Leo Horoscope for April 2009

Finances are again on the agenda, and this month you’ll want to stay on your toes to keep up with fast-moving developments. April will be one of those high contrast months, where things might start looking dim one moment but then become very bright the next. Let’s talk about one possibly troubling day, April 15, and get it out of the way so we can then focus on the happier ones.

First, I need to give you some background. Last month, on March 15, Mars entered Pisces and your eighth house of joint resources. Mars will continue to zoom through this sector until April 22. It is never easy to host Mars in this house, because Mars has an inflammatory effect and tends to force expenses up. The problem is that on this very day Mars will catch up with Uranus and meet in conjunction on precisely April 15 in this same eighth house of financial obligations and resources.

To complicate matters a little more, on the same day that Mars will meet Uranus, Saturn will be in direct 180-degree opposition to both Mars and Uranus, from your second house of personal earned income. You need to brace for a completely unexpected financial development that might leave you shaken. It looks like it’s a “take it or leave it, and face it head on” kind of a day. Said another way, I am not sure if you have much room to maneuver. See how it goes - you might.

In America, this is tax day, so the most obvious manifestation is that you may get bad news about how much you owe. However, may people pay their taxes early, and even rate a refund, so there are other possible outcomes. If you are in the process of a divorce, talks may now turn very contentious. It is alternatively possible that you may have problems with a business partner, agent or someone you represent, a tax man, a venture capitalist, an insurance company adjuster, or the courts concerning an inheritance. Or, news may concern a financial aid letter you receive from college, or it may be that you have a conflict or untoward news about a sum of money that you anticipated soon or that you are told you owe.

Whatever financial news you receive, you will likely be quite shocked. Now at this point I should mention that you might hear some very positive news - you never know what to expect when you are dealing with Uranus - but it does seem clear what you hear will be about money. You don’t have to plan for uplifting news (that’s easy to take), but you might have to brace for any possible difficult financial news. I will say that Saturn’s position makes me concerned that this day won’t be one of your favorites. Saturn will remind you of legal promises you made previously and won’t give you any room to be off the hook. It may help to know that many people of various zodiac signs will be having problems with April 15, so you won’t be alone.

As you start out the month, think of all the possible ways this financial news may play out. Try to avoid big meetings with your accountant, your investors, the courts, an ex (or a soon-to-be-ex), government people, or anyone else in your financial life on or near April 15.

Things will calm down considerably once you reach April 22, when Mars moves out of Pisces and into a far better place for you. Thankfully, Mars will not create this type of aspect ever again in your lifetime. By the time Mars comes back to Pisces in two years (the place it is now), Uranus and Saturn will have moved into other, more gentle placements. It is unusual to have all these planets clustered on the head of a pin, as they are now. This tells me that if you are determined to never see this type of situation repeated, the steps you will take in the near future will be successful and will ensure greater financial stability.

During the first three weeks of April, your expenses will continue to run high. I am so sorry to have to say that, because I know by doing so, I am adding salt to the wound. I thought about not telling you, but I think it is better you know so that you could put off any unnecessary outlays of cash, if that’s possible. Later, in June, you will have more cash coming in, so put off getting things you want but don’t absolutely need right now.

Mercury will retrograde next month from May 7 to 30, and you will feel the delays, forgetfulness, and errors in judgment that Mercury retrograde is famous for bringing a week or more before the date of the retrograde - in this case, on May 7. While I will explain Mercury in retrograde in more detail next month, let’s suffice to say that Mercury retrograde is not a time to buy anything expensive. Don’t buy a piece of furniture or pricy rug, a car, or any electronic items. If you need a new computer badly, then it will be important to get it early in April, staying clear of this possibly upsetting, wild card day, April 15. Actually, not being able to buy things until June could work in your favor, for you’ll be able to get ahead financially. By June you’ll be feeling quite good about the way your ledger is balancing. Let’s go back to April, however.

On the heels of this possibly jarring day of April 15 will be quite a lovely day.

On April 21, Venus and Mars will meet in this same area of your chart, your eighth house of other people’s money, and remarkably, you may hear some really good financial news that helps you feel a little better. It may mitigate whatever happens on April 15.

I had said that that there would be lots of other good news this month, and there is, so let’s look at that now.

Opportunities for travel will be written all over your chart. You may have been trying to plan a long, important trip, possibly abroad. Last month, when Venus went retrograde on March 6, you may have found that plans were hard to pin down. Or, if you did travel while Venus was retrograde, you might have found your trip not very productive. Venus will turn direct this month from April 17 onward.

Before I continue down this line, you may be saying to yourself, “But I am worried about money! How can I travel?” It’s possible your trips may be for work, or that you will use frequent flier miles, or that kind relatives will send you a ticket to come visit them.

Not only will Venus be more helpful to you in all these matters, but also Mars, the great energizer, will rev up your travel sector, starting April 22 through May 30. This suggests to me that no matter what you’ve been trying to accomplish that involves foreign people and places, or travel, you are about to see big progress. If you can’t leave home, its very possible people from afar will come to visit you. Or, it may be that you are on the phone and email so much with people at a distance that you feel that you actually did leave home - and you might have found it a lot easier if you actually had left home for a face-to-face!

Other areas of gain, thanks to the new moves of Mars into your ninth house, include publishing, broadcasting, the Internet and new media, as well as matters related to academia and goals to achieve higher education - all of these shine, too.

The full moon, April 9, is almost certain to bring a trip - possibly a short, quick one - and if so, you should be quite excited about how things work out. It looks like if you do hit the road at this time of the month (plus or minus four days), you’d go with a partner, your steady lover or mate, or with a business partner. This would be a good idea, as this person would account for the success of the trip, for the Sun and fortunate Jupiter, now in your partnership house, will be so beautifully angled. With this friendly full moon, and the placement of Mars after April 22, there is much evidence that you can get so much accomplished this month by reaching outside your usual base.

Alternatively, you may get some very happy news in the mail, by courier, fax, or email on this day. This will be one of your very favorite points of the month. Projects involving writing, editing, public speaking, publicity, marketing, sales, and advertising should go very well, too.

If your birthday falls on August 12, or within five days of this date, you will benefit most from this lovely full moon, April 9.

Now let’s turn to the subject of your career, which should bring sensational developments at month’s end. Watch for opportunities that come up just after the new moon of April 24 arrives. In the days and weeks that follow this new moon, you could score a major professional breakthrough. All new moons bring a window of about two weeks, but this one brings your most interesting opportunities during the first week, April 24-30.

To be clear, top jobs take weeks and months to win. What matters is that you begin to interview for the right job now. Opportunities should start to emerge at this new moon, and that’s what will be new.

If you are looking for a new job, this new moon will usher in one of your best moments of the year to find the right position to make use of your talents. Have your bio and resume written and ready to send out when the right VIP asks for it at the end of April. Actually, when Pluto and the Sun line up on April 23, you may have a very encouraging meeting with a VIP.

The timing of this new moon will be superb because Mars will come in to help raise your profile in your industry once it moves through your tenth house of career success from June 1 through July 11. This shows me you can now start to build good momentum, and you’ll find that with each initiation you will be building speed and getting closer to your goal.

It’s ironic and VERY helpful that Mars is due to help you in your career directly after Mercury will be done retrograding in May - great. While you wait for Mars to enter your tenth house of fame, honors, and achievement during May, contact anyone you used to work with for tips and possible references.

Also, and quite coincidentally, along with the new moon in your career sector April 24, you will also have help from a very sparkling aspect involving Mercury in friendly angle to Uranus. Mercury (news) will be, by then, in your house of career success, and Uranus (surprises), will be based in your house of other people’s money. On this day, April 24, career and money come together to bring outstanding news and it would be news you’d never expect.

There is another interesting twist that brings more reasons for you to be excited by your career prospects. Your fame and honors career sector (tenth house) is ruled by Taurus, which is in turn ruled by Venus. Venus, as I detailed earlier, has been retrograde for the past month. It is very possible that since early March you could have been frustrated by how hard it’s been to make any sort of progress. Now you will, in spades!

Forget those past disappointments, dear Leo. You are looking at a whole new picture, and it’s a brighter, happier one than you had in your head. Learn from past interviews and experiences in your job search, of course, but be optimistic, too. Rarely have you had such a perfect time to claim your rightful place in the industry you work within.

Romantically, your chart of the moment clearly gives the edge to Leos who are currently attached, or to those dating and hoping to become seriously attached soon. You may have weathered many storms together, but the sky has become bright blue and clear, and together you can build a lovely future. Jupiter, the planet of gifts and luck, is traveling in your marriage and commitment house for the first time in 12 years, so if you feel ready to tie the knot, then make plans soon, for Jupiter is now the best place possible for making a long and lasting commitment. Early to mid-August could be a key month for engagement or marriage, just in time for your birthday.

If you are single, this month travel will refresh and relax you and put you in the perfect frame of mind to meet someone new. So if you are single, think of a place you can visit not far from home near the full moon, April 9 and the coming weekend. If possible, see if you can take a four-day weekend. On Friday, April 10, we have Good Friday, and Easter will occur that Sunday, April 12. For our Jewish friends, the start of Passover will occur on the full moon, April 9. Perhaps you can get away for a little break. With the Sun and Jupiter sending a signal on April 10, that’s your best day of all.

One last word: April 22 should be highly affectionate - you’ll feel treasured and smothered with kisses if you have someone dear to you in the most romantic sense. If you don’t, your appeal will be reaching all-time highs, for sure!

Best days for love: April 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 17-19, and 22.

Summary

The financial emphasis of the month continues, but as you see, you have but one day that you need to keep your antenna up, and that’s April 15. Stay away from financial meetings of importance on that date.

You may have a hard time holding the line on expenses from April 1 to 22, but after that, things should simmer down quite a bit, much to your relief. Just before Mars leaves, however, he will meet with Venus on April 22, one of the sweetest days of the month, for it should bring good news about money, and it might come just in the nick of time to keep your spirits up.

Put off any big purchases until June if you can. If you can’t, because say, you need a computer, buy that in early April. You want to stay as far away as you can from Mercury retrograde - due in May. May will be messy, so view April as your far more productive month. May will be best used to see people from your past, for in May, those people will help you the most. Good to know, yes?

Your career is about to get an enormous boost from the new moon, April 24. Now it often takes weeks or months to win a top job, but the point is, from April 24 onward, you should be able to find the right opportunities, ones you would be really enthusiastic about and that will use your talents well. Get things moving, for in June, Mars will come in to push your name to the top of the list from June 1 to July 11. Make sure you are not on vacation in June or early July, because if you are, you may miss your very best career opportunities to move ahead.

Lots of chances to travel will happen this month, too. The full moon, April 9, seems like a perfect time to go a short distance. Even though you may be concerned about money, you seem to find a way to pack and go anyway, perhaps thanks to someone else who will cover costs. Getting into a new setting will be good for you. Romance will be lovely on trips, too - for you love and travel are definitely linked!

Dates to Note

Brace for a shock about money when Mars conjoins Uranus on April 15. When you discover that you owe money, it may suddenly put you in a panic, or you may discover that money you had anticipated won’t be coming. You’ll likely need Plan B.

As difficult as news may be April 15, bright and happy financial new is due April 21.

