OMSTROLOGY: AUGUST 16TH - 22ND

Aries

Retrograde activity increases even further this week - and we are still not at the maximum for the year. From the 20th onwards 50% of the planets are retrograde. (In September the percentage will rise even further). So, patience, patience, patience. Rush will not make things go faster. Still some nice things are happening. Venus moves into your 7th house on the 16th showing a love interest for singles. Social grace is always important in your financial life, but after the 16th even more so. Likeability trumps everything else. The unemployed have many job opportunities this week - especially on the 18th and 19th. This is still a good week to achieve work goals - to do those boring jobs that you keep putting off. Venus has her solstice from the 16th to the 19th. This brings a pause in love and finance and then a change of direction.

Taurus

Life slows down now with an increase in retrograde activity but you handle it better than most. You’re naturally a patient person. Health improves on the 23rd, but its good to stay on top of things. With Venus, your health planet, in your 6th house from the 16th onwards, you’re on the case. Health should be good. You’re in a fun period of life right now and it will get stronger on the 23rd. Make sure to do a few joyful things every day (the more the better). The financial intuition is excellent on the 18th and 19th. On the 24th and 25th intuition needs more verification. The 18th and 19th are good love and social days - but your love planet is still retrograde. Enjoy it for what it is. Venus’ solstice from the 16th to the 19th shows a pause at work and then a change of direction.

Gemini

Now that Jupiter is out of your 10th house the focus should be on the home and family. This will get even stronger from the 23rd onwards. Time to build the emotional underpinnings for success these days. Health needs watching now, so as always make sure to get enough rest. Enhance the health with back and knee massage - if you’re out in the Sun use a good sunscreen. Avoid making major changes to the diet or health regime now - though you’re sorely tempted. Your health planet is still retrograde. Changes need a lot more study. The 16th and 17th are good love and social days. The 18th and 19th bring friendships. The 21st brings financial increase.

Cancer

Short term financial goals are more or less achieved and on the 23rd you’re ready to focus on intellectual interests. The mind is sharp and absorbs information easily. The 18th, 19th and 20th are good love and social days - especially the 20th. The 21st brings financial increase and perhaps a job opportunity if you want it. Venus has her solstice from the 16th to the 19th. So there is a pause in your family affairs (and perhaps in your approach to emotional therapy) and then a change of direction. This is a healthy pause. There is a romantic meeting on the 21st but it seems uneasy. You’re close to the beloved but he or she seems cold. Its just a matter of different temperaments.

Leo

A prosperous week ahead. Your money house is chock full of planets. On the 23rd the Sun enters the money house and you begin a yearly financial peak. Mercury, your financial planet has been in the money house since August 12. This is a lot of financial power. Don’t be alarmed by an apparent stasis in the career. Your career planet, Venus, is having her solstice from the 16th to the 19th. This is a healthy pause. It signals a change of direction. Also it brings refreshment. All the planets related to love are retrograde this week. Both of the occupants of your 7th house have been retrograde for many, many weeks. Uranus, your love planet goes retrograde on the 20th. So be patient in love. Review your love life and see where improvements can be made. Then when the planets move forward you can move forward along with them.

Virgo

This is not an especially social week. Your love planet is retrograde and your 1st house is chock full of planets. This is a “me-oriented” kind of week. Personal independence is strong and you don’t feel that you need anybody. A good week (especially after the 23rd) to make the changes that need to be made for your personal happiness. You have much cosmic support. See to your own happiness and there will be more happiness in the world. Mars in your sign for some weeks now is excellent for exercise regimes, sports and detox regimes. It can, however, make you combative and argumentative - this is another problem in love. The 22nd and 23rd are the best love days of the week, but again, you’re more interested in yourself.

Libra

You’re still in a strong spiritual period which will get even stronger on the 23rd. Focus on your spiritual practice, spiritual growth and idealistic activities. As you do this you will find love as well. Whether you’re in a relationship or not this is a time to surrender the lover life to the Divine and let it handle things. You will be amazed at what happens. Though your financial planet Pluto is still retrograde, this is a good financial week. He receives much positive stimulation and cosmic support. Perhaps the financial increase will not be as large as if he were moving forward, but it will be enough for you. Venus’ solstice from the 16th to the 19th shows a pause in your personal affairs - a healthy pause. On the 19th she changes direction and so do you. Venus’ moves into your sign on the 16th. Personal beauty and glamor are increased.

Scorpio

Career goals - the short term ones at least - are more or less achieved this week and your focus shifts to friendships and the social life. The fruits of success manifest as the kind of people you associate with. You’re associating with successful and powerful people. Venus’ solstice from the 16th to the 19th shows a pause in the love life. Don’t be alarmed by this. You haven’t lost it and there’s nothing wrong with you. A change of direction in love is happening. Venus moves into your spiritual 12th house on the 16th. So love is more idealistic and spiritual these days. Romantic opportunities happen in spiritual settings or perhaps a charity event.

Sagittarius

Career is the main headline this week. Your 10th house is chock full of planets (and benefic ones). Your home and family planet is retrograde and the 4th house is significantly weaker than it was in July. So home and family issues need time to resolve. There’s no “quickie” solution here. You may as well focus on your career. A parent or parent figure seems very stressed out these days. Not much can be done about it. Your emotional life could be better as well. Meditation will help with these issues. The 16th and 17th are high points of the month. The Moon is moving through your sign. The 18th and 19th are monthly financial peaks. Earning power is stronger. (The Moon also boosts the career those days).

Capricorn

The week ahead seems happy and prosperous. Many planets in earth signs signal good health and energy. The 18th and 19th as the Moon moves through your sign brings love and social opportunity, improved health and energy, self esteem and self confidence. The 20th is another happy day as it brings love and increased earnings. The Full Moon of the 21st occurs in your money house and is a fabulous financial day. (It also occurs near Jupiter increasing the earnings even more). A pause in your career activities from the 16th to the 19th should not alarm you. Your career planet is having her solstice. A change in career direction is happening. And you will pursue it with more vigor.

Aquarius

The Full Moon of the 21st occurs in your sign - a great day. Health is improved. The personal appearance shines. Work opportunities can come (if you want them). Finances are a bit stressful this week, but the 22nd and 23rd alleviate things. Your love planet, the Sun, moves into your 8th house on the 23rd. So love becomes more erotic. It is the sexual magnetism that is the main attraction for singles. Your 8th house is strong anyway. So there are other things that are favorable aside from Eros. It is good for financial planning - especially tax and insurance planning. For those of appropriate age it is good for estate planning. Best of all it is good for giving birth to the person you want to be and to the love life that you want to have.

Pisces

Health needs a lot more watching this week - especially after the 23rd. Your focus on health the past few weeks will stand you in good stead now. You are in a strong love and social period with many, many opportunities. The problem in love - as it has been for some months now - is you. The opportunities are there but you don’t know what you want. This is a week to be more focused on others - to cultivate the social graces and let other have their way - so long as it isn’t destructive. Enhance the health with chest massage and massage of the heart reflex until the 23rd. After the 23rd massage the lower abdomen and the small intestine reflex.

For more information on astrology and metaphysical subjects visit the author’s web site - www.spiritual-stories.com