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A4B Today – August 3, Hold Steady

Aug 2

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Today, Cardinal T-square 2010, What to do now | No Comments

Source:Wikimedia Commons

Good Day!

To take action or not; this seems to be the question on a lot of people’s minds these days.  Obviously we’re in a time of great change:  structures all falling, skeletons are coming out of the closet, people and institutions we relied upon in the past are no longer there for us.  We’re naturally inclined to want to change something in these circumstances and sometimes we feel that any change will be for the better.

When we are going through a time like this summer when the planets indicate a massive realignment of energies and priorities, it’s just as easy to make a bad decision as a good one.  In my experience, when the outer planets are active, as they are now, it can take months or even years to fully understand what the process was really about.  Someone just asked me this morning if I thought she should move ahead now and make a break with her career.  I know where she’s coming from, the conflicting planetary configurations of this summer are directly impacting her chart and therefore her business is being buffeted from all sides too.

These energies are massive, affecting world politics, the preservation of life on earth, the ability of people to freely express their highest desires, and when these energies reach this level of intensity we don’t always process them correctly while they are happening.  We have to get through them before we can discern what has changed and how we should respond to that change.

I’m sure you’ve experienced this.  You go through a period when life seems so volatile that it’s all you can do to just get through the day.  You have no perspective or context for the many upheavals going on around you.  Then when the smoke clears you can see the meaning and all the pieces fit together in a way you just couldn’t recognize when you were in the middle of it.

This time is like that.  Even though we feel pushed into making some kind of adjustment in our business lives, it’s best to wait a while.  There was a good example of this in the Harvard Business Review Management Tips today.  The article addressed how so often executives begin a restructuring project in their organizations just so they can take some action to address the problems.  Yet restructuring is most often a waste of time and money because it doesn’t address what is fundamentally in need of change in the company.

Let’s be smarter than those executives in our businesses.  Let’s take smaller steps, make incremental improvements.  Is everyone clear how decisions are made?  Does your team have the information they need to get their jobs done well?  Do you have the right people in the right positions?  Look at each of these in turn, rather than a massive restructure.

With the Sun in Leo and the Moon in Taurus today, our motto should be, “hold steady.”  Let’s not bite off more than we can chew, and certainly let’s not be tempted to act before the time is right, before we understand the truth about our situations, before we’ve taken everyone’s benefit into consideration.  This is not the time for change for change sake; it is a time for measured and skillful action supported by patience.

To read more about this summer’s rare and conflicting aspects, see the category to the right, the Cardinal T-square 2010.

For an overview of the week, see the Astro4Business Weekly Forecast – Aug 2 – 8

For an overview of the month, see the Astro4Business Month Ahead – August 2010

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.

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Astro4Business Weekly Forecast – August 2 – 8

Aug 1

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Week, Cardinal T-square 2010 | 4 Comments

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

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

Hello, everyone.

This week channels more of the major aspects of our summer of transformation right into our personal lives, especially into our personal and business relationships.  Mars and Venus enter the degrees of the zodiac where they meet and then transmit the Jupiter/Uranus/Saturn/Pluto T-square with immediacy.  Conditions we are used to seeing enacted on a global stage with distant entities such as the government, the media, or big business intersect with our daily lives again this week.  Now we get to interact firsthand with the challenges of today and we also get our opportunity to do our small part to resolve them.  The global becomes local this week.

Monday

Monday hosts one of the biggest transits of the summer, although you may not feel it on that particular day.  These transits carry so much weight that they are really in effect for two weeks before and after they are exact.  Jupiter and Pluto, two heavyweights, square off against each other in the ring and only time will tell which will prevail.  It reminds me of the recent movie, Clash of the Titans, with Jupiter and Pluto at odds and poor Perseus had to react to their drama with his all too human vulnerabilities.

One aspect of this clash I’m becoming aware of is in the tension we’ve seen between the press (Jupiter) and the government (Pluto in Capricorn) due to the leaking of military information through Wikileaks to the New York Times and other newspapers.  But how does this aspect apply to our businesses?

I think we should all keep this in mind:  the truth will come out.  Jupiter rules justice and what we consider to be lawful and fair.  Pluto rules the deep, dark, taboo places that no one wants to admit are there:  secrets about life, death, sexuality, and our intimate interactions with each other including financial transactions.  With tension between these two, my best advice to you for this summer is to keep your dealings above board and squeaky clean.  Pay your payroll taxes as explained in this payroll myths blog post.  Make your loan payments on time.  Keep your negotiations on the table.  Take your lawyer, accountant, or HR Director with you when you need to confront someone.  Check the regulations that apply to your business.  Make sure you’re following the letter of the law.

The energies of this time are about revealing what is hidden, pulling to the surface transgressions and subterfuge.  So if you’ve got skeletons hiding in the closet, open that door, let the light in, and with expert advice if necessary, disinter and disinfect while it’s still in your power to do so.

Tuesday

On Tuesday Mars in Libra joins the fray, bringing the potential for a clash of principles which could erupt between you and your team or between two factions within your business.  There is a powerful urge for dominance and territory when Mars meets Jupiter and Pluto, although the Libran Mars may coat its urges in sweet-talk.  But have no doubt, there’s steel beneath that soft exterior and a strong will to win.  Put this to work for your business.  This is an excellent time to get to the truth of matters, to finally understand what’s been blocking your forward momentum, and to strategically remove obstacles.

These energies need a strong hand.  Bring the best of your leadership skills to each situation, and if you need support and back-up, ask for it.

