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Astro Business End-of-Year Reflection

Astro Business End-of-Year Reflection

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Author: Alison Price   –   Published: December 2024

Astro Biz End of Year Reflection

As we come to the end of the year, I think it’s valuable to give an end-of-year reflection on how things went. This is not something I’ve always done, but in the recent years I certainly have. I also find that December can be quite a hectic month with Christmas, holiday social events and family commitments. I prefer to consider my end-of-year reflection in early December. This week I just want to share with you some ideas I have about looking back at 2024 to see how you and I did. The idea is not to beat yourself up about what went down, but rather to acknowledge the highs and lows which happened during the year.

End-ofYear Looking Back

Best Transit

During the course of a year, you will have many transits and of course the ones from the superior and outer planets are more significant, mainly because they linger longer. I like to consider which transit was the best one for me and by best, I mean the one that helped me get things done or brought me some further insights or changed my life in some way.

Jupiter 11th House

Jupiter is a great planet to pay attention to because in general it will spend one year in one of your houses. This does depend on how wide these houses are to start with, but this year I was fortunate to have Jupiter entering my 11th house. This happened back in March when it conjoined Uranus right at the beginning of my 11th house.

Interestingly, my 11th house is the largest one (coupled with its opposite, the 5th) with Placidus house cusps it is 43° wide. I don’t have any planets in my 11th house, but when transits come through, I pay attention. I was particularly interested when Uranus entered there at the tail end of 2023. Then when Jupiter ingressed, that was the actual time when I relaunched the publication of The Starzologer newsletter.

Groups

I am taking the 11th house to represent groups which it does. So from the Jupiter Uranus conjunction right at the beginning of my 11th house it occurred to me that my newsletter subscribers, that’s you {{ subscriber.first_name }}, are my group. Thus far, I’ve been able to publish this newsletter every Sunday and then I stepped up to the additional Thursday edition in August.

This does beg the question, “When Jupiter leaves my 11th house will I continue creating newsletters?” Well, I would hope so because it has allowed me to put into place and grow through the medium of newsletters.

Previously I had, as you know, taught basic astrology classes for over 15 years. At the end of last year, I felt I needed to change and my revitalized newsletter has become that change. It became my way of almost providing a mini lesson every week to my subscribers. The good thing about an e-mail list is that if people don’t want to read it, they simply unsubscribe. But if they do want to consume it and find value, they continue to read and interact with my astrology offerings.

This creates a tight community of attentive people rather than a massive bucket full of random folks who have no interest in astrology, or specifically the astrology I like. I have the North Node in my 3rd house, and I do believe that my destiny is to communicate and teach what I know. I’m not saying I know everything; I sadly don’t know everything about astrology, but I do have some experience and many fresh ideas that I like to share with anyone who is attracted.

Best New Moon

We usually get thirteen New Moons each year and a couple of solar eclipses thrown into the mix. On reflection, I like to see if I can find one New Moon that was more important than all the others. For me it was the solar eclipse on October 2nd as it conjoined my IC and therefore opposed my Midheaven. As we speak, we’re still working our way through the vibrant energies expressed at this solar eclipse and I’ll have more for you later next year about that.

Seasons of Life

Projects

I try to find and reflect upon creative projects which I worked on during that period.

Winter

The winter solar season contains the signs Capricorn. Aquarius. Pisces. As 2024 began, I was highly engrossed on search engine optimization (SEO) and attending to my blog. I spent the first couple of months dumping old articles from 2011 about New Moons from that year which nobody’s ever going to read again. I purged horoscopes written for 2018 that were clogging up my website and making the system slower. I did spend quite a bit of time purging the bulk of old stuff on my website to make the load times faster for you.

Spring

The solar spring season contains the signs of Aries, Taurus and Gemini. My 2024 spring project was actually relaunching this newsletter. Back then I called it The Starzologer and as you may know, we’ve renamed it to Starzlife, which I feels fits better. This took a huge amount of time and energy to get off the ground and to fully understand how to work my newsletter e-mail provider Kit. And to be honest, I’m still learning something new every day. I’m not really using the full features in this program and the learning curve is pretty steep to start with, so a lot of time and energy was poured into that.

Summer

The solar summer season includes the signs of Cancer, Leo and Virgo. I didn’t really have a main business summer project as I had multiple family commitments that popped up. 

This season I was fortunate to spend a period in Mexico with my youngest daughter. I also managed to get away for a break and presentation with some good friends nearby here on the Sunshine Coast in BC, Canada. And I also flew to Toronto for a week for my middle daughter’s second graduation. Additionally, I caught up with my other grown-up children who live there. Cool.

I’ve got to tell you, normally I don’t travel anywhere, but this summer it seemed to be non-stop. I was coming home, unpacking my suitcase, doing the laundry, repacking it and going back out and at the end of the summer season I was absolutely exhausted, but it was all great fun.

Autumn

Then we get into the autumn projects, which is really where we are still now at the moment. Autumn runs through Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius these are the three signs which the Sun passes through during autumn.

If you are teaching astrology, autumn can be quite busy because you’ve got the back-to-school brigade coming through eager for new lessons. This year, because for the first time this decade I did not teach any classes, it wasn’t an issue for me.

Earlier in Autumn, I launched the paid version of this newsletter, which is with the one you’re reading now that comes out on a Thursday. So far so good. I spend many hours drafting, preparing, writing and researching the content of these newsletters. I do enjoy drawing all the images and diagrams that I pop into each of the editions. I’m using my bold flat colour palette and all the primary colours, red, yellow and blue, which I love.

People First

In life, you don’t spend as much time and energy with everyone you meet. Because you have limited time and energy every day, it’s important that those whom you do focus on are the significant people in your life. This often works itself out quite naturally, if you have children, you attend to them or if you have a partner, you focus to them as well. But some reflection may indicate that perhaps you are spending too much time with some people and not enough time with others.

