Monthly Horoscope taken from:  <www.astrology.yahoo.com/astrology>

Aries
You're directing the movie for the first part of August. Dreams spring vividly alive on the 5th and 6th. By the 7th you're happy to shut the door on whatever doesn't belong in the room. After the 10th, though, you get ready to make a big move. The 12th through 14th find you alone and thoughtful. Face some truths that you avoided until now. It's easier than it looks. You're laughing again on the 15th and 16th, but from the 17th to 23rd the joke turns private. You're a walking encyclopedia and by the 22nd you might be tempted to share the knowledge -- remember, only if they ask, please. Poopularity heaves you back into a brighter spotlight on the 24th and 25th. But when everyone expects you to lead on the 26th or 27th, there are just so many directions to go. It's an amusing moment. Lucky circumstances or unlikely friends save you on the 28th. You really should thank the stars for such a smooth ride.

Taurus
It's tempting to sleep in on the 1st and 2nd. You're not especially curious about what will happen if you step out of the house. But don't hide your head in the sand. You have every reason to see and be seen from the 3rd to 14th. Join the party. Follow your senses. You've got the best nose for news in town. This couldn't be clearer on the 7th, 8th and 9th. As of the 10th you become less detail-oriented, but the full impact doesn't hit until the 15th, when you take a deep breath and wonder how much longer this particular story can go on. By the 17th satisfaction's curtain covers that window of doubt. Still, you're not your carefree self between the 19th and 25th. Everybody has his or her issues, and you have a few questions of your own. Love is still a powerful factor on the 23rd. Truth shows its best face on the 26th and 27th, and its strangest consequences on the 28th and 29th. You end August as a winner, so raise those gloves triumphantly over your head.

Gemini
You're strong-willed and selective on the 1st and 2nd. On the flipside of this, you're withholding sensitive information on the 3rd and 4th. Your opinion stays under wraps. Look for greater social harmony between the 5th and 16th. Strangers are more open to each other. Insiders and outsiders admit that there's not much difference, nor was there ever. You're ready for some great act of communication or creativity on the 10th and 11th. If all necessary words have been spoken, express yourself in other media. You'll have another few days of friendly competition before the tone changes. Familiar rivals butt heads on the 17th and 18th, but it's less fun when one of you has an edge or something to prove. People caught in the middle shouldn't have to take sides. From the 19th to 21st you're both polite and ambitious. It's a good time to be among loved ones when you're this entertaining. But fun and games turn serious from the 22nd to 27th. Adventures are a lot more personal when there's so much at stake. At least you're clear about what's important. That alone will make the 28th and 29th a weekend to remember.

Cancer
The 1st and 2nd are about being open-minded and listening to opinions with which you don't agree -- but not arguing. Everyone's entitled to an opinion, right? Some
unaddressed issues catch up with you on the 5th or 6th. Isn't there a permanent solution? Maybe not, but the next 12 days help you forget your worries. From the 7th to 18th you're in touch with glorious truths and major ambitions. You're willing to share, although after the 10th no one blames you for keeping the best to yourself. Between the 12th and 14th you dominate the landscape, the only real destination for well-wishers and sightseers. There's love or money if you want it, and room for the bigger and finer things that you deserve. Watch out for old tensions and rivalries from the 19th to 21st. People with their own lives can't orbit your good fortune forever. The 22nd and 23rd let you redefine yourself or project your visions across the world. If flaws are visible from the 24th to 29th, this is your best time to work on them. By the end of the month, you're back to showing people what you want them to see.


Leo
You can't help wondering just who you are between the 1st and 4th. When you surprise yourself, astonished feedback from bystanders makes you smile. The 5th
and 6th are about philanthropy. You'll do anything to make a happy ending for everyone. But too much of a good thing lands you in hot water by the weekend of the 7th. Get out of the frying pan and the fire by the 10th, and you're totally cool for almost two weeks. Turn a mistake to your advantage. Starting on the 12th, people bond and find strength. Embrace your natural leadership qualities. The 15th and 16th weave loose ends into a strong fabric. You're wise and wild. The combination looks good on you. Add a healthy dose of pleasure to this mix on the 19th, 20th and 21st, and you're a locus of cheerful mischief on the 22nd and 23rd. Tiptoe around authority, just in case. You're back in action on the 24th, and even deeper in the mix between the 26th and 29th. Is it any surprise if you're exhausted the week of the 30th begins? Get some rest!

Virgo
The first week of August is open to interpretation. Don't expect closure before the weekend. By the 7th you're ready for all bargains, rewards and deep sensory
experiences. You're also too good at social setups. By the 10th, just as the right person walks into the room, you get tired of the game and dazzle with the truth. Events between the 12th and 23rd set you on the right track. You move at the center of a crowd in a warm, fuzzy, tribal feeling. You learn major life lessons in a supportive environment. Laughter is free and hurts nobody. The 17th and 18th put your good name in lights. Everyone wants a piece of you now, but that's okay. You're feeling generous. Toward the end of this phase an extra shot of personal energy lets you face down the trouble ahead. Deal with imbalance and misunderstanding on the 24th and 25th. Let older wisdom prevail on the 26th and 27th. Watch out for loopholes between the 28th and 31st. This is your chance to go forward instead of back to square one.

