Archive for category Astro4Business Basics

Aquarius Leadership – Sarah Palin

Feb 17

Posted by Ellen Longo in Leadership Through the Signs, The Zodiac Signs for Business | 35 Comments

Hello everyone.

I’ve just spent the afternoon with Sarah Palin. Not literally of course, but for our leadership study on Aquarians. Sarah is an Aquarian to the max: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Mars, and Saturn. The two remaining inner planets, Venus and Jupiter, are in Aries.

One of Time Magazine's 2010 World's Most Influential People (Source:Wikipedia)

I really enjoyed my research on Palin. I started with Wikipedia, then went to AstroDataBank to get her chart. I read several articles on her from news magazines. I found my way to her “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” show for The Learning Channel and watched the first episode. Then I must have watched 20 YouTube videos on her, from the early Katie Couric Interview when Sarah was a Vice-presidential candidate to the recent comments she made regarding the Arizona shootings.

I wanted to write about Palin because we’re looking at Aquarian leadership qualities and the two I’ve covered so far, Yoko Ono and Franklin D. Roosevelt, are firmly in the liberal end of the spectrum. I wanted to see how these same qualities apply to someone on a different square in the political landscape.

As I listened to super-Aquarian Sarah Palin, I recognized many of the traits we’ve discovered in the last two posts.

Let’s review the Aquarian qualities we’ve developed in this series and round them out with Palin’s interesting personality (in bold):

Each sign has its keyword, a phrase which captures the essence of the sign. The keyword for Aquarius is “I Know.” Aquarians know what they know and they’re certain they’re right! It is striking how confident Palin is. Katie Couric called her “cool, calm, and collected.” There never seems to be a moment of doubt. Regarding the Israel/Iran conflict she said with absolute certainty, “I know who the good guys are, and who the bad guys are.”
“Aquarians are the mental pioneers, the forward thinking individuals who live in the future and not in the past.” (Isabel Hickey, Astrology A Cosmic Science) Palin comes off as impatient; exasperated by lack of progress toward her goals for the country. It’s also fascinating how she seems to have completely dropped the past, her governorship, her vice-presidential run, as if they are an annoyance. Her gaze in firmly toward the future.
“Aquarians are inflexible in their ideas and cannot be pushed into anything they do not want to do.” (Ibid.) Aquarians can become trapped in their ideology. Palin gives the sense that she believes what she believes because she believes it, and there is no need to contemplate it any further.
“They are rebels and individualists [who] have to go their own way. Independent, imaginative, creative and inventive, there is a genius about them if they are evolved.” (Ibid.) I have to admire her spirit. Her life in Alaska as a hunter, fisher, hiker shows the independent spirit that draw so many to that state. She obviously followed her own winding path as she gained her education, attending six universities in five years.
Ruled by two planets, Saturn and Uranus, Aquarians can be progressive in some ways and conservative in others. With Saturn in Aquarius, she tends toward the conservative side of the spectrum. But I noticed contradictions in her thinking about government. As an example, when talking about the banking crisis she said she favors government-led “reform” but not regulations. She wanted more oversight, but she wanted government to stay out of the crisis. This seems like her Aquarian nature is split between liberalism and conservatism.
In Aquarius, “the individual loses himself in the group and shoulders his responsibility as a cell in the larger body of humanity.” (Liz Greene, Saturn) I see this in Palin. It’s like she has become a spokesperson for a certain part of the collective. It’s hard to discern her feeling nature. Her personal life has become a vehicle for her political message.

The Aquarian support for the disenfranchised often stems from personal experience. This lends authenticity to their deep compassion for the downtrodden. This one doesn’t seem to fit. However, I don’t know much about her early, more personal life.
As an air sign, Aquarians lead primarily with ideas. They are often thought leaders, out in front, pulling the public into new perceptions. I think Sarah pulled many of us into a new perspective, a dawning of new consciousness about what was happening in the American zeitgeist. I once heard it said of Newt Gingrich that he was like a bird flying in formation, and all of a sudden he realized the flock had all lined up behind him. That’s how Sarah seems to me. A certain political attitude was ready to erupt and she put a face and personality to that fervor.
Aquarians have been called “stubbornly liberal.” There is a fixed nature to Aquarius, the persistence and determination to right the wrongs they perceive in society. Perhaps not stubbornly liberal, but you can feel her persistence as she keeps herself in the forefront of the political discussion.
Searing intelligence is a common trait of Aquarius. I think Palin demonstrates her intelligence in her knack for self-promotion. She gains support through appealing to the protectionism of common people and to a sense of patriotism. Brilliant!
Aquarians carry an inborn conflict. They are often fiercely independent yet committed to humanitarian causes, which brings them into necessary contact with groups. When I watched her in her “Alaska” show, I could sense that this was a woman who is truly at home in the wilderness, in spending time outdoors, writing and researching on her porch. She has built a television studio at her home, conducting her many appearances against the backdrop of staggering natural beauty. I think she displays this trait well.
Devotion to the common man is a standard trait of most Aquarians. Yes, definitely. Her “common man” may not be yours or mine, but she does seem sincerely devoted to “the people’s movement.”
Republican Vice-Presidential Candidate (Source:Wikipedia)
There is often seemingly unflagging energy and a huge quantity of output. This deep reserve of energy is a feature of all of the fixed signs and it shows itself here in fixed-air Aquarius. You should see her hiking over glaciers! And she does seem to have loads of energy, never tiring in what was obviously a grueling campaign which she was unprepared for in many ways. And she has continued to produce, writing two books in the last two years, producing a television show, appearing at numerous Tea Party and Republican Party events, raising children, being a commentator on Fox News, and more.
The Aquarius does not generally think he/she has all of the answers. They are open to input from various sources. They enjoy a good debate and willingly engage with opposing points of view. Uhhh. I don’t know about this one. She does say she receives and appreciates advice from her husband.
Alliances based upon and supported by friendship are deeply important to Aquarians. A community brings out the best of their traits and they are loyal to others over the long-term. This makes me think that her alliance with the Tea Party is stronger and more permanent than I had thought.
Aquarians “sacrifice their private life to a public cause.” Becoming obsessed with that cause they can fall into workaholism and forfeit their own health for others. Even while riding in a float plane above Alaska on her way to see grizzlies, she was working the entire time on her Blackberry. I get the sense that her private life has been completely sacrificed to a cause. I had thought that cause was Sarah Palin. But after seeing her chart with all of the Aquarian influence, I now think she may be authentically working for the public interest. Rhetoric is real in her case.
Aquarians tend to be “ahead of the curve” with technology, early adopters of the latest breakthroughs. They have an intuitive resonance with the future and an uncanny ability to foretell the direction of coming change. I think she was well positioned to bring excitement to the Republican Party when they needed it most. And resigning from the Governorship of Alaska just as her poll numbers began to drop was probably a wise move for her future life in the public sphere.
Aquarians have a natural facility with words and can be excellent communicators. They have an informal, casual conversational style which conveys confidence and garners trust. I heard an interview with a presidential speechwriter the other day who said that Sarah Palin will have to drop her folksy idioms to be taken seriously. I’m not sure. Her way of speaking is one of the things which endear her to her supporters. Her “don’t retreat; reload” comment, which was so disparaged in light of the Arizona shootings, actually has great appeal to her fans.
Aquarians have great courage when defending the rights of others. She says that she can handle the mocking and criticism because she’s fighting for democracy for her country. There’s no doubt it takes massive courage to survive on the stage she has set for herself.

