Horoscopes

Leo Jul 24 - Aug 23

Roll out the long red carpet, uncork the sparkling wine and sound the trumpets, please – it’s Leo birthday time! To a backing track of “simply the best, better than all the rest”, August ensures your majesties are the epicentre of attention, strutting your stuff and shaking your mane (yes, your hair is looking fabulous). The annual new moon in Leo on August 8 sashays down the astral catwalk with permission to shamelessly self-promote. And Mercury in your sign until mid-month deals you the charm card, though you’ll need to back your enthusiasm with well-researched facts and a workable plan. Also, take care not to over-promise.

Virgo Aug 24 - Sep 23

Affectionate Venus and sexy Mars doing a pas de deux in your stylish sign for the first half of August gives you the X factor (just don’t mention this to Leos). When Mercury moves into Virgo around mid-month, keep in mind most humans aren’t ruled as much by reason as by personal preference. There’s no need to sweep the downside of situations under the rug, but pointing out people’s faults isn’t usually the best way to motivate them. Well-intended feedback could be taken the wrong way this month, so use your fine critical faculties to distinguish between minor concerns and real deal-breakers.

Libra Sep 24 - Oct 23

Energetic Mars is in Marie Kondo mode this month (MK is a Libran), which makes August your key time for decluttering, space clearing, budgets, spreadsheets and flowcharts. But life isn’t all timelines and to-do lists when beauty queen Venus swans into her zodiac ‘home sweet home’, Libra the love sign. You’re also winning awards in the creative chops department; scoring gold in the flirting Olympics. This month’s astral mandate couldn’t be more aptly expressed than by Libran author Ursula K. Le Guin: “Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone; it has to be made, like bread, remade all the time, made new.”

Scorpio Oct 24 - Nov 22

As the romantic antics of August exercise your theatrical talents to the max, admiring fans might find you so dramatically attractive that small acts of humility may be necessary to counteract ego-inflation. While the bright side of this month ignites some exciting entrepreneurial ideas, its shadow aspects can be volatile, argumentative, judgemental and rigidly opinionated. Be very cautious about overcommitting, and should people pry into your personal life or invade your boundaries (so not your favourite thing), advise them as kindly as you can what’s not up for discussion. Resist using the sting.

Sagittarius Nov 23 - Dec 21

Look who’s thinking big, spending generously and attracting a crowd with their flamboyant presence and entertaining ways! Though, be advised you’re playing with fire in this combustible month of dramatic reactions and egos on parade. A depletion in energy is common when your ruling planet is retrograde, so with Jupiter hibernating in your communication sector, factor in downtime and think things through before discussing serious topics. Speaking impulsively could backfire … do you really want to spend time and energy on damage control?

Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 20

Capricorns are known for their expertise in sorting problems, and this month’s astro pattern helps you turn them into triumphs with your signature style. August’s swirling social cornucopia offers opportunities to evolve new ways of expanding business, while also working the room. But such inflationary astrology has a tendency to make major productions out of micro-dramas, so stay away from that play. Is someone talking up a big game or pitching a grandiose idea? If it sounds too good to be true, August’s star map says it probably is.

Aquarius Jan 21 - Feb 19

Expect plenty of exciting enterprises and exhilarating potential on this month’s Aquarian storyboard. But August’s vibes are quite fixed, and when the planets dig in their heels, humans tend to follow suit. If others are too strongly committed to their own agendas, don’t join them. With your ruler, Uranus, heading into the astral equivalent of a five-month lockdown, financial realities could shift suddenly, so stay flexible with changing conditions. Look to the rare second consecutive Aquarius full moon on August 22 for innovative solutions and new ways of operating.

Pisces Feb 20 - Mar 20

There is high-voltage energy zapping about during August, which, combined with unrealistic expectations and escalating expenses, could make a messy mix. Fortunately, some Virgo-style energy kicks in to tidy up as the month progresses. August’s wildfire strikes of inspiration pose the following questions: What in your life are you most proud of? Where are you best able to be a leader? Is there something you’ve been aching to ask for: a raise; greater personal or artistic freedom; better conditions? The celestial force is with you this month to speak up and out.

Aries Mar 21 - Apr 21

If August gets your hormones in an uproar, aim for a warm flame effect, rather than the human equivalent of a nuclear explosion. While this month’s courageous concepts and grand plans may not immediately attract a green light and solid backing, never underestimate the power of a lit fuse and slow burn. Little things mean a lot right now: of fuss and bother if you don’t attend to them; appreciation and reciprocation if you do. Though, in business concerns, since you can be generous to a fault, don’t embark on anything new by undercharging.

Taurus April 22 - May 21

August’s fixed-sign vibes can aggravate your natural stubbornness – there’s no way around it. Or is there? Yes, by staying negotiable. While citizens can be demanding and self-centred this month, getting your mind in a huff and your fur in a fluff only guarantees a trip to the no-fun zone. When cosmic coquette Venus shimmies into her happy place around the middle of the month, you’ll suddenly feel like everyone is flirting with you. In this position, Lady V loves playing dress-ups, wants to make everything beautiful and insists you leave comfort clobber in the closet and start styling up.

Gemini May 22 - Jun 22

This month’s energy injection could set you off like a sparkler into outrageous party mode. It’s a demon socialising time, which segues into a creative phase where some of Gemini’s less exercised talents can successfully flower. With six outer planets – Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto, Saturn, Uranus and Chiron – all in retrograde, the whole world is in the process of slowing down to recalibrate and reset our entire way of being. While it might feel like a power outage, the paradoxical gift of such a weighty planetary pause is it opens up a portal for that special thing you’ve always wanted to have a go at.

Cancer Jun 23 - Jul 23

The month of the Lion’s fiery drive adds a dose of outgoing oomph to your personal fortune cookie, luring you from the comfort zone to wider horizons beyond the Crab cave. The new moon on August 8 encourages expanding your thinking, because right now the fates just aren’t inclined to co-operate with any ordinary wish list. If you’ve been going nowhere with tried-and-true recipes, the full moon on August 22 suggests trying a radically different approach from a totally new perspective. Staying open to unexpected offers and changing your daily routine and habits will refresh your mojo.