Astro4Business Intersections

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

Astro4Business Monthly Forecast – August 2010

Jul 28

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

Hello, everyone.

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

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

Pluto in Capricorn

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

Pluto hastens and intensifies the processes of endings and new beginnings, and in Capricorn will bring about the ending of our business pursuits that are no longer suited to our growth and personal evolution. Whatever has been slowly leaking vitality will go ahead and die, including old business models, practices, and products.

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

Neptune in Aquarius

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

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

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

Uranus in Aries/Pisces

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

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

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

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

Saturn in Libra

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

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

Jupiter in Aries

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

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

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

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

Mars in Libra

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

Venus in Virgo/Libra

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

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

Mercury in Virgo

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

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

Sun in Leo/Virgo

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

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

Phases of the Moon

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

Monthly Recap

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

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

Key Dates and Keywords for the Month

August 2 Jupiter (Expansion) Challenges Pluto (Transformation)

August 3 Mars (Force) Challenges Pluto (Transformation)

August 9 New Moon in Leo

August 16 Jupiter (Expansion) Opposes Saturn (Limitation)

August 21 Saturn (Limitation) Challenges Pluto (Transformation)

August 24 Full Moon in Pisces

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

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

Tags: business, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Moon, Neptune, Pluto, Retrograde, Saturn, Sun, Uranus, Venus

A4B Today – July 23, Jupiter Retrograde

Jul 22

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Today, Retrograde Motion | 4 Comments

Source:Wikimedia Commons

Good Day!

Today Jupiter, the planet of opportunity and expansion, begins its annual period of retrograde motion. This could usher in a few days of mixed messages and confusion, and you may have the feeling that the brass ring is retreating from sight just when you were about to reach it.

With Jupiter, most of us like the planet straight up, in direct motion. When Jupiter is direct we feel optimistic and altruistic; we feel that life is grand, a game to be played, and we’re on the lookout for the next good thing. That’s why it can be depressing around the time Jupiter enters retrograde motion: our enthusiasm can flag, we feel like retreating from our normal range of activity, and our strategies that seemed so perceptive a few weeks ago look overblown and overconfident.

People who were born when Jupiter was retrograde may have a different experience of the retrograde period. You may feel like you found your good judgment again and are happy to settle into a more calm and inner-directed mode of being. Jupiter retrograde brings opportunities to spend time alone and to connect with our own sources of wisdom. Especially if we’ve been influenced too heavily by the desires and especially the morals of others, Jupiter retrograde brings a welcome return to our own standards and values.

Often when Jupiter turns retrograde some source of external support is withdrawn, and that could shake us up for a few days. However next week, when the Sun forms a harmonious trine with retrograde Jupiter, we can receive deeper insight into why this was necessary. Perhaps we’ve become over-dependent on others’ resources or we’ve let others establish goals for our business that are unsustainable. Perhaps we’ve been masking feelings of trepidation about a project because we were enjoying the prestige that accompanied it. Perhaps we’ve seen the writing on the wall about an idea we’ve invested time and money into, but we were unwilling to throw in the towel and admit that we took it too far. Or maybe overconfidence has brought about a state in which we’re spread too thin, either energetically or financially.

Extreme Retrograde Motion! (Source:Wikimedia Commons)

Whatever the trigger, when Jupiter goes retrograde we have the opportunity to slow down. Often there is an edict from a powerful stakeholder: your spouse, your partner, your banker, your board, and for a time you feel that you could be successful if others would just give you free rein. But actually this isn’t the case. In order to maintain integrity and balance, there needs to be a deceleration and withdrawal. To regroup. To retreat. To examine the ethics of the situation. To set new goals, goals that are more realistic and fulfilling.

Jupiter will be in retrograde motion until November 19. This is an excellent time to vacation, to do inner work to define your goals, to take classes to hone a skill, and to mentor others. It’s not a good time for risk-taking or aggressive expansion, although we shouldn’t resist the natural growth that may unfold during this time. In fact, because we’re more tuned in and reliant on our own resources, an excellent foundation for the future can be laid.

This year, with all of the conflicting energies of this summer, Jupiter turning retrograde should have a calming effect. With a retrograde Jupiter, almost all of the planets involved in our summer of transformation are retrograde, with the exception of Saturn. This should simmer down the energy and help us to let matters unfold rather than pushing our agendas. And with retrograde motion that’s what we need – time to withdraw, recuperate, and re-vision.

Have a great weekend, and be sure to look for that Full Moon on Sunday – a blessing for sure!

Here are a few posts to help you understand Retrograde Motion:

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

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

Tags: astrology, business, Jupiter, Retrograde

Astro4Business Weekly Forecast – July 19-25

Jul 18

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Week | 3 Comments

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

Hello, everyone.

This week, Saturn is back in Libra and the Sun enters hot and fiery Leo. The rest of the week’s about retrograde motion – with Jupiter turning, that’s four out of the five outer planets retrograde. Reversals, anyone?

