There is a complication in the cosmic picture right now though that could influence you in August as well. Venus moves into Virgo on 6th until 31st and Mercury will also enter this sign on 10th until 29th. The Virgo part of your horoscope represents your home, family and domestic living conditions - you may find that 13-15th it would be easy for relations to be strained, as fault-finding is common. If you are re-decorating your home this could also be a source of disagreement.

It is definitely a mixed month with some good, and not so good days. Mars entering Libra on 19th and then Mercury and Venus on 29 and 31st can at least bring a group of like-minded people around your life on these days.

The Sun entering Virgo on 23rd through until; 25th can bring a few days of fluctuating energies that can put you at odds with those around you. Be prepared to keep your own counsel for these days.

The Sun will remain in the fixed fire sign of Leo until 4.02 am on 23rd. On 1 August at 8.14 pm a Total Solar (New Moon) Eclipse takes place, and on 17 August at 7.18 am a Lunar (Full Moon) Eclipse occurs. August is going to be a memorable month as we begin with a Total Solar Eclipse. Leo is an upfront and generally positive sign, and is the ideal time of year to bring the `actor' out in people. Matters of the heart feature strongly, issues involving children can be prominent (hopefully for all the right reasons), and adopting a sunny disposition can all enhance the chance of the self-creative person.

This Eclipse has a powerful effect on people who have planets at 9-10º Leo-Scorpio-Aquarius or Taurus, could also influence those with their Ascendant or Moon on this degree - or are born 2-3 November, 29/30 January, 30 April/1 May or 31 July - 2 August of any year, if any of these dates mean you, since February 08 and continuing until February 09 your life has been going through change. This Eclipse is part of a longer cycle of eclipses that have been occurring since 1179 AD, so what occurs now is part of a process that you are connected to. This same eclipse last took place in 1991, so both this year and back then are also connected. All Eclipses have a deeper meaning and this Eclipse is referred to as Saros 10 South and concerns itself with breaking out of a negative situation to a more positive space. This space has more options and some hope. There is also an indication you need to action this without delay. You may relate to this already having occurred, in the process of change, or if not, planning to do by early next year.

As an interesting aside, the most powerful path of this Eclipse runs right through China. In 7 days from this event the Olympic Games will begin. Eclipses can bring intense energy to bear on the country that experiences this powerful path. China has already been in the news twice before in this same year - both generating quite a bit of emotion from outside of its borders, and affecting many people within its borders. It certainly appears to be an `auspicious' year for the Chinese people as they are under the spotlight.

On a general level August contains 15 exact cosmic aspects, 5 of which fall in the easy category, while the other 10 are classified as challenging. 5 of these are `oppositions'. An opposition aspect occurs when two planets sit in signs which sits opposite each other on the zodiac wheel, can will either bring co-operation between people or conflict, and you can probably expect both at some point.

The Sun enters mutable Earth Virgo at 4.03 am on 23rd and remains in this sign until 23 September. The New Virgo Moon falls at 5.59 am on Sunday 31st. Virgo is the sign of service to others, health and healing issues are more prominent and so is the need to work methodically on whatever you attempt.

The month begins and ends with a New Moon and this month will see many people embarking on a new course in their lives.