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Taurus Leadership – The Builder

May 2

Posted by Ellen Longo in Leadership Through the Signs, The Zodiac Signs for Business | 16 Comments

Hello, everyone.

The Sun is in Taurus and we move on in our Leadership through the Signs series.  In this series, as we progress through each month’s zodiac sign, we’ll explore and uncover the essential leadership qualities for each sign.  We’ll do this by looking at real life examples of established leaders whose birthdays fall into each particular sign.  We’ll test the principles of textbook astrology and add a few guidelines of our own as we discover them.  The purpose of the project is to recognize the authentic leadership qualities we naturally possess and allow them to come forward in our business lives. It’s also to better understand others we meet and work with in business. For more smart business handling tips, you might want to read this new smart meters for your business review.

First let’s define what we mean by a leader.  The American Heritage Dictionary defines a leader as 1) a person who leads others along a way; a guide, and 2) one in charge of or in command of others.  For our purposes, we’ll take both definitions and apply them to business.  In this series we’ll look at thought leaders, political leaders, business leaders, sports figures, and a few of us regular people too.

What the experts tell us about Taurus

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

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

  • Contained energy.

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

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

  • Beauty in form.

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

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

The Bull

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

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

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

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

The Gentle Face of Taurus

For previous posts in this series, see

Aries Leadership – Let’s Get Started!

Aries Leadership – Nancy Pelosi

Aries Leadership – Maya Angelou

Pisces Leadership – Dipping our Toes in the Water

Pisces Leadership – George Washington

Pisces Leadership – Steve Jobs

Pisces Leadership – Albert Einstein, in his own words

Aquarius Leadership – Yoko Ono

Aquarius Leadership – Franklin D. Roosevelt

Aquarius Leadership – Sarah Palin
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For an Intro to Sun Signs and Leadership see this link to my other blog!

Have you seen my new blog? Discussing all things astrological, for anyone interested in real-life astrology, check out Ellen Longo’s Astrology Blog.

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

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

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Astro4Business Month Ahead – May 2011

Apr 30

Posted by Ellen Longo in Astro4Business Month Ahead | 7 Comments

Solar_system
Hello, everyone.

Welcome to the Astro4Business Monthly Forecast for May, 2011.  What are the planetary influences this month and how can we work with them?

  • We’ll start with the most long-range and overarching influences, the planets Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus, which you will notice do not travel far from month to month but stay in the same sector of the sky for many years.  These form the backdrop to our personal lives, affecting matters on a global stage.
  • Then we will look at the mid-range influences, Jupiter and Saturn, which stay in the same sign for 1 – 2.5 years.  These planets represent our interactions with our societal environment, its rules, regulations, belief systems, and benefits.
  • We’ll look at the personal planets, Mars, Venus, Mercury, and the Sun which stay in their respective signs for much shorter periods and primarily influence our day-to-day lives.
  • And last we’ll look at the sign and dates for the New and Full Moon, as these mark the waxing and waning cycles in our activities.

Pluto in Capricorn

We’ve spoken at length about Pluto in Capricorn, where it will remain until 2024.  In a nutshell, this long transit will bring upheaval and transformation to the structures of our world:  government, organized religion, the economy, industry, and the military, to name a few.  This transit carries the energy of revolution and evolution and can be dramatic and at times overwhelming.  Pluto exposes what is hidden, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse.

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

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

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

Neptune in Pisces

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

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

Uranus in Aries

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

What does this mean for us in business?  We will probably feel compelled to take risks we would not even have considered in the past.  We may feel confined by the people around us or the structures we’ve implemented.  We may seek opportunities to bring scientific or technical discoveries into our products and services.  We may approach everyday challenges as battles to be fought and won.  We want out of our shell, even if we created it.

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

Saturn in Libra

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

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

Saturn is still in its annual period of retrograde motion.  Moving retrograde for 4 ½ months each year, this phase provides the opportunity to examine whether our standard modes of operation truly spring from our own values, or have been imposed upon us by authority figures or societal norms.  It’s a time when our regular structures of support and stability may be withdrawn and we have to rely upon our own creativity and self-discipline to achieve our goals.

Jupiter in Aries

In January Jupiter entered Aries, where it will be until June 4.  Aries is a fundamentally aggressive mind-set, whether in the form of the lone-wolf entrepreneur or the established global company.  It brings a desire to take on the competition, expand into new territory, and develop new markets.

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

Mars in Aries/Taurus

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

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

Venus in Aries/Taurus

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

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

Mercury in Aries/Taurus

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

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

Sun in Taurus/Gemini

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

Phases of the Moon

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

Monthly Recap

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

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

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

Key Dates for the Month

May 3              New Moon in Taurus

May 11            Mars enters Taurus

May 15            Mercury enters Taurus; Venus enters Taurus

May 17            Full Moon in Scorpio

May 21            Sun enters Gemini

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Have you seen my new blog? Discussing all things astrological, for anyone interested in real-life astrology, check out Ellen Longo’s Astrology Blog.

