Haven't you been here before? It will certainly feel that way as Venus retrogrades past Mercury on October 6th, but don't assume that familiar means the same. Terms can be dressed up to sound the way they did before just as particulars can resemble but not replicate what was originally on offer. That's why you need to be especially vigilant about this second round of talks. You need to do the extra research, ask the tough questions, and drive as hard a bargain as you can because the fact that a client is approaching you again means that they need you more than you need them.

Beware girlfriends in need. The same goes for sisters, neighbors, and in-laws for as long as Venus is retrograding through Scorpio and Libra. You have some potentially treacherous planetary aspects over the next few weeks and you don't want to take the fall for somebody else's folly. Maybe this person wants you to tell her husband that she was at your house (when she wasn't), or she might come to you for a loan on top of the one you already gave her. Just say no. This way you will avoid any fiascos where your good intentions might pave the way to a hellish situation.

Mars, planet of strife, moves into that part of your solar chart that pertains to house and home on September 27th. Life with family members has been strained and this could transform what's left of your peaceful sanctuary into an occupied territory. Since you know you can't win, you might as well let loved ones know where you stand. Tell them you don't appreciate their bitchy quips, the free-floating anger, and the way you're made to feel like you have to walk around on eggshells. Yes, they'll be upset, but at least you'll get tensions out in the open where they can be addressed.

Nothing guarantees success like working with like-minded people. Whether it's a professional venture or a neighborhood project, the Sun/Mars sextile on September 14th will bring together a group of individuals who wouldn't have typically sought each other out. Not only will this experience make you proud of your own contribution, it will also generate a strong sense of community, not unlike a modern-day barn raising. This feeling of fellowship is important given today's tendency for siloing. Although this project may be completed almost as fast as it begins, there's no saying you can't get together to work again, and on a more regular basis.

Venus in Scorpio for the next few months (it turns retrograde on October 3rd) means that you'll be attracting more Sturm und Drang than you'll know what to do with. Loved ones will be battling inner demons, friends will be wrestling with high-stakes issues, and even co-workers will be feeling overwhelmed by their personal existential crises. You'll want to be there for them, but honestly you've been through some heavy stuff lately and could use a break. That may be easier said than done as you try to negotiate this psychic minefield, but if you politely change the subject, then hopefully they'll follow suit.

So much has changed that it feels awkward trying to continue with the same old routines. It seems inauthentic and like you are working against the inner growth that you have been experiencing throughout the year. You don’t want to pour new wine into old wineskins only to see both spoiled because the old cannot contain the new; yet the appearance of this week's Jupiter/Saturn trine guarantees a smooth transition from one chapter to the next as long as you allow for developments to unfold on their own. If there was ever a time to sit back and let yourself be pleasantly surprised, it's now.

Sometimes other people see in us a talent or ability that we don't recognize. They have a clearer idea of what we could be than we do. They might show up in our lives as a coach, a mentor, or a guide. Then again this could manifest as a situation we can't leave and where we wind up growing despite ourselves. This period of “tutelage” is coming to a close. Either a certain someone has taught you everything they know or the obligation you were under is fulfilled. You may not think that you're ready to be on your own, but rest assured you are.

What's happening in the sky right now is more than just a lucky streak. Orders are flooding in, coffers are filling, and demand is growing by the day. You've outgrown your situation and need to expand. Typically this would be a no-brainer decision, so why does it frighten you? Probably because of all those stories about what happens to people who become too big for their britches. Don't worry. You won't get a swelled head. You're too industrious for that. However, the opposite could happen and that would be to take baby steps when you should take big strides. You need to embrace your future.

The Solar Eclipse in that part of your solar chart that pertains to hearth and home on August 12th will change your world. You could discover you have to move, that a loved one needs you at their side posthaste, or that there's a new member of your household on the way. In any case you won't hesitate to make the adjustments that you need to make to work with this surprise development. Now you may think that life will return to normal after all of this shakes out, but the planets say otherwise. You really are set to embark on an entirely different path.

It will be hard to give back something that flourished under your charge on August 5th. Maybe it's an animal that was put in your care or a property matter you were asked to manage temporarily. It's clear that you care more about this than the person who entrusted you with it but at the end of the day it's theirs and not yours. Last Quarter Moons are all about withdrawing energy because this is when the Moon is losing light as it heads toward the end of its cycle. It's always hard leaving a situation, but trust in the good that you did.