Travel over the full moon, April 9, should be successful and fun. Try to stay away during April 9-12 if you can get the days off.

When Mars leaves your financial sector on April 22, you will start to see your expenses drop.

Have a meeting with a VIP on April 23 - it should go well, thanks to the interplay of the Sun and Pluto.

Venus will go direct at long last on April 17, allowing progress with travel, international relationships and deals, matters related to colleges and universities, and publishing and broadcasting. Mars will enter the same sector on April 22 and push interests in this area even more.

Be ready to assertively look for a better job after the new moon April 24. Now that Venus, the ruler of your house of honors and career success, is going at full speed, you have an excellent chance at getting that prized spot!

Coincidentally, on the same day as the sensational new moon, April 24, you will have a stunningly positive aspect involving Mercury and Uranus, linking your houses of career and money in a very sudden and unexpected way. Be ready to roll when opportunity comes your way.

Romance and travel will be linked all month. You can jumpstart a tired relationship or find new love while out and about.

Best days for love: April 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 17-19, and 22.

Leo Horoscope for March 2009

Last month may have brought you into talks about making a commitment for an important relationship. As you start March, it appears you’ll still be thinking about the person with whom you will be merging energies in a personal or business sense. You may be getting married soon, or you may be setting up an agreement for a business partnership.

The positions of the planets in March attest that your significant other will lead the direction of the relationship and not you, at least for now. Although as a Leo you rarely give up control to anyone, this time you seem to be willing to do so, whether because you feel it’s in your best interest, or because circumstances will make it necessary. No matter - your partner’s good fortune and contributions will benefit you.

If you are not forming a partnership of any kind, the idea that others will have more control will occur to you, but this is only a temporary condition, and as each month goes on, you will gain more and more control.

Finances are a sensitive topic for you these days, and it seems that you have been and will continue to strive to stabilize them. Saturn, the teacher planet, is in your second house of income until the end of October 2009 and will be at loggerheads with Uranus, planet of sudden change, in your eighth house of other people’s money. This includes credit, loans, child support, financial aid, and taxes (among other things). It is clear you will need to focus strongly on money matters. These planets seem to be saying, “Find a completely new approach, because none of the old methods are working.”

To add a little more fuel to this already highly charged area, Mars will enter your eighth house on March 14 to stay until April 22. If you are getting a divorce, try to settle things early in March, because once Mars enters this house in mid-month, negotiations over the division of property will likely become more intense and quite heated. The same would be true of any negotiations you conduct, whether with an insurance company over a claim, or anyone else you may be negotiating with about money.

There will be two financial days to watch.

The first will be a potentially dreary day, March 8, when Saturn will oppose your Sun, an aspect you might feel one day earlier. Saturn will show you the reality of your financial condition through a possibly small event that reveals something to you. Try to take the best from this day and don’t become overwhelmed by any criticism or negative news. Life will seem harder if you are tired on this day, so try to get enough rest in the days before.

Just a few days later, March 12, you may get surprise financial news you never expected. Hopefully it will be good news, but with Uranus, it’s hard to know, as it could go either way in the extreme. The money you will think about will be funds you share with another person or entity, such as an ex-spouse, what you owe a credit card company, or a loan from a bank. It’s possible you could even win a prize on this day, but if you do buy lotto tickets, buy very few. If you are lucky, you will be lucky - buying too many may make you unlucky!

Also this month, Venus will go retrograde in Aries from March 6 to April 17, a period of six weeks. This will slow your professional progress, because Venus rules, among other things, your tenth house of career. Until Venus regulates her orbit you may have to be content with little or no action. It is possible you will experience a setback during the coming six weeks on an endeavor that you’ve already set in motion. If this proves true, you’ll have another chance to set things right later in the year.

A Venus retrograde period would not be the ideal time to launch an important career initiative, nor would it be a good time to travel for any purpose, business or personal, for Venus rules both fun AND profit, and both will be scarce in coming weeks.

Keep in mind that shortly after Venus turns to stronger, direct motion on April 17, Mercury will go retrograde from May 7-31. That will make May a messy month of wait-and-see. You must be ready to pounce on career opportunities from April 17 to April 30, with your best dates to act within that period falling April 24-30.

I recommend these dates because you will have a new moon appear in your career sector April 24. A new moon usually opens a door for two weeks, and in this case your opportunities will allow you to find ways to expand your status and influence. Once that new moon appears, keep working hard on your goals through April 30.

After that, you will move very close to the onset of the Mercury retrograde period - too close for comfort, in my opinion. Keep in mind that Mercury will actually retrograde in Taurus directly IN your career sector. This indicates that things will be changing at the very time you interview for your new position or pitch a new client. Don’t take it as bad news if people don’t call you back; it is just that things will be in flux and you’ll have to be patient. The changes may benefit you, so stay optimistic. Keep refining your methods and your work, polishing them to the best they can be.

Now let’s turn to a different subject, the new moon on March 26, which is set to light up your ninth house, governing travel, international relationships, and publishing and broadcasting projects, as well as study at a university. With the new moon in Aries, a fire sign like yours, you should see options emerge, and you will want to be assertive and competitive in regard to one of the areas listed as covered by the ninth house.

I will admit that you are likely to encounter complications. Rarely have I seen a new moon so angry with other planets - Pluto will be in hard angle to Venus, Mercury, the new moon, and the Sun. Because all these planets will be conjunct within a few tiny degrees, Pluto will bully all of them at once. All will stack up your ninth house of travel, so again, a distant trip taken for business or pleasure will likely encounter problems.

You may encounter a very difficult, immobile force or obstacle at that time. In other words, the person you’d be up against would be someone who is very set in his or her ways and is not willing to compromise. You may know this person through your work, as a co-worker, subordinate, or supplier.

Your best tactic will be to counter this difficult person with objective, intelligent, and well-researched answers, or else to distance yourself from this person altogether and not fight at all. Because the ninth house rules the court system, you may face or initiate a legal dispute, but if you choose to stay and fight, it may take a long time for you to fully sort things out.

If you had applied to a number of colleges, at the end of March or in early April you may discover that you won’t be invited to attend one of the universities you had favored on your list. Don’t lose sleep, or your dignity, by trying to fight an admission’s department’s decision. With Pluto being so hard-lined, you would meet a wall of opposition. Let it go and move on. Who needs a college that doesn’t want you?

The ninth house, which covers higher education - literally, the taking in of information - also rules the dispersal of information through publishing or broadcasting endeavors. Alas, with this house receiving a bombardment of tough vibes from Pluto, you will need to keep your antenna up for possible obstacles that may appear in the last week of March into the first week of April.

If you have to bring a court case against someone, or will need to stand up for yourself if a case is pending against you, you will soon discover that the other party will be unyielding and incapable of compromise. Alas, you may have to simply leave this in the hands of the court to sort this out, but it could prove to be very time consuming.

I am so sorry that I have had to deliver tough news this month, and I hope most of it won’t apply to you. I cannot see everything in your chart, dear Leo, so you may have some natal placements that would improve your individual picture dramatically.

Romance would be nice to have this month, and on that score, if you are attached, it appears you will be very treasured by your partner. How comforting that would be, to have someone near who loves you unconditionally and who will listen to you and offer support. Your partner will have all your interests at heart now, and together you can find a way to deal with life’s challenges.

If you are single, you will meet people you deem “marriage material” this year. Any new relationship you would make in 2009 will move quickly through the stages, very possibly straight toward a serious commitment. That’s because you will have Jupiter acting like an anxious little matchmaker, delighted he has made the right introduction. If your alliance is moving too fast for your taste, you’ll be able to slow things down to a more manageable pace. Venus is retrograde (March 6 to April 17), so you would be wise to go slowly for now.

Brand new relationships that are created under the Venus retrograde may be flawed, so if you are wondering if you should agree to meet with someone your best friend wants to introduce, you may want to put that off for a while.

Sometimes having time to do as you please may seem like a wonderful option. Next month, when Venus turns direct, all of life will become sweeter.

Summary

If you are ready to commit to someone dearly important to you in a marriage, or in a business sense, you will continue to iron out the details this month. With almost all the planets on the Western part of the chart, you will find you don’t have full control of the process - your partner seems to be leading the brigade. That seems fine with you because this clearly would be a partnership you want, and your intended partner would have many of your interests in mind.

If you are not combining your energy with another person’s, the planetary positions at the moment show that you will not be able to maneuver events the way you had hoped - you would have to make a few compromises - but you’d be wise to make them. By perceiving the situation as it is, rather than as you had imagined it to be, you will be able to move forward with a plan much sooner than you would otherwise be able to do.

All sorts of financial issues will need attention now. The full moon in your house of earned income may bring a big expense, or it might bring you an answer back about a raise that’s been pending. If so, the news seems not to be what you had hoped it would be. If you do manage to get a raise, with Saturn near the moon, your raise would likely be quite small, so you may hardly feel the difference.

March 8 appears to be a low point, but the whole week, through March 14, won’t be a picnic. This full moon will be, admittedly, a tense one. Life won’t always be like this, dear Leo. Within this period, March 12 brings a financial surprise - hopefully it will be a happy one.

Mars’ impending entry into your eighth house of shared income on March 14 to April 17 suggests that your expenses will soon rise. Perhaps you are already aware of this, as you have planned to write a big check soon, say, to buy a house, or pay for tuition, or for any other financial obligation that you promised to cover some time ago.

If you are in a dispute with your soon-to-be-ex over money or an insurance company over a claim, as two examples, you may find that after Mars’ entry into this house, your talks become more contentious over the coming weeks. If possible, settle sooner rather than later to avoid heated arguments.

The new moon on March 26 would normally bring lovely opportunities to travel, make deals abroad, open up your chances to travel, study at a university, form and advance international relationships, or get satisfaction from the legal community. However, Pluto will be angry with the bodies filling your ninth house - Venus, Mercury, new moon, and the Sun - and that spells obstacles in regard to all these matters.

Because this group of stars will be within a few tiny degrees of one another, Pluto will attack them all at the same time - quite a heavy duty display of fireworks. You may encounter a bossy, difficult person with a scorched earth method of negotiation that feels like, “It’s my way or the highway!” Wear your armor, dear Leo. Your adversary will try to intimidate you - resist. If you leave your disagreement to the courts to settle, the process will likely be drawn out. If this does not faze you, proceed. Sometimes when you are facing an injustice, there is no other way.

Venus will be retrograde from March 6 to April 17, a rare condition that thankfully will only last six weeks. Venus rules the beauty in life and love too, of course.

It is easy to see that the coming weeks would not be the time to give a party, get engaged, or get married. It does not bode well for a first or blind date, but if you are already attached, you should enjoy a very close and loving time, as Jupiter will protect you beautifully. (A vacation might be best delayed, however - see how you feel.)

Do not make any changes to your appearance in March, whether through plastic surgery or by radically changing your hair. You may want to wait before you shop for expensive new clothes or jewelry, too. You will be glad you waited!

Dates to Note:

Efforts to form a serious partnership will continue to move forward rapidly until March 14. The person you are thinking of forging energies with may be a romantic partner or business one.

A financial situation that suddenly arises and reaches a full bloom at the full moon March 10 (or within three days of this date) could cause you considerable stress - you may feel overwhelmed.