Wednesday

At this point in the week Venus comes on the scene, although on Wednesday she may bring more confusion than assistance.  At the very end of her travels through Virgo, you still may not be satisfied with the lack of clarity around your finances and still not have a plan to address it.  But today, with Neptune in Aquarius crossing every attempt at efficiency, you’re probably as far as you’re going to get this time around.

Your social interactions today range near and far and I wouldn’t say practical productivity will be high on the list today; but inspiration could be as long as you’re able to weave and meld far-reaching influences into realistic product design and useful creative output.

Friday

On Friday, Venus enters Libra for about a month which should help balance and soothe the energies of August.  Venus in Libra is a time when we reach for harmony in relationships, as well as turn our attention to art, design, fashion, and beauty.  We are more than usually willing to give others the benefit of the doubt; we’re interested in teaming with rather than fighting against others.

Group efforts pay off and financial rewards come through partnership with Venus in Libra.  Create opportunities for your staff to interact; invite collaboration and teamwork.  Send teams into presentations rather than going it solo; you’ll make a better impression when clients see your ability to cooperate.

Saturday

On Saturday Venus opposes Uranus in Aries, which could set off some fireworks.  There’s excitability about this contact and a desire for unconventional behavior.  There’s certainly a creative spark in the air and if you are working today your team should be able to produce some of the most unique work you’ve seen in a while – as long as you give them free rein.  Don’t worry – you can pick up the pieces tomorrow.

Sunday

On Sunday, everyone’s feet come back onto the ground with a Venus/Saturn conjunction.  After the excitement of the week, this is a great day to see where you stand.  Take the best of the week and put some structure around it – today’s the day to confirm any business agreements you’ve made.  In fact, what you put in place today will stay in place for a good long while and will bring firm judgment and conservatism to your business relationships.  Don’t make it too heavy though; allow for some enjoyment and laughter along the way.

Have an excellent week!

For an overview of the month, see the Astro4Business Month Ahead – August 2010

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

Venus

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

Uranus

Neptune

Pluto

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Fire on the Field – Seven Suggestions to Handle the Heat

Jul 29

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Today, Cardinal T-square 2010 | No Comments

Source:Wikimedia Commons


Good Day!

These next two days, July 30 & 31, bring this summer’s transits of transformation front and center.  Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto are all involved in a conflicting pattern of energy and today and tomorrow Mercury, Mars, and the Moon deliver this conflict right to our doorsteps.  No longer will it seem “out there” or only happening to someone else.

With the Moon in Aries we’re ready for a fight.  It’s like that movie line, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.”    We’ve had enough, our patience is gone, and we’re emotionally ready to stand up to anyone or anything that smacks of injustice or deceit.  No matter how much we’ve been focused on our own sphere of business, work, and personal life, we’re all reaching the tipping point with the global news and with people who have put their own interests in front of fairness to everyone.

When the Moon is in Aries we normally tend to blow off a little steam but with the pressure cooker of these outer planet aspects don’t be surprised if the lid flies off.  A warning though:  everyone else is boiling now too and if you provoke an argument, watch out.

The Mars and Mercury aspects will also play a part.  Mars opposes Uranus on Friday and joins forces with Saturn on Saturday.  Although Mars, the planet of aggression, is enfeebled in Libra, the Uranus propensity to incite rebellion could translate into a dangerous defensiveness.  If you light a fire on Friday you’ll spend Saturday trying to get it under control.  Levelheadedness will return, but not before bridges are burned and some cherished self-images are singed around the edges.

Mercury will bring this all out into the open, with coworkers and colleagues wanting to hash out differences and come to some neat package of resolution.  Not necessarily!  There’s so much fire on the field today and tomorrow, shouting and accusations are more likely than the precise communication Mercury in Virgo would want to bring to the table.

So what should you do?  How should you handle these energies?  Here are seven suggestions to handle the heat:

  • Come up with constructive outlets for anger, frustration, and disappointment.  Physical play is good as long as there are clear and negotiated boundaries for what is fair.
  • Turn up the air conditioning.  I don’t tend to use air conditioning because of the impact on the planet, but Friday and Saturday are exceptions.  Keeping physically cool will go a long way toward keeping tempers cool.  If it’s winter where you live, you’ve got a better chance to come away unscathed.
  • Work hard!  Channel these energies into constructive action.  Challenge yourself rather than others.  Set a goal only you can accomplish.  Work it today and finish it tomorrow.
  • Play calming music – no acid rock today.  Believe me, there will be enough motivation without heavy metal.
  • If you don’t feel well, take care of yourself.  Stay home.  Have soup.  Watch movies – in the air conditioning.
  • Steer clear of people who tend to be domineering.  Nothing will be gained from confrontations so cancel those meetings.  Hang out with friends and supporters.
  • Trust the universe.  If you run into delays, take it as a sign that something more fortunate is on its way.  Turn your attention to another project.

Stay cool…and let me know how it all turns out!

For an overview of the week, see the Astro4Business Weekly Forecast – July 26-Aug 1

For an overview of August, see the Astro4Business Month Ahead – August 2010

For more info on the business descriptions of the planets influencing today, see

The Moon

Mercury

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

Uranus

Pluto

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Astro4Business Monthly Forecast – August 2010

Jul 28

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Month Ahead, Cardinal T-square 2010 | 8 Comments

Solar_system
Hello, everyone.

We’ve arrived at August, the astrological height of the year 2010.  What are the planetary influences this month and how can we work with them?

