Gemini, August 2016

August opens on an exciting note, Gemini! Warrior Mars enters Sagittarius, and revs up the sector of your chart that rules relationships, plus we have a new moon in Leo, both on August 2.

New moons symbolize new beginnings, and this new moon takes place in the area of your chart that rules the mind and communication. While you are always open to looking at things in a new way, this will be an especially exciting time for conversations to take place. Important messages are coming your way!

This is also a fantastic new moon for reconnecting with siblings, or exploring your neighborhood. Fantastic gossip is coming your way—Leo loves drama, and it's just not a Leo new moon without some.

Passionate Mars entering Sagittarius will energize your relationships, both romantic and platonic. Mars is the planet of war, so the vibe could be combative. You're not a fan of confrontation, Gemini, but you actually might enjoy seeing your partners get a little aggressive!

On August 5, sweet Venus enters Earth sign Virgo, which will bring blessings to your home and family life. You and the people you live with will find it easy to get along, and this is a fantastic time to redecorate your space.

Virgo's vibe is clean and organized—toss out your junk and throw some crisp white sheets on your bed! Geminis typically own two of everything: As your organize your stuff, ask yourself, "Would a neat-freak Virgo think I need two of these?"

August 6 brings some tension: Mercury in Virgo clashes with serious Saturn in Sagittarius, which will bring stress to your relationships, especially about feeling secure. Venus in Virgo will also challenge Mars in Sagittarius, so don't expect disagreements to smooth over quickly; people are in the mood for tantrums this day.

Confusion arrives on August 7 when Mercury opposes hazy Neptune in dreamy Pisces. Mercury is super logical, so when it clashes with nebulous Neptune, it's hard to tell up from down. Rather, you can tell up from down, but someone else will try to convince you otherwise, causing you to get annoyed—or convince yourself that you're going nuts. Watch out for gaslighting, especially at home and at work.

Mercury connects with power planet Pluto on August 10, which will be a potent day, Gemini. Your intimate relationships will deepen, and emotional issues of security and safety will transform. Powerful changes can also take place in your finances, especially regarding more complicated issues like taxes, debts, and inheritances.

Saturn ends its retrograde in Sagittarius on August 13, which will push things forward in your relationships. Saturn is all about commitment and longevity. As a fickle Gemini, you reacting to Saturn hanging out in the sector of your chart that rules relationships will be interesting.

This is a good time to check in with yourself: Are your commitments working for you? Are you in it for the long haul? Is everyone living up to their responsibilities, and are boundaries being respected? If not, you may decide to end a relationship on August 24, when warrior Mars meets Saturn in Sagittarius—you just won't have the time, patience, or will to keep going, not anymore, if the relationship isn't working for you.

The lunar eclipse in fellow Air sign Aquarius arrives on August 18! Eclipses whisk things out of our lives—and it can really suck. But, they also bring new things, information, and people, which can be awesome. Aquarius is an inventive sign, so expect some psychological breakthroughs—you'll see things in ways you could have never imagined before! This is a fantastic eclipse to get into a spiritual practice under—whether that's doing yoga, going to church, or making a promise to yourself to journal or meditate. Your mind is opening up!

News from faraway places, or about long-distance friends or lovers, could come your way. If you're traveling during this time, an experience that will forever change your philosophy about life will come your way. Not only is your mind going to be expanded, but you'll be affecting other people as well. This is a potent eclipse for any teaching or publishing you're doing!

Much of August will find you focused at home—not so exotic, I know, but you'll survive. The Sun enters Virgo on August 22, activating the sector of your chart that rules home and family. Chatty Mercury meets lucky Jupiter, also on August 22, in Virgo, which will create a strong dialogue between you and your family, your roomies, or your landlord. Venus also meets Jupiter in Virgo, on August 27, so amazingly, people will be getting along! On August 29, Mercury meets Venus in Virgo, creating even more good vibes on the home front. This is a wonderful time to invite people over to enjoy your space!

On August 29, Venus enters fellow Air sign Libra, lighting up the romance and creativity sector of your chart. Awesome! This will be a wonderful time to go out on dates, or find a new muse for your painting, album, or book. New crushes will enter the scene, and plenty of invitations to parties will be handed your way.

Your ruling planet Mercury goes retrograde on August 30. Everyone hates Mercury retrograde, but there is something about it that's decent: It's a great time to finish old projects and reflect on decisions and conversations—especially stuff that's gone down since August 10. Don't rush into anything during this retrograde. Take it slow—you're going to run late anyway. Mercury is all about delays and chaos!

Mercury retrograde is also a bad time to sign contracts or buy anything important (like electronics or plane tickets), and it's famous for bringing people from the past to your present. This particular Mercury retrograde in Virgo will be extra nostalgic—expect to flip through every family photo album you can get your hands on. Issues from your childhood, or your family's past, could come up for healing. If you're moving, this will be a tricky retrograde to navigate. Double-check everything!

See you in September, Gemini!