When walking a path up a mountain you may be encouraged to stay on the path for various reasons; to preserve the surrounding grasses and animals, because the path is stabilised and you probably won't go tumbling into the abyss, or it could be the most efficient and scenic way to reach your destination. If the signs tell you to stay on the path, do you feel forced to leave it just because you won't do what you are told? Or do you do what the signs tell you in violation of common sense?

While Mars is in Cancer from 26th August until mid-October, your tendency is to meander, to take the roads less travelled in everything that you do. To survive and flourish in unknown surroundings you must take in the learnings of others (which includes reading the signs) and then also as much other information as possible using eyes, nose, ears, tongue, hands, intuition – and brain. But your brain will seem to let you down while Mercury – the planet that rules thinking, contracts, computers and tricks – is retrograde from 7th until 29th September. You will be poked and prodded by missed appointments and misunderstandings. Remember to review, revisit, revamp, repeat, meditate and relax.

ARIES 20 MARCH TO 19 APRIL

In early August your enthusiasm is constrained, dealt a blow by some rules or a rather crippling back injury. Don't bluff your way out or continue as though nothing has happened. To have something to show for your efforts you must deal with the problem head on. As you cut that which needs cutting you are left with a structure that is entirely more fit for purpose and the alternative is a collapsed structure that nobody can do anything with. From 26th August until 16th October, Mars is in Cancer and life is just a little slow and unresponsive and takes on a more sideways motion than you are happy with. Resistance training and working positively with constraints is what improves your muscle tone and leads you to what you can build on.

TAURUS 19 APRIL TO 20 MAY

Your expansion plan is still stretching you and your resources. Keep adjusting, making changes to the parts that are not working while the dream is becoming real. For most of August willing hands and allies give you concrete help and when you ask for help authorities and systems work with you. The first three weeks of September are a challenge to your sense of humour and you could feel like people are ignoring you. What works is not self interest, no matter how tempting, but action. Appropriate action. Life moves on and after 21st September you are more clear about what your own role is and the natural conclusion, the crescendo, approaches.

GEMINI 20 MAY TO 21 JUNE

The ability to understand multiple points of view simultaneously is a skill that you possess in abundance. But between mid-August and the first week of October you come up against what seems like a brick wall because there is a pre-existing reality that will not shift. Mercury retrograde leaves you shaking your head at the sheer silliness of friends, neighbours and colleagues. Meditation now would be good, otherwise transform the inner dialogue by giving it a place to express itself. Maybe write it all down as it is happening or else you will probably make yourself sick with worry, and who needs that? Stop the words from filling your head with their clamour; write them down and let them assume their proper size.

CANCER 21 JUNE TO 22 JULY

Since September '07 you have had a commitment, a responsibility, something that has tied you down. As much as you have wriggled and squirmed to get out of it, the continuity has been good for you, you have achieved a lot, and it is over soon. In August the sun shines on you all month and the theme is beauty, fairness and finances. You will work hard with a woman or you may mediate and thereby beautify. September is simply about action: doing and moving, and if you avoid that, then there will be fighting and nobody wants that, or do you? You do love passion and feel emotions keenly, so be aware that what you sow you reap. It's quite biblical, really.

LEO 22 JULY TO 23 AUGUST

In August you really feel the limits that you have been stretched to and it feels good. You have been working flat out and this continues until the end of the year. While Leo is capable of sustained effort, keeping on keeping on, you must slow down; just take a breather or risk becoming rather ill. You achieve a lot this month and some of it seemingly comes out of thin air, but, of course, the harder you worked, the luckier you are. What you deliver in September is subject to severe judgment because, though it is correct, they will change what they wanted. Use your trusted network and take the assistance that is on offer. You are lucky. Exactly the right people come along to help you.

VIRGO 23 AUGUST TO 22 SEPTEMBER

You take a stand on a long-outstanding matter because either you have the space suddenly or you are in a temporary position of authority. You are stronger than you were and you get to do what is important. It's your birthday, you are the centre of attention and you are strong – though just a little too serious because you are taking care of someone. But you are not left alone and if that is overwhelming, just smile, nod and be grateful. You are in your own place and in your own skin. While Mercury is retrograde you lose some of that clarity, but in a funny way that you are not able to explain, the chaos is enjoyable and communal.

LIBRA 22 SEPTEMBER TO 23 OCTOBER

You just do not feel in charge in August. There are matters that are bigger than you are, they are controlling what you do and mostly it means that you must spend the time at home. You achieve a lot by working with your hands and you do have the support of an elder, and it is restful, which is good for your health. You need the build-up because in September you are thrust into the spotlight. You walk a balancing act between a feeling of expansion and your own single self-expression. Prepare to be inspired by some art or a wonderful philosophy that also presents you with a marvellous opportunity. If you want guidance on how to go ahead, trust your intuition.

SCORPIO 23 OCTOBER TO 22 NOVEMBER

As habits go, the habit of emotional control is a stressful one. You do it because you are so sensitive, but it is time to learn new emotional habits. From 26th September until 16th October, while Mars is in Cancer, almost anything that you do leads to a release of emotions. An acquaintance or your partner reveals some of your secrets, exposing your deepest self to the light of day and it turns out to be OK. Take heart. Take up an active hobby or sport and practice it for at least three weeks because that is the length of time that it takes to establish a new habit. This will then become the standard conduit for emotional stress.

SAGITTARIUS 22 NOVEMBER TO 21 DECEMBER

For a while it has been all strategic speculation and now suddenly you must make the decision urgently and, probably because you cannot back out, it is easier to do so; the choice is an obvious one. Since there is a fair amount of luck around for you in August, making a choice is also rewarded. But everything is in flux around you so it is a wonderful opportunity for creative growth and ego-less change, though not for control. Follow the lead of a woman, even if you have to be in the limelight; she shows you the balance that you are comfortable with, she is the optimist, the light side. This could be easier said than done, I know, but you should be able to follow.

CAPRICORN 21 DECEMBER TO 20 JANUARY

You are tidying up all the loose ends that you can see; pruning them off, sweeping them away and it's as good as starting over. You will probably be at your most dry and intellectual about this in August and that is how it should be. Be ready for some deep belly laughing as well because your sense of humour is back. Your responsibilities usually come first, why are you so torn in September? You want to do what is good for your family, but you also have obligations to your work. To say that you should follow your heart sounds trite, yet it's true – let it be the most passionate part of your heart. Start at home and with what is dear to you.

AQUARIUS 20 JANUARY TO 18 FEBRUARY

You can be so stubborn, but in early August you will have to change when presented with the information that is backed up with somebody's experience. You face the facts – thought and action become one. It takes a long time for the changes to settle, but it shouldn't matter because you are flat-out busy, or you should be. Don't get caught in long discussions with your visiting friend who is a big help. Good fortune is a confirmation of the rightness of your recent choices. You have changed how you approach your own health, and as you integrate this you spread positivity to the rest of the people in your world and you feel free to do more of what you do well.

PISCES 18 FEBRUARY TO 20 MARCH

August sees you conflicted but it does work out. You are held accountable and made visible by your boss or someone who has some authority over you. It is fair, so accept the process and let it run its course. Just make sure that you attain a balance and work for the good of all because you are, of course, a member of humanity. In September it is what you do that clears the air for you personally, so start a new activity or renew a sporting interest. There are no guarantees about the best course of action; waiting for that leads to disappointment. Just gather your courage and your energy and move. And it works out, snap. If you do not commit to action, you are going to be forced to do it, so why wait?