When it comes to career this month, you are thinking big, and rightly so! With the new moon total eclipse of the Sun in your tenth house of fame and honors, joined by the Sun, Mercury, and Venus all moving through the royal leadership sign of Leo, you're about to see some very gratifying developments. Eclipses move in families of signs. This one, the first in the series that will arrive August 1, will be your best moment of the year for advancing professional interests.

At the start of the month, it will be clear that you've done something that impressed VIPs, and that now allows you to be considered for a new and quite lofty position - one you will likely get if not now, soon. This solar eclipse will arrive on August 1, and it will change not only you job, but reshape your estimation of yourself. This eclipse will be THAT powerful, and THAT beneficial, dear Scorpio! Eventually, when you are ready to announce this new position, friends will say, "You've done well."

Often when an eclipse comes by, it portends that something will end and something else will begin. This may happen if you quit one job or another, but it could also happen if you are downsized and find yourself without a job. It really doesn't matter WHY you would be creating a new space for this new opportunity. If a job is taken away, a client leaves, or your boss takes another job leaving you feeling like an orphan - be glad that you are being pushed to consider your options.

The only caveat I will say is that if you are in an office atmosphere that you are unhappy working at, don't quit your job just yet. Consider options, but don't quit quite yet. You never want to make impulsive moves on eclipses - you can still do so in a few weeks.

All eclipses have a second act, so don't be too quick to say, "This eclipse was bad for me," or "This eclipse only helped my friends but not me." If that should seem the case (and I am not saying it will, but if this seems so for you) the reality is, you won't know. Eclipses never deliver all their news all at once. With a crown of stars in your tenth house - what the house the ancients called "the house of dignity and reward" - you seem certain to be groomed for bigger and better things.

Don't resist the process, even if you are a little scared about changing jobs. Welcome change. You can handle it. Often we have to give up something for an eclipse to make room for the new, and we have to be courageous about moving forward when something intriguing is offered us. You wouldn't be getting the offer if you weren't qualified, so don't wonder whether or not you can do a good job - you, of all people, can!

As August begins, watch the types of meetings, telephone calls, and offers you get. Also pay close attention to the projects that you launch at the start of August, too. Take seriously any talks, proposals, and new product and/or services launches that you participate in now, simply because this would be happening at such a potent time of the year. This eclipse suggests the job you land would be extraordinary in some way - certainly it would pave the way to a new future.

Jupiter in your third house will make you articulate and persuasive this month too, no small advantage. Whether you have to untangle any misunderstanding with a friend or sell an important point to a VIP, all the right words will come to you now. Many companies are asking for writing samples, and again, you would do very well in that regard, too.

The sign this eclipse will fall in is Leo, a sign associated with the entertainment industry, so if you are a musician, you may launch your new album; if you are a writer, you may get approval to proceed on a screenplay or theatrical production; and if you are an actor, you may audition for an important new part. These are only a few examples - I am only scratching the surface! You need not be "creative" yourself to benefit from this trend however - you may work in any part of the entertainment industry, even in accounting, to partake of this.

Leo also rules industries devoted to children, from toys and clothes, to children's TV programming, as well as books, games, and activities, as a few examples. If you are offered a job in this field, there's something to be gained.

Another slightly related industry is teaching, always strongly associated with Leo. If you are an educator, you will find yourself at the right place at the right time.

There is one more industry that I would like to flag for you. Leo governs the luxury market, which would include yachts, champagne, diamonds, furs, high priced real estate, mansions and estates, expensive cars, watches, wines and liquors, and so on (let your imagination take flight), and is an industry to consider, too. If you market expensive goods or services to the very rich, you may do exceptionally well now and in coming years, thanks to a surprise development that happens now.

All the industries mentioned dazzle for you, but you will have opportunities in other areas too, other than the ones listed. The ones I listed seem particularly lucky.

The best part about all this emphasis is that the salary or other compensation offered you should be excellent, due to the interplay between Venus and Pluto on August 5. Don't be shy about naming the salary you feel you deserve, even if you think your ideal number is on the high side.

Another fantastic day to discuss money with your boss or prospective employer - one that may prove EVEN BETTER than the date I just gave you, August 5 - will be August 21, when your ruler, Pluto, sends a vibration to the Sun, linking the houses of fame and promotion to salary. What a gorgeous day for negotiating a new salary this will be!

Dear Scorpio, once Pluto moves into Capricorn in late November, to stay for 16 years, Pluto will not be back to your house of earned income again in your lifetime. These two aspects are rare and special, so if you can use them to your advantage, do!

Yet money will not tell the whole story this month. You will want a job that offers room for true creative input, one that allows you to show strength of leadership. The old rule of "never take the job for the money" seems to fit well here - you'll want a role that allows you to grow and contribute your ideas.

As you see, you could easily be offered your dream job now. Yet what makes this period so exciting is that if the pieces of your plan don't fit into place perfectly now, you will have a second chance again later, at the lunar eclipse in February 2009. You can't lose!

Throughout this month, your ruler, Mars, will tour your sector of friends, so you will soon see that you can depend on your friends in many ways.

There will be one difficult aspect that could cause concern in regard to a personal relationship on August 6 when Mars will oppose volatile Uranus. A surprise confrontation with a friend, lover, or older child will be possible, so it may be wise to be very careful when interacting with others near this date.

Treat this aspect as serious, and do all you can to not rock the boat with anyone you feel seems a little fragile or ultra-sensitive this month. Mars will be involved, and with Mars as your ruler, you will be more susceptible to this aspect than most. This is a hot, aggressive, explosive aspect that often leaves an emotional scar or causes a deep rift, one reason I urge you to be careful. Another reason is that with Uranus involved, things will be unexpected and out of left field - even weird in some way.

The thorny part about this is that this aspect will be operative not for a day but for a full ten days after it peaks on August 6 (right up to August 16), and will be operative for a few days prior to its appearance, too). Alas, everyone of every sign may feel this stormy aspect in some way, but you could experience this aspect more deeply because Mars is your ruler. It seems to involve one close personal relationship, quite unexpectedly, if you are to feel it at all. Mars will look for weak links - if it finds none, you won't feel anything.

Your home, property, or family member will take your full attention at the month's second eclipse, a full moon lunar eclipse, on August 16. With Father Neptune so prominent at this lunar eclipse, there are several ways you may feel this eclipse. First and foremost you must guard against water damage, as Neptune will oppose Venus, possibly damaging some of your furnishings.

Indeed, you should have a comprehensive renters or homeowners insurance policy, as the aspect mentioned before, involving Mars opposed to Uranus, may also give you problems. Make sure your electrical writing is secure as well.

Experts say 80 percent of all mishaps happen in the home, simply because we are there so much of the time. Make safety a priority - if a rug is troublesome, use duct tape to keep it safely down, for example, or if changing a bulb, drag out the sturdy ladder rather than trying to balance by standing on a rickety chair.

If you are selling or buying a house, make a list of all contingencies that could possibly come up and draw up solutions for every one of them. Something appears to be coming to critical mass at this eclipse, but it's hard to nail down exactly what - it could have a physical manifestation (water damage) or psychological (your buyers back out of the house because they are indecisive or unclear about what they need.) Check references - with Neptune so active, someone may try to appear better than he or she really is, at least on paper.

If your home is not the focus of this eclipse, you may be thinking about your mother or grandmother, as the fourth house rules the people who brought you into the world. A lunar eclipse would point to a female parent, which is why I say mother or grandmother.

This month will just keep on going. Instead of quietly fading to black at the end of the month, another new moon will pop up! This will be a busy month!

The new moon of August 30 will help you open a dialogue with a friend, or open the door to help you make one or two new friends in weeks to come. If it's the former situation, you may be able to repair a relationship that may have hit turbulence earlier in the month. Clearing the air may please you if this relationship with your friend is precious to you.

Alternatively, Saturn will orbit close to that new moon, revealing something serious may be happening in your friend's life. She or he may be going through a very difficult time, possibly in regard to health or in regard to the health of a close family member or spouse. Or, his or her job may be causing stress. There is any number of reasons that your friend will need a compassionate response from you.

A completely different way this new moon may play out is that you choose to take an important leadership role in a group, charity, or humanitarian effort as a result of this new moon, and if so, it would contribute much to your personal growth. To be clear, the August 30 new moon is NOT an eclipse but just a very productive new moon. It would also be a terrific time to send your application to join a new club. This new moon will strongly color the first half of September, so keep that in mind, too.

Romantically, how the month plays out depends on how things feel for you in the first half of August. In particular, the Mars opposition to Uranus of August 6 will be a very turbulent aspect that can cause hurt feelings. Mars will be looking for a weak link to expose, so if you and your friend, romantic lover, or child has none in your relationship, you will sail though this period easily. If not, this could prove to be a very disillusioning time.

With the ruler of your fifth house of love positioned in your fourth house, if you are living with a lover, you may need to move out by the time that these planets have traveled for ten days beyond their initial meeting of August 6. That brings you into the lunar eclipse in your home sector, August 16, and may require a quick move, possibly because you are breaking up. Let's hope not - that could represent quite an upheaval.

If you are married, you will not feel this difficult aspect on August 6 in a romantic way, as the fifth house - the focus of Mars and Uranus - does not rule your marriage partner, but rather the first stages of love as well as your relationship with older children.

Before you begin worrying about your child, should your child be leaving home, it could be for all the right reasons - to go off to boarding school or college, or to live with an ex who has custody, as a few of many possible examples. Eclipses often create a key marker point - a rite of passage - and each of these examples would fit that. You may be able to think of others.

If you do have problems, remember, it may be that a friend surprises you in all the wrong ways, but if so, the new moon on August 30 may offer you a way back to that friendship if you so desire.

Everyone, married or single or any status in between, should stay away from August 23 when Venus in Virgo will oppose Uranus, another really dreadful bad day for love!

If you aren't dating anyone, or if you feel your relationship is sound, here are your best romantic dates to go out and enjoy yourself:

August 16, 21, 26, 30, and 31.

Summary

You seem to have been waiting for precisely the right moment to make your ascent in your career and this month offers all the perfect conditions. The total eclipse in Leo, August 1, will fall at the very top of your chart, and any job you will soon consider - or have just taken and will start now - is likely to be the professional opportunity you've dreamed about for years.

A solar eclipse is always also a new moon, known to open a whole new path. Your daily routine will soon seem very different after this new moon appears, with many people to become acquainted with, and you will be given new standards to meet. You are ready, for all that you have done in past years has prepared you for this. You simply need to step up and take your prize.

Your new position will compensate you generously, as evidenced by the fine angle Venus makes to Pluto from your earnings house at the time of the eclipse. Still, money does not tell the whole story. From this point on, you will want a job that offers room for true creative input and that allows you to show strength of leadership. The old rule of "never take the job for the money" fits here - you'll want more and by George, you'll get more.

Planets in Leo point to a new position in entertainment or one that caters to children (teaching, toys, television programming, and so forth). Leo is also associated with sophisticated design in all applications, the cultural arts, as well as in regard to the creation and sale of luxury brands, from expensive watches, yachts, and high-price estates, to custom cars and the like. If you take a new position in one of these industries, you are poised to do very well.

As soon as you deal with career matters at the start of the month, you almost instantly will need to refocus on your home. The lunar eclipse (a full moon) on August 16 will crystallize your plans very rapidly. If you are about to rent a new apartment or buy a house, the right space will appear. However, due to the prominent place Neptune will take at this lunar eclipse, ask about possible flooding or other problems with water. This eclipse will fall next to Father Neptune who will try to enter your house. You may need extra homeowners / renters insurance to cover all eventualities. If you are buying beachfront property, the implications are evident but could play out in many more ways - be vigilant about water, mold, ice, well water, and so forth. Also ask about electrical systems and be sure your computer, television, and other equipment will be able to run easily without a blowout; both are blinking areas of your chart. You will want to make sure outlets are not overloaded.

The new moon of August 30 will allow you to make friends with new people, but to also help a friend in need. Saturn will orbit close to that new moon, so you may hear that your friend needs your unwavering support when hit by a life crisis. Saturn shows us what we owe others - if this person has been good to you in the past, you will return the favor by showing how much that person means to you. You will be incredibly busy this month, but still, you seem to find the time for this person.

If you take on a new role in a club or humanitarian or charitable organization, the job you accept will be a weighty one of leadership. Your profile in the community will rise, and you will learn a great deal about managing people and groups, even if the job is voluntary and not a paid position. This month you would learn that it's impossible to help someone without also helping yourself - a lovely, unexpected bonus.

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.

This is an important month, for the eclipses are back, always harbingers of change and growth. This time, however, the eclipses are not in Virgo-Pisces any longer, so for the first time since 2005 you are not the subject of an eclipse.

You've had quite a number of sudden changes over the past two years, but now a new eclipse family is emerging, in Leo-Aquarius, highlighting your creativity, health, and well-being. Eclipses, coming in pairs as a solar and lunar eclipse, will occur in these signs every six months from now until August 2009.

As the month opens, the first eclipse will occur on August 1. It will be a solar eclipse in Leo in your very private twelfth house of the horoscope. With the Sun, new moon, Venus, and your ruler, Mercury, your subconscious mind will be very active. If you set aside time to do some focused brainstorming, you should be very successful in seeing results. Not only do you have an eclipse to help you come up with stunningly good ideas that could net you profit and bring added security, but also joyful Jupiter in perfect angle to your Sun. This is a dynamite set of aspects to help you create a breakthrough.

It is interesting that at the very same time as this eclipse is occurring, you have Mars in Virgo, giving you plenty of energy and "can-do" spirit. Mars only visits a sign once every two years for a six-week visit and when it does, it suggests you are about to embark on a new chapter of life - and you are probably quite anxious to get going. However, Mars' position in the twelfth house suggests that you need to do more tweaking, planning, and thinking before you will be ready to make any big announcements or unveil a creative project.

While you are still in "incubation" stage, you won't be for long - the time to reveal all you are doing will come at your most important moment this month, the new moon in Virgo on August 30 and in the weeks that follow it in September. More about that later!

Lots of things are happening off stage, in your zone of privacy and confidential matters. Planets stacked up in the twelfth house from August 1 onward point to an enormous opportunity for productivity while working in solitude. While you may usually work with others in a team situation, your best work this month will happen behind closed doors while you are alone. Artists say that they often have to screen out the loudness of the world so that they can hear the whispering of their inner voice.

Your intuition will be right on target this month, so it will be important to listen to it and not be talked out of doing so. Since your subconscious will be active, if anything comes up that you feel a need to talk about to a therapist or friend, this would be the month to express it. You may be able to get over a bad habit, or get a friend or relative the help they need, say by getting them to rehab.

The twelfth house rules places of confinement, including hospitals and nursing homes, so it seems you might be interacting more with medical or dental personnel. This may be because you will want to schedule a procedure or test, or because you need medical advice. Leo rules the blood, heart, and spine, so these are possible parts of the body you may be thinking about. Alternatively, you may find out that a relative will be hospitalized in early August. (Since the Sun is always read as "male," keep an eye on your father, grandfather, husband, boyfriend, other male relative such as a brother or uncle, male friend, neighbor, or male boss to see if you will be needed to help some way.)

The month's second eclipse, August 16, will be a full moon lunar eclipse and will again focus on health, this time, again, yours, as well as any woman who holds a prominent place in your life such as your mother, grandmother, wife, girlfriend, female friend, aunt, female boss, or female neighbor. This eclipse will bring something to fullness. For example, if someone is sick, once you reach the full moon it tends to crest, and after three days past the full moon, the crisis subsides. This is a full moon eclipse, which only means it has the power of three full moons, brought by the universe so you'd pay attention. Think of it as a protective aspect. If your relative becomes ill or finds out they need an operation, you'll want to be there for that person.

The sixth house, which will be highlighted at this second eclipse on August 16, is also all about day-to-day job assignments. If your health is not the focus, a complex project may be. Know you will probably need a number of contingencies in place, as eclipses turn things inside out. A trusted member of your staff may leave at the office, or someone you depend upon at home may suddenly say she's leaving. (I refer to this person as "she" because this eclipse is lunar, suggesting it will be more likely a woman than a man to leave.) This will put more on your shoulders, so keep that in mind.

In your personal relationships, one very tough incident may be coming up, due to Mars (energy, inflammation, heat, anger, war) in direct opposition to Uranus (explosive and unpredictable events). Here you have a recipe for a very difficult confrontation. Keep an eye on the day it is due to peak, August 6, but keep in mind that it can strike as early as five days ahead and as much as ten days later. That's a long period of time to be careful not to provoke someone, I know, and what makes it so hard to control is that during that time, you may see nothing and then suddenly have a blowout that you never saw coming.

The person with whom you'd have the problem of getting along would be someone that you are very close to in an established partnership. It could be your mate, boyfriend / girlfriend, a business partner, agent, broker, publicist, or other serious collaborator or other partner. A disagreement could escalate into quite an angry row, so be careful not to rock the boat.

There are other difficult aspects of the month, I am sorry to say. On August 15, Mercury, your ruler, will conjoin Saturn, suggesting news will be weighty and heavy. You seem to be overly sensitive on this day, but you can use this day for good by signing a contract or making a plan that you want to be in place a very long time. If anyone is critical of you on this day, try to take the parts of the feedback that can help you and discard the rest.

Venus will move into Virgo on August 6 (the same day as the opposition of Mars and Uranus), which is almost always a good thing, but Venus will meet up with some very heavy-duty aspects while it spins through the sky.

