Everyone thinks of you as warm and gregarious, and you are that - and much, much more! The lion surely knows how to enjoy life to the fullest, and part of your role is to teach the rest of us to take time to do so, too. You love to be out and about with friends, trying new restaurants, and soaking up the culture of your surroundings. As a Leo, you are completely charming.

The coming months will show that part of you, but also a less often seen side, one that will keep you off by yourself working intensely on a project behind closed doors. Mars, ruling energy and focus, moved into your twelfth house, the area of the chart that governs, among other things, solitude and creativity.

What's unusual about this visit of Mars is that the Red Planet will stay in this house not the more typical seven weeks but will instead reside there over six months. Mars will not depart this sector until May 9, 2008. As you see, this is a major trend that is just cranking up now - and one that will last and last!

You seem to be working on a project that requires a great deal of concentration, such as a thesis or a special report for your company. You may be writing a book or screenplay, doing special research, or working on a launch of a new product that will take lots more development over the coming months. Mars only comes by once every two years, so being a rare rather than commonplace visit of Mars, this is an influence you should notice.

This trend will be simply wonderful for showing off the full range of your creativity. With Mars stimulating your subconscious mind for so long, you should find that generating original ideas will be a snap - they will be bubbling up within you so often, you'll have to keep a notebook on your nightstand. It sounds like you'll be passionate about what you're doing, too, for you why else would you be so focused on this one project for so many months? If you stay with it, you will have something amazing to show for your time, and your artistic output should be excellent.

It is clear that in coming months you won't want to work with a team, preferring instead to work on your own, at least in the first few months. You won't want to punch a clock either, because you will want to work when you feel the flow - until dawn if necessary. Being free to work at your own pace, and to develop ideas outside of others' comments, seem to be a big part of this trend. I am with you, dear Leo. Ideas can be as fragile as butterfly wings, so if you truly do want to create something original, you are right to want to do it while you are completely alone. This visit of Mars is considered an excellent aspect for productivity, so later you should have plenty to show for your efforts.

There are other ways Mars in the twelfth house could affect you. This part of the chart rules confinement, so you may find that someone you know may be in the hospital, or going through several months of physical therapy or psychological rehabilitation (for example, to overcome substance abuse or to correct a psychological disorder). A relative or friend may be in the hospital, or need to be incarcerated in a prison. I know that is a shocking statement I just made, but I want to be careful to cover all the areas of confinement that the ancients listed as part of the twelfth house, even if your knowing someone who needs to spend time in jail is highly unlikely.

Alternatively, you may be doing charity work that puts you in touch with many individuals in these confined places. Everyone needs a little help and cheer, and you may be working on a program that will give people who are ill or down on their luck reason for hope.

It is also possible that you will decide to check yourself into a medical facility for a tune-up or schedule some physical therapy for a part of you (like your knee, for example) that has been squeaking lately. Going for medical help as soon as you see a problem is always a good idea. If you need to overcome a habit that you know is bad for you, start now. This would also be a great time to address that goal.

Mars will retrograde from November 15 to January 31, a time when you won't have the strongest, most powerful vibes from this planet. Keep those dates handy, as you may want to refer to them later. It would be best to start your endeavor or medical process in early October, before you get distracted with other things.

This month, Mercury will be retrograde from October 11 - November 1. While I would not recommend having surgery during a Mercury retrograde period if you can help it, it is a good time to follow up on something you've been meaning to do for a long time. If you always wanted to end a bad habit, get help for a medical problem, or see a professional about a dilemma that has kept you up at night, Mars position will now help you. As you see, there are many ways you can use the energy that Mars will provide.

A wonderful short trip could easily come up soon and quite unexpectedly. Do so over your glorious weekend, the best of the month: October 6 - 8. Jupiter will help things along by providing beautiful and luxurious accommodations, even if you don't spend that much! The moon will be in pampering Leo - your sign! This would be a fantastic weekend to go away, and October 8 is a holiday in the United States, so start booking your trip to enjoy Nature's blazing colors of autumn. (If you live "down under," celebrate the very first buds of spring!)

This emphasis on traveling short distances will be encouraged even more at the appearance of the new moon, October 11 and in the two weeks that follow. Watch the kinds of events that come up - there will be lots of talk, many meetings and overflow of calls, messages, and email. You will need to manage it all - it won't be easy! Take care to methodically note the name, address, and phone number of new people you meet this month. You may also reconnect with a few people you've known from your past, but have lost track of over time. In either case, you'll need to set up a good system to keep this person's number handy. Be flexible too, for there will be lots of changes of the scheduling of the meetings. Just say to yourself, in October, that nothing will be carved in stone.

If you were born on or within five days of August 9, you will be very cognizant of this emphasis on travel, meetings, negotiation, and meeting new people.

