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Moon in Pisces – Have You Ever Seen the Rain?

Nov 15

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Today, Jupiter in Pisces, Just for fun | 2 Comments

Good Day!

With the Moon and Jupiter in psychedelic Pisces joining the Sun in the caverns of Scorpio – it’s just not a day to write!  Too much water, not that I mind a break from all this rationality I usually live in.

So here’s my offering for today, on my mind when I woke up this morning.

Enjoy!

Do you have a question about your business 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 week, see the Weekly Forecast – November 15 – 21

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

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

The Sun

The Moon

Jupiter

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Sage Advice for Tonight’s Eclipse

Jun 25

Posted by Ellen in Eclipse, Just for fun | 4 Comments

Tonight’s Eclipse highlights this summer’s conflicting energies, with the Full Moon exactly conjunct Pluto.  The more I think about this grand pattern involving Saturn, Uranus, Jupiter, Pluto, the Moon, and the Sun, the more I think we are meant to summon our inner courage and take matters into our individual hands.  With Jupiter in Aries, the sign of the warrior, our opportunities come when we step up the heat and embrace the warrior within.

Ramana Maharshi, 1879 - 1950 (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Here is advice from seven sages to keep in mind for the Eclipse.

1.  Imagine that a deeply profound ocean of calm exists in you that is not affected by any turbulence. Deepak Chopra

2.  There is never a conflict with [a] person or condition, but rather a false concept mentally entertained about [that] person, thing, circumstance, or condition.  Therefore, make the correction within yourself, rather than attempting to change anyone or anything in the without. Joel S. Goldsmith

3.  The child blames the external and focuses his energies there; the warrior conquers the realms within and becomes gifted. St. Teresa of Avila

4.  In order to become a man of knowledge one must be a warrior, not a whimpering child.  One must strive without giving up, without a complaint, without flinching, until one sees, only to realize then that nothing matters. Don Juan to Carlos Castaneda

5.  Man follows the ways of the Earth.  The Earth follows the ways of Heaven, Heaven follows the ways of Tao, Tao follows its own ways. Lao Tzu, Translated by John C.H. Wu

6.  Pleasure or pain are only aspects of the mind.  Our essential nature is happiness.  Happiness is inherent in everyone and is not due to external causes. Ramana Maharshi

7.  Courage means rising to meet the demands of each moment with total delight, knowing you are equal to it. Gurumayi Chidvilasananda

For an overview of the week, see the Astro4Business Weekly Forecast – June 21-27

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

Quotation Acknowledgments:

1. (The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire:  Harnessing the Infinite Power of Coincidence, by Deepak Chopra; Harmony Press)

2. (The Infinite Way, by Joel S. Goldsmith; DeVorss Publications)

4. (A Separate Reality – Further Conversations with don Juan, by Carlos Castaneda; Washington Square Press)

5. (Tao The Ching, Lao Tzu;  Shambhala Pocket Classics)

6. (The Essential Teachings of Ramana Maharshi, Inner Directions Publishing.)

7. (Sadhana of the Heart, by Gurumayi Chidvilasananda; SYDA Foundation)

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Solstice & Eclipse Video from Dipali Desai

Jun 22

Posted by Ellen in Just for fun | No Comments

Geometry of a Lunar Eclipse. (Source:Wikimedia Commons)

Hi, everyone.

Here’s another video providing insight into this week’s Solstice and Lunar Eclipse.

In the video, Dipali Desai of Spheres of Essence advises us to “Clear the decks of all that is not essential.” Perfect advice!

I hope you enjoy it. If you missed the Astro4Business Forecast for this tumultuous week, check the link under the video.

Copyright © Dipali Desai and Spheres of Essence. All Rights Reserved.