Wednesday

On Wednesday, Saturn reenters Libra where it will stay until October, 2012. With Saturn in the Cardinal sign Libra, we’ve got the set up for the Cardinal T-square over the next few weeks, when Saturn will oppose Jupiter and Uranus and square Pluto. After all of this anticipation, I say, let’s get on with it!

In fact, Saturn is our hope during this summer’s clash of the titans. Saturn is exalted in Libra and he brings the best of balanced wisdom, concentration, discipline, and restraint to the mix. He will stand guard and protect what we carry from the past that still has value. He will preserve the relationships that bring wisdom, clarity, and focus to our lives. We’ll never go too far out on a limb with Saturn in such a strong placement. And that’s a good thing this summer!

Thursday

On Thursday the Sun enters Leo and immediately encounters Saturn in Libra. This is a day of good judgment, restraint, and mature discipline. It’s a great time for leadership, a time when you will gladly give and receive wisdom. You gather your trusted advisors around you and create a plan for steady progress over the next few weeks, despite the reversals and disruptions that may come your way. This is a day to overcome obstacles with patience and endurance. You’ll be able to look your challenges in the eye and deal with them, one by one.

Friday

Friday is a major turning point, with the Sun channeling the retrograde Uranus and Jupiter slowing to a standstill and reversing direction.

When Uranus turned retrograde on July 5 you may have experienced a sudden reversal or a more subtle feeling of lack of interest in your new plans. Each year the retrograde motion of Uranus enables us to stop and take stock: are we heading in the right direction? Do we believe in what we’ve set in motion? Are we acting of our own accord or are we reacting to the norms society expects of us?

Were you shocked by the sudden turn of things? Today with the Sun aspecting Uranus you’ll get a glimpse of what is behind the change. The Sun can bring to light the specific matters that have to be rethought and redefined. Your confusion will clear and the way ahead will be revealed, even if you can’t move forward yet. It’s like your GPS has connected to its satellite – it doesn’t mean you’ve reached your destination or even know how to get there, but at least you know where you are.

Jupiter begins its annual retrograde motion today. Just as you’re settling in to the reversal of the Uranus energy, now Jupiter brings its own confusion and chaos. Things don’t stay so unmanageable throughout the retrograde period, but on the days just before and after a planet changes direction we may feel like the rug’s been pulled out from under us. And with Jupiter, it’s likely our own enthusiasm and hope that recedes, leaving us wondering how and why we got this far in the first place. How did we let growth and expansion spiral out of control? How did we get so out of balance? Why are we allowing our lives to be overcommitted and overreaching? Jupiter retrograde ushers in our annual “bring it down a notch” time, a time to rebalance our load and reexamine our motives.

Saturday

Following on Friday, today Jupiter retrograde in Aries squares off against Pluto retrograde in Capricorn. Pluto is much further in its retrograde cycle, so the issues it has been revealing since early April may seem like old hat by now. If we’ve noticed outmoded ways of doing business or dealing with our financial realities, we’ve probably addressed them by this point.

Jupiter, on the other hand, is newborn to its retrograde status and is probably still chafing at the cessation of progress. This may be a rebellious day, where you throw caution to the winds and strike out, angry and obsessed about something you don’t want to let go of. Careful, careful, today. Any extremes of emotion or action are likely to backfire badly. Call on Saturn in Libra, which is hovering nearby anyway, to help you bring balance to a potentially dangerous situation. In other words, bring in sound advisors who can see every side of the issue and then follow their advice.

That’s it for the week, but that’s enough, don’t you think? Fasten your seatbelts; the ride’s about to get wild! Look for a separate post this week on Sunday’s dynamic Full Moon.

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

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

Tags: business, Jupiter, Pluto, Retrograde, Saturn

A4B Today – July 5, Celebrate

Jul 4

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Today | 1 Comment

Source:Wikimedia Commons

Good Day!

The waning Moon continues its journey through Aries. This Fourth Quarter phase is the time for handing-off, handing over, and letting go, yes, but with the Moon in Aries we must be careful to not act too hastily. We may have the urge to burn our bridges behind us, which is fine as long as you’re sure there is no value left in what you built over the last three weeks. If the value is still there, try to slow down and make sure your handover is complete. There still may be a need for some careful mentoring as you hand-off the project to others.

If you’re celebrating the USA Independence Day holiday today, a Moon/Venus aspect in fire signs means it’s a day for fun, recreation, and competition. Parades, fireworks, face-painting: a perfect aspect for the summer holiday.

And later in the day the Moon and Neptune are in harmony, which just may bring musical harmony into the day as well. You’ll like nothing more than crowds of people today, the more the better. How about an outdoor concert? Or a big sporting event?

If you’re not celebrating the US Holiday, these energies can be used to raise people’s enthusiasm and creativity. If you give your staff a stage today to display their talents, you’ll feed everyone’s need for recognition and acknowledgement. A happy staff is a creative staff and a creative staff will impress customers and clients.