There is a possibility that travel taken this month would be taken to visit a client out of town. I say this because Venus, the planet that rules your quick travel sector, will move next to Saturn in your house of earned income. If you want to make a sale, you may have a creative venture that requires production in another city. You won't have to drive too far for your meeting or the place you want to visit (if it's for pleasure). It seems to be within a day's drive.

If someone returns to your life this month while Mercury is retrograde, there's a strong chance you both were destined to link up again - there seems to be more that you were supposed to do together in this life! Find the reason!

You may also suddenly decide to take classes to brush up on changes in your industry. If you've meant to complete a thesis or other report, but have delayed due to lack of time, Mercury retrograde will allow you to pick up that thread.

You may be asked to sign a contract in October, for the third house, which will be so strongly lit, also rules the making of formal agreements. However, as said, Mercury will be retrograde this month so you might want to discuss deal points early in October but not actually agree to sign until November 5.

Mercury will turn direct on November 1, but you should always leave a little space after this planet normalizes its orbit. Don't act until November 5 for best results. Mercury exerts its very worst energy in the days surrounding the onset date of the retrograde (in this case, days surrounding October 11) and at the end date of Mercury's move direct (in this case, November 1). These will be the hardest days for conducting business, signing agreements, making purchases and having them shipped, and so forth. Wait until November and you will be glad you did. Incidentally, don't buy any electronics in October as Mercury, now in a weak position, rules all electronics and moving parts in machines.

Financially, you need to be a tad more careful in the months to come, as Saturn is now in your second house of earned income and possessions. You may notice that employers and clients have become a bit more budget conscious, so it may be hard for you to get the fee or new salary you feel you deserve.

This will be a long trend, one that will stay in place until September 2009, nearly two years from now. You will need to pare down your spending on things that you don't care too much about so that you can continue to live the same lifestyle that you have become used to. You may have been a little in denial about how fast you've been going through money, but as time goes on, you'll notice that money does seem a little tighter and you'll have to trim where you can.

In October there will be two days that will stand out for extraordinary luck, and those dates might bring you good financial news. Those dates will be October 8 and 20. Both days bring a major planet into conversation with the Sun, your ruler, so you will want to put a big red circle around them on your calendar!

Your first banner day will be October 8, when Jupiter, in your house of creativity, will meet the Sun, in your house of communication - what a wonderful day for presentation or interview where you need to show just how fabulous your ideas can be! If money comes up on this day, it's likely to be the exception to the rule - generous. This day may be simply glorious for personal reasons, too. If you want to take the day off for a short relaxing drive in the country - do! No matter what you decide to do on October 8, it's sure to make you happy.

The other date I would like you to watch will be October 20. This day involves Pluto, also positioned in your house of creativity. Pluto will send the Sun a message that will turn out to be surprisingly helpful to you. The Sun will still be in your communication sector at the time, so again, your artistic expressions will have the power to move others - even transform them! And like October 8, your financial outlook on October 20 will be exceptionally positive. You certainly will have the power to persuade powerful VIPS to invest in you, so barrel forward. October 20 is a Saturday, so watch the two days leading up to this day, October 18 or 19, which could also be lucky.

Professionally, from a pure status standpoint, you will be on fire. The full moon of October 26, which will send out a strong pulse plus or minus four days, will bring an exciting culmination to career matters. Whatever happens near this day - news of a promotion, a call offering you a new job, or exceptional praise or publicity for your work - this full moon will help you to see that you have become a force in your industry.

If you do get an offer, it will be compelling. It will clearly be a step up, with lots of room for creative expression. The drawback will be that the salary is low, and that's disappointing. This will be due to the new position of Saturn in Virgo, something I touched on earlier. It will be hard to find a position with the right pay for a while, so if you feel this position has future potential, and you love the actual work you'd be doing, you might want to consider taking it. As I have often said, it is never wise to take a job simply for the money. The money will get old fast if the work doesn't use your talents well. Perhaps this is what Saturn in Virgo will be all about, to center your focus on the work. If you love what you do, you will flourish, and the money will follow in time.

I feel that events that take place within four days of this date will work in your favor either eventually or immediately. This full moon will allow you to reveal the excellence of your work to a great many influential people at the time, and it appears new VIPs may now call to hear more about what you're doing. It looks like all the hard work behind closed doors that you will be doing could add up to something big. Should you decide to quit your job at this full moon, know that you may have the right idea - sometimes enough is enough.

Still, I don't see too much stress here. Rather than quit a job or lose one, it looks like you will have exciting, stabilizing news to celebrate. With Mars and Saturn on your side, it would be hard to imagine any sort of difficult outcome. Leos who were born on July 24, plus or minus four days, will feel a little tension, as this full moon will be in hard angle to your Sun. Still, an aspect like this often helps one to turn a corner, to end a difficult phase and move into a new one.

