Posts Tagged Mercury Retrograde

Astro4Business Weekly Highlights – New Beginnings

May 29

Posted by Ellen Longo in Astro4Business Week | 12 Comments

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

Tags: astrology, business, Eclipse, Mercury Retrograde, New Moon

Welcome Back Mercury – April 23

Apr 21

Posted by Ellen Longo in Retrograde Motion | 27 Comments

Mercury (Source:Wikimedia Commons)

Hello all.

At the end of the week on April 23 Mercury resumes direct motion. Mercury represents our conscious mind and rational thinking processes and includes all forms of communication. In ancient times Mercury was the god of commerce and is usually represented holding a purse to signify his involvement in business. He is the god of interchange, whether monetary interchange as in business transactions or purely mental interchange as in the realm of communications.

On the day that Mercury turns direct there is often a tangible outward manifestation of his power. Watch for that on Saturday (MDT). You can look for a business communication that resolves a matter from the past and allows it to move forward again. Or perhaps clarity on an idea that was born about 10 days ago and gets the go ahead today. Or you may finally get that meeting with the client that you’ve been working on. Let’s all watch for Mercury to make himself known and share it with everyone in the comments if you notice his presence today.

Don’t be surprised if you feel a little groggy though. The few days around Mercury direct are like to the few minutes after you come out of a particularly deep sleep. It takes some time for our brain wave activity to return to its normal state of functioning. Just like coming out of sleep, it’s good to come out of Mercury retrograde slowly, and not require the top level of mental clarity from yourself or your employees for a couple of days.

Enjoy the transition to Mercury direct!

For an overview of the Mercury cycle for business, see Mercury Retrograde – What’s It All About?

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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 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.

Tags: astrology, business, Mercury, Mercury Retrograde

Astro4Business Weekly Highlights – Impact

Apr 10

Posted by Ellen Longo in Astro4Business Week | 12 Comments

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

Hello, everyone.

This week opens with a bang on Monday and that impact is carried all the way into the week until the Full Moon next Sunday.

Monday

Monday opens with the 1^st quarter Moon which always brings a decision point. What has been in motion in the past will continue in the same direction unless you step into the driver’s seat. This point in the lunar cycle has been described as a car going around a curve: you either take the wheel and negotiate the curve or natural forces will continue their pre-ordained path and you’ll run right off the road. Usually a choice has to be made, gaining something and leaving something behind. But the key is to act with courage and with the Moon in Cancer, with the emotional support of those closest to you.

A few hours later Mars challenges Pluto. In other words, fiery aggressive energy challenges the powers that be in government, society, and the economy. You may feel ready to take on the world in order to move your business forward. Alternately, one of your staff leaders may feel you are the inflexible authority who must be challenged.

These energies need a strong hand. Truly there is the potential to break new ground and to finally overcome what has seemed so intractable. But there is nothing kind or pussy-footed about this aspect. Ray Merriman of the excellent Merriman Market Analyst warns, “[This] can be a confrontational dynamic where each side refuses to bend to the point of a functional compromise. One side will have to break, for hard aspects between Mars and Pluto almost never conclude in a win-win result.”

And then later in the day Mercury and Jupiter meet in Aries. Mercury represents the intellect and Jupiter usually represents wisdom. But with both of these planets in impulsive, idealistic Aries your intellect may be overcome with grand ideas and following on the heels of the Mars/Pluto influence above, you may become convinced that a big aggressive move is the only true solution. Whoa there, partner! Remember that when Mercury is retrograde all is not as it seems. Take that big idea and file it for the time being. It will gain a lot more traction if you wait a couple of weeks before you put it in motion. Over-confidence, idealistic conviction, and impatience will signal an idea whose time has not come.

And the rest of the week

The rest of the week carries Monday’s themes forward with the growing energy between the Sun and Moon, culminating in the Full Moon on Sunday. There’s dramatic flair midweek and an emphasis on creativity. Some of your staff will be on mental holiday with Mercury retrograde so you’ll have to take the lead. Provide yourself with artistic outlets and move through the week with a sense of wonder and play. This will bring everything to completion right on time.

Have a great week and please share in the comments how you experienced these energies. I’m really interested in how that Mars/Pluto square impacted your business life this week.

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

To see 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 me? 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 – April 2011

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

Tags: astrology, business, Full Moon, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury Retrograde, Pluto

Mercury Retrograde – What’s it all about?

Mar 30

Posted by Ellen Longo in Retrograde Motion | 14 Comments

Corriere della Sera, The Evening Courier, by Adolfo Hohenstein, 1898. (Source:Wikimedia Commons)

Hello everyone.

Mercury assumes retrograde motion today so I thought we should review where we are in the dance between Mercury and the Sun. The cycle of Mercury retrograde is a tri-annual event and learning to use it well should be in the tool bag of every business person.

