August won't be the easiest month of the year, but it may turn out to be one of your most productive. Two eclipses this month will create sudden opportunities, as well as a few twists and turns that will require quick adjustments and action. On top of this, Uranus will attempt to steal the thunder of these eclipses by opposing Mars and Mercury, so you'll have your hands full with that, and this will cause certain tensions. And just as things begin to simmer down as it approaches its end, a second new moon will pop up to focus your attention squarely on your home and family. Talk about a nonstop month!

Indeed, August will be quite a month, but in almost every case, whenever jarring news surfaces, it seems to happen because something has been going on that you weren't privy to but should know either to protect yourself or that you'd want to try to "catch" quickly before the situation unravels. You will see what I mean as we go along. I know you need a more detailed explanation of this wild month, so let's start at the beginning.

As mentioned, the eclipses are back this month. Eclipses typically arrive in pairs every five-and-a-half months, so the last time they showed up was last February. Looking back, the one eclipse I would like you to think about occurred on February 6, for it occurred in Aquarius. Something that came up then may still be on your mind now, or a very casual contact or conversation you had then may now prove far more important than you had assumed. The eclipses this month will grow the seed that may have been planted then. (If nothing happened then, then something may be hatched now.)

The new eclipses, arriving August 1 and 16, will be in Leo and Aquarius respectively, signs that relate well to your Sun in Gemini. Eclipses always bring unanticipated changes, so just when you thought you couldn't possibly handle one more thing on your agenda, you will find a way to do so, because it will take priority. Eclipses are also known to move up our timetables dramatically - things we had planned to do two years from now (as an example) will happen today. You are a flexible soul - your resourcefulness is what everyone finds so lovable and admirable about you - so all that you will be asked to do will be within your capability to do so (even if you think you can't).

At the total eclipse of the Sun on August 1, things look exciting. There will be four planets in Leo crowded in your solar third house: Venus, Mercury, the new moon, and Sun, and that adds up to lot of energy. This house rules travel, so you may discover you'll need to pack and go quite unexpectedly. This house rules trips that are within a few hundred miles away, so most people would travel by car, bus, or train. If you do fly, it will be a short flight.

This house is also associated with writing and communication, and again, as the zodiac's most talented scribe, you excel in this area. The eclipse is a new moon, suggesting a new opportunity will rapidly open up, and since Leo rules entertainment, you may be writing a screenplay, book, or article for television, radio, the silver screen, Internet, or other media. Your topic may be celebrities, politicians, or humanitarian projects / charities, or address children's interests, because Leo rules all things related to children, too.

Because eclipses often cause endings, you may have to give up one job or assignment to take another. Let's say you had a column that you loved doing. You may have written it for years, but suddenly an eclipse comes up and you are told that the editorial committee has decided to end your column for no particular reason. Things like that happen at eclipse time, but what's more important than the event itself (you lost a satisfying, ongoing project) is what you will do about it.

All eclipses are on a mission to help you use your time well, and if the eclipse feels that you have learned all you will from your last job, it will ask you to move on to your next one, and almost always it turns out to be something better. You know in your heart you'd have never left that first job if you weren't forced to do so, but once it is taken away and you look at your options, you see how broadening the experience of looking at new opportunities can be.

Don't think in terms of only earning more money - eclipses are very important cosmic events that are laden with deeper meeting. It will coax you to ask yourself, "What do I find satisfying?" You will likely want to find something that will teach you something new and help you develop your talents to a new, more sophisticated level. When we give something up, or it is taken away, we have nothing left to lose, and in that there's a joyful freedom and anticipation. So rather than focus on what was lost, focus on all you have to gain now that you are unencumbered.

The third house that so lit up for you this month is also associated with contracts. You may be working on one that needs your signature soon. In this case I will ask you to take your time, for it's never good to initiate anything vital on or very close to an eclipse. Wait for a while if you can. The rule of thumb at eclipse time is always not to initiate but rather to react, for taking that route will bring you best results. I always say, "Open the window and see what flies in." It can be very telling! If you are too busy "doing," you won't be able to fully see and understand the major trends shaping up. On eclipses, you must spend a great deal of time listening and watching.

There is one more part of your life that you need to pay attention to at the start of August, and that's your sister, brother, or cousin. Something may be starting up for your sibling, so call, for you'll want to be all ears.

Eclipses have unusual timing - longer, wider, and more powerful than a regular new moon or full moon. Watch August 1, plus one week, but also pay attention to events and news that comes to you regarding the areas mentioned one month to the day later, on September 1 plus one week. Some eclipses don't deliver their news for one month to the day later.

If you were born on May 31, you will notice one of these areas to be quite lit up for you, and you will also benefit most from this eclipse.

One of the difficult aspects of the month involves a direct opposition of Mars to Uranus on August 6. Add an extra ten days, as this aspect has an usually wide span in which to deliver its news. Mars - ruling energy and aggression - will be in Virgo and light your house of home and family, and oppose Uranus in Pisces in your house of career reputation. Something seems to be reaching critical mass, and you will undoubtedly feel pushed and pulled between the needs of your family or physical home and that of your boss and your career. It will seem like everything screams for you attention at once, and somehow you'll have to keep everyone happy.

On August 15, Saturn will meet with your ruler, Mercury (they only conjoin once a year, and that's the day), so I feel that by then you may be feeling overwhelmed and tired by all that is happening, and that will lead you to be uncharacteristically gloomy about your future prospects. You should not feel this way - whatever you think you might lose is something not worth stressing over.

The next day will bring the full moon eclipse in Aquarius on August 16, highlighting a situation with a foreign person based abroad or someone who is based many miles from your home base, but still is in your country. You may be talking about the import or export of goods, services, or information (as a Gemini). Or, it may be that you will need to travel to have a face-to-face with a client or family member who seems to need to talk with you. This eclipse seems to be a little demanding, so keep your schedule light so you can concentrate on whatever comes up.