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

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

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Astro4Business Forecast – May 20 Special Report

May 19

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Today, Uranus in Pisces | 1 Comment

Source:Wikimedia Commons

Good Day!

The waxing Moon reaches its first quarter and then enters Virgo while the Sun transitions from Taurus into Gemini today.  But just before the Sun leaves Taurus, it makes its last harmonious aspect with Uranus in Pisces.

This is the final time the Taurus Sun will make this particular aspect because Uranus will move out of Pisces and into Aries on May 28.  So this is the last time in 84 years we’ll experience this supremely beneficial aspect with the Sun in Taurus and Uranus in Pisces.

The aspect is called a sextile, and it occurs when two planets are 60 degrees from each other.  This angle forms a flow of exchange between two planets that is supportive and reinforcing in the very best way.  Uranus, which has been in the water sign Pisces for the last seven years, finds a true partner with the Sun in the earth sign, Taurus.  Water signs give content; earth signs give form.

Over the last seven years Uranus has given us innovation and invention in business in a particularly Piscean fashion.  Pisces is the sign of immersion in the collective; of recognizing that the needs of the whole are more important than our personal needs.  While Uranus has been in Pisces we’ve seen flattening of management hierarchies, a marked increase in global transactions and interactions, and moving parts which come together for specific purposes and then split apart again to form new groups.  We’ve learned the importance of the “culture” of our business and its mysterious impact on our profits.  We’ve learned “emotional intelligence”, a Uranus in Pisces phrase if there ever was one!

In our businesses we’ve had to rely on diversification and collaboration to keep afloat.  We’ve seen the ascendance of social media and the internet and many of us have been dragged into it to give us the reach we needed to survive.  And sustainability for our businesses and our world has come to the forefront of our attention and our decisions.

Today is a great day for one last dip into this ocean of connectivity because the Taurus Sun will keep our goals realistic.  When Uranus enters Aries our style of innovation will markedly change.  But let’s take advantage of this last sextile of the Sun and Uranus in Pisces.  Here are some ideas to make the most of the day:

  • Gather your team and review all of the progress you’ve made in the last seven years.  Cite every breakthrough you’ve accomplished along the way.  Acknowledge how far you’ve come.
  • Put on the table all of the ideas that you’ve played with but were unable to materialize.  Do any of them still have traction?  Today would be the best day to make a plan for implementation.
  • Acknowledge all of the connections you’ve made, especially those garnered through the use of social media.  Contact these colleagues and customers in an appropriate way to let them know you appreciate working with them and hope to continue the relationship in the future.
  • Trade places with one of your employees or colleagues, even for a couple of hours.  You could each come up with realistic solutions for the other today.  Or let a junior member of your staff sit in your seat for the day.  Excellent ideas with practical applications can be born.
  • Hold a session where your staff tells each other how they joined your company and what concrete steps they’d like to take to see their career grow.  You may be surprised that the talent you’re looking for is right in the room with you.

These are some ideas; I’m sure you can come up with others.  The theme is “connection leads to practical innovation” today:  our last nod to Uranus in Pisces grounded by the Sun in Taurus.

Have a great day!

For an overview of the week, see the Astro4Business Weekly Forecast – May 17 – 23

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

For more info on the planets influencing today, see

The Sun

The Moon

Uranus

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 – Big Client Meeting Coming Up

Jan 25

Posted by Ellen in Introduction to Astrology for Business, Your Questions | 5 Comments

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

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

Hello, everyone.

A regular reader sent this question:

I have an interview/meeting for a new big and exciting project on Wednesday, it should go well…I think.  Anything I should do or avoid? 

As I wrote in the weekly forecast, this is a week of oppositions topped off by the second contact of the Saturn/Pluto square.  Although oppositions often bring us face to face with others, they can feel like push/pull, or advance/retreat, especially since this one involves the Mars retrograde influence which has been with us since mid-December and will continue until early March.

The advice in the weekly forecast applies to this question.  I’m not surprised there is an important meeting on Wednesday.  Venus represents meetings and alliances, and I agree with the reader, “it should go well,” if you are able to maintain your balance that day.  You may have a sparkling presentation that may wow your prospective client, but with Mars retrograde they may not be ready to act.

As we’ve been working together and I have access to your natal chart, I thought I’d take a look to see what more may be revealed about this.  When I saw your chart, it was one of those times when astrology just astounds me with its ability to forecast timing and to reveal other aspects of a situation.

