Astro4Business Month Ahead – June 2011

Solar_system
Hello, everyone.

Welcome to the Astro4Business Monthly Forecast for June, 2011.  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.  These form the backdrop to our personal lives, affecting matters on a global stage.
  • Then we will look at the mid-range influences, Jupiter and Saturn, which stay in the same sign for 1 – 2.5 years.  These planets represent our interactions with our societal environment, its rules, regulations, belief systems, and benefits.
  • 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 activities.

Pluto in Capricorn

We’ve spoken at length about Pluto in Capricorn, where it will remain until 2024.  In a nutshell, this long transit will bring upheaval and transformation to the structures of our world:  government, organized 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 depart, including old business models, practices, and products.

Pluto is still in retrograde motion.  If you’ve been working with an old problem you thought you had resolved, excavate any lingering issues and put them finally to rest.

To read more about Pluto in Capricorn and its impact on your chart this year, see Pluto’s Journey through 2011.

Neptune in Pisces

Neptune begins the month at home in Pisces.  Neptune in Pisces begins a shift from the intellectual associations and words-based networking which were common for the last thirteen years when Neptune was in Aquarius, to connections based on feelings and shared beliefs.

Neptune comes to a virtual standstill on June 3 and begins apparent retrograde motion, commencing its annual retreat back through the heavens until next November.   When the distant planet Neptune turns retrograde we are likely to see its effects in society.  Retrograde motion is a time of revisiting what has happened in the past, this time back to February 2011.  Look for reversals or reexaminations of decisions regarding health care, oil drilling (Neptune rules oil and liquids of all kinds), the creative arts, drugs legislation, and shipping, to name a few areas.  If your business is involved in any of these industries, be prepared for some lack of clarity until November.

To read more about Neptune in Pisces and its impact on your chart this year, see Neptune Swimming through 2011.

Uranus in Aries

Uranus left the sign Pisces and entered Aries in March beginning a brand new 84-year cycle of scientific and political innovation.  Uranus embodies the principle of change, especially the kind of transitions that occur because of sudden breakthroughs and technological inventions.  Society is constantly moving forward and when the time comes when the traditional is just too safe and stale, the energy of Uranus bursts through the barriers and ushers in the new.

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 the people around us or the structures we’ve implemented.  We may seek opportunities 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.

To read more about Uranus in Aries and its impact on your chart this year, see Uranus Flashes through 2011.

Saturn in Libra

Saturn in Libra is the antithesis of Uranus in Aries.  It counsels patience, persistence, responsibility, and humility in relationships, leading to cooperation and mutual support.  This planet of structure and discipline provides some much-needed grounding and circumspection to hot and erratic Uranus in Aries.

You may feel torn between the tried and true (Saturn) and the desire for breakthrough (Uranus).  Strive for balance bringing the best of the old along with you into new territory.

Saturn concludes its annual period of retrograde motion on June 12.  You may find yourself restarting a partnership or work alliance you thought you left behind last October.  If so, you’ll have a lot more information now to make solid progress this time.  Don’t be surprised if you have the sense you’re repeating the past; until the end of September Saturn will be covering the same degrees for the third time now.  Remember, the third time’s the charm!

Jupiter in Aries/Taurus

For much of the last year, Jupiter has been in Aries.  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.

On June 4, Jupiter enters the sign Taurus.  Jupiter, the planet of expansion, in Taurus, the sign of physical, tangible objects, spells material abundance.  Sounds good, doesn’t it?  Taurus represents the natural abundance of the earth, trees beginning to fruit, cows full with milk, greening pastures.  In nature, this is the time when the initial spark of spring settles into solid growth.  It’s also time for us to settle down.

Many people are burned-out from Jupiter’s sojourn through Aries.  Risk-taking and expansion have been the keywords of the time.  Now is the time to codify those good ideas and to build systems that will insure lasting success.  It’s a time for slow, steady growth and long-term investment.  Think, “Built to Last.”

Mars in Taurus/Gemini

Mars is in Taurus until June 20.  This is the time for patient and persistent work.  Mars in Taurus is a builder, piece by piece, nail by nail, bringing vision into concrete form.

When Mars moves into Gemini, we can lose focus.  Our interests may become scattered and we may find ourselves spinning our wheels for a while.  The best use of this energy?  Learning and teaching, handing on to others what you know, mentoring, studying, and training.  It’s also excellent for building distribution channels for goods and services, both transportation based and virtual.

Venus in Taurus/Gemini

Venus is in her home sign of Taurus until June 9.  Venus in Taurus turns our attention toward security, the real-world kind, the kind with dollar signs.  We want to invest in bricks and mortar and build relationships which will stand over time.

Venus in Gemini is very different.  When Venus is in Gemini, we are extroverted, chatty, and love nothing more than to sprinkle our attention across many projects and many people. We are happiest when we’re out and about, furthering our network and negotiating.

Mercury in Taurus/Gemini/Cancer

Mercury in Taurus brings a stabilizing influence to your mind and careful, productive communications.  But on June 2, Mercury enters its home sign Gemini.  When Mercury moves into Gemini, conversation and networking become the order of the day.  Immerse yourself in knowledge and data, and the more sources the better:  books, magazines, news, email, social media, and face-to-face all yield important clues about where your business is heading and the steps to take to get there.

