Leo (July 23 to Aug. 22)

“There are two ways of spreading light:

To be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”

— Edith Wharton Hello 2014! This year is the beginning of a good run for you. Recently, there were residential moves and job changes. Actually, these were a consequence of something that took place around 2003-04, which was just before you began a new path around 2005-06. Your home scene expanded around 2006, and by 2009 partnerships improved. Then some exciting opportunities arrived in 201011, giving you a chance to expand your world through publishing, travel, the media, medicine, the law or higher education. However, last year something triggered a deeper interest in spiritual matters while big changes with debt, taxes and shared property started to liberate you and make you feel freer. This newfound freedom also applies to your job. You’re starting to feel on top of your game and this is as it should be because in 2014 lucky moneybags Jupiter returns to Leo to stay for a year. Mars Attacks! Mars is usually in one sign for six weeks but this time it is in one sign for eight months. For Leo, this is good news. It will superboost your physical vitality and help you to work hard and accomplish lots. For most of this year, you’ll feel vigorous and confident. You will project your ideas both writing and speaking, which means you’ll be more persuasive. Mars will also help you achieve your objectives or get your way with others. This same energy favours business negotiations. If you need to sell an idea — you can do it. Avoid arguments or coming on too strong.

Money — the Second Most Important Thing

Read Mars Attacks! again to appreciate the energy, drive, confidence and strong communication abilities you will have this year. You will be committed, driven, forceful, vigorous and self-confident. This is a great year for those who sell, market, write, edit, teach, act and drive for a living; plus Mars will help you deal with authority figures. Something you began around seven years ago is now being tested. Whatever isn’t working will fall by the wayside. Wait until your birthday to make a move to expand your business or do something bold and new. In late July, lucky moneybags Jupiter moves into your sign for the first time since 200203 to stay for a year. This happens only once every 12 years, so capitalize on this good fortune. You gave up a lot around 2003, and in 2005, you began a journey of reinventing yourself. This journey is now complete, which is why you will start to reach for new dreams and objectives. This is a time of new beginnings where you will start to move upward in terms of outward success.

Love is Chemistry, Sex is Physics

Several influences affect your romantic relationships and partnerships this year. One of them encourages a deeper interest in your inner world and spiritual values, which will affect your style of relating to others. You will be more self-aware and less likely to be at the mercy of knee-jerk reactions. You will be more inclined to pause and take the high road to deal with a moment of frustration. Meanwhile, Mars will energize your sex drive because in astrology, one of the areas Mars governs is sex. So your sex drive will be strong this year plus you will be more conciliatory and reasonable when offended. And finally, you have the fabulous blessing of Jupiter in your sign from July onward. This will make you happier, optimistic and able to attract good fortune easily. Home Suite Home Last year an important influence began to affect your home and family and it will last until 2015. For example, it forces you to do major repairs and renovations. Some of you will play the role of parent to someone. Basically, the journey of reinventing yourself, which began in 2004-05 is completed, which means it’s time to go forth and deal with success in an external way. You are not who you were in 2002. But before you move on, you must secure your home base. Significant changes within the family are taking place. Even if you moved during 2011-2012, you might move again or do repairs. Interaction with family members will be vigorous because Mars fuels your communications. By your birthday, lucky Jupiter enters your sign increasing your happiness and optimism, which, in turn, helps all family dealings. Jupiter also attracts favourable circumstances to you.

A Sneak Peek beyond 2014

This year is a turning point for you, a new beginning. In many ways you are a “new person” so it is logical for you to wonder what’s ahead. Lucky Jupiter blesses you well in 2015. And after that, for the next 18 months, it will boost your income. The year 2018 will bring real-estate opportunities plus a happier, and perhaps expanded, family. A great vacation in 2019 is in the works and by 2021, you will receive kudos for the accomplishments that your hard work will achieve in the next seven years.

Your Leo Mantra for 2014

“When my home base is secure, I can conquer the world.”

Mercury Retrograde in 2014

Expect delays, lost items and confused communications! Best to finish things, not begin them. These are poor times to buy cars, trucks, bikes, computers, printers and phones. (Dates below are actual retrograde dates and buffer dates. Mercury slows down before it goes retrograde and, likewise, it takes a while to catch up to the degree it was at when it first went retrograde. Use buffer times for big purchases like cars.)

Feb. 6 to Feb. 28 (Buffer times: Feb. 2 to March 20)

June 7 to July 1 (Buffer times: May 28 to July 16)

Oct. 4 to Oct. 26 (Buffer times: Sept. 25 to Nov. 10) Lucky Days for 2014 Jan. 16, 17, 18 Feb. 12, 13, 14 March 11, 12, 13 April 8, 9, 10 May 5, 6, 7 June 1,2, 3, 29, 30 July 26, 27, 28 Aug. 22, 23, 24 Sept. 18, 19, 20 Oct. 16, 17, 18 Nov. 12, 13, 14 Dec. 9, 10, 11

Who Shares My Birthday? July 23 Daniel Radcliffe 1989 24 Elisabeth Moss 1982 25 Iman 1955 26 Sandra Bullock 1964 27 Jack Higgins 1929 28 Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis 1929 29 Josh Radnor 1974 30 Lisa Kudrow 1963 31 B. J. Novak 1979 August 1 Kris Holden-Ried 1973 2 Peter O’Toole 1932 3 Hannah Simone 1980 4 Maurice “Rocket” Richard 1921 5 Jesse Williams 1981 6 Lucille Ball 1911 7 Sidney Crosby 1987 8 Roger Federer 1981 9 Eric Bana 1968 10 Suzanne Collins 1962 11 Chris Messina 1974 12 Mary Roberts Rinehart 1876 13 Alfred Hitchcock 1899 14 Mila Kunis 1983 15 Jennifer Lawrence 1990 16 George Stroumboulopoulos 1972 17 Sean Penn 1960 18 Patrick Swayze 1952 19 Kyra Sedgwick 1965 20 Meghan Ory 1982 21 M. M. Kaye 1908 22 Ty Burrell 1967