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