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Saturn Retrograde – 10 Tips for Success

Jan 25

Posted by Ellen Longo in Astro4Business Management Tips, Retrograde Motion, Saturn in Libra, What to do now | 1,278 Comments

Hello, everyone.

As Earth (blue) passes a superior planet, such as Saturn (red), the superior planet will temporarily appear to reverse its motion across the sky.(Source: Wikipedia)

Tonight Saturn begins a 4 ½ month period of retrograde motion.  This period of retrograde motion occurs every year as it is a product of the angle between the Sun, the earth, and the retrograde planet.  Whenever the Sun approaches the opposite sign as the planet, the planet appears to move backwards against the backdrop of the stars.  Fully 1/3 of the year is spent with Saturn in retrograde motion.

The Face of Saturn

Saturn represents the intensity of one’s ambition, the inner pressure to become or accomplish something.  Saturn also indicates the Achilles heel, the mind-set in which doubt and fear or an overly conservative attitude works against success.  When Saturn is strong in a businessperson’s chart, they run a tight ship with an authoritarian management style and excellent administrative abilities.

In business, Saturn describes systems and procedures, controls and policies.  It can also indicate outside rules and regulations such as tax and housing codes and the general level of difficulty the business will experience with outside authorities.  It rules audits and reporting, bureaucracy and bylaws.  It also shows the area where good hard work and persistence will pay off and where inner and outer limitations can spark real growth and accomplishment.

Saturn Retrograde

When Saturn is retrograde we have 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  It’s a time when our regular structures of support and stability may be withdrawn and we have to rely upon our own creativity and self-discipline to achieve our goals.

Saturn becomes less direct and overt when in retrograde motion which can relieve stress and struggle.  Yet as business managers we may see that our authority becomes undermined as others break free from outer rules and regulations too.

10 Tips for 4 ½ Months

Here are 10 tips to get the most out of Saturn retrograde:

  1. If you run into difficulties with authority figures, examine your actions from another point of view.  Have you given your power over to another authority?  Are you blaming something or someone external when you need to bring a more mature attitude to the situation?
  2. This is a great time to examine historical practices to see if they still add value.  Undertake a study of some aspect of your processes and procedures to bring new efficiency to a stale operation.
  3. Your normal sense of lock-in weakens during Saturn retrograde.  Often we are so habituated to the way we think about a problem that potential solutions are not even considered.  Explore options you would normally consider too risky.
  4. Saturn retrograde is a great time to undertake a major restructuring effort.  Resistance to change is lowered during this time.
  5. You may be thwarted in your role as an authority figure in your business during Saturn retrograde.  If so, share authority, be willing to listen, and promote those who act with good judgment and teamwork.  Expose others to the reality of your business situation and demand that they step up into more responsibility.
  6. Play with improvisation.  You might even bring in an expert to lead your management team through an improvisation workshop to practice creativity, collaboration and innovation.  Be willing to entertain “business as not-usual.”
  7. With Saturn in the back seat, your timing may falter if you adhere to too rigid schedules.  Provide room in your meetings and to-do lists for the unexpected.
  8. List your major responsibilities, both in your business and in your personal life, and examine if they are in balance.  This is a great time to bring a sense of proportion back to your activities.
  9. Your normal support staff or mentors may falter.  You may need to support others more or rely upon your own creativity and self-discipline to get the job done.  This is a great opportunity to develop support for your supporters.

10.  If there is a shift in a business alliance, ask yourself, “How can I exploit this change as an opportunity for my organization?”  More profitable alliances are most likely waiting in the wings.

And a Reminder

Remember, Saturn rules common sense and this quality may be lacking while Saturn is retrograde.  Be more vigilant than usual as you weigh your options and potential projects.  Your practical wisdom is there; you just need to take more time to access it.  Have fun, but no off-the-cuff decisions, please!

To explore more about Saturn and its current passage through Libra, see these posts:

Welcome to Saturn in Libra

Saturn in Libra – the Letter of the Law

Welcome (Again) to Saturn in Libra

Collaboration

To read more about retrograde motion, see these links:

Elegant Stillness

Retracing Your Steps – Retrograde Motion

What did you miss?

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

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

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

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

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

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A4B Today – November 10 Saturn in Libra – the letter of the law

Nov 9

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Today, Saturn in Libra | 3 Comments

Source:Wikimedia Commons


Good Day!

