Tip of the Week: What a powerful seed day! On August 20, Venus and Mars will be conjunct. On the same day Mercury turns Retrograde and the Sun in Leo is in exact opposition to Neptune. The overall theme speaks of love and relationships, fairness and equality. Venus and Mars are the archetypal lovers and they are together in Libra, the sign of relationship and of balance. Neptune and the Sun in Opposition Aspect (180 degrees) negatively indicate confusion, denial, delusion and deception. At best, this aspect produces a new quality of awareness, mutual appreciation of each partner, conscious harmony and a communion of souls. Mercury retrograde negatively produces confusion in communication. At best, Mercury retrograde synchronizes with a deeper and more precise quality of thinking. Nature reveals a fundamental balance between male and female, like Yin and Yang and all other polarities. Can it be true that one is superior to the other? Reason and intuition say no! However, human civilization has produced a reality whereby there is an imbalance in our perceptions, beliefs and expressions. Male dominance has long asserted its superiority and humanity has suffered greatly for it and does to this day. This imbalance may be traced to the majority of problems in the world and may prove to be our ultimate demise. Equality between the sexes must occur and the planetary alignments are a promising opportunity to contribute to it.  So, set your intentions on this goal and pray for it in the world because life requires our conscious, co-creative participation.   Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 20) Taking your love to new places and perhaps to new heights is on your mind. What constitutes the need and quality of your love expressions depends on you. Perhaps it is finding an ideal mate or creating more harmony with your romantic partner. Alternately, it may be that desires to express your love through some form of art appeals to you. Either way, your commitment is required.     Taurus (Apr 20 – May 21) Healing, improving, repairing, refining – all these share something in common and represent a focus for you now. That the focus surrounds love and romance is likely. Again, whether it is a person or an activity, the quality of your expression is up for review and refinement. Staying focused on priorities stands to be your greatest challenge now. Concentrate!   Gemini (May 21 – Jun 21) Desires for love and affection are leading you to reflect and ponder. What is working and what is not? Where and when did problems begin? These and other such questions may be on your mind. Often the roots can be traced to childhood experiences and conditioning. Deep issues can be traced to past lives. Either way, you can direct your intention to realize understanding and healing.   Cancer (Jun 22 – Jul 22) Some times we move and shake, other times we are moved and shaken, and sometimes both. So which is it for you now? Something wants to give. You are wise to cooperate with big change now. Perhaps it is just what you want, or need. At worst, all your fears are up. This is where ‘The Power of Now’ can help. This does not mean disregard yesterday or tomorrow, just that you focus on now.   Leo (Jul 23 – Aug 23) You have taken new leads and now it is time to strengthen your overall foundation. Knowing clearly what you want to achieve will help a lot. Do you have a vision, a plan and a breakdown of goals? If not, it will be worth the effort. Be willing to cooperate with people and situations. It is likely that you need to make some important changes that include new knowledge.   Virgo (Aug 24 – Sep 22) The time has come to take some bold new initiatives. It is likely that your mood is pretty intense and your focus extra sharp. Expect this to continue. Staying ‘cool in the heat’, in all respects, will be an added challenge. You may well have to work extra hard to succeed now. Faithful perseverance may also be required. A new level of power is rising, yet you must earn it.   Libra (Sep 23 – Oct 22) A stressful cycle continues. You are eager to advance, yet you want to do so privately and/or on your own terms. This may also well prove to be an expansive time. Change in relationship and at home are influencing each other. You are in the mood to try new angles and modes of expression. Fortunately, there is reason to believe that you feel strong and are determined to succeed, if quietly.     Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21) Are you a mystic, or a dreamer, or in denial a deceiver? Nothing personal, self-deception of some kind is very common. This is so because of the complexity of our psychology and of the reality of belief-based selective perception. Now is a good time to take a closer look at yourself and your situation. It will prove practical for you to summon the courage to see your self and situation better.                                                        Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 21) A desire to break through somehow in your social, public and/or professional life is in the spotlight. The time has come to achieve goals that have been gestating for some time. In the short term, you may have to deal with confidence issues, perhaps especially linked to career, but any social activity qualifies here. Are you willing to redefine yourself? Are you able? If uncertain, seek assistance.   Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 19) The time of gathering your resources is drawing to a close. Soon you will be called to mark your target. Setting your sights clearly is often a challenge, and sometimes even more so, like now with Mercury Retrograde. Consider both the long and the short term perspective, but be careful not to confuse the two, as is more likely in this communications storm period. Think twice….   Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 19) Meeting new people in the midst of a soul searching journey is a tricky mix. You may prefer to listen much more than speak, at least over the next few weeks. Conserving your energy and even activating whatever extra reserves you may have feels right. This may include a desire to exercise more.  Like an arrow drawn and poised to fly, you likely feel the stress. ‘Calmness is power’.    Pisces (Feb 20 – Mar 20) A deep metamorphosis has begun. The shift may be subtle or obvious. Either way, things will not revert to ‘the way they were’. Your willingness to work with the process is ideal. You may be asked to move beyond existing relationships, whether personal or professional. Meeting people according to who they are, yet according to your truth as well, is among the challenges. Mind open, avoiding assumptions, you will prevail.