Example

One instance for this would be if you have a friend who has become a habit to see every week. Perhaps you’re not getting anything from the relationship anymore, but you hang on. Here the value has passed, and it can become draining, or even toxic, on your precious time and energy. Reflection may help.

Ideas

I just want to go through a few of my ideas about making sure that you are sharing your life with the people you’re supposed to be sharing it with and not wasting time with those who do not matter as much.

You

You need to be number one on your priority list. In your chart, you are represented by your first house. If you can’t look after yourself, you can’t look after anybody else. It’s like when you’re in an aeroplane and the oxygen masks drop down and you need to put yours on first before you can turn and help the person in the seat next to you. I believe some time has to be taken on inner work for your mental (air), physical (earth), inspirational (fire) and emotional (water) sides of life. I’m not saying this is easy, but you could use your birth chart and the recent transits as a guide.

In Your Home

The next people you need to care about are those people who live under your roof, those who are in your home, who we see every single day. These are 4th house people, even if they’re not blood relatives. If you have a family, like your kids and your partner, you may have parents living with you or roommates or whoever, but those who live under the same roof you have a very close relationship with. Even in your end-of-year review, it’s a good idea to consider how your interactions are with these people, and maybe even, how can you improve these connections?

Close Family

The next people are your close family. In general, your family is shown through the 4th house. Family tends to be people who you have known since the day you were born, or since the day they were born. These are the people who probably live nearby who you possibly see now and again. For me, I have a daughter who lives 10km from me and I see her every weekend. We like to chat and keep in touch. I don’t know absolutely everything about her life, but we are very close. Every week I text and zoom with my other kids in Toronto, and my sister who lives in Johannesburg. We tend to natter and keep up with what’s going on.

Friends

Friends are shown in the 11th house. If you have a friend, you are fortunate indeed. If you can count your friends on one hand, again, you are fortunate. My definition of friends are anyone who’s seen you in your bare feet because they’ve been around a long time. They’re the ones you’ve been on a picnic with, you’ve had sleepovers with and you’ve seen them at their worst and at their best. These are your friends. Everyone else is an acquaintance.

Acquaintances

Let’s have a look at who are our acquaintances and they’re still 11th house people. To my mind, acquaintances are people who you maybe work with (sometimes they are 6th house people). You see them all the time, you know something about them, you know their name. This also includes, in my case, the doorman at my building, the woman at the local coffee shop who serves me all the time and even my hairdresser (sometimes). They are people whom I know and am on a nodding familiarity with. I know their name, but I really don’t know anything about them. These are 11th house acquaintances.

Clients

Where do your clients fit in? If you’re a practicing astrologer, you will have clients. Astrologically clients are shown through your 7th house of other people. A client is somebody whom you didn’t know by any connection until they approached you one day and said, “Can you do me a reading?” They may have come through via your friends, family or work colleagues, but you haven’t known them forever. Clients go from being someone whom you didn’t know, to someone you do know, as your customer. They are a different level of person, but still 7th house.

biz-end-of-yesr-reflection

Biz Finances

Income

Your business income is any money that you received from sales, sponsors, clients, customers or donations. Any income that you get through your astrology practice is business income and it is shown in the 11th house.

Expenditure

Your business expenditures are everything you have to pay for to be in business. If you’re an astrology practitioner this generally would be things like your website. E-mail, cellphone, stationery and office supplies. Any professional development training you may have taken like astrology conferences or courses, books, software etc. is business expenditure.

Profit/Loss

To calculate your business profit and loss you add up all your income, you minus all your expenditure and you get a number. If it is a positive number, you made of profit and if it is a negative number, you have made a business loss. Simple. On a side note, it seems the tax man is ok for you to have a loss for three years running, but after that, not.

Personal Finances

I’m not a personal finance expert. There are many out there.

One of the first books I read on this topic was Robert Kiyosaki’s, Rich Dad, Poor Dad which really boils personal finances down to – money in and money out. His take on personal finances is very simple.

Assets feed you and liabilities eat you.

Once you get your head around that concept, personal finances are much simpler.

Assets Feed You

Your assets feed you and bring money in. Assets are shown in your 2nd house, and they are things that bring in money, such as real estate, stocks and businesses. Astrologically we include income from a job, money in the bank, royalties, dividends, tips, bonuses and grants.

Liabilities Eat You

Your liabilities eat you and flow money out. Liabilities are shown in your 8th house and they drain money like mortgages, car loans, credit card debt and more. Astrologically we include anything you owe to banks or others.

Net Worth

I like to calculate my net worth at the end of each year it gives me one master number that tells me everything I need to know about each year.

Net worth = Assets – Liabilities

To find your net worth, you add up all your assets, then you add up all your liabilities, now minus the liabilities from the assets and you will get one number. That tells you your net worth.

Example:

Assets + $10000

Liabilities – $9000

Net worth = $1000

Personal Development

Reflect on how each planet may have contributed sto your business success this year.

Sun

The Sun, as a representation of your identity, may be considered in your personal development. Let’s face it, it’s not every year that we’re changing into something else. Many years are very often repeats of the year before and sometimes even decades can be repeats of the decade before, but any individual drive for personal development is likely to come through your Sun.

Moon

The Moon rules reflection and how convenient it is that we are doing an end-of-year reflection today. Consider another theme related to the Moon that of habits, which can be a good way to tap into lunar influences during the course of the year. You may have new habits that you want to develop. For myself it was walking 10,000 steps a day, eating whole foods or cutting out plastics in my home. Ongoing…

There may be some bad habits that you want to get rid of. One of the modern behaviours that comes to mind is this death scrolling on social media. If ever there was a habit that needed shifting, I think this might be it.

The point is that you can look to your Moon to see, and reflect, about how perchance your habits have changed during this year. Perhaps what you were doing as a knee jerk reaction back in January is not what you’re automatically doing now in December.

Mercury

In your end-of-year reflection, Mercury could suggest which books you’ve been reading or journals, you’ve been writing. More generally, it may show how much time you carved out to keep in touch with others.

