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Posts Tagged Saturn

Letter to Mars – Welcome Back

Mar 10

Posted by Ellen in Introduction to Astrology for Business, Mars in Leo, Retrograde Motion, The Planets | 3 Comments

Dear Mars, 

I sat down 10 minutes ago to write you this letter and was interrupted once again!  I’ve been trying to write this post all morning.   You are turning direct in exactly three minutes, and I’m waiting, counting down the seconds. 

Fireworks 4Everything is on hold!  I can’t even write my blog post welcoming you back because there is no activity:  no brain wave activity, no ideas, no momentum.  This isn’t like me.  I miss your razzmatazz.  Are you sleeping, like my friend who said they slept all night last night and then continued to sleep all day today? 

I wanted to let people know you are moving into direct motion a couple of hours before you turned so they could be prepared.  I wanted to help them be ready.  And although I awoke this morning with a great idea about comparing the moment to just before a race flag is lowered, it fizzled out when I couldn’t find any good photos to go with the post. 

I thought it was a good analogy:  engines revved, the flag comes down, the initiating force of acceleration and gear-shifting, the gathering of momentum until we reach full speed in the next few weeks.  Good, right?  Then full-stop.  There I was, wheels spinning, rubber burning, but no traction. 

Fireworks 2So I thought, I’ll check the Harvard Business Review Management Tips and find one related to Mars to clarify this moment with a good case study.  But there were no Mars related entries, only “Retaining Talent” and “Enduring the Trials of Entrepreneurship”.  Good for a Venus day, or maybe a Saturn day, but not for you, Mars. 

I successfully ran a project meeting this morning, your province, but that’s not to say things are moving along in the project.  Yes, it was a lovely meeting, but outcomes? 

And it’s not only me.  My clients have reported stalled real estate deals, job offers going nowhere, tax information blocked, project plans averted, publishers dragging their feet, and general feelings of overwhelm and overload, with no energy to make any progress.  We need you back! 

Okay, it’s 12:20 PM EST.  You resumed direct motion 11 minutes ago.  Welcome back.  These fireworks are for you.  I’ll try to be patient while you come up to speed, but sooner rather than later would work for me.  I’ve got a lot to get done! 

Yours always,

Ellen

For other posts on the current Mars in Leo cycle, see these links:

Mars in Leo

Let Your Light Shine

The Creativity of Business

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

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Your Questions – Investing in Real Estate

Mar 8

Posted by Ellen in Introduction to Astrology for Business, Your Questions | No Comments

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

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

Hello, everyone.

After reading the Astro4Business Monthly Forecast for March, a reader asked:

How ’bout buying and selling real estate? Does that work this month?

This question addresses so many levels of business and astrology that I could write about it for an entire week!   I’ll try to do the questioner some justice in this post, but it may need further clarification over time.

The Macro Level

Let’s start at the macro level.  We’re all aware that a slow recovery has begun in the real estate markets.  At least that’s the opinion of most economic experts.  The speculation bubble coincident with Pluto in Sagittarius burst completely when Pluto entered Capricorn. 

Capricorn is an earth sign and rules the structural components of our society, including real estate.  Pluto rules shared resources, debt, and the crises that are sometimes necessary to bring us back into alignment with our fundamental values and principles.  These crises are not over yet; Pluto will remain in Capricorn until 2024, although I do believe that during the first few years of the cycle there are more major upheavals than in the later years.  In the later years, people are more used to the energy and the surprise element is gone  We respond more rationally, make better decisions, and learn to take advantage of the situation.

You could say we may be at the point where the major quakes in the market have already happened, but the aftershocks will be with us for some time.

Add to this the stressful square aspect that Pluto is making to Saturn, and soon unpredictable Uranus will join the fray.  At least during 2010, I expect a lot of volatility throughout the economic system and the different markets that comprise the system.

