August may be a lazy, relaxed month for friends, but not for you. Your work life couldn't possibly become any busier, but in this economy, it is nice to have a job. Stay cheerful, dear Pisces. While it is true that you'll be working very hard in August, remind yourself that your friends' careers aren't rocketing skyward like yours is about to do! The sacrifices in free time that you make now will really add up!

With four planets in Leo lining up in your solar sixth house of work projects, you'll be the darling of all your clients - and you'll line up an impressive list of new ones, too. They all want you in their corner, and by George, they're right to dial you first. It will feel great to have your goods or services in such hot demand.

With planets in Leo, the assignment you will be focused on may be connected to the entertainment industry or done in concert with certain actors. Or, you will work on a theatrical production, movie, or broadcasting idea. It is also possible that the project may be marketed to a very affluent customer, or be thought of as luxurious in some way.

Leo is also associated with children, so the assignment may benefit children in some way. Finally, Leo is also associated with education, so you may be asked to be a teacher of children or to create artwork, games, music, clothes, and special children's entertainment, or else cater in some other way to their needs.

This trend will start the moment the month takes off, for the new moon on August 1 will occur in this area that we have been speaking about. Take seriously the assignment that comes up - since it is coinciding with an eclipse, it suggests that the new assignment could easily lead you into a whole new realm.

Your work routine may change in some way, for this new moon happens to be a total eclipse of the Sun. An eclipse will always shake things up, for eclipses are the most powerful and dramatic way the universe uses to create dramatically new conditions so that we all can continue to grow. An eclipse may "eclipse out" a regular client, so that you can be inspired by something new.

Another way this eclipse may work out is that you may discover that a trusted subordinate is leaving the firm. When that happens, you will have to scramble to find someone else or do the job yourself for a while. You might want to keep your list of contingency names handy until permanent replacements can be recruited.

Indeed, a total eclipse in your sixth house will often create a gap in personnel, whether at the office or at home. In the office, it may be your prime assistant or star employee, and at home, you may hear that your babysitter, housekeeper, or gardener is leaving.

Like anything else in life, jobs, assignments, client relationships, and even equipment like computers have a life of their own. As much as we would like to extend them, often when that lifecycle is over, it's done. Look forward, not back at this time.

There's a certain freedom and sense of abandon when you've lost something. There's always that tingling sense of anticipation that something good is coming. The universe does not like a vacuum and will soon fill it with something far more appropriate to your growing stature.

It may help to know that at the end of November through December your reputation and career status will rise dramatically. Everything you do in August will count toward your glittering rise to stardom at year's end. Now that's something exciting to look forward to!

This same new moon August 1 may also make you more health-conscious. It would be a great time to begin working out at the gym or in sports more often. You will be putting in longer hours on the job, so you could use the relaxation that physical activity brings. This will be a new moon, and new moons open paths. The fact that this is an eclipse too only means that it is a new moon times three! Very powerful!

Harness the energy to get your body into the shape you want - if you compete athletically, you still can go up a notch. If you never (or rarely) do physical activity, start now. You may want to hire a coach or trainer to help you get start slowly. One thing is certain - you will see results.

Some Pisces have been troubled with problems with their feet ever since Uranus entered Pisces several years ago. (Uranus is still in your sign.) Alas, you have to watch for this problem to flair up this month, as there will be a tough opposition between Mars in Virgo and Uranus in Pisces on August 6, operative from August 1 to 16.

This month, wear comfortable shoes. Women should not wear 4-inch stilettos or platform shoes that may inadvertently turn the ankle on a broken sidewalk or pothole. Men, if you walk on the beach barefoot, watch where you are going so that you don't hurt yourself by stepping on a broken shell or being stung by a jellyfish. Don't walk into furniture in the dark either! You get the picture.

