There are many unfair stereotypes about each zodiac sign. One that really gets on my nerves is the belief that Cancers are crybabies. Yes, you Crabs are sensitive, and, being ruled by the Moon, your feelings may fluctuate; however, with this depth comes a level of emotional sophistication that is not deserving of any crybaby reputation. You might be a cry lady (or gentleman), but definitely not a crybaby.

Cancer, the crab, has a tough shell–the perfect armor for Mars, the warrior god, who happens to be in Cancer at the start of August. Mars in Cancer has a tendency to be a little indirect (crabs do walk sideways), a little hard to read (you Water signs are so mysterious), and maybe even a little sneaky (again, a Water sign thing), but Mars in Cancer is certainly well protected. When Mars comes into your sign, he certainly perks you up, inspiring you to be assertive and to show off your inner tough guy.

Saturn, taskmaster of the zodiac, is super active early this month, but with Mars in your sign, you should have the energy to manage whatever it throws your way. On August 2, Saturn turns direct in Scorpio, a fellow water sign. Saturn has been retrograde since March 14, 2015. Saturn retrogrades give us an opportunity to test our foundations: Are your structures working for you? What challenges are you facing–especially around creativity, letting go and having fun, and generally enjoying life?

Saturn has been in Scorpio since October 5, 2012, where it’s been asking you to buckle down and have fun responsibly. You experienced a short break from December 23, 2014 to June 14 of this year, when Saturn was briefly in Sagittarius. Think back to this time–it’ll give you a sneak peak of what themes you will be working with over the next two or so years. On September 17, 2015, Saturn reenters Sagittarius, dissipating the Scorpio vibes you’ve been working with. Expect have to deal a lot more with work and with solidifying what your daily routine will look like.

The last two and a half years or so have been hard, and you might have been accused of being a party pooper, or perhaps you have suffered from intense writer’s block or felt a lack of inspiration. Certainly this taught you something, and yes, this transit is almost over. When it ends, I have a feeling you will have a renewed sense of your talents and a deeper understanding of how you want to enjoy life.

The next day, August 3, expansive Jupiter in Leo squares boundary-loving Saturn in Scorpio, a tense combination that may test your maturity and responsibility. You’re pretty tired of feeling pent up and bored, Cancer, but today won’t be the right day for you to peace out from your commitments or enjoy a beach day. Also, Mercury will be finishing up its time in Leo this week, meaning that your mind will be on material matters. Everyone knows a Cancer is pretty good at saving money, but this week could be a great time for you to check in with your bank balance and ask yourself if you’re finding comfort in consuming rather than genuine contentment.

Mercury enters Virgo on August 7, shifting your focus from material to mental. Your desire to communicate and learn may increase, and bonding with your siblings or closet friends will also be high on your list of priorities. The next day, August 8, Mars says goodbye to your sign and enters Leo, keeping you energized and increasing your ambition and your productivity.

Venus went retrograde in Virgo last month, on July 25. Venus, the goddess of love and money, usually feels pretty good about herself, but when she’s retrograde, she feels a little bitchy, bloated, and broke. There’s nothing like feeling a little shitty about yourself to inspire you to cut out all the BS in your life; that’s basically where Venus is at now. In Virgo, she was ultra picky, but as of July 31, Venus is retrograde in Leo, where she questions whether or not she’s being seen. Do you feel like you’re being seen, Cancer?

The Leo vibes don’t end with Venus. There’s a New Moon in Leo on August 14–a New Moon that not only creates a fresh start for you around Leo themes such as creativity and fun, but also themes around money and what’s valuable to you in general. (Leo is the sign that comes after you on the zodiac wheel, and in astrology, the following sign always holds some information about value and the material world.) If you’re searching for a new beginning around these concepts, now’s the time to go for it: Apply for a new job, sell some of your fancy stuff, create some to-do lists, organize your bills, or invest in yourself in some other way.

The Sun enters Virgo on August 23, a fidgety, active, curious, and social time for you. Don’t doubt yourself, my dear crab: You can fit in anywhere and talk to anyone. Logical and communicative Mercury enters the sign of partnerships, Libra, on August 27. Libra is a diplomatic, charming sign, so the world will be a little more willing to compromise. Cancer, you may find yourself feeling nostalgic, since Libra highlights a portion of the zodiac that’s tied to your past and your upbringing. On that note, you may also find yourself thinking or working out a situation with a parent. Issues around your home might also pop up, but I’m not worried for you, Cancer–that’s your area of expertise!

On August 29, we have a Full Moon in Pisces, which is a sensitive and psychic Water sign just like you. Expanding your world (whether through mental means, like taking a class, or physical means, like hopping on a plane) will feel super important at the end of this month. Summer is almost over: Get away for the weekend, or the whole week, if you can. It’s also a great time to connect to your faith, explore spirituality, or develop your intuition. Pisces is a super dreamy and sensitive sign. Its modern planetary ruler is Neptune, a symbol of the ocean, illusion, and fantasy. On August 31 the Sun will oppose Neptune, causing some possible confusion; however, this could be a great day for you to examine your daydreams and take a look at what spells you might be under.

What’s in the stars for you this month?

Read the rest of our August horoscopes.

Unbeatable, passionate, and fiery Mars is in your sign for the first bit of this month, for the first time since summer 2013. Get in touch with your inner warrior. Cancers aren’t known for being confrontational (again, it must have something to do with your sideways walk); being that you aren’t a cry baby, I wonder if you sometimes hold back on unleashing your inner warrior because you want to avoid drama? To that I say: Fuck it. The New Moon this month is in Leo, a sign that loves drama more than anything else. Do what you need to do to have fun and create material security in your life. The world is your oyster, Cancer, and pearls are your thing. Enjoy an adventure or two this August before the summer is over. It’s time for you to have more fun and feel materially secure as you do so. Good luck, Cancer: I know you can achieve anything, you tenacious crab!