Today, the waxing Moon in Capricorn encounters Saturn in Libra and we could run into an obstacle or restriction, someone standing in our path and demanding accountability.  Saturn in Libra comes in the form of rules and regulations, forcing us to toe the line.  Our task is to maintain our enthusiasm for our new project, even while making sure we please the powers that be.

One of my clients is a successful PhD, working for a government agency.  Just a couple of months ago he was tapped to replace his boss when his boss retires next year.  Enter Saturn in Libra – the letter of the law.  In my client’s discipline he has to publish two papers each year of original research.  In the past this requirement has been fairly lax; it was fine to publish three papers one year and then one the next, or one extensive paper instead of two.

Now the environment has changed, true to form for Saturn in Libra.  Saturn represents the rules and regulations put upon us by society, government, and authority figures.  When Saturn entered Libra last July it brought with it a penchant for the letter of the law.  If the rules say two papers, then that’s two, not three and definitely not one.

My poor client, who has been working long hours on a piece of breakthrough research, has to stop his important work and publish something.  Never mind that the research is not complete; never mind that the findings are half-tested; never mind that truly innovative work is put on hold.  The law says publish two, and so he must or face consequences that could include losing the chance for the promotion.

Of course you can see where this is going.  In the future, instead of one intensively analyzed piece of research, he and his peers will be tempted to break the topic into pieces in order to meet the publishing requirement.  Instead of a timely breakthrough that can further everyone else’s work, people will hold back to be sure they have something to fulfill next year’s quota.  Instead of undertaking a significant venture, they will be sure to take on lesser projects so they can write them up on time.

Unlike my client working for the government, as business owners it’s up to us what rules and policies we enforce.  Yet with Saturn in Libra we may be more inclined these days to demand accountability strictly to meet some predetermined target.  It’s worthwhile to stop and examine whether the requirements we are placing on ourselves and our employees will actually further our success or whether we just demand them because we think business should be run that way.

I know for myself I have to continually guard against falling into habits and routines that I impose on myself just because they are “best practices” or because another business person I respect uses them.  I can become quite rigid with my schedule:  so many hours on this, so many days on that.  I’m much happier with a bit more flexibility but like most successful business owners, I have a fair share of Saturn energy.

Good old Saturn:  it brings discipline, focus, and persistence, but can become rule-bound if I don’t keep my eye on it.  How about you?

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

For an overview of the week, see the Weekly Forecast – November 8 – 14

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

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

The Moon

Saturn

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Astro4Business Weekly Forecast – July 26 to August 1

Jul 24

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Week, Cardinal T-square 2010, Saturn Uranus Opposition, Saturn in Libra, Uranus in Aries | 7 Comments

(Source:Wikimedia Commons)

Hello, everyone.

This is a very active week, hosting several of the major configurations astrologers have been talking about all year.  It is also the week that Mercury and Mars change signs and then add their input into the mix of outer planet shenanigans.  If you like riding roller coasters, you’re loving this summer.  In fact, this week is so charged that I’m only going to cover one of Monday’s major aspects in this post.  Stay tuned as we fully explore each day as the week unfolds.

But what if you’re not experiencing anything out of the ordinary at all?  This is because all of the activity within these major configurations is within an extremely small range of degrees of the zodiac.  Each sign of the zodiac has thirty degrees, counted from 0 to 30.  All of the major planetary activity this summer is between 0 and 3 degrees.  Giving some latitude on either side, if you have planets or chart points such as Ascendant or Midheaven between 27 and 30 degrees of any sign, or between 0 and 6 degrees of any sign, then this summer’s transformation is especially for you.  And I have no doubt you know it!

If you’re in the rare circumstance of having absolutely no planets or points in those degrees, well then it’s your task to lend a hand.  Your colleagues and staff need you as they battle their inner and outer dragons!

Saturn/Uranus Opposition

Monday is the big day of the week, although with aspects of this magnitude the effect has been building for a week and will linger for another.  Three aspects vie for supremacy today, each strong in their own right.

Probably the most powerful is the fifth out of five Saturn/Uranus oppositions which have been playing out in the sky for a couple of years.  I’ve written several posts about this major aspect which I’ll list with links at the bottom.  In a nutshell, we are pushed and pulled between the past and the future; between the tried and true and the untested potential; between the reliable and the risky.  If circumstances force us to tether ourselves to what’s worked in the past, we’re chomping at the bit for change.  If we’ve been catapulted into something brand new, we long for the security of what we know.  We need to adapt to today’s unique environment and yet we don’t want to let go of what has worked in the past.  And we shouldn’t!