First, a review

First, let’s review what the Sun and Mercury symbolize. In astrological thought, the Sun is the essential Self, the individual spark of life that provides energy, purpose and meaning to all of our endeavors. In business, the Sun represents you, the leader, in your role as the one who sets the goals and standards, the values of the company, the direction and flavor. The Sun is the center around which all other facets of the business revolve, including the employees, the customers, the systems, the controls, the profits, and the outcomes, and if you have a business you should also learn how to make fake pay stubs as these are really useful for this.

Mercury represents the mind, speech and communication faculties; all of the conversations, messages, and information it takes to keep things moving. This faculty of the rational, reasoning mind is inseparable from the essential Self, just as in the Solar System the planet Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. The Sun has a creative impulse and, in a sense, hands it off to Mercury to bring into manifestation through speech, planning, and enlisting others.

Mercury has two faces. One we experience 80% of the time, the outward facing mental processes which apply attention toward the tasks at hand. This is the busy Mercury, the mind that is constantly transmitting, processing, and analyzing information and making literal, reasoned responses.

Mercury’s other face is its retrograde motion, periodic times of looking inward toward inner sources of wisdom. At these times the mind is not so reactive to outer directives, but delves deep into stores of experience and unconscious knowledge to bring back a perspective that only those realms can give. This is an extremely valuable aspect to Mercury, as important to our mental health and acuity as sleeping is to waking.

Both sides of Mercury are important to expressing our essential selves: the directly relational Mercury and the inner-tuned awareness of Mercury retrograde.

The Cycle

The Sun/Mercury cycle is always the same, with approximately the same number of days in each phase of the cycle. Our present cycle began in February and looks like this:

Mercury and the Sun were both moving forward and met at the exact same point in the zodiac. This was on February 25 at 6 degrees Pisces.
Mercury zoomed ahead of the Sun, all the way to its position today, 24 degrees Aries. The Sun is 15 degrees behind Mercury at 9 degrees Aries.
Mercury turns retrograde today and begins moving back through the zodiac while the Sun is still moving forward.
Mercury and the Sun will meet again, the Sun having moved forward to 19 degrees of Aries and Mercury in retrograde motion having moved back to 19 degrees of Aries. This will happen in ten days, on April 9.
The Sun will continue to move forward and Mercury will continue to move back until April 23, widening the distance between them.
Mercury will turn direct on April 23 at 12 degrees Aries. The Sun will be ahead of Mercury at 2 degrees of Taurus.
Now both the Sun and Mercury will be in forward motion again, but the Sun will begin 20 degrees in front of Mercury. Mercury will finally catch up with the Sun on June 12 at 21 degrees of Gemini. This is the same stage as step 1 above, but now it’s four months later and the Sun and Mercury will both have moved forward in the zodiac to Gemini rather than Pisces. And then the whole cycle will begin again.

Mercury, from The Seven Planets with the Signs of the Zodiac, (Hans) Sebald Beham, 1539.(Source:Wikimedia Commons)

The Meaning

So if the Sun is our essential Self and its purposes and Mercury represents our thinking, speaking, and communicating faculties, what does this cycle tell us about the interaction of these parts of ourselves, and how can we use these cycles in our businesses? (To skip the detail, go to “In a Nutshell” below.)

In step 1 above, the Sun and Mercury briefly join together on the exact same degree of the zodiac. This is the best time for a meeting of the minds, an excellent day for communication and planning. It’s like our purpose and our ability to represent that purpose in speech and interaction are hand in hand. It is also a good day to hand out assignments, sending people on fact-finding missions, exploring future possibilities, with a requirement to report back in on what they find.

In step 2 above, Mercury zooms ahead of the Sun, moving into the Sun’s future. In other words it travels farther into the zodiac than the Sun. It is ahead of the Sun, like a sentinel or a trail-blazer, getting the first look at the lay of the land. This is the time when your team may be able to see the world more clearly than you, as they fulfill the assignments you gave them hands-on. It is important to listen carefully during this time and continue to support them as they discover new territory.

Today In step 3, Mercury reaches its farthest point ahead of the Sun, stops, and proceeds into retrograde motion. An interesting thing happens when Mercury starts retrogressing. It actually covers the same ground it has just been over, in effect, getting a second look but from a different direction. So it not only has new information for its next meeting with the Sun, but it has actually seen it from two different points of view, once going forth, and once coming back.

This is the time to pull in those reports, to begin to examine the findings, and to course- correct based on the new information. It is also a time to gather the troops back into the fold if they’ve been out on their own too long. Spend this time reconnecting and refamiliarizing yourself with your people and their stories.