Venus

Venus is likely to represent the things you’ve invested in this year. It could be both time and money and definitely any major purchases which you made. Clearly, Venus will also suggest your love life and marriage.

Mars

Mars is the action planet in your chart. It is likely show where you’ve actually got off the couch to go and do something. Back this year when Mars was stimulated by transit or progression, are the times when you were perhaps keener to compete or go for gold, in some area of your life.

Jupiter

In your end-of-year review, Jupiter will be the planet that shows where growth has occurred. The Greater Benefic indicates times when you had a vision, and when you raised your eyes to the horizon and speculated about what was over the mountains to wonder if dragons be there. It shows where you have ventured forth, taken the first step and struck out on new paths in your life.

Saturn

Our old friend Saturn, if triggered by transit or progression, can be the planet that stops you in your tracks to authentically stonewall you. If you have faced severe restrictions or hardships somehow this year, it is possible that the ringed planet Saturn was somehow involved.

Overview: Awareness

Astrology, chart reading and forecasting is all about awareness. Self-awareness can be supported by doing an end-of-year review. I mean, let’s face it, some years are just better than others. For myself, 2024 has had some challenges, but it contained some high points as well. I do think it’s important to finish up with one year before we start looking towards the next year, which we will do in a couple of weeks.

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Author Bio

Alison Price: Professional Astrologer

Alison helps you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor. She offers Consultations for everyone and Coaching for Aspiring Astrologers.

If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email at starzology@gmail.com.

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Money Houses

Money Houses

In astrology, whilst the 2nd house the is main money house, there are three other houses related to your financial situation.

Money Houses

Money Houses

by

Author: Alison Price   –   Published: November 2024

Money Houses

Introduction

In my view and I’ve said this before, there really only ever are two questions about astrology from your clients when they come to you. There’re either questions about love and relationships or money and income. Interesting enough, of course, both of these topics are covered by Venus, but I’m not going down the beautiful planet route this time.

Today I want to explore some ideas which I have about the financial houses within the chart. Traditionally, we look to the 2nd house for income which is correct, but I do believe there are other places where income can show up a chart and I want to chat about these other areas now. I’m going to share with you some of my thoughts about how you can genuinely explore financial situations as shown in a chart.

money-houses

Four Money Planets

In astrology you may be a Virgo Ascendant and therefore be ruled by Mercury in general, but within that there are different planets which rule various areas of your life or rule the houses. Your money planets cover one area in particular. Each chart has different money planets depending on where the money comes from or where it is going as seen by the houses.

Your four special money planets are:

  • Your income planet
  • Your payback planet
  • Your risk planet
  • Your entrepreneurial planet

Financial Levels of Life

These four planets can be seen as levels of your financial life. They go deeper as you go from the first one to the fourth one.

Income Planet: 2nd House Ruler

Your income planet is always used. We all have and need money to pay the rent and buy food and this money comes from somewhere.

Payback Planet: 8th House Ruler

Your payback planet can be managed over time. Most people will use and or struggle with this planet and some folks will even master it.

Risk Planet: 5th House Ruler

Your risk planet may or may not be stimulated. It is clear that only some people will use this planet. Each person’s appetite to take a chance with money will be shown by their risk planet.

Entrepreneurial Planet: 11th House Ruler

Your entrepreneurial planet may never be used, but for those of you who do feel the urge to go it alone and start a business, this planet is waiting for you in the wings.

Levels

You do not have to use all your money planets. Most people only work with the first two money planets of basic earning and owing, or money in and money out. You may have the same planet for two of your money planets (sometimes Mercury or Jupiter) and this is fine as it reinforces that particular planet in your financial life.

In a case like this you can pay special attention to any money planet that covers two areas. These money planets are associated with the four broad types of income and expenditure which you can experience. In total they express your full financial life and the urges and fears that you may experience surrounding money.

money-planets

2nd House Ruler: Income Planet

Income

Your income planet covers the usual form of income for most people which is a job. It shows the nature of your earnings from regular work whether part-time or full time and for which you are paid regularly. You can have more than one job at a time. All regular and aboveboard income, including bonuses, tips and gratuities earned at work, will come through your main income planet.

Spending

This planet shows what you spend your money on and what you invest in. It suggests how you look after money.

For example

  • Is your cash neatly tucked into your wallet with all the bills facing upright or are they scrunched up and scattered on the bedside table with screwed-up banknotes and random coins on the floor?
  • Do you accept or reject torn and dirty currency, and do you respect your money?

Credit

Your income planet suggests what your credit rating and FICO score is. It indicates the credit you can raise and how much you can potentially borrow. It does not show the money owed only the potential funds you can raise because people and banks feel comfortable lending to you and wish to invest in you.

Wealth Potential

It shows pledges you can raise on sites like Kickstarter and the like. This planet indicates any collateral you have available to finance more money. It indicates your wealth potential. Your income planet shows your net worth when it is positive.

8th House Ruler: Payback Planet

Debts

Your debts and money that you owe to others like your credit cards, mortgages, student loans, lines of credit or that $50 you borrowed from your brother last night is shown by your payback planet. If you live debt free and pay everything on time you have reached and successfully navigated the second money planet. Your payback planet covers all scholarships and bursaries for education or housing received that you have to pay back.

Payouts

Your payback planet covers all insurances for which you have been paid out. It rules all annuities being forwarded to you. Insurances and annuities were originally paid for by you, or someone else, but when you are paid out, they come back to you as income. You never receive an insurance payout unless someone paid something up front.

Donations

Your payback planet indicates where you give contributions and donate to others for leverage. It shows where you spend money to buy influence over other people as in political donations.

Taxes

It indicates your relationship with the tax man, tax audits and all monies you owe and receive from him. Again, if you did not originally receive income from your day job, or received interest or win the lottery, you would not owe tax on said income.

Pressure

Your payback planet indicates any graft, bribes or backhanders that you accept. It shows income from illegal and under-the-table activities. Your payback planet shows your net worth when it is negative.

5th House Ruler: Your Risk Planet

Vulnerability

Your third money planet is your risk planet. This may not be used much if you do not like risk and is shown by the planet that rules risk in your chart. Some people will never gamble, play the stock exchange, buy a lottery ticket or bet at the tote and therefore they may never use their risk planet.

Stock Exchange

Any speculative income from stocks or bonds or other financial instruments on the stock exchange including futures, indices and foreign exchange trading comes under your risk planet.

Gambling

This planet also rules gambling and lottery wins and all casino and gaming wins or losses. It covers any gains in an office draw, sweepstake or competition you entered. All games of chance and where you place bets like horse racing, dog racing and sports bets come under the auspices of your risk planet. Your nighttime online poker game is suggested by your risk planet.

11th House Ruler: Entrepreneur Planet

Empire-building

Your entrepreneur planet is the least used money planet. Many folks never use this planet because they do not ever have their own business. But if you do create a business and you have a vison of building your empire through world domination, whatever that means to you, this is when your entrepreneur planet will come into its own.

Business Income

Your entrepreneur planet rules all income from a business that you started yourself. This includes any nano, micro or small business which you began alone or with partners. In general, as the ruler of the 2nd (income) from the 10th house (what you do in the world), this planet probably does not show income from a commercial venture which you just acquired from someone else. It shows income from any company that you built.

For example:

  • If you knit hats or make wooden bird houses and sell them at a flea market on a Saturday morning, that income is shown by your entrepreneur planet.

Honors Income

It also indicates income from honors you have received like the cash you got from your Nobel Prize or grants or gifts from the government that do not need to be repaid.

Overview

Step1: Financial House Rulers

When considering finances in a client’s chart, one way of doing it is looking at the financial house rulers. As we have seen these are the rulers of the 2nd, the 8th, the 5th and the 11th houses.

Step 2: Planets as a Financial House Ruler

This is about the time when you start to realize that you need to consider each planet when it is one of the financial houses ruler.

Step 3: Financial House Tenants

You also have to consider any planets within these houses as they will definitely influence the way money is approached within somebody’s life.

Step 4: Venus and Pluto

It would be remiss of me not to mention the two planets that generally rule the natural 2nd and 8th houses, which are of course Venus and Pluto. As a broad stroke, Venus will rule earned money coming in, and Pluto will rule money committed and going out. To understand Venus and Pluto you have to do a full planetary complex of both of these planets.

Step 5: Start Here

But for a starting point, explore at the four money house planetary rulers for a broad overview of the financial landscape in someone’s chart.

Author Bio

Alison Price: Professional Astrologer

Alison helps you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor. She offers Consultations for everyone and Coaching for Aspiring Astrologers.

If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email at starzology@gmail.com.

More Articles

If you enjoyed this post, you may like some more astrology related articles from our blog.

 

Money Houses

Money Houses

In astrology, whilst the 2nd house the is main money house, there are three other houses related to your financial situation.

What Each Sun Sign Wants in the Workplace – for Employers

What Each Sun Sign Wants in the Workplace – for Employers

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by Alison Price

What Each Sun Sign Wants in the Workplace

In astrology the Sun shows what you want. Each Sun sign has specific wants that they naturally strive towards. When we consider how each sign can benefit you as an employer it makes sense to take a look at what each sign wants so you can place each person in the correct role in your company.

Aries

Aries wants to be first. They are keen to lead a team and be the front man and the go-getter. Rams want to make a difference and leave their mark, or two, at work. They can easily drive, encourage and push workers to reach their own potential. They are the natural entrepreneurs of the zodiac. Mars ruled folk love to start projects.

Taurus

Taurus wants to produce things. They are happy for situations to remain the same. Bulls can work on consistent projects with results. They will establish valuable resources for the company and are adroit at managing business finances. Taurus is reliable, will stay put, be at their desk and build productivity.

 



Gemini

Gemini wants to communicate information to anyone who will listen. They are great at interviewing and educating the workforce. Twins can translate concepts that lesser mortals struggle to see. They happily give knowledge, and they know all the office gossip. They will network with all and sundry and question ideas.

Cancer

Cancer wants to care. They can easily step into the role of the office mother. Crabs are the most comfortable sign for working at home. In the workplace they make other employees feel safe and create a welcoming environment. They will lead from behind as they protect and nourish the staff. They love to cultivate both people and companies.

Leo

Leo wants to inspire others. They easily develop younger members, youth and children. Lions shine at work and can birth ideas that benefit the business. They are the perfect person to tackle one-off projects of which they can be proud. They will take risks and are not usually shy to show their style at work. The Sun ruled will support and mentor younger people as they create projects.

Virgo

Virgo wants to serve. They are the best administrators of the zodiac. Virgins gladly assist on projects that are led by others. They are the best troopers in the office. They will stand behind and support others thus they make ideal assistants. They can analyze things and will give credit where it is due. They may be accused of micromanaging, but they will always help others with daily activities.

Libra

Libra wants to work with others. They straightway need to be social at work. The Scales will be an excellent silent partner for the other pushy signs. They make great mediators and are often found in human resources departments. Libra strives for an equitable work/life balance. They want to find win-win situations and negotiate results.

Scorpio

Scorpio wants to be an angel investor. They are attracted to research in all its forms. Scorpions make the best human resources terminator which is often a role that others do not want. They manipulate situations to be the power behind the throne. They will uncover problems and purge weak people, projects and trappings from the workplace.

Sagittarius

Sagittarius wants to be a visionary. They can immediately see the overarching company direction and guide other towards the light. Archers easily realize the big picture. They are brilliant at reaching out worldwide to grow the company. They will encourage others to explore different approaches utilizing global techniques.