What do you think? A good example of Aquarius, right?

The Sun moves into Pisces soon and we’ll move our study into that sign. But now it’s your turn. What is the one essential piece of advice you would give to an Aquarius just stepping into a position of leadership? What do you see as the most authentic trait of an Aquarian leader?

Thanks for participating! I look forward to your comments.

In case you missed them, here are the first two posts in this series:

Aquarius Leadership – Yoko Ono

Aquarius Leadership – Franklin D. Roosevelt

*******************************************************

For an Intro to Sun Signs and Leadership see this link to my other blog!

Have you seen my new blog? Discussing all things astrological, for anyone interested in real-life astrology, check out Ellen Longo’s Astrology Blog.

Do you have a question for Ellen? See the “Work with Ellen” tab at the top of this site for my Straight to the Point Response service.

For an overview of the month, see the Astro4Business Month Ahead – February 2011

For more info on the business descriptions of the planets mentioned in this post, see

Saturn

Uranus

Tags: Aquarius, astrology, business

Aquarius Leadership – Franklin D. Roosevelt

Feb 14

Posted by Ellen Longo in Leadership Through the Signs, The Zodiac Signs for Business | 42 Comments

Hello, everyone.

FDR during Fireside Chat. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Today we continue with our new series: Leadership through the Signs. In this series, following each month’s zodiac sign, we’re exploring and uncovering essential leadership qualities for each sign of the zodiac. We’re looking at real life examples of established leaders whose birthdays fall into each particular sign. We’re testing the principles of textbook astrology and adding a few guidelines of our own as we discover them. The purpose of the project is to recognize the leadership qualities we naturally possess and to recognize those qualities in other leaders.

First let’s define what we mean by a leader. The American Heritage Dictionary defines a leader as 1) a person who leads others along a way; a guide, and 2) one in charge of or in command of others. For our purposes, we’ll take both definitions and apply them to business life. In this series we’ll look at thought leaders, political leaders, business leaders, sports figures, and a few of us regular people too.

This month: Aquarius

There are many interesting leaders born under the sign of Aquarius. Today we’ll continue our exploration with Franklin D. Roosevelt. First, though, let’s list the primary traits of the Aquarius nature we’ve already discovered and then add bullet points as we examine FDR and his leadership attributes. (*See the excerpt at the bottom of this post for more discussion of the sign Aquarius.)

The experts tell us:

Each sign has its keyword, a phrase which captures the essence of the sign. The keyword for Aquarius is “I Know.” Aquarians know what they know and they’re certain they’re right!
“Aquarians are the mental pioneers, the forward thinking individuals who live in the future and not in the past.” (Isabel Hickey, Astrology A Cosmic Science)
“Aquarians are inflexible in their ideas and cannot be pushed into anything they do not want to do.” (Ibid.)
“They are rebels and individualists [who] have to go their own way. Independent, imaginative, creative and inventive, there is a genius about them if they are evolved.” (Ibid.)
Ruled by two planets, Saturn and Uranus, Aquarians can be progressive in some ways and conservative in others.
In Aquarius, “the individual loses himself in the group and shoulders his responsibility as a cell in the larger body of humanity.” (Liz Greene, Saturn)

What we’ve discovered in this series so far:

The Aquarian support for the disenfranchised often stems from personal experience. This lends authenticity to their deep compassion for the downtrodden.
As an air sign, Aquarians lead primarily with ideas. They are often thought leaders, out in front, pulling the public into new perceptions.
Aquarians have been called “stubbornly liberal.” There is a fixed nature to Aquarius, the persistence and determination to right the wrongs they perceive in society.
Searing intelligence is a common trait of Aquarius.
Aquarians carry an inborn conflict. They are often fiercely independent yet committed to humanitarian causes, which brings them into necessary contact with groups.
Devotion to the common man is a standard trait of most Aquarians
There is often seemingly unflagging energy and a huge quantity of output. This deep reserve of energy is a feature of all of the fixed signs and it shows itself here in fixed-air Aquarius.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

If you have ever studied the life and work of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32^nd President of the United States, you can immediately recognize the traits of Aquarius. See if you see the traits listed above as part of his story. At the end of this short study, I’ll bullet leadership qualities which add to our list.

(I compiled the following from Franklin and Eleanor: An Extraordinary Marriage, by Hazel Rowley; the Wikipedia article, “Franklin D. Roosevelt”; and the “Fresh Air” Interview with historian Jeff Shesol , author of Supreme Power: Franklin Roosevelt vs. the Supreme Court.)

Franklin Roosevelt surrounded himself with a loyal, intimate group of advisors, naming them the “Brain Trust.” He gathered these men and women to the governor’s mansion when he was governor of New York, the White House when he was president, and to his home and retreat sites, as well. They were university professors, lawyers, and financiers from the left and right. He had a talent “for selecting colleagues, and knew instinctively who would make loyal, hardworking, good-humored members of his team.” (Rowley) His group would “bat ideas around,” as he put it. There were discussions about policy, as well as swims, receptions, movies, and picnics.

People working for Roosevelt found their work deeply rewarding. They were invited into the most important discussions about the biggest issues of the time, and often met with the President while he was shaving or eating breakfast. In fact, he made the biggest mistake of his presidency, in which he tried to pack the Supreme Court with his own appointees, when he kept the project unusually secretive, vetting it with only one key member of his cabinet.

Both he and his wife, Eleanor, enjoyed communal living and often had ten or more advisors and friends living with them. “They liked to have friends sleeping across the hallway, who wandered into their bedrooms in pajamas to discuss urgent matters.” (Rowley)

Even when his health was failing in his 4^th term of presidency, FDR travelled internationally to negotiate wartime alliances with Russia, Britain, and China. Eleanor Roosevelt said of him that “he had chosen to sacrifice his private life to a higher cause and he must do everything in his power to fulfill his promise to the people.” (Rowley)

A wealthy New York aristocrat from one of the earliest U.S. families, he brought the five-day week, old-age pensions, farm relief, cheap electricity to rural areas, unemployment relief through public works, social security benefits, disability benefits, minimum wage, and aid for dependent mothers and children. He worked with the Boy Scouts his entire life. He spent his life in political opposition to most of his relatives and people in his class and they were convinced he was going to turn the country socialist.

Roosevelt also fostered artistic creativity and through various Federal Arts Projects employed artists, writers, and actors. Through the Works Progress Administration, he led the construction of public buildings, roads, bridges, parks, schools, and housing, which provided employment for millions of Americans.