In step 4, Mercury meets the Sun again, this time in retrograde motion. It has information for the Sun about the future, it has seen the path the Sun is about to walk. Another great day for a formal meeting, but this time Mercury, in retrograde motion, is still in listening mode, looking for synchronicities and making connections that aren’t apparent on the surface. This meeting may need to account for this. It may be that your best lieutenant has something very important to share but may have a hard time putting it in words. Or you may have an inspiration that will express itself easily through non-linear means, such as color, or music, or movement, rather than the usual white boards, power point, or outlined memos.

Step 5 is a really interesting part of the cycle. The Sun and Mercury have met and exchanged energy and information, but Mercury keeps moving back in retrograde motion for about 10 more days, while the Sun moves forward. This is the point in the cycle when the Sun moves ahead of Mercury. It’s almost like the Sun says, good work, I’ll take it from here for a while, you get some rest.And maybe this is a hint we should take for ourselves and our staff. Maybe these ten days should be about rest, with the leader taking on the mantle directly for bringing the business forward. The scouts and emissaries have earned a few days of lowered expectations, and it’s always good for the leader to interact directly with the business environment.

In step 6, Mercury resumes direct motion. During our present cycle this will happen on April 23. Whenever Mercury changes direction it slows down for a few days, so this is probably not the time to expect everybody to be 100% back on course. Give it a few days before you start expecting people to be fully back into the rational, linear mode.

In step 7, both Mercury and the Sun are moving forward, yet Mercury is quite a bit behind the Sun. This is the time when the Leader is in their full power, has stepped into their role completely, setting expectations and demanding accountability. It’s also the time when you can start handing off projects to people; you’re in front, you see the future, you know your ultimate direction. This is a time of maximum clarity and your troops are awake and alert – even if your only troops are your own faculties.

And back to step 1.

In a Nutshell

So here are the key dates for this next cycle of Mercury, starting with today’s retrograde motion (for more detail, see above):

March 30 – Mercury turns retrograde, ahead of Sun. Action: Teams finish assignments, begin to report in. Leader reviews.

April 9 – Sun meets Mercury in retrograde motion. Action: Meet with your people, collect assignments, listen, and disseminate information.

April 9 – April 23 – Mercury in retrograde motion; Sun moves ahead of Mercury. Action: Let your people rest, take the lead, plan your next steps based on new information.

April 23 to June 12 – Mercury in direct motion, Sun ahead of Mercury. Action: Leader implements new plans, moves forward; everyone involved in current projects.

June 12 – Sun meets Mercury in direct motion. Action: Meeting of the minds. Spell out your vision, hand out new project assignments, and create exploratory teams for future innovation.

June 12 – August 2 – Mercury in direct motion moves ahead of Sun. Action: Teams work on innovation, exploration, future possibilities. Leader manages, coordinates, and provides resources.

And here we’re back to step 1 in the cycle. Can you see the natural rhythm that comes with the Sun/Mercury cycle? Shall we give it a try?

For more tips on how to use Mercury Retrograde to your advantage, see

10 Best Practices for Mercury Retrograde

Mercury Retrograde – 10 Ways to Engage

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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 more information on the Sun and Mercury in business, see:

The Sun

Mercury

Tags: astrology, business, Mercury Retrograde

Astro4Business Weekly Highlights – Aries Hot!

Mar 27

Posted by Ellen Longo in Astro4Business Week | 6 Comments

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

Hello, everyone.

Are you feeling the heat? Don’t worry, by the end of the week you will be. This week is all Aries, all the time. If you’re an adventurous spirit, you’re gonna love it. If not, you may want to run for cover.

Let me list it out for you:

Monday Sun in Aries squaring Pluto in Capricorn; Jupiter in Aries opposing Saturn in Libra

Wednesday Mercury in Aries making its station and turning retrograde

Friday Mars entering Aries, becoming very powerful in the sign it rules

Sunday New Moon in Aries; Mars conjuncting Uranus in Aries; Sun in Aries opposing Saturn in Libra

That’s a lot of warrior energy! And I’d say it might be frustrated warrior energy with the Moon losing energy all week preparing for the New Moon on Sunday and Mercury turning retrograde mid-week. Both of these indicate an inward-turning, quieting tide, just the opposite of rash, impulsive, put-your-foot-down-and-stomp-around Aries energy.

And that’s just your local environment. On the wider societal and global stage this week we have that square from Pluto in Capricorn, oppositions from Saturn in Libra, and Uranus joining the fray. We can call it destruction (Pluto), limitation (Saturn), and revolution (Uranus) at every intersection this week.

The most challenging aspects are the square from Pluto in Capricorn on Monday and the conjunction of Mars with Uranus next Sunday. I’m not too worried about the oppositions from Saturn in Libra. Saturn is exalted in Libra and will bring a dose of diplomacy, collaboration, and respect – a needed antidote to the self-referential and fiery Aries energy.