If you can settle the problem, do. Otherwise, if more discussion is needed, once Mars enters the same financial area (eighth house) from March 15 to April 22, you may see an escalation of the problem.

If you need to settle a divorce, if you can’t do so early on, be prepared for a long and heated discussion once Mars enters the joint property sector from March 15 to April 22. Expenses are due to rise during that phase unless you find a way to control them.

At the difficult new moon, March 26, you may go to the courts, but if so, any legal dispute would prove long and drawn out. The other party appears to be self-centered, domineering, and not interested in compromise.

Alternatively, if a legal issue is not on the agenda, at month’s end you may find that a challenge comes up with a broadcasting or publishing project, or you may encounter an unexpected obstacle in choosing a college to attend this fall.

Romantically, if you are single, wait until late April to date again for best results. Your outlook for finding true love is actually quite strong in 2009, just not this month.

If on the other hand you are attached, you have a great outlook for love. Your partner obviously adores you!

Venus will retrograde from March 6 to April 17.

Leo Horoscope for February 2009

Do you remember the words to the song “Aquarius” from the musical “Hair,” dear Leo? If you don’t recall, it goes like this:

“When the moon is in the seventh house

And Jupiter aligns with Mars

Then peace will guide the planets

And love will steer the stars”

The planetary lineup mentioned in this song is precisely the lineup you will have in your chart this month! The “moon” that the song refers to is actually the new moon that just appeared in your seventh house, ruling all contractual partnerships, including marriage. That new moon arrived in the form of a new moon solar eclipse on January 26 and will still be building momentum as you enter February. All solar eclipses are dramatic cosmic events and always coincide with new moons, but have the power of three new moons all rolled into one. On top of this, Jupiter will align with Mars in Aquarius, just as it says in the song, in a brilliant once-in-twelve-year opportunity in Aquarius on February 17.

Jupiter, the giver of gifts and luck, will be at your side until January 2010, in this same marriage and business partner house. Thanks to other planets circulating in proximity to Jupiter, February will be a critical month for decisions and actions. Dear Leo, are you starting to see the magnitude of this? When it comes to marriage and serious partnerships, you have an unusually powerful, beneficial chart. Let’s look at some of the developments you might see in February.

The most obvious way you would see changes would be if you became engaged this month, perhaps for Valentine’s Day!

Mercury was retrograde during much of January (never an ideal time to make big moves or key commitments), but Mercury will turn direct on February 1, so there will be no more reason to hold back. You will be able to find accord and make firm commitments on many levels, at long last. I will always suggest you leave a little space beyond the date Mercury moves forward, so be ready to go, go, go from February 4 on.

If you are already married or in an established long-term relationship, your partner will have big news to share, and the news that your “alter ego” brings seems to represent a big life shift or victory for your partner. Whatever news it is, it looks to be quite dramatic and would impact you too, in a very positive way. In fact, you will probably want to celebrate! You will gain from what is going on in your partner’s life, for sure!

If you have no plans to wed, nor are even dating anyone special, you can still benefit from this trend. You may form a business partnership or hire an important expert for your business this month. That person may be an agent, publicist, new accountant, or lawyer, as a few examples. You may be signing papers with an investor or working with another writer on a book. You may hire an agent, manager, accountant, or other knowledgeable person who can provide you with important expertise and who will be as committed to your success as you are. These are a few examples, but you get the picture. Unions formed now hold exceptional promise.

The solar eclipse last month on January 26 started the ball rolling. If your Leo birthday falls at the end of July, you likely felt the effects of that eclipse. Even if you do not have a July Leo birthday, the eclipse may trigger events by aligning with other planets in your chart, so there’s a strong chance you’d still see developments. You would not have to wait too long to find out either - just sit back and see.

It is rare to have so many important planets filling one sector of your chart - it’s a true hub of activity and you won’t see anything like this anytime soon. All kinds of important talks should begin to open up, so watch the phone calls, emails, and introductions that come into your life.

Talks about commitment, in either the romantic or business sense, may have first surfaced last month near the solar eclipse January 26, or even further back, to one of the three eclipses in 2008, on February 6, August 1, and/or August 16. Sometimes an eclipse will assert its news one month to the day later, so watch for events near February 26 and also March 9. Eclipses are tied to the ones that came before, like pearls on a necklace strung together, if they fall in the same series, as these will be (in the signs of Leo and Aquarius). You may see this to be true if you study the dates I just listed.

This month holds another eclipse - this time a full moon lunar eclipse, due February 9. This eclipse will be more emotional because it falls in Leo and is actually a full moon eclipse. Again, key planets will be very lit up in your house of partnership, but instead of your partner having final say, you will have it.

Mars will be present to give you the interest and motivation to move forward. Jupiter, the giver of gifts and luck, will be there, bringing optimism and benefits, ensuring that this year, 2009, will be the best year of 12 to marry or to unite with your intended partner in business. The Sun will be moving through this area of your chart too now, and because the Sun is your ruling star, this shows that whatever you are planning is something you dearly want. Still, I will caution you to go slowly for a very important reason.

Neptune’s position in this same house shows how inspirational your partner is to you. However, Neptune can obscure details, so there will be a danger that you may get carried away with enthusiasm and not clearly see the road ahead. To counter this, you must force yourself to be very realistic about your expectations.

Discuss your plans, dreams, and assumptions thoroughly with your proposed partner, collaborator, or expert. Take nothing for granted - spell out all your needs and expectations, and take your time. Information may come out at the eclipse on February 9 that you will want to factor into your plans. If you are already attached, the Sun’s proximity to Neptune may reveal something that your partner had hoped you would not discover. Alas, sometimes that happens, and you have to be prepared for that possibility.

If you were born on or within five days of August 13, you will feel this lunar eclipse, falling February 9, the most.

One last thought. If you are not dating, you will begin to meet substantial, educated, and self-made romantic potential partners this year. There’s a good chance that your new sweetheart may be a lawyer, doctor, college instructor, distinguished politician, or other professional. This will be true whether you are male or female - your partner would be well educated and successful in 2009. You won’t be left out!

Your mind will turn to money at month’s end. If you have any financial negotiations to work out, you will start to make progress on those after the new moon, February 24, and in the two weeks to follow. A window of opportunity will open wide to help you get many financial topics agreed upon and finished. You may want to check with an expert for advice and if you have checked references of this person, plan a meeting for anytime on or after February 24. I will say that the energy of that new moon will be sweetest and strongest in the days closely following February 24, so try to act sooner rather than later.

There are many types of talks you might have. You can apply for college tuition scholarships or financial aid, or a new or refinanced mortgage. You may be opening talks about getting venture capital, or if you are getting married, you may be talking about how you’ll share expenses and savings. If you are divorcing, you can open talks, confident you can come to a fair settlement in time. Sometimes those kinds of talks take months to complete, so in that case, you can look to August for a completion, if necessary.

On the same day as the new moon, February 24, Mercury will join forces with fortunate Jupiter, making that day a spectacular one for reaching accord. Be sure to schedule a meeting for that day, or plan to sign a contract then. Last month, Mercury was in retrograde, making it hard for you to get any kind of agreement to stick. Now all that’s history, and what a difference a month makes!

If you are negotiating a business deal or settlement, you may notice that you don’t have full control of the direction of the talks. With so many planets filling your seventh house of the significant other, your partner, not you, will have something he or she wants - so it follows you may have to compromise a bit more than usual in your financial negotiations.

Find areas of agreement and then work from there. It is unlikely you will get all your points accepted, so chose the ones that mean the most to you. Showing a conciliatory attitude will help you avoid any possible deadlocks. Actually, this would be true in any relationship, business or personal in nature. Be a team player and the road to success will be easier.

On this same day, coincidentally, Mercury and Jupiter will be conjunct, bringing you even more opportunity to see a happy financial development. This time, the part of your chart that will benefit will be your earned income - money you see in your paycheck. A conjunction is only operative for a day or two, so to take advantage of this aspect, you need to sign important financially-oriented papers or have a major meeting on Tuesday, February 24 (or if that’s not possible, one day on either side. I will say my favorite day is February 24, however!)

Before I go, let’s discuss Valentine’s Day, due Saturday, February 14. This year, the moon will fall in sexy Scorpio on this day for lovers, suggesting that you’d like to celebrate privately, possibly at home. If you are in love, draw the curtains, light the candles, and choose your favorite tunes to play. You can share a special dinner you whip up in the kitchen together, complete with raw oysters, champagne, sweet strawberries, and chocolates. Beyond that, you’ll soon say, who needs food?

If you have no one to love this year, then on Valentine’s Day, don’t be alone. Invite several friends over your place. Home is where you’ll be happiest - and luckiest!

The days that shortly follow Valentine’s Day - February 16, 17, and 18 - will bring a string of sweet aspects that will be sensational, and they are my favorites of the month!

On Monday, February 16, you may take a quick trip, with wonderful results.

Also, on February 16, career news should be very gratifying, thanks to the interplay between Jupiter and Venus.

On February 17, Mars and Jupiter will align to make partnership developments sizzle! Romance, travel, and all sorts of partnership developments will do so very well!

On February 18, your sex appeal will reach new heights. Who says you can only celebrate love on Valentine’s Day? This month, you’ll break all those old-standing records, dear Leo.

Travel done on February 16 through 18 and on or near February 24 would go exceptionally well.

If you are college bound, or hope to go to grad school, put a gold star on February 17 too, as a day for a meeting with college officials, to take a big exam, or to send an application.

This is a big month, so welcome it with both arms open, and keep reminding yourself that all that comes up will happen for a reason - to help you expand your personal growth. You’ll be deeply inspired - just keep your feet on the ground!

Summary:

As you may have surmised, this will be a major month for thinking about collaborations and moving forward to cement a partnership. An engagement or wedding may be in your future, or you may combine forces in a business deal. The solar eclipse last month on January 26 started you thinking in this direction, and the February 9 eclipse will help you finalize a decision.

One more eclipse in this series that will arrive on August 5 will be connected to your progress, so if you are not ready now to make a final decision, there will be more emphasis in this area of your life in six months.

Neptune will be very active at the February 9 eclipse, and that could prove troublesome. This planet has two sides - confusion and inspiration. The danger is that you would rush into a union with false expectations, so be sure you talk over all your expectations with your intended partner before you make a commitment. If you are not sure, then delay a decision. You are right for one another, and you always have time on your side.

If you are not happy in your present union, the universe will ask you to either fix it or leave altogether, but you will not be able to put off that decision much longer. The February 9 eclipse could bring a big breakup, and if so, it would feel emotional as this eclipse is a full moon lunar eclipse in Leo. Lunar eclipses always bring memories, dreams, and sentimental feelings, so you would be looking back, perhaps wistfully, at what might have been. Still, this eclipse is in Leo, so your interests will be strongly highlighted - in other words, the universe will be staunchly on your side.

Jupiter, the great benefactor, now in your house of partnership, does work to protect you, sometimes in ways we find mysterious. Naturally, if you go through a breakup, you may assume that Jupiter forgot all about you, but nothing would be farther from the truth. In this case, the breakup may be the protective action needed, so have faith.

