Cut Away False Hopes

By Jeff Jawer
Provided by Tarot.com

You may be fired up with fresh ideas for much of the first half of August as the creative Sun and Mercury, your chatty ruling planet, move through your Third House of Information. If you look around, you'll see all sorts of opportunities: people to connect with, fresh ideas, customers and products to sell to them. Your brain is rich with concepts, but it's going to take a solid commitment to one of them to transform potential into reality. There's a rising arc of optimism that starts on Sunday, August 9 when Mercury aligns favorably with expansive Jupiter. It may even be accelerated by the dynamic Leo New Moon on August 12. However, beware of racing down blind alleys where you lose time and energy chasing illusions.

Dreamy Neptune's opposition to the New Moon pushes thinking beyond its usual boundaries, which can be very inspiring, but there is also a tendency to lose touch with practicality. The intellectual tide turns on August 17 when Mercury's favorable 120-degree trine with pungent Pluto helps you cut through any lingering fantasies, false hopes or foolishness. Your instincts guide you past attractive distractions to focus in on core issues where you can gain more control of your fate. On August 18, Mercury joins no-nonsense Saturn before entering realistic Virgo the next day, a final nail in the coffin of illusion. You're ready to get down to business by putting your feet on the ground, slowing down and taking one solid step at a time.

About the Author
Jeff Jawer is the co-author of Barnes & Noble's 'Your Astrology Guide 2007.' A professional astrologer since 1973, his articles have appeared in astrology journals and magazines and Web sites around the world. He holds a B.A. in The History and Science of Astrology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and teaches and lectures both in the United States and abroad.