FDR was one of the first politicians to recognize the importance of radio as a tool of communication. At the end of his first week in the White House, he initiated his “fireside chat.” During these radio addresses, he explained “simply and without condescension” why he and his advisors were taking the actions they were taking to address the worst economic conditions the country had ever faced. “As he talked his head would nod and his hands would move in simple, natural, comfortable gestures. His face would smile and light up as though he were actually sitting on the front porch or in the parlor with them. People felt this, and it bound them to him in affection.” (Rowley)

The Four Freedoms engraved on a wall at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington. (Source: Wikipedia)

In the early affronts of Nazi Germany, Roosevelt was the only major world leader to condemn Hitler’s actions publicly. Under his leadership, the United States surpassed Britain as the most powerful nation in the world. At home, as well as in international relations, FDR proposed “the policy of the good neighbor—the neighbor who resolutely respects himself and…respects the rights of others.”

Among his many firsts, he was the first candidate to make a campaign trip by airplane. He was the first president to put a woman in charge of the Department of Labor. He was the first American president to travel to Africa.

Aquarian Leadership Qualities

What can we add to our list of Aquarian Leadership from this story? This is what I see:

The Aquarius does not generally think he/she has all of the answers. They are open to input from various sources. They enjoy a good debate and willingly engage with opposing points of view.
Alliances based upon and supported by friendship are deeply important to Aquarians. A community brings out the best of their traits and they are loyal to others over the long-term.
Aquarians “sacrifice their private life to a public cause.” Becoming obsessed with that cause they can fall into workaholism and forfeit their own health for others.
Aquarians tend to be “ahead of the curve” with technology, early adopters of the latest breakthroughs. They have an intuitive resonance with the future and an uncanny ability to foretell the direction of coming change.
Aquarians have a natural facility with words and can be excellent communicators. They have an informal, casual conversational style which conveys confidence and garners trust.
Aquarians have great courage when defending the rights of others.

Now It’s Your Turn

Did you pick up anything I didn’t note? Are you familiar with an Aquarian in a leadership position who reflects the qualities above? What would you counsel a young Aquarian just stepping into a position of leadership?

We’re not done yet! While the Sun is in Aquarius, I’ll feature more profiles of Aquarian leaders to teach and inspire us! Stay tuned. If you missed the first post in this series, use this link: Aquarius Leadership – Yoko Ono.

*******************************************************

For an Intro to Sun Signs and Leadership see this link to my other blog!

Have you seen my new blog? Discussing all things astrological, for anyone interested in real-life astrology, check out Ellen Longo’s Astrology Blog.

Do you have a question for Ellen? See the “Work with Ellen” tab at the top of this site for my Straight to the Point Response service.

For an overview of the month, see the Astro4Business Month Ahead – February 2011

Tags: Aquarius

A4B Weekly Forecast – New Moon and lots more!

Jan 30

Posted by Ellen Longo in Introduction to Astrology for Business | 9 Comments

Anonymous Flammarion woodcut (1888). (Source:Wikimedia Commons)

Hello everyone.

There is so much going on this week and all of it impacts our personal lives. The action involves the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars, all personal planets. This week is not about big, global, dramatic happenings but more about daily interactions in the close circle in our business lives: our employees, our sales people, our products, communications and operations. And all this against the backdrop of the final moments of the last Moon, the low energy of the New Moon, and the very first sliver of revelation of the new lunar cycle.

New Moon on Wednesday

Despite everything going on around you, your energy may really flag this week. You may feel like you’re sleepwalking through situations or witnessing them from a distance. That’s the energy of the New Moon. Big things occur with each New Moon, but they happen very subtly.

If you really want to catch the wave it’s best to spend some time out of the fray, tuning in and listening. But if you can’t get away, if the week is as busy as it looks like it will be, don’t worry. The currents are there whether you notice them or not and they will carry you toward the next endeavor. It’s just more fun to be informed beforehand!

Mercury and Venus change Signs

Mercury and Venus both change signs on Thursday: Mercury enters Aquarius and Venus enters Capricorn. The readers of this site have an ongoing assignment; would you like to join? We’re testing the astrological principle that when a planet changes signs, an event related to its influence is noticeable in our world. Thursday is an excellent day to be especially aware with two planets changing signs on the same day. Let’s give it one day “orb of influence” on either side, being especially observant from Wednesday to Friday.

What to look for? Mercury rules all forms of communication and business interactions and Venus rules partnerships, alliances, marketing, and public relations. So in either case look for a change in tenor, a new association, a breakthrough, or a turn in direction. Since each sign matures and corrects for the excesses of the last sign, we’re not looking for an out-of-the-blue, startling occurrence but rather an event that evolves a situation from one kind of activity to another. Look for the same people stepping into a different situation.

The Sun is active too

On Friday the Sun conjuncts Mars, merging the two fire-starters of the heavens. They meet in Aquarius, stamping their annual cycle with mental pioneering and group endeavors. Just as with the New Moon, the activity of the conjunction can be subtle and you may have to be especially mindful to sense what these two are up to. But they could ignite an idea that affects your operations over the next year’s time. Look for invention and innovation.

This is the best day this year for a meeting between you and your operations or engineering staff. The session could be hot and that’s OK. Ingenuity can be born from that fire.

Then on Saturday, on Saturn’s-day, the Sun trines retrograde Saturn. This is a day that “triggers events” according to Erin Sullivan in her excellent book, Retrograde Planets. The whole focus of the retrograde cycle of Saturn, which lasts until early June, could become clear on Saturday. Look for a Saturn influence, some hierarchy, system, regulation, or policy which just isn’t working and needs to be restructured. (To read more about Saturn Retrograde, including tips to work with retrograde Saturn, use this link.)

And more?

And there’s still more, but that’s enough, don’t you think? Remember to be vigilant about Mercury and Venus changing signs. Let’s see if we notice their influence. Leave a note in the comments with anything you observe.

Have a great week!

*******************************************************

Have you seen my new blog? Discussing all things astrological, for anyone interested in real-life astrology, check out Ellen Longo’s Astrology Blog.

Do you have a question for Ellen? See the “Work with Ellen” tab at the top of this site for my Straight to the Point Response service.

For more info on the business descriptions of the planets mentioned this week, see

Aquarius Leadership – Yoko Ono

Jan 26

Posted by Ellen Longo in Leadership Through the Signs, The Zodiac Signs for Business | 594 Comments

Hello, everyone.

It’s Time For Action. The Action is PEACE. Spread the word. Spread PEACE. I love you! (Source:Wikipedia)

Today we start a new series: Leadership through the Signs. In this series, following each month’s zodiac sign, we’ll explore and uncover the essential leadership qualities for each sign of the zodiac. We’ll do this by looking at real life examples of established leaders whose birthdays fall into each particular sign. We’ll test the principles of textbook astrology and add a few guidelines of our own as we discover them. The purpose of the project is to recognize the leadership qualities we naturally possess and to recognize those qualities in other leaders.