It is unlikely that you will see an adverse romantic episode this month, but with eclipses you never know, so I felt duty-bound to tell you. This February 9 eclipse is in Leo, suggesting that if you do break up, it would be your choice to do so.

Let’s stay positive. Most Leos will be thrilled at the events that occur now. Eclipses speed up timetables, so you may be making a commitment to your partner much sooner than you thought possible!

If you are already attached, your partner will be leading the momentum of the relationship and have big news to share. You may decide to work on a new goal together, such as to buy a house, have a baby, or move to a new city, as just a few examples.

At month’s end, a new moon and a lovely conjunction of Mercury and Jupiter will fall, coincidentally, on the same day, February 24. This is great news, for both will work to help you stabilize your financial picture. Actions you take at this time will be good ones. If necessary, consult a financial advisor that friends and family have recommended and think about changes you would like to make.

February 24 would be a fantastic day to sign any kind of contract - it does not get any better than this!

Dates to Note:

Romance will be best: February 4, 7-8, 13, 16-18, 21, and 26-27. The lunar eclipse, February 9 is a wild card, which could go dramatically either way, plus or minus one week.

Mercury goes direct, life takes on a more rapid pace: February 1.

Travel will be dazzling: February 16, 17, and 24.

Your career should bring good news: February 16

Make new financial arrangements: at and after the new moon February 24. Your salary or earned income may rise too at the same time.

Good news from a partner or middleman should arrive on February 24, too. It’s a great day to sign a contract or to reach accord on any major questions.

Leo Horoscope for January 2009

This month marks a major development in your relationships with the move of Jupiter, the giver of gifts and luck, into your seventh house of commitment. Jupiter has not been in this part of your chart since 1997, so this trend will be quite new and special. It also will be one you will notice, if not immediately, in time. Collaborations of all kinds will become magical for you, so start to think about how you can use this trend. I will give you some ideas, but you can apply this to suit your life in a way that feels most comfortable.

Before we get to the details of the month, I must say, as I write this to you, dear Leo, that it is impossible for me not to remember how one close relationship was so very difficult for you at some point during the time from mid-2005 to mid-2007. Depending on your exact birthday, parts of that period turned out to be quite trying for a close relationship. You might have gritted your teeth and tried hard to fix things, or you broke up. Alternatively, it was possible that your partner was going through a very hard time, and he or she needed you to lend your strength and support through that harrowing period.

No matter what you experienced, when that phase finally ended in mid-2007, you probably sighed with relief. 2009 should prove to be just the opposite of that period - pure joy! Your partner will work with you to boost your aims, and the union should feel light and very happy.

How might you feel Jupiter’s presence in 2009? The most obvious, and perhaps most common way that you may feel Jupiter’s benefits, would be to become engaged and/or wed this year. Truly, 2009 will be the most enchanting year in over a decade to wed.

Do you remember the lines to the song from Hair: “When the moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter aligns with Mars”? Actually, you will HAVE the moon in the seventh house (as a solar eclipse this month on January 26), and the exact alignment of Jupiter and Mars will occur next month on February 17. These aspects are so special, people write songs about them!

If you are already wed, you will see that in the coming year, your partner does well, and together, you both will benefit from your partner’s good fortune. Prosperity should come to your marriage, and with money flowing more freely, you will feel that you both can relax and possibly even take a fun vacation together.

If you have been experiencing problems in your marriage, Jupiter’s blessings are likely to bring about a breakthrough to help you recapture the fun you had in your early days when you were courting. Never have you had a better reason to redouble your efforts to find a way to heal.

There is another, very different way this trend might be felt in your life, in a business way: You may form a very successful business partnership this year (and particularly next month). If you are starting a business, you may be thinking about having a partner, and this year, the right one would appear. If you are an artist or writer, you may now sign an agent, manager, publicist, stylist, or other collaborator, also with excellent results. With Jupiter in your partnering sector, this person would likely be a gem and be able to come up with good ideas that translate into more profits for you.

Jupiter will enter this house on January 5. You will feel this trend much more dramatically at the end of the month, when two cosmic events will come by to make you sit up and take notice. The first involves the meeting of the Sun and Jupiter together, creating “the luckiest day of the year.” This will happen on January 23-24. Then, on the heels of this glorious day, on January 26 will come the grand solar eclipse in Aquarius. Let’s look at both.

First, on January 23-24, Jupiter will make its annual visit to the Sun, a beauty of a meeting that will spell enormous happiness for you. Although this day will be fortunate for everyone, you are ruled by the Sun, so it will be doubly sweet for you. This day would be ideal for committing your love or having a meeting to discuss a future business partnership.

These two days will glow so brightly that you can use them for other purposes beyond partnership reasons. Here are some ideas: Jupiter is associated with foreign travel, so you could be planning a very important long distance trip, for pleasure or business. If you can’t travel, you may be talking with people abroad by phone about a big idea that you’re about to set up, with good results. All types of financial talks should go well, for Jupiter’s presence suggests expansive monetary developments are due soon.

Your health will also see an upturn near January 23-24. Choose Friday, January 23, to have a medical diagnosis or procedure. If your doctor does not work on those dates, choose the days LEADING up to them, earlier in the week.

Is nothing coming to mind for ways to use these two days? Then use one of these days for a luxury spa treatment such as a massage or manicure.

If you were born on or within five days of July 26, you will have a double dip of luck on these magical days.

Although you will feel enthusiastic and optimistic, you will need to proceed slowly. Mercury will be retrograde from January 11 to February 1, so it’s not a time to make final arrangements. It’s not wise to launch big initiatives during this phase, nor to come up too close to the front and end dates of this retrograde either. Leave several days open on either side. Mercury will be at his most difficult all month, but doubly so at the front and end dates.

During Mercury retrograde periods, things go haywire. Communications are muffled and confused, so it’s nearly impossible to know what, precisely, is going on and what you can expect next. Any deal you make while Mercury is retrograde will almost always have to be renegotiated later.

You can have talks this month; just don’t set things in stone. You will soon see that changing conditions will make this period one of smoke and mirrors. Ironically, Mercury will be retrograde IN your house of serious relationships part of the time, and with Neptune in that house too, you may not have a clear idea of the conditions you will face later That’s why I say don’t let enthusiasm sweep you along with the tide - take your time and wait until say, February 4. My favorite days in February would be February 17 and 22-24, but there are others. Just don’t use February 1-3 to sign papers or begin big ventures.

There is another reason I would like you to go slowly. While you will absolutely benefit from any collaboration you make in February, there will be a danger that you MIGHT sign away too much, especially in a business sense. This proclivity exists all year, so you will have to try to stay as levelheaded and real as possible. It would be a very good idea to have your lawyer to protect your interests. Although you won’t sign until next month, you can begin to discuss the clauses with your lawyer in January.

A fantastic solar eclipse on January 26 will open a path for an important collaboration, engagement, or wedding, possibly quite suddenly. A solar eclipse often is a harbinger of fresh starts. Eclipses dramatically move up timetables, so even if you feel you have not been ready to commit to a sweetheart or business partner, once this eclipse comes by, no matter what you said previously, a serious commitment could come up quite rapidly as your priorities change.

If you were born on July 28, plus or minus five days, you will feel this quite dramatically.

Eclipses are always very dramatic. Indeed, there is nothing subtle about them. Eclipses give us the impetus to move forward by offering a very compelling reason to do so. The reason is often not something you’d expect. Eclipses work in curvy, not straight line, ways.

Something else is happening this month that you might like to know about, and it involves a terrific boost to your fitness! Most people have the goal of losing weight and starting to get fit on January 1. Leo is the only sign that has a chance to lose weight if the resolution is to begin in January. Other signs will have to wait until later in the year, when they have the right new moon to help them succeed. Leo, you will have it in January, in spades, due to a new moon that arrived last month on December 27 and that will still be strong from January 1-4. Make your first initiation then.

Not only will you have that powerful new moon behind you, but you will also have Jupiter in his final days of Capricorn. Before moving into your partnership and marriage sector, Jupiter will help you from your sixth house of health, seeing that you become slim and fit.

Mars, an active, athletic planet, is also in this house, suggesting that the program you start now will be one you’ll stay with for at least two years. Mars will also give you over-the-top energy and determination, no small gift!

On top of that, you will also have the Sun, your ruler, in this house, indicating that you’d have a strong sense of purpose. If you are, you’d find the right coach, teacher, best friend, or other helper to help you more easily achieve your aim.

Lastly, if I haven’t done enough to convince you to start your fitness plan now or think about giving up the whole idea of getting fit, you may want to consider that you’ll also have Pluto in your health and fitness sector for the coming FIFTEEN YEARS.

Pluto, the planet of metamorphosis and transformation, has never been in this house of your horoscope during your lifetime, as Pluto takes approximately 246 years to go around the Sun. Your cosmic support is simply awesome! The question is: Will you take full advantage of it?

Many Leos are already in great shape, as Jupiter has been in this part of your chart since late December 2007. Jupiter will soon leave on January 5, not to return for 12 years.

Although you’ve had Jupiter at your side that long, you’ve not had THIS level of support from the other planets to improve your health and fitness all year, so take the opportunity to do so now. While all of January would be a good time to start your program, January 1 to 4 will be your best. Will you be away on vacation at that time? Bring a new exercise DVD along for your computer. In astrology, the day you choose to start in earnest matters a lot, for that will be the day that will set the “DNA” of your endeavor. Make it the best it can be!

Whether you are an experienced athlete or are new to your fitness program, make sure you don’t go overboard at the inception of your program. I say this because the full moon on January 10 (plus or minus four days) will find you in slightly weaker health, with lowered resistance to colds. You won’t want to get sick now, just when so many things will be opening up for you, so take it easy if you feel tired.

Financially, you’ve had a lot of ups and downs in recent months, but this month seems to bring your cash flow back into the plus side of the ledger. Venus will enter your joint financial eighth house on January 3, to stay all month, so the presence of Venus will almost certainly perk up your financial prospects.

There are two days to watch. Your first upbeat financial day will arrive January 9, when the Sun and surprise-a-minute Uranus will be quite cordial to one another. Their interaction is likely to bring you a happy surprise concerning your finances, especially in regard to a loan, credit matter, mortgage, scholarship, financial aid, insurance matter, or another similar area. Some sort of windfall seems to be coming you way.

Another special time for money will be January 16-17. On these days, a different kind of financial luck may find you - in the area of earned income. If you had been promised a raise that never came, you may get it at this time. Mercury, ruler of your second house of salary, will be beautifully oriented toward Jupiter. Mercury will be retrograde, which is why the money you see may go back to an earlier discussion.

If you do not find this day to bring you to the right financial conclusion, you will have one more shot at seeing a profitable development next month, on February 22-23 when Mercury and Jupiter will meet again. This is a rare and very beneficial aspect, so take it seriously. The two will meet in your partnership house, so an agent or other middleman would be the source of your income. In your chart, Mercury rules your earned income, which is why I feel money will find a way to your door.

Romantically, you and I talked earlier about how glowing your partnership sector will be this year, and especially this month and in February. This is sure to be sensational news for those who are seriously dating and ready to be engaged or wed. Getting engaged for Valentine’s Day could happen - and whether you are the one who asks or accepts, you’ll be thrilled.