Libra
The 1st and 2nd are fabulous. Friends have fun and share the spoils. Something interferes on the 3rd and 4th. Not everyone understands your situation. Between the 5th and 9th there's a discussion about whose questions you should answer and what feelings you should own. But while there's still plenty of delicious mystery by the 10th, there's no ambiguity. Choosing between winners is just another kind of victory. From the 12th to 14th you keep all the bad guys at arm's length. Starting on the 15th you have 11 days to fulfill your cosmic profile in all its glory. Arguments are cheerful. The right people show up to hold your hand and make you smile. From the 19th to 21st personal satisfaction means love and generosity. Plus, everyone is receptive to your truth, making secrets unnecessary. Good impulses become sustainable habits after the 23rd, but watch out for painting yourself into a corner by the 26th. The weekend of the 28th is your last best chance this month to improve your overall circumstances.

Scorpio
You're dreaming on the 1st and 2nd, but those dreams won't kick into gear until the 3rd, when events finally move in your favor. From the 5th to 9th, some
communication glitches cramp your style. Take what you get this time and try againlater. By the 10th you're all done with communication problems. You're a social mover and shaker from the 12th through 14th. The right people help you through lean times on the 15th and 16th. From the 17th to 27th you're back on top. It starts out when you regain equal footing. Coat your personal desires with a thick layer of elegant behavior. On the 22nd you're free to do whatever pleases you, and by the 23rd the dreams that started your month are on their way to becoming laws. Enjoy some downtime on the 28th. After the 30th the pushing will be a lot easier.

Sagittarius
Be open to new things on the 1st and 2nd. Paddle against any drift that takes you away from where you should be going. Conflicting demands are natural on the 5th and 6th, but your emotions are still your own. These feelings just buoy you up. The 7th through 14th is a time to grab for opportunities when they appear. Temptation might tempt you down the garden path on the 10th. Be careful, or on the 12th you could feel a little self-indulgent. On the 15th you gain perspective by meeting someone with greater needs than yours. After false starts and dragging heels, you're off and running on the 19th. Although you're more cooperative than competitive, you're still playing to win. You're getting hotter instead of colder on the 22nd and 23rd. By the 24th you stand tall and bring everyone else up to your level. Keep your priorities straight during the next few days of celebrating. On the 28th and 29th you feel the same trusting curiosity that began your month.


Capricorn
You're optimistic between the 1st and 4th. You're ahead of schedule, everyone loves you and things are going your way. Then the 5th brings up a few areas that need patching and mending. You're a regular Mr. Fix-It, but there's still so much to do. Give this situation your full attention from the 7th to 9th. Still, don't put all your eggs in one basket. Save a little something for later. Nobody commits to anything between the 10th and 16th, which leaves you with some downtime -- thank goodness. Watch what you say on Friday the 13th, even if you're just joking. You have more power over reality than you understand. People cooperate again on the 17th and 18th. It looks like you're finally getting what you deserve. From the 19th to 21st, the energy flows away from you because your circle is too big for unrestricted giving. The 22nd and especially the 23rd set a lighter, more orderly tone for the rest of August. The 26th and 27th are about controlling reality again, but this time the outcome is clear. Your dreams point the way to the future by the 30th.

Aquarius
The 1st and 2nd pose fascinating questions, and you're happy to wrestle with them through the 6th. Why settle on a quick, safe solution when you have the space to explore all the options? By the weekend of the 7th, difficult forces are pulling at you. Ask for help wisely instead of involving the first person you see. On the 10th and 11th you can back away and do what pleases you as long as you're careful about it. Expect a complicated week between the 12th and 18th. There's too much information and too many demands. The 15th and 16th remind you why hope is still alive. You're strong and will survive with flying colors. You relish variety and change from the 19th to 21st. Light up the room with your smile and well-timed jokes. Enemies take their parting shots on the 22nd and 23rd. After that, the rest of the month is yours for the last laugh and final bow. The weekend of the 28th is pure opportunity on the hoof. Ride this brilliant beast to the only logical conclusion.

Pisces
Anticipation and uncertainty on the 1st and 2nd give way to satisfaction on the 3rd and 4th. You're not above tickling your sacred cow until it moos with delight. Hijinks, shenanigans and general tomfoolery persist through the 9th. After that, you need to keep a straight face and focus on your surroundings. Everyone seems to be speaking a different language on the 10th and 11th. Groups have a hard time communicating beyond their circle. You're not taking on anyone else's problems, though. Celebrate your strengths and passions from the 12th to 14th. Be brave if you attract unexpected attention between the 15th and 21st. After all, this isn't about publicity. This time it's really you. Even so, popular opinion sways you on the 17th and 18th. You're not going to argue with a fashion that you like. On the 22nd you solve a long-standing mystery, but by the 23rd you have to reconsider who's still trustworthy. Starting on the 26th you find soothing answers to these questions and a happy ending to the month of August. The 30th and 31st are nothing less than a festival of love and wish fulfillment, your favorite destinations.