I work as a career and business strategist. But my secret passion is… astrology!
About once a month, I post an overview of what’s happening in the cosmos and how it might influence your career. It’s called: Your Career Forecast.
Whether you’re job-hunting, running your own business, or wondering about the ideal time to ask for a raise or take a vacation, each Career Forecast will reveal the important dates and cosmic shifts that you need to know about.
I am joined by my dear friend, Heidi Rose Robbins, a master astrologer who will provide expert insight into what’s going on in the stars.
Let’s dive in!
OVERVIEW
What’s going on this month…
HEIDI: The Sun moves into Virgo on August 22nd at 9:38am Pacific Standard Time. For the next thirty days, it’s time to organize, organize, organize! Clean up, declutter, make lists, tick things off, and polish ideas until they gleam. Imagine marching into a disheveled room, rolling up your sleeves, and creating order from the chaos. That’s the energy of Virgo.
The month of Virgo is an excellent time to subtract unnecessary possessions and commitments from your life—clearing away the clutter so that you can spend your time doing what truly matters to you. It’s also an excellent time to commit—or re-commit—to personal health goals. If there was ever a time to clean up your diet—or clean up your mindset—this is it. You’ll find that it’s a bit easier to make these types of healthy lifestyle changes under the Virgo Sun.
On August 30th, Venus moves into Libra. This is a time of great beauty, balance, and harmonious relationships. It’s a wonderful time to host parties and gatherings, to start a book club, to meet up with friends to talk and bond in a deeper way. The Venus-Libra transit lasts about one month.
There’s another big shift happening on that same day: Mercury goes retrograde on August 30th for three weeks. Mercury retrograde gets a bad reputation because it’s typically a time where communication goes haywire—websites crash, emails get worded awkwardly, packages don’t arrive on time, and friction can arise. But don’t panic! Mercury retrograde also has a lot of positive qualities, too. It’s an excellent time for quiet reflection, reviewing, and assessing. Use this time to review the past few months of your life and career, asking, “What transpired? How could I build on that? What would I like to adjust?”
On September 9th, we have a big shift. Jupiter (the planet of generosity and growth) moves into Libra (the sign of relationships and peacemaking). Our world certainly needs this transit! With Jupiter in Libra, tensions soften, hearts open, and it becomes a bit easier to treat one another with kindness and compassion.
Then on September 10th, the planet Saturn squares Neptune—which means it’s time look at your current projects with a logical eye. This is not the time to get lost in dreamland—this is a time to implement a plan that is reasonable, doable and effective. Set aside some time on September 10th to think about one of your biggest goals. Break out your favorite pen, notebook, spreadsheets, and your calendar. Ask yourself, “OK, seriously… what needs to happen in order for me to reach this goal? What’s the most efficient, logical path forward?” You may notice a feeling of renewed motivation and clarity on this day—that “get it done!” energy, spurring you forward in a big way! (Hooray!)
The month of Virgo has the potential to be an extremely productive month.
May you achieve all you wish to achieve—with grace and kindness!
What does all of this mean for your career? Let’s look closer…
JOB-HUNTING?
Here’s what you need to know…
ELLEN: As Heidi mentioned, on August 30th, the planet Venus moves into the sign of Libra for about one month. If you feel like your professional network is a little “weak,” or if you feel like you don’t have any “influential friends” who can open doors for you or help you find a new job, now you’ve got an opportunity to fix that. The month-long Venus-Libra transit is the perfect time to form—and deepen—all kinds of relationships.
Wondering how to expand and strengthen your professional network? To quote my wise mom, “The best way to make a friend is to be a friend.” Let that be your motto during the month of September. Instead of reaching out to people in your network to “ask for favors,” flip the script. Grant favors. Make introductions. Give generously. Be an amazing friend—and before too long, people will admire and trust you immensely.
For example, you could email a colleague to say, “Hey, I just noticed a job opportunity that might be perfect for you…” Call up an acquaintance and say, “I’ve got an extra ticket to a cool performance. Want to go with me?” Nominate a local business owner for a “Best of the City” award and let them know. Everyone will be grateful and delighted, and your relationships will grow stronger. Then, in the near future, if you need to ask for a special favor—like a personal introduction to the hiring manager at your dream company—your friends will be more than happy to oblige!
ALREADY HAVE A JOB?
Here’s what you need to know…
ELLEN: The Sun moves into Virgo on August 22nd. If you’re employed and you love your current job, this would be an excellent time to organize, organize, organize! Go through all of those unread emails and delete anything that’s unnecessary. Clear papers off your desk. Wipe the grime off your computer keyboard. Go through your calendar and ask yourself, “What could I subtract? What’s essential and what’s not?” With the Sun in Virgo, you’re likely to feel the urge to declutter, polish, and refine. Don’t fight that feeling—ride the wave! (If you haven’t already, read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. It will change your workspace, your office, and your life!)