  • We’ll start with the most long-range and overarching influences, the planets Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus, which you will notice do not travel far from month to month but stay in the same sector of the sky for many years.
  • Then we will look at the mid-range influences, Jupiter and Saturn, which stay in the same sign for 1 – 2.5 years.
  • We’ll look at the personal planets, Mars, Venus, Mercury, and the Sun which stay in their respective signs for much shorter periods and primarily influence our day-to-day lives.
  • And last we’ll look at the sign and dates for the New and Full Moon, as these mark the waxing and waning cycles in our daily lives.

Pluto in Capricorn

We’ve spoken at length about Pluto in Capricorn (see category at right), where it will remain until 2024.  In a nutshell, this long transit will bring deep change and upheaval to many of the structures we have come to rely upon:  government, religion, the economy, industry, and the military, to name a few.  This transit carries the energy of revolution and evolution and can be dramatic and at times overwhelming.  Pluto exposes what is hidden, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse.

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.  Whatever has been slowly leaking vitality will go ahead and die, including old business models, practices, and products.

This is formidable energy, and your best strategy is to tune in and work with it.  Find an area in your business life in need of renewal and begin the process before Pluto reaches planets in your chart and forces the issue.

Everyone with planets in the first seven degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn is already dealing with this energy.  You’ve probably noticed a deeper and deeper probing and cleansing all year long, related to the issues mentioned above.  Pluto transits can be difficult, but when the work is through, they are the most rewarding because we are irrevocably freed from a long-standing, but hidden, issue.

Neptune in Aquarius

With Neptune in Aquarius (see category at right) from 1998 to 2011, we’ve seen a growing global consensus regarding the equal value of all beings, shared responsibility for our planet, the distribution of technology to all nations, and the right of each person to contribute to and further the base of common knowledge.

The best way to work with this energy is to allow your rational mind to open to waves of inspiration from the collective whole, from your local community to the global community.  Expect to be inspired by your neighbors and friends, both near and far.

If you have planets between 25 and 28 degrees of any sign expect to experience a subtle but powerful dissatisfaction with certain areas of your life and a yearning for a more meaningful connection to others.  This disconcerting influence can dissolve the forms in our life that have no real content for us anymore.  This can be disorienting and confusing while it is happening but once these deeper connections are made, the benefits are rewarding and long-lasting.

Uranus in Aries/Pisces

In July Uranus entered its annual cycle of retrograde motion.  During the entire month of July it slowly travelled back through the very first degree of Aries, and now in August it will move back into Pisces where it will remain until next March.

Since May 27, when Uranus entered Aries, we’ve been getting to know a new face of Uranus. Aries is the spark of entrepreneurial spirit, the initiating drive toward independence and individuality.  You may have noticed new ideas incubating and a spirit of bold entrepreneurship in and around your business.  But when Uranus moved into retrograde motion, there was probably a disruption in this full-speed-ahead current.  You may now feel ambivalent or dissatisfied with your new ideas and initiatives.

And when Uranus moves back into Pisces there’s another major shift. Yes, this is familiar territory; Uranus was in Pisces for most of the last seven years, since March 2003.  But it may feel bizarre to be stepping back in time.  From the entrepreneurial spirit we again enter the collective.  From our recent forays into a new style of leadership, we fall back into flattened hierarchies and committee leadership.  From enhanced independence we’re back to collaboration and alliances.

Our whole society will seem to be taking steps backwards.  Must be something more to learn!

Saturn in Libra

In July, Saturn entered the sign of Libra where it will stay until October 2012.  Saturn is exalted in Libra which means it has a special affinity to the sign and if you’re willing to do the work, there is a promised payoff.  See the category to the right on this important transit, but in a nutshell:  what is the work of Saturn in Libra?  To develop patience, persistence, responsibility, and humility in relationships.  What is the payoff?  Cooperation and mutual support.

Until October, Saturn is in square aspect to Pluto in Capricorn (see above).  The stress of this square aspect will bring the end to structures that are no longer working in our businesses (and in our world.)  The Saturn energy will attempt to install the Libra values of equity, parity, diplomacy, collaboration, and cooperation while the Pluto energy brings more and more destructive patterns to the surface for all to see.  This configuration becomes exact on August 21 and we can expect this conflicting energy to build until then and then begin to taper off.

Jupiter in Aries

In June, Jupiter, the planet of opportunity and expansion, entered Aries.  Aries is an initiatory sign and Jupiter thinks big.  Your former goals may have felt too limiting and you may have experienced a passion for growth, expansion, competition, and claiming new territories

Then Jupiter entered retrograde motion on July 23.  We may have found our enthusiasm flagging for our new products and plans.  The forward momentum we’d been enjoying may have reversed, and now we find ourselves more restrained.  This is an important phase for realistically assessing how much we can get done, to curtail overdoing and over-committing, and to take the time to slowly grow a project to completion.

During August, Jupiter opposes Saturn which may cause you to feel that you don’t know whether to brake or accelerate.  The energy of conservatism is strong from Saturn’s placement in Libra and Jupiter’s enthusiasm is weakened due to retrograde motion.  So a gentle foot on the brake is called for, or how about down-shifting so you don’t have to ride the brakes at all?

During August Jupiter is also in difficult aspect with Pluto.  This can bring you face to face with the material realities of this time, whether governmental, regulatory, or economic.  Even nature can seem to thwart your every move.  How to work with this energy?  I’d say wait it out.  Patience can help you simply witness all the comings and goings, knowing that this time is paving the way for opportunities once some of the dross has been burned out of the system.