After less than two weeks in its favorite sign, Mercury moves on into Cancer on June 16.  When Mercury travels through Cancer, your employees may prefer a one-on-one conversation rather than the most brilliant presentation.  And your customers want to feel you listen to them rather than be dazzled by cleverness.  Meet with everyone who needs your attention.  This is a good time to spell out your vision and gain people’s loyalty.

Sun in Gemini/Cancer

The Sun in Gemini is the perfect time for sales and communication, press releases, and for disseminating your company news as widely as possible.  It may be time to add to your sales force or start a company blog to broadcast your product as widely as possible.  Communicate, communicate, communicate.  Just be sure you only promise what you can deliver.

When the Sun moves into Cancer and through the Solstice on June 21, it brings a time of adjustment, correction, or fine-tuning.  Take all of the feedback you gained when the Sun was in Gemini and use the action-oriented Solstice energy to respond to the needs of your customers.  Make whatever changes will add value to your business.

Phases of the Moon

The New Moon is in Gemini on June 1 (MDT), waxing to Full in Sagittarius on June 15.  The Gemini New Moon is also a Partial Solar Eclipse and the Full Moon is a Total Lunar Eclipse.  Look for a new start on the New Moon in whichever house in your chart contains 11 degrees Gemini.  For me, that’s the 12th house, spirituality and service.  (If you need a copy of your chart, see the box in the sidebar to request one free.)

Monthly Recap

This is a month of change, with most of the planets either changing sign or direction.  Add to that two eclipses and this becomes a power month, one that ends in a very different place than it began.  But there are no major difficult aspects to the outer planets this month, so it should be a month of progress.  If you keep it loose, it may even be fun!

Are you in astrological overwhelm?  Check out this link on my other blog for 5 simple ways to get your feet wet in astrology without drowning. Astrology is so Vast; Where Do I Start?

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

Key Dates for the Month

June 1              New Moon; Partial Solar Eclipse

June 2              Mercury enters Gemini

June 3              Neptune assumes retrograde motion

June 4              Jupiter enters Taurus

June 9              Venus enters Gemini

June 12            Saturn assumes direct motion

June 15            Full Moon; Total Lunar Eclipse

June 16            Mercury enters Cancer

June 20            Mars enters Gemini

June 21            Sun enters Cancer; Solstice

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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.

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

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Astro4Business Weekly Highlights – New Beginnings

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

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


Hello everyone.

After a few weeks of relative quiet, this week opens on a sober note and then all hell breaks loose!  We’ve got an eclipse, two planets changing signs, a preponderance of mental Mercury/Gemini energy, and a planet turning retrograde all squeezed between Wednesday and Saturday.  Let’s see how it plays out day to day.

Wednesday

Very early in the morning on Wednesday (MDT) the Sun in Gemini forms an aspect with Saturn retrograde in Libra.  This marks the beginning of the end of the Saturn retrograde period that started back in January.  Saturn doesn’t finally turn direct until June 12, but this aspect marks the time when Saturn is virtually at a standstill.  Don’t be surprised if your energy is really flagging, especially considering the New Moon Eclipse later in the day.  But underneath the surface you may have a sense of expectation, tension, and the feeling that you’ve been in a long captivity that just won’t end. Don’t let that feeling of anticipation cause you to jump the gun.  Some new structure is coming into being – it’s been in the works since January.  Just let it unfold in its own time over the next couple of weeks.  No need to rush it.

Later in the day we have the first of three eclipses over the next month, a Solar Partial Eclipse which can only happen on the New Moon.  This eclipse may exacerbate the feeling that something is supposed to happen that won’t reveal itself yet, and frustration is highly likely in response.  The New Moon is always an interior event, when our conscious aims and goals, represented by the Sun, are merging with our unconscious needs and desires, represented by the Moon.  During a solar eclipse our conscious will is drawn even more into the netherworld, where it receives its marching orders for the next cycle.  You may feel completely unfocused and many people even feel ill on the day of an eclipse.  Try to take time to be quiet; don’t exert yourself if you can avoid it.  Just stay tuned in to your inner sources of wisdom.  Receive, don’t act today.

Thursday

Mercury moves into Gemini on Thursday, where it will travel for less than two weeks!  As Mercury speeds through Gemini, our minds become bright, restless and curious. Communications of all kinds are favored, so this is the time to take those meetings, initiate new contacts, and get out and about to meet and greet customers.

Friday

Yesterday, Mercury moved into Gemini.  Today it runs into conflict with Neptune in Pisces.  When Mercury is in Gemini we are apt to look outside ourselves for answers, in books, on the internet, in every water cooler conversation.  We’re just sure if we gather enough information our challenges can be resolved rationally and logically.  But with Neptune on the field, today is not a rational day.  And no matter how you try, as you attempt to communicate with others, things can come out confused and distorted.  That’s because Neptune in Pisces isn’t into words-based connecting, but interactions on the basis of feelings and shared beliefs.  You’ll have to find a way to square these two perspectives today, and if you do, you’ll learn something that will bring benefits that stretch into the future.

Then later in the day Neptune comes to a virtual standstill and enters apparent retrograde motion, beginning its annual retreat across the heavens until next November.  Often on the day a planet changes direction there is an outward manifestation of an issue which will come under examination the whole time the planet is retrograde.  Look for the whisperings of a coming paradigm shift in the news on Friday, especially concerning healthcare, oil drilling, the creative arts, or the pharmaceutical industry.  Let’s see if we can discern the retrograde station of Neptune this year.