Ah, but what if you aren’t even dating anyone special. What then? In your case, Jupiter’s position will bring you in contact with substantial, educated types, some of whom may be professionals - teachers, doctors, lawyers, and the like. Among the people you meet, one will likely stand out as someone you would like to know better. This would be true whether you are a lion or lioness.

The person you meet would not be stick thin either - your partner would have some meat on his or her bones - and also have quite a jovial sense of humor. This would be true of the person you meet and find interesting all year, not just this month, so you do have a terrific outlook!

Which would be your best day to try a new date this month? Use your luckiest day of the year, of course, Friday, January 23. If that day is impossible, then try for January 24. Your runner up date: Friday, January 9. No can do? Try over the weekend of January 3-4.

Here is a summary of your most romantic days: January 3-4, 8-9. 11-12. 16-18, 23-26, and 30-31.

Summary

If you’ve been disappointed in love, this month brings a complete 180-degree turnaround. Do you remember the years that spanned mid-2005 to mid-2007? The coming year will be just the opposite of those tough years. There’s no danger that you will ever see a repeat of those years, thank goodness. The universe is about to make a major correction to your life with the monumental arrival of Jupiter, planet of good fortune, in your house of serious, committed relationships, and that includes marriage. If you have been dating someone awhile, the chances are excellent that you could get engaged soon, even if you currently have no plans to do so!

A major eclipse on January 26 could completely change your timetable as outside forces come to bear. You’ll be in a happy optimistic frame of mind too, which will only encourage you to act soon. This is the second eclipse in a series, one that started on February 6, 2008, so you may have met then, or made some sort of decision about a partner at that time. This coming eclipse will take things to the next level. If you are married now, this eclipse will bring dramatic changes in your partner’s life, but the outcome will be beneficial to you.

Those who have business partners or collaborators will also see changes in that alliance. Additionally, you can sign a new partner as soon as next month if you like. Some of your best aspects for 2009 involve getting support from another person. Your urge to merge energies with someone in your life will be very strong, and rightly so!

Mercury will be in retrograde from January 11 to February 1, and you will feel the effect of Mercury’s scrambled messages as soon as January begins. It is not advisable to launch any new ventures, to buy expensive items (certainly not electronic items), or to sign papers while Mercury is retrograde. If you are not sure about a partner you are dating or talking to in business, Mercury retrograde will be your friend by giving you time to think things over without feeling pressured. Indeed Mercury will be retrograde IN your marriage and serious partnership house for much of the time this month.

At the full moon, January 10, you may be feeling like you are dragging your feathers. Take a couple of days to rest up so that you can stay strong for one of your happiest days of the month, coming in late January. Your resistance will be low at that full moon, so don’t overtax yourself.

In the early morning of January 24 - therefore stronger on the full day January 23 - the Sun will meet with Jupiter. This will be “the luckiest day of the year” when some sort of magnificent luck will present itself to you in material, emotional, or spiritual form. It will be a day you can use for any reason and expect great results. You may get engaged or married, or you may set up a powerful business alliance. Additionally, you may see money come in, you may travel a great distance, or you may see your health improve. As they say, when you’re hot, you’re hot!

Finally, if your New Year’s resolution is to get fit and slim, you must begin between January 1 and 4. This year, you will be the ONLY sign in the zodiac that has ideal aspects for seeing that dream a reality if you begin in early January. The caveat is that you must begin in the first four days while you still have Jupiter in your health sector. By mid-year you could be looking at a whole new body. Wow! You’ll love having to shop for new, smaller sizes!

Dates to note:

Start a fitness plan: January 1-4, no later.

A good day to talk seriously about the future: January 2.

Protect your health from colds and flu at the full moon: January 10, plus or minus 4 days.

Mercury will be retrograde: January 11 to February 1.

Your luckiest day of the year, for relationships: January 23-24. Other uses for this day will shine for you, too.

A solar eclipse - a new moon - on January 26 will open up a new path in relationships.

Here is a summary of your most romantic days: January 3-4, 8-9. 11-12. 16-18, 23-26, and 30-31.

Leo Horoscope for December 2008

Leos have not had it easy lately, for September brought heavy-duty financial concerns, and November brought a strong emphasis on home, property, or family, as well as developments in your career at mid-month. While November was a positive time to make monumental decisions on these matters, you probably felt like you needed to maintain your concentration and had little time for fun.

This is why, in so many ways, December will be like a dream come true for you. The planets will work together to make you truly happy now, dear Leo, and if there is any zodiac sign that deserves a truly happy, romantic time, it’s you!

If you are single and hope to meet someone new, or attached and want jumpstart a relationship that has grown lackluster, you will have your chance to do so this month.

The new moon that fell last month on November 27 opened a gateway for greater love experiences, especially if you are single. To take full advantage, you would need to circulate more assertively from then on. Early December will be just made for love, so get your dancing shoes on, dear Leo - it’s time to leave the office early and kick up your heels!

If your birthday falls within five days of July 29, you will get a double dip of pleasure, and it will be doubly important that you do take the time to circulate.

All Leos, no matter what your birthday, will enjoy December 1, when Venus will meet with Jupiter - you’ve got a great chance of enjoying a bewitching evening. If your company is giving a party (seems possible) you will have lots of fun if you go - more than you think is possible.

Lucky you, Mars will remain in the perfect, most helpful position in your chart, your house of true love. Mars is the action planet, and so powerful is Mars that it was deemed “the timekeeper” of the zodiac, for when Mars enters any house of the chart, things start to happen. You’ve not had any help from Mars in matters of romance until now, so while you have Mars on your side until December 27, you can see enormous improvements in your romantic life. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by!

If you are attached, you’ll be well taken care of by Venus this month. Venus will glide into your house of close, previously formed established relationships on December 7, to stay all month. Venus will teach you to simply have fun - you’ll have no problem getting ready for that kind of tutoring!

Single or attached, you need to brace for a tense moment involving a social event and money at the full moon, December 12. This full moon will have a tiff with Mars, Pluto, Saturn, and Uranus, and that’s a lot of heavy-duty energy that will be creating tension for everyone, no matter what their sign.

For you this emotional full moon seems to bring high expenses in relation to socializing. News seems to be unexpected and jarring in some way, so you’ll have to watch your cash flow as best you can from the start of the month until this full moon December 12. If you are careful, you may be able to dodge the main bite of this full moon. If buying holiday gifts, you may want to set a few parameters - you are so generous and you spoil friends all the time, but it seems you will need a little slush fund to draw from this month.

December is always a hard month to stem the tide of financial outgo, but this full moon seems to have damaging financial mischief up her sleeve, so you will have to be vigilant. Buying new clothes to attend an important event or choosing a gift to give your host could set you back quite a bit. It may be that you are attending a wedding, or that you are even a member of the wedding - these events do add up.

Once you pass the full moon and you get the message of the universe, you will know where you are and can relax. All full moons each month have a wide area of influence, so keep alert from December 10 to 16 for news.

If you have children, it is possible that an expense on their behalf will be the reason your budget goes haywire at the full moon period near December 12. If that’s the way things work out, as a Leo you are very loving and child oriented, so chances are, you’ll be glad to pay for whatever comes up. Life brings many unanticipated events, and the reason we work so hard is so that we can generously care for our children when they need us most. In these cases, we simply have to laugh, as these things happen - just plunk down the plastic and don’t let this mar your enjoyment of this beautiful season.

There is one other way this full moon may turn out and that is if you are self-employed and working on a creative project. In that case, you may encounter a financial overrun, or a client may suddenly change the project’s direction or ask for some other unforeseen request. If so, you will not have much time to find a cure, as full moons are filled with high energy and require quick response. That’s both the bad news and the good news - thank goodness it is quick to blow over. Even so, you seem to have to pay out some sort of money.

If you were born on August 14 or within five days of this date, you will actually find a way to benefit from this full moon, for it will appear at 21 degrees of Gemini and reach out and match the degrees of your Leo Sun.

Whether you work for yourself or others, you will find that business is really, really good this month, and it will grow even more so after December 21, as counter-intuitive as this may sound! Watch December 22 when an influential VIP may recommend you for a plum assignment.

As you get closer to month’s end, a very magical change will take place in your thinking, and suddenly you will be determined to transform your appearance - quite a bit! Thanks to a darling new moon, you will be very determined and energized about getting fit, sleek, and toned. Perhaps you have fallen in love with someone this month (seems very possible) and will redouble your efforts to look extra sexy in (and out of) your clothes! All this is very, very possible!

Once Mars moves into your heath and fitness sector on December 27, the same day as the new moon will appear in the same part of your chart ruling health and fitness, you’ll be off and running (perhaps literally). While it seems that everyone you know will be making New Year resolutions about losing pounds and shaping up by exercising more and eating right, only you, dear Leo, have precisely the right aspects to make this happen over the long term. Don’t wait for January to dawn to get started on your plan, for in astrology it really matters greatly when you begin an endeavor.

For best luck, begin on December 28-31. Sign up for a gym membership at that time if you don’t already belong to a gym that you are enthusiastic about going to every week. Not only will you be starting at a time that is ideal, within days of the new moon in your fitness house (a rare event), but you may also nab a bargain. Gym managers will try to reach sales quotas at that time, something you won’t find to be true in January - you may get a deal!

Be sure to choose a place you’ll enjoy visiting on a regular basis. If you don’t like gyms, make a commitment to a new sport. In that case, you may want to buy some new gear and a package of lessons, and perhaps get a friend to sign up, too. The key to make your plan work is to actually begin your routine at the new moon, not just buy a membership or a package of lessons and let things sit on your desk. As it’s been said, half of the success in life is simply showing up.

See a doctor first to be sure you are healthy enough to begin, and follow your doctor’s advice to the letter. In astrology there is nothing wrong with starting slowly - long-range plans begin with baby steps. What is necessary is that you commit to consistency and growth. It is more important to exercise on a regular basis than to do too much at once and give up. Be sure to do something physical - even if you choose power walking - every day. It is always exciting to see a breakthrough, and you will, certainly in six months, no matter what shape you are in now, even if you are already quite fit. (We can always get better!) Six months from now is June, and for many bathing suit time. Hooray!

If you have had a health concern, the presence of Jupiter, the great healer, in this same sector of preventative medicine will bring you the right medical and dental advice to follow. Jupiter will be in your health sector until January 5, in a once-in-twelve-year visit. Make your appointment any time in December or early January. You don’t have to cure your disorder, just take the first steps now!

As a result of financial outgo at mid-month, you may consider scaling back your plans for New Year’s Eve. Even if you do, you won’t miss any fun, not with Mercury about to conjoin fortunate Jupiter! You appear to have a tender, romantic evening shaping up, one just made for quiet conversation and sexy, private exchanges. As they say, some of the best things in life are free, and after this sparkling evening is over, you will know this is true in your heart. Enjoy your evening, dear Leo!

Summary

There’s plenty of work to be done in December, and jobs will flow in - but your social life will be hopping too, and that seems to interest you more. The month starts off very promising, thanks to a lovely new moon that opened a gateway on November 27 and that will still be strong as you move through the first ten days. Romance should be good, and the party invitations should flow.

