You will love August. What is coming is a good strong month, brimming with happy days because of friendly planets. Gone are the earlier days of 2016 when retrograde planets acted like little gremlins to set up as many obstacles as possible each month. If you think back, the month of May might have been one of the most challenging months, where you might have seen projects go one step forward and two steps back. At that time, five out of eight planets were retrograde, so the world – and you – spent your time looking back, not forward, for that is what you should do when planets go out of phase.

Actually, going back to previously done work is not a bad idea. I like the idea of having more time to tweak a project – rushing rarely creates insightful ideas, high-level innovation, or awe-inspiring creativity. Everyone needs time to think before acting, but thinking takes time – and is invisible. Managers wrongly assume you might be doing nothing when in fact you are doing the most vital part of your job – meditating about it.

Now your waiting is over. Mars was a big player in the frustration of the past months, for he has been weak and in retrograde most of the year, even before he turned officially retrograde April 17 and went direct June 29. Mars’ job is to give energy and drive, courage and passion for all that you put your mind to do. You spent the first part of 2016 preparing for the fun part, the second half of 2016. (That’s why I called my book “The Year Ahead Forecast for 2016 into 2017” – I didn’t want to dwell on the first part of the year! Mars acts like a little booster rocket, a rocket that brings the big rocket into the stratosphere, and once there, and in good orbit, Mars drops away, salutes the astronaut of the big rocket ship, and moves on to his next assignment. He is not needed anymore.

Like most people when they awaken, they need a cup of coffee and a little warm-up to get going. Mars is the same way. He may have gone direct June 29, but it will still take Mars until August 22 to be as powerful as Batman.

Mars is now traveling through your twelfth house of solitude and preparations. You seem to be working hard on a project that is not quite ready to show the world. That will happen at the end of next month when Mars enters Capricorn for the first time in two years, September 27 to November 8. By then, Mars will be restored to full, robust power (actually as said, by August 22 this month), so you will have a clear road to forge forward. Save your biggest initiations for the end of September. September 27 will be very special, for it falls after the luckiest day of the year, and there will still be glow in those embers!

More good news is that your ruling planet, Saturn, which has been retrograde since March 25, will go direct on August 13. This is really good news, because when your ruler awakens, it is in a position to help you more effectively than it was when retrograde, which is a kind of sleep state. Whenever a big planet goes from retrograde to direct (as it will August 13), watch what kind of news you get – it should be uplifting. When a big planet turns, it always gives a clue of what’s to come. Give August 13 a plus or minus two days.

Think back to what happened on or within two days of March 25, the date nearly five months ago that might have felt like a setback. Look at your email to follow the breadcrumbs and see what happened. This month, August 13 and days near it should bring happy news.

On August 1, the Sun and Saturn will be in magnificent harmony, suggesting that any important move you make at that time will go well. If you want to have something last a very long time, act on August 1, when Saturn will bring his gifts of longevity. On the same day, Venus will receive electric signals from Uranus from your home sector, suggesting news about incoming money to you will be very promising.

The new moon, August 2, in Leo, 11 degrees, comes next, and that will encourage even more income. I know – this is amazing! The actions you should take at this time will be money you see as a result of a commission, royalty, licensing fee, pension, scholarship or university financial aid, a line of credit, a bank loan, and other such outside income. The eight houses generally rules money that requires more cash than the typical person is able to save and thereby gets it from a bank, family, or other source. A new moon is influential for ten days, so the seeds you plant during those days will be potent. Get ready quickly to take full advantage of this unusually friendly new moon. Saturn is still in the wings, watching, hoping to take good care of you and also send more of his vibrations to make you feel settled, secure, and calm.

There’s more! Your finances should bring exceptionally good news on August 16 when the Sun and Uranus, planet of sudden surprises, will be in ideal alignment. Uranus rules your second house of earned income, and the Sun rules your house of commission, bonus, company benefits, and other side income. Money will pour in for work done earlier, and you’ll be thrilled. You certainly will be a money magnet this month.

Uranus RULES your second house of income, but Uranus is TRAVELING through your fourth house of home, so both houses will be linked. This tells me you may get good news regarding a home-related situation, say in terms of buying, selling, leasing property, in regard to renovations, repairs, buying or selling furniture, or in regard to finding a roommate or tenant, as some examples. All these areas will be lucky for you. Also, if you have been concerned about a parent’s health or welfare, August 16 may bring a solution, for parents are found as part of the fourth house of home too.