Back to Basics

All of this brings me back to the fundamentals:  the answer depends on what is the motive for purchasing real estate at this time.  Real Estate has advantages and disadvantages, just like all investment vehicles.  Home ownership, particularly, has potential tax advantages and the fact that the investment is tangible has distinct psychological advantages.  Historically real estate has been an excellent hedge against inflation, and you can leverage its value as security for loans.

The major disadvantage to real estate investment is the illiquidity of the investment.  Because there is no organized market like there is for stocks and commodities, it is difficult to convert it to cash quickly if you need it.  It takes a relatively large initial investment and there are extra costs related to the purchase or sale.  It is immobile, obviously, and as we have all learned, its future value can be completely unpredictable.

I know my reader was not asking me the question as a financial planner; the question related to the astrological advisability.  But since I am a professional CPA and CFP I can’t help but list some of the pros and cons.

Suggestions

Now to the astrology.  Like I noted in a previous post, life doesn’t just stand still.  There are always many different energies converging on any single moment or month.  The best use of astrology is to recognize these influences and then come up with a strategy that incorporates the best and mitigates the most challenging of these energies.

I would say, in direct answer to the question of whether real estate buying and selling works this month, the best strategies include:

  1. Check, double-check, and recheck again all of the paperwork and deals.  With the major squares and oppositions this month, expect to be at cross-purposes with everyone you transact business with.  This is not to say you can’t make a great deal.  It’s just to be extra-vigilant about the heightened competition and aggression of this time.
  2. Be sure you have all the legal advice you need.  With Saturn in Libra, a wise legal advisor is your best ally.  Talk over the deal and have them review any paperwork.  Money spent at this stage will pay off in the end.
  3. Continuing with Saturn in Libra, a good solid partnership will give you an edge, especially if each of you balances the excesses of the other.  And be sure the partnership paperwork protects each of you in case the other can no longer participate.  That legal advisor in #2 comes into this aspect as well.
  4. Wait until after Mars turns direct on March 10, and also until after the New Moon on March 15, to complete the deal.  Research and negotiations are fine now, but if you want your investment to grow, it should begin between the New and Full Moon.
  5. Keep in mind that in this economy and astrological environment, your investment should be seen as long-term.  The market is too volatile this year to invest in real estate for short-term gains.
  6. Be patient.  With Saturn retrograde until the end of May, bureaucratic snafus may hold up the transaction.

Do any readers have anything to add?  Let us know in the Comments.

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

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Astro4Business Week – March 8

Mar 7

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Week, Introduction to Astrology for Business | No Comments

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

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

Hello, everyone.

This week is active, hot, and combustible until the weekend when things calm down.  Venus gets involved in the Saturn/Pluto square and she can be a fierce fighter herself.  Adding Venus to the mix of these two battling titans, plus Mars turning direct, will make for a volatile few days.

Tuesday

On Tuesday, the stand-off begins as Venus opposes Saturn.  We’re used to thinking of feminine Venus as a mediator and negotiator, but when she’s in Aries, she can put her dukes up with the best of them.  Saturn counsels restraint and caution but Venus is ready to act.  Don’t be too heavy handed, especially with your creative staff, or you might get a rebellion you didn’t bargain for. 

By Andrea Mantegna, 1502

By Andrea Mantegna, 1502

 

Wednesday

This is the day we’ve all been waiting for, when Mars returns to direct motion.  It may take a few days to really get going, but projects will begin to move forward again.  Your energy will return and your competitive nature will flare.

Thursday

As if it wasn’t enough for Venus to take on Saturn, today she engages Pluto with the same fighter instinct.  The foe may be more intractable this time though, as Pluto represents the powers that be:  government, banks, the economy, and taxes.   It may feel like everyone has their hand in your pocket and they may.  You’re fighting against the odds, but you may as well go for it.  Think “Athena, Goddess of War” and unsheathe your sword.

Sunday

Sunday is a softer, more lenient day and is focused on communication, with the Sun and Mercury joining in Pisces.  You can let off a little steam from the pressure of the week and relax.  A short trip would be great, perhaps to water, or enter a fantasy world with movies and entertainment.  Enjoy the day – you deserve it!