This month: Aquarius

There are many interesting leaders born under the sign of Aquarius. Today we’ll start with a great example: Yoko Ono. First, though, let’s list the primary traits of the Aquarius nature and then add bullet points as we examine Ono in her role as a leader. (*See the excerpt at the bottom of this post for more discussion of the sign Aquarius.)

Each sign has its keyword, a phrase which captures the essence of the sign. The keyword for Aquarius is “I Know.” Aquarians know what they know and they’re certain they’re right!
“Aquarians are the mental pioneers, the forward thinking individuals who live in the future and not in the past.” (Isabel Hickey, Astrology A Cosmic Science)
“Aquarians are inflexible in their ideas and cannot be pushed into anything they do not want to do.” (Ibid.)
“They are rebels and individualists [who] have to go their own way. Independent, imaginative, creative and inventive, there is a genius about them if they are evolved.” (Ibid.)
Ruled by two planets, Saturn and Uranus, Aquarians can be progressive and conservative at the same time.
In Aquarius, “the individual loses himself in the group and shoulders his responsibility as a cell in the larger body of humanity.” (Liz Greene, Saturn)

Aquarius Yoko Ono

The beam from the Imagine Peace Tower in Iceland seen from Viðey. (Source:Wikimedia Commons)

Most of the following was culled from the Wikipedia article on Ono:

Yoko Ono is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking. Ono brought feminism to the forefront through her music which prefigured New Wave music. She is a supporter of gay rights and is known for her philanthropic contributions to the arts, peace and AIDS outreach programs.

Ono has said that she and her once-prominent family were forced to beg for food during the fire-bombing of Tokyo while pulling their belongings in a wheelbarrow. It was during this period in her life that Ono says she developed her “aggressive” attitude and understanding of “outsider” status.

Ono was accepted into the philosophy program of Gakushuin University, the first woman ever to be accepted into that department of the exclusive university. However, after two semesters, she left the school. [After her family moved to New York] Ono enrolled in Sarah Lawrence College.

Ono was a sometime member of Fluxus, a loose association of Dada-inspired avant-garde artists that developed in the early 1960s. When she was invited to join the group she declined because she wanted to remain an independent artist. Ono has worked in conceptual and participatory art, challenging people to become part of the creation of the piece.

Ono funded the construction and maintenance of the Strawberry Fields memorial for her deceased husband John Lennon in New York City’s Central Park; she founded the John Lennon Museum in Saitama, Saitama, Japan; and she established the Imagine Peace Tower in Reykjavik in Iceland.

Many musicians, particularly those of the New Wave movement, have paid tribute to Ono (both as an artist in her own right, and as a muse and iconic figure.)

In 2002, Ono inaugurated her own peace award, The LennonOno Grant for Peace, by giving $50,000 prize money to artists living “in regions of conflict.” Israeli and Palestinian artists were the first recipients. The award is given out every two years, in conjunction with the lighting of the Imagine Peace Tower.

In 2004, Ono remade her song “Everyman… Everywoman…” to support same-sex marriage, releasing remixes that included “Every Man Has a Man Who Loves Him” and “Every Woman Has a Woman Who Loves Her.”

On April 1, 2010, Ono was named the first “Global Autism Ambassador” by the Autism Speaks organization. In 2009, she created a piece of artwork called Promise to mark the annual World Autism Awareness Day, which is on April 2.

Aquarius, much?

Wish Piece by Yoko Ono (1996) Make a wish Write it down on a piece of paper Fold it and tie it around a branch of a Wish Tree Ask your friends to do the same Keep wishing Until the branches are covered with wishes (Source:Wikipedia)

Whew! Now that’s an Aquarian leader! So what can we pick from her work to add to our list of traits and characteristics of Aquarius?

The once-rich family begging for food is a poignant reminder that the Aquarian support for the disenfranchised often stems from personal experience. This lends authenticity to their deep compassion for the downtrodden.
As an air sign, Aquarians lead primarily with ideas. Ono is not the leader of an organization or a political party. She is a thought leader, someone out in front, pulling the public into new perceptions.
Aquarians have been called “stubbornly liberal.” You can sense the fixed nature of Aquarius, the persistence and determination to right the wrongs they perceive in society. Ono even calls herself “aggressive,” a trait you might run into if you ever take a conservative stance with an Aquarius.
Ono’s story gives us the sense of the searing intelligence that is common with Aquarius: the first woman ever to be accepted into the prestigious philosophy department, the constant creativity, and the breadth of talents.
I get the sense that Ono is involved with groups, but always alone. Fiercely independent yet committed to humanitarian causes, this is a conflict within most Aquarians.
You can sense the devotion to the common man which is a standard trait of the Aquarian, the desire for her art to be completed by others, the inclusion of everyday people in her outreach.
I also note the seemingly unflagging energy, the sheer quantity of output, and the active mind into her late 70s, (so far). This deep reserve of energy is a feature of all of the fixed signs and it shows itself here in fixed-air Aquarius.

Let me take this time to thank Yoko Ono for her contribution, her authenticity, and her inspiration. I’d also like to thank her for letting me examine her as an example of the Aquarius temperament and leadership style.

Now It’s Your Turn

We’re not done yet! While the Sun is in Aquarius, I’ll feature more profiles of Aquarian leaders to teach and inspire us! Stay tuned.

*******************************************************

For an Intro to Sun Signs and Leadership see this link to my other blog!

Have you seen my new blog? Discussing all things astrological, for anyone interested in real-life astrology, check out Ellen Longo’s Astrology Blog.

Do you have a question for Ellen? See the “Work with Ellen” tab at the top of this site for my Straight to the Point Response service.

For an overview of the month, see the Astro4Business Month Ahead – January 2011

*More on Aquarius:

Aquarius is also called the water bearer, and is symbolized by an angel pouring water onto the earth. But the water the angel pours is not liquid; it is the water of knowledge. The Greek myth related to Aquarius is the myth of Prometheus, known as the first revolutionary. Prometheus had been given a mission by Zeus to inhabit the world with living creatures. After creating all the other creatures, Prometheus fashioned a being made to resemble the gods themselves. And as a gift, he taught his favorite creatures astronomy, mathematics, the alphabet, how to cure diseases, and the art of divination. Defying Zeus’ orders, he stole a spark from the sun, fire, which would warm people’s homes and become the seed of civilization. From this myth, we see the rebelliousness of the Aquarian temperament as well as the desire to uplift the disadvantaged and establish them as equal to the gods.

In astrology, Aquarius is known as an air sign. Air signs are concerned with the mind and intellect rather than emotions (water signs), spirit (fire signs), and the physical world (earth signs). The glyph for Aquarius is the lightning bolt, signifying flashes of insight and brilliance. Airwaves and electrical systems come naturally under the influence of this sign and also technological revolutions, such as the industrial revolution in the late 18^th and early 19^th century and the digital revolution in our time. The sign is also associated with revolutionary ideas, such as liberty, democracy, anarchy, and socialism that topple traditional institutions and is concerned with the nature of one’s responsibility and contribution to the group. Aquarius includes an egalitarian vision, where each person is created equal to every other, and can make an equally valid contribution to the whole.