The full moon on August 18 in Aquarius 26 degrees that will light your eighth house of money too, only this time it will be the house of other people’s money, covering not money you earn week-to-week (like the new moon will activate August 2), but rather money that comes in one large chunk. This might be a loan or newly approved mortgage, a student loan approval, or a large payout from an insurance company for your claim. If you had asked for a raise earlier (weeks ago) but had not heard back yet, you will likely get news back, and like what you are told. Fingers crossed, dear Capricorn.

Again surprise-a-minute Uranus will be prominent at this full moon because it will contact the full moon and bring a surprise. The moon rules your partnerships in business and in terms of your romantic partner, so you may find that your financial gain comes through your spouse or a business partnership. As I said earlier, this month money will find a way to your door!

All these dates are very positive for your income. Now we come to two sparkling, rare dates that will occur at the latter part of August. You need to have a little background before I get into those two dates, August 22 and August 27, so before I describe here is what you need to know.

Jupiter, the giver of gifts and luck, has been touring Virgo, a sign that is wildly compatible with yours, since August 2015. Virgo is an earth sign, and you are an earth sign, and that is why Jupiter has been so good for you over the past twelve months. Jupiter is getting ready to leave Virgo on September 9 after a thirteen-month stay, not to return for twelve years in this part of your chart. Jupiter, the great planet of good fortune, spends approximately one year in each sign, so all signs have to share him!

As Jupiter packs his bags and gets ready to say goodbye from Virgo and your ninth house, many of the other little planets are planning a blowout going-away party for him. The two shimmering aspects I am going to tell you about is part of that celebration. The ninth house, where Jupiter has been based over the past year, rules long-distance travel, higher education, distant relocation, publishing and broadcasting ventures, and the courts and the legal system. These areas have shined for you, but if you feel they’ve been good but not good enough, you will now get a second chance to benefit.

On August 22, Mercury (news, travel, communication of all kind, including writing, speaking, editing, and so forth) will conjunct Jupiter, giver of gifts and luck. This will happen in the ninth house, and all the areas that I have referred to above in the preceding paragraph. This would be a great day to hand in your manuscript if you hope to have your book published or screenplay produced. It would be a heavenly day to travel abroad to an exciting city that you’ve never seen. Jupiter not only brings opportunity but also the means to take advantage of the opportunity, so you are likely to find a bargain package too sweet to resist. You might choose this day to give a speech, to have an interview with a college you hope to attend, or to send in your patent or trademark to the courts.

Mercury is TRAVELING in your ninth house, but is the natural ruler of your sixth house of health and work – both will see an upturn. Make a doctor’s appointment on August 22, or start a new project on this day – it looks like it will be fun to do and you’ll wow the client or your boss.

The other date I want you to watch is August 27, when Venus and Jupiter will conjoin. Keep in mind that Jupiter is still in the highly compatible sign of Virgo (until September 9), so although he will help all the readers of every sign, you are in line to reap some of the biggest benefits. Make August 22 work for you!

On August 27, Venus will align with Jupiter in your ninth house, again emphasizing luck and happiness in foreign travel and through your efforts to get an advanced degree. Back in 2004, Venus and Jupiter were supposed to meet in Virgo, but instead these two elegant planets skipped ahead to meet in Libra. I had to look all the way back to August 23, 1992, to find the date when Venus and Jupiter last aligned in Virgo! An aspect this rare is always special. Romance should bloom all month for you (August 5-29), especially while traveling or studying on a college campus on August 27. This will be a Saturday, so give it a plus or minus two days.

There’s another bonus from this August 27 alignment. Venus rules the cusp of your solar chart, and one is your tenth house of fame and honors. As you get closer to August 27, you may hear of a promotion or new job offer, or that you brought in a great talent or client to your company. This date, plus or minus two days, has the power to raise your status in your industry. Look your best and don’t be away from the office on August 27. If you must be, hopefully your cell phone will be powered up and you’ll be somewhere you can get email, texts, and calls. Your career is about to skyrocket, and this will only be the first clue! More news about these topics will come in late September, and what is to come may represent the frosting on the cake.

Venus also rules your fifth house of true love, so this may be quite a romantic date, where if you are single, you may meet someone new and intriguing, or if you have been dating, where exciting plans for the future are cooked up. If you want a baby, this day, August 27, may bring great news about a pregnancy or the actual birth. Conception, pregnancy, and birth are all covered by the fifth house. Another part of life is also ruled by this house – your creativity. On this day you may think of an idea that has outstanding profit potential. August 27 will be mighty special!