Today is the day that Uranus begins retrograde motion. In case you missed the weekly forecast, here is the advice from that post:

When Uranus entered the sign of Aries a few weeks ago, we were probably flooded with new ideas for our business, innovations we couldn’t wait to try, restructuring whose time had finally come. We may have been “on fire” with potential and possibility.

We’ve come into retrograde motion so quickly, but perhaps not a moment too soon. Especially with unpredictable Uranus in impulsive, risk-loving Aries, those innovations we were so fired up about could probably use a second look. And this is the gift of retrograde motion – it gives us a chance to retrace our steps, to check initial results against our expectations, and to correct decisions before they can do real damage.

When a planet moves into retrograde motion, we can experience reversals and disruptions for a week on either side. The tricky part about the outer planets, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, is that the reversals could well seem to be coming from forces outside yourself: that new project doesn’t get approved after all, that funding doesn’t come through as scheduled. If this is your experience, take a step back. Uranus can act suddenly and swiftly but after a couple of weeks, as we adjust to the retrograde energy, we’ll discover the purpose for the setback. And then we’ll be thanking our lucky stars!

For an overview of the week, see the Astro4Business Weekly Forecast – July 5 – 11

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

If you’d like to explore retrograde motion, see these posts:

For more info on the planets influencing today, see

Tags: business, Moon, Neptune, Retrograde, Sun, Uranus, Venus

Astro4Business Weekly Forecast – July 5 – 11

Jul 4

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Week | 5 Comments

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

Hello, everyone.

A full week ahead with Mercury and Venus changing signs and both planets highlighted by aspects in the latter part of the week. Uranus proceeds into retrograde motion on Monday; with unpredictable Uranus, expect the unexpected all week. And the New Moon and Solar Eclipse end the week with a need for withdrawal and reflection.

Monday

Each year Uranus spends five months in retrograde motion. Retrograde motion is a visual event rather than an astronomical one. From our vantage point on earth, it looks like the planet begins to move backward against the backdrop of the constellations.

Thursday

Thursday can be an absolutely wonderful day if we can find the sweet spot between our desire for personal acclaim and acknowledging how much we owe to others for our success. Venus in Leo wants personal recognition but is opposed by Neptune in Aquarius. Neptune always asks us to focus on what’s similar between us rather than what is unique in one of us. During this long transit of Neptune in Aquarius, we’re all interdependent with support coming virtually from near and far. If we remember to give credit where credit is due today, it will be easy to make connections that last.

And with a Mercury/Saturn sextile today, our communications will tend to be serious and accomplishment oriented. No frivolous chatting today. If you have an important meeting, keep in mind the Venus/Neptune advice above, but be sure to display your own credentials too. Rational, logical, and well-prepared will impress others today.

Friday

On Friday, the messenger of the gods, Mercury, enters Leo where he may think he is god! Mercury rules our rational mind and when he’s in Leo, we may tend to think that everything we think is the absolute truth and each one of our words should be taken as authority. We may be out to prove the superiority of our intellects while Mercury is in Leo, but so will everyone else. This is a time to warn your team to take it down a notch, and not come across as overconfident or bullying.

Just after Mercury moves into Leo it forms an excellent aspect with Uranus, newly retrograde in Aries. This may give you your first glimmering of how best to proceed if you faced unexpected disruptions this week. And I would say that communication is the key. Make sure your team knows if the direction has changed and open the door for their suggestions.

Saturday

Venus changes signs today, from flashy Leo to work-oriented Virgo, and you may experience this as a bit of a come-down. The flair and drama of Leo gives way to a more grounded, practical interchange with others and our social instincts will tend toward “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.” A very serious financial planner may emerge from within you as well who will watch every penny. After the overly-generous Leo stint, this could be a welcome relief.

The Sun in Cancer also teams up with Mars in Virgo which makes us seriously consider each and every action. We only want to act if we have a plan and are pretty certain how everything will turn out. It’s fine; if you spend the day arranging, problem-solving, and organizing, you’ll be happy (Venus in Virgo) and productive (Mars in Virgo.)

Sunday

Sunday should start off upbeat and confident with an early aspect between Mercury in Leo and Jupiter in Aries. You may feel over-optimistic and sure all your problems will be resolved, but that’s not a bad signal to send out into the universe, is it?

Your energy may flag, though, as the day continues and we encounter the New Moon in Cancer with an eclipse of the Sun. The New Moon is a time to remain fairly quiet and indrawn if possible and even more so with an eclipse.

The New Moon is a day of conception, when deep in the recesses of our psyches new ideas are born. When the Solar energy is eclipsed by the Moon, we feel more keenly the introspective and intuitive feminine energy of the Moon. This is why the day of the eclipse should be spent enjoying interior activities, at home, in quiet spaces. Meditating and visioning are great ways to spend the day of the eclipse; traveling and working are not. Even if you must work and interact with the public, try to reserve some part of your day for resting and silence.

Have a great week!

If you’d like to explore retrograde motion, see these posts: