August is a favorite time of year for many Sagittarians, and rightly so. The Sun is in Leo, your adventurous and expansive ninth house. Your sign is the natural ruler of this zodiac zone, so you're at your outspoken and spirited best. On August 1, an Aquarius full moon in your communication house makes you all the more expressive, a veritable font of camera-worthy zingers, witty blog posts and novel ideas. This full moon could bring exciting news, so keep your smartphone within reach as the month begins. A conversation could lead to an exciting collaboration with someone whose skills complement yours. Be warned, o' brutally honest one: You don't want to open your mouth and taste shoe leather. Communication planet Mercury is retrograde (backward) in Leo until August 8 (a cycle that started on July 14). With the wrong crowd, your frankness could strike a sour note. Don't make your "big reveal" something you regret exposing. The August 17 Leo new moon is a much better time to leave it all on the dance floor, when the stars support your audacious ways. Speedy Mars and slowpoke Saturn meet in Libra mid-August, which can be a little confusing. Libra rules your group activity sector. You may be anxious to make a collaboration official, but at the same time, experiencing some reservations about the people involved or the group's mission. Perhaps you've been invited into an elite new "in crowd," but flattery aside, you're not sure if this is your tribe. (Cue The Clash: Should I stay or should I go?) Sags tend to shoot first and ask questions later, but that will backfire now. Keep exploring the opportunities, but don't make any promises until all your hesitations are addressed. On August 23, Mars moves into Scorpio, your twelfth house of rest and hidden agendas. You're not the suspicious type-if anything, you tend to be overly trusting-but you'll want to keep your guard up a bit more than usual between now and October 6. Toxic or untrustworthy types may be circling, wanting a piece of your spicy Sag action. With stressful Mars here, you may toss and turn at night or have intense dreams. Perhaps your subconscious is trying to tell you something, Sag. Pay attention-because it's not exactly being subtle. When the Sun enters Virgo for a month on August 22, you snap into business mode. Virgo rules your tenth house of career and long-term planning, so you might want to set a few goals for the rest of the year, or prioritize the ones you've got in motion. On August 31, the month ends with a second full moon-this one in Pisces, your home and family sector. Take a break and bond with your loved ones, do some late-summer nesting around the house or escape to the beach before the season ends. A pregnancy, or news of one, is possible. You may also have a powerful moment of female bonding, or join forces with a formidable woman. (Cue the Beyonce: Who run the world? Girls...girls!) It's been relationship high season for many Sagittarians-either starting anew or moving on in your love life. Romantic Venus has spent an unusually long cycle in Gemini, your commitment zone, visiting since April. For many Sagittarians, this helped you become more cooperative with your mate, or to open your heart if you're single. The plot twist: Venus was retrograde (backward) from May 15-June 27, so not every relationship survived the cosmic collateral damages. Sagittarius Katie Holmes filed for divorce from Tom Cruise right at the tail end of this cycle-talk about timing. On August 7, Venus departs Gemini, ending this long partnership cycle. Don't despair if you're still single and looking, Sag. Your ruling planet Jupiter is in Gemini from June 11, 2012-June 25, 2013, blessing you with a full year of luck in the romantic department. Jupiter is the sign of new horizons, cross-cultural connections and long-distance travel. You could meet someone from another background, relocate for love or find yourself attracted to a different type than usual. Open your mind...even wider than it already is. Venus will now visit Cancer, your eighth house of intimacy. This is where the rubber meets the road...and perhaps that pun is intended, as the eighth house rules sex, pregnancy and the merging of property. You could be moving in (or out) or enjoying a spicy late-summer fling. Meow! Just be mindful of who sweeps you away, Sag. From August 23-October 6, white-hot Mars is in Scorpio, your twelfth house of illusions and hidden agendas. A strong attraction could tempt coupled Sags to stray or single Archers to get caught up in the throes of a charming Svengali type. During this time, you may feel stressed out by a partner who's going through a hard time and seems extra-needy or emotionally draining. Watch those codependent tendencies. While you may need to scale back some of your social obligations before romance dies on the vine, you also can't stay home playing therapist and life coach. While you love to give advice, it can create an imbalanced dynamic in your relationship. Refer your boo to the professionals, and don't meddle. Mars in Scorpio could also bring out the snooper in you. Watch what you go looking for now, because you might find it...or you might just create a paranoid drama. If you suspect that your love interest isn't being totally upfront, try asking direct questions before you steal a password or break into a Facebook account. And at the end of the day, listen to your gut. If you simply can't trust someone's