Let me know how your week unfolds.

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

For more information on Mars turning direct and how to use it for your business, see:

Mars in Leo

Let Your Light Shine

The Creativity of Business

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

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Astro4Business Month Ahead – March

Mar 2

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Month Ahead, Introduction to Astrology for Business | 2 Comments

 Solar_systemHello, everyone.

Let’s look at March 2010 to see what the planetary influences are and how we can 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 change 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.  Last 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. 

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 fundamental change to many of the structures we have come to rely upon:  government, religion, the economy, industry, and transport systems, to name a few.  The transit carries the energy of revolution and evolution and can be dramatic and at times overwhelming.  Pluto exposes what is hidden, for better or for worse and usually now, at the beginning of the cycle, we become more aware of the worse rather than the better.

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

This is formidable energy, and your best strategy is to tune in and work with it.  Find an area in your business life in need of renewal and begin the process before Pluto reaches planets in your chart and forces the issue.  Everyone with planets in the first seven degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn are already dealing with this energy.

 Neptune in Aquarius

With Neptune in Aquarius (see category at right) from 1998 to 2011, there has been a global consensus regarding the equality of the common man, shared responsibility to the group, ascendancy of people and nations based on the power of knowledge, the right of all nations to progress technologically, 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 community to the global community.  Expect to be inspired by your neighbors and friends. 

Uranus in Pisces

The Uranus in Pisces (see category at right) transit from 2003 – May, 2010 engendered innovation and invention in business.  It flattened hierarchies and enhanced global transactions and interactions.  With many variables in play simultaneously, we’ve been working with moving parts which connected and disconnected frequently, including projects, alliances, and workforces. 

How can we continue to work with Uranus in Pisces?  Product diversification, committee leadership, and collaboration, as well as global connection, and dissolution of hierarchical structures – any of these is good for the end of the cycle.

Saturn in Libra

Saturn is transiting the sign of Libra, where it is exalted.  When a planet is exalted in a sign, 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 2010, 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) as the Saturn energy attempts to install the Libra values of equity, parity, diplomacy, collaboration, and cooperation.

Saturn made its station and turned retrograde on January 14.  Retrograde motion in the five outer planets is not felt as immediately as in the inner planets.  You may notice outside regulators backtracking or bureaucratic snafus that affect your business.  Or one of your trusted advisors may resign.  Remember those business plans you wrote last quarter?  Just proceed according to plan, and course correct if necessary.

Jupiter in Pisces

Jupiter entered Pisces, a water sign, in January.  Pisces is concerned with the emotional connections that bind people together.  This can express itself as devotion to an ideal, often mystical or artistic, and the desire to lose oneself in the shared feeling of the group.

Jupiter, the planet of opportunity and expansion, is the ancient ruler of Pisces.  This brings a very positive influence to all endeavors that attempt to unite people based on a shared intention for the future.  How should you work with this energy?  Work on connection.  Set up links between people and organizations.  Make venues available for your employees to express their ideas creatively.  Be willing to lead with your intuition and feelings; show your employees, customers, and business associates your heart.  These activities will bring business expansion and profits.

Mars in Leo

When Mars is in Leo our will power becomes focused and controlled.  Mars in Leo loves to lead and gives faithfully and generously to those who follow.  When Mars is in Leo we are honest, direct, and fully dependable.  The sign Leo is also creative and artistic, so at this time we love performance and display. 

The best use of Mars in Leo?  Make your light shine with dignity and strength.  Lead with steadiness and authority.  Throw yourself into creative activities.  Secure and enjoy the limelight. 

Mars resumes direct motion on March 10.  During its retrograde motion since December 20, Mars retraced its steps all the way back to the very beginning of Leo.  We have a chance to start over now on all of the creative projects we envisioned since October, but with a lot more information this time!  Take advantage of this period of heightened creativity and expect high performance from your employees too. 