(Source:Wikimedia Commons)

As I was driving across Texas in my recent move from the East Coast to El Paso, I saw an image that perfectly represented for me this Saturn/Uranus opposition.  I was staring out the car window at huge wind turbines, the really tall ones with the three pronged arms.  There is a stretch of highway in Texas where there are hundreds of them and literally hundreds of miles of electric lines carrying the power away.  Suddenly I saw a freight train wending its way across the desert with a long line of cars and I then noticed oil wells drilling away under the turbines. A man on horseback rounding up some longhorns completed the picture.  The oil wells, the freight train, the man on horseback:  each an innovation from the past that is still extremely valuable today.   And the wind turbines:  a new technology and potential energy solution springing from a very old idea, harnessing the power of the wind.

This mix of the old and new is what we’re grappling with under this Saturn/Uranus opposition.  We’re being required to recognize the importance of each, and to use the appropriate tool at the appropriate time.  Oppositions can appear as either/or propositions but there are other ways to deal with them.  One is to find the point where you can appreciate both sides equally and mediate solutions for those who insist it has to be one or the other.  Another is to seesaw between the two, keeping each in its place for the value it brings to specific situations.  Another is to combine the two, like sending the oil drilled in those fields by way of freight train to refineries, or routing the energy from the turbines overland to preexisting electrical grids.

The best of the past in service to the potential of the future – that’s the balance to strive for under this Saturn/Uranus opposition.  How have you managed to combine the old and the new?  Please share with all of us in the comments.  Don’t be shy, this aspect has been happening for two years – I’m sure we all have an example or two.

For more information on the Saturn Uranus opposition, check out these posts:

April 26 – Saturn/Uranus Day

Flaws & Perfection – Handling the Saturn/Uranus Opposition

Need Inspiration? Enlist Your Saturn!

For more info on the business descriptions of Saturn and Uranus, see

Saturn

Uranus

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A4B Today – Welcome (again) to Saturn in Libra

Jul 20

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Today, Saturn in Libra | 102 Comments

Good Day!

Justice-a good image for Saturn in Libra. (Source:Wikipedia)

Justice-a good image for Saturn in Libra. (Source:Wikipedia)


Today Saturn leaves the sign Virgo and enters Libra, where it travels until October 2012.  Saturn is said to be exalted in the sign of Libra which means he brings his best qualities to the matters of this sign as long as we are willing to do the work required.

The conservative energy of Saturn has a natural affinity with business.  It represents the part of us that understands the needs for controls, policies, and rules.  With these attributes we contract the flow of ideas and inspiration into the material plane.  We are  able to see the goal at the top of the mountain and patiently follow a prescribed plan to get there.  Saturn does rule boundaries and limitations, yes, but through this energy we willingly accept these as a fact of life on this physical earth and we know how to put these things to use to accomplish success.

Saturn in Libra Success

What is success when Saturn is in Libra?  Libra is a major turning point in the zodiac and also in the business cycle.  In the first six signs of the zodiac we are building inner resources and strengthening our skills and innate talents.  When we come to the seventh sign, Libra, we enter the phase of the cycle when we focus more on our engagement with others.  It’s almost as if we’ve spent the previous six signs perfecting ourselves so that we are ready to interact with and contribute to the lives of others.

In business, of course, this translates into business partnerships, business negotiations, business alliances – all the activities that take us out of the more personal, more entrepreneurial phases of business and into active engagement with the public, both our supporters and our competitors.

So what will Saturn bring to these Libran activities?  What are the Libran ideals that Saturn will crystallize into matter?  Here are some ideas:

  • Fair and equitable partnerships
  • Responsibility to others
  • Social justice
  • Direct, honest communications
  • Respect for and inclusion of the elderly on your staff as sources of wisdom
  • Disciplined responses to threats from competitors

What to watch for

If any of these Libran activities are out of balance in your business, Saturn will make it known over the coming months.  Saturn has the reputation as a taskmaster and when he first begins his instruction, it can look (and feel) like restriction, limitation, and failure.  Things we thought were going smoothly reveal another side.  Anywhere we have polarized – us against the government; me and my competitor; my partner is the smart one; I’m conservative and my partner is spending all the money – will be challenged as we learn to reclaim our true power in relationship.