For an overview of the week, see the Astro4Business Weekly Forecast – June 21-27

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

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Cool Eclipse Video, Part 2

Jun 22

Posted by Ellen in Just for fun | 5 Comments

The progression of a solar eclipse on August 1, 2008, viewed from Novosibirsk, Russia. The time between shots is 3 minutes. (Source:Wikimedia Commons)

Hi, everyone.

Today is the quiet day of the week, astrologically speaking. If you missed the Astro4Business Weekly Forecast, I’ve provided the link at the bottom of this post.

This is Part 2 of the June-July 2010 Eclipse Report by Cosmic Intelligence Agency. Be sure to see Part 1 first in yesterday’s post if you missed it. This one jumps right in as a continuation so it might not make sense without Part 1. I hope you enjoy it! And check back tomorrow: I found another wonderful video to share with you.

For an overview of the week, see the Astro4Business Weekly Forecast – June 21-27

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

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Cool Eclipse Video (the Astro event, not the Movie)

Jun 21

Posted by Ellen in Introduction to Astrology for Business, Just for fun | 5 Comments

The progression of a lunar eclipse. Totality is shown with the last two images to lower right. (Source: Wikipedia; Wikimedia Commons)

Hello, everyone.

I’ve decided to lay low this week – I want to give myself the time and space to receive the planetary energies of this week, which are powerful and transformative. It is also the birthday of my beloved Guru on June 24 and so I’m reserving time for connection and contemplation – my Christmas, you might say. But I can’t resist sharing with you some cool things that have come my way today.

This is the first of a two-part video on the upcoming Eclipses of June 26 and July 11. It’s produced by the Cosmic Intelligence Agency, and was sent to me by my friend and astrologer, Dru Ish. It’s a little bit technical but worth watching because it outlines the effect of the Eclipses on various countries, including the U.S.

I’ll post Part 2 tomorrow, which continues this fascinating look at the astrology of this time.

If you missed my weekly forecast about the power of this week, I’ve put the link below.

For an overview of the week, see the Astro4Business Weekly Forecast – June 21-27

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

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Earthquakes and Twitter

Apr 21

Posted by Ellen in Just for fun | 1 Comment

From a master of creativity and fun, XKCD.com, even the warning at the bottom of the page is good:

“Warning: this comic occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors).”

This one’s called Seismic Waves

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A Month of Laughs – National Humor Month

Apr 6

Posted by Ellen in Just for fun | 2 Comments

Hello, everyone.

I’ve been immersing myself in the topic of humor all morning, and it’s been quite an expedition.  Come along with me in a celebration of National Humor Month – April 2010.

Falstaff by Eduard von Grutzner. (Source:Wikimedia Commons)

This journey was sparked listening to NPR this morning.  They had interviewed Carol Burnett and for those old enough to remember her famous Tarzan yell from her TV show in the sixties and seventies, she displayed it loud and clear, at 77 years of age no less!  She had to warn the interviewer to stand back there was still so much gusto in her. If you’d like to hear the story, here’s the link.

Who’s funny?

I decided to look up her astrology chart.  I’ve been wondering for a couple of weeks now what the astrological markers are for people with a healthy sense of humor.  I thought there must be strong Venus (happiness) and Mercury (communications) in the chart of comedians.  Sure enough Carol Burnett has a very prominent Venus conjunct her Sun, and a prominent Mercury, rising in the first house.  But she also had a conjunction of Jupiter, joviality, and Neptune, emotional connection.  Hmmmmmm.

So then I thought I’d look at a few more comedians to see if there were similarities.  I looked at Ellen Degeneres next.  And she also had a Sun/Venus conjunction!  Now two out of two doesn’t make a statistical study, but it was a pretty ripe coincidence.  And, (now it gets good), a Jupiter/Neptune conjunction!  Very interesting.   Two out of two, twice!

So I thought I’d look at a man’s chart, so I chose Robin Williams, for no real reason except his chart is available.  Robin Williams has a prominent Mercury, right at the top of the chart, and a prominent Venus in the house of career.  But, wait for it, he also had a Jupiter/Neptune aspect, this time an opposition.  That’s three out of three for the Jupiter/Neptune connection.