Tags: Aquarius, astrology, business, Leadership

Saturn Retrograde – 10 Tips for Success

Jan 25

Posted by Ellen Longo in Astro4Business Management Tips, Retrograde Motion, Saturn in Libra, What to do now | 1,278 Comments

Hello, everyone.

As Earth (blue) passes a superior planet, such as Saturn (red), the superior planet will temporarily appear to reverse its motion across the sky.(Source: Wikipedia)

Tonight Saturn begins a 4 ½ month period of retrograde motion. This period of retrograde motion occurs every year as it is a product of the angle between the Sun, the earth, and the retrograde planet. Whenever the Sun approaches the opposite sign as the planet, the planet appears to move backwards against the backdrop of the stars. Fully 1/3 of the year is spent with Saturn in retrograde motion.

The Face of Saturn

Saturn represents the intensity of one’s ambition, the inner pressure to become or accomplish something. Saturn also indicates the Achilles heel, the mind-set in which doubt and fear or an overly conservative attitude works against success. When Saturn is strong in a businessperson’s chart, they run a tight ship with an authoritarian management style and excellent administrative abilities.

In business, Saturn describes systems and procedures, controls and policies. It can also indicate outside rules and regulations such as tax and housing codes and the general level of difficulty the business will experience with outside authorities. It rules audits and reporting, bureaucracy and bylaws. It also shows the area where good hard work and persistence will pay off and where inner and outer limitations can spark real growth and accomplishment.

Saturn Retrograde

When Saturn is retrograde we have the opportunity to examine whether our standard modes of operation truly spring from our own values, or have been imposed upon us by authority figures or societal norms. It’s a time when our regular structures of support and stability may be withdrawn and we have to rely upon our own creativity and self-discipline to achieve our goals.

Saturn becomes less direct and overt when in retrograde motion which can relieve stress and struggle. Yet as business managers we may see that our authority becomes undermined as others break free from outer rules and regulations too.

10 Tips for 4 ½ Months

Here are 10 tips to get the most out of Saturn retrograde:

If you run into difficulties with authority figures, examine your actions from another point of view. Have you given your power over to another authority? Are you blaming something or someone external when you need to bring a more mature attitude to the situation?
This is a great time to examine historical practices to see if they still add value. Undertake a study of some aspect of your processes and procedures to bring new efficiency to a stale operation.
Your normal sense of lock-in weakens during Saturn retrograde. Often we are so habituated to the way we think about a problem that potential solutions are not even considered. Explore options you would normally consider too risky.
Saturn retrograde is a great time to undertake a major restructuring effort. Resistance to change is lowered during this time.
You may be thwarted in your role as an authority figure in your business during Saturn retrograde. If so, share authority, be willing to listen, and promote those who act with good judgment and teamwork. Expose others to the reality of your business situation and demand that they step up into more responsibility.
Play with improvisation. You might even bring in an expert to lead your management team through an improvisation workshop to practice creativity, collaboration and innovation. Be willing to entertain “business as not-usual.”
With Saturn in the back seat, your timing may falter if you adhere to too rigid schedules. Provide room in your meetings and to-do lists for the unexpected.
List your major responsibilities, both in your business and in your personal life, and examine if they are in balance. This is a great time to bring a sense of proportion back to your activities.
Your normal support staff or mentors may falter. You may need to support others more or rely upon your own creativity and self-discipline to get the job done. This is a great opportunity to develop support for your supporters.

10. If there is a shift in a business alliance, ask yourself, “How can I exploit this change as an opportunity for my organization?” More profitable alliances are most likely waiting in the wings.

And a Reminder

Remember, Saturn rules common sense and this quality may be lacking while Saturn is retrograde. Be more vigilant than usual as you weigh your options and potential projects. Your practical wisdom is there; you just need to take more time to access it. Have fun, but no off-the-cuff decisions, please!

To explore more about Saturn and its current passage through Libra, see these posts:

Welcome to Saturn in Libra

Saturn in Libra – the Letter of the Law

Welcome (Again) to Saturn in Libra

Collaboration

To read more about retrograde motion, see these links:

Elegant Stillness

Retracing Your Steps – Retrograde Motion

What did you miss?

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Have you seen my new blog? Discussing all things astrological, for anyone interested in real-life astrology, check out Ellen Longo’s Astrology Blog.

Do you have a question for Ellen? See the “Work with Ellen” tab at the top of this site for my Straight to the Point Response service.

For an overview of the month, see the Astro4Business Month Ahead – January 2011

For more info on the business descriptions of the planets mentioned, see
Saturn

Tags: astrology, business, Saturn, Saturn in Libra

Looking Ahead to Jupiter in Aries

Jan 18

Posted by Ellen Longo in Businesses in the news, Current Events, Jupiter in Aries, Long-term Planning, What to do now | 11 Comments

Hello everyone.

Jupiter, the planet of enthusiasm, expansion, treaties, politics, and law, will end its long sojourn in Pisces on Saturday and enter the sign Aries. Let’s take a look at Jupiter in Aries and discover how best to use the next five months to capitalize on the opportunities it will surely bring.

As I was listening to NPR this morning I heard a story about how American Airlines is withdrawing from its participation in sites such as Orbitz and Expedia. Since Jupiter rules the airline industry and all things related to travel my ears perked up.

American Airlines and Jupiter in Aries

Zeus (Jupiter) battling the Typhon. 1811 (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

The story strikes me as a perfect example of Jupiter moving from Pisces into Aries. Pisces is a sign that favors unification and lack of differentiation; Aries is a sign that singles out the aggressive, warrior spirit. American Airlines specifically cited that their reason to differentiate their product was to show the public what is unique about their company. They no longer want to be viewed as one more flying bus, but as a boutique service that grants their customers access to various exclusive options. These unique options are not apparent when customers use middleman sites like Orbitz.

American Airlines said they want to connect directly to the customer rather than through another entity. This move is expected to foreshadow a much more fragmented industry, with each player eventually withdrawing from the consolidated sites and approaching customers more directly.

Does this sound like Jupiter in Aries? You bet. This short story demonstrates some of the key features of Jupiter in Aries for business:

Consolidated efforts characterized Jupiter in Pisces. In Aries, opportunities will be one-on-one; may the best person win!
There will be increasing product differentiation. Businesses with unique or instant qualities will garner opportunities. Stressing similarities was oh, so, Pisces.
Customers will expect individual contact rather than being treated as a herd.
Direct customer contact will become more important than relying on middlemen.
Industries will fragment, each vying to communicate the unique value of their product.

The Square and more Jupiter in Aries

Another story caught my ear as a foreshadow to Jupiter in Aries. This story featured the “Square”, which allows micro-businesses to accept credit card transactions through a mobile phone, then you can also seamlessly operate two separate WhatsApp accounts on one phone, look no further than https://www.yourbusinessnumber.com/blog/two-whatsapp-accounts-on-one-phone to see how that’s done. This handy resource not only provides virtual numbers, but also shares a detailed guide on how to effortlessly set up and manage both numbers.. On the spot credit card payments allow small business owners to forego the usual expenses of billing and collecting, allows the customer to pay immediately, and the fee for the service is less than most common credit card processing charges. The two men featured in the story were construction workers who had lost their jobs and were running a lawn maintenance business.