(This is a good time to reread the Mars in Leo category to the right.)

Venus in Pisces/Aries

The first few days of the month Venus is in Pisces, where she is exalted.  Catch your best creative ideas of the year before she enters Aries on March 7.  Be sure to carry a recording device with you at all times because, while truly inspired, Venus’ gifts are subtle and can be elusive when she’s in Pisces. 

When Venus enters Aries on March 7 and Mars turns direct on March 10 expect fireworks of display and creativity.  These two planets in fire signs will ignite sales, interactions, motivation, and competition.  Are you ready?  The time has come to ACT!

Mercury in Pisces/Aries

Mercury begins the month in the sign of the fish, the sea, Pisces.  The sharp focused intellect of Mercury in Aquarius gives way to a softer approach.  Images communicate better than words when Mercury is in Pisces; be sure your writing and speaking include symbols and color.  Your thoughts flow more easily and your best ideas come from dreaming, day-dreaming, and fantasy, so include time for all of these.

On March 17, Mercury enters Aries, joining the bonfire with Venus and Mars.  By this point there may be so many ideas and so much enthusiasm you’ll need extra help just to keep track of it all.  Watch for overload; headaches will be a sign to relax, cool your jets, and pace yourself.

Sun in Pisces/Aries

The Sun in Pisces is a transitional time of year, a time of completion and preparation for the new start indicated at the end of Pisces, the time of the Equinox.  Use the heightened intuition of the Pisces Sun to sense how your direction will adjust to the coming season.

On March 20 is the Equinox; vernal for us northerners; autumnal for you southerners.  (That’s north and south of the equator.)  Half way between the longest and shortest day of the year, it’s time to take stock.  How far have you come since the Solstice?  Have you accomplished your goals so far this year?  The Sun in Aries is a time of heightened energy and new beginnings.  Take advantage of this fire to get yourself on track.  You are ready; go for it!

Phases of the Moon

The new Moon is in Pisces on March 15, waxing to full in Libra on March 29.

Monthly Recap

Against the backdrop of massive global changes to the structures in our lives, we are inspired by and engaged with the global community as never before.  With Saturn in Libra, we find our footing in committed, responsible relationships. Jupiter enhances our emotional connection to one another, which we’ll need this month since Venus, Mars, Mercury, and the Sun are all in fire signs by the end of the month.  Passion, inspiration, motivation, and healthy competition will ignite a new beginning with the new season.

 Let me know how your month plays out!

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

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Happy Anniversary, Pluto

Feb 22

Posted by Ellen in Pluto in Capricorn, The Planets | 1 Comment

Hello, everyone.

Happy 80th Anniversary, Pluto, a few days late.  Pluto was discovered on February 18, 1930.   I don’t say Happy Birthday, because of course he existed long before.  But astronomer Clyde W. Tombaugh first sighted him in 1930.

Pluto’s been on my mind a lot lately, as it has been for many astrologers, because of its prominence this year.  For much of the year there will be a square between Pluto and Saturn, and when Uranus moves into Aries in June, a pattern begins to develop called a Cardinal T-Square.  This pattern has Saturn opposing Uranus, and Pluto forms a square aspect to both of them. 

Reorientation

Computer-generated map of Pluto from Hubble images

Computer-generated map of Pluto from Hubble images

But for today I want to just talk about Pluto.  Pluto is not a personal planet like Venus or Mars; it doesn’t concern individual business success or your leadership style.  It is not about your relationship with your employees or coworkers.  Because Pluto is so far from the Sun and its orbit is very long, many, many people are born under the same placement of Pluto and its sign defines a whole generation.  

In the same way, Pluto reflects the broad impersonal movements in society and the reorienting of our global compass.  In its current sign Capricorn, it is reorganizing the fundamental power structures of our lives:  government, business, religion, and the global resources it takes to keep these structures in place.  Pluto overthrows whatever is old, stagnant and decaying in these realms to make room for something more vital to take its place.