The clue to success

Your natal Mars is in Taurus, forming an exact square to this week’s Venus/Mars opposition, Sun/Mars opposition, and the Full Moon.  Your natal position of Mars is the clue to success with this meeting.  Mars in Taurus is steady and patient; once motivated it is willing to work long and hard to amass material security.  With Mars in Taurus you understand that actual physical resources are vitally important and this knowledge extends not only to your personal affairs but to your client’s business too.

Make sure the client understands this about you:  that you are committed to their material success and that you are there for the long term.  And remember to make your client’s resources the focus of the meeting, not your own.  It’s not so much a matter of what you can provide, although this should be clear and well presented.  The focus should be on your client’s assets and how you can help them exploit these assets to insure their own success.

In other words the meeting should be all about them.

Patience

And then if you sense hesitation on their part, don’t take it personally.  My sense is they are making a second attempt at securing the services they need (Mars retrograde) and may have run into difficulties in their last attempt.  They may be slower to act this time no matter how prepared you are.  So don’t expect a commitment from them right away.  It may take more time than usual for them to come to a decision or gain the approvals they need.  Patience is one of the qualities of your natal Mars in Taurus, so rely on that patience.  This is an exciting meeting and I’m confident it will go well.  Let us all know how it turns 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! Got a question now? Email it and let’s get started!

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The Zodiac and the Business Life Cycle – Start-up

Sep 8

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Basics, The Zodiac Signs for Business | 8 Comments

Hello, everyone.

Writing to you from outside London, in Sevenoaks, Kent.  I’m staying in an apartment with a sweet back yard full of flowers, apples, and plums, lush, green, and about 20 F degrees colder than Georgia, USA!  Change of scenery, change of pace, Mars in Cancer still working its way through my life.  How about yours?

In recent weeks we’ve looked at long-term influences correlated to the slower-moving planets with an eye to understanding current and future conditions that will have a bearing on our business plans for 2010.  We’re getting there!  We’ve looked at Pluto in Capricorn, Neptune in Aquarius, Saturn in Virgo, and we’ve begun looking at Uranus. 

Before we examine Uranus in the sign of Pisces, I want to give an overview of the cycle of the zodiac and the standard business life cycle.  The progression through the zodiac is a map of the natural cycles of development and change that all life goes through, including the life cycle of a business. Over the next few posts, we’ll look at these natural cycles and how they are also reflected in business life cycles.

Aries

Business Life Cycle

Business Life Cycle

In Aries, a fire sign ruled by Mars, the spark of life is new.  In business, this is the pre-start up phase, when the idea has just formed.  This is a highly entrepreneurial* time, when the owner is evaluating his or her personal reasons for going into business, making the decision to begin operating a business, and deciding what type of business he or she will begin.  This is also referred to as the “seed stage” in the business life cycle and the focus is on perceiving the business opportunities at hand and matching them with the owner’s skills, experience, and passions.  *(Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to the type of personality who is willing to [begin] a new venture or enterprise and accepts full responsibility for the outcome. Source:Wikipedia)

Whether a new product, or an established product or service in a new location or market, this is the initiatory phase, the spark has ignited but it has not burst into form yet.  At this stage the Aries traits of courage, independence, and enthusiasm are apparent.

Taurus

This is the stage of business development when the spark of Aries begins to take a form.  Taurus is an earth sign ruled by Venus, and as such, is concerned with manifesting an idea in the physical world. At this stage the business owner chooses and registers the name and opens a bank account in the business name. There may be research and product development, obtaining financing, and setting up the legal structure for the business.

This is the phase when products or services begin to be in production, and when there begins to be a customer base and market presence.  Hopefully at this phase the business begins to create cash flow.  The Taurus traits of practicality, persistence, and patience are needed at this stage.

Gemini

Gemini, an air sign ruled by Mercury, brings to the business sales and marketing efforts, signing procurement contracts, setting up the bookkeeping, and obtaining the necessary licensing.  In this phase advisors such as accountants and lawyers are chosen and usually the form of the business, whether incorporated, limited, or sole proprietorship is chosen and legally established.  Producing sales and services to generate cash flow becomes a major focus for the business.

The Gemini traits of versatility, rationality, and communications ability are important to the developing business at this stage.

These are the signs that correspond to the start-up phase of a business life cycle.  Once these initial steps have been taken, more complexities come into play, as we’ll examine in the next few posts.

Mercury Retrograde Stories

Any Mercury retrograde stories?  I’ve got one.  My daughter-in-law Natasha went to the train station today to buy a monthly commuter ticket for her job that starts tomorrow in London.  The very nice man at the ticket counter said that the computerized ticketing system had been down all day and they were trying not to sell tickets today because they would have to process them manually.  She had to patiently wait (she’s a Taurus) as the man repeated himself eight times that he was trying not to sell her a ticket.  Her Taurus persistence won out and she finally bought the ticket, although we’re hoping it is in the system by tomorrow morning at 6:30 when she has to catch the train.

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