Your financial situation has been a thorn in your side for a very long time. Ever since Saturn entered your financial sector (eighth house) in July 2005, joint finances have been troublesome.

The kind of funds that this house covers is not salary you earn, but rather money that is given to you from a person or entity (such as a bank) or that you share with people in your circle (such as your spouse, roommate, or friend), or entities (your credit card company or college scholarship).

This is the house of financial partnerships. Your partner may be a romantic significant other or a business partner. If the latter, this person may also be your agent, broker, or other professional go-between you might pay a fee or commission. In this case, there may be some contention about the sum due this person, or that is owed you.

This house also rules money you would receive in a divorce settlement or when a business dissolves, or as a payout from an insurance company. If so, something about these funds has been keeping you up at night. It could be money gifted to you in an inheritance that has been tangled in the courts, another example.

In this case, however, since you appear worried, you may owe money to a bank or credit card, or to the government for back taxes. You may have been coping with checks that have not arrived as child support or alimony, or wrangling with your venture capitalist over your need for a loan, or with your bank over a need for a mortgage or refinancing plan with more attractive rates.

This month, you appear to be fed up with whatever long-term financial matter has been plaguing you. Indeed, you seem ready to make radical changes. With a crowd of planets filling this sector, you will have ideas for ways to reorganize finances, restructure deals, and to set out in a new direction. If necessary, you may now want to leave unprofitable alliances.

Just after the new moon on August 12 in this same eighth house sector, you will find your efforts will pay off. You will be resourceful and at your most persuasive and productive. That is the date of the new moon, and it will open a window of opportunity that you can use to make changes. If you act in the first week, August 12 - 19, you will have the strongest winds behind your sails.

Although aspects will be very difficult at the time of the new moon - Saturn will be very close to the Sun, suggesting a very somber, serious time when hard facts will have to be faced - you do have one sterling saving grace. Saturn, your ruler, will be in gorgeous angle to Pluto, and powerhouse Pluto will see to it that you gradually complete your transformation. If you want a new reality, you can set your plan in place now. That zero balance IS within reach, and you have to believe it.

For inspiration, keep in mind the situation of JK Rawling, author of the Harry Potter series. Her financial situation was quite dire before she wrote the Potter books. Now Ms. Rawling is now one of the richest individuals in the world, and she earned every penny. She happens to be a Leo, not a Capricorn, but you see my point. Turnabouts can happen - they happen every day! As a Capricorn you are known to be innately wise and careful with money, which is why this whole episode is unusual and regrettable. As they say, "talent will out" sooner or later, including yours. All this will get corrected, dear Capricorn.

Keep in mind that Jupiter, the giver of gifts and luck, is heading toward Capricorn in December for the first time since 1996. You will be crowned the celestial favorite at that time, and enter a full year of unprecedented opportunity, good fortune, and growth. We all only get approximately seven of these dazzling years in our lifetime, and yours is coming up soon. Say goodbye to unreliable people and situations now, dear Capricorn and clear the decks for something better.

For now, you need to be very careful about any credit you extend to others, and equally conservative about any money you borrow or put on credit cards. Loans taken in August or September will take longer to pay back than you are assume they will, so if you are applying for a bank loan or venture capital, opt for the minimum needed.

If you are dividing funds at the end of a marriage or divorce, or haggling with an insurance company, you are not likely to be entirely satisfied with the way talks go. The other party is likely to be tightfisted and immobile, so talks may take time to settle. Nevertheless, you are practical enough to know these talks may never improve - you seem to want to finish this chapter and move on.

If you've been too trusting of others, or have not built contingency plans, you may need to do so now. The lesson you may learn may be that the only person you can truly trust is yourself. When this is over, you will know you will never want to be in this situation again.

While all of August will demand a great deal from you, you will feel increased pressure to sort out finances on or near August 21. Creditors will be extremely tough and won't be swayed by extenuating circumstances. They've got a bottom line - you will have to conform to it. It would be easy to feel defeated on this day, when Saturn conjoins the Sun, but keep plugging.

Part of the problem is that the person whose support you need most seems to be vague, indecisive, and hard to read. You are a practical soul, but you also like to have dependable people on your side and solid data so that you can make rational decisions. This month, however, with Neptune so active, that reliability won't be so easy to come by. You'll have to rely purely on your instincts - and believe it or not, your intuition will be in fine form so don't hesitate to use it.

If all this financial haggling and pressure weren't enough, a lunar eclipse in Pisces will add to the emotionally charged atmosphere at month's end on August 28. A written agreement you expect to come through will arrive, but at the last minute, the other party will demand additions that will make the deal less attractive to you. Do not panic. Make it clear that you intend to have your lawyer ponder every word, even the clauses in the so-called standard boilerplate.