The problem that you are likely to encounter is a drama-filled full moon, due December 12 (operative plus or minus four days) in your friendship sector. That full moon opposes your house of true love and causes all sorts of problems in your financial houses. This full moon will be problematic for everyone, which only means that everyone you encounter will be close to a meltdown at the slightest cross look or comment from you. Don’t blame yourself. This full moon will be looking for weak links and will expose them faster than you can change channels on your TV set.

It looks like a friend or social event will trigger the problem. You may have an altercation with a friend, or it may be that a friend encounters a crisis and needs you to help. In that case, you will need to drop everything and do so. You seem to find yourself in a money jam at the same time midmonth. I am not sure if the two are related, but it seems so. It may be that your best friend is getting married and you’re in the wedding party. As hard as you may have tried to estimate costs, you now see you were quite a bit off and are in a panic. Or, it may be that your friend needs help and to do what you need to do will incur costs, such as a last minute air ticket for you or food for her family. Almost anything is possible.

Once you get beyond December 16 or so, you will have devised a plan and will be feeling better. By the time any full moon wanes, emotions die down. If you find that you have a friend who seems unusually cranky, allow some slack. This full moon will be hardest on the mutable signs (Gemini, Sagittarius, Pisces, and Virgo). Even if you say your friend is not one of the mutable signs, she or he may have a mutable sign rising or a prominent planet in one of these signs. Fortunately, full moons reveal problems by crystallizing them rapidly. Then, all is over. While the problem may linger, at least you will have no more surprises and can plan with greater certainty.

The end of December emphasizes new opportunities to work on a freelance basis or to do overtime work. If you are in your own business, you should find it fairly easy to bring in new clients this month if you put your mind to it. Considering how flustered I feel you’ll be about money near the full moon December 12, having the option to earn money though doing extra assignments may sound really good.

The new moon on December 27 will be your BFF by providing all the new job opportunities you need. With planets in Capricorn, you may be working for a bank or other financial-oriented company. I know this may sound a little weird to you because as a Leo you are generally thought to be such a highly creative sign. The financial industry is not one immediately associated with Leo. Perhaps you will be working on graphics, or working in the accounting department for an artist management group. The point is, it will be great to be employed and in demand.

You ALSO hold the distinction of having the very best new moon to set you off on the right foot for success in a new exercise or diet routine. In order to succeed, you would HAVE to begin in earnest on December 27. Consistency of sessions every week will be far more important in your success than having occasional bouts of strenuous activity.

For New Year’s, plan a quiet, romantic evening for two, away from the madding crowds. 2009 will be a banner year for commitment and true blue love. If you feel you have it, revel in it. If you want it, it seems to be on the way!

Happy New Year, dear Leo!

Dates to watch for December:

Your love life should zing with excitement: December 1-27. Wow!

Your most romantic evenings of the month include: December 1, 6-7, 13, 20, 22, 25-26, and 29-31.

A social event may bring unanticipated expenses that temporarily rock you near the full moon December 12, plus or minus four days.

Alternatively, an expense involving a child may turn your budget inside out, or an artistic project may incur overages at the same full moon, December 12. Thankfully, you’ll quickly solve things, and you may even find a way to turn the tables on the situation and benefit!

See a doctor or dentist for a check up, procedure, diagnosis, or first meeting. Do so before Jupiter leaves your sector of health on January 5 while you have extraordinary favor!

Begin a fitness plan: December 27-31. Be consistent, and don’t wait until January to begin. Do something each and every day from then on. Expect to see exciting results in your shape and strength level soon!

Leo Horoscope for November 2008

In November, planets on the move will align in a beautiful pattern, allowing many of life’s stresses and strains of past months to melt away. You’ve not seen a month this supportive in a long time, so there’s plenty to be excited about now. Happily, you’ll have a triple hitter involving Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus, so plenty of progress is possible in November, particularly in relation to domestic and family issues, as well as in career and romance.

First, as you begin November, move swiftly on any home-related matter that interests you, for later you won’t have much time to take advantage of the wonderful aspects coming up. The actions you take to find a new apartment or house; to fix up, repair, or reorganize your present space; or to address a family or domestic concern will bring long-range solutions if done prior to November 10.

In astrology, the day you choose to act really does matter, so seize the day in early November to make your home or other property the way you want it to be. One of your luckiest days for home-and-family-related actions will arrive November 9 and 10.

If you need help from a broker or lawyer, or hope to have the support of your partner or roommate in your home-related changes, Neptune’s change from retrograde to direct motion on November 2 should bring the support you need. Neptune has been retrograde since May 27 but will change to strong orbit in early November and stay that way for the coming seven months. When it comes to collaborators and partners, you are looking at a much-improved picture ahead, and you should enjoy smoother interactions.

Your finances in general are due for a complete overhaul, thanks to the opposition of Saturn and Uranus on November 4. You’ve felt that you had to take a stronger hand in these matters, but something has held you back from doing so. Now you can move ahead. You now know what you need to do, and you seem to have no more obstacles in your path.

If you need a mortgage, refinancing plan, or home improvement loan, once Uranus moves direct on November 27, from that point onward, banks will be more forthcoming and sympathetic to your needs. Should you need to sell or lease, you will attract a better quality of buyer or tenant in the weeks and months to come, too. Uranus has been retrograde since early May, so if you’ve been frustrated by certain financial difficulties, you may see a turn of events that is very heartening, one that leads you to a better situation.

Your career may bring exciting news too, and if so, it would come during the week of November 10, thanks to an especially rare and beautiful golden triangle forming in the sky. That supportive triangle will link, in your chart, (1) your house of salary to (2) your sector of work assignments and (3) fame and honors sector. It looks like you may soon have news that you won a new job that brings prestige AND a great salary. You should be very gratified by events that take place, so be sure to circle this whole week as special.

Do you work in a creative field? Leo is an imaginative sign, so it is likely that you do. If so, watch for news that arrives after the new moon, November 27. Any artistic project that you begin at that time should go exceptionally well and may even allow you to develop your craft into a business that attracts global markets.

As busy as you may be, you still will have lots of time for love, especially at month’s end.

The new moon of November 27 will be your best of the year for engendering love. This lovely new moon will arrive with a whole entourage of planets - Mars, Mercury, and the Sun - so you should notice a flurry of activity beginning at the new moon, November 27. Mars will remain at your side until December 27, ensuring you will have an enchanting holiday next month.

Of course, to enjoy the fullest part of this lovely energy you should not barricade yourself inside. With Mars part of that gang of planets, you have a superb opportunity to start a new relationship. Go out in the world and see what it has to offer you.

A co-worker may be your best ally in helping you find your new romantic interest this month (as surprising as that might sound), so don’t dismiss his or her ideas for places to go and things to do. Also, if your friend offers to make an introduction, accept. Your friend apparently knows your type and will be a savvy matchmaker.

Your most romantic days of the month: November 10-11, 18, 22-23, and 27-28.

Summary

This would an ideal month to improve your living situation. If you need to move or want to try your hand at do-it-yourself fix-up or decorating, you can have a lot of fun and find lots of success in the first half of the month. Last month you had help from Mars, but Mercury was retrograde, not a time to make a big decision or spend a lot of money. That changes now and here’s why.

The new moon last month on October 28 marked the time to begin, and once you start November, that new moon will be sending very strong vibrations. You need to act fast though - you need to make your biggest and most important actions in the first week.

You may have exceptional luck with real estate, home renovations, repairs, or home decorating projects on November 10, when Jupiter, planet of good fortune, will be beautifully angled to the Sun. If you need someone to help you at home, from an architect to a decorator, housekeeper to a nanny, you will also have a superb day on November 10.

This day, November 10, is so special that I would say you could use it for a wide variety of reasons! Key it on your calendar with a big gold star and use it for big meetings, interviews, auditions, creative meetings, and even a first date. You decide - this is your day!

The full moon of November 13 will take all the energies circulating in the air, package it, and make it accessible to you. If you have been interviewing for a new position, this full moon may bring you the very best kind of news - a big promotion or offer for a prestigious new job and if so, it would come along with excellent salary to boot.

Leo often works in a creative profession, or at the very least is serious about personal projects of artist expression. You’ll be happy to know that the new moon on November 27 will be ideal for beginning a new project.

Romantically, the move of Mars into your fifth house of love on November 16 for the first time in two years is great news. This means you’ll have a lively social life straight through December 27. Lucky you, the Christmas / Hanukkah season should be great fun and just made for you.

That’s not all. The new moon that arrives on November 27 will heighten your possibilities in the two weeks that follow it. Keep in mind that you will have your best results in the days that closely follow that new moon. Have a look at your holiday clothes, as it looks like you’ll need those items to be pressed and ready to wear. Leo loves to dress up, so it looks like you’ll get your wish very soon!

If you are attached, you may have been frustrated with miscommunications and a less-than-forthright response from your partner. The good news is that Neptune, planet of misunderstandings when in a difficult angle (as it’s been), will now move direct on November 2. From then on, better communication lies ahead. Shortly after November 2, if you open talks you may have a breakthrough, and you may understand things about your partner that have puzzled you in the past.

Financially, few signs have had as many ups and downs as you have had. The opposition of Saturn and Uranus on November 4 may be the moment when you realize that you have to make a few changes in your ways of handling money, and if so you seem to know what you have to do.

More help will come on November 27, when Uranus finally stops being retrograde, a weak orbit for any planet. In the days that closely follow this date, you should get a signal that things are changing for the better - and you will know it like you know your name.

One thing before I go: Next month, the full moon of December 12 will be a troublesome one. It will be angry with Saturn, Uranus, Mars, and the Sun, and this will stir up many problems and emotions. You will not be at the center of this full moon’s rage, but everyone will have certain issues to solve quite unexpectedly and quickly.

This will likely blow you off course and could completely break your concentration on whatever you have to do to get ready for the holiday. If you planned to shop, ship, decorate your home, or do any number of other things for the holiday, you probably won’t be able to keep to your schedule, causing an enormous amount of tension. So, my advice is to have all your shopping, wrapping, and shipping done no later than December 9.

I have never put up my Christmas tree as early as December 6, but this year I will. My New York City apartment could be a little warm but I will keep the heat off and walk around with heavy sweaters to keep my pretty tree fresh for Christmas.

I would never ask you to do anything that I wouldn’t do or haven’t road tested myself, dear Leo. I know it’s hard to get things ready for the holiday so early, but I feel it will be imperative to do so this year. Also try not to do anything of vital importance on or near December 12, plus or minus four days, because you will be quite distracted at the time. We will talk more about this next month, of course. This full moon is in Gemini, not Leo, so you will probably be a bystander to what occurs, but even so, others may need you. Be ready.

Key dates to remember:

Make changes in property, family, and living arrangements: November 1-10.

Your finances need review and restructuring: November 4.

Expect big career news and possible breakthroughs: November 10 and at the full moon November 13 (plus or minus four days).

Romance begins to get very lively: from November 27 through December. Singles have a good chance for a new relationship, and attached couples will have a chance to enjoy life and grow closer. Talk of babies may enter the conversation.

A creative project gets the signal to go: November 27 plus.

Most romantic days this month: November 10-11, 18, 22-23, and 27-28.

First Week of the NBA!