In the Course of human events

The American Revolution was born when Pluto was in Capricorn.  The U. S. Declaration of Independence, written under Pluto in Capricorn and addressing its challenges, is still one of the most influential documents ever written.  Even in the opening line in the Declaration of Independence, “When in the Course of human events”, you can sense the author’s intuitive grasp that this was not about one country versus another but something larger that transcended the current time. 

The writer, Thomas Jefferson, goes on to state that the new country would “assume among the powers of the earth” its separate and equal station and that “Governments are instituted among men, and that they derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.”  This is the radical viewpoint of Pluto in Capricorn, that men have power that they grant to their creations, such as governments, churches, and corporations.  If the particular system men have created is not working for their safety and happiness, then they can abolish it.  And in conservative Capricornian fashion, he says that men should structure a new government with a new foundation based on the principles and powers they believe in.

Current events

Do you see any correspondences between the Revolutionary time and now?  Remember, in those times, corporations had not yet emerged as a competitor to government and church as a form of manmade power. 

If you see correspondences to today, please add them to the comments section.  The Tea Party Movement comes to my mind.  Tomorrow I’ll cite several others I’ve been thinking about.

For more posts on Pluto in Capricorn, see the category at the right.

For an excellent analysis of the impact of Pluto in Capricorn on our economy today see this post from Wall Street Weather.

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

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Are you stalled?

Feb 18

Posted by Ellen in Retrograde Motion, The Planets, What to do now | 1 Comment

Hello, everyone.

There are several astrology blogs I follow all the time.  I was reading a post by Frederick Woodruff yesterday and it reminded me of something I wanted to remind you about:  retrograde motion.

Retrograde Motion, revisited

Both Saturn and Mars are in retrograde motion now.  Not only that, but they are forming a very supportive aspect to each other, each reinforcing the other’s retreat.  It’s like Mars, our competitive spirit, and Saturn, representing our ambitions in the world, are on vacation together.  Here’s an excerpt of what Frederick has to say about this:

 

Stopped by Time. Le Temps, Charles Van der Stappen (Source:Wikipedia)

Stopped by Time. Le Temps, Charles Van der Stappen (Source:Wikipedia)

“With both Saturn (the prime mover) and Mars (the feisty shaker) in retrograde motion, our direction, our sense of time, our desire (Mars) for a forward momentum (Saturn) — all of our leaning toward and lunging for is, well, suspended — left dangling. So when someone asks you, “What are you up to?” You can say, in all honesty, “Just hanging around.” Or if you’re a more melodramatic type: “Man, I’m going down.” 

Mars and Saturn move backwards and there’s a universal stall. To have both timekeepers in retrograde disrupts the mechanical/animal routine of our lives. The dynamism of time takes on a different sense. The impersonal glide of time (Saturn), as we experience it within the collective, feels enclosing and stock still. And personal time (Mars) — as we experience it within the rhythm and robustness of our instincts — feels thwarted; forced to lean towards introspection, reevaluation and psychic excavation.

Cosmic stalling hints at a kind of mystical cessation, and … we notice a different quality of attention available to us, an opportunity to use this new ‘down time’ to reassess our place within time.”

The Cosmic Stall

Have you noticed this sense of time being stalled?  Several of my clients have.  One woman bought new clothes and went to a promising interview, only to have the key players absent due to illness.  Another client is anxious to file her tax returns so she can submit her daughter’s financial aid application for college, but cannot get the information she needs.  One client is hampered in her work by pain in her shoulder cuff, but can’t find the right practitioner to address it.  I could go on and on, but you get the picture – they are all experiencing a cosmic stall.

Reassessing our place within time

When I see people struggling to make progress in their business lives I tend to think in terms of sidestepping or waiting out the trend so they can move forward again.  That’s why I was so interested in Frederick’s post.  He points out that there may be a mystical reason behind our lack of forward motion – that we can take the opportunity to “reassess our place within time”.