Then, strategize with your lawyer and others. Do all in your power to delay making a decision, for if you do manage to stall for more time, you might be able to turn the tables to your favor. The longer you can stretch things - months if necessary - the better. Any agreement signed on an eclipse never works out well, certainly not in the way you anticipate - another reason to create a delay.

This same eclipse that is due August 28 may cause you to take a short trip, quite suddenly, or to get news about your sister, brother, cousin, aunt, or uncle. Perhaps you will travel to see your relative but not necessarily - the two parts of your life may be busy simultaneously. Keep your schedule light at month's end, for you probably will get news that you never expected. If you travel, you are most likely to go to a city nearby. Have your car in first class condition, and have a tune up ahead of time if you are not sure your car is in good working order.

If you were born on or within five days of December 28, you will find a way to benefit from this eclipse, even if events seem at first troubling.

One bright spot of the month is that Jupiter, giver of gifts and luck, will turn from retrograde to direct speed on August 6, and when it does, Jupiter will remain in strong position throughout the rest of the year. It appears someone influential will be willing to help you in some way. This person will want to remain under the radar, so you will need to keep his or her assistance under wraps.

You may also get help from a VIP and not even be aware that someone special is working to assist you behind the scenes. The twelfth house, where Jupiter is based, indicates benefits from people behind closed doors. Let that thought give you a cozy feeling of comfort.

In love, with Venus retrograde (since July 27) you may be encouraged to fantasize about someone you used to date. This is especially likely to happen during August's first week, although it could occur any time in the month. If you like, give this person a call. It's not a time to make long-range decisions, but you can delve into the plan with talks and research.

Your best romantic nights will be: August 4, 9, and 15.

Venus now in retrograde will also affect your career, as your solar chart has Venus ruling your house of professional status and fame. That will only be the case until September 8, so be patient. If you feel that your progress is slow this month, that would sound right. Don't try to speed up things (it won't work anyway), but instead let things unfold as they will. You will see new career developments in October and with new options, you might make a different decision than one you'd make now. Use the extra time to reflect about your next move.

Mars will move into Gemini on August 7 and bring lots of activity to your day-to-day sector. It will become VERY busy at the office this month, with plenty to get done. In north hemisphere countries, August is usually slow, with people way on vacation, but your presence seems to be much needed at the office nevertheless. It will not be a sleepy August by any means. In fact, this may be one of the busiest Augusts on record!

In a month that will demand a great deal from you, be good to yourself.

Summary

For what must seem an endless amount of time, you have struggled with a difficult financial situation. It may not have been of your making, as it appears you have trusted someone who may not have returned that trust.

For example, you may have found yourself out of money because you expected child support to come, or to be reimbursed by your company for certain expenses that were later not approved for payment. If you are self-employed, a client may have unexpectedly gone bankrupt, leaving you with a mass of unpaid bills. Your insurance company may not have paid on a claim that you've been wrangling over, or a scholarship that you expected to be the same as the year before may have been greatly reduced. Or you may have medical or dental bills that are beyond your resources to cover.

Sometimes these things happen. Life can be messy - you can see how quickly anyone can temporarily fall into a less-than-ideal financial situation.

This month, these matters will demand a solution, once and for all. This time, you will have a chance to do something positive to fix the problem. Saturn will be very close to the new moon, August 12, so it appears you'll be in a very realistic and practical mood, and ready to cut unproductive alliances if necessary.

If you've hoped against hope that a check would show up, you would now realize it probably won't. As painful as this realization may be, you seem to be ready to face the truth and draw up new plans. If you have to extricate yourself from an old alliance, let it be. You have bigger fish to fry in the future.

At month's end, a lunar eclipse may require you to travel a short distance. If you need to sign a contract, have a close look at the fine print, and don't let anyone rush the process. The longer you take, the better. Try not to sign anything on or near the eclipse, August 28, as deals made under eclipses often don't work out as you anticipated.

This same full moon eclipse may bring a close relative into the news - your sister, brother, aunt, or uncle may be on your mind for a whole variety of reasons.

To encapsulate some of the dates you and I discussed:

Restructure financial agreement between: August 14 - 30

Creditors and negotiators will be tough: August 21

A contract may be troublesome in days surrounding: August 28

As you go along this month, keep in mind you are due to be the celestial favorite once the Great Benefic, Jupiter, moves into Capricorn on December 23. You will not only have opportunities to make money that you haven't dreamed possible, but all areas of your life will start to zing - love, career, home, friendship, and money. Just you wait and see!