August emphasizes what you do best - socialize! Libra has always been the one sign known to have more friends and contacts than just about anyone else, but now your circle of friends and associates is about to get even bigger.

As you begin the month, you have four gracious planets in your eleventh house of friendships and hopes and wishes, a sure sign things will be lively. In fact, with Venus, your ruling planet, joining the Sun, new moon, and Mercury in this part of your chart, you are likely to be attending a festive, luxurious social event and be very focused on your relationship with one particular friend.

There will be something important about this new moon, August 1, because it is also a total solar eclipse. That's news, for we only get four eclipses a year, and this one will bring its twin later in the month on August 16. This will mark the start of a new emerging series in Leo-Aquarius that will continue until August 2009.

Eclipses often bring endings. In your case, a friend may be "eclipsed out" of your life at this time. This makes me wonder if the party you may be attending will be a farewell gathering for a friend who is moving away or taking another job, as two examples. It seems that your friend's status is about to change dramatically, or that yours will now, and that change will alter your relationship to one another forever.

In a less positive interpretation of this aspect, it's possible that you will have a falling out with a friend and suddenly break things off. Although possible, I don't see that as a likely outcome. The other possibility is that you may hear that a friend is in crisis or in need of your loving support in some way, and if that is the case, you will need to be with your friend, doing whatever you can to lend a hand.

Conversely, if you are the one who is in need of help, you will be touched by how strongly your friends buttress you at this time. Actually, if you do feel stress, you will have two distinct areas of extraordinary help. The first will be from your friends, due to the lineup of planets in Leo in early-to-mid August. The second area will be from your family, most likely a parent, thanks to the staunch presence of Jupiter, the giver of gifts and luck, in your fourth house of home.

There is one other possible outcome of this eclipse, and that's if you are running for office or volunteering in a club, charity, humanitarian group, or professional organization, that position would begin now. Since an eclipse portends something important and character-building in the works, it seems that you would have much to gain from taking on this position.

If you were born on October 2, or within five days of this date, you will feel the effects of this eclipse most of all. It seems you will benefit from a friend's kindness.

Two weeks later, on August 16, will come the second eclipse, a lunar full moon eclipse that will put your focus squarely on a romantic relationship if you are single, or on a child if you have one, as both relationships are covered by this part of your chart, your solar fifth house. (If you are married or in a long-term established relationship, your alliance would come under the seventh house, not being touched by this eclipse.) Something involving your love life or child will come to critical mass near this eclipse August 16 because this will also be a full moon.

Should this eclipse emphasize a child, you may find out that you're pregnant or if you or your partner is expecting a baby soon, the baby could easily arrive within five days of August 16. If you have put in an application for an adoption, you might hear that you are about to become a parent this month. Exciting!

If you have a child who is older, that child seems to be entering a new phase in life, and as a result, you will, too. You may be soon sending your child to kindergarten, first grade, high school, or college. Eclipses usually mark rites of passage. Or, if your child is no longer a student, that child may move out to her own apartment, or if you are recently divorced, to live with an ex who has custody. Eclipses require adjustment, so even a happy event, like seeing your child set off to college, will bring the need to get used to the new set of circumstances.

If you are single and not dating, this full moon may bring a new romantic interest. (Yes, if you felt it would take an eclipse to find someone you'd be excited about, well, you have that now!) You may be very inspired by this full moon eclipse, because it could turn out to be particularly glamorous falling so close to Neptune. You may get engaged or married, or if you are attached to someone, you may travel together on a very inspiring vacation, and it would be a good time to do so. Venus, your ruling planet, will send a lovely missive to Jupiter on August 16, so this weekend could be outstanding.

Eclipses bring things to a head, so if you have been unhappy in a relationship with someone you have been dating recently, then you may have a talk to decide if you are to continue dating or not. Alternatively, it is possible you may get information that troubles you about someone you've been dating in the first stages of a relationship, but let's hope that doesn't happen. Eclipses look for weak links, like heat-seeking missiles, but if they find none, you will hear nothing. In that respect, eclipses are really your friend, bringing information you need.

Creativity may also (or alternatively) be the subject of this eclipse, and if you have been working on a project, it's likely it would come to a finish now. You'd feel a great deal of pride, and rightly so. There will be something magical about this eclipse, so you should feel very gratified and excited about all you achieved. Things that happen on eclipses tend to portend that something more is on the way, so take this period seriously. This project could become a jewel in your crown and lead you to something else that's bigger and better.

If you were born on October 16, plus or minus five days, this eclipse will call your name, and you'll most likely enjoy the results of this eclipse.

Against this background, Mars will be in your twelfth house from the start of the month until August 16. That period will be your more reflective, thoughtful time of the month, and one in which you can get a great deal done behind closed doors. Creative efforts will go particularly well during this phase, and if you are working on one that needs conclusion by the eclipse August 16 or shortly thereafter, you will meet your deadline.

Once Mars enters Libra on August 19, to stay until October 4, you will be in the lead. This will be the moment you've long awaited, for Mars will give you the green light to press forward on the plans dearest to you. Mars only comes around to Libra every two years to help you launch an important new, energetic cycle. If you have a big proposal to present or plans to make with a sweetheart, partner, or mate, you will want to do so during this phase.

