What a wonderful month to be a Sagittarius! You love to travel, and in August, the best news will be that travel is written all over your chart. It looks like you won't be spending very much time in one place, so if your friends want to meet up with you, they had better have their running shoes on!

Let's start at the top of the month because you have some interesting career developments heating up in the background this month that will come into full bloom in September, aspects that you and I should talk about, and you have some romantic aspects, too. So much to say! Where to begin? Let's start at the beginning, the start of August, so I can tell you how the month will blossom in roughly chronological order.

The first aspect I'd like you to note is a gentle one - Venus and Mars will be chasing each other around the sky on Friday, August 2, making for a sexy date night. This day also may bring some exceptional news about your career and money. Venus is currently in Virgo in your tenth house of honors, awards, achievement and fame, making you very popular with VIPs. Meanwhile, Mars is still where he was circulating last month, in your house of other people's money. The two planets, Mars and Venus, will be linked on August 2, and this means money and your career will be linked, too. One will influence the other, so see what comes up. It seems your reputation and fine performance will influence the chunk of cash you will receive

Your finances are about to glow in coming months because Jupiter, the giver of gifts and luck, just entered the house of other people's money for the first time in twelve years. Between now and July 2014, you are likely to do very well with your financial affairs, whether you hope to raise money from a venture capitalist or make money through commissions, royalties, or licensing fees. You also have Mars tearing through the same part of your chart, your eighth house, forcing your expenses upward on credit cards since last month. You may have planned for this month's outlay of cash, say, to pay for tuition, a big trip, an impending move, or other reason.

If you did not plan to spend for anything special now and can't figure out why your expenses have suddenly risen this month, then pull back on overall voluntary expenditures until September. This will give you time to see if any unusual expenses come up. Don't wait too long to shop for things you need, however, as Mercury will turn wild and wooly when it retrogrades in mid-October (and you will see life become scrambled eggs much earlier), so in short, October is not the month to buy anything expensive. You'd be best to wait to shop until the end of November if you cannot do so in August or September.

The good part about all this is that for the first time in years, Mercury will not be retrograde in December, when we all are buying holiday gifts. Retailers will be happy too, for they won't be beset with stock running out of top items. Everyone loves to buy electronic items as gifts, and for the first time in years, you can shop to your heart's content for those in December, confident your recipient will be overjoyed with your purchase. You will be able to sign year-end contracts in early December (but not in late December) - but all in all, it's all good.

Going back to this month, you may want to go back and read your July forecast. If you did not read your forecast last month, you may want to do it after you get done reading this one for August. You can find it under Dates to Note if you scroll down here - I always provide the previous month's forecast for you so you can check how closely the aspects I saw resonated for you.

July's forecast is important to you because it marks the start of a new trend, thanks to the arrival of Jupiter to Cancer in late June, to stay nearly thirteen months. Jupiter, a very generous financial planet, has not assisted you in this area for twelve years, so the influence is new, and I am sure, will be very welcome! This coming financial trend is such good news, I am sure you would want to read all about it.

Of course, no matter what, the proverbial man with a briefcase full of large bills of money handcuffed to his wrist is not likely to show up at your doorstep, ring your bell, unlock his handcuff, and drop off the cash with you, even though you have fantastic financial aspects for the rest of 2013 through mid-2014. Indeed, you can find ways to get the bundle of cash that has your name on it, but you have to work at it.

Astrology is not about predestination. Rather, use astrology to plan your biggest initiations on your most favorable days so that you can complete your goal. All strong, good aspects are based on the work you did prior to the start of the trend, so the more credit worthy, trustworthy, and honest you are, the harder and smarter you worked in the past, the bigger your bounty will be now. You are starting a year of enormous financial reward. The eighth house, so fortunate for you now, is the part of the chart that rules a bank loan, venture capital, mortgage, divorce or court case settlement, insurance payout, inheritance, commission, licensing fees, or bonus, among other sources. A large chunk of money seems to be on the way to you, so stay optimistic.

There is one day, however, falling on August 7, when Jupiter will oppose Pluto, that may bring an extremely difficult financial negotiation where you may be forced to trim any excess expenses from a deal. You may be amazed at the push back you experience from an influential person about what you consider to be a reasonable financial request. On that day, Jupiter, your ruler, will be under siege from Pluto, and with both these big-deal planets in dispute with one another, there's no way to avoid a tough negotiation, and hopefully, a compromise. If you just leave a little room around this day, you should find talks may go easier, after everyone has time to reflect on things.

There is another way this day, August 7, may work out. Think back to December 2007. Did you begin a major venture at that time? Back then Jupiter was conjunct Pluto (just opposite what you have now), a wonderful time to sign papers and launch a venture. Your expectations were high on both sides. A conjunction starts a new cycle, and an opposition tests the value of that cycle. We have an opposition now. It seemed like you might have made quite a bit of money back in December 2007 and early 2008, at least on the onset (well in advance of the stock market crash September 15, 2008). Now, six years later, you need to ask yourself if you are happy with profits being generated, and either make adjustments to the venture or abandon it altogether. There are no right answers here - you will get to choose the one that seems best for you. A mid-point in a cycle is simply time to take stock and find ways to make a project better and profitable.

Your biggest day for travel will arrive a few days later with the new moon of August 6 in a fellow fire sign Leo, at 15 degrees - this new moon may set off not only a trip this month, but many more trips in the weeks and months to come. Uranus will be beautifully oriented toward this new moon, so surprise, spontaneity, and fun will mark your days away. You seem to travel for romantic reasons and that sounds delicious. See if you can pack and go within days of this new moon. You may travel for a negotiation, too, and if so, be confident - you have so much going for you now!