Sun square Pluto

We know the Sun in Aries brings an active, dynamic, aggressive energy to those in leadership. We are apt to act first and ask questions later. This is extremely valuable when we have to begin a new endeavor or push projects forward that are lagging or stalled.

But as we take hasty action this week we run smack into Pluto in Capricorn. Pluto in Capricorn is a change agent, toppling over time the institutions in our lives that have gotten oppressive and tradition-bound. Upheaval is a keyword for the process, but the attitudes which created these forms in the first place take many, many years to destroy. No quick fixes here, which is all the Sun in Aries is interested in. The Sun in Aries is not a long-haul energy; it wants to take action and be quickly rewarded.

As you implement your plans this week you could run into one hurdle after another, seemingly intransigent obstacles that you are probably sick and tired of dealing with. The energy will ease up after the beginning of the week, but only after you’ve adjusted your expectations about what you can reasonably accomplish. No side-stepping this week.

This square requires us to actively confront and resolve our problems. Take definite acts of self-assertion but recognize that there is clean-up work to be done, and there’s no one else to do it but you. As the leader, direct your attention to burning away anything malicious, destructive, disloyal, or decaying that comes to light. It’s not the first time you’ve had to do this and it won’t be the last. But it’s the work to do this week.

Mars conjunct Uranus

Helmeted young warrior, so-called Ares. Roman copy from a Greek original—this is a plaster replica, the original is now stored in the Museum of the Villa. Canope at the Villa Adriana in Tivoli.

With Mars entering Aries on Friday and approaching its conjunction with Uranus on Sunday, you may spend the entire week dealing with one conflict after another. Mars in Aries incites a competitive fierceness which is great if you can wield it and hard to bear if it’s used against you. You’ve got to stay on the offense this week as others vie for position and take advantage of any ambivalence. Even within your staff, your operations and production people may be feisty and geared up, fomenting a full-blown revolution by the end of the week if you’re not careful. It will take an absolute here and now presence from you, dealing swiftly with each matter as it arises, and there could be many.

You may be called upon to defend others in a righteous cause and if so, you could be surprised at your level of courage and determination. Or you may finally feel you’ve had enough of excuses for mediocrity, in yourself or others. You will have the insight to break through entrenched boundaries with this aspect, but you may end up in a place you could not have predicted.

One strong caution for the week is to keep up or even ramp up your exercise regimen. This Mars/Uranus energy is very physical and stressful; it needs a positive outlet. But be careful. Push your limits but don’t exceed them, as this erratic, unpredictable energy can lead to accidents if you take it too far.

Mercury Retrograde

On Wednesday Mercury, the planet that rules all of the communications and information it takes to keep a business running, turns retrograde. Mercury is retrograde for 18 days three times a year. From our geocentric point of view, Mercury has gotten way out in front of the Sun, as far ahead as it can go. Now it begins to regress, apparently moving backwards through the zodiac until it meets the Sun and then falls even farther behind it. In 18 days Mercury will resume direct motion and begin to catch up with the Sun again.

The Sun represents you, the leader, and Mercury represents all of the tools and people you use to gather the information you need, including assistants, PR people, research teams, accountants, and IT. These people have pulled ahead of you, so to speak, treading ground you have yet to explore. You may feel that your company has gotten ahead of itself, or you’ve been too distracted by new information to manage the projects currently on your plate. Mercury retrograde is the time to pull everyone back, to review what they have been doing, and to plan how to incorporate all the new information. This also begins a period to evaluate your team’s efforts and be sure everyone is working toward the goals you have established.

New Moon in Aries

Usually I advise people to rest during the couple days before and after the New Moon. It’s generally a time of inactivity, a seeding time for the new endeavor which will reveal itself just after the New Moon. But this month, I don’t think we’ll have the luxury. With all of this Aries activity, and the Sun and Moon in Aries at the New Moon on Sunday, I just don’t think we’ll be able to relax. We’ll “want to be starting somethin’” in the words of Michael Jackson. So go for it! It may be a flash in the pan but if you try to resist the pro-activity of Aries, you risk burning out your circuits. Aries needs to ACT, so if you feel the urge, indulge it with passion! That will please Mars, the fiery ruler of this sign.

So that’s the week, a hotbed of powerful push-pull energies. Don’t forget to sense the childlike quality of the Aries energy and have some fun.

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

To get 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.

For more business information on the planets mentioned this week, see these links:

Tags: Aries, astrology, business, Mars, Mercury Retrograde, New Moon

Astro4Business Weekly Forecast – Mercury Direct and other Astro-Matters

Dec 27

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Week | 2 Comments

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

Hello everyone.