Mars in Libra

Mars spends the month in Libra, another indication to bide your time and let matters take their course.  Mars, the planet representing action, aggression, and applied energy, is weakened when in Libra, and with all of the other planetary conflicts this can be a good thing.  When Mars is in Libra we are more circumspect and concerned with the impact of our actions on other people.  So if you feel your competitive drive is weak this month, use your time and energy to support others.  This will rebalance and replenish your drive.

Venus in Virgo/Libra

Until August 6, Venus is in Virgo where she has a bad reputation for being nit-picking, perfectionistic, and fault-finding.  Not us, surely!  When Venus is in Virgo our happiness, creativity and productivity comes from our daily routines.  We like nothing better than to arrive at work on time, put in a good day, and then eat a nourishing meal in the evening.  The more you can build a productive, repetitive schedule into your day, the happier you will feel.

When Venus enters Libra on the 6th, we find our day-to-day happiness in relationships, art, beauty, fashion, and generally getting along and supporting each other.  This is another major boon as we work through the difficult outer planet conflicts.  We will be more than usually accommodating and willing to compromise and so will the folks around us.

Mercury in Virgo

Mercury is in Virgo all month and this is great for writing, documentation, and detailed project plans.  Also great for getting that bookkeeping caught up!  Mercury in Virgo loves to talk, write, and think about commerce and wants to accomplish practical outcomes by the end of each day.

And the good news is we get a good long spell of Mercury in Virgo, because Mercury turns retrograde on August 20 for three weeks.  More and more astrologers are spreading the news that Mercury retrograde can be a good thing, not the demon many people think it is.  See the link below for 10 Best Practices for Mercury Retrograde.

Sun in Leo/Virgo

The Sun in Leo until August 23 supports us to step into the limelight.  As the leader of your team, this is the time of year par excellence to set direction and reinforce your authority.  You may become hyper-sensitive to issues of loyalty, recognizing who on your team is really on your team, and who is just passing through.  Of course, loyalty is a two-way street, usually only given when it is received in kind.

When the Sun moves into Virgo, your style of leadership changes completely.  You know the saying, To Lead is to Serve?  (There is also an excellent book of the same name by Shar McBee.)  That phrase is the perfect expression of the Sun in Virgo.  Come down a notch and see what your team needs from you, and then offer it.  This will keep them productive and you in touch with the practical details of your business.  That’s the Sun in Virgo!

Phases of the Moon

The New Moon is in Leo on August 9, waxing to full in Pisces on August 24.  We’ll examine the lunar phases in the weekly and daily forecasts in August.

Monthly Recap

Another big month in our summer of transformation!  With all of the outer planets except Saturn in retrograde motion we will find ourselves retracing our steps and reevaluating our progress.  With Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto in a most difficult configuration, we take the support of Venus and Mars in Libra to keep us balanced, steady, and compassionate amidst the turmoil.  Share some art or music with others to raise your spirits and bolster your relationships.  The Sun in Leo will help you be generous with your staff and colleagues and when the Sun moves into Virgo and joins Mercury there, service becomes the keyword for the rest of the month.

Have a great month and let me know how it all plays out!

Key Dates and Keywords for the Month

August 2          Jupiter (Expansion) Challenges Pluto (Transformation)

August 3          Mars (Force) Challenges Pluto (Transformation)

August 9          New Moon in Leo

August 16        Jupiter (Expansion) Opposes Saturn (Limitation)

August 21        Saturn (Limitation) Challenges Pluto (Transformation)

August 24        Full Moon in Pisces

For tips on how to use Mercury Retrograde to your advantage, see 10 Best Practices for Mercury Retrograde.

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

The Sun

The Moon

Mercury

Venus

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

Uranus

Neptune

Pluto

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A4B Today – July 26, Gotta Serve Somebody

Jul 25

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Today, Cardinal T-square 2010 | No Comments

Source:Wikimedia Commons


Good Day!

Today is a big day, one of the top days of the year.  In the weekly forecast we already discussed the Saturn/Uranus opposition which is exact today.  This is the last of a series of five oppositions over the past two years, the first of which was exact on the day Obama won the U.S. Presidential election.  This last exact opposition caps a cycle of conflict between the past and the future, the tried and true and the innovative, the safe and the risky.  With a foot in both worlds, we’ve had to learn to proceed boldly into our uncertain futures while holding on to the best of the past.  And that’s been quite a challenge!

But that’s not all that’s going on today.  This is also a major day highlighting the planets Jupiter and Pluto, both retrograde and in a very challenging aspect to each other.  This brings our sense of optimism crashing into the cold, hard realities of the current economic and political times.  Both planets form aspects to the Sun in Leo today, which brings the whole matter into our personal sphere and tests our leadership skills to the max.

When the Sun is in Leo we want to lead:  unimpeded and as an expression of our own creativity.  You could say the Sun is the “leader” of all the planets and since it rules Leo, Leo is the sign of leadership – not the Capricorn style of executive management but true leadership, the ability to rally the energies of others and direct them to a common goal.  The urge to lead when the Sun is in Leo is strong, and the Sun is the symbol of the owner or leader in any organization, tribe, or team.

But what does a leader do when there are forces more powerful than they are?  The economic recession, political wrangling, and the uncovering of dark corporate misdeeds that are symbolized by Pluto in Capricorn, coupled with the recent reversals or brain drain symbolized by last week’s Jupiter retrograde, can throw even the most solid organization into turmoil.  Strong leadership is required now and is the gift of Sun in Leo, but strength must be informed by a levelheaded assessment of today’s realities.  Hubris has no place when there are such strong forces as we are experiencing this summer.