This same new moon of August 6 will help you with your pursuits to get a college education or advanced degree in the days that follow. If you are getting ready to go to campus, you are likely to love your college year ahead, for the new moon's fine aspects will color your entire semester school experience, not only the experiences you have in August. There won't be another new moon like this one in this part of your chart again until July 2014, so this new moon will be special. This new moon will also help you if you apply for a grant, or need to get ready to take a major test this month, like a bar exam or an entrance tests like the GRE.

If your birthday falls on December 7, or within four days of this date, you will feel this new moon in a very powerful way and do well with all that comes up. If you have Sagittarius rising at 15 degrees (or within five degrees) or a planet in Sagittarius, Aries, or Leo at this degree, you will benefit quite a bit.

You may also travel, this time a short distance, over the full moon, August 20, in Aquarius 28 degrees, plus or minus four days. This means you may be going away over the weekend of August 17-18, or August 24-26. Can't decide? I like August 24-25, with you leaving Friday night, August 23. That full moon will be conjunct Neptune, so you may decide to go to a place near water, a good idea. Saturn will be in the neighborhood and close enough to beam stability to this full moon.

The third house where all the action will be based near August 20 also rules contracts, so you may be asked to sign papers near this date. I worry that Neptune is so prominent, for it means either that a certain unclear clause may cause problems later, or that a clause about a certain contingency that no one thought to add would become problematic later, because no one would know what the intent of the contract was for both parties.

Of course, it's also possible that someone will deliberately leave out information about the deal prior to your signing, but I don't even think about this possibility. It IS possible. I feel you should go slowly, and ask lots of questions. Have your lawyer look at any papers you sign. I feel you should table the signing until the new moon in Virgo on September 5, a beautifully aspected new moon. A new moon in Virgo will help you ferret out any detail that would be amiss. Don't rush!

If your birthday falls on December 20, or within five days of this date, you will feel the full moon quite directly and likely benefit from it. This would also be true if you have Sagittarius rising at 28 degrees, or a planet in very late degrees (near 28 degrees) of Sagittarius, Aries, or Leo, or very early degrees (near 0 to 3 degrees) of Capricorn, Virgo, or Taurus.

Once Venus enters Libra on August 16, you will have this love goddess' support until September 10, just in time to select new things to buy for the coming season. It's always a good idea to see about refreshing your look when Venus shines her shimmering beams your way - and that's as true for men as well as women.

Over the weekend of August 3-4, love will be in the air, when the Sun and Uranus will be beautifully angled. Because Uranus is in your house of true love, and the Sun will be touring your house of long distance travel, you may spontaneously decide to go somewhere far, either immediately or very soon.

A bad day for love will be August 26, when Venus in Libra will oppose Uranus in Aries. Do not bring up any controversial subjects on this day - keep things calm. Fortunately this is a Monday, a less likely day for a romantic night out.

Once Mars enters Leo on August 27, to stay until October 15, you will be in extra good shape for all the emphasis you noticed in the days that spun from the new moon, August 6 will become front and center again - travel and your pursuit for a higher educational degree. Legal matters will tend to go your way as well, not only court cases, but also new contractual matters, and applications such as for a trademark or patent should go well, too.

The month ends on a sensational note involving your career. When Mercury, which rules your solar tenth house of fame and honors, contacts Jupiter, August 29-30, you'll be due to hear VERY good news. If you are on vacation, you may miss this news, but if you have planned to go away, then stay powered up and ready to respond to news. This breakthrough could be major, and well beyond a simple text - you need to talk to the person who will be trying to reach you!

There is nothing like a long trip to make Sagittarius happy, so August should be one of your favorite months of 2013. The new moon August 6 will bring lots of reasons to go, for fun, to do research, or conduct a negotiation for a business project. This new moon is in perfect angle to surprise-a-minute Uranus, so you may go away spontaneously. Later, you may travel again, this time several days circling the full moon, August 20, plus or minus four days. It seems you'll be pulled toward going to a town nearby, most likely near water, to relax, visit family, or to view real estate that you may be interested in buying or renting next month.

Financially, things are going incredibly well, and although your boss or client may be complaining about not having the budget to give you a salary increase, you seem to have the edge here, so press for money from a different area, from a bonus, or better commission rate. You seem to have high expenses this month too, but those will only fuel your determination to speak up and get the additional cash you need. As long as you remain realistic about what you can and can't get from your client / boss, you will likely be happy with the result.

Mars (here, symbolizing animal magnetism) will be in fellow fire sign Leo on August 27 and will remain there until mid-October. Meanwhile, Venus, the planet of love and grace, will amp up your charm and allure once in Libra from August 16 to September 10. Venus and Mars, working together, will make the end of August through early September your best time for love. Mars will also make you more assertive in personal matters, a good thing, for you won't sit by waiting for someone to call or discover you - you will go out more, and that's when things will start to happen.

The new moon on August 6 plus two weeks will be one of your favorite periods of the year. Falling in Leo, it will let you take a long distance trip or have you begin a legal or educational matter. All things should go well for you under this new moon.

August 7 brings your ruler opposite Pluto. Reassess a project you started back on December 2007. If you did not start something then, you may be in a tough negotiation on this day. You can always break talks and resume them later in the week.

The entry of Mars to Leo will help you travel far and wide for a longer period, from August 27 until October 15. Mars in Leo will help you on all sorts of levels - it marks the start of a good period for you.

If you have to sign a contract near August 20, you can do so as Mercury is no longer retrograde. Neptune will be active, however, so make sure you go over the small print with your lawyer. I suggest you do so on or after the new moon September 5.