This week holds two major astrological events in addition to the continuous waning of the Moon.

The Waning Moon

As the Moon loses more and more light and approaches the New Moon on January 4, this is the time to put the last minute touches on short-term projects, gain the final hand-offs and sign-offs, and clear your workspace of any clutter that has accumulated over the last few weeks. You may have to let a project go, even if it isn’t finished.

You’ll find your mind more and more drawn to the future, even though that future is hazy at best. That’s fine. By the end of the week we will reach what Rael and Rudhyar, two master astrologers, call the “empty, dormant interlude between two cycles,” full of magic and mystery. Let your imagination begin to create the next right thing, but don’t initiate anything until after the New Moon.

Mars challenges Saturn

On Wednesday, December 29, Mars and Saturn form an aspect of tension, tension we are likely to feel the entire week. Mars is the part of us that desires action and movement. You may find yourself or key managers wanting to take a stand, to choose between alternatives, and act. This energy prefers to do anything, right or wrong, rather than nothing.

The Mars energy is somewhat modified by its travels through the sign Capricorn, which lends control and strategy to our impulses. But when Mars meets Saturn this week we are still likely to experience frustration with anything that seeks to curtail our plans. Even the advice above pertaining to the waning Moon might rub us the wrong way. Mars wants to execute and Saturn and the waning Moon say, no!

This week will test us under pressure, particularly strong because both Mars and Saturn are very powerful in their respective signs of Capricorn and Libra. You’ll probably run into a serious reality check or two in the form of limited resources or parental authority types. Alternatively you may have to hold the reins in on team members who have the ball and want to run with it. Plan first, and then you can let them act.

Mercury Direct

After three weeks of retrograde motion, Mercury resumes direct motion on Thursday, December 30. The days just before the 30^th can feel frustrating, as you’ve received the inspiration, have formed the new idea, but the pieces are not in place yet to act. Once Mercury turns direct, it’s fine to get back to normal routines of travel, purchasing, and negotiating. But remember, it may take a few days for your team to come out of the retrograde Mercury-induced slumber. Best to wait until next week before demanding precision and accountability.

Have a wonderful New Year, and look for my new blog coming soon. Something along the lines of “Studying the Stars: a Lifetime of Learning.” The January Astro4Business forecast will be posted later this week.

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

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

For a discussion of the entire Mercury/Mercury Retrograde cycle, see The Sun/Mercury Cycle

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

Tags: astrology, business, Mars, Mercury, Mercury Retrograde, Moon, Saturn

Astro4Business Weekly Forecast – the Sun/Mercury Cycle

Dec 12

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Week, Retrograde Motion | 26 Comments

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

Hello everyone.

Since the most important aspects this week center around Mercury retrograde, including the Sun/Mercury retrograde conjunction, I thought we should revisit the whole Mercury retrograde cycle. The cycle of Mercury retrograde is a tri-annual event and learning to use it well should be in the tool bag of every business person.

First, a review

Mercury represents the mind, speech and communication faculties; all of the conversations, messages, and memos it takes to keep things moving. This faculty of the rational, reasoning mind is inseparable from the essential Self, just as in the Solar System the planet Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. The Sun has a creative impulse and, in a sense, hands it off to Mercury to bring into manifestation through speech, planning, and enlisting others.

Both sides of Mercury are important to expressing our essential selves: the directly relational Mercury and the inner-tuned awareness of Mercury retrograde.

The Cycle

The Sun/Mercury cycle is always the same, with the same number of days in each phase of the cycle. Our present cycle began in October and looks like this:

Mercury and the Sun were both moving forward and met at the exact same point in the zodiac. This was on October 16 in Libra.
Mercury zoomed ahead of the Sun, all the way to 5 degrees of Capricorn. The Sun was 16 degrees behind Mercury at 19 degrees of Sagittarius.
Mercury turned retrograde and started moving back while the Sun was still moving forward. This happened on December 10.
Mercury and the Sun again meet at the exact same point in the zodiac, the Sun having moved forward to 28 degrees of Sagittarius and Mercury in retrograde motion having moved back to 28 degrees of Sagittarius. This is where we are in the cycle this week, on Sunday, December 19.
The Sun will continue to move forward and Mercury will continue to move back for about 10 days, making them even farther apart.
Mercury will turn direct, this time on December 30 at 19 degrees of Sagittarius. The Sun will be ahead of Mercury at 8 degrees of Capricorn.
Now both the Sun and Mercury will be in forward motion, but the Sun will begin 19 degrees in front of Mercury. Mercury will finally catch up with the Sun on February 25 at 6 degrees of Pisces. This is the same stage of the cycle as step 1 above, but now the Sun and Mercury will have both moved forward in the zodiac to Pisces rather than Libra. And then the whole cycle will begin again.