After six nonstop days of watching the NBA come back to life, here’s what we all should have learned:

1. The Portland Trail Blazers are jinxed. Bill Walton, Sam Bowie, Greg Oden. Jinxed.

2. Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni is either a damn fool or a genius. By the All-Star break we’ll know which one.

3. Even if they get Allen Iverson, the Pistons are a “true” center away from being the best team in the East.

4. This might be the last season we see the Iverson and Steve Nash we’ve grown to love.

5. Shaq worked on his free-throw shooting over the summer. (Hey, he’s at 61 percent so far!)

6. Dwight Howard still needs to work on his “dominating” skills.

7. Although Elton Brand was the big offseason transaction, Jermaine O’Neal’s move to Toronto might have a bigger impact on the East.

8. Something’s wrong in San Antonio (besides Manu’s injury) that might not be fixable.

9. Al Thornton is about to become the next Al Jefferson.

10. The Grizzlies’ experiment of starting three rookies (O.J. Mayo, Marc Gasol and Darrell Arthur) and a second-year player (Mike Conley) could actually work.

11. The Stephon Marbury Era is officially over.

12. The Chicago Bulls (the worst-shooting team in the NBA last season at 43.5 percent) still don’t get it. Even though Derrick Rose has shown more promise than any other rookie, the team’s shooting percentage so far is 38.8 percent.

13. Matt Barnes might be the new Shawn Marion.

14. Shawn Marion might not be in Miami by the end of the season.

15. EA Sports’ NBA LIVE 09 “Made Fresh Daily” commercials are the best 60-second basketball ads since Nike’s “Freestyle” spots from 2001.

16. Kevin Durant is in the first stage of fading into obscurity.

17. The “new” Carmelo Anthony (devoid of braids, focused on defense, putting the DUI behind him, etc.) might not be enough change to change what needs to change in Denver.

18. Nick Young — if the Wizards put him in the starting lineup while Gilbert Arenas is out — will make Ernie Grunfeld think twice about why he re-signed GA to that contract over the summer.

19. With the NBA announcing the 2010 All-Star Game will be in Dallas (albeit at the Cowboys’ new stadium), David Stern and Mark Cuban don’t dislike each other as much as we all thought. Kinda.

20. After watching Adam Morrison in-depth for two games, two conclusions can be drawn: (1) He’s not the answer, and (2) because of that, people are going to start questioning Michael Jordan’s GM skills out loud.

21. It’s going to take more than a week to get used to Phil Jackson’s and Gregg Popovich’s extreme makeovers.

22. The Raptors are for real. But having to play Jose Calderon 40 minutes a game — Roko Ukic is the backup at point — is going to come back to haunt them.

23. Something serious — besides Udonis Haslem playing out of position at center and having a rookie point guard — is wrong in Miami.

24. Despite the jinx in Portland, Rudy Fernandez will end the season as the second-best player on the team behind Brandon Roy. Even with a “questionable” Greg Oden the Blazers will be the team no one wants to play in the first round.

25. The way the Kings have looked (0-3, outscored by 15 points per game), the Maloofs and GM Geoff Petrie must be trying to give the NBA no choice but to move the team to Vegas.

26. The East might not be worse than the West.

27. The Southwest Division will replace the NFL’s NFC East as the best division in sports.

28. The Pacers — with Larry Bird making his second solo executive decision (his first was distancing the organization from Jamaal Tinsley) — are going to officially build their franchise around Danny Granger, not Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy. Smart move.

29. Jamaal Tinsley will wind up being the NBA’s version of Daunte Culpepper.

30. The Avery Johnson interview process for a coaching job in 2009-10 began Oct. 29.

31. Lawrence Frank will be the first coach whose name will be mentioned as not lasting as coach past the All-Star break. (With George Karl’s name not far behind.)

32. The “Vince Carter: RIP” T-shirts as seen after a 105-97 home loss to Golden State will soon be on eBay. And probably in popular demand.

33. Eddy Curry and Kirk Hinrich will both be dealt by the trading deadline. Al Harrington by the end of November.

34. The Hawks will not miss Josh Childress.

35. Muted gray suits with off-powder blue shirts seem to be the new favorite sideline choice for coaches. Not a good look.

36. LeBron James versus Chris Paul (they meet again Jan. 16) is the new best “must-see” matchup in the league.

37. Amare Stoudemire is the most slept-on future Hall of Famer in the game.

38. Finally … the Lakers, the Rockets and the Celtics could all win more than 65 games, with one of them winning 70.

October 2008 Horoscope

It’s an exciting month, for you’ve lots to do! Expect many calls and meetings, trips to take, and many new people to meet. Your home is going to be a big focus too, and this month and next will be your most important month of the year for making home-related decisions.

Mercury, planet of intelligent life, will be retrograde, so there will be the usual delays, slipups, mislaid items, and one or two mechanical breakdowns. I am so sorry to report that - in a month this busy, you need everything to go smoothly, but alas, Murphy’s Law (“if it can go wrong, it will”) will be at play. Some things can’t be helped, dear Leo.

Still, during the first half of October, delays will benefit you, so when they begin to crop up, see them as ways of slowing things down long enough to take a closer look and to do extra research. Mercury will slide backward in Libra, the sign that rules your solar third house of communication, perception, judgments, and thinking, the very area of life that Mercury rules. Something you thought was over and done may now come back for a different, untried solution. Be very careful when handing in documents, for you may have flaws that you aren’t even aware of, such as having pulled the wrong figures, quoted someone inaccurately, or other errors. We all need to double check work before we hand it in.

You may be asked to sign a contract, but it would be unwise to do so until Mercury goes direct, October 15, but more correctly, after a few extra days, October 20, the date when Mercury will fully regulate its orbit.

Virgo, ruled by Mercury, is the natural ruler of your solar second house of income, so once Mercury regulates its orbit in the last third of October, you’ll be better able to sort out your finances. If a check that’s due you has been missing or late, you’ll finally get paid at that time, but it is doubtful that it would happen any sooner.

You will be able to travel, too, and after last month’s tense full moon, September 15, it sounds like you are due for a little quick vacation. You may return to a place you used to go, perhaps to catch up with certain relatives. It would be fun. (I mentioned the full moon that fell on September 15, operative plus or minus four days, because it may have brought you very unexpected, difficult news about your finances. If you would like to access last month’s forecast, the previous month is always available to you - look for the link under my summary.)

If you take a trip earlier in the month, you will likely travel by car to a place closer to home. It still will be refreshing, and perhaps you can catch some of the fall foliage. You should go!

As I alluded to earlier, your home will be shaping up as quite a center of attention in the months ahead. Beginning October 4, Mars will enter your home and family sector and stay there until November 15. Mars will stay six weeks, and that’s plenty of time because the effect of Mars is always like a caffeine high!

The winter holidays are on the way, so it’s not too soon to start counting the glassware, washing the windows, and having the rug shampooed. Once the new moon arrives on October 28, you’ll have a lot of people coming through your place, and you’ll want it to look great. Now some of the people may be guests, and others may be repairmen, painters, decorators, brokers, and other types!

Mars provides motivation, and Venus, beauty - together these planets will help you make your home a place that is a true reflection of the style that is “you” and your lifestyle. Mars’ presence is particularly exciting, for it’s the first time in two years that Mars has been there to help you, and because the Red Planet will remain there six weeks, you will have the chance to fix up your present space or move into a new one.

The actions you take at that new moon October 28 will affect your home and/or family for a year or more to come. Look at all your options, dear Leo - you’ll be surprised at how beautifully your plans fit into place. This new moon will be in the perfect angle to Neptune, so you will find many ways to express your creativity.

Romance will flourish too this month, especially over October 10-11. Invite your sweetheart or mate for a special meal you whipped up yourself. (If single, make sure you have that meal at your apartment for best results. This month home is where your luck resides.)

I also like Tuesday, October 14 - look your best when Pluto and the Sun join forces to help you stand out.

Venus will move into your true love sector for the first time in a year on October 18, to remain there until November 12. This will herald a four-star period for enjoying romantic time together, and if single, for meeting a possible new romantic partner.

Your best romantic weekend of the month will be October 25-26, extending through Monday, October 27. With Mars, planet of energy, and Jupiter, the ruler of your house of romance and planet of luck and happiness, in perfect sync, that weekend should be simply sensational. You can entertain at home if you like, or take a romantic little trip together to give you time to focus on one another.

Next month, from mid-November though December, when Mars moves into fellow fire sign Sagittarius, your romantic/social life will reach peak new levels. Hurry and get your home improvements done! You’ve got some serious partying to do and it all comes at the sweetest time of the year - when parties proliferate.

Most romantic dates: October 4, 18, 21, 25-26, and 31 (give a party at home).

Summary

Your home will be a pulsing center of activity, thanks to the presence of Mars in your home sector. If you need to locate a new space, then look at listings and browse apartments or houses this month, as Mars will bring options. Venus’ presence will ensure that you will become enthusiastic about what you see.

Still, signing a lease or buying a house while Mercury is retrograde is not recommended, so be kind to yourself and wait until October 20 to finalize things. If you sign with Mercury retrograde (prior to October 20) you’ll need to make unanticipated changes later, ones that could throw you into a tizzy when they come up. If you need a new roommate, as hard as it may be to wait to choose one, do so, or you may be searching for a new one sooner than you expected!

Fortunately, when it comes to home and family matters, more cosmic help will arrive later in the month, and you’ll be glad you held out. Your annual new moon will appear in your domestic sector on October 28. From then on, you’ll have until November 12 to get your key domestic plans in place - more than enough time, because this time you’ll find more options than you really need! It’ll be as if the whole world opened up for you!

This seems to suggest that although Mars will coax you to act hastily early in the month, you’d be wise to hold back while you continue to do research, consider your ideas, and to see what else comes up later - as almost surely something will. The new moon on October 28 will help you further by bringing new options into the mix. As you see, when it comes to October, patience pays off.

Entertain at home on or just after October 28 - but only if you are not moving, renovating or making repairs, of course! Doing so would be fun. Your best days for a dinner or cocktail party would on October 9, 10, or 11, when Venus will send a loving glance to Uranus. Add one of your biggest and most exciting date to entertain - Halloween, October 31 - when Mars and Uranus, working together in the best sense, will have guests arriving in really exciting costumes! This could be a Halloween for the record books!

Travel is also emerging as an important item on your agenda. The most important point of the month will be October 14, when the full moon will likely have you journeying over many miles, possibly overseas or to the opposite coast of your country. You may go away for any reason, but there is some indication you’d go to complete family business or to view real estate options.

That won’t be your only opportunity to get out of town - you’ll have others too, and they’ll be less distant and more accessible. Those short trips may be return trips to places you’ve always loved but haven’t seen in a long time. Mercury retrograde will have you looking back to earlier days, with happy results.

Romantically, you are entering a spectacular period. Venus will begin to grace your fifth house of true love from October 18 to November 12. Then, in the second half of November, Mars will begin to cook up some amazing sparks in the same area of your chart. November and December will be banner months for meeting a new love or for drawing closer to love you already have, dear Leo!

You have lots of exciting date nights coming up, with some of the best being October 4, 14, and your two gold-star days, October 25-26. Also, don’t forget to throw a party on October 31, your last but not least romantic date of the month!