Capricorn

Capricorn wants to be in charge. They can easily solidify and formalize company structures. Sea Goats strive to build succession so they themselves can move up. They can prepare rules for systems and methods to aid productivity. They are the gatekeepers and will enforce commercial regulations, maintain dress codes and establish businesses.

Aquarius

Aquarius wants to innovate. They are the thought leaders of the zodiac. Water Bearers can use computer systems and will keep the company up-to-date with technology. They are happy to be one of the boys and to be seen as part of a group. They welcome newcomers to the office and embrace new ideas, projects and inventions.

Pisces

Pisces wants to be artistic. They are keen to be in the backroom and may be a recluse. Fish are in tune with others and can intuitively find solutions to problems. They empathize with co-workers. They can happily work behind the scenes quietly making progress. They are the best sign to understand the underlying office energy and are aware of atmospheres and elusive behavior.

 



 

10 Job Seeking Tips when Mercury is Retrograde

10 Job Seeking Tips when Mercury is Retrograde

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10 Job Seeking Tips When Mercury is Retrograde

You may have heard something about Mercury retrograde and wondered what it is and what is does, and what to do and what not to do, or you may have even thought, “So what?”

If you are interested in finding a job or growing your career, see what to do when Mercury is retrograde, so you can make the most of every moment.

 

Planetary Energy

To make the best use of planetary energy it is all about going with the flow and that means taking the meaning of the planet and noticing if it is holding up a “stop” or “go” sign.

One example of planetary energy that you can see is the Moon and the tides. The Moon pulls the waters of the Earth and creates two high tides and two low tides each day. As each day moves on the times for the tides constantly changes. But every day there will be two incoming tides and two outgoing tides.

It is at the incoming tide that you can yell “Surf’s up!” and trot down to the beach to practice your surfing. Well if you live on the coast and have a surf culture perhaps like in Hawaii, but you get the picture. You can only surf when the tide is coming in. There is no point in paddling out to hope to surf in if the tide is going out. Right?

 

About Mercury

Each year Mercury will be retrograde three times at around four-month intervals and for about three weeks each time. Each year the dates are different.

You can find the exact dates when Mercury will be retrograde for the next few years below. You can mark these dates in your calendar now and lock out this special time.

 

About Retrogrades

Apparent retrograde is the optical illusion of something going backward and in this case, it is the planet, Mercury. Imagine you are on a train and moving along at a fair pace then suddenly you come upon another train on the next track.

The other train is going slower than you are so your train overtakes it but the other train seems to be going backward. Both trains are driving forward but one seems to be going in reverse. That is the illusion of retrogradation.

That a planet is retrograde can be interpreted as a time to change the pace and adjust your approach to things. When a planet is not retrograde it is direct.

 

Mercury’s Upcoming Retrograde Periods

2024

During April 1st to 25th from 27° Aries to 15° Aries.

During August 5th to August 28th from 4° Virgo to 21° Leo.

During November 26th to December 15th from 22° Sagittarius to 6° Sagittarius.

Mercury Retrograde Element Focus

Mercury’s current retrograde signs are mainly the Fire signs (Sagittarius, Aries and Leo) for 2024.

Mercury Rules

Communication

Every planet rules different things in life. Mercury rules communication, writing, signing, meetings, learning, schools, trading, auctions, merchants, agents and middlemen.

 

Trade

In everyday life, this means all your shopping, buying and selling, texts, phone calls, emails and general chatting, as well as gossip, comes under Mercury’s influence.

 

Workplace

In the workplace, Mercury covers resumes, recruiters, interviews (by phone and in person). Mercury can influence your LinkedIn profile although Saturn has a lot to say about that as well.

 

Paperwork

Mercury also is concerned with paperwork and anything you sign, like a job offer. It is also concerned with the fine print which during a retrograde period is more of a focus and you should read it all.

 

Mercury Retrograde Sequence

There is a sequence in each retrograde cycle and five main parts:

 

  1. Mercury enters the pre-shadow period of about ten days before the actual retrograde starts.
  2. Mercury stations retrograde.
  3. The retrograde period itself, usually 3 weeks.
  4. Mercury stations direct.
  5. The after-shadow time of about a week and a half after Mercury has been retrograde.

 

Phew.

 

Before Mercury goes Retrograde

Before Mercury goes retrograde and is direct do the following:

  • Write your resume crafted for each specific job.
  • Compose targeted cover letters.
  • Apply for jobs via email and snail mail.
  • Call companies on the phone.
  • Reach out to your contact list and tell them you are looking for work.
  • Take the initiative to let your family, friends, and others know you are searching for a new job.
  • Start a short course on something you need in your job to build your marketable skills.
  • Join professional societies and attend Meetups in your field.
  • Create and develop your LinkedIn profile.
  • Accept initial interviews.
  • Sign job offers.

 

All of the above should be done when Mercury is not retrograde and preferably not in its shadow period.

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Mercury Retrograde

When Mercury is retrograde do the following:

  • Revise your resume.
  • Refresh any cover letters.
  • Get your filing up to date of jobs for which you have already applied.
  • Write a list of companies and people with whom to follow up and contact them again.
  • Research current thinking in your industry.
  • Set up alerts for leads.
  • Schedule second interviews (phone and in person).
  • Review job offers.
  • Prepare your paperwork for jobs you plan to apply for after Mercury is retrograde as you wait for it to go direct.

 

Revisit projects

During Mercury retrograde periods you can follow up and work on things that you have already done when Mercury was direct.

 

Don’t start new things when Mercury is retrograde because if you do, they will most likely be reversed when Mercury goes direct.

Sometimes you have no choice because a job advert or interview comes up when Mercury is retrograde and you need a job so you have to go. In these instances be aware that the terms will change.

As Mercury goes direct after the retrograde period, and if you did apply for a job or had an interview during the retrograde time, you can expect to return again and again for further interviews, or the job itself is shelved, or the job is morphed into something else altogether.

 

When Mercury is retrograde, avoid starting new things because if you do, you will have to review them later as Mercury goes direct.