Do you have too much ‘down time’?  Can you redefine it as a precious space with something to learn – something that you cannot perceive when you are continually busy accomplishing something?  It takes a lot of faith to be within the cycles of time, to rest and to trust that once again the time for forward motion will come.  If we take the opportunity to gather energy and resources when Mars and Saturn are retrograde, we will be fully rejuvenated and ready to apply what we’ve learned.  Then when Mars resumes direct motion on March 10, the vacation will be over and it will be full speed ahead!

Are you experiencing a cosmic stall in your business life?  Let us know in the comments section.

 For more discussion on retrograde motion, see the category “Retrograde Motion” under Astro4Business Basics to the right.

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

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Astro4Business Week – February 15

Feb 14

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Week | No Comments

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

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

Hello, everyone.

Overall, a fairly easeful week unfolds with a little stress next weekend only.  Carnival, Mardi Gras, and Ash Wednesday unfold for Christians worldwide.

And if you’re reading this on Sunday, the 14th, Happy Chinese New Year!

Monday

Venetian Carnival Masks

Venetian Carnival Masks

Very early Monday morning, EST, while many of you are still sleeping, Venus and Pluto are conversing.  Go to bed the night before with a notebook by your bed, ready to record their message when you wake up.  Venus in Pisces brings creative insight, and Pluto in Capricorn can bring the practical application for a great idea.

Later Mars and Saturn get together and support you to lay the groundwork for your new plan.  Strategizing, forecasting, and business planning are all the order of the day.  Remember, though, that with Mars retrograde, you should delay the actual implementation until after March 10.

Tuesday

Fat Tuesday is a social day with grand ideas for creative projects and growth.  Venus and Jupiter join each other in Pisces.  Make connections and links with others to bring out the best in the day.  A willing sacrifice brings good fortune this week.

Thursday

The Sun enters Pisces today, the sign of the fish.  Fish around in your imagination over the next month and pull up from the depths an inspired idea to take into the coming Equinox. 

The Sun in Pisces is perfect for the unfolding Christian Lenten season which began on Wednesday, with its themes of sacrifice and retreat.  This is not wasted time; these inner excursions lead to the upsurge of energy and enthusiasm in March.

Saturday and Sunday

The Mars/Saturn aspect of last Monday connects with the Sun over this weekend, but you may feel that your great plan has hit its first obstacle.  With this placement of the Sun and planets you may feel you can’t take action and you can’t allow matters to just unfold.  The solution is to lie low this weekend and let your intuition guide you slowly but surely to the next right step.  Be patient:  the project needs some time to take shape.

Have a great week and let me know how it goes!

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

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Management Tip – Growth or Control?

Feb 12

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Management Tips, The Planets | No Comments

Hello everyone.

Today’s tip from the Harvard Business Review (HBR) Management Tip of the Day caught my eye because it highlights some of the conflicting planetary configurations we are experiencing in our business lives these days.

The HBR Tip is:  Trying to Grow?  Give up Control

Whenever I see “grow” and “control” in the same line I think of Jupiter (growth and expansion) and Saturn (control).

The conflict, astrologically speaking

Saturn is exalted in its current sign Libra, which means it functions very well and brings its best face to the table.  Jupiter is the ancient ruler of its current sign Pisces, which means it is very comfortable in that sign and can further its aims unimpeded.  These two titans are each powerful these days.  But Libra and Pisces couldn’t be more different, astrologically speaking, which brings issues of growth and control into conflict in our businesses these days.

Saturn in Libra knows that in theory, we should share responsibility with others.  But when Saturn shares, one hand is open and one hand is firmly closed on the reins.  This is the leader who believes in empowering employees or subcontractors but then micromanages them every step of the way.  This leader fears the mistakes that inevitably happen when you allow others to make decisions.  And in today’s business environment, mistakes will happen no matter who is making the decisions; this year will be particularly full of conflict.  There’s no way we’ll get through it without mistakes.