On the plus side, you can use the time Venus is in your sign from August 6 to 30 to see about upgrading your looks. It's a good time to shop for fall things, especially knowing that next month your ruler will retrograde from September 23 until October 15. You will feel the impending retrograde at least a week or ten days prior to September 23.

On August 23 Venus in Virgo will oppose Uranus in Pisces, making one close relationship very volatile.

I am sorry to have to list these difficult aspects. You have reason for cheer however, in that Jupiter will continue to shine in your true love sector, bringing you unparalleled opportunities to meet a new romantic partner this year. No matter what happens, if you are single, remind yourself that you have options.

Actually, when it comes to getting along with someone, Saturday, August 16, brings Venus in perfect angle to Jupiter. It happens on the same day as the full moon eclipse, so while you may be absorbed with work or health issues, you also seem to have some lovely support from someone in your personal life, perhaps someone you just met.

Don't get too carried away with anyone new, however, for Venus in Virgo will oppose Uranus in Pisces directly on Saturday, August 23, not a good day for romantic talks, plans, dreams, or risks.

As you see, your emotions are likely to be on quite a rollercoaster ride this month. Keep telling yourself - "I have Jupiter in my house of true love, and by George, this year I will find love!" If you do have difficulties this month, it may be because you are clearing out the cobwebs of your life, or because you are getting to better understand the type of person you need to make you happy. I think you are closer to realizing love than you ever thought possible. Don't become discouraged - sometimes love is a matter of trial and error.

You seem to not only survive this month but actually flourish. The month ends with a birthday bouquet to you, dear Virgo. A beautiful new moon in Virgo is due on August 30 and will open a new path. This new moon will allow you to choose exactly how you'd like to direct its energy.

By then you will have the new moon, Sun, Saturn, and Venus in Virgo, indicating how the planets have shifted to your favor. Now, finally, YOU have the main cosmic favor, and it's more than any other sign. Jupiter, the Great Benefactor, will be beaming golden vibrations to all those planets at some point in the month.

Jupiter's friendly conversation with Saturn is most telling, for it suggests that the pieces you put into place at the time of the new moon on August 30 will be in place a very long time. You have a chance to build a very firm foundation at month's end, one that is sure to stand the test of time. At month's end it will be time to finally unveil your plans, confident that it's the right time to do so. You seem to have done your due diligence, and now you are ready to begin.

If you were born on August 30 or within five days of this date, this new moon indicates your whole life is about to take off, and it will be filled with many fresh starts.

Happy Birthday, dear Virgo!

Romance and fun will be best on these days: August 2, 9, 16, 21, 22, 26, 30, and 31.

Summary

Most of August will be a quiet time when you get a chance to think, take long walks, and to experiment with various ideas for your future. For the most part, you'll want to keep your own council. Your concentration will be very high while working alone, so you may decide to finish up a book manuscript, put the final touches on a thesis, or work on a creative project in your studio with no distractions for long periods.

A lot of energy is building up in your behind-the-scenes sector in early August, giving this area of your chart special emphasis. The solar eclipse on August 1 suggests that someone close may be in the hospital, and you will need to help care for that person, most likely a male relative or friend. If it is not someone else, it could be you. Perhaps you will finally take care of that little problem that your doctor says you should fix.

During the first three weeks of August, if you have been thinking of giving up a habit for a better one, your moment has arrived. You may opt to talk with a family member or professional, for the twelfth house - where many planets will be drawn in August - rules your subconscious mind. You will have a superb opportunity for a breakthrough now, so if any of this resonates, use this time to your advantage.

A second event, a lunar eclipse (full moon), will occur on August 16 and immediately direct your attention to your work life. A subordinate may announce her departure at the office, or someone you depend on at home - a babysitter, housekeeper or gardener - may suddenly quit. You'd be wise to have backup replacements in your Rolodex should this happen at mid-month. It seems likely.

Financially, you are about to enter a high-spending period once Mars enters your second house of personal finance, from August 19 to October 4.

Romantically, if attached, you may not see eye-to-eye with your partner near August 6. In fact, an argument could erupt that escalates quickly. You may simply trip over this topic and wonder what happened when it mushrooms bigger than anything you thought possible. Be careful to avoid confrontations on August 6 plus or minus a full week. This would not be the month to have that "big talk," that's for sure!