Saturday

On Saturday Jupiter leaves the first sign of the zodiac, Aries, and enters the second, Taurus.  Jupiter in Taurus brings a year of consolidation after the frenetic, expansive energy we’ve been experiencing since Jupiter entered Aries last June.  If you and your staff are burned out from all the Aries fire, you can relax now, be sure to pay your staff well.  Taurus will bring a much slower pace as well as the material rewards of all your hard work.  Look for more on this transit in the June monthly forecast.

A little later we have the final aspect of the week – an inventive sextile between Mercury in Gemini and Uranus in Aries.  The sextile aspect is very supportive so leave your door open for someone with good news or a new insight that brings an opportunity for growth and development.  You have to stand poised to respond though; this Uranus revelation can come and go in a flash.  Keep pen and paper or a recording device with you at all times.

And that’s it!  After a quiet few weeks we’re back at full speed.  Enjoy!

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For an overview of the year, check out these posts:

Pluto’s Journey through 2011

Neptune Swimming through 2011

Uranus Flashes through 2011

Have you seen my other blog? Discussing all things life and other matters, 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.

To read more about the business descriptions of the planets mentioned today, see

The Sun

The Moon

Mercury

Jupiter

Saturn

Uranus

Neptune

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

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Cisco Systems Update: Uranus in Aries

Hello everyone.

Some time ago I wrote an article in this blog about Cisco Systems.  I thought Cisco had a really interesting business model and also was an excellent example of a management structure that reflected Uranus in Pisces.  Here’s the link in case you want to revisit the article: Uranus in Pisces – Cisco Systems.  I also wrote that we would watch Cisco Systems as Uranus headed into Aries and see how they would weather that transition.

Today I read on Rosabeth Moss Kanter’s excellent Harvard Business Review blog that Cisco has restructured its operations due in part to two consecutive quarters of disappointing results.  The bureaucracy inherent in their former management structure had rendered them unable to take advantage of some opportunities, causing them to lose ground to competitors.

During the last decade, Cisco Systems instituted an operating structure truly in line with Uranus in Pisces. In order to stimulate innovation they developed an intricate system of councils and boards, some of which functioned without a formal leader.  As I mentioned in my former piece, while this strategy actually rescued their business by capturing cross-functional ideas and insights, there have also been drawbacks.  Fully a fifth of Cisco’s senior executives have left the company, unable to thrive in this kind of flat and complex management structure.

Uranus in Aries is a very different energy than Uranus in Pisces.  The committee/matrix structure that was effective with Uranus in Pisces will no longer work with Uranus in Aries.  Under this transit, business innovation will come through the efforts of the lone-wolf, the entrepreneurial-minded contributor, rather than the holistic, cross-functional team.

Trajan's Column (Roman Soldiers Building a Fortress) (Source:Wikipedia)

One of the commenters on Moss Kantor’s blog perceptively states that maybe we shouldn’t see Cisco’s reorganization in terms of failure, but rather simply change and evolution.  He lauds Cisco for recognizing the need to change and evolve and I agree.  Whenever there is such a massive planetary movement as Uranus passing from the very last sign of the zodiac, the sign of complete immersion in complexity, to the very first sign in the zodiac, the sign of simplicity and individual action, there is going to have to be a reworking of structures throughout society.  As Cisco’s chief executive, John Chambers, said, “It’s time to simplify the way we execute our strategy.”   It has nothing to do with failure; it has to do with natural processes –as natural as the earth transitioning from winter to spring.

This is simply where we are now.  As leaders and managers we should take advantage of this new energy and reform our operations.  We should give more credibility to individual contributors, agitators, spirited, independent-minded employees, people whose self-sufficiency sometimes makes it look like they’re not team players.  These are the people that ingenuity will flow through with Uranus in Aries.

No matter how collaboratively we’re inclined to run our business operations, we have to allow room for individual contributors at this time.  Some people thrive in environments of intense cooperation; others thrive in competition.  Some love to be immersed in a borderless environment while others do their best work when they’re left alone to pursue their own creative ideas.  Watch for this now.  It’s much more likely now that the rebel is the one who is truly inventive, channeling defiant Uranus in Aries and bringing real progress to our businesses.

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To read more about Uranus in Aries, see

Uranus Flashes through 2011

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.

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

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The Summer Ahead: Action!

Hello everyone.

The following is an excerpt from a Straight to the Point Response I prepared for a client last week.  As I spoke about the general influences coming up this summer, I realized that the advice is applicable to all of us so I thought I’d share it on this blog.  It addresses the Uranus/Pluto square in place over the next two years and how we might experience this aspect in our businesses.  The client is beginning a new community service this summer but my remarks apply to any new project you may be starting.  I’ve taken out all of the personal references stemming from the individual situation to maintain the client’s anonymity. This is a transcript of an audio recording, pretty much word for word, so you may want to read it as if listening to a talk rather than reading a document. Use this next link to learn about modern Business Finance.

Phoenix depicted in the book of mythological creatures by F.J. Bertuch (1747-1822). (Source:Wikipedia)

I wanted to talk about the coming summer in general and how your project fits in with what the whole world is going through this summer.  I’m sure you’re aware of the major aspect in the sky right now, which is Uranus newly in Aries squaring Pluto in Capricorn.   This is an influence that permeates the whole world and we can certainly see it in some of the political situations that are happening right now.  I wanted to talk about it because if we were to make a chart of the endeavor you’re starting, it would have this major Uranus/Pluto aspect in the natal chart of its birth.  Anything that is birthed now will have this aspect.  It’s the undergirding of what we’re all doing in our day to day lives right now and anything that is born now will reflect the energy of this major square.  The aspect is not exact until next summer but it gets very, very close to exact; it’s certainly close enough to be a major factor influencing whatever is born at this time.

It’s a great time for building something that serves the community; Uranus is a force concerned with bringing community together.  Uranus rules community and groups of all kinds.  But this summer Uranus is in conflict with Pluto.  Pluto is the planet of breaking things down and transforming things, of releasing the energy that is trapped in things.  I think your endeavor can do this also, but not without stresses and tension in trying to accomplish what you’re hoping to accomplish regarding the community.  You can see this Uranus/Pluto square now in many places around the world.  Pluto in Capricorn is a very solid, almost stuck energy and it’s very stable.  This is not to say it’s stable in establishing what is good or righteous and Uranus is trying to break through or break down or free things that have gotten very stuck.  Pluto’s a pretty powerful planet but so is Uranus.  It’s like two titans in the sky, both in an intractable frame of mind.

But the square is in cardinal signs, Aries and Capricorn, and how we are meant to respond to this kind of impasse is to take action.  This is not the time to be passive or to feel that the powers that be are more powerful than we are.  Especially with Uranus in Aries we’re all meant to take action and to believe that we can have an impact.  As challenging and intractable as this impasse is, we can actually make a difference using these same energies, which will affect our lives, the lives of our communities, and the life of the world.  You can see this same energy fomenting the revolutions in the Mideast because people are feeling that as individuals we have power to make a difference and that what we do individually actually has an impact on the world around us.

Intractable Square (Source:Wikimedia Commons)

With a square the energy is so powerful and hard to deal with that sometimes we project one part or the other.  But the point is that both the Pluto and Uranus archetypes are in play, in each of us and throughout our world.  Sometimes it becomes so difficult to reconcile two energies when they are in a challenging angle to each other that we project one side or the other, or if there are two of us involved in a project, one person may play one role and the other may play another role.  The person playing Uranus in Aries might be seen as the innovator, the risk-taker, the one who wants to break free of the past, to begin something new, something creative and inventive.  Another party, either your community in general or one of the two of you, might play the person more in the power seat, more connected to the structures already in place or more content with what has been traditionally acceptable in the past.  For example, your project could be an upstart and there is another established group you may be in conflict with.  Or you guys may be part of the established structure that honors the traditions of your community and someone else may be coming in and trying to foment a revolution, be the upstart, the new kid on the block.

Both of these energies are in play and both are part of your endeavor.  So if you run into one of the two corners of this energy, either the upstart innovator or the tradition-bound system, just remember that both of these are part of the birth of your endeavor.  They will both stamp your endeavor, and they both have a lot to give your endeavor because there is a great deal of energy generated as we try to manage this conflict throughout the world and in our lives.

Capricorn Glyph (Source:Wikipedia)

One of the symbolic representations of Pluto is the phoenix, the mythical bird that immolates itself and then rises from the ashes of its former self.  This energy is very much in our environment these days also.  As I thought about this for your project, I wanted to say that this symbol is one you should take advantage of now.  Just like the phoenix is resurrected from the ashes of its former self, our role right now is to dig in the ashes of our former selves, the ashes of the past, and recognize those things that were valid; talents you developed, strengths you cultivated, and innovations you made can be carried into this new endeavor.  You shouldn’t assume that everything from the past should be scrapped.   There are good solid innovations from the past that can be brought into the present.  There are valuable resources in what you are bringing to this new project.  Even if the past is no more, there are still valid ideas and valid creative expressions that can be brought into the current endeavor.

That’s not to say that you shouldn’t let things go; you should.  That’s what Pluto in Capricorn is all about, systems and structures that have been in place for a long time that have become tradition-bound and need to fall, to topple and to be reborn.  But look for the baby to keep, so to speak, as you empty the bathwater.

Uranus in Aries begins a new 84-year cycle.  There’s a lot of energy right now for new beginnings.  It actually harmonizes in a way with Pluto in Capricorn because Pluto in Capricorn is about breaking down old structures, any that have become dead, decayed, and in need of rebirth.  And then Uranus in Aries comes along and says, this is the way I’m going to do it:  revolution, power to the people, power to the community, something new, something that we haven’t tried before.  These two together spell a time of change and the establishment of new unique ideas.  It’s a great time to think in completely unique and creative ways, to try things you’ve never tried before, or have never been attempted by anyone before.  It’s a time to really let your creative imagination be free, and not just because we’re each individually channeling this energy of revolution and change.  But our customers, the people who partake of our creative endeavors and products, will also be ready for something different, something unique, something new – we’re all ready to let the past be the past and to step into a new paradigm.

Aries Glyph (Source: Wikipedia)

Uranus in Aries is very entrepreneurial and individualistic, so the innovations and changes are coming through the individual.  Uranus operates through groups very well but each person in the group is going to want to express himself or herself individually.  It might be more difficult than usual to have people work as an ensemble, to get everyone to sing the same note, metaphorically speaking.  You may have to build this understanding into your operations because each person feels they have something to give that is unique and individual and is willing to stand alone to offer it.  You’ll have to account for the lone wolf who wants their own unique voice to be heard and if you do, that wolf will join you in the pack.

And lastly I wanted to say to expect the unexpected.  With Uranus in Aries we’ll all be surprised that what we think we’re doing, well, the future is anybody’s guess as to where it’s going to go. So hold to your plan loosely.  I think your idea is great and the endeavor will be successful but hold it loosely so that as time unfolds it can change.  I think change is going to be a big feature of the coming couple of years: change is a keyword of both Uranus and Pluto.   Change will be part of any endeavor being born at this time.  So hold your enterprise in a way that you can allow it to change, maybe even often and maybe dramatically.

For a specific time of unpredictability, the whole first half of the month of August is a very volatile time.  There are very close aspects with Mars, Uranus, and Pluto which bring lots of energy and lots of instability.  There are likely to be major decisions you need to take or challenges you need to deal with at that time and you’ll need to actively guide the ship through some rough waters.  Remember to take the wheel and steer.

At this point I addressed their situation in a more personal manner, looking at their natal charts, current transiting planets affecting their charts, and suggesting some dates for incorporation.  But the above is guidance for all of us to keep in mind as this time of change begins.

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For more on Uranus and Pluto during 2011, see:

Uranus Flashes through 2011

Pluto’s Journey through 2011

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.

To read more about the business descriptions of the planets mentioned today, see

Uranus

Pluto

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

Tags: , , ,

Astro4Business Weekly Highlights – Alert!

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

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


Hello everyone.

This week continues this month’s relatively easy and fulfilling trend.  No difficult planetary aspects mark the sky and in fact, there’s a couple which are full of promise, supportive and invigorating.  We’re in the waning phase of the Moon, with its tone of letting go of the current projects on our desks, and we’re beginning to prepare for the next monthly cycle which begins with the Solar Partial Eclipse on June 1st.

Monday

This is an excellent day for coming to agreements, ones that will stand the test of time.  With Venus conjunct Mars in Taurus, there’s an ability to commit to a lasting bond and to put that commitment to practical use.  Each time two planets meet in the sky it brings energies together in a new way for a new cycle.  This week’s meeting forges a new bond between our creative juices and the ability to take the action necessary to reach tangible outcomes.  It can set up a cycle that will continue to produce results until the next time Venus and Mars come together, which is in April 2013.

How can you take advantage of today’s conjunction?  Put your creative team together with your operations people; you could be surprised how well they work together and the practical yet elegant solutions they come up with.  You don’t have to do it yourself today; the people around you can take the reins and set the new cycle in motion.

If you’re a one-or-two person shop like I am, grounded, steady work today will lead to great results.  It may be slow-going and tedious at times but just take up one concrete task after another.  At the end of the day you’ll have produced something valuable, something with legs that will set a firm foundation for the next couple of years.

Wednesday

Uranus entered Aries earlier this year, marking the beginning of a new 84-year cycle of innovation and invention.  Initiative, spontaneity, change, and breakthrough are some of the keywords of Uranus in Aries.

On Wednesday, with the Sun in Gemini forming a sextile to Uranus, you are likely to encounter information which gives you a peek into where this new Uranus cycle is taking you.  You could recognize an opportunity for growth and development; something that may have been lingering in the back of your mind could take shape.  Take the time to synthesize information from a number of sources and you’ll see the pattern.  This is an energizing aspect, bright and alert.

Go easy on the coffee this week though; this Sun/Uranus aspect will provide plenty of nervous energy and caffeine may jangle your nerves just a little too much.

Have a great week!

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

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.

To read more about the business descriptions of the planets mentioned today, see

The Sun

The Moon

Venus

Mars

Uranus

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

Tags: , , , , ,

Astro4Business Weekly Highlights – Busy!

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

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

Hello everyone.

This week is very busy, with the Full Moon early in the week and the end of the week packed with aspects between Mercury, Mars, Venus and powerhouse Pluto.  Add to this next Sunday’s sparring between the Sun, newly in Gemini, and Neptune in Pisces and we’ve got a week of healthy challenges with the ability to meet them head-on.

Full Moon

We’ll ramp up to the Full Moon all day on Monday as it reaches culmination early on Tuesday (MDT).  The Full Moon this month is an opposition between the Sun in Taurus and the Moon in Scorpio.  Both Scorpio and Taurus are related to money.  Taurus rules our own finances and Scorpio rules outside resources like lenders, investors, and insurers.   This Full Moon asks you to look at the extent of your reliance on these outside resources and whether they are helping or hindering your own financial stability.  What is the ratio of your debt to your assets?  How is your credit rating?  How much of your monthly budget is spent on interest payments?  If these issues are perfectly in balance, fine.  If they are weighted too strongly in one direction or the other, this Moon will bring awareness and the will to do something about it.

Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Pluto

Let me start by saying that Mercury, Venus, and Mars form an excellent aspect to Pluto this week, one which brings opportunity and an increase in our personal power and influence.  Sometimes people hear Pluto will be active and they immediately think of death, destruction, and upheaval.  Pluto can be these things but also healing, transformation, and rebirth.  Whether the former or the latter, it all works to our advantage this week.

"All for one; one for all." By Maurice Leloir, engraved on wood by Jules Huyot. (Source:Wikipedia)

We spoke last week about Mercury and Venus traveling together in the sky and this week they catch up with Mars – like the three Musketeers, “all for one, one for all.”  In last week’s post I spoke about Mercury and Venus together:

…This is like a device that works well and is beautiful to look at. Or when your best systems manager is also great with people.  When your smartest analyst can create a presentation that really pops or when your marketing director never overpromises because she understands what it takes to deliver.

Add Mars in Taurus to this mix and we get all the above plus the energy to actually take action and implement.  Mars is impatient with plans and concepts, and even uninterested in beauty and form.  Mars wants to take the field and lead people to accomplishment.  This adds a spark to this week that was missing last week, and a much better chance of actually producing something tangible.

These three are working together all week when they run into the vibe of Pluto.  Pluto is a detective, an undercover sleuth and he will lend these talents to Mercury, Venus, and Mars.  This makes for an excellent week to get to the bottom of something and make changes that are overdue.  Are your people in the right positions?  Is production on schedule?  Are your major projects in alignment with your company’s goals?  Does the current economic and political environment support your vision?

This whole configuration is in earth signs:  it’s time to get practical in the physical world.  We’re talking “atoms rather than bits” as Chris Anderson of WIRED Magazine coined the phrase.  Nail by nail, this week is about dismantling something worn out and recycling the parts into something with new promise.

Sun/Neptune

We’ll be grateful for all this solid earth energy this week because with the Sun squaring Neptune next Sunday, anyone in leadership is likely to get more and more spaced out as the week unfolds.  When the Sun intersects Neptune’s vibe, it’s important that we strive for clarity and not believe everything we hear.  We shouldn’t even necessarily trust our own judgment!

However, if we can turn our attention away from the nuts and bolts of running our businesses, creative waves of vision and inspiration will wash over us next weekend.  Try to delegate day-to-day to your best staff and let yourself become inspired by your muse.

Have a great, busy week!

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

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.

To read more about the business descriptions of the planets mentioned today, see

The Sun

The Moon

Mercury

Venus

Mars

Neptune

Pluto

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

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Astro4Business Weekly Highlights – Clarity and Pleasure

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

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


Hello everyone.

This week Mercury and Venus meet in the skies on Monday and, hand in hand all week, end the week entering Taurus.  Skipping along merrily and fast, they pass Jupiter mid-week and come within 3 degrees of Mars by the end of the week.  This line-up of planets is a beautiful event in the heavens which you should be able to view before sunrise each morning.

Mercury and Venus are the only planets inside the orbit of the earth.  In astrology they hold special significance as direct lieutenants of the Sun.  Never too distant from the center, they represent two primary tools we use as we negotiate in the world of business.

Mercury signifies our rational thinking processes, our speech and communication facilities.  In business Mercury rules all the memos, meetings, and telecommunications that allow us to carry out the interchange of commerce.

Venus represents our values and how we establish what holds meaning and significance to us.  She understands that no man is an island and that we need others, as well as harmony and beauty, in our interactions.  She is about attraction, cohesion, and metaphor.  In business she rules marketing, PR, and creativity.

Mercury is impersonal and precise; Venus is highly personal and concerned with relationships.  Mercury is about commerce, interchange; Venus is about customers and staff alignment.  Mercury communicates through numbers and facts; Venus communicates through images like “she shoulders a lot of responsibility” or “he has big shoes to fill.”  Venus is superb in advertising; Mercury is brilliant with text.

Often one or the other of these planets is more dominant, but this week they are hand in hand.  This is like a device that works well and is beautiful to look at. Or like when your best systems manager is also great with people.  Like when you can take your finance person with you anywhere because she always looks great and makes a good impression.  When your smartest IT guy understands conceptually what you’re trying to achieve, not just how to put it all together.  When your smartest analyst can create a presentation that really pops or when your marketing director never overpromises because she understands what it takes to deliver.

This is a week of learning, with Mercury and Venus traveling together and also meeting up with Jupiter.  It’s a good time to require both sets of qualities from your staff.  Sometimes people get so boxed into one way of doing things that the other side atrophies a little.  This is a great week to round things out.  For those who tend to be linear and analytical, ask them to present their ideas in images that customers will understand.  For those who tend to be all about relationships, ask them to explain to you the fine points of a product.  Both types can learn from each other or they can each learn from an advisor.  This is a super week to expose your staff to what other people do in the company, to break down divisions between the two types, and to broaden people’s appreciation for others’ talents.

Inadequacies may arise as each type ventures out of their comfort zone.  Mercury and Venus are competing as the morning star this week and you may see competition become a factor with your staff too.  But you could also uncover hidden talents as people get to display another side of their skills.

And of course this applies to those of us who are one-person shops.  Head into the far aside of your comfort zone; experiment with a more dormant facet of your personality.  I guarantee you’ll learn something new that will bring a new dimension to your enterprise.  Mercury and Venus equal clarity and pleasure.  What could be better?
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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 Astro4Business Month Ahead – May 2011

To read more about the business descriptions of the Mercury and Venus, see

Mercury

Venus

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

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Taurus Leadership – The Builder

Hello, everyone.

The Sun is in Taurus and we move on in our Leadership through the Signs series.  In this series, as we progress through each month’s zodiac sign, we’ll explore and uncover the essential leadership qualities for each sign.  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 authentic leadership qualities we naturally possess and allow them to come forward in our business lives. It’s also to better understand others we meet and work with in business. For more smart business handling tips, you might want to read this new smart meters for your business review.

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.  In this series we’ll look at thought leaders, political leaders, business leaders, sports figures, and a few of us regular people too.

What the experts tell us about Taurus

Many of the Taurus traits below were gathered from Bil Tierney’s excellent All Around the Zodiac:  Exploring Astrology’s Twelve Signs.

  • Taurus, as fixed earth energy, pulls together and organizes resources.
  • Contained energy.

    Taurus deals best with practical tangible issues in the here and now.

  • Taurus is methodical, taking time to build structures that ensure durability.  Taurus is known for achieving superior results over a sustained period of time
  • When change is afoot, Taurus needs to ease in at a relaxed pace and consider all of the issues carefully.
  • Taurus leaders have a steady and confident presence. They do not show up as one person one day and another person the next.
  • Taurus is smart about conserving strength and doesn’t waste vitality on inconsequential issues.
  • Unlike Aries, Taurus is a patient planner who can wait for the tide to roll in before taking action.
  • Taurus recognizes and develops others’ raw talents.
  • Taurus understands that to motivate and inspire people a leader needs to satisfy basic human needs for achievement, a sense of belonging, recognition, self-esteem, and the ability to live up to one’s ideals.
  • Taurus brings a stabilizing influence to an organization, carefully building, brick by brick, frameworks of lasting durability.
  • Taurus has stamina and focus, and will not quit a project until it is satisfactorily completed.
  • Beauty in form.

    Taurus hates pressure or doing things it really doesn’t enjoy.

  • Taurus wants to be self-directed and rejects other people’s interference.
  • Taurus is a hard worker and wants to be paid well for that work.

The Bull

Can you feel the essential energy of this sign of the Bull?  Look at the photos and the Taurus glyph:  the strong, contained energy of the bull represents the creative essence of Taurus well.

Before we get into specific examples of Taurus leadership, think about the list above and the images.  What would you say is authentic leadership for a Taurus?  Have you known leaders who embodied these attributes?  What was their management style?  How did they accomplish their goals?

Are you a Taurus?  How well do the above traits represent your essence?  Are you steady, dependable, and self-directed?  Are you patient and practical?  How do you handle pressure?

Remember to leave your comments as we begin our discussion of Taurus Leadership.

The Gentle Face of Taurus

For previous posts in this series, see

Aries Leadership – Let’s Get Started!

Aries Leadership – Nancy Pelosi

Aries Leadership – Maya Angelou

Pisces Leadership – Dipping our Toes in the Water

Pisces Leadership – George Washington

Pisces Leadership – Steve Jobs

Pisces Leadership – Albert Einstein, in his own words

Aquarius Leadership – Yoko Ono

Aquarius Leadership – Franklin D. Roosevelt

Aquarius Leadership – Sarah Palin
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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.

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

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Astro4Business Weekly Highlights – Shhhhh.

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

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


Hello, everyone.

Guess what?  This is that rarest of weeks when there are no major aspects between any planets except the conjunction of the Sun and Moon at New Moon on Tuesday.  Nothing else.  Zip.  Nada.

What do we make of this?  A pause, certainly, especially with the quiet of the Taurus New Moon, followed by a slowly ascending energy after Tuesday when we can try and test a new project, product, or idea.  We can quietly gather support through interpersonal communications as the Moon moves into Gemini, and through emotional bonding when it reaches Cancer.

Looking ahead, next week contains a few aspects and three planets changing signs, but even next week holds no major conflicts in the heavens.  Two weeks of peace – sounds good, right?  May it be so in your world and the world as a whole.

Let me know how it goes.

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

For an overview of the year, check out these posts:

Pluto’s Journey through 2011

Neptune Swimming through 2011

Uranus Flashes through 2011

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.

To read more about the business descriptions of the planets mentioned today, see

The Sun

The Moon

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

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Astro4Business Month Ahead – May 2011

Solar_system
Hello, everyone.

Welcome to the Astro4Business Monthly Forecast for May, 2011.  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.  These form the backdrop to our personal lives, affecting matters on a global stage.
  • Then we will look at the mid-range influences, Jupiter and Saturn, which stay in the same sign for 1 – 2.5 years.  These planets represent our interactions with our societal environment, its rules, regulations, belief systems, and benefits.
  • 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 activities.

Pluto in Capricorn

We’ve spoken at length about Pluto in Capricorn, where it will remain until 2024.  In a nutshell, this long transit will bring upheaval and transformation to the structures of our world:  government, organized 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 depart, including old business models, practices, and products.

Pluto turned retrograde on April 9.  You may have noticed a reversal which will lead you back to a problem you thought you had resolved.  If so, you’re not quite finished with it yet.  Excavate any lingering issues and put them finally to rest.

To read more about Pluto in Capricorn and its impact on your chart this year, see Pluto’s Journey through 2011.