behavior enough to feel safe in a relationship, you may want to ask yourself why you're sticking around. Unless you're both equally committed to repairing a rift or maintaining the connection, you'll have a lopsided love affair on your hands, instead of a gratifying, mutual bond. You haven't rested much this year, but you get your chance-sort of-when energetic Mars slips into Scorpio from August 23-October 6. Scorpio rules your twelfth house of sleep, closure and the subconscious. You may find it hard to get into action or that your energy reserves are temporarily drained. Mars is pushing you to focus more on your inner life-spirituality, creativity, unexamined feelings. You may even be grieving a loss or a situation in your life that didn't go as planned. Allow yourself to do this now, because when Mars enters Sagittarius in October, you'll be busier than ever. If you're feeling creatively blocked or just confused, pick up Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way. Her prescribed practice of "morning pages"-three sheets of uncensored free-writing per day-can be especially helpful now. On August 31, the Pisces full moon spotlights a home or family matter. Anything from a pregnancy to a move to an extreme home makeover is possible now. This is a time to connect with the most nurturing people in your life, be they your actual relatives or a supportive posse of friends. A child may need your attention, so take this end-of-summer moment to clear your schedule and devote quality time to an impressionable young person. Your mother or a female relative may also play a role in events near this full moon. Your gift of gab is pure gold as the month begins. On August 1, an Aquarius full moon in your communication house could bring exciting news or a chance to spread your message. This full moon forms an auspicious trine to Jupiter in your partnership house. Sit down for a summit or brainstorm ways you could work together. It's time to build your power posse, to find people whose skills and visions complement your own. Just keep it in the "talks" phase until the second week of August. With Mercury retrograde (backward) in your outspoken ninth house until August 8, you may promise something you regret offering. The ninth house rules higher education, and during the first week of August, you might even consider going back to school or refreshing your skills with a short workshop. Sagittarians are lifelong learners, so if you're feeling adrift, feed your intellect. Lights, webcam, action! Go-getter Mars is in Libra, your group and technology sector, from July 3-August 23. Promoting your ideas to a worldwide audience could be in the stars. Mid-August, it links up with structured Saturn, which can feel a bit jarring. Mars is all about speeding ahead, while Saturn is like the driving instructor that keeps slamming on the safety brake. If you can find the sweet spot of this awkward dance, though, it can be an advantageous week. Your bold ways could make you an official member of a prestigious "power group." You might also be asked to speak publicly as a leader in your field. It's a great time to launch an online presence or to revamp your public profiles in a way that shows your edgy flair but also proves that you've got solid expertise. On August 22, the Sun moves into Virgo, your tenth house of career and ambition. A powerhouse month is ahead, and you'll be intently focused on your goals until late September. Meantime, your attitude about money is undergoing some karmic tests, as intense Pluto in your finance house continues its challenging square to volatile Uranus. Since late June, these two transformational planets have been battling each other. Uranus is in Aries, your fifth house of creative expression, encouraging you to fly free. Pluto in your practical second house is driving up irrational fears: Can I really make a living doing what I love? How much should I expose my true self at the job? What do I need more-passion or a stable bank account? This Pluto-Uranus square will happen on and off until May 2015. You're in a long period of inquiry to find that elusive balance between freedom and security. In the process, you'll surely redefine what each of these notions means to you. Time will tell!

General Characteristics of Sagittarius

Cheerful Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system. Jupiter is the "happy" planet, full of energy and confidence. Sagittarians often reflect Jupiter's larger-than-life persona. As the zodiac's traveler, Sagittarius is the ultimate free spirit: optimistic, open-minded and ambitious. You're happiest in wide-open spaces with plenty of adventure and excitement. You juggle a million projects, hobbies and friends. The more, the merrier! Sagittarius is forever pursuing a super-sized goal. Even when you fail, nothing can keep you down. You'll chalk it up as a life lesson and inspire everyone with tales of your experience. As the sign of wisdom and truth, Sagittarius loves to "tell it like it is," especially when it makes people laugh. However, your honesty doesn't always come in the prettiest package. You've been known to bruise feelings with your bluntness. Cultivate patience, and be careful not to come off as a know-it-all. Although Sag loves the thrill of a new project or friendship, you don't always finish what you start. Work on keeping your promises and commitments.

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