Mars will be in Virgo all month, a once-in-two-year favor, suggesting you have the courage and drive to press forward on important goals, despite any obstacles that may turn up. Most of the people in your life seem to be trailing behind you and not quite keeping step. No matter - you know now that you don't really need anyone. You are perfectly capable of generating your own vortex in this world, and this month you'll prove that to be true, six ways to Sunday. Indeed, you will be laying the groundwork for an important new chapter in your life to begin immediately. You'll do it with or without others' assistance, and your sense of independence will be quite attractive to others.

Your moment arrives at month's end when the new moon arrives in Virgo, August 30. Last year, on August 28, you experienced a powerful eclipse, marking an end to a relationship or area of your life, but this year the universe will offer you a fresh start. Think very carefully about the road you take now, for Saturn will conjoin this new moon, setting in stone all you do for years to come. If it is something you want dearly, you will succeed.

Put a major personal plan in motion: August 30 + 2 weeks

Keep time free to help a friend or relative who may be ill: August 1

A member of your staff may quit, so have backups: August 16

Your spending will likely increase from August 19 to October 4

Avoid a roaring row with your partner: August 6, + or - one week

No matter what you knew about your life, or what you thought was likely to come up in the months to come, think again. The eclipses are back, and this time they are centering their main attention on you. Over the past two years the series of eclipses have been in Virgo and Pisces, but that series is over and the new one starting up is in Leo-Aquarius.

Eclipses always change our direction, bring surprising events, and change priorities - all in the blink of an eye. The purpose of an eclipse is to shake you out of your rut, illuminate certain circumstances that were hidden from view, or bring sudden opportunity that you have to seize to take full advantage. When an eclipse arrives in your own sign, that's news, and if the eclipse falls within four days of your birthday, that's even bigger news. If you were born on August 1 or 16, or close to that date, your entire year to come will be very different from any one you had experienced previously. Not born near those dates? You STILL will see shifts.

Because it is always best to react rather than initiate during eclipse time, you might as well sit back and simply wait to see what flies in the window this month. I always advise never to initiate on an eclipse if you can help it - respond to others' decisions quickly if necessary, but try not to be the one calling the shots. Whenever we make a big decision on an eclipse (within a week of its appearance) things tend not to work out precisely as anticipated. Sometimes an initiation around this time can't be helped, because eclipses are known to bring news of big life events, and you will see this at play - not only you but friends and family. You will see a flurry of activity around you. News of new job engagements, marriages, births, move of residence, the start of one's own business - that sort of big life news happens around eclipse time.

While most eclipses deliver their news immediately (within days of when the eclipse appears), others don't. Many wait one month to the day later, plus or minus five days. (If this will be the case for you, watch the time near September 1 and 16.) Still other eclipses don't bring news until Mars moves over the mathematical degree of the eclipse, which will happen this coming February. If this is the case for you, you will probably still get some sort of subtle news now, so keep watch over the conversations that come up, even very casual ones. As you see, although eclipses fall on new moons and full moons, they have a much wider time frame over normal new moons and full moons.

The total eclipse of the Sun - a solar eclipse - will come up first, August 1. At that time the Sun, new moon, Venus, and Mercury will all line up in Leo, putting you in the spotlight. Sudden opportunities are sure to arise, some quite creative and exciting, that you will want to investigate. Many planets will be in Leo this month, so it's time to think about what YOU want to do. Don't worry too much about whether or not others will go along with your plans or ideas. You need to present a vision, and it appears you will, in a vivid, passionate way.

On this eclipse, something will end but as it does, something else will begin. A relationship may end, or it may be that a long-term condition will end. The two don't always dovetail at precisely the same time, but be patient - not all will be revealed at once.

Others around you will be all ears about what you have to say, so make sure when you do speak or send a document, it's cohesive, intelligent, and accurate. Others will later be picking apart what you say and do, for that always happens when you have a high profile. This shouldn't stop you - this only means that you will have the floor, and it's time for you to indicate your direction.

I say that you must be sure about the accuracy of the facts you are depending on this month because Neptune will oppose Venus precisely at eclipse time. Venus is the natural ruler of your sector of career, and Neptune may fog some of the facts you will need to make professional decisions. If those facts are not accurate, the direction you take won't be either, and people both inside and outside your organization may criticize you. This month it is worth going the extra mile to check both your data and your assumptions.

It will also be important to know all about the people you partner closely with now and in future months. There is some indication that you are about to make a serious commitment to a business or romantic partner later in the month. In a business situation, asking for references and doing background checks should be part of the plan if you don't know the person all that well. I am not saying you will find anything wrong, just that it would be a good idea to make sure you aren't getting a little too carried away with enthusiasm that could bubble up this month.

Having said that, Venus' position across the sky from Neptune may indicate that a highly creative project that you devised is being put into motion this month, and if so, that would be very favorable. Neptune rules creativity, and its position bodes well for the success of your project. In fact, you may be partnering with another individual as you move forward to make it happen, and that too would be a positive manifestation of this eclipse. Planets in Leo point to work in the entertainment industry, to the development or marketing of luxury goods, or to industries that cater to the needs of children. All these areas shine especially brightly for you.

I should also mention that at a total eclipse of the Sun, a prominent male might now leave for any number of reasons. (I say male because the "Sun" is considered male.) An eclipse will "eclipse out" that person from your life. For example, you may hear that your father has decided to buy a house in a sunny location and vacate the one you grew up in. In that case, for example, your parent may leave your vicinity and you won't be seeing one another as much in person. Or, it may be that your boss will quit and go to another company quite out of the blue, and since this person hired you and protected you, you may be sorry to see him go.

You are ruled by the Sun, so you will feel the August 1 solar eclipse more powerfully than the lunar eclipse, August 16, a full moon.

If you were born on August 1, or close to that date, your whole life will change in the year to come, but I feel in a way that will please you.

Whenever one has an eclipse in one's own sign, it's always wise to get a medical checkup. An eclipse will sometimes highlight a medical irregularity that needs to be fixed. If nothing is wrong, nothing will come up and that will be the case for a vast majority of Leo this month. However if the eclipse brings up some sort of health or dental issue, you should go for advice to nip it in the bud. You are fortunate in that you have Jupiter, the great benefactor and giver of gifts and luck, moving through your sixth house of health now, a big advantage! It shows you'd get the very best doctor or dentist - someone you can rely on to keep you feeling tip top.

At the August 16 eclipse, your partner will have a chance to voice his or her opinions after having listened to your thoughts and announcements. Yet with Neptune prominent, this person may not know what he or she wants, and will be hard to satisfy. If your partner seems confused, your job will be to gently help sort out options. If your partner seems a bit unrealistic or working more with fantasy than facts, you will need to bring him or her back to earth. Have patience.

If your partner is prone to substance abuse, this August 16 eclipse may make it clear it's time to get professional help for this person. Of course, the eclipse may not bring out a situation this extreme, only if there is that propensity to begin with! Do realize that eclipses in one's opposite sign, as you will have in Aquarius on August 16, often will reveal a side of character that you never saw before. Eclipses are very illuminating, and although they can be disillusioning sometimes, any information that you are presented will be information you need. Let's hope the side you see is a side you are happy to discover, for that is possible, too.

Conversely, if you are the one in the relationship who has idealized a partner a little too much, you may discover that now and need to make a bit of a correction. In this case, it would not be your partner's fault - that was simply your imagination gone wild. We all do that from time to time (especially if the relationship is a romantic one), so if you do get a different perspective now due to a revealing incident, you will need to refocus on what "is" - not what you imagined.

Staying positive, one last possible interpretation of this trend may be that your partner may deeply inspire you though his or her belief in you. An eclipse in the seventh house could bring on an impending engagement or marriage, and if so, that would be happy news. In a business sense, you may form a close relationship to work on an artistic project together that would show really encouraging results from the very start.

If you were born on August 16, your life will center heavily on partnership issues in the coming year, and it appears one, whether in business or in your personal life, will leave.

Financially, you need to brace for an untoward surprise that could come up on August 6 when Mars opposes Uranus. Whatever it is, it will be difficult news that will need your speedy decision and action. When Mars reaches out to Uranus, the result is usually aggressive, angry, hot, or inflammatory. Uranus creates explosive, volcanic situations that are completely unexpected.

This is a tough aspect that comes once every two years, and this time will bring shocks to everyone, of any sign. Your focus from this aspect will be purely financial and it may trigger an argument. The problem with this aspect is that you have to keep your antenna up for a full ten days after it arrives, which can seem like a very long time. With Uranus, you may see absolutely nothing until one moment, quite by accident, something you say triggers quite a reaction.

You may have been beset with high expenses since last month, so you may already be trying to slash spending as best you can. You'll be pleased to know that your outlook is really good for seeing those expenses drop later this month. Once Mars moves into Libra on August 19, a far more compatible sign, you should feel that you are able to bring money matters under control.