Jupiter in Pisces has full faith in people and wants to push decision-making down or out to the periphery.  This leader wants everyone and everything to grow and for people to create environments to cultivate their own growth.  Jupiter in Pisces relies upon intuition, imagination, and fantasy and assumes that no matter what happens everything will turn out OK.

So here we have the conflict.  Saturn in Libra wants to believe in sharing but is fearful of the consequences if things get out of control.  Jupiter in Pisces wants to live in the fantasy that everyone is trustworthy and has your business interests at heart.  And even if you don’t have employees, you may recognize a similar vacillation happening in yourself these days.

Three tips

So the HBR tip says, if you want to grow, give up control.  That’s like saying, if you want Jupiter, give up Saturn.  Let’s see how we can take their recommendation, but satisfy both Saturn’s need to control and Jupiter’s need to grow.  HBR gives three tips:

  1. Push decision making down.  This addresses the familiar situation where all decision-making rests in the owner or leader resulting in a bottleneck of frustration.  This can affect your customers, your employees, and your colleagues.  Summon that Jupiter faith in others and, taking small steps, hand over a few key decisions to the lowest level possible.  Once your confidence grows, delegate larger and larger decisions.
  2. Accept that mistakes will happen.  Now here is where it gets tough, because especially in a very small business, mistakes can impact your sales and reputation for long time.  This is where some Saturnian “rules of engagement” come in handy.  Make sure, when handing out responsibility, that your expectations are very clear, and that your employee or sub-contractor has the tools they need and a clear context for the situation.  And have a contingency plan in place so you can react quickly if something goes wrong. 
  3. Build your bench.  I love this one.  When you first begin to delegate decision-making, you will have to invest a lot more time than if you just make the decisions yourself.  But if you are willing to invest in your employees in this way, over time they will make better and better decisions.  They will be happier and more productive and you will have more time to handle other facets of your business, like growth and profitability.

How well do you delegate?  Let us know in the comments section.  And if you’re the sole person in your business, what “growth versus control” issues do you encounter?

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

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Management Tip – Encourage use of social media at work

Feb 11

Posted by Ellen in Neptune in Aquarius, Saturn in Libra, The Planets | No Comments

Hello, everyone.

Segment of a social network

Segment of a social network

For some time now I’ve been receiving daily emails from the Harvard Business Review (HBR) with their “Management Tip of the Day”.  Occasionally I’d like to pass a tip on to you with an astrological perspective, especially if it highlights a planetary aspect we’ve been considering in these pages.

On February 3rd, the HBR Tip was “Encourage the use of Social Media at Work”.  The gist of the article was that reasonable employee use of social media has actually been shown to benefit companies.

Blame Neptune in Aquarius

Social media is here to stay for a long while.  Astrologically, with Neptune, which represents our desire to connect with each other, in Aquarius, which rules electronics, virtual space, airwaves, and innovation, these social media serve an essential role in the ongoing development of our world.  When Neptune’s involved, the actual productive outcome of all this interaction can be a little vague, but it’s still important to be participating in the trend.

On the other hand, we have Saturn travelling through Libra.  This planet of limitation in the sign of relationship may unfortunately signal a desire to limit social interaction.  As employers, we may feel that our employees are wasting time; we may even criticize ourselves for not being more productive when we check Twitter or Facebook or our email every time we hear that familiar ping.

It’s good for your business

Maintaining an attractive workplace helps us to retain the best employees, especially now when large raises or bonuses are probably not in the picture.  The HBR Tip notes that especially the younger generations see social media as a staple of work life and will seek out employers who acknowledge the critical role they play.  It also notes that research has shown that employees who take breaks to surf the net are ultimately more productive to the goals of the company.  Furthermore, you and your employees use these media to do business:  to connect with colleagues and customers, to improve communication, and to speed up decision making processes.