The Meaning

In step 1 above, the Sun and Mercury briefly join together on the exact same degree of the zodiac. This is the best time for a meeting of the minds, an excellent day for communication and planning. It’s like our purpose and our ability to represent that purpose in speech and interaction are hand in hand. It is also a good day to hand out assignments, sending people on fact-finding missions, exploring future possibilities, with a requirement to report back in on what they find.
In step 2 above, Mercury zooms ahead of the Sun, moving into the Sun’s future. In other words it travels farther into the zodiac than the Sun. It is ahead of the Sun, like a sentinel or a trail-blazer, getting the first look at the lay of the land. This is the time when your team may be able to see the world more clearly than you, as they fulfill the assignments you gave them hands-on. It is important to listen carefully during this time and continue to support them as they discover new territory.
In step 3, Mercury reaches its farthest point ahead of the Sun, stops, and proceeds into retrograde motion. An interesting thing happens when Mercury starts retrogressing. It actually covers the same ground it has just been over, in effect, getting a second look but from a different direction. So it not only has new information for its next meeting with the Sun, but it has actually seen it from two different points of view, once going forth, and once coming back.
This is the time to pull in those reports, to begin to examine the findings, and to course- correct based on the new information. It is also a time to gather the troops back into the fold if they’ve been out on their own too long. This is the time for reconnection and to re-familiarize yourself with your people and their stories.
This Week: In step 4, Mercury meets the Sun again, this time in retrograde motion. It has information for the Sun about the future, it has seen the path the Sun is about to walk. Another great day for a formal meeting, but this time Mercury, in retrograde motion, is still in listening mode, looking for synchronicities and making connections that aren’t apparent on the surface. This meeting may need to account for this. It may be that your best lieutenant has something very important to share but may have a hard time putting it in words. Or you may have an inspiration that will express itself easily through non-linear means, such as color, or music, or movement, rather than the usual white boards, power point, or outlined memos.
Step 5 is a really interesting part of the cycle. The Sun and Mercury have met and exchanged energy and information, but Mercury keeps moving back in retrograde motion for about 10 more days, while the Sun moves forward. This is the point in the cycle when the Sun gets ahead of Mercury. It’s almost like the Sun says, good work, I’ll take it from here for a while, you get some rest.

Mercury stops to fasten his sandal.(Wikimedia Commons)

And maybe this is a hint we should take for ourselves and our staff. Maybe these ten days should be about rest, with the leader taking on the mantle directly for bringing the business forward. The scouts and emissaries have earned a few days of lowered expectations, and it’s always good for the leader to interact directly with the business environment.
In step 6, Mercury resumes direct motion. During our present cycle this will happen on December 30. Whenever Mercury changes direction it slows down for a few days, so this is probably not the time to expect everybody to be 100% back on course. Give it a few days before you start expecting people to be fully back into the rational, linear mode.
In step 7, both Mercury and the Sun are moving forward, yet Mercury is quite a bit behind the Sun. This is the time when the Leader is in their full power, has stepped into their role completely, setting expectations and demanding accountability. It’s also the time when you can start handing off projects to people; you’re in front, you see the future, you know your ultimate direction. This is a time of maximum clarity and your troops are awake and alert – even if your only troops are your own faculties.
And back to step 1.

In a Nutshell

So here are the key dates for the next cycle of Mercury, starting with this week’s Sun/Mercury conjunction (for more detail, see above):

December 19 – Sun meets Mercury in retrograde motion. Action: Meet with your people, collect assignments, listen, and disseminate information.

December 19 – 30 – Mercury in retrograde motion; Sun moves ahead of Mercury. Action: Let your people rest, take the lead, plan your next steps based on new information.

December 30 – February 25 – Mercury in direct motion, Sun ahead of Mercury. Leader implements new plans, moves forward; everyone involved in current projects.

February 25 – Sun meets Mercury in direct motion. Meeting of the minds. Spell out your vision, hand out new project assignments, and create exploratory teams for future innovation.

February 25 – March 30 – Mercury in direct motion moves ahead of Sun. Teams work on innovation, exploration, future possibilities. Leader manages, coordinates, and provides resources.

March 30 – Mercury turns retrograde, still ahead of Sun. Teams finish assignments, begin to report in. Leader reviews.

April 9 – Sun meets Mercury in retrograde motion. Action: Meet with your people, collect assignments, listen, and disseminate information.

And here we’re back to step 1 in the cycle. Can you see the natural rhythm that comes with the Sun/Mercury cycle? Shall we give it a try?

Happy Holidays Reminder

Since I’m traveling and enjoying the holidays, these posts will be more sporadic and spontaneous until the end of December. I think the best idea is to subscribe via the RSS feed above and then you’ll be notified by email whenever there is a new post. I don’t want to lose touch with you.