If you have a medical concern, this would be a good month to visit medical specialists to get advice or run tests. Take care of your teeth, too. If you need an operation, try not to operate on the part of the body that rules the sign Mars is visiting. This month, Mars will be in Leo, so heart surgery would be better put off until after August 19. If you have foot problems, take care of them now, prior to when Mars enters Pisces on March 14 through April 20. Often foot procedures involve bones and ankles, so that means you would have to also avoid the period December 27 to February 4, 2009 (bones, when Mars is in Capricorn) and February 4 to March 14 (ankles, when Mars is in Aquarius).

As you see, you should move forward on your procedure now, not later. The new moon October 29 (plus the ten days to follow it) would be an ideal time to plan an action for improving health matters - especially feet, dear Pisces. Review doctors now, but plan actions for then. (As long as the reproductive organs are not being operated on, you can use that October 29 new moon, as Mars will be in Scorpio. If you are having a hysterectomy however or other operation on reproductive organs, then wait until Mars leaves Scorpio from November 17 onward.)

The month holds another eclipse on August 16. This one will be a full moon lunar eclipse and may be connected to an event that came up at the last eclipse in Aquarius, February 6. Think back to that date - something you learned then may now be advanced to a new level or discussion.

Even if you can think of nothing that occurred in the early part of February, there are other manifestations that may surface at the new eclipse August 16.

Before I talk about those, I want to be clear about last February, for that was a difficult month for many Pisces. That month also held an eclipse in Virgo on February 20. If you had a hard time near February 20, you will NOT have a repeat of that experience. That family of eclipses in Virgo and Pisces is over and not due back for nine years. Thank goodness!

The eclipse on August 16 will light your house of solitude and reflection and be a lyrical time to work on creative projects. You will get a great deal done while working alone near this date, especially if the project is artistic or visual or involves writing. You won't have the distraction of others - just barricade yourself inside all alone. Set aside time simply to think, experiment, and try different approaches - you'll see lovely results. This full moon will conjoin your ruler, Neptune, the planet that inspires a rich imagination.

If you feel a need to end a bad habit, this full moon would be in a position to bring you the right coach to help you overcome it. You may want to enter rehab, AA, or Weight Watchers - you get the idea. Your intuition will be so strong that you will know too that this full moon represents the right time to tackle your goal.

One very startling outcome of the August 16 full moon eclipse will be to reveal another's secret, but only if the person involved has tried to keep one from you. If there is something that someone has tried to hide from you, those facts will now fly out into the open when those facts are illuminated by the full moon eclipse.

If someone has been duplicitous, it may come as devastating disillusioning news and may bring a final break with that person. Eclipses can be very cleansing by bringing full disclosure, and if this does happen, it will be so that you can protect yourself. I know that does not make things any easier, dear Pisces.

The opposition of Mars and Uranus that I mentioned earlier in regard to health may also bring problems within a close relationship. You may have a very angry confrontation this month with someone you care about when you discover this person was not the person you thought they were. If you recall, Mars will oppose Uranus on August 6, but will be operative for ten days, which coincidentally will bring you right up against this very emotional full moon eclipse, August 16. Mars opposed to Uranus can bring a very angry confrontation that is so hurtful that it would be hard to overlook.

Amazingly, there will be a new moon on August 30 in your close relationship sector. If you want to build a bridge to the person you had a problem with earlier in the month, this would be the time to make that overture. However, it may be that you are done with that person and will be ready to join forces with a new or ongoing business partner. Or, your falling out may work the other way, in that you may say goodbye to a business associate / partner and be ready to get engaged or married at the August 30 new moon.

I can't tell from where I sit, but I can say this - this new moon will be superb for setting up long-term arrangements, for Saturn and Jupiter will be beautifully cooperative, setting the stage for a very long relationship. That new moon is friendly and uniting - it would be a perfect time to get engaged or married or to set up a lovely business partnership.

Don't delay too much. Mercury will begin to retrograde September 23 until October 15, but you will feel the adverse affects of Mercury for a wider period than that, actually from September 10 until October 26.