Develop some guidelines

So next time your hackles come up when you see someone “wasting time” on social media, even if that someone is you, take a minute to remember this tip.  And there is nothing to say you can’t establish some rules about it; better yet, ask a team of young people to come up with some guidelines for the whole group.  That will please Saturn in Libra, who likes rules of engagement, and Neptune in Aquarius, who loves collaborative problem-solving.

Leave a comment if you like:  do you engage in social media too much, too little, or just about right?

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

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Astro4Business Week – February 8

Feb 7

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Week | 1 Comment

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

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

Hello everyone.

This week gathers together different gods:  Neptune is strong and Mercury active in the skies; the great Lord Shiva from the Hindu tradition and his sacred night, Maha Shivaratri; and Saint Valentine’s Day, a Christian overlay of the earlier festival Lupercalia, which celebrated Juno, the goddess of marriage and fertility.  We have Venus and Cupid decorating the various greeting cards, plus two planets changing signs, and the New Moon!  A packed week, all easy except for a Mercury/Mars opposition, but there’s always something to keep us awake, right?

Monday

Advertisement for Prang's greeting cards, 1883. (Source:Wikimedia Commons)

Advertisement for Prang's greeting cards, 1883. (Source:Wikimedia Commons)

On Monday, Venus conjoins Neptune which tunes you into the subtle wavelengths affecting you and others, particularly your customers.  If you tune in, you’ll sense exactly what the situation requires.  Inspiration becomes tangible today.

Wednesday

Mercury enters Aquarius today, where it will travel until March 1.  Mercury is exalted in Aquarius; expect innovative thinking from yourself and those around you during this time.  This transit particularly favors creative use of technology.  Writing and speaking to large groups is also beneficial, so look for or create those opportunities.

Thursday

Today Venus enters Pisces, the sign ruled by Neptune.  Until March 7 you’ll have unusual access to creativity and inspiration so, as I said in the Monthly Forecast, carry some recording device around with you.  A year’s worth of good ideas could come in the next month, starting today.

Friday

Maha Shiva (Source:Wikimedia Commons)

Maha Shiva (Source:Wikimedia Commons)

Tonight is the annual celebration of Maha Shivaratri, the most auspicious night in the Hindu year.  It is said that one repetition of the great Lord’s name on this night is worth one thousand repetitions at any other time.  Millions of people chant Shiva’s name all night, accompanied by mystical rituals designed to open the path to the innermost Soul.  Whether you celebrate this holy night or not, this vibration will pervade our world. 

This year it will be easier than ever to tune in, as Mercury is forming a harmonious aspect to Saturn.  Mercury represents our thinking and desire to communicate and when it meets Saturn it becomes concentrated and focused.  The mind yearns for solitude during this transit, so you may want to spend time alone.  Great things are born from a quiet mind, especially on Maha Shivaratri!

Saturday

On Saturday, we run into some opposition from others.  Remember, Mars is still retrograde, so if someone is pushing you to take action, your best response is to calmly listen but continue to wait.  Their point may be totally valid, but the timing isn’t right yet.

Later in the day is the New Moon, which will further support non-action.  The day of the New Moon is a time to withdraw and rest in order to prepare for the upsurge of energy coming in the next few days.

Sunday

Victorian Valentine's Card (Source:Wikimedia Commons)

Victorian Valentine's Card (Source:Wikimedia Commons)

Sunday is Valentine’s Day and the Sun conjoins Neptune that day.  I was thinking about how Valentine’s Day always falls in the month of Aquarius.  Aquarius is an air sign so it is concerned with relationships, but it is more about friendships and business associates than intimate partnerships.  When I was a child we gave Valentines to all of our friends and this seems more in keeping with the sign of Aquarius. 

The Sun/Neptune conjunction, as well as Venus in Pisces, will bring sweetness to the day and a desire to enjoy the arts or to spend the day serving others.  Friendship, sweetness, love, art, and service – that’s what I call a good day!

Enjoy the week!

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

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