I just spent time with my brother, a leader by any measure.  He is a U.S. Army General, stationed at the Pentagon.  He is in charge of all of the training for the U.S. Army.  He is also one of the most conscious and thoughtful people I know. He spoke to me about leadership and the seven core values of the Army:  loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.  He said that he would add one value to the list:  humility.  I agree.  Humility helps us realistically gauge where to put our efforts for long term success, what we should fight for and when to surrender.

Here is a really cool video of Booker T. and the M.G.s playing a song by Bob Dylan that’s been on my mind as I’ve been contemplating these complicated times.  I looked up Bob Dylan’s astrology chart, wondering if he had a similar configuration in his chart to today’s Sun/Jupiter/Pluto forces.  Sure enough, he does.  In his chart the Sun, Jupiter, and Pluto are harmoniously aligned and support a full and positive expression of the essence of these planets.  So we can take his wisdom to heart today to help us navigate these turbulent waters.  The song gives us a powerful perspective. Let me know what you think!

For an overview of the week, see the Astro4Business Weekly Forecast – July 26-Aug 1

For an overview of the month, see the Astro4Business Month Ahead – July 2010

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

The Sun

Jupiter

Saturn

Uranus

Pluto

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Astro4Business Weekly Forecast – July 26 to August 1

Jul 24

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Week, Cardinal T-square 2010, Saturn Uranus Opposition, Saturn in Libra, Uranus in Aries | 7 Comments

(Source:Wikimedia Commons)

Hello, everyone.

This is a very active week, hosting several of the major configurations astrologers have been talking about all year.  It is also the week that Mercury and Mars change signs and then add their input into the mix of outer planet shenanigans.  If you like riding roller coasters, you’re loving this summer.  In fact, this week is so charged that I’m only going to cover one of Monday’s major aspects in this post.  Stay tuned as we fully explore each day as the week unfolds.

But what if you’re not experiencing anything out of the ordinary at all?  This is because all of the activity within these major configurations is within an extremely small range of degrees of the zodiac.  Each sign of the zodiac has thirty degrees, counted from 0 to 30.  All of the major planetary activity this summer is between 0 and 3 degrees.  Giving some latitude on either side, if you have planets or chart points such as Ascendant or Midheaven between 27 and 30 degrees of any sign, or between 0 and 6 degrees of any sign, then this summer’s transformation is especially for you.  And I have no doubt you know it!

If you’re in the rare circumstance of having absolutely no planets or points in those degrees, well then it’s your task to lend a hand.  Your colleagues and staff need you as they battle their inner and outer dragons!

Saturn/Uranus Opposition

Monday is the big day of the week, although with aspects of this magnitude the effect has been building for a week and will linger for another.  Three aspects vie for supremacy today, each strong in their own right.

Probably the most powerful is the fifth out of five Saturn/Uranus oppositions which have been playing out in the sky for a couple of years.  I’ve written several posts about this major aspect which I’ll list with links at the bottom.  In a nutshell, we are pushed and pulled between the past and the future; between the tried and true and the untested potential; between the reliable and the risky.  If circumstances force us to tether ourselves to what’s worked in the past, we’re chomping at the bit for change.  If we’ve been catapulted into something brand new, we long for the security of what we know.  We need to adapt to today’s unique environment and yet we don’t want to let go of what has worked in the past.  And we shouldn’t!

(Source:Wikimedia Commons)

As I was driving across Texas in my recent move from the East Coast to El Paso, I saw an image that perfectly represented for me this Saturn/Uranus opposition.  I was staring out the car window at huge wind turbines, the really tall ones with the three pronged arms.  There is a stretch of highway in Texas where there are hundreds of them and literally hundreds of miles of electric lines carrying the power away.  Suddenly I saw a freight train wending its way across the desert with a long line of cars and I then noticed oil wells drilling away under the turbines. A man on horseback rounding up some longhorns completed the picture.  The oil wells, the freight train, the man on horseback:  each an innovation from the past that is still extremely valuable today.   And the wind turbines:  a new technology and potential energy solution springing from a very old idea, harnessing the power of the wind.

This mix of the old and new is what we’re grappling with under this Saturn/Uranus opposition.  We’re being required to recognize the importance of each, and to use the appropriate tool at the appropriate time.  Oppositions can appear as either/or propositions but there are other ways to deal with them.  One is to find the point where you can appreciate both sides equally and mediate solutions for those who insist it has to be one or the other.  Another is to seesaw between the two, keeping each in its place for the value it brings to specific situations.  Another is to combine the two, like sending the oil drilled in those fields by way of freight train to refineries, or routing the energy from the turbines overland to preexisting electrical grids.

The best of the past in service to the potential of the future – that’s the balance to strive for under this Saturn/Uranus opposition.  How have you managed to combine the old and the new?  Please share with all of us in the comments.  Don’t be shy, this aspect has been happening for two years – I’m sure we all have an example or two.

For more information on the Saturn Uranus opposition, check out these posts:

April 26 – Saturn/Uranus Day

Flaws & Perfection – Handling the Saturn/Uranus Opposition

Need Inspiration? Enlist Your Saturn!

For more info on the business descriptions of Saturn and Uranus, see

Saturn

Uranus

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A4B Today – July 20 Wisdom from Steven Forrest

Jul 19

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Today, Cardinal T-square 2010, Jupiter/Uranus conjunction, Pluto in Capricorn, Saturn Uranus Opposition, Saturn in Libra, Saturn/Pluto Square, Uranus in Aries | 4 Comments

Good Day!

