Happy birthday Cancer! Change is in the air, and you're digging it.

THIS ISSUE > OUT & ABOUT > SIGNOUT

Overall this is a smoother month than June, and we should see some relief from the economic pressures we have been dealing with for a while. Most of the planets are in water or earth signs, which will create a greater sense of ease with most things. • On the 2nd, there is a new Moon in Cancer as our country gets ready to celebrate its 232nd birthday. This will instill in all of us a sense of wanting to be closer to our family or finding a “family” that we can feel a part of. Many of us may feel a strong disconnection if we don't have that family or clan tie. The full Moon on the 18th will be in Capricorn. This will stimulate us to be safer and more security-conscious and will inspire many to work on becoming financially prepared in these times of economic stress. • The Sun flows through Cancer and blazes through Leo on the 22nd. Mercury is back up to speed and finishes her journey through Gemini and enters Cancer on the 11th and finally makes it into Leo on the 26th. Lovely Venus begins the month in Cancer but also enters the sign of Leo on the 12th. Mars moves into the sign of Virgo on the 1st. The rest of the planets stay in their current positions.

ARIES (March 21–April 19). June is always a family month for you. You will want to recreate that sense of family this month. You may be looking to make your current living quarters more comfortable or have even been looking for a new place to live. With the 4th of July, you will want to have people into your home. The career sector is full of opportunity this month, and you are more prepared to act on openings. Exercise and diet programs are on your agenda. At the end of the month, you are more playful and may want to slack off some of the projects you started in early July.

TAURUS (April 20–May 20). You are getting your message across better this month. And you are definitely in an organizing mood. Some of you are restless and will need to get out of town and break up your routines. Money and career activities seem to be more successful without your really trying. Relationships are a bit touch and go through the first half of the month but get much better later. At month's end, family relationships take over the spotlight. Make sure you have put family time on your calendar.

GEMINI (May 21–June 21). I know you are all glad that Mercury, your ruler, is no longer retrograde, because that has made your life so, so, so much better. You are turning your attention to your financial picture. Get that part of your life organized. By mid-month, you are even able to get a raise or increase the fees your charge others. If you are considering asking for a raise, the best time is between the 10th and the 22nd. Some of you are thinking about starting your own business. Keep moving forward on that notion. Relationships require more work than you are prepared for. Family time is more stressful. Avoid your family and others' families as well.

CANCER (June 22–July 22). You are in an upbeat mood for your birthday this year. There is such a sense of change, and you can feel it. In fact, you have already begun to start cleaning out things and throwing things away. This can include stuff in your attic, old lovers, and excessively bitchy family members. People need to be on their toes around you since you are not holding back with people this year. Relationships are still very good. If you are single, this is a good time to find someone to be involved with. Your social magnetism is very high for the rest of this year, but especially strong for this month. Make sure you have a party for your birthday.

LEO (July 23–August 22). July is a time of rest and retreat for you. Even with the holiday time, you are inclined to spend more time alone. Be sure that you don't overextend yourself, at least during the first half of July. Pay attention to your financial condition this month and next month. If you have been avoiding some problems, they will be showing up this month. However, work opportunities are still out there. Even your current situation can improve as long as you don't assume the role of the victim. Keep a low profile at the end of the month.

VIRGO (August 23–September 22). You have an interesting month with Mars, planet of action, entering your sign for the next 45 days along with Saturn, planet of focused concentration and structure. Sometimes when these planets meet, as they will on the 9 th , 10 th , and 11 th , you will feel rather repressed, having to stifle your anger. You may even feel that those around you judge you unfairly. Try to listen and most of all, don't take this too personally. You are just more sensitive than usual, and you will want to strike back. You may feel justified now but regret your actions later. Get some rest at the end of the month.

LIBRA (September 23–October 23). Career activity is highlighted for you this month. Certainly, this is a great time for you to take action. There are several opportunities opening up for you. People are going to be ready with open arms to accept you. Friends will play an especially important role in this part of your life. Do plenty of networking if you are looking for a new job or career path. Remember that you are looking for something different, so don't just take the first thing that comes along because it satisfies your financial needs. Relationship energies are a bit smoother. Keep working on them.

SCORPIO (October 24–November 21). A change of routine, habits, and environments are just what the doctor ordered. Make sure that you reconnect with some friends that you haven't had time to visit with. By mid-month, you will be ready to get back to work and hit the ground running. There are plenty of things to do, and you are ready to take a leadership role. By the end of the month, you and your partner need to take some time for yourselves. If you are single, taking time for yourself is still important.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22–December 21). You have to focus on relationships. Most of this involves how you choose to interact with others. In personal or romantic relationships, you are very likely to be more aware of the way you have created negative relationship patterns and allowed them to continue while not really confronting the problem. You will be less tolerant of this pattern. You need to have some real communication with your partner. A therapist might be of help. Career demands are showing themselves. You may be eliminating from your life those who are not treating you well or appreciating your skills if you can't find common ground. This is especially true during the first two weeks of the month. In the later part of the month, the tensions ease.

CAPRICORN (December 22–January 19). You have a mixed bag of tricks this month. First, the planets are in your relationship sector, which means this is a good time to renew your current relationship. If you are single, get out there and mingle. Second, the aspects in the sky are very good for you to improve your career, seek employment elsewhere, or start your own business. You are in a more creative mood than before, and what you do has to better reflect your inner personality than ever before. Those of you born at the very beginning of the sign are going through massive life change. You will just have to hold on for the ride.

AQUARIUS (January 20–February 18). This month you are focusing on habits and routines and getting more organized, especially around the office. You definitely want to make your office process more efficient. So this is a great time to clean up old computer files, improve communication, and even get some new equipment. If you work at home, this may mean attempting to make things in your residence function more efficiently. By mid-month, relationships become the hot topic. Make sure that you have someone special to spend time with. Be cautious on the 30th and 31st. Those are days that are ripe for misunderstanding.

PISCES (February 19–March 20). What a great month for you to play, take time off, and just be your creative self! You are certainly not in the mood for work or dealing with anything that is too difficult. For the next 45 days, relationship energies are hot for you, with Mars stirring up the embers and adding logs to the fire. If there are problems there, they will show up. You are in a great place to solve them without much trouble. Friends and any sort of group association are supportive this month. You can find a lot of good people to party with if you are out there looking. By the end of the month, you are back in the grind, so enjoy your playtime.

A professional astrologer for more than two decades, Lilly Roddy counsels individuals and teaches classes. Read Lilly Roddy's forecast for all of 2008, ("The Planets Say"), which appeared in our January issue. Access Roddy's podcast, "City of Ladies," at www.lillyroddy.com.