What are the marks of Jupiter in Aries in this story?

Micro-businesses and small businesses will increase in number as large conglomerates begin to break into smaller companies and people continue to build businesses in lieu of employment. (This is also a feature of the coming Uranus in Aries transit.)
As the number of micro and small businesses increases, there will be an increased demand for products and services to help them run their businesses.
On the spot, cut to the chase transactions will become common as the desire to do more, quickly, emerges as a response to the continued weakness in the economy.
Back offices will become dismantled as devices become available which allow overhead to be reduced.

Aries, the “first” sign

These two simple stories tell so much. Aries is a fundamentally aggressive mind-set, whether in the form of the lone-wolf entrepreneur or the established global company. It brings a desire to take on the competition, expand into new territory, and develop new markets. Aries is challenged and excited by a little risk, and the Jupiter in us loves an adventure. These two together bring to mind “frontier leadership,” a term I use to describe the spirit of bold expedition into unknown lines of business. And these two don’t mind “ramming” things through either; they’re certain a good bump in the right direction is just what someone may need to see the light.

Competition will feature strongly over the next five months, and this competition could be directed against others or against the limits you’ve reached in the past. There’s a lack of restraint to Jupiter in Aries, some may say a foolishness, which endeavors against all odds to win. There is a feeling of wanting it all and wanting no one to stand in the way. And this independent spirit has led to amazing inventions and innovations in the past: Jupiter in Aries witnessed the first electrical telegram, the first diplomatic agreement between China and the U.S., the First Baptist Church, and the first solo, non-stop, transatlantic flight. In these examples you can see Jupiter acting through the sign of new beginnings.

In fact “first” is a good word to contemplate. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac and Jupiter’s ingress on Saturday marks the beginning of a new twelve year Jupiter cycle. Jupiter likes to think big! Can you think about the next twelve years and being “first” in some aspect of your industry? Over the next five months, as Jupiter wanders through Aries, it’s time to take a new plunge. Can you look at the bulleted points above and find something that resonates for your business?

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Have you seen my new blog? Discussing all things astrological, for anyone interested in real-life astrology, check out Ellen Longo’s Astrology Blog.

Do you have a question for Ellen? See the “Work with Ellen” tab at the top of this site for my Straight to the Point Response service.

For an overview of the month, see the Astro4Business Month Ahead – January 2011

For more info on the business descriptions of the planets mentioned this week, see

Jupiter

Tags: business, Jupiter, Jupiter in Aries

Uranus flashes through 2011

Jan 14

Posted by Ellen in Uranus in 2011 | 7 Comments

(Source: Wikipedia)

Hello everyone.

This is our third and final post in the series examining the travels of the three outermost planets during 2011. We’ve covered Pluto and Neptune; check out the links if you missed them. Today we’ll take a look at Uranus. You’ll want to have your chart handy so you can determine whether Uranus will figure prominently for you this year. If so, follow the advice at the end about pitfalls to watch for and ways to align yourself with the energy. (If you need a copy of your chart, see the sidebar to request a free natal chart.)

Uranus

Astrology segments the planets and luminaries into three groups: the personal planets including the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars; the societal planets Jupiter and Saturn; and the impersonal planets, the planets of the collective, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. From the Sun all the way out to Saturn, we are familiar with these energies. They form a part of our everyday experience of life and their patterns are developed in terms we understand. We may not agree with the limitations imposed by Saturn, but they make sense to us and we’re generally willing to go along. An example is the speed limit: we may not like it for ourselves but we can recognize the beneficial restriction on our fellows.

All of the planets out to the orbit of Saturn were known and tracked for thousands of years. Then we come to Uranus. Uranus is the planet of the paradigm shift. Can you imagine what it must have been like when it was discovered? Not only was there this incredible invention, the telescope, but another body in the sky, the sky we had thought we had known so well for so long.

That’s the impact of Uranus in society and in our lives. It serves to breakup conventions; it ushers in brand new information. It propels us into unexpected ways of thinking and perceiving reality. In business, its name is “innovation.” Uranus governs change, disruption, reversals, brilliance, acceleration, eccentricity, the unique individual and the wider community.

Uranus represents an incredibly powerful mental dimension which, when brought into our conscious awareness, can yield startling and useful insights. In the personal mind, it appears as sudden flashes of insight and intuition that often lead to upheavals in our consciousness and are reflected in our outer lives.

Uranus in Aries

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

In early March Uranus ends its 7 year stay in Pisces and enters Aries. In business, Uranus in Pisces brought diversification to deal with new market forces, committee leadership, and collaboration, as well as global connection, dissolution of structures, and termination of hierarchies. As it moves into Aries this year, the source of business innovation will transition to a more independent and aggressive impulse. The innovation during the next seven years will come more from the efforts of the entrepreneur than collaborative efforts with peers.

We’ll see the shift in society too, and politics. For many years people have felt powerless to address the challenges of our world, especially those caused by government, big business, and the other powers that be. But there is a new movement afoot – one in which we are all coming to the understanding that we are individually powerful and that each act we perform has the power to change our world.

This is the positive side of Uranus in Aries, inspiring us to be the one willing to take responsibility for the whole even if that means standing alone to do so. This is the lone hunter who provides for the entire tribe. It is the individual with the courage to speak out on behalf of others. It is the inspired entrepreneur who through her efforts improves other people’s lives.

Perhaps we won’t be working in concert with others so much as we did when Uranus was in Pisces. But in breaking free of the crowd we can break free of groupthink, too. What do we think when we stand outside of the cluster we have identified with? What is the truth for us alone? With the courage of Aries, we can act from our own truth. This is the upside of Uranus in Aries.

Uranus in the heavens this year

Uranus begins the year at 26 degrees Pisces and enters Aries on March 11. From there it continues to 4 degrees of Aries when it begins its annual period of retrograde motion. Moving all the way back to 00 degrees Aries, it turns direct on December 10^th and finishes the year still at 00 degrees Aries.

If you have chart points from 26 to 30 degrees of any sign, but especially Pisces, Gemini, Virgo, or Sagittarius, Uranus will bring its signature change and disruption over the next couple of months. But it also brings startling clarity of mind and a desire to experiment and break through. If you have chart points from 00 to 5 degrees of any sign, but especially Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn this is your year for independence and reinvention.

If Uranus is visiting you this year, the way to work with the energy is to let yourself be excited by something new; branch out, experiment, try new things. Allow yourself to be struck by lightning, to be shaken up, to be surprised. Let in new ideas, new philosophies, and allow yourself to be influenced by others. Join a cause; work on the change you want to see. It’s a time for intellectual fervor and for thinking way outside of the box.