Romantically, you will have a number of sweet days for love in October, especially in October's last week. Jupiter, now in your house of true love, will send a lovely missive to Neptune in your seventh house of commitment on October 30. If you have been dating for a while, this should bring a magical experience, when thoughts of commitment may naturally occur to you and your partner. Secrets may be traded, plans made, and lots of kisses stolen - this day and the days that surround it should be lyrical, for sure.

This same day, October 30, may be used for creative development too. These two areas - love and creativity - are covered by the same part of the horoscope, the fifth house. It's important to know that these two areas are not mutually exclusive: You can have a lovely romantic experience AND receive amazing feedback for your creative work at the very same time. In the case of creativity, the "partner" that appears to be instrumental to your happiness may be your agent, lawyer, or other person who represents you. The seventh house rules all serious partnerships - a person you might link with in marriage or in business.

Adding to the exciting aspect just discussed is the fact that Neptune will turn from retrograde to direct on October 31. Neptune has been retrograde for five months, since March 31. This change will allow you to see substantial progress in your plans for the future, whether in love or in your work. For example, if you decided to hold off on discussing marriage with your partner because conditions were all wrong, you will now see a new set of circumstances emerge, and a path will appear. The same could be said of a business arrangement. As said above, you may have a breakthrough in love, or your creative work, or both. If you are married or have been attached to someone for a very long time, you will see your partner do very well this month and you will benefit too as a result.

If you have no one in your life romantically, you will most likely feel this energy in a business way. Be glad! Everyone gets to participate in this lovely energy.

Should you find this month that you don't see enough romantic developments to make you happy (and you should, but just in case you don't), keep in mind that two months from now you will have spectacular romantic aspects, some of the best of the decade. This will become apparent from the last week in November through the first three weeks of December. Nothing in recent memory will compare to what's coming, so keep that knowledge in your pocket. You have a lot to look forward to this holiday season! Single Leos will have the edge, but in making this assessment I am spilling tiny hairs - every Leo, of every status, will benefit. Much more fun is heading your way! With a plethora of brilliant planets lighting your house of new and true love, it would be hard to go wrong!

Your most romantic evenings include: October 5 - 8, 11, 20, 23, 24, and 30 - 31 (These last two days rate four stars.)

Summary

The leaves are turning brilliant shades of red and yellow on mountains, country roads, and glens, so plan a divine long weekend trip out of town. Go on one of your favorite weekends, October 6 - 8. Jupiter will be in perfect angle to the Sun, your shining ruling star. The moon will cooperate too, by moving through Leo, allowing you to ensure that every detail is perfect. You seem to want to spend money, and although it will put a dent in your budget, go ahead. This weekend will be worth it, and besides, you'll be spinning a memory that will last forever.

It may also help to know that from October through April, you will be more productive behind closed doors than you would with others. Assuming a low-key stance will be a new role to those who know you, but doing so will help you now evolve and grow. Don't feel you need to explain your actions - just shut the door. Your work will speak for itself.

If you are not working hard on a research paper, product launch, thesis, or grant, you may be asked by your boss to assume a strategic role, perhaps to introduce a new product or service with a corresponding need to keep things confidential. It's also possible that this intense concentration you'll be showing will be related to a writing project - a book, screen play, or theatrical production.

Mercury will be retrograde in your money house, so a raise may be held up, a check lost, or a purchase disappointing. You'd do best to send second reminders to those who owe money (or promised it). Also, delay spending on big-ticket items for now, because you will not enjoy your purchase to the fullest if you buy it now. November will be a better month.

The full moon on October 26 will bring your professional work to the attention of many others, including certain VIPs who will be quite impressed with what they see. An intriguing offer for a promotion or new position may emerge at this time, and if so, it's one you need to look at closely. You will have everything going for you - praise, opportunity, and perhaps the most important, being at the right place at the right time.

The only fly in the oatmeal of the offer will be that the salary will not be as generous as you'd assume. The creative elements WILL be strong, however, and on that count alone, you may be interested. With Mercury retrograde, you should look before you leap. If you still want the job on November 9, then give your acceptance. You'll have a far better chance for future success if you wait things out a bit, for important information you need to make a proper decision will emerge in time.

Serious relationships, whether personal or professional in nature, will get a big push forward on October 31 due to the move of Neptune to stronger orbit. Jupiter will be on hand too to make your interaction warm and happy. The month ends on an enchanting phase if you are romantically involved, and if you use this energy for business purposes, there is likelihood for a truly profitable result. Your luck will be tied to your creativity.