If you’re employed but you’re not that “into” your current job, the same advice applies: organize, organize, organize. With the Sun in Virgo, it’s the ideal time to empty your inbox, sort through your paperwork, and finish up any lingering projects that you assured your boss you would complete. Your new motto can be, “Tie up loose ends.” This will put you in a good position to start hunting for a new job—feeling clear and free, not encumbered with guilt or broken promises.
As Heidi mentioned, Mercury goes retrograde on August 30th for about three weeks, lasting until September 22nd. This timeframe is not the best time to start an ambitious new project at work. It’s a time for reflection and completion rather than “launching.” If your company is planning to launch an exciting new initiative, or if you’re planning to unveil an exciting new direction, project, or idea, try to schedule the “launch date” for sometime after September 22nd when the planets will be “on your side.”
SELF-EMPLOYED OR RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?
Here’s what you need to know…
ELLEN: If you’re self-employed, and if you’re planning to “launch” something new—a new website, a new product, a new class or program—try to avoid launching it between August 30th and September 22nd. Because—as we’ve mentioned a couple times in this forecast—Mercury goes retrograde during that three-week timeframe, which means communication breakdowns, website crashes, phone calls being dropped, travel delays, and all kinds of other headaches.
This doesn’t mean that Mercury in retrograde is a “bad” thing. It’s actually a powerful time—if you direct your energy appropriately. Use this time to review, reflect, rehearse, and clean up your act in private—rather than publicly unveiling a new project.
As Heidi mentioned, on September 10th, the planet Saturn will square Neptune, which invites you to look at your dreams and come up with a plan that is reasonable, doable and effective. What’s something you really want to create during the upcoming year? A new book? A new product line? A new service that draws in dozens of new clients? Write down what you want—and then turn on your logical, analytical brain. Make a list of the exact steps that you need to take to make it happen. Go over your plan with a trusted friend or a career coach to see if there’s anything you might be overlooking.
If you’re worried that you’ll get distracted or lose momentum, take steps to avoid that! Find a buddy who can text you every day to encourage you and keep you on track. Or join an online goal-setting community filled with people who are working on their goals, right by your side. (I run a goal-setting community and coaching program called GO GET IT! which focuses on career, business, and income-related goals. Enrollment for the next session opens on September 20th. You can sign up here for a reminder email when it’s time to enroll.)
No matter what type of job or career you currently have—or currently want to have—the month of Virgo (late August to late September) is a great time to GET THINGS DONE.
You’re likely to feel the urge to organize, declutter, and tie up loose ends that might be irritating you or bogging you down. Ride the momentum!
Use this time to your best advantage. Just remember to wait until Mercury in retrograde is over (on September 22nd) before you “go public” with a new idea, project, or business venture.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
August 22nd – The Sun moves into Virgo for one month. (Clean up your desk, tie up loose ends, make lists, tick things off, and polish ideas until they gleam.)
August 30th – Venus moves into Libra. (Beauty, balance, and harmonious relationships—host parties, reach out to someone, grant favors, extend invitations, be a great friend!)
August 30th – Mercury goes retrograde for three weeks. (Not the best time to “launch” a new idea or project… instead, go inward, reflect, and rehearse in private.)
September 9th – Jupiter moves into Libra. (Tensions soften, hearts open, gracious communication becomes easier. Maybe Trump will say something kind and compassionate? Hey, anything’s possible!)
September 10th – Saturn squares Neptune. (No more wistful dreaming… it’s time for serious planning! Ask yourself, “What’s the most efficient, logical path forward?” Outline the steps and make it happen.)
September 22nd – Mercury in retrograde is over. (Now’s the time to officially “go public” with a new idea, project, or business venture. Hold the press conference. Hand in your two weeks notice and start your job hunt. Launch the website. Post a Facebook announcement. Alert the media. Full steam ahead!)
YOUR CAREER MANTRA FOR THIS MONTH:
“Every blade of grass has its angel that bends over it and whispers, “Grow, grow.” —The Talmud
What are your angels whispering to you? Listen to your heart. Pay attention to moments where you feel a sense of longing, yearning, or even jealousy (“Oh, I wish I could have a career like that, that seems so cool…”) and tune in. It’s never too late to change course—dramatically or subtly—and create a career that feels meaningful and exciting.
No matter what is going on in the cosmos, ultimately, you are the master of your own destiny. You are in charge. Regardless of what’s going on around you, there is always a way to make progress with your goals and to create the life and career that you want.
Every door can be unlocked.
Have an amazing month!
Learn more about my career & business coaching services here.
Learn more about Heidi and her astrological services here.