Key dates:

Home and family matters become a big theme: from October 4-31. Then, the new moon on October 28, operative until November 12, will bring you even more options.

Mercury will be retrograde in your home sector until October 15, but won’t regulate its energy until October 20. Sign no important papers and order no expensive items, especially not electronic ones, until after October 20. If you do, you won’t be happy with your selection or the way your item performs.

If you’re not moving or renovating, entertain at home. Choose any day from October 9 to 11.

Take a key long trip October 14 (plus or minus 4 days) possibly to view real estate options or to complete family business.

Most romantic dates: October 4, 18, 21, 25-26, and 31 (give a party at home).

Leo (September)

You are tired of having to go through stressful financial situations, and in March, when you faced your last one, you vowed to be sure this wouldn’t happen again. But this month money again appears to be a big problem, which leads me to wonder if someone you are depending on might be to blame.

Of course, it’s always possible that you will make a math error, causing a cascading number of checks to bounce. Ugh, what a nightmare. You can avoid this by double-checking your figures and by calling the bank’s automated service each day to be sure that your checks are going through. However, if you’ve put your trust in someone who owes you money but who is proving over and over again that he or she can’t be trusted, you will have to put certain controls in place or take certain actions.

No matter what the reason that money seems to be in such short supply or has become a big concern this month (and in a minute I will give you specific days to watch as the key problematic days), you will have to find a quick fix for the short term. That of course means putting your hands on more money. In that regard - finding a way to get a raise - your timing may be perfect. I am getting ahead of myself, so let’s go through the month methodically.

The first aspect will arrive September 3, when Saturn will conjunct the Sun. This is a rather sobering aspect and you may feel things more strongly than most because you are ruled by the Sun. Saturn, the planet that teaches us life lessons, will meet up with the Sun in your second house of earned income. This is a restrictive influence, so you may feel you are running out of cash because of an unanticipated expense or because money you were promised (or expected) just isn’t showing up.

Don’t panic. The very next day, September 4, you may hit on an idea or get an unexpected breakthrough concerning money, much to your surprise! Jupiter, the lucky planet, will be in perfect angle to the Sun, your ruler, on that day, which could literally SAVE the day. This will be one of your best days of the month - possibly of the season - so use it to your full advantage. Plan a meeting or an interview, present a proposal, or try to bring in new business.

Although it’s clear you have woes about money in September, the first week brims with opportunity. The new moon that appeared at the end of last month, August 30, was actually quite wonderful for you. Its energy will be very strong as you begin September, for approximately ten days. That’s another reason to act quickly before that energy fades. (A new moon’s energy is highest the moment it appears and then gets gradually weaker as you move away from that new moon.)

Ask for a raise on September 4, or if you feel your present employer won’t give you one, see if there are other positions that you might be able to interview for. Admittedly, Saturn in your income house suggests that it will be hard for you to get a large raise approved, but even a small one may be better than standing still. If you get better company benefits, such as a solid health insurance policy, it may be just as good as earning more cash. Or, if your new job would be closer to you, thereby requiring less of a commute, you may save on gas. Again, you’d save money, so add those considerations to the mix, too.

If you change jobs, realize it would likely be a lateral move, and that might be OK if you don’t like your job or if you have a monster for a boss and will go insane if you don’t get out of the asylum soon! If you had your heart set on getting a step up to a better job, then wait until November when a special offer may surface - just the right position may come up. It’ll be a very special time for you.

Now focusing back on September, I am sorry to say that mid-month holds some very difficult aspects, so put on your helmet and armor, dear Leo. Money will again be the focus, and should you need any additional reasons to find a better way to approach financial contingencies in your life, the events at this tense full moon may convince you to find them.

Your first notice that something is up will come when the Sun and Uranus will be at odds, on Friday, September 12. This is sure to be a very hard day when you may feel like you unexpectedly touched a live wire. News will come at you quite unexpectedly, in a way you’d never imagine. You can’t quite prepare for this, other than to keep your schedule light so you are able to focus quickly on what’s at hand.

You won’t see the end to the situation for a few days, because the full moon, September 15, will also oppose Uranus, again involving two financial houses. The crisis that surfaces will be odd, surprising, or weird in some way, and will require a resourceful, quick answer, so you’ll have very little time to think. A full moon is operative for four days after it occurs.

There are many ways this may play out. You may have expected a certain amount of commission, college financial aid, or a scholarship that won’t be forthcoming, or you may find that you won’t receive the amount of money you had anticipated from an insurance company, from an ex for child support, or from an inheritance. If you are in business, a client may go bankrupt and not be able to pay you. You may find out you owe the government taxes, or you may suddenly have an expensive home, car, or dental expense. Watch for identity theft, too. Just looking at this list I have just made for you is quite depressing. Of course, these are only possible examples, and I would love to be wrong about this.

Things like this happen, and when they do, you need to scramble to come up with a plan B. You are not alone, dear Leo. There are many others who will be in precisely the same predicament in September.

I have thought about why the universe asks us to cope with these types of situations, and I can only guess that the universe asks us to become more resourceful and creative about managing resources. It doesn’t matter if you created the problem or if you are simply an innocent bystander to this situation, the result will be the same - you will need to find a more permanent fix.

For every difficult situation there is always an answer. If you recall, on September 8, both Jupiter and Pluto will turn direct. Because both planets are essentially financial planets, things will look up for you. Both planets will help you either get a new job, work side jobs, or earn overtime. If you are self-employed, you can now be quite effective in bringing in new business.

Both planets will orbit in sure, strong shape for many months to come before they slide into weak retrograde action again. (You have until April 4 for Pluto and June 15 for Jupiter.) In many ways you will be looking at a very different picture.

Speaking of retrograde planets, Mercury will go retrograde this month from September 24 to October 15. You will feel the slowdown earlier, however, so that’s another reason to get busy quickly in September - you don’t want to run into a Mercury retrograde period because you will meet many delays.

It would be very unwise to sign a contract in mid-to-late September, for it’s clear other elements will soon enter the equation (like another offer, perhaps?) and later you would regret being so hasty. If you can’t sign your papers September 4, then wait until October 18 or later to sign. You will be glad you waited.

Keep your health up to par all month, as the aspects on September 3 and 12 and during the full moon period September 13-19 will be very jarring and exhausting. Also during these periods, you may be worried about the health or well-being of a prominent person in your life - a parent, spouse, lover, or boss. This person may be not feeling well or be very tense, but will appreciate your care and wise advice.

One nice influence that will go on in the background will involve quick, short travel. Mars, now in Libra, is currently warming your third house of nearby travel. Along with Mars, Venus will be there too, as will Mercury. The Sun will join this trio from September 22 onward, so that’ll be a lot of energy to be circulating in this part of your chart. It looks like you will be able to get out of town, perhaps as a result of the kind invitations you receive from friends or relatives. You’ll enjoy those outings very much, too. With Venus there, I would say so!

The new moon, September 29, will help push this travel trend even more, and it’s a very sweet influence, falling in the compatible sign of Libra. Mars will send a missive to Pluto near this date, another indication that you will find a way to be on the road - hopefully it will be an affordable way! You may see family or view out-of-town real estate that you are interested in leasing, buying, selling, or fixing up. This seems the most likely reason you would travel, but of course, this could be travel for business or romance, too. With Mercury in retrograde, you would likely go back to a place you’ve not seen in a very long time, perhaps to a place you always loved.

If you were born on July 29, or within five days of this date, you will benefit very strongly from this new moon.

Romantically, travel will increase your ability to have fun and relax and also help you meet and greet new people. This would be particularly true in late September.

On September 11, you may get a wonderful phone call, email, or instant message that sets your spirits soaring. This is a great day to take a trip, too. All Leos will benefit, but if you are born on or near August 6, you’ll be beautifully positioned to take full advantage of whatever comes up.

Summary

When it comes to finances, someone may let you down this month, and when they do, it will put you in a tailspin. You’ll have to be very clear-headed and objective to solve this problem that will zoom out of the blue. You are getting tired of these types of surprises - your last one happened in March - and by George, you are going to find a fix for these types of situations.

In the meantime, lock up your credit cards and put away your checkbook for a while, dear Leo. This month will be expensive in many ways you might not expect. If you can delay big purchases to late October, you’ll be all the happier for it.

You will likely be on a mission to find more income, if only out of necessity, and if so, your efforts may be successful. Keep your expectations realistic, however, for Saturn’s presence in your salary sector suggests that employers you encounter will be unusually budget-conscious. Ask for a raise anyway, but if you get a less than expected offer, don’t take it personally. Times are tight.

Keep your head down and don’t tempt fate on September 3 when Saturn will throw cold water on financial talks. If someone is overly critical or pessimistic on this day, take an objective attitude and do not allow this person’s words to get to you. In a few days you will feel better. Use the advice that you do find helpful, but discard the rest.

The following day, September 4, will bring a wonderful about-face to events when Jupiter will send a shimmering beam to your ruling star, the Sun. Extra money should arrive in the form of overtime pay or freelance work, saving the day. All types of financial meetings today should go well.

If you’ve been looking for work, the move of Jupiter and Pluto direct on September 8 will make it a pivotal moment in your timeline. Watch the discussions you have on and near this day. From this point on, you will note a sharper, livelier pace when it comes to career developments, with less likelihood for false starts. If you’ve awaited work-related approvals, they’ll come down now.

You will have two other tough financial days to get through before you can exhale: September 12 and the full moon, September 15. At these points, events will come at you rapidly, and a financial situation that you may not have noticed will now reach full boil. You’ll need to find quick solutions for urgent and unexpected questions. This would not be the week to negotiate the financials of a divorce, to have talks with your banker for a loan, to discuss compensation for a new job, or to conduct talks on the purchase or sale of a house. Keep out of sight for now.

Be aware that Mercury will be retrograde from September 24 to October 15, but you will begin to feel the slowdowns that Mercury brings by mid-month. You will be wise to set your most important plans in place next month, in late October. If that’s not possible, try to settle things earlier, near September 4, your best day this month.

You will find accord after the September 29 new moon, but it would be best to continue to define the terms of your agreement for several more weeks.

Comforting planets - Venus, Mars, and Mercury - have migrated to your quick, short travel sector all month. Additional opportunities to enjoy being in a new setting will increase even more at month’s end. Travel represents the most joyous part of your chart, so treat yourself to time away.

Romance appears to be better in a new setting too this month. If you can’t quite afford to spend money on travel, you may be able to be a guest in the home of friends or close family members and save on hotels. Your love life will also be helped enormously by the move of Jupiter to direct speed on September 8. If you feel things have been dull or oddly out of sync, you’ll see a big improvement!

Key dates:

Best romantic days: September 5-6, 8, 11, 24-25, and 28-29.

You’ll need to manage a harsh financial surprise: September 3 and 12, and over the full moon, when problems will reach a full boil by the full moon, September 15 (plus four days).

A glowing day for getting a part-time job, extra overtime, or even a raise: September 4

You’ll find it easier to locate work and also to get creative ideas approved: after September 8.

Romance improves: after September 8. Quick travel boosts love, too.

You’ll reach accord on deals from September 29 onward, but wait to finalize things after October 18. Why? Mercury will retrograde: September 24 to October 15.

Leo (July 23- August 22)

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!