Saturn will shine a light on our ability to commit and to do the arduous work to play by the rules of partnership.  It will demand structure and a concrete commitment to fairness and equity.  Fortune or misfortune may look like it comes through others when Saturn in is Libra, but blame will have no place to stand as we are tested regarding our own integrity and honesty.  Saturn is known to demand truth and when he is in Libra he dispels our illusions about ourselves in relationship to others.  Saturn will expect us to act like grown-ups and to run our businesses according to fundamental social values, rather than convenient shortcuts we may have learned from others.

And the payoff?

All this work then clears the way to be able to join with others in cooperative, mutually beneficial relationships.  And remember, Saturn is exalted in Libra, so while it sounds like a lot of hard work, the payoff is tremendous and permanent.

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

For more info on the business description of Saturn, see this link.

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A4B Today – July 20 Wisdom from Steven Forrest

Jul 19

Posted by Ellen in Astro4Business Today, Cardinal T-square 2010, Jupiter/Uranus conjunction, Pluto in Capricorn, Saturn Uranus Opposition, Saturn in Libra, Saturn/Pluto Square, Uranus in Aries | 4 Comments

Good Day!

This week we really begin to engage in the Cardinal T-square aspect of our summer of transformation.  These aspects unfold over the next four weeks in a series involving Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto, with Mars thrown in there in case it wasn’t hot enough already!

Here is the specific line-up although all of these planets are powerful enough that we will experience the aspect for a few weeks on either side of the exact day.  In other words, their conflicting energies will mix and mash and morph each other throughout the next few weeks.

Jupiter(Expansion) in Aries Square Pluto(Transformation) in Capricorn     Jul 24 2010

Saturn(Contraction) in Libra Opposes Uranus(Revolution) in Aries        Jul 26 2010

Mars(Force) in Libra Opposes Uranus(Revolution) in Aries          Jul 30 2010

Mars(Force) in Libra Conjunct Saturn(Contraction) in Libra          Jul 31 2010

Jupiter(Expansion) in Aries Square Pluto(Transformation) in Capricorn     Aug 2 2010

Mars(Force) in Libra Opposes Jupiter(Expansion) in Aries         Aug 3 2010

Mars(Force) in Libra Square Pluto(Transformation) in Capricorn        Aug 3 2010

Jupiter(Expansion) in Aries Opposes Saturn(Contraction) in Libra        Aug 16 2010

Saturn(Contraction) in Libra Square Pluto(Transformation) in Capricorn      Aug 21 2010

The video below is by Steven Forrest, one of the most respected astrologers today.  He explains the upcoming time with wisdom and balance.  I hope you enjoy it.

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

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

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

Uranus

Pluto

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What to do about Pluto in Capricorn (Redux)

May 4

Posted by Ellen in Long-term Planning, Philosophy, Pluto in Capricorn, Saturn in Libra, Saturn/Pluto Square | 3 Comments

Dear Readers – this is a reprint of an earlier article published on this site.  As I’m travelling this week, and in keeping with Mercury Retrograde, I’ll be posting articles of interest from the archives each day this week. 

You may be thinking, OK, very interesting theories, but what should I do about this trend of Pluto in Capricorn?  That depends on how this trend is affecting you; where you and your business stand in relation to the cycle.

To a certain extent, your individual horoscope will determine the timing of the impact of Pluto in Capricorn on your business life.  And for a more personalized and specific answer to this question you can visit an astrologer that you trust and discuss the cycle as it relates to your chart.  (Or you can contact me for a consultation.)  But there are a few general comments that apply to all of us, because whether or not this cycle is affecting us personally yet, it may be affecting our customers, colleagues, and employees.  And our turn will come soon enough, so we may as well prepare now.

Since Pluto hastens and intensifies the processes of endings and new beginnings, it 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 at this time, including old business models, practices, and products.  (Note:  the U.S. auto industry)  But an interesting clue regarding Pluto comes from its link with the mythological phoenix, the bird that periodically goes up in flames and then is reborn from its own ashes. 

If you’re undergoing the very dramatic death of a cherished business idea or idea of yourself as a successful businessperson, start digging through the ashes for your next incarnation.  Remember, the phoenix is resurrected from the ashes of its former self.  (One of my clients had been a very successful plumbing and heating contractor who, through no fault of his own, found himself in a bankruptcy situation because of a client’s bankruptcy.  He renamed his business Phoenix Mechanical and built an even bigger and more successful business that was on much more solid footing because of the lessons he had learned.)

