Horoscope: Friday, Aug 7

You will shock a few people over the next 24 hours. You may even shock yourself. You have this overwhelming desire to go on a purge, to rid your life of possessions and people you no longer need. Do it now while the motivation is high.

OK, up and at 'em, Taurus! You might feel like you're walking through sand today, but you really need to shake your booty and get the blood flowing. If you don't get up and do something, you'll be a slug all day. You need to clear your head and cast off that bloated feeling. Most importantly, you want to get a good start to the day so you can accomplish everything that awaits you.

Pace yourself carefully today and resist the temptation to take on more tasks than you can comfortably handle. With Mercury, your ruler, at odds with Jupiter, planet of excess, there is a danger you could go too far and fall off the edge!

Friends or a group could bring new and exciting information your way, perhaps involving career or educational opportunities. You might explore combining artistic talents with modern technology. Invitations to related social events could follow. Accept as many as you can, Gemini. They could make a difference in your personal, professional, and creative lives.

You are on a winning streak at the moment and it will get even better over the next few days. Whatever you put your mind to will work out for the best, so think big and don’t let anyone tell you that certain goals cannot be reached.

Anchor yourself in practical matters before you try to prove your point to others. There's a great deal of primal energy rising within you today and searching for some sort of outlet. Be aware of overextending yourself when it comes to issues of the mind. You may be so anxious to prove your point that you end up losing sight of the reality of the situation.

If you think sensibly and act wisely over the next few days you are sure to improve your financial position. But you must think long-term. Don’t go for easy profits now when, with a little bit of patience, you could strike it rich later on.

You may believe that you can take on any challenge and win, and maybe you can, but your chances of success will improve considerably if you tackle one thing at a time. What is more important to you, a creative endeavor or an affair of the heart?

A relationship has fallen into a rut of late and desperately needs an injection of ideas and passion. Make it your business today to surprise and delight the object of your affection. Do something they don’t expect. They’ll love you for it.

If you are the sort of Libra who learns from other people’s mistakes you will hold back from taking action today. If, however, you are the sort who rushes in where angels fear to tread you will fall smack on your face. It’s your choice.

The solution to a problem you have been facing is really quite simple, so why are you having such a hard time seeing it? Most likely it’s because you are still looking at the world the way you want it to be, rather than the way it is.

You have been pushing yourself hard of late and will continue to exert maximum effort over the next few weeks, and that’s good. But give yourself a break now and again. It’s not only your physical batteries that need recharging but your mental ones too.

There has been a distinct improvement in your position in recent days, and that’s good, but don’t take that as a sign you can now slow down. On the contrary, you need to step up the pace over the next 24 hours, especially on the work front.

Try not to push yourself too hard this weekend. You won’t lose out, financially or personally, by sitting back and taking it easy for a while. Let the world come to you for a change – better still, let it pass you by completely.

Don’t worry too much if you begin to lose interest in something that was previously of major importance to you – it means your subconscious knows there will be something even more important coming along soon to take its place. Make room for it.

You must give 100 per cent to what you are working on today, even if your interest is fading fast. Important people are watching closely to see if your commitment is as solid now as it has been in the past. You may have to put on an act.

Your heart is longing for a romantic encounter tonight, Aquarius, and the partner in your life is more than willing to accommodate you. Nonetheless, circumstances beyond your control could interfere with your plans, and you might not be able to make contact tonight. This could bring frustration, dissatisfaction, and maybe even a little friction between you. Don't panic, though. It will pass, probably by tomorrow.

Warm and sensitive by nature, Pisces, today you could feel especially sensual. Sex and romance are likely to be on your mind. Romantic novels and movies may seem especially appealing now, as could cozy beds and warm baths. Plan a romantic evening with the special person in your life, perhaps a special candlelit dinner at home.