VIRGO HOROSCOPE

There's an old saying that no one steps in the same river twice. Rushing water is in constant motion and even though things may look and feel familiar, the river isn't. It's something to keep in mind on August 31st when there's a First Quarter Moon in Sagittarius. You may have agreed to return to a situation you left, but you'll soon discover it's different. Not only have you grown, but the other person has too. It's something to celebrate as you're both free to bring something new to the table. Don't mislead yourself into believing that you're picking up from where you left off.

This is the first time in two years that the Sun will enter your zodiac sign without Saturn opposite it. Translation? This will be the first time in two years that your Virgo energy won't be dampened or compromised. It's like going from a one bar signal on your phone to a five bar one. You may not have a lot to show for yourself right now – you've been through the wringer since 2023 – but you will eventually as long as you keep your eyes on the prize and choose to live the life you like rather than settling for having to like the life you live.

Mercury out of retrograde on August 11th followed by a sextile to Mars on the 14th makes this an excellent time to negotiate because you'll be able to organize facts and prioritize them to make a compelling case. Not only will you have an intuitive sense of what the other party wants, you'll be able to invoke the playful energies of Mercury and Mars so that you enter into a volley of sorts where you bat ideas and numbers back and forth until you come up with something mutually beneficial. Any negotiation that ends with both sides smiling is the best negotiation of all.

The problem with getting what you want is that you wind up not wanting it anymore. People might say it's because you're a perfectionist but actually your dissatisfaction stems from something much deeper. You're afraid that if you find what you're looking for then you will have to settle for what you have now and your days of curiosity, exploration, and play will be over. Nothing could be further from the truth, but you'll never discover that if you keep rejecting the opportunities that life gives you. Try embracing the good things that come your way and you'll be counting blessings rather than disappointments.

You'll want to be especially careful when retrograde Mercury passes under the rays of the Sun on July 31st. Your problem is that your information's right but it's surfacing at the wrong time or under questionable circumstances. Since you don't want to act on something that can be disproved easily, you may want to keep it under wraps and adopt a wait-and-see attitude. That way when the occasion to divulge arises (August 20th) you'll know that the circumstances, evidence, and eyewitness accounts will all line up. That said, be ready for an unexpected surprise in the form of a last minute confession or extraordinary twist.

The Venus/Mars square on July 23d can be playful or exacerbating depending on your mood. This is the “I say no, but you still come back” planetary combination. It's fun for an office flirtation, but it takes on more of a Yo-Yo effect when it shows up in serious relationships or associations. This can create a pattern where you're going back and forth or up and down with another person and neither is making a true commitment to getting on the same page. Hopefully frustration will lead to some kind of break through next week – otherwise you may have to call the whole thing off.

On July 18th, Ruling Planet Mercury turns retrograde in that part of your solar chart that pertains to self-undoing. That sounds more ominous than it is; the modern equivalent is self-sabotaging behavior which is why you'll want to stop pushing yourself to do something you don't feel like doing and go back the way you came. Not only are you in danger of repeating behavior you know won't work, you're also on the brink of hurting someone yet again. It's probably not what you want to hear right now, but you'll recognize the sagacity of this when Mercury comes out of retrograde on August 11th.

Revolutionary Uranus in Gemini is famous for moving the goalposts. And naturally, being a Virgo, you'll want to move them back except that that won't work this time. Uranus is too powerful a planet which means you're going to have to find a way to field all the curve balls for the next seven years. This might feel overwhelming at first, but remember that you were born under one of the most resourceful signs of the zodiac. Ultimately you have to work with what you have and given your ingenuity and resilience, you'll find a way to harness this energy and make it your own.

It's going to feel like you're looking at a “before you” and “after you” when Venus crosses over your solar midheaven on July 4th. The “before you” appears flustered, harried, and like s/he can barely hold it together; while the “after you” looks calm, assured, and ready to get down to business. You can already tell you're going to enjoy these new changes. You're at a place in life when you don't have to jump through hoops like you used to. It's a good feeling and one you should remember in the weeks to come when you'll face new challenges and obstacles to your success.

You know what you're good at. You fill a certain niche at work, follow a set routine, and are always on call when someone needs you. It's gotten you far and you like it. However your job performance has come to the attention of certain superiors who'd like you to take on more. They see you as someone who could run things more smoothly or produce better results. The question is: do you? It's flattering to be held in such high regard, but think about the lifestyle changes and whether they're worth it. Nobody's ready to make the offer yet, but they will be soon.