August 10 – 16

We’re in for a couple of treats starting with Sunday’s Leo new moon and the Perseids meteor shower show. Trying to glimpse 50 meteors an hour is an excellent way to spend a moonless night far from the city lights. They’ll begin to show up in the northeast sky around 11 p.m.
If that’s not a perfect backdrop for romance, take your cue from Monday’s polarity between idealistic Neptune and the creative Leo sun or from loving Venus’ embrace of stalwart Saturn. More opportunities for romance, plus extended conversation about it midweek as retrograde Venus favors passionate Pluto before merging with Mercury and the sun.

Aries: Mar. 20 – Apr. 19It all depends on what you call “fun.” You could knock yourself out training for an event so that you can achieve your personal best before the summer is out. You might grab a stack of books and stretch out on a chaise for the next few weeks or you could take advantage of the slew of planets bunching up in your Leo house of recreation, risk and romance and pursue the latter with the kind of gusto the Ram is known for. Whatever you wind up doing, know that talented acquaintances are willing to help you attain your heart’s desire. Let them.

Too much togetherness? Don’t be surprised if a pride of Lions invades your turf and makes themselves at home. However, if you’re not wining and dining or otherwise entertaining family and friends, you might find yourself knee-deep in decorating projects. No matter where your interest lies, you’ll approach the activity with greater passion than you anticipate. A warning: don’t let all that pure, heart-felt emotion get displaced when it could be directed towards something you’re very good at — giving and getting a whole lot of loving.

Unless you’re desperate for some peace and quiet, an empty house is the last place you should be. Since you’re likely to get your fill of family over the Labor Day holiday, you’d be better off spending quality time right now getting in touch with classmates and former neighbors, folks with whom you have history. There’s a good chance that a casual conversation will take an amorous turn when your curious Mercury ruler merges with affectionate Venus mid-month, about the same time that the Messenger uncovers a mind-blowing secret.

Each new moon poses a question the Moon Child is compelled to answer before the next new moon shifts your attention to another area of your life. Because the lunation on the 12th took place in your house of assets and values, over the next four weeks you’re likely to become even more focused on money matters. Don’t begrudge the time and effort needed to figure out the best course of action. With Mercury, Saturn, Venus and, until the 23rd, the sun all in creative Leo, your solution is likely to be fairly painless and more importantly, long lasting.

Try telling a Lion that “It’s not about you.” No King of the Jungle worthy of the name would believe it. And this week, no one else will either. Even if it’s not your birthday, all eyes are noticing how you look, all ears are eager to hear what you’re doing at the moment and what your future plans might be. The only question we’re too intimidated to ask is, “Who are you seeing?” If you inadvertently spill the beans, blame gossipy Mercury in your sign. Security-conscious Pluto will cover for your romantic inclinations and other risky behavior.

“A little birdie told me,” can explain how you’re receiving the information you’ve acquired. While your Mercury ruler is ensconced behind the scenes in the mysterious 12th house, it’ll be difficult to identify your source. Not only because of the secrecy imposed; however, when the sun and Mercury meet as they do on the 15th, you could turn into a channel for cosmic forces, a bona fide Messenger of the Gods. Despite your Virgo expertise, try to keep an open mind, especially about other people’s emotional states.

‘Tis the season to be jolly. Instead of December, August can be the better month for party hopping. Although there’s no immediate payoff, no Christmas bonus in sight, having your Leo house of acquaintances and allies packed with planets suggests that these people will become more important to your future success and happiness than they already are. Since your Venus ruler is retrograde through Labor Day, some of those smiling faces will remember the good old days, as well as your more wretched excesses.

You might make more money in December, but this August you can make significant strides in your career. The steps you take needn’t be strenuous, strategic or complicated; they could consist simply of being demonstrative and generous with people you don’t often see, coming up with a creative idea or two and maintaining an upbeat attitude. Use the potency of the four planets currently transiting your sunny Leo midheaven and, before pragmatic Virgo influences set in, spread the good vibes you’re projecting as wide as you can.

If your physical body isn’t cavorting far from home, send your mind there. Visit exotic resort sites online, bury your nose in travel magazines and lavish picture books, rent “Blue Lagoon.” With four planets in your Leo house of foreign travel and lifelong goals supporting your desire for a significant change, now would be a good time to make the attempt. Before a preoccupation with work takes over, before you have to protect your reputation or fulfill obligations to family and friends, take time out and stretch out.

Capricorn: Dec. 22 – Jan. 20Taking stock of what you have and what you haven’t might not be the highlight of your “How I Spent My Summer Vacation” report. Nonetheless, it would be a good thing to do before you become immersed in back-to-school business. So much positive planetary energy is currently focused in your Leo house of shared investment, insurance and inheritance matters, you’d be foolish (which you are not!) to let that energy dissipate without putting it to use. Plus, lots of attention and affection surrounding your Saturn ruler.

After you read for your sun sign, read for your rising sign.
That’s because there is so much planetary energy in fiery Leo, you need to know where, other than in your marriage house, those passionate vibes are centered. Since you live and/or work with your partner, you’re well aware what he or she is capable of creating when properly stoked. Then you can decide whether to join forces or to get out of the way of the firestorm. Once solar Virgo begins, things may quiet down, but not enough to stop the creative process.

Pisces: Feb. 19 – Mar. 19

People in the service, those you do charity work with, health care workers and employees of businesses you deal with on a daily basis; any one of them could be a conduit for the enormous amount of good will emanating from sunny Leo. If young children are involved, so much the better. While we’re not keeping score per se, because your Neptune ruler is in Aquarius, absorbing all this positive energy, some sort of karmic payback could be taking place. An extra benefit: unbeknownst to you, your reputation is being repaired.