Some complications

You may have noticed that Uranus is roughly covering the same degrees that Neptune will be covering, but in different signs. If you have chart points at 26, 27, 28, 29, or 00 degrees you will be visited by both planets between now and the end of March. And depending on which signs your chart points are in, you will be favored by one and challenged by the other. For instance, say you have a 00 degree Sagittarius Sun. Neptune will square your Sun from Pisces, which is challenging, and Uranus will trine your Sun from Aries, which brings opportunity. So you’ll have two different, distinct, and powerful influences pushing and pulling you in different ways. Don’t be surprised if you feel bewildered, or when one moment’s absolute clarity disintegrates into the next moment’s complete confusion. Your heart and your mind may be taking you in different directions, or two support groups may be urging two different courses of action.

Both influences have something to bring, and they will each bring their impact into your business. The big, wider world wants to take a hand in your life. Since these aren’t energies we can regulate, I’d say embrace both. By the end of March you’ll be on firm footing again or at least only dealing with one or the other!

And more complications

Similar to Uranus and Neptune, Uranus and Pluto will also be in close contact this year. They don’t actually form an exact aspect until 2012 but they come within a degree or so. Next summer may bring intensity and breakthrough for you if you have chart points from 3 to 6 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn. But that’s another topic: we’ll cover it closer to its due date.

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Have you seen my new blog? Discussing all things astrological, for anyone interested in real-life astrology, check out Ellen Longo’s Astrology Blog.

For more information on Uranus, see these posts:

Uranus – an Introduction

Uranus in Pisces – Cisco Systems

Astro4Business Today – May 27, Full Moon, Uranus enters Aries!

Astro4Business Breakthrough!

Astro4Business – May 26

Astro4Business Weekly Forecast – Welcome Uranus in Aries!

Jumping into Uranus in Aries

Uranus and the Cycle of Innovation

Seven Classic Skills for Innovation

Do you have a question for Ellen? See the “Work with Ellen” tab at the top of this site for my Straight to the Point Response service.

For an overview of the month, see the Astro4Business Month Ahead – January 2011

Tags: astrology, business, Uranus, Uranus in Aries

Neptune Swimming through 2011

Jan 11

Posted by Ellen Longo in Neptune in 2011 | 30 Comments

Hello, everyone.

This is the second in our January series about the transits of the outer planets during 2011. We began last week with Pluto, the outermost planet. Today we’ll consider Neptune, also far-distant from the earth, exerting a subtle and profound influence. You’ll want to have your chart handy so you can determine whether Neptune will figure prominently for you this year. If so, follow the advice at the end about pitfalls to watch for and ways to align yourself with the energy. (If you need a copy of your chart, see the sidebar to request a free natal chart.)

"A Mermaid" by John William Waterhouse, 1905. (Source:Wikimedia Commons)

Neptune in Aquarius; Make That Pisces; Oops, Back Into Aquarius

Neptune’s been in Aquarius since 1998. This era has ushered in Aquarian values such as the equality of all beings, shared responsibility for the planet, the distribution of technology to all corners of the world, and the right of each person to contribute to and further the base of common knowledge.

Neptune is not a personal planet. It’s not an energy that we own, or can bid to do our will. And yet every person is touched by Neptune and every business must constantly respond to its influence. It has a profound impact on advertising, marketing, and branding. Neptune is the part of everyone which seeks to become like others, to identify with a group, to share common beliefs. It is the part of us which wants to align rather than separate, to seek common ground.

With Neptune in Aquarius we’ve been finding common ground through ideas, technology, and invention. As Neptune proceeds into Pisces for a few months this year we will all begin to shift to a different point of alignment. Borders will come down; our tribe will morph into those who feel the way we do, who understand and accept the same values, and who can imagine the same future that we do. We will connect to our employees and customers based on feelings and creative imagination rather than the more mental connection we’ve been forming through social media. Think scent, color, taste, and certainly, multi-dimensional media; 3-D is only the bare beginning!

Neptune begins the year in Aquarius and moves into Pisces in early April. It will remain in Pisces until August when, through retrograde motion, it moves back into Aquarius where it will finish the year. This is a year of transition for all of us and we will get glimmers of the sea-change that is coming in 2012 when Neptune moves permanently into Pisces. (Not really permanently, but it will feel that way.)

Mermaid Calls

I’ve dubbed Neptune visits “mermaid calls.” Neptune transits appear as a subtle dissatisfaction; a desire to leave the world of rules and boundaries behind; a desire for “floaty” days when you can glide without purpose from one thing to another. Obviously this can be tough for someone managing a business, unless the line of business is particularly attuned to this kind of creative drifting.

On the other hand, Neptune has been known to be very active in the charts of people with massive wealth; it’s like a small wave turns into a tsunami of riches, according to Christeen Skinner, an expert business astrologer.

So is 2011 your turn for a visit? Anyone with chart points which are at the very end of a sign or the very beginning of the next sign will be affected. From 26 to 30 degrees of Aquarius, Taurus, Leo, and Scorpio will certainly feel the waves, as well as anyone with chart points from zero to 2 degrees of Pisces, Gemini, Virgo, or Sagittarius.

Whenever Neptune makes a strong appearance, it is time for a change. Not a sudden change brought on by technological progress (Uranus) or crisis (Pluto) but more from a lingering sense of disillusion or dissatisfaction. Neptune requires us to sacrifice some part of ourselves, something we may think defines us, in order to grow in our understanding of our purpose within the larger coursing life.

Neptune’s effect on business can bring on a business challenge in which trends in the marketplace have swept over the business and caused it to lose its footing. And yet it may be hard to react skillfully because the owners may not be able to clearly define exactly what the issue is. If Neptune is strong for you this year, be sure to watch for deception, confusion, unhealthy dependence, and negligence.

How do we make the most of a Neptune transit? We keep it simple. We allow time for our own and our employees’ creativity. We develop a receptive state of mind. At work each day, we do what’s in front of us. We explore the opportunities that come our way without investing too much. We recognize we are adjusting our intuition to a new beam; we don’t trust too easily or too soon. And we surely use our lawyer and accountant to review the paperwork. Once that’s done, we go with the flow!

To read more about Neptune, check out these links:

Mermaid Calls

Neptune in Aquarius – let’s get connected!

Neptune in Aquarius – mind to mind connecting

Neptune in Aquarius – Inspired Minds

Neptune in Aquarius – Free

Neptune in Aquarius – Free, the Radical Price

Neptune in Aquarius – How to Compete with Free

Have you seen my new blog? Discussing all things astrological, for anyone interested in real-life astrology, check out Ellen Longo’s Astrology Blog.

Do you have a question for Ellen? See the “Work with Ellen” tab at the top of this site for my Straight to the Point Response service.

For an overview of the month, see the Astro4Business Month Ahead – January 2011

Tags: astrology, business, Neptune

Pluto’s Journey through 2011

Jan 6

Posted by Ellen in Pluto in 2011, Pluto in Capricorn, The Planets | 46 Comments

Happy New Year, everyone!