This week we really begin to engage in the Cardinal T-square aspect of our summer of transformation.  These aspects unfold over the next four weeks in a series involving Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto, with Mars thrown in there in case it wasn’t hot enough already!

Here is the specific line-up although all of these planets are powerful enough that we will experience the aspect for a few weeks on either side of the exact day.  In other words, their conflicting energies will mix and mash and morph each other throughout the next few weeks.

Jupiter(Expansion) in Aries Square Pluto(Transformation) in Capricorn     Jul 24 2010

Saturn(Contraction) in Libra Opposes Uranus(Revolution) in Aries        Jul 26 2010

Mars(Force) in Libra Opposes Uranus(Revolution) in Aries          Jul 30 2010

Mars(Force) in Libra Conjunct Saturn(Contraction) in Libra          Jul 31 2010

Jupiter(Expansion) in Aries Square Pluto(Transformation) in Capricorn     Aug 2 2010

Mars(Force) in Libra Opposes Jupiter(Expansion) in Aries         Aug 3 2010

Mars(Force) in Libra Square Pluto(Transformation) in Capricorn        Aug 3 2010

Jupiter(Expansion) in Aries Opposes Saturn(Contraction) in Libra        Aug 16 2010

Saturn(Contraction) in Libra Square Pluto(Transformation) in Capricorn      Aug 21 2010

The video below is by Steven Forrest, one of the most respected astrologers today.  He explains the upcoming time with wisdom and balance.  I hope you enjoy it.

For an overview of the week, see the Astro4Business Weekly Forecast – July 19-25

For an overview of the month, see the Astro4Business Month Ahead – July 2010

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

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

Uranus

Pluto

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Astro4Business Weekly Forecast – June 7 – 13, Uranus Jupiter Conjunction

Jun 6

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Week, Cardinal T-square 2010, Jupiter in Aries, Jupiter/Uranus conjunction, Uranus in Aries | 9 Comments

Phases of the Moon, as seen from the Northern Hemisphere. The Southern hemisphere will see a mirror image of this phase. (Source:Wikipedia)

Phases of the Moon, as seen from the Northern Hemisphere. The Southern hemisphere will see a mirror image of this phase. (Source:Wikipedia)

Hello, everyone.

This week hosts the conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus in Aries, kicking off the summer of transformation.  Mars and Mercury change signs and the New Moon is in Gemini on Saturday.

Monday

On Monday Mars leaves its long journey through Leo and enters Virgo, a very different sign and a very different energy!  In the best sense, Mars, the energy of activity, desire, and will takes the lessons learned in Leo and uses its now-developed sense of self-esteem and creativity to serve others, to mentor, and to share knowledge.

However, it may take some trial and error to get there.  Mars the warrior is not particularly happy in the sign of the Virgin so it may take us a few days to get our new bearings.  The Mars energy in us can serve and work with diligence, but it wants the credit for doing so.  “Non-doership,” a good term for Mars in Virgo, can seem the antithesis of leadership in business but it doesn’t have to be.  It just demands sensitivity to the next right action, noticing and reading the pointers along the way.  We’ll look more at Mars in Virgo in upcoming posts to discover the best use of this time of possibilities.

Tuesday

Over the next eight months, Jupiter will form a series of conjunctions to Uranus.  Both have recently entered Aries where they will combine with Saturn and Pluto to form the Cardinal T-square 2010, the summer of transformation.

Jupiter and Uranus are similar in that they both look forward.  They are interested in breaking the boundaries that limit us and taking risks to do so.  Their difference is that Uranus breaks through boundaries for the sake of thrusting society into the future whether we think we are ready or not; Jupiter breaks boundaries and then wants to codify the breakthrough, turn it into a religion or a School or a law.   Jupiter is very much concerned with societal ethics and institutions while Uranus would break down our structures without caring whether we are still standing at the end.  The two of these together are dynamite!

What does this mean for us in business?  We will probably feel compelled to take risks we would not even have considered in the past.  We may feel confined by our work routine or the structures we’ve implemented, and surprise ourselves and others by heading into a brand new direction.  We may seek opportunities for travel and study, or to bring scientific or technical discoveries into our products and services.  We may approach everyday challenges as battles to be fought and won.  We want out of our shell, even if we created it.

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?

Wednesday through Friday

Mercury is featured from Tuesday evening until Friday, which will be a great help in understanding and adjusting to the Mars ingress into Virgo and the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction.

First Mercury and Saturn combine to bring wisdom, stability, and practicality.  It well help calm our reaction to the waves of energy coming from Jupiter and Uranus and help us be methodical in meeting the challenges that may arise this week.

Then Mercury and Neptune will serve to sensitize us and to remember that there are others in our sphere with their own needs and agendas.

On Thursday Mercury enters its own sign, Gemini, which puts it into position to channel the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction in the most positive way.  It will give us the facility to communicate clearly and enthusiastically our new ideas and to win customers and employees over to our new vision.  This is a great aspect to recognize whatever new technology we need to implement our new direction and to research the various alternatives.  I wouldn’t purchase anything new though; with the Jupiter/Uranus energy in Aries, you probably haven’t settled into your new direction yet.  See if you can borrow or lease for a while instead.

On Friday, Mercury, newly in Gemini squares off against Mars, newly in Virgo.  This indicates people pushing and pulling in different directions and possibly forcing decisions before they are ready.  Send everybody off to research and present their best ideas, in a coherent format, and in writing, and PowerPoint, and anything else that keeps them productive and busy until they achieve a reasoned, practical proposal.