Also, a very positive new moon, August 30, will help you fix your financial situation. You may see a rise in income in the days that follow that new moon, so it would be worth investigating possibilities. You may get a new job or side jobs (Jupiter would make it easier for you to get freelance work, so this is a good area.) Saturn will be active at that new moon, so you seem very realistic, centered, and determined to make things right again because by this point, you've probably had enough of these monetary wrangles.

Saturn tends to constrict what it touches, however, so if you do ask for a raise, you may hear that your boss can't give you quite as much of a raise as you had hoped. Take what you can. We can't always get all that we need, but something may be better than nothing. If you want to change jobs, you may be able to do so in October or November, as your aspects are truly bright for a job switch or for winning a promotion.

Once Mars moves into Libra, Mars will bring you small but beautiful opportunities to travel to nearby towns, resorts, and cities. By then you'll need a change in scene, so take up any invitations to be in a different setting.

Romantically, so much will depend on how your relationship has been going all along. Often an eclipse will crystallize feelings quite suddenly. If you are single and not dating, you won't feel the August 16 eclipse because you don't have a partner in your life. In your case, travel will help you meet people, especially if you have a summer share in a weekend house where you can meet new people easily, or if friends invite you to their houses.

This month your sweetest romantic evenings will be: August 1, 9, 10, 23-24, 28, and 29. The full moon eclipse August 16 may bring a fateful meeting - it's a wild card! With Jupiter and Venus at gorgeous angles on that day, that's very possible!

Summary

Events that occur as a result of the solar eclipse in Leo (a new moon) on August 1 will be so vital that you may say later that the developments that came up were positively life altering.

This total eclipse will help you decide how you'd like to shape your future. In early August, think about yourself, not others. Later you can extend your scope, but in birthday month, and with this important eclipse, you will be given a chance to see down the road and make plans for a better life. You are the star of this eclipse, and as such, you will be given the opportunity to make your life close to the vision you have in your head. So important will this total eclipse be that the decisions you make this month and in the weeks and months ahead will affect you now through 2017 or possibly forever!

Keep your health up to par at this total solar eclipse, as sometimes, when the Sun's light is blocked, you may feel less energetic or a health concern that has been going on, unbeknownst to you, needs attention. If you notice something is "off" medically, get it checked immediately.

The closer your birthday falls to August 1, the more powerfully you'll feel the coming shifts. All eclipses reveal certain truths, and this eclipse won't be any exception. Yet with the Sun, new moon, Mercury, and Venus in Leo, you'll have the upper hand, and with just a bit of effort you'll soon see that you can maneuver events to your favor.

The lunar eclipse, August 16, will help you go a step further to see a partner in an accurate light, too. You may have idealized this person, but if so, now the eclipse will bring a more focused, true picture. If your relationship is flawed, you'll know it, but if it is strong and sturdy, you will know that, too. If your partner is prone to escapist tendencies or relies on alcohol or drugs to get through hard times, you may need to get your partner help, but in that case, it's good, and he or she will thank you for that later.

The closer your birthday falls to August 16, the more this lunar eclipse will affect you.

Finances also will be a topic of meditation. On August 6, Mars, currently in your house of personal income and wealth, will oppose Uranus in your eighth house of credit, debt, and large financial obligations. This eighth house also rules money others may give you or owe you, say for child support, or funds due you as a result of an insurance claim or commission, as a few examples. Near this date you may get a revelation concerning money, and it's not likely to be the type of surprise you'd want.

Should you have an altercation over money with a close partner, you may have to document your case in great detail, with all kinds of backup documentation. The short-term solution may be to get a side job until this matter is cleared up. With Jupiter, giver of gifts and luck, in your work sector all year, you will able to find side work rather easily if you look for it.

The new moon on August 30 will usher in a new phase where earning more money will be very possible for you as long as you speak up. Saturn is close to that moon, so it appears your employer doesn't have a large budget to draw on. Still, some money is better than none, so once this new moon arrives, it would be worth asking for a raise.

Romantically, a great deal depends on how things have been going all along. You may have to make an adjustment in how you see your partner, and that may require a bit of effort. If you are single, your best romantic prospects will occur while traveling, so pack those bags and go. You will need a break, and it looks like Mars from August 19 onward will help you get just that. Watch the person you meet near the eclipse August 16, as this person could be a soul mate. With Jupiter and Venus bubbling up fun, you never know! Eclipses bring big developments and this would be just the kind of twist to your life's plot that you would welcome!