Let’s get an overview of the coming year. In the next several posts we’ll look at the long-range and overarching influences of each planet one by one. You’ll want to have your chart handy so you can determine whether the planet will figure prominently for you this year. If so, follow the advice at the end about pitfalls to watch for and ways to align yourself with the energy. (If you need a copy of your chart, see the sidebar to request a free natal chart.)

Hades, labeled as "Plouton", "The Rich One", bears a cornucopia on an Attic red-figure amphora, ca 470 BC. (Source:Wikipedia)

Pluto in Capricorn

Pluto begins the year at 5 degrees Capricorn, reaches about 7 ½ degrees before turning retrograde in April, regresses to just shy of 5 degrees in September, and then turns direct to end the year at 7 degrees Capricorn. Two degrees in one year!

Pluto represents massive and global change which springs from the evolutionary urge of life as a whole. It is an energy way beyond our conscious control and generally shows itself as upheaval, destruction, and reconstruction. Its symbol is the phoenix, rising from the ashes of what has been destroyed. In Capricorn until 2024, Pluto will particularly bring its regenerative energy to large societal structures such as government, religion, the economy, industry and the military.

Unlike 2010, when Pluto was involved in extremely stressful aspects with several other planets, its path is relatively unimpeded this year. In late February it forms the only challenging aspect of the year with Jupiter. This aspect can bring turmoil on the global stage, particularly in Jupiter-ruled areas such as publishing, the media, foreign relations, and with Jupiter in Aries, conflict and warfare. But with Jupiter, we can look for opportunities, blessings in disguise, which we can capitalize on if we act ethically and responsibly in the face of this turmoil.

Pluto hastens and intensifies the processes of endings and new beginnings, and in Capricorn will bring about the ending of our business pursuits that are no longer suited to our growth and personal evolution. But its movement is so slow and its action can be subtle. You may sense the change to the foundational structures around you but don’t yet understand how they will impact your business.

Has Pluto come to visit you?

Unless, that is, you have chart points in the first 4 degrees of any sign, but especially Capricorn, Aries, Cancer, or Libra. If so, you are more than aware of the impact of this energy; the last two years have been full of upheaval for you! You can rest more easily now. Pluto has done its work and it’s now up to you to pick up the pieces. Whatever has survived has real value for you. Since Pluto imbues us with power, I’m sure your strength has returned and reconstruction has begun.

And for those of you with planets from 5 degrees to about 9 degrees of any sign, but especially those mentioned above, this is your year! Pluto transits can be difficult, but when the work is done they are the most rewarding because we are permanently freed from a long-standing, but hidden, issue. The key is to dig down deep and open a large space within for a whole new perspective. Be willing to become new, to become redefined, to irrevocably let go of a perception that has become outmoded, worn down, and worn out. It’s time to shed an old skin and let a new young fresh skin grow in its place.

In your business this can play out as a crisis in which old forms of the business are being destroyed, possibly very dramatically. With Pluto on the scene, there could be firings of key management, criminal activity, cover-ups, and almost certainly difficulties with finances, banking, and other owners. Lack of trust and betrayal are probably at the root of the problem. Keep your eyes and ears open and tread as carefully as you can. Pluto can uncover some demons but it also reveals deep reserves of strength, power, and wealth. This is your year to excavate the gold.

Do you have a question for Ellen? See the “Work with Ellen” tab at the top of this site for my Straight to the Point Response service.

For an overview of the month, see the Astro4Business Month Ahead – January 2011

To explore Pluto in Capricorn, check out these posts:

Rhythms and Cycles

These Changing Times

Happy Anniversary, Pluto!

Birthing a Revolution – Pluto in Capricorn

What to do about Pluto in Capricorn (Redux)

Tags: astrology, business, Pluto

Jupiter/Uranus Conjunction – Innovation is born!

Jan 4

Posted by Ellen in Jupiter/Uranus conjunction, The Planets | 22 Comments

Hello, everyone.

Today is the day of the final Jupiter/Uranus conjunction, an aspect which begins a new fourteen year cycle of originality, technological advances, and innovations in products, processes, and services. We experienced the first contact of this series in June in the sign of Aries, then again in retrograde motion in Pisces in September, and now in direct motion again in Pisces. Soon both planets will continue into Aries.

Jupiter is the planet of expansion and opportunities, growth and optimism. Uranus is the planet of innovation, unexpected breakthroughs, and societal transformation. These two together are a powerhouse for business!

Samuel Morse Telegraph, created during 1844-45 Jupiter/Uranus conjunction. (Source:Wikimedia Commons)

At the first contact back in June I wrote:

…what’s fun about this series of contacts is that Uranus expresses its energy in our lives in completely unpredictable ways. This coupled with Jupiter’s love of sport means the coming six months may feel like a merry-go-round spinning at top speed: you know the ditty, round and round and round we go and where we stop, nobody knows! Yes, that’s Jupiter/Uranus.

This is a time of big risks, big opportunities, massive creative juice, and the potential for just as big mistakes and failures. Especially early in the cycle, we are likely to begin one thing and another, throwing balls into the air to see where they land. Where will we end up next January, after the last of the conjunctions? In a new place for sure, but with Uranus, the planet of the unexpected, we won’t know until we get there. Are you ready for the ride?

So how was it for you? What balls did you throw in the air and where did they land?

And then at the retrograde contact in September I wrote:

Deep in the recesses of your mind, there is a new idea being born. Yes, it may bear a resemblance to something you thought was left behind for good. And while both planets are in retrograde motion, it may be hard to clearly distinguish the next step for your business innovation and that’s OK – it’s not time for a fully baked idea yet. But if you listen carefully, you may hear the stirrings of your next big move, even if it sounds familiar.

By now the boundaries have given way; we’ve experimented, we’ve tested, we’ve taken risks, we’ve tried things that worked and others that failed. The idea is ready and we’re right on track!

Looking back over the last six months, could you have foreseen what your plans are today? I know when I think back to last June I thought I would be writing a series on Leadership for each astrological sign. Now I intend to pursue my Master’s Degree in Archetypal Cosmology and Conscious Evolution and write an additional blog on the daily journey through astrology! Talk about completely unpredictable, I didn’t even have a glimmer of this last June.

How about you? What ideas and insights are ready for implementation? It’s time to trust your intuition now. If it’s not immediately apparent, scan your heart and mind. The seed has been planted for your business innovation, your trek into the next fourteen years. Now is the time to recognize what has begun. Can you identify it?

Please share in the comments your breakthrough if you can. It will be inspiring to hear what these two planets have brought to light.

For more discussion of the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction, see these links:

June 7-13, Uranus/Jupiter Conjunction

June 9, Anticipation and Mountain Laurel

September 17, One-Two Punch

Do you have a question for Ellen? See the “Work with Ellen” tab at the top of this site for my Straight to the Point Response service.

For an overview of the month, see the Astro4Business Month Ahead – January 2011

For more info on the business descriptions of the planets mentioned this week, see

Jupiter

Uranus

Tags: astrology, business, Jupiter, Uranus