Recruiters

Companies usually act in good faith when they place an advert for an opening in their business. The effect of Mercury retrograde changes the terms or the agreement and thus they may no longer need the person that they were originally looking for when Mercury was retrograde.

This cuts both ways for people looking for work and recruiters. Companies and career consultants are better off only placing vacancy adverts when Mercury is direct and communications are clear.

If a recruiter seeks a candidate during the retrograde period they will have to spend three times as long emailing back and forth and interviewing people who cancel and can’t make it to the interview for whatever reason.

All of this time-consuming effort is due to the Mercury retrograde effect which impacts communications, trade and agency.

 

Read more >>> Mercury

Read more >>> What Each Sign wants in the Workplace

Read more >>> How to Find a Job With The Sun in Astrology

Author Bio

Alison Price: Astrology Coach

Alison wants to help you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor.

Learn more about Alison’s journey.

If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email at starzology@gmail.com.

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Mars in Libra – Walk softly but carry a big stick

Mars in Libra – Walk softly but carry a big stick

Mars in Libra Mars' Orbit Mars is the first of the superior planets as it is at a further distance from the Sun than the Earth.   Mars' Sign Rulership The red planet rules the signs Aries and Scorpio. Libra is the sign of its detriment (because it is opposite...

How to Find a Job with the Sun in Astrology

How to Find a Job with the Sun in Astrology

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Finding a Job with The Sun

Maybe you are toying with the idea of a career change. Perhaps you want to find a company that pays better, maybe you’re underemployed or between jobs and you could do with a little help to find a position.

When you start to look for a job you need all the help you can get.

Use the Sun to assist you to find the good, better and best times to support your efforts in your job search and find your day in the Sun.

 

When to Start your Job Search

You may tell yourself you are looking for work because you are dispirited with what you are doing all day and so you could search a few job boards and in a half-hearted way look for work.

You could be forced into job search mode because you have no work for whatever reason. You need a paycheck because you have mouths to feed and need a roof over your head. You cannot stop your search until you have work. This is important and you start your job search.

There are a few instances when you can start a job search.

 

When you are between jobs

When you find yourself between engagements. This is a euphemism for being unemployed but we will use it here. You could be recently between jobs or discover that it can take months to find something else. Anything else.

 

When you are underemployed

When you are underemployed and have a two day a week job but that’s it. In this example you may go in to work on Monday and Thursday and like what you do, but you could do more. But the company you work for can’t help you with that, and you’re not sure if your want another two day a week job with someone else.

 

When you are employed

You may be in a job you love – but things can change at work.

  • Your boss may leave and you don’t like the new guy.
  • Your company could be taken over.
  • The top people may move onwards and upwards and this changes the corporate culture.
  • You hate your co-workers, they are crashing bores or tiresome.

 

Things can be fluid at home as well.

  • Marriage changes your priorities.
  • Divorce can make other demands on your finances
  • A new baby means you have to earn more.
  • Illness in the family could require more from you.
  • Your aging parents may move in with you, so your overheads go up.
  • Grown children eventually fly the coop, so maybe downsizing with less overheads is your option.

 

All of these things are a part of life and it is naïve to think that things will stay the same after life-changes happen.

 

 

The only thing that is constant is change.

Bored to Death

But maybe you are just bored with your job.

Ask yourself:

  • If someone offers you enough money will you take the job, any job?
  • In what circumstances will you move jobs?
  • What is your number?

The answers to these questions can tip the balance between making an income and enjoying your job. Ideally you need to be in the sweet spot where you earn sufficient to meet your needs and you actually like what you do.

They say that you should follow your passion and this means you need to find work that is not work. I’ll explain.

Find the job that you love and would do anyway even if they didn’t pay you. You do this by discovering your passion.

 

Discover your Passion

One way to discover your passion is to look at what you do in your spare time.

  • What will you do on your next day off?
  • Are you volunteering?
  • What are your hobbies now?
  • Who do you talk to if you have a choice?
  • What activity will you get up early for?
  • What would you do even if they didn’t pay you?

This is just to underline that we all will move jobs for the right reasons and motivations.

What to Do

All of this brings us to the point that you should always be ready to take advantage of a new job.

 

 

Always be closing (a job offer).

 

Be Prepared

You should always be prepared to seek a job at a moment’s notice.

This means:

  • Have your CV or resume up-to-date
  • Get LinkedIn leaning towards the job you want not the one you have
  • Butter-up your contacts
  • Plan your future
  • Assume a flexible stance
how-to-find-a-job-with-the-sun-diagram

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Follow the Sun

In a broad sense you can follow the Sun through the year as it passes through each sign.

The Sun highlights good times to do things and it depends on your own sign, (and in more detail your own chart), which times are highlighted.

It is easy for everyone to know which sign the Sun is in as it is about the same each year. If you are not sure you can check the handy Sun sign list below.

The Sun does not change sign at midnight, so it could be the day before or the day after these dates.

  • January 1 to 19 – Capricorn.
  • January 20 to February 19 – Aquarius.
  • February 20 to March 21 – Pisces.
  • March 21 to April 19 – Aries.
  • April 20 to May 20 – Taurus.
  • May 21 to June 21 – Gemini.
  • June 22 to July 21 – Cancer.
  • July 21 to August 22 – Leo.
  • August 23 to September 22 – Virgo.
  • September 23 to October 23 – Libra.
  • October 24 to November 22 – Scorpio.
  • November 23 to December 21 – Sagittarius.
  • December 22 to December 31 – Capricorn.

 

Read more >>> What Each Sign Wants in the Workplace

What to Do Every Day for your Job Search

Dawn to 8am

Don’t waste your time on job searches at this time of the day.

Avoid breakfast meetings for work as they will go nowhere.

The best you can hope for is getting snippets of background information on companies and people, or in other words gossip.

Listen to the news and keep your own council.

Stop talking.

Spend this time in meditation, walk the dog or go to the gym.

 

8am to 10am

Connect online (LinkedIn, FB etc.) with “friends” and associates.

Go to group Meetups or pop in at coffee and networking events.

 

10am to Noon

The golden hours for job seeking every day.

These two hours are excellent for everything career related.

Noon to 2pm

Keep pushing on your job search. Explore work outside your usual field.

Look at opportunities further away from home both nationally and internationally.

2pm to 4pm

Seek endorsements from others – gently, don’t push it.

Reciprocate with support for others through your endorsements or referrals for others.

Unearth your back channels and the people in them.

Offer to do little things for those who may help you later.

4pm to Sunset

Don’t do job searching at this time or sign anything.

 

Sunset to Two Hours after Sunset

This is a good time for employment activities.

Have those after work (happy hour) get-togethers and butter up your contacts, but don’t stay too long.

 

Two Hours after Sunset to Midnight

Let it go. Spend time with loved ones, have some leisure time and work on your hobbies or read non-career related books.

 

Midnight to 2am

So you can’t sleep? This can be a good time for international calls, reviewing employment contracts and signing electronic offers.

But don’t do knee jerk acceptances.

Consider any offers you received during the day before using this time slot for anything.

Think it through.

 

2am to 4am

Go back to bed.

 

4am to Sunrise

If you are awake this early concentrate on yourself. This is your time.

Attend to personal grooming, stretching and positive thinking.

Stand tall and wide and assume a power pose feet wide and arms outstretched and head up and hold for five minutes.

Prepare your clothes for the day.

Write your gratitude journal or do the crossword to sharpen your mind.

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Best Times in the year for Job Seekers

Best Time

The best time each year to start a career search is from December 22nd to January 19th when the Sun is in Capricorn. This plays into the “New Year – new job” movement which surges at the start of every year as companies look for new people and recruiters post ads and you begin your search.

 

Second Best Time (Better)

The second best period to begin to look for work is between August 23rd to September 22nd when the Sun is in Virgo. This is just after the back-to-school time and when people get itchy about making a change.

Note that I say around the 21st of the month but there is a variable of about two days each side of the date to account for the variation in the Sun’s movement. The Sun can change signs at any time in the day or a day or two either side of the 21st.

 

Pay Increase (Good)

If you want to push for a pay increase do so when the Sun is in Taurus which is from April 20th to May 20th.

The best time to get a pay adjustment like; less cash, more time off, go on flexitime, get benefits or stocks etc., is between October 24th to November 22nd, because this is the time the Sun is in Scorpio.

You can also pay attention to Mercury retrograde periods in the year as they relate to job seeking.

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How to Manage your Time when Looking for Work

We have seen the best times to look for work in the year and these dates are supported by the Sun’s energy which shifts as it moves into each of the signs.

Now let’s see how to look for work on a daily basis and find the best times to do the many activities associated with looking for work, each day.

Daily activities can be done at good times in the day or not so good times.

These good, or not so good, times each day are determined by the placement of the Sun each hour and as it rises and sets.

When to Send a Cover Letter or Resume

You can spend hours, and even days, crafting a compelling cover letter and associated resume aimed at a particular job. How long this takes doesn’t matter. The important thing is the time when you send it and you no longer have control over it.

 

Email

The important time when you click “send” on your email system and not the time they open the email. Of course you may never know when they will open and read your email (or if it goes straight in the trash). If you have email tracking on you will know when they opened it but you have no control over when they will do so.

 

Snail Mail

If you are sending a snail mail cover letter or resume it is the time you pop the envelope into the mailbox. This is the point of no return as you can’t get the letter back.

 

Personal Delivery

You may decide to print your cover letter and resume and go to the company to personally deliver the documents. In fact some companies prefer this method as it proves you are in the area and available. In this scenario it is the time you hand the envelope over to the receptionist or the HR person.

The best times to send, deliver or present a job seeking resume and cover letter each day are (in order of priority):

  • Between 10am and noon – the golden hours (best)
  • Between noon and 2pm – the silver hours (better)
  • Between sunset and two hours after sunset – the bronze hours (good)

That there are better times in the day for job seeking it follows that there are worse times as well. Some hours each day are not as good as others to have your message heard which is what you are trying to do in the first place.

You want recruiters and prospects to open and read your cover letters and resume. You don’t want your application to be ignored, put on the slush pile or to end up in the deleted bin.

Avoid posting or droping off job applications from:

  • Dawn to 8am
  • 2pm to sunset

Read more >>> Job Seeking Tips When Mercury is Retrograde

When to Schedule a Phone Interview

A phone interview is the next step for contact with your recruiter or prospective employer.

Recruiters use the phone interview to weed out unsuitable candidates at an early stage. You could be cut at this point because you don’t have the conversational skills needed or maybe you don’t sound confident if they ask you job related questions – and they will.

If they are interested in you they may contact you to schedule a phone interview.

You will probably be given some time choices such as, Monday between 2pm and 5pm, or Friday from 9am to 11am. This is great because you can choose the best time to have a phone interview from the time slots available to you.

 

The best time to have a phone interview are:

As with all job applications the three golden times as listed above and repeated here.

  • Between 10am and noon (best)
  • Between noon and 2pm (better)
  • Between sunset and two hours after sunset (good)
  • Between midnight to 2am (good) – international calls

Avoid phone interviews from:

  • Dawn to 9am
  • 2pm to sunset

 

When to Schedule a Face-to-Face Interview

If you get through the phone interview they may call you in for a face-to-face interview. This is excellent.

You will probably be offered a few time options to have the face-to-face and you may be inclined to jump at the first one (for many reasons) but astrologically the good time slots still stand.

 

Face-to-Face Interviews – Golden Times

As with all job applications the three golden times as listed above and repeated here.

  • Between 10am and noon (best)
  • Between noon and 2pm (better)
  • Between sunset and 2 hours after sunset (good)

Avoid scheduling face-to-face interviews from:

  • Dawn to 9am (so no early morning or breakfast interviews)
  • 2pm to sunset

 

When to Accept a Job Offer

If you do receive a job offer it can come in two forms. A verbal offer that may lead to a written or online offer, or just a written or online offer.