So dig in those ashes.  What was valid from the past?  What were the strengths you and your key employees brought to the process?  What innovations did you make that really worked?  Don’t assume that everything about the endeavor should be scrapped.  There are valuable resources in that scrapheap.  While the next new idea will not look exactly like the old one, it may bear more similarities than you expect.

Even if nothing so dramatic is happening now, it’s a great time to work with these energies to remove dead wood.  Believe it or not, old ideas and structures that you may have abandoned but not gotten rid of can absorb a great deal of psychic energy and seep decay into the environment.  Clean out those closets!  Rearrange files.  Close bank accounts that are inactive.  Sell those vehicles you no longer use.  Preempt the Pluto in Capricorn lesson.

On the positive side, write a long-term business plan.  Have a succession plan in place.  Save money!  Work toward a business structure that will outlast your own involvement.  Improve your management skills.  Empower and promote the deserving.  Invest your time and energy in a fair work environment that offers advancement for your best people.  All these things take advantage of the times and let the universe know that you intend to glide with the current, rather than try to swim against it.

Let me know what you’re going to do in the comments section below.

For another article on Pluto in Capricorn, see the link below.  This was written when Saturn was in Libra, which it will return to after retrograde motion on July 24.

Are you Irrationally Pessimistic?

 

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Saturn Day at the International Astrology Blog Carnival

Mar 20

Posted by Ellen in Saturn in Libra | No Comments

Hello, everyone.

Saturn Symbol

Saturn Symbol

It’s Saturn Day at the International Astrology Day Blog Carnival.  You could call Saturn the patron saint of business so I’m sure there is pertinent information for all of us.  Check it out here.

Mandi Lockley, whose blog Astroair Astrology is hosting today’s Saturnalia, says, “Written by experienced astrologers, these essays invite you to view Saturn not as a planet to be feared, but as a necessary, helpful teacher whose lessons can help you through life’s challenges. They also offer some useful, practical resources, some down to earth advice and some inspirational coping and healing tools.”

So dig in.  Some titles I think are interesting are “Saturn Transits – What Do They Mean for Your Career” and “Astrology of Time Management:  Bringing Balance into Productivity.”  If you find others that are particularly applicable to business life, let us all know in the comments.

To review my posts on the business aspects of Saturn in Libra, see the articles in the sidebar at the right.  Here are a couple to get you started.

Welcome to Saturn in Libra
Collaboration

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Signs of the Times – the for-profit nonprofit

Mar 12

Posted by Ellen in Introduction to Astrology for Business, Neptune in Aquarius, Pluto in Capricorn, Saturn in Libra, Signs of our Times, Uranus in Pisces | No Comments

Hello, everyone. 

Have you heard about the new “low-profit limited liability company?”  This new form of organization, enacted in Vermont, blends elements of for-profit and nonprofit corporations. 

Ben and Jerry’s 

The plight of Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream is an example of why this is needed.  When a small business gets to the point where additional investors are needed for expansion, one way of raising capital is to become a public corporation.  However, once a public corporation, the key goal of the business becomes maximizing shareholder value.  In other words, anything that can be done to increase the value of the stock, must be done. 

When a European corporation, Unilever, stepped in with an unsolicited bid to buy Ben and Jerry’s for far more than the current value of their stock, the Board was forced to sell or face a potential lawsuit from the shareholders. 

This case highlighted several issues.  Ben and Jerry’s, as well as many other small businesses, had a philanthropic purpose as well as a financial purpose.  However, once a business takes on outside capital, the shareholders can decide whether or not the philanthropic goals can be pursued.  Yes, Unilever agreed to continue to give 7.5% of Ben and Jerry’s profits and to fund the Ben and Jerry Foundation with an upfront $5MM as part of the deal.  But what happened to the other social principles, like BHT-free milk and fair trade practices with Mexican and Brazilian farmers? 

Vermont steps in 

Vermont, the home state of Ben and Jerry’s, recognized the need for a form of organization that would meet the current social enterprise trend in the business world: philanthro-capitalism, venture philanthropy, green technology, and fair-trade practices, to name a few examples of this trend.  This hybrid model, the L3C, applies to companies formed for charitable or educational purposes, but it can generate profits for the owners as long as those profits are not “a significant purpose” of the company.  