I had mentioned that this would be a huge blowout party for Jupiter, and the final guest coming – along with the Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter – will be the magnificent new moon, arriving as a solar eclipse, September 1, also in Virgo. Again your ninth house will be activated, the area of your chart I have been discussing intensely concerning Jupiter’s travels through this house. You have quite an active month!

One last note: Get as much done as you can this month, for September might be a bit problematic. Mercury in Virgo is about to retrograde, from August 30 to September 21. Everyone of every sign will experience delays and obstacles that we will have to work though. If you need a computer or a new smart phone, a digital kitchen appliance, or any other electronic item, either buy it early in August, or wait until the last week of September. Mercury rules the moving parts of all machines, all the electrical impulses in digital appliances. If you do buy during Mercury retrograde, you will have buyer’s remorse, so smart and buy that product now. August 16 would be an especially good day, as Uranus will be signaling the Sun, favoring all new inventions and the digital world. If you want to put up a new website, the same advice applies, as Mercury rules communication, and when retrograde, communication is garbled.

You have a wonderful month in August, for the planets will be acting in a very supportive, friendly way. Next month brings all kinds of changes due to the eclipses, September 1 (new moon solar eclipse in Virgo) and September 16 (a full moon lunar eclipse in Pisces), and it seems the changes wrought will be ones you’ll be glad to see.

In case you assume nothing much happens in August, think again. It is true that people do go on vacation, but you have a great deal of emphasis on money this month. First, the new moon August 2 will have you thinking about money you owe others and money others might owe or give you. The house being lit up rules other people’s money, so it’s very possible you will now apply for a loan, mortgage, refinancing plan, or university financial aid. Or, you may put in a claim for medical or homeowners or renters insurance. By all means, make out applications and send them in.

This new moon will be filled with financial opportunity. Saturn, your ruler, will be in fine angle to this new moon, so this makes it a perfect time to be focused on money. If you are seeking funding, you should be encouraged by the answers you get, and if you owe money, such as for taxes or student loans, you can work out a payment plan that suits your needs. The outcome of actions you take within ten days that follow this new moon August 2 will make you feel more secure and settled for the entire year to come, thanks to Saturn – venture forth. If you are in the process of a divorce and need to find a fair division of property, this new moon will open the door to a settlement that will be agreeable to both sides.

A bigger financial moment will occur at the full moon August 18, which will switch your attention to your salary and savings. A financial matter is reaching a final point, and once that conclusion is reached, you will be able to close that chapter. It appears a new source of income may suddenly appear, too. The planet of unexpected developments, Uranus, will be active and friendly, so you might hear that you are getting a raise or find other ways you can boost your income. There is a very strong indication that you may sell property at this point, or sell contents of a house – yours or someone else’s, such as that of a relative. Or, if you hope to buy furniture or other items for your home, you may find a bargain in August. Opportunity will arrive in a very offhand, unusual way. Indeed, you may find you are at the right place at the right time, with all the right qualifications to take advantage of all.

Don’t push too hard on August 24, when Mars will meet Saturn toe-to-toe. Protect your teeth and bones on this day too by watching where you walk, and keeping hallways and stairways clear and well lit. Also don’t chomp on anything that could harm your tooth enamel, including crunching on ice or hard candy. Doing so could prove expensive to fix if you damage a tooth.

If you are graduating this month, it appears you may get honors at your commencement ceremony. Travel abroad would be outstanding for you if you were away during the week that holds August 22, when Mercury and Jupiter will conjoin for the first time this year. This is a golden, rare day, and because these two planets will fall in Virgo, an earth sign like yours, so you will get a double dip of pleasure. You can alternatively apply this aspect to succeed in other academic goals, such as to defend your thesis or to score a breakthrough in the media, as the subject of a big story, or as the journalist / producer of one.

As a Capricorn, you care about your reputation, and you need to see steady career progress. For that reason, month’s end should bring good news – the alignment of Venus, ruler of your tenth house of honors, achievement, and fame, governing popularity and profit, awards and achievement, will link to good fortune Jupiter on August 26-27. These are outstanding days for opportunity to come up – take seriously any and all offers.

Finish talks as soon as you can in August – Mercury will retrograde August 30 to September 21. You might want to vacation during this time – everyone will miss you, but you’ll be having the time of your life.