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

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

For tips on how to use Mercury Retrograde to your advantage, see

10 Best Practices for Mercury Retrograde

Mercury Retrograde – 10 Ways to Engage

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

The Sun

Mercury

Tags: astrology, business, Mercury, Mercury Retrograde, Sun

Astro4Business Weekly Forecast with Signs of Uranus

Dec 5

Posted by Ellen in Introduction to Astrology for Business | 8 Comments

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

Hello everyone.

As I’m writing this today, on Sunday December 5, we are experiencing the New Moon and the annual time when Uranus apparently stands still and then begins traveling in direct motion. Uranus is the last of the outer planets to resume direct motion this year and with its turning, all of the planets are traveling straight forward in the sky. This signals the yearly period of forward motion, full speed ahead, except Mercury will begin retrograde motion on Friday for three weeks.

Not that there’s anything inherently challenging with Mercury retrograde; it only becomes challenging if we resist the inward pull of our mind. I’ve outlined several ways to approach Mercury retrograde in the links below but the best way by far is to spend a few minutes each day in meditation, deep breathing, or contemplation. If there’s a book you’ve been meaning to read, especially a business related book (I’m currently reading The Carrot Principle by Gostick and Elton), this is an excellent time to squirrel away some hours and delve deeply. With Mercury retrograde there is the potential for information to really take root and become an extremely useful tool in the future.

Signs of Uranus

On this site we often try to observe signs of the planets when they turn direction. There is an astrological theory that says that at these turning points the power of the planet is intensified and therefore more easily noticed in the material world. I saw Uranus this morning.

Some of you may know that I’m in England, which was blanketed with two feet of snow earlier this week. This part of the world shuts down when there is a huge snowfall: trains stop running, roads are left snowbound, deliveries halt. Since we are running low on groceries I decided to walk to the village this morning; our car can’t make it up the icy hills but I can. As I was walking I noticed several groups of neighbors out with shovels and picks cleaning the roads.

Don’t get me wrong – this wasn’t a joyous Jupiter-type block party with hot chocolate and barrel-fires. This was an earnest group of people, all ages, with their backs bent, cleaning the thoroughfares. As I passed them the first time I observed them with interest; an hour and a half later on my way back they had proceeded about ten yards and were still hard at it. This time I recognized with gratitude and respect what they were really accomplishing.

What struck me was they weren’t cleaning the sidewalks in front of their own homes or their own driveways; they were cleaning the streets for everyone’s safety and convenience. This scene perfectly expresses the energy of Uranus: people willing to work steadily and hard for the benefit of the community. Neighbors setting aside personal desire to spend a few hours on Sunday so that everyone can get to work the next day. People progressing foot by foot until the job is done. The impulse to service followed by pulling on the boots and hat and heading outdoors with the shovel.

This is a classic scenario inspired by the energy of Uranus within each of us. How about you? Did you see signs of Uranus today?

The Week Ahead

Now a quick look at the week ahead…

With the Moon early in its waxing phase we begin to get a glimpse of what we might develop by the Full Moon two weeks from now. This is the time to get projects started even if we’re uncertain where they might be going. We should try and test ideas this week so that by next week we can settle into perfecting the best ones.

A strong Saturnian influence will support all of our efforts this week. Almost every major aspect this week either involves Saturn or Saturn-ruled Capricorn. Mercury turns retrograde in Capricorn and Mars also enters the sign Capricorn. This ushers in a few weeks of responsible, methodical effort.

There’s a social aspect between Venus and Pluto midweek, but don’t expect this to be light-hearted holiday fun. Venus in Pluto’s sign of Scorpio meeting Pluto in serious Capricorn is more likely to be linked to business endeavors and working out the details of shared resources. This is an extremely beneficial aspect for finances as Venus rules money and Pluto rules hidden sources of wealth. But we have to respect the intense power of these two to bind and commit us to long-term alliances. In other words, don’t jump into any financial relationships this week unless you are absolutely sure of the intentions of all parties. But if you are, then this is an excellent time to commit.

Have a wonderful week and be sure to let us know if you saw signs of Uranus on Sunday or signs of Mercury when it turns retrograde on Friday.

Happy Holidays Reminder

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

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

For tips on how to use Mercury Retrograde to your advantage, see

10 Best Practices for Mercury Retrograde

Mercury Retrograde – 10 Ways to Engage

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

Tags: astrology, business, Mercury Retrograde, Pluto, Saturn, Uranus, Venus

A4B Today – September 7, Dark Virgo Moon

Sep 6

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Today | No Comments

Source:Wikimedia Commons

Good Day!

