This is quite an important month for Leos. With Saturn moving out of Leo after a stay of just over two years and two eclipses happening between the end of August and the beginning of September, most Leos will feel as though they are closing a chapter on an important phase of their lives during which they learnt a few important life lessons and possibly did a fair amount of growing up.

Saturn's stay in Leo since July 2005 will have had a profound effect on the way many of conducted yourselves and came across to others, possibly causing you to think more deeply and seriously about things and speak in a more measured and less boastful, haughty or dramatic way. Many humiliating experiences during this period may also have taught some proud Leos some humility and the value of substance over hot air and showmanship. Whilst this may have been a traumatic time for some of you, most Leos will probably feel as though they had gained a more mature outlook on life and a deeper sense of self-confidence, having been tested to the limits on so many levels of endurance. Some Leos may even have been through a period of ill health or suffered from mild depression  - these are all hallmarks of the planet that ancient astrologers referred to as the great malefic. These days, most modern astrologers would refer to Saturn as the Hard Taskmaster, the Inner Parent.

Now, beginning on the 3rd of September, Saturn moves into Virgo, switching the focus of boot camp from self to self-worth, body issues, finances and earning potential. Whilst many dread the presence of Saturn in the house of money and earned income, fearing that it heralds tough times, one should also see the positive side of Saturn who is also known for making things more solid, stable and for facilitating the manifestation of things in concrete form. If you are an entrepreneur, this could be a time when your business really takes shape and form, where others start to take you more seriously on a financial level or as a top earner. Developing your skills  and staying power during the next two or so years will really up your chances of earning respect from employers and making your presence felt on the business scene. So take up the challenge of Saturn and wear your responsibilities like the true hero that you are, Leo. This is a time to step up to the mark, take on what is thrown at you with both arms and persevering despite all the odds.

To mark this rite of passage, there is a series of lunar eclipses occurring in a similar set of life sectors - relating to earned income and self-sufficiency on one hand, and shared resources, intimacy and joint projects, on the other. Firstly, a lunar eclipse on the 28th of August in Pisces, followed by a solar eclipse in Virgo on the 11th of September.

The lunar eclipse, being a Full Moon, will be an emotional time and, due to some difficult aspects between Mercury and Uranus, as well as a Sun-Saturn conjunction, may also mark some sort of financial or romantic disappointment. Falling in your eight house of sex & intimacy, as well as joint projects or shared finances, it would seem as though somebody is going to let you down or prove to be unreliable in one of these two areas. If you have recently had your doubts about whether someone could be trusted, either as a potential sexual partner or a business partner, a Venus-Neptune opposition seems to suggest that you may have been deceived or been wearing rose-coloured specs when you made your first impression about this person. Venus is also retrograde until the 9th of September, so to be fair to you, you may not have had all the facts at your disposal  - there may have been a fair amount of exclusion going on in relation to decision-making or you may simply have misconstrued the nature of your relationship. Now, however, with Mercury, planet of communication at odds with unpredictable Uranus, things may become abundantly, if not shockingly clear. Whilst this will no doubt bring its share of disappointment and disillusionment, on the positive side, it may also give you an insight into this person's character and save you from making a dreadful mistake.

The best way to deal with this episode is to accept the situation at face value, muster up all your resourcefulness and newly-discovered sense of self-sufficiency and move on, possibly even deciding to go it alone. Thanks to Saturn, you may find that your self confidence and faith in your own abilities has grown enormously, as has your skill-set and personal authority. being such a creative type, I am sure you will think of a way to make the situation work for you. Either that, or you can swallow what's left of your pride, choose not to take things personally and see if there is any room left for compromise or cooperation. This situation applies to all matters relating to bank loans, insurance pay-outs, commission, inheritances, scholarships and divorce settlements - the last being an area ripe for nasty surprises!

If you decide to go the conciliatory route, your best day for constructive and expansive discussions about the future is September the 5th when the Mercury moves into Libra and talks take on a more balanced, peaceful and fair tone. Following closely behind is September the 13th when a dynamic aspect between Mercury and Jupiter, creates an atmosphere conducive to civilised behaviour and frank discussions about values, morals and future growth & progress.

Before that, though is a day that may just help to make up your mind for you  - a solar eclipse in Virgo. If you were wondering where things were heading in terms of the lunar eclipse, September the 11th will give you a pretty good idea. Taking place during a New Moon, the scene is set for a new beginning so watch carefully to see what happens on this day for clues as to which way the wind may be blowing for you in terms of jobs, money, possessions or employment. Try not to let any turbulence caused by the Moon-Uranus and Moon-Mars hard aspects blind you to the potential presented to you by this situation for positive change. The Moon may temporarily raise an old ghost or memory from the past which either needs to be put to rest for once and for all, or is relevant to your current situation and should be examined for clues or any overlapping similarities between present and past circumstances. It could well be that to how some pattern is being repeated and a lesson needs to be learnt and assimilated before you can move on to new challenges or experiences.

A few days earlier, Venus, the planet that rules money and love, turns direct in Leo, which could help to buy you some good favour in these departments. She is also due to change signs in early October, which means that you will have some good luck and possibly a little gift from the gods as your new lesson with Saturn gets underway. All in all, this is an important time for you Leo. Try your best to leave any drama and feels of victimhood behind you. Instead see the coming changes as the start of a new phase in your life, one in which you are more calm, centred and confident than you have been in the past, and where you have the ability to take on challneges that previously,  you never dreamt you could handle.