At work, people seem cranky and out of sorts, so you'll need to treat co-workers and subordinates with care, lest you trigger any confrontation. It's anyone's guess why these people will be so fragile this month, but they will be, and to keep the atmosphere calm, you'll need to be sensitive to this trend. On August 6, Mars will oppose Uranus from your sixth house to twelfth house, and that's considered a very hot, angry aspect that could bring on an unexpected confrontation. Uranus always leaves a scar, which means the person you conflict with could carry a grudge for a long time - or you might be the one who feels this way.

The problem with this aspect is that it has a wide area of influence. You will have to start tip-toeing around the office as soon as the month begins, and continue being diplomatic with co-workers and those who report to you until August 16.

I will also caution you to be careful about your health and well-being around this time too, especially if you use heavy machinery at work. The sixth and twelfth houses rule preventative health measures in a chart, so look where you are going, and don't carry anything too heavy. Your feet are particularly sensitive to this aspect, so you don't want to drop anything on your foot. Safety first, dear Libra!

This month is unusual in that there will be a second new moon, arriving August 30. This one will occur in your behind-the-scenes sector, suggesting that confidential talks and meetings will go well. You'll be in a strong planning mode, perhaps training your mind on how to best assist a family member or plotting the blueprints for a major residential move. If you need to move house, decide this month to do so in late December or early January for best luck. The same applies to renovations and plans to refurbish, make repairs, or redecorate.

Before I go, I would like to list your most fun evenings to enjoy love. Keep in mind that this is a month that holds eclipses, so how things go will depend a lot on how things have been going with someone you've been dating. If you are married or attached seriously, you will not be as affected by these eclipses, but it will be a great period to take more time for one another, such as to go on a vacation.

Whatever you do, when it comes to love and relationships, no matter what your status, avoid August 23 when your ruler, Venus, will oppose Uranus. It would be a dreadful day for a first date, or for having that special talk about a grievance with the one you love or are dating. On this day, read a good book and stay out of the line of fire!

Here are your best date nights: August 1, 4, 5, 9-10, 11, 15-16 (wild cards), and 28-29.

Summary

Your attention will be drawn closely to a friend who seems to be leaving your everyday life soon, and the thought seems to have made you sentimental. News will arrive immediately, on or close to the soar eclipse (new moon) August 1. It looks like you will be invited to a celebratory event that will draw many friends together, perhaps to toast your friend on August 1 or 2, but as said, it appears your happiness for your friend will be bittersweet.

On one hand, you may be happy for your friend. She may be getting married, or having a baby, or buying a house in a distant city. Or if it's a male pal, he may be making lifestyle changes as well. At the same time, you will be cognizant of the passing of time and the fact that your lifestyles will now have to move in different directions. These moments are hard for everyone. Make plans to see one another as often as you can.

On the heels of this eclipse will come the full moon lunar eclipse on August 16. This one will highlight your love life, and your children, if you have them. Eclipses apply tests, so if you're dating someone and are not happy, the eclipse may finally force you to a crossroad where you will decide whether to stay and fix the relationship or leave without looking back.

Eclipses often create that kind of all-or-nothing situation, so if your relationship should reach this stage, be philosophical. We cannot move forward in life if we are forever torn between two choices - the universe understands this, which is why the eclipses are so forceful in asking us to decide things once and for all. Venus makes a lovely angle to Jupiter, so it seems that you will actually be pleased with events - a stressful manifestation from this eclipse seems unlikely Should you be the exception, the positive interplay between Venus and Jupiter indicates you will make the right decision, one that yields the kind of results that protect and benefit you.

In regard to your children, you may be sending your little one off to camp or first grade soon, and be suddenly reminded of how far your child has come since you first held him or her in your arms. Being a good mother or father is sometimes a matter of letting your little bird fly free. Learning to let go is never easy.

At the office, be careful how you speak to co-workers and subordinates, lest you offend someone without meaning to do so, especially near the Mars to Uranus opposition, August 6, but actually throughout the first half of the month.

Mars will enter Libra on August 19 until October 4. You only get Mars' favor every two years, and when you do you are favored more than any other sign. Your moment to launch a major plan is coming soon. While you could do so at the end of this month, there is ample reason to wait. Spend one more month working on rooting out flaws and testing assumptions. Launch on next month's new moon in Libra, September 29, and you'll be so glad you did.

The month closes on a very positive note. The new moon in Virgo, August 30, will appear in the most private part of your chart, the twelfth house. This house's place in the chart helps us plan and anticipate new cycles to come. Any talks you have off stage and out of the limelight will go very well, especially since Mars will be in Libra at the time.

Jupiter will beam golden vibrations from your fourth house of home to that new moon on August 30, indicating that you will have an excellent window of opportunity to improve your living situation in any way you like. Buy or sell property, renovate, do repairs, reorganize closets, or simply buy new accessories and linens. Any home, real estate or family-related plan should go well.