I am also a bit concerned about the coming emotionally-fraught full moon in Pisces, September 15. As you see, the astrological weather forecast shows a bit of turbulence ahead, so buckle up and take full advantage of the good aspects I map out for you - and try to stay out of the way of the adverse ones!

Financially, expenses are due to rise once Mars enters your financial eighth house from August 19 to October 4. You may want to pull back a bit from spending for expensive items during that time so that you won't enter the winter holiday shopping season with high credit card balances.

Also, while Mercury is retrograde, it's never wise to spend money on high ticket items because they won't deliver the anticipated pleasures you expect. If you need an expensive item such as a new computer or need to lease a car, for example, do so prior to mid-September or wait until October 27 and beyond to buy.

Romantically, this month will emphasize those who are already in close relationships. Once Venus moves into Virgo from August 6 to 30, theoretically Venus should help your relationships. However, Venus can't because Saturn will be in a position to make things seem weightier and darker than they really are. (Case in point: Wednesday, August 13, when Saturn will conjoin Venus. Spartan Saturn wants you to work, not play, so I would hardly call this day lighthearted. You might as well stay home, work on your taxes, or sit back and watch "Ice Road Truckers" on the History channel rather than go out on a new date.)

When Venus opposes Uranus on Saturday, August 23, it won't be much better. On this day all kinds of things will go wrong with a close relationship. As you see, the universe has not given me much to work with, my dear Pisces. This one of those months that I will tell you there really aren't any super-duper romantic days to try meeting new people.

Summary:

Elements of your daily work routine will change under the total solar eclipse of August 1. A trusted subordinate you hired a long time ago may leave. That person is likely to be someone you depend on at work, or a nanny or housekeeper you hire at home. Have your backup list ready in case one critical person in your sphere suddenly departs.

At the office, thanks to the appearance of the total eclipse August 1, you may get a new job description (without ever leaving the firm), be transferred into a new department of the company, get new and important assignments, or have to learn new procedures or equipment or meet new standards. You may be allowed to hire extra temporary help to get your work done, but if not, with the shrinking personnel around you, you may have to do the job yourself until new recruits can be hired.

Watch your health all month, as the sixth house where the total solar eclipse will fall on August 1 also rules your well-being and vitality. If you sense something is off, have it checked immediately. The eclipse will be in Leo, ruling heart and circulation, so check for a low iron count, but also have your cholesterol and other routine tests done. With Mars in Virgo, you may have a jumpy lower stomach, or with Uranus in Pisces, foot problems. There is help out there - your job is to find it!

The lunar eclipse on August 16 will raise your awareness of something that has been going on in the shadows and without your knowledge, if there is anything. This sounds ominous, but really is not. The job of an eclipse is to give you full information you need to make an informed decision. In this regard, think back to last February 6, when there was an eclipse in the same area of your chart. The mathematical degrees differ, but you might get a clue of what is to be revealed. Once you have the information, you'll be able to protect your future security in a very comforting way. If there is nothing being withheld from you, you won't feel this side of the August 16 lunar eclipse.

Mars will move through your relationship house until August 19. Once you get beyond this date, you'll find any tension you've experience with your significant other will calm down. Your relationships will become much smoother and easier to manage, thank goodness.

From August 20 to October 4, you will enter into a higher-than-usual spending phase. Cut back on unnecessary expenses if possible until this period is over to avoid the stress of trying to pay high credit card statements just as you are entering the holiday buying season.

The new moon on August 30 will open a door to help you chose a business partner, agent, headhunter, or other serious collaborator to represent you.

If you are in love, you may get engaged or wed as a result of this new moon August 30, as it will help you take that important step. This new moon will bring on a serious and very stable, long-term vibration. Saturn will orbit closely to that new moon, so any decision you make will be in place for a long time, possibly decades to come. Be very sure of your choices. Jupiter in beautiful angle to Saturn will add a touch of optimism and hope. Make decisions as close to the appearance of that new moon as possible - then celebrate!