Speaking of relatives, if you do see a family member, the person on your mind seems to be an aunt, uncle, or in-law (someone close, but not a sister, parent, or child.)

Neptune will oppose the Sun and conjoin the full moon eclipse on August 16, so things may go one of two ways. This eclipse may mark a dazzling point for your creative efforts. Something could set your sprits soaring and suddenly allow your imagination to take flight. If the more negative side to Neptune dominates, everything may seem glossy and beautiful on the surface but be less so on closer inspection. In this case you may not be able to see the difficulties for weeks or months later, so proceed slowly. If you are entering a serious business deal, it will be important to be as realistic and grounded as possible, and not get too carried away.

If you are heading to college for fall semester near August 16, do whatever you can to get to your campus early if you still need to register for classes. I would like you to do so, just in case a certain course you want suddenly becomes unavailable. Stay flexible and be ready for all types of shifts. You are innately adaptable, so this should not ruffle your feathers too much. Still, getting to the registrar's office early is definitely a good idea.

If you were born on June 15, you will feel this eclipse most - and you will benefit most, too.

The challenges of the month won't be quite over, however, as Mercury and Uranus will be at odds on August 23. If you are saying to yourself, gee, there's no letup, you would be right, and everyone of every sign will be affected by this situation to some degree. Mercury rules Gemini, so you will want to lie low near this date. Don't have any key meetings, as there seems to be a separating theme to all this - finding accord would likely prove difficult.

The best part of your life right now involves your ability to generate money. You may doubt it as you read this, for until now it may have been a little too soon for you to see this as true. Still, by August this should start to become clear, almost certainly by September through December. (Jupiter is currently in weak, retrograde motion, but by September 8, Jupiter will turn direct, and will work harder for you.) Jupiter will converse with Mars, Venus, Mercury, and Saturn, so some sort of deals you began looking into last month seem to have excellent potential - keep working on those projects!

Your home seems to continue to be a big priority for you, whether to move, sell, buy, rent, or fix up to make it more special and reflective of your evolving needs. The new moon on August 30 will open a portal and allow you to accomplish many of your plans to stabilize or improve your living situation. This new moon will be conjunct Saturn, so the decisions and initiations you make at the end of August (or, in early September) will allow you create a very comforting sense of permanence.

Romantically, things look very bright too, and for that you can thank your lucky stars. Mars is about to move into Libra and fill your fifth house of true love from August 19 until October 4. Next month a new moon will come by to give your love life an additional boost, so things should really start to sizzle soon! Although this month will have been a workout at times, you do have lasting love to look forward to if you look for it. Those who hope to conceive a baby have a terrific chance for conception in that time period, too.

Romance will be best: August 9-10 and 15-16, but best of the best after August 19 (all the way until October 4). Add a star to the weekends of August 23-24 and 28-29.

Summary

Unexpected travel could be on your agenda, always a delightful option for a Gemini. With a packed third house, your journeys would come up at the solar eclipse August 1 and would be to a place close to home. If you find you have to travel later, near the lunar eclipse, August 16, you will go much farther away.

These trips may be a bit demanding, simply because unexpected elements are likely to come up. The second eclipse, August 16, seems to be done to accomplish something for work. If you don't travel, you may find yourself on the phone a great deal with people far from your base, possibly even abroad.

A contract may also be on your mind too, and negotiations may be going hot and heavy as the month opens. An eclipse in Leo on August 1 will favor you, but you still have to carefully go over all the fine print. By the full moon eclipse in August 16, it may be ready for your lawyer's leisurely review. It is never wise to sign papers on or even near an eclipse, as things never work out as anticipated. Allow some space around the dates of each eclipse. A lot of cosmic dust will be kicked up at eclipse time, and you won't be able to see the road ahead clearly. Take your time and tell your lawyer to take her time, too.

Alternatively, you may be ready to crystallize a book, magazine, or other communications-oriented venture by the same lunar eclipse August 16. Look closely at all the fine print as you may find the wording to be too open ended. Your lawyer can help you tighten the language, a good idea, for if you don't, the clauses could later prove confusing and open to too much interpretation - that is not what you want!

There's one day when needs of the office will clash sharply with those at home - August 6. This hot atmosphere will have an area of influence of a full week on either side of this date. Stay objective and as unemotional as possible, as sudden news is bound to come your way at some point. When news hits, you'll need to find a solution for both a career and also a real estate / domestic or family matter, pronto. You are a resourceful soul, and this should be something fully within your capability.

Your home and family will become a bigger focus yet just after August 30, when the new moon will ramp up the action there. You may be moving house, buying a house, or getting a head start on fixing up your house to be done by the coming winter holidays. Good idea. Renovations and orders for furniture and other accoutrements take time to complete. If you start at the August 30 new moon, you are likely to enjoy the results. If you sign off on your choices at month's end, you'll likely love what you decide for many years to come.

You'll need money to make your changes in your home or apartment, and happily, thanks to a gorgeous alignment of Mars to Jupiter that occurred last month on July 26, the money will appear you when you need it most this month. Other planets will follow this helpful trend - namely Venus (August 16) and Mercury (August 17) - and will also see that you get the mortgage, home improvement loan, or other funds you'll need. On another topic, if you need a new roommate, you can find one quite easily after August 30, and it would be someone who would get along remarkably well with you.

A romantic trend will start up once Mars tours your true love sector from August 19 to October 4. It is fortunate that this new bewitching period won't start until month's end - you will have more than enough to do with home, travel, contracts, a book, magazine, or other media deal, and possibly a return to the classroom! Thank goodness you are a multi-tasking Gemini!