The intensity level rises today as the brilliant Leo Sun creates a superconductive trine with shadowy Pluto, shining the light of our awareness into the depths of our hidden feelings. We are driven to get to the bottom of what's happening, however, our language makes things seem more lighthearted because communicator Mercury conjuncts sweet Venus. The Moon enters sensual Taurus at 2:37 pm EDT, reinforcing our desire to keep things pleasant for now.

You may feel strongly about following your heart today and making time for recreation, yet you become more serious about work as the day continues to unfold. The pressure of knowing what needs to be done may build until you reach a threshold of discomfort and decide to take care of unfinished business. Once you get going, don't worry about working fast; keeping up a steady pace is all that's necessary.

Family issues that might usually upset you can be taken in stride today because you are feeling like you can say what's on your mind and others are carefully listening to your words. There's no need to expend extra energy on an emotional outbreak when an even-keeled, rational discussion is more effective and takes less out of you.

You are confident in your ability to get your ideas across now and others will likely take notice of your charisma. Although you have enough energy to swing into action before making a plan, this cavalier attitude is at odds with a more thoughtful side of your personality that also shines today. You don't need to ignore this careful analysis. It can help you hit your target, even if it's after you've already taken action.

Your head may win out over your heart today in an internal battle between logic and emotions. But it's still a bad idea to respond to a situation before you take enough time to process your feelings. It is fully acceptable to do something that overrides an attraction or a gut reaction, but don't just shut it down prematurely.

You may feel as if you are at the end of a road or maybe even as if summer is already over, even though it's not. Nevertheless, your anticipation of the upcoming changes can heighten your sense of urgency today. But there's no need to squeeze too much into one day. Although the Sun leaves Leo tomorrow, there will still be plenty of time for fun in the busier days ahead.

Your key planet Mercury joins lovely Venus today, putting a kinder and gentler spin on your day. But beneath your veneer of charm, passions may be out of control -- even if no one else knows but you. Although you can keep your vulnerability a secret for now, the truth will leak out in the next few days.

It's hard to rely on anyone else now, for everyone seems to be on the edge of change and therefore unreliable. You, on the other hand, feel as if you are able to keep your life balanced. But you may be operating under an illusion, based upon what you don't want to see. It's easier to just take care of a problem by responding quickly than it is to wait and see what will happen next if you leave things alone.

Don't give up yet; the work may be piling up now, but you can get through it all if you just stay focused on what's important. There are, no doubt, all kinds of distractions that can pull you from your mundane commitments, but you'll need to set them aside. Fortunately, the Sun's trine to your key planet Pluto gives you the ability to concentrate your mind power directly on your targeted destination.

You may feel rather invigorated today and ready to take on your commitments with enthusiasm. But optimism alone may not be enough, for you will need to demonstrate your knowledge of the facts before others accept you as their leader. Don't try to fake it; spend sufficient time in advance gathering the information you should have in order to do your job well.

You may be a little riled today by all the uncontrollable energy floating around. It's not necessarily anything bad; it's just that you are uncomfortable when something feels out of your control -- and there is too much happening now to contain it for your peace of mind. You are better off if you let go and enjoy the ride.

If there are any lingering relationship issues -- business or personal -- that you meant to handle, your window of opportunity is shutting quickly. Today is the last day of the Sun's yearly visit to your 7th House of Others, so you should bring any concerns you have out in the open. Once your cards are on the table, it will be easier to talk about possible solutions.

Now may be the best time to share your plan with co-workers or your boss, for your words will carry the conviction of your beliefs. You might be quite fired up about a practical matter and, luckily, you will make a lot of sense when you talk. But don't let your mind wander off subject or you will dissipate your motivational power. Aim your thoughts carefully and don't take your attention off the prize.