Neptune in Pisces

Neptune begins the month at home in Pisces.  Neptune in Pisces begins a shift from the intellectual associations and words-based networking which were common for the last thirteen years when Neptune was in Aquarius, to connections based on feelings and shared beliefs.  New groups will form around a unified vision for the future.  Borders will shift as disparate groups come together and merge into one larger whole while other sectors dissolve.  New tools and technology will pervade our business processes based on changing media which will allow for more spontaneous creativity.  We will incorporate the senses more and more into products and services.  Look for breakthroughs in medical fields including alternative medicine and mental and emotional health.

To read more about Neptune in Pisces and its impact on your chart this year, see Neptune Swimming through 2011.

Uranus in Aries

Uranus left the sign Pisces and entered Aries in March beginning a brand new 84-year cycle of scientific and political innovation.  Uranus embodies the principle of change, especially the kind of transitions that occur because of sudden breakthroughs and technological inventions.  Society is constantly moving forward and when the time comes when the traditional is just too safe and stale, the energy of Uranus bursts through the barriers and ushers in the new.

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 the people around us or the structures we’ve implemented.  We may seek opportunities 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.

To read more about Uranus in Aries and its impact on your chart this year, see Uranus Flashes through 2011.

Saturn in Libra

Saturn in Libra is the antithesis of Uranus in Aries.  It counsels patience, persistence, responsibility, and humility in relationships, leading to cooperation and mutual support.  This planet of structure and discipline provides some much-needed grounding and circumspection to hot and erratic Uranus in Aries.

You may feel torn between the tried and true (Saturn) and the desire for breakthrough (Uranus).  Strive for balance bringing the best of the old along with you into new territory.

Saturn is still in its annual period of retrograde motion.  Moving retrograde for 4 ½ months each year, this phase provides 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.

Jupiter in Aries

In January Jupiter entered Aries, where it will be until June 4.  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.

Jupiter in Aries begins a new twelve-year Jupiter cycle.  This is an excellent time to begin a whole new endeavor.  Aries is the first sign of the zodiac.  Can you think about the next twelve years and being “first” in some aspect of your industry?  Jupiter likes to think big!  It’s time to take a new plunge:  big plans, big risks.  This is a time of expansion, new projects, and bold moves.

Mars in Aries/Taurus

Mars is in Aries until May 11.  Use these first days of May to initiate new ideas and fresh projects while the Aries energy fuels us with vitality.  Your staff will enjoy a challenge, contest, or competition.

When Mars moves into Taurus on the 11th you’ll notice a definite shift in energy.  This is the time to take the best of the ideas generated while Mars was in Aries and begin the patient and persistent work it will take to bring them to fruition.  Mars in Taurus is a builder, piece by piece, nail by nail, bringing your vision into concrete form.

Venus in Aries/Taurus

Venus is in Aries until May 15 when she too transitions into Taurus.  Venus in Aries is the time to initiate new relationships and present bold propositions:  the flashier, the better.

Venus is Taurus is a very different energy.  Venus in Taurus is less heady and more sensual.  This is a great time to woo new customers and colleagues by exhibiting your emphasis on excellent value and long-lasting relationships.  Spend that marketing expense account and if you don’t have one, eke out some money from somewhere to take your best prospect to a fine restaurant.  Appeal to the senses while Venus is in Taurus.

Mercury in Aries/Taurus

Mercury also moves into Taurus on May 15.  While Mercury is still in Aries, keep talking, envisioning, inventing, and persuading.

When Mercury moves into Taurus you’ll notice a stabilizing influence return to your mind and your communications will be much more careful and productive.  Remember to have patience with yourself and others if you lose that spark you had when Mercury was in Aries.  What you gain is the ability to actually plan and implement those great ideas, albeit at a slower pace.

Sun in Taurus/Gemini

The Sun is in Taurus until May 21 and then moves into chatty, intellectual Gemini.  The Sun in Taurus brings form and functionality to your business.  The Sun in Gemini brings the energy of exchange and interchange.  Get out from behind your desk and meet and greet people.  This is a time of sharing your thoughts and gathering ideas from others.

Phases of the Moon

The New Moon is in Taurus on May 3 (MDT), waxing to Full in Scorpio on May 17.  Look for a new start on the New Moon in whichever house in your chart contains 12 degrees Taurus.  For me, that’s the 11th house, community and group endeavors.  (If you need a copy of your chart, see the box in the sidebar to request one free.)

Monthly Recap

After a few months of high energy, high impact Aries energy, our activities will settle down this month with Mars, Venus, and Mercury moving into Taurus. There are no changes in any of the outer planets either, in terms of sign or retrograde motion.  Add to this that there are no truly difficult aspects between any planets this month so we’ll have time to take a breather, enjoy the spring or autumn, and conserve our energy for the future.  Steady and sure-footed are the keywords this month.

Are you in astrological overwhelm?  Check out this link on my other blog for 5 simple ways to get your feet wet in astrology without drowning.  Astrology is so Vast; Where Do I Start?

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

Key Dates for the Month

May 3              New Moon in Taurus

May 11            Mars enters Taurus

May 15            Mercury enters Taurus; Venus enters Taurus

May 17            Full Moon in Scorpio

May 21            Sun enters Gemini

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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.

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

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