Even though many of us are back from the long weekend, don’t expect this to be an active, productive day. We are in the very darkest phase of the Moon today, with the New Moon very early tomorrow morning.

The dark phase of the Moon is excellent for letting things go, clearing our desks, and preparing the space for something unique and new to come. You could think of it as similar to setting up a new office for a coming employee or setting up a nursery for the coming birth of a child.

This dark phase of the Moon can be experienced in different ways. It can be a time of anticipation, even excitement as you imagine and dream of the future. It can also be a time of grieving over the ending of a beloved project or what did not come to pass. It is a monthly phase of transition and is often a time of “not knowing,” which can be incredibly uncomfortable for action-oriented business types.

Today’s very dark Moon in Virgo is in aspect to Pluto in Capricorn, so the new may come as a mandate from the power centers in our world: the government, other businesses, banks, insurance companies, the military. Your marching orders will come, just not from the sector you might expect!

The Moon also meets with retrograde Mercury in Virgo today, which may bring a message about a concrete action you need to take…eventually. Try to hold off for a couple of days. It’s a good day for communication and for getting to the very heart of a matter that needs resolution, but not a great day to actually resolve the issue. Just stay open, take in as much as you can, keep your senses peeled for the unusual and leave it at that today.

The seed of the new that is conceived at tomorrow morning’s New Moon may not become apparent for a couple of days, so hold tight. Try not to jump in just to have something to do. And rest and recoup, if you can. For every time there is a season, and the season of activity will be here soon.

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 week, see the Weekly Forecast – September 6 – 12

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

For tips on how to use Mercury Retrograde to your advantage, see

10 Best Practices for Mercury Retrograde

Mercury Retrograde – 10 Ways to Engage

Exploring the Sun/Mercury Cycle – Both Sides Now

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

Tags: astrology, business, Mercury, Mercury Retrograde, New Moon, Pluto

Astro4Business Weekly Forecast – September 6 – 12

Sep 4

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Week | 5 Comments

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

Hello, everyone.

This week begins quietly with the last couple of days of the waning Moon leading to the New Moon on Wednesday. Venus and Jupiter change signs this week and Mars forms a calming aspect to Neptune. Mercury continues in retrograde motion until next Sunday, when it resumes direct motion for the next three months. These are the days highlighted this week:

Wednesday

Wednesday begins with the New Moon in Virgo. The New Moon is when the Sun and the Moon come together on the exact same degree of the zodiac. Although it is the beginning of the monthly lunar cycle, it is not an ideal day for new beginnings. A conception is taking place in the dark; it’s best to spend the day quietly listening for the quickening of a new idea.

Later in the morning (MDT), Venus changes signs and enters Scorpio. This is a very interesting position for extroverted, social Venus, traveling through the sign of mysterious and hidden realms. We’ll examine this thoroughly in the coming weeks, with guidance about how to best use this time in our businesses and the pitfalls to avoid.

Next month Venus will turn retrograde, an event that happens once every eighteen months. With Venus in Scorpio and retrograde, the coming few months could be challenging in the areas of business that Venus rules: financial strength, creativity, and professional relationships. Twists and turns are coming, no doubt!

Also on Wednesday, Jupiter in retrograde motion re-enters Pisces from Aries, reestablishing the planet of opportunity in a sign he favors. This could provide the antidote to Venus’ passage through Scorpio. Jupiter retrograde in Pisces suggests we should work on re-connection. Begin today to repair the links that have frayed between you and your co-workers. Reestablish venues for your employees to express their ideas creatively. Rely on your intuition and feelings; show your employees, customers, and business associates your heart.

Thursday

On Thursday Mars is in harmony with Neptune, an influence that will be felt all week. Mars represents how we apply our energy, effort, and will to realize our goals and ambitions. Neptune refers to the collective, to the fashions and feelings that symbolize our times. We will be unusually willing to act on our intuitions this week and to believe that our efforts make a difference in the world.

The Neptune influence on Mars may seem to make your team less productive than usual, but that’s just because they’re listening to a different drummer this week. It’s best to let people delve into their creativity rather than require concrete achievements. And you, too!

Sunday

On Sunday, Mercury resumes direct motion. Before it does, Mercury slows way down so don’t be surprised if your mind seems even more unfocused during this final week of retrograde motion. This is our last week to revisit and repair anything still lingering from the past. Be sure to read Mercury Retrograde – 10 Ways to Engage to make sure all loose ends are tied up before Sunday. After Sunday, it’s full speed ahead!

Have a wonderful week, and let me know in the Comments how it all goes.

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

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

For tips on how to use Mercury Retrograde to your advantage, see

Exploring the Sun/Mercury Cycle – Both Sides Now

10 Best Practices for Mercury Retrograde

Mercury Retrograde – 10 Ways to Engage

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