreaking criticism, or an ending.)

At work, you will rack up considerable gains. By year's end you will generate a cornucopia of professional offers and rewards. This may surprise you, as you've been frustrated with progress, but you are soon to be richly rewarded you for your hard work and increasing skills.

Your creativity is also governed by the same solar fifth house that will be so highlighted this month, and no doubt over the past two years, you've displayed admirable discipline and concentration. If you work in a creative field, you probably turned out some of the best work you've ever turned out in your life. However, it's also clear that your projects took longer to finish than you expected, and they cost more to produce, too. Now that situation will change for the better, and the process of creation will be easier.

The lunar eclipse will arrive on August 28 in Pisces, lighting your solar twelfth house of confidential discussions that take place behind closed doors. This eclipse may bring news of a woman - possibly your mother or sister - who needs special help. For example, this person may need to go to the hospital, or into rehab or other special care. If not a relative, this may alternatively be a coworker or friend. If you are a woman, you might suddenly need to see a doctor or dentist. News will be very sudden, and seem to come out of the blue, so keep your schedule light and flexible.

Summary

You feel ready to make a few key decisions that will change the direction of your life's path. A romantic relationship seems to need meditation this month, for you need to sort out your options. By the new moon, August 12, you will be getting ready to state your future intentions. Will you continue to date or leave? Only you can decide, but one thing is certain: Never have you felt so sure about your feelings. If attached, a discussion about a child you have, or a baby you want, will come up. If you can, make your final decision next month, after Venus goes direct on September 8.

If you are already married or attached, you may, alternatively, look back to an earlier discussion that never was put to rest. If you tackle it this month, you can find a solution.

The decision you make this month will allow you to put your life back on track. You've had Saturn in your romantic sector since July 2005 and finally, this taskmaster planet will leave this sensitive part of your chart next month, not to return for 29 years. Romantic obstacles that used to be so daunting and insurmountable will begin to melt away next month. Circumstances may improve rapidly or if you feel they won't, then you'll leave. One way or another, your old conditions won't be a factor any longer!

Over the past two years you've learned a lot about love - now you can put your insights into practice. If a child has been a source of concern or worry, whether because this child was ill, needed special help, or was going through a rebellious stage, you'll find you both will enjoy a better relationship. You'll also have greater peace of mind from now on, too.

In the meantime, this month, if you work on creative projects or with artistic people, you will approach your assignments with passion and intensity. If you have a major project that would require intense concentration, you will make amazing headway now. The project may take longer than you expect, or cost more than you estimated, but even so, you'll be thrilled with results. Your details will sparkle - and those will be a big part of your success.

Financially, in August you'll move into a far better phase. You've had high expenses lately, but with the move of Mars out of your second house on August 7, you'll find it easier to manage your cash flow.

All month you'll have several opportunities to travel. The days clustered at the top of the month, near August 2 - 5, will be a superb time to embark on a trip overseas. If you can't get away, you may nevertheless hear good news from certain executives or relatives afar, thanks to a particularly positive beam from Jupiter to the Sun. Other areas that should bring good news in early August include anything having to do with education, broadcasting, publishing, or a legal matter.

Mars will move through your short-distance travel sector all month, so if you can't take advantage of foreign travel, you will get away to locations close to home. Your best weekend to pack up and go would be the weekend of August 11 - 12, when the moon in Leo will make you playful and adventuresome.

The month ends with a full moon lunar eclipse, August 28. Quite unexpectedly, you may be around someone ill at that time, and it could be a female friend, coworker, or relative that you hold dear. Keep your schedule light so that you can easily swing into action, and to offer your special brand of cheer.