OK, who else?  I looked at Sarah Silverman, Tina Fey, and Lucille Ball…and my hypothesis sort of fell apart.  They all have prominent Venus and Mercury, and strong Jupiter and Neptune but not in the elegant aspect relationships of the first three.  But I did notice something else, a prevalence of the earth element in each of the six charts.  Each comedian either had many planets in earth signs, Carol Burnett, Sarah Silverman, Tina Fey, and Lucille Ball, or the earth in their chart was highlighted through aspects to other planets.  And Virgo, stodgy, prudish, intellectual Virgo, was the strongest earth sign of all.  Very funny.

Googling funny

Anyway, continuing my journey, I Googled “role of humor in business or workplace,” where I found a hilarious posting by The Department of the Treasury soliciting qualified contractors to present “Humor in the Workplace” presentations to their staff.   Hilarious to me because of the dead seriousness of the their stated outcomes, including the following:  Participants shall experience demonstrations of cartoons being created on the spot. The contractor shall have the ability to create cartoons on the spot about BPD jobs. The presenter shall refrain from using any foul language during the presentation. This is a business environment and we need the presenter to address a business audience.

I found several pieces on ways to use humor to increase business.  This one I particularly liked:  Workplace Humor.  It talks about how the use of humorous signs and advertising took a flea-bag motel to a roaring business success. And this blog, Mad Kane’s Political Madness, is priceless; she blogs about political and business events and writes limericks like the following:

Ode To John “Pants On Fire” McCain
By Madeleine Begun Kane

There once was a man named McCain,
The Republicans’ “maverick” bane.
He wore the term proudly
And touted it loudly.
But now it’s a primary pain.

So he’s claiming he never did use it,
Though we know that he’d often abuse it.
But he’s feeling the sting
Of the nutty right-wing,
So with lies he’s attempting to lose it.

Astrofunny

That’s all the time I had, but it was fun to celebrate the month of humor.  For some amusing astro-humor, check out these blogs:

Random Funny Astrology Bits by Neeti Ray

AstroHumor – Celebrate National Humor Month  by CJ Wright

And You Thought Pluto Wasn’t Funny by Donna Cunningham

Have a few laughs!

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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Blending without Drowning: How Saturn saved a Neptune Type

Apr 2

Posted by Ellen in Just for fun, The Planets | 20 Comments

Hello everyone.

This post is not about business, although I’m sure there are points for business in it.  If you are strongly influenced by Neptune you will relate to it; if not, why not come along for the ride anyway?  (If you don’t know how strongly you are influenced by Neptune, check out “How Strong is Your Neptune?  Here’s the Score!”)

First, some context 

Last week on Donna Cunningham’s blog a discussion developed among people with a strong Neptune influence in their chart.  Many people were sharing that they are so sensitive to other people’s energy that they find it hard to be in groups of people and many generally prefer to be alone. 

I made a comment on Donna’s blog and when she read it she asked me to say more about how I learned to blend my energies with other people.  This post is my reply to Donna and the whole group.  My comment was:

I used to hate being in groups but now I’ve learned to blend my energy with others when I want to and actually love being around compatible people. Even events like ball games are fun now, because I can “become” the people around me and have a blast.

And some background

As a child I was raised with very strict, in fact, military, discipline.  In astrological terms you would say with a very strong Saturn influence.  The atmosphere in my home produced three results, all related to Neptune: 

  1. I tended to withdraw into spiritual and romantic fantasies because it was the only place I had any power;
  2. I had no sense of personal boundaries as they were infringed upon daily by an overbearing authority figure;
  3. I didn’t develop a sense of self-discipline because there was so much external discipline imposed upon me.