Saturday

This could be the most productive day of the week with an excellent contact between Venus and Saturn.  Your connections with partners and colleagues feel serious, committed, and grounded.  This is the best day for business negotiations and diplomacy but with the New Moon today, please wait until Monday to formalize any agreements.

I’d say that’s enough for one week, wouldn’t you?  Enjoy your week, take extra rest when you can, and see if you can let it unfold on its own a little.  You may be pleasantly surprised if you do.

For an overview of the month, see the Astro4Business Month Ahead – June 2010

For an exploration of how to handle strong Jupiter transits in business see:

Too much of a good thing?

For more on this summer’s Cardinal T-Square 2010, see this post:

Cardinal T-Square 2010

For more info on the planets influencing the week, see

The Sun

The Moon

Mercury

Venus

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

Uranus

Neptune

Don’t forget. If you have an astrology-related business question (or a business-related astrology question) send it to me at ellen@astro4business.com. I’ll answer it in these posts, anonymously of course, and we can all learn from each other’s experiences. I look forward to it! Have a question now? Email it and let’s get started!

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Flaws and Perfection – Handling the Saturn/Uranus Opposition

Apr 12

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Management Tips, Cardinal T-square 2010, Saturn Uranus Opposition, Saturn in Virgo, Uranus in Pisces | 4 Comments

Hello, everyone. 

An Harvard Business Review Management Tip got me thinking about flaws and handicaps in our businesses. 

Now that Saturn has returned to Virgo through its retrograde motion, we may become more aware of what isn’t working in our businesses.  Virgo can take an exacting, unemotional look at situations and circumstances and Saturn’s tendency is to see the glass half empty:  what isn’t working rather than what is. 

Imperfections and aspirations 

We’d all like to be perfect.  We’d all like to have only strengths and not weaknesses, if for no other reason than to contribute the very best to society.  Especially now, with the approaching opposition between Uranus and Saturn we are probably painfully aware of our imperfections (Saturn in Virgo) and our aspiration for perfection (Uranus in Pisces).  Another way of saying this is we may feel torn between working the way we have in the past with all our imperfections (Saturn in Virgo) or breaking into a new pattern that we think will insure a more perfect future (Uranus in Pisces). 

The HBR management tip was along the lines of “turn your flaws into your unique distinguishing feature.”  It cited a hotel in India without AC or room service, plus mosquitoes in the bargain, which they successfully marketed as an “eco-hotel.”  Now there was a lot of flak in the comments of the original article about dishonestly covering up your weaknesses and passing them off as strengths.  This is not what I’m asking you to look at. 

Is it really a flaw? 

I’m saying, if there are flaws, handicaps, shortages you just can’t get around, look for ways these can become a unique feature about you and your business.   Or at least ask the question:  are these really flaws?   One person’s too narrow focus may be another person’s ability to delve deeply into a topic.  One person’s scattered attention could be another’s ability to see all sides of an issue.  And some customers may want to pay for the boutique or deluxe experience; others may prefer a simple, low-cost alternative. 

During an opposition of any two planets, we stand right in the middle of two energies pulling us in opposite directions.  But this middle point is the still point, the point of balance.  Now is the time to look to Saturn in Virgo to tell you what needs improvement, and to Uranus in Pisces to tell you how that liability can be an asset. 

The point of balance 

I’ll tell you a personal example.  I’m writing this from outside of London where I’m nannying my grandson for three weeks.  This suits Saturn in Virgo completely.  Part of me is perfectly happy serving my son and daughter-in-law and caring for a toddler, with his scheduled waking, eating, sleeping, and outdoor play. And more than these is the feeling of the continuity of service from my son to my grandson, a wonderfully affirming sense of grandmothering my grandson in the same way I mothered my son.  

And yet these activities, as much as I love them, take time from writing this blog on astrology for business.  With my mind so focused on family life, it’s hard for me to settle into a business frame of reference.  This little family is my connection with my past; my writing is my stepping stone to my future. 

But if I reach for the still point my perception changes.  I can see that this little family is my future too, and that authentic writing is built on every experience of the past, whether there is a direct connection to business or not.  I have the sense that I am standing at the point of intersection between the past and the future, the exact balance of Saturn and Uranus.  I guess you would call it the present.  

Do you perceive a flaw, a shortfall, a handicap, a shortage?  Can you change your perception so you see it as part of your business future?  Use these last couple of months of Saturn in Virgo to root out your feelings of imperfection and let Uranus in Pisces show you a potential that includes the past, the present and the future, the whole you. 

For posts related to this topic, see the categories on the right – “Saturn in Virgo” and “Uranus in Pisces”. For the basics see these:

Astro4Business Basics – Saturn
Uranus – An Introduction

Don’t forget. If you have an astrology-related business question (or a business-related astrology question) send it to me at ellen@astro4business.com. I’ll answer it in these posts, anonymously of course, and we can all learn from each other’s experiences. I look forward to it! Have a question now? Email it and let’s get started!

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International Astrology Day Celebration

Mar 18

Posted by Ellen in Cardinal T-square 2010, Just for fun | 4 Comments

cardinal crisis blogathon

 

The Cardinal T-Square of 2010: Saturn, Uranus, Pluto

Hello, everyone.  This weekend is the 2010 International Astrology Day Blogathon – actually three days of blogging and other fun from over 50 astrologers.  While not strictly business, there is alot of useful information for us as businesspeople.  Check out the various posts on Saturn, Pluto, and Uranus and have fun!  From the blogathon site:

The much anticipated cardinal T-square of Pluto, Saturn, and Uranus is an event which has many of us puzzled and worried. With these cardinal energies, we can expect times of fast-forward movement, more shocks and changes, and a lot more hard work. 