If you want the job you could verbally say so but then you may still have to finalise the offer by signing a physical paper offer, or by electronically signing the offer.

The verbal offer may immediately go onto the electronic offer if for example you are in the interview and they offer you the job there and then and open the screen on which you can accept. Or you may accept a verbal offer (in person or on the phone) and then you have to go online to their website and accept the electronic offer.

There are two times possible for you to accept a job offer verbal and when you sign.

Some people will accept a verbal offer but then fail to accept the written offer for whatever reason. Maybe they got a better offer in the meantime of they decided they just don’t want the job.

The deal is only final at the signing (either written or electronic) and this cuts both ways for you and the employer.

The time that you sign is important.

 

When to Accept a Job Offer – Golden Times

As with all job applications the three golden times as listed above and repeated here that are best for accepting a job offer are:

  • Between 10am and noon (best)
  • Between noon and 2pm (better)
  • Between sunset and two hours after sunset (good)
  • Between midnight and 2am is good for signing either paper or typically accepting electronic offers

Avoid signing job acceptances from:

  • Dawn to 9am
  • 2pm to sunset

 

Summary

We all look for work at sometime in our lives and on occasion it can take months to find anything. You can get a slight edge on the competition by working with the light, heat and energy of the Sun as it passes through the zodiac over the course of a year and as it rises and sets each day. You can’t look for work every waking minute so allow yourself times to push and times to release each day. Good luck.

 

Author Bio

Alison Price: Astrology Coach

Alison wants to help you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor.

Learn more about Alison’s journey.

If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email at starzology@gmail.com.

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If you enjoyed this post, you may like some more astrology related articles from our blog.

 

Starzology Astrology Podcast

Starzology Astrology Podcast

Join us for calm astrology themed fireside chats. We have conversations around transits, ingresses, retrogrades and lunations on the Starzology Astrology Podcast.

Your Zodiac Sign and Spending

Your Zodiac Sign and Spending

by 

by Alison Price

You can learn a lot about your spending habits by looking at your star sign.

Each of the twelve zodiac signs has a different approach to retail therapy. Next time you go shopping with your friends see their spending characteristics at play.

Check out each sign’s buying instincts below and see if you recognize yourself.

Aries

Aries rushes in where angels fear to tread, and in their hurry Rams want to be in and out of the shop. They buy with cash and online so as to grab the new stuff and be wearing the latest colors of the season.

This sign likes the challenge of hunting for a bargain and may easily tackle you to the ground at a fire sale.

Taurus

Taurus takes their time deciding on what to spend their hard earned cash. Bulls prefer to shop in stores, and not online, because they want to touch and feel the goods before buying.

After a day of trawling the shops they are just as likely to bank the money and go home empty handed. Sometimes parting with the cash is the quandary.

Gemini

Gemini likes buying on eBay and sniping the auction at the end. They order books and magazines, apps, games and puzzles. Twins are the best traders in the zodiac and will happily barter for stuff as the real fun is the actual deal.

You are more likely to see Gemini selling to you, than buying for themselves.

Cancer

Cancers like to feather their nest and will splurge on home furnishings and tableware. They like pretty cutlery and plates to match the occasion, whether for a barbecue outside or a Sunday lunch.

Every meal is important and this means the props as well. Crabs like home shopping and will spend on friends, family and will remember to take the office a box of chocolates.

Leo

Leos buy the best they can afford and that goes for luxury items as well. Lions take pride in their purchases and will enthral anyone who will listen about what they bought to adoring oohs and aahs. They will shop in groups and make sure each person has a little something to take home. Leo’s are generous and may spring for lunch as well.

They will shop in groups and make sure each person has a little something to take home. Leo’s are generous and may spring for lunch as well.

Virgo

Virgo spends in small increments and can drive the shop girl wild with their bag of small change for a fifty dollar purchase. They like to collect and will slowly attain the things they want.

Virgo likes things in patchwork, marquetry and paisley patterns. Virgins are more likely to go to the stores several times a day than do one big shop all at once.

Libra

Libra spends on themselves as much as their partner because there has to be a fiscal balance in their relationship.

Libra men may only buy one big item a year, like a car, but its cost will be equal to what their wife spent over the years. Shopping can be agony for Libra as they are not good at deciding and every transaction choice needs to be called.

Scorpio

Scorpio pays cash so there is no paper trail. They like acquiring things and surround themselves with items that mean something.

Scorpions will to remove price tags and hoard some attractive items of value. They like to buy things that others desire and may become a collector of rare books or surgical instruments.

Sagittarius

Sagittarius likes to buy when away from home. They are the ones for whom the souvenir shops were made. Archers seek out things that are difficult to find like a seed pod from a baobab tree or exotic spices from Asia.

This sign arrives home and flings the bags in a corner not even opening them, already planning their next excursion to the mall.

Capricorn

Capricorn invests. When the Sea Goat goes shopping the items they buy have to earn their place. Not for them trivial trinkets.

Capricorn likes quality and will pay whatever it takes to get items perceived as status pieces. Expensive handbags for the women and watches for men. Over the years they can amass a very respectable wardrobe or collection of goodies.

Aquarius

Aquarius like to buy a variety of goods. They love snapping up music and books online and gadgets. They get bored with their stuff and will move on to the next fad as soon as it takes their fancy. Water Bearers have basements full of old things and should invite Scorpio around to rummage through it all.

Water Bearers have basements full of old things and should invite Scorpio around to rummage through it all.

Pisces

Pisces enjoy art and soft and beautiful things. They are happy to tag along with the other signs on an outing to the shops. Fish like to buy only what is needed and can be frugal to the extent that they will “do without” when they should be buying things. Fish don’t like the crush of the malls and will shop late in the evening to miss the crowds.