However, there is no sanction against profits, even significant profits.  And since it is based on the Limited Liability Company model rather than corporate law, there are no stringent laws pertaining to the buy/sell decisions of the owners. 

It remains to be seen how this initial statute will morph as other states take it up and as the public begins to use it.  There is also the issue of the IRS and how they will regard the entity.  But I think it is an interesting example of the times: 

  1. With Pluto in Capricorn, traditional forms of business that no longer serve are breaking down, and new forms are emerging.
  2. With Neptune in Aquarius, the rights of people to transact business as they wish without interference from government or shareholders, has gained strength.  Connections between for-profit and not-for-profit organizations are being formed and distinctions between the entities are blurring and merging.  And entrepreneurs are recognizing more and more their individual responsibility to the whole.
  3. With Uranus in Pisces, we see innovation to overcome the mature stage in the business life cycle where shareholders and the public have more power than the original owners.  We see a movement toward collaboration with other forms of business, such as foundations and non-profit entities.
  4. With Saturn in Libra, we see the support of the law to implement structures of partnership, fairness, and balance.  Saturn in Libra bridges two independent entities, making a stronger prototype through a hybrid entity. 

A step in the right direction, I’d say.  What do you think? 

For further reading on this subject, check out the Neptune in Aquarius, Saturn in Libra, and Uranus in Pisces categories at the right.  Here are some other related posts:

Business life cycle – mature stage

The Globalization of Ben and Jerry’s

Vermont Secretary State – L3C

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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Are you “irrationally pessimistic”?

Jan 12

Posted by Ellen in Pluto in Capricorn, Saturn in Libra, Signs of our Times | 19 Comments

Hello, everyone.

Remember “irrational exuberance”?  This afternoon I was listening to “Talk of the Nation” on NPR and I heard the term “irrational pessimism”.

Irrational exuberance – Fire signs

(Source:Wikimedia Commons)

(Source:Wikimedia Commons)

When Alan Greenspan, then Chairman of the Federal Reserve, coined the term “irrational exuberance”, the planet Pluto had just entered the Fire sign Sagittarius where it was to stay for the next twelve years.  Pluto reflects the grand movements in society and the evolution of life on earth.  Sagittarius is nothing if not exuberant.  Pluto entering Sagittarius heralded an era of unregulated prosperity fueled by a frenzy of optimism.

At the time of Greenspan’s speech in 1996, Saturn was in Fire sign Aries in trine aspect to Pluto.  Unlike our current Saturn in Libra transit, where Saturn is particularly strong, Saturn is weakened when in Aries.  The passion and entrepreneurial attitude of Aries is at odds with conservative Saturn and Saturn becomes fairly ineffective. A weak Saturn in Aries combined with Pluto in Sagittarius was perfectly reflected in the phrase “irrational exuberance.”

Irrational pessimism – Saturn and Capricorn

Now we hear “irrational pessimism” – Pluto in Capricorn squaring a much stronger Saturn in Libra.  Capricorn, and its ruler Saturn, are known for pessimism – they see the glass half empty.  Saturn’s role is to contract, conserve, and limit. Capricorn is the part of the cycle that makes things real, brings ideas into the material plane, and builds structures to secure our belongings – serious business! 

With Pluto in Capricorn until the mid-2020s this pessimistic, nose-to-the-grindstone attitude could be here to stay.  There was an article in Newsweek this week that spoke about how “even one really tough year experienced in early adulthood is enough to fundamentally change people’s core values and behaviors”.  Even though the economy is improving, Americans are still not spending, which potentially increases the downward spiral.  Americans have quadrupled their savings rate and hope to save 15% of their income going forward.  This seems rational, but those dollars tied up in banks allow the banks to make money, not small business owners who are the engine of the economy and provide the most jobs.

We all understand where “irrational exuberance” led us.  Do we understand what will happen if we succumb to “irrational pessimism”?

Habituating to pessimism?

What do you think?  As for myself, as an exuberant Sagittarius, I can’t live with pessimism and depression too long.  I don’t care much about what’s “real”, I care about my spirit and greeting each day with enthusiasm.  I learned many years ago that we create our reality from the habitual thoughts in our minds.  Are we all habituating to “irrational pessimism”? 

Please weigh in:  do you think this pessimism is rational or irrational?  And what do you think we should do about it?

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