I entered young adulthood drifting from place to place and person to person with very little sense of or appetite for “real life.”  I was very open to the underlying currents of situations but had only a minimal sense of self-protection.  I was uncomfortable in almost all social situations, from the smallest dinner party to the largest stadium event.  I wanted nothing to do with rules or structure of any kind.  My Neptune energy was very active but my Saturn energy was completely undeveloped.

So how did all this change?  After thinking about this for a few days, I have to say it has to do with boundaries.  In astrological terms you would say I developed my inner Saturn. 

A Line in the Sand

My awareness of my own Saturn began with a situation when the current authority figure in my life asked me to do something I just couldn’t do, to cross a line I just couldn’t cross.  It was the first time I stood up and said NO to someone; to put what I felt and cared about in front of my fear of losing someone I loved.

This situation brought my first sense of my own authority; before that I was unaware that I had any.  And it felt so good to protect myself and be willing to risk everything for it.  I did lose everything from that decision, but that loss turned into self-reliance, education, my own business, building a house, and raising a child.  Of course, the unfolding of this inner authority took many years, but little by little I learned about a rock solid place inside myself that was my safe haven, and I learned to honor it.

A Tiny Incident, A Major Shift

In some people, once they find the self-protective instinct of Saturn it becomes an enclosure that they can’t find their way out of.  Other more Neptunian types are so prone to giving their power to others that they can never stand up for themselves.  Neither of these lasted long for me and for this I credit my spiritual teacher.  It’s funny how a tiny incident can lead to a major life change. 

One day I was in a large room with my teacher and several hundred other people.  A woman came up to the teacher and the teacher noticed that the woman was wearing a locket around her neck in the shape of a heart, and the locket was open.  She said to the woman, “Your locket is open.”  And the woman looked down and said, “That’s because my heart is always open.”  And the teacher said, “Ah, but you have to learn to open it and to close it.”

This incident sparked a whole new understanding of boundaries for me.  Until that time I thought a “spiritual” person had to have their heart constantly splayed out in order to be truly open.  I learned that my boundaries are my own and they are malleable according to my discrimination and my will.  My circle can expand to encompass the whole of the universe; or I can contract that circle to the smallest sphere so that only my family is invited inside.  That’s the key:  I’ve learned that I am the gatekeeper.  What I invite inside is welcome inside.  What I don’t invite doesn’t come in.

Now for the fun part

This has completely freed my life.  Now I can go to the most raucous ballgame and whole-heartedly join the crowd and have a blast.  Nothing is more fun than to lose myself in the glee of a shared victory.  But when I leave the stadium and step into the streets of New York I draw my shield of self-protection close around me.

I can go to a park and meld into nature, but then I sit at my desk and focus on accounting or tax work.  I expand or contract as the situation requires.  I can close my heart and move right through a dangerous minefield of negativity and then open it again to relax into the vibrations of a loving friend.

So my story comes down to learning self-authority, boundaries, and discrimination, all Saturn qualities.  Once I learned to internalize the authoritarian face of Saturn, it turned into self-protection.  And once I learned self-protection, I learned I can blend as much or as little as I will – it’s my choice.

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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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Beauty is their Lover

Feb 26

Posted by Ellen in Just for fun | 1 Comment

Hello, everyone.

Today I’m off to the NCGR conference in Boston.  So in honor of the Pluto posts this week and the great response to the Venus post of yesterday, I thought I’d offer you the entire text of the poem I excerpted in the comment to Annie B.

From St. Teresa of Avila

 

The Servant of Unity

Most men in power have not the strength or wisdom to be satisfied with the way things are.

The sane know contentment, for beauty is their lover, and beauty is never absent from this world.

The farther away light is from one’s touch the more one naturally speaks of the need for change.

Yes, overthrow any government inside that makes you weep.

The child blames the external and focuses his energies there; the warrior conquers the realms within and becomes gifted.

Only the inspired should make decisions that affect the lives of many,

Never a man who has not held God in his arms and become the servant of unity.

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