What these energies also promise is the opportunity for personal and collective transformation, exciting creative breakthroughs, inspired action and promising fresh starts.

Our ability to keep up with the pace of change will depend upon our readiness to set clear boundaries, plan for the unexpected, hold things in perspective, apply the wisdom of our experience and keep our minds and bodies in balance while all around us is in flux.

Are you wondering where you can find out more and how all this will affect you?

The 1st International Astrology Day Blog-A-Thon brings together a collection of helpful, insightful and informative articles on handling the challenges of Saturn, Uranus, Pluto and the cardinal t-square. Over 50 talented astrology writers present a collection of articles designed to help you to learn more about these challenging planetary energies and discover some helpful healing tools and coping mechanisms. Here are descriptions of the article collections and links to take you to them. 

Online starting Friday, March 19, 2010

Pluto Problems Got You Perplexed? Here’s What Helps

Pluto in Sagittarius was an era of speculation and easy credit, and we expanded far past what was wise. Pluto in Capricorn is a time of facing reality, getting grounded, paying the bills, and being accountable. Coordinated by Donna Cunningham at Sky Writer, the 17 articles in the Pluto collection help you understand a variety of Pluto-related difficulties and suggest resources and healing tools to sort them out. They include the debt trap, sleep disorders, bullying, fertility issues, erectile dysfunction, grief, patterns we carry over from previous generations of our families, grief, healing from abuse, and a variety of other persistent problems.

Online Starting Saturday, March 20, 2010

Look After Saturn and Saturn Will Look After You

Transiting Saturn’s oppositions to Uranus were accompanied by sudden change and shocks to upset the status quo, resulting in economic crisis. As ripples reached our personal lives, our ability to remain flexible in the face of disruptive change is being tested by Saturn in Libra’s square to Pluto in Capricorn and the upcoming entry of Uranus into Aries. Coordinated by Mandi Lockley at Astro Air, the 17 articles in the Saturn collection will help you work with a variety of Saturnian issues. Experienced astrologers invite you to view Saturn not as a planet to be feared, but as a necessary, helpful teacher whose lessons can help you through life’s challenges. Others provide useful resources, down to earth advice, and inspirational coping and healing tools.

Online starting Saturday, March 20, 2010

 Passing the Tests and Trials of Saturn to Build Better Relationships

As the planet of obstacles and inadequacy moves through Libra, all types of partnerships are challenged. Is there an equitable give-and-take in your marriage? Are you having trouble manifesting a satisfying relationship? The articles featured on Sasstrology will do more than offer insight into the meaning of this transit. The experienced astrologers featured here will help you to create solid partnerships that can survive the ups and downs that occur when two souls attempt to create one union.

Online Starting Sunday, March 21, 2010:

Uranus in Aries: Claiming a Self-Reliant Future

Unpredictable Uranus is ending his sojourn in Pisces and will soon enter irascible Aries. Following a period of reluctantly dealing with the real world, Uranus steps up to proclaim personal freedom. This is not the freedom bell that Uranus usually rings for everyone, but the unabashed self-proclamation of “My Rights, Every Day!” Coordinated by CJ Wright at Auntie Moon, the 17 articles and additional media presentations in the Uranus collection are as erratic as Uranus himself. You will discover some of the disruptive changes Uranus loves to spring on us and receive suggestions on how to work with rather than against yourself as you evolve and grow.

Online starting Friday, March 19, 2010

 Vibration Presents: A Collection of Articles about Combining Essences and Astrology

Not to be confused with aromatherapy, flower essences are a superb, natural, and inexpensive healing tool that can catalyze personal growth and smooth out the rough edges of times like these. The combination of astrology and flower essences is outstanding in helping people understand and address difficulties that arise during difficult transits. Coordinated by Donna Cunningham at Vibration Magazine — educational journal on flower essences, this collection of 15 articles by astrologers who are also essence practitioners will suggest ways astrology and flower essences can enhance one another.

Multi-Media Heaven
Special Events Created for the Blogathon!

Online Gallery of Cosmic Art

Visionary artist and astrology blogger, Jude Cowell presents a series of luminous images of heavenly phenomena.  Take time out to rest your mind and feast your eyes on her exquisite slide shows and special galleries at Astrology Day Blogathon 2010: A Cosmic Art Gallery.

Voices from Astrology’s Past—Sound Bytes at the Astrologers’ Memorial

Voices from Astrology’s Past—Sound Bytes at the Astrologers’ Memorial:  This vast collection of pages about astrology’s great contributors ably maintained by Liz Houle contains tributes and photos of colleagues we’ve loved and lost. Take a walk down memory lane, starting at this page of sound bytes from archived tapes.  

Forum for Readers’ Experiences and Comments:  Jan Tud (astrogrrl) of Astro Creeps and Tarot Freaks will be hosting a forum for readers’ comments about their experiences with these transits and about the articles. You can register and then join the astrology forum discussions.

DISCLAIMER: The International Astrology Day Blogathon articles collections are for educational purposes only. Inclusion in the Blogathon Collections does not mean to imply recommendation or certification of any of the authors or their companies. We ask website visitors to make their own judgments about the quality of services or products described. Articles are not meant to be advice, and the information is not meant to replace medical or psychological treatment. Opinions expressed by authors and readers do not necessarily reflect those of the blogathon coordinators.

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