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, 2017 at 3:20pm Pacific. Virgo is a sign that rules hard work and analysis. Under Virgo, we purify, clean up our act, and get organized. We adjust what needs to be adjusted. We create systems that allow for more efficiency. It is “back to school” time, whatever age we happen to be. Sometimes Virgo feels like a welcome relief from the lazy days of summer, and sometimes it feels like the to-do list suddenly got very, very long.
Venus moves into Leo on August 25th, which might extend the Leo summer days for just a bit longer. Venus rules the beautiful. Leo rules expression. With Venus in Leo, we create. We shine. We rule. Venus in Leo loves to lead. So, even if you don’t have a team to lead, you can lead your own life wearing your crown!
Mercury joins Venus in Leo on August 31st. Use these days between August 31st and September 10th (when Mercury moves into Virgo) to write, speak, and express yourself freely. Enjoy the combined energies of the communicator (Mercury) and the sign of radiant expression and leadership (Leo).
We have an electric trine of Mars and Uranus on September 2nd. Take bold action. Expect the unexpected. Give your warrior-self a shot in the arm. Establish a new pattern that you wish to create in your life.
The very next day, September 3rd, Mars and Mercury line up in the heavens, so your words have an extra punch. Be careful not to use your words to attack or destroy. Simply know you’ve got energy and strength on your side when you communicate.
On September 5th, Mars moves into Virgo. This is the real threshold for no-nonsense work. Dive in. You will have plenty of fortitude and enthusiasm to get a lot done. The editing and refining energy is very strong.
The Full Moon of Virgo is the very next day: September 6th. The Full Moon is a potent time to steep in the energy of the month. The Virgo energy is at its richest. Under Virgo, we get the material and physical life in order so that we can let anxiety fall away. We replace the anxiety with a great flow of love and calm.
Mercury joins Mars in the sign of Virgo on September 10th. This is a great time to look at something carefully, to edit or refine your work, or to streamline a project and let the essence shine forth.
September 17th brings a very creative, electric day. Venus trines Uranus in the heavens. Sudden love! Unexpected, bolt-out-of -the-blue ideas! Life won’t feel status quo or mundane.
Finally, Venus moves into Virgo on September 19th. We have a stellium (or collection) of planets in Virgo! The Sun, Moon, Mercury, Mars and Venus will all be in Virgo! If there’s a mess to be cleaned up in your life, now is the time. If there’s a problem that needs untangling, now is the time. If ever you had the energies of hard work and discrimination on your side, this is the moment. Go for it. Be meticulous. Be precise. Refine what you do. Everyone you work with–and for–will benefit.
What does all of this mean for your career? Let’s look closer…
JOB HUNTING?
Here’s what you need to know…
ELLEN: All the details that job hunting requires will feel almost effortless during this Virgo month. This is especially true at the end of the month.
On September 17th, when Venus trines Uranus, you’re likely to experience sudden, unexpected ideas. You might come up with a new approach for your job search. Or, while you’re in the shower, you might think of a brilliant way to re-write your cover letter. If you find yourself having a “sudden flash” idea, run with it! Keep a notebook or pad of Sticky notes nearby at all times. Make sure you capture the ideas when they come.
And on September 19th, there will be five planets in Virgo. This is called a “stellium,” and it will create a huge surge of energy—the wind beneath your wings. This is the moment to finish your job applications, to update your job search spreadsheet, to schedule coffee dates and informational interviews, to contact people on LinkedIn… whatever needs to get done, this is the moment, and the timing really couldn’t be better! You’ll have five planets working together to give you the focus, precision, and detail-oriented mindset that you need. Go, go, go!
ALREADY HAVE A JOB?
Here’s what you need to know…
ELLEN: Some of the words used to describe Virgos are: analytical, meticulous, practical, conscientious, hard working, sensible, efficient, orderly, health conscious, careful with money, serious, nit-picky, concise, detailed, sensitive, efficient, cautious, intelligent, perceptive, contemplative, prudent perfectionists.
With the sun in Virgo, this is the perfect time to buckle down and apply yourself. The long, languorous summer is over. Now, it’s time to get things done.
On September 5th, when the action sign Mars moves into Virgo, you will have extra fortitude, energy, and enthusiasm. If there’s a daunting project at work that you’ve been putting off, this would be an ideal time to dive in and get it finished, once and for all.
This get-it-done energy continues as the planet Mercury moves direct (hooray, no more Mercury Retrograde!) and Mercury joins Mars in Virgo. You will be virtually unstoppable! That big pile of paperwork on your desk will be reduced to zero. You will rule the meetings, soar through difficult tasks, and you’ll be astonished by how much you’re able to complete. Make a list of your achievements so that you can give an impressive “recap” to your boss at the end of each week. She’ll be floored by your productivity, even more so than usual.
September is also a great month to deal with thorny problems. In the book Sprint by Jake Knapp, he recommends tackling big problems in small sprints—like 5 day increments. If there’s an issue at work that needs to be resolved, or a project that’s been stalled, gather your workmates and create a 5-day plan to sort it out and get it done. Everyone will feel better once this “unfinished business” is over and done with, at last.
SELF-EMPLOYED OR RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?
Here’s what you need to know…
ELLEN: Melissa Cassera—a highly creative business coach and TV screenwriter—teaches a productivity tool called batching.
When you’re batching, it means you block out a specific chunk of time—like an entire day or an entire week—and during that time, you focus exclusively on just one type of project. You could spend the entire day writing newsletters, queuing up blog posts, clearing out your inbox, sending “thank you” gifts and cards to your top clients, or sending press releases to the media. Anything you want. The key is to focus on just one type of task. Uni-tasking, not multi-tasking.
Batching allows you to focus deeply, get into a creative flow-state, and churn out a ton of work in way less time than it would normally take.
This Virgo month is a perfect time to practice batching. Use the days between August 31st (Mercury and Venus in Leo) and September 10th (when Mercury moves into Virgo) to batch, batch, batch your heart out. Block off those days to write a bunch of blog posts, record a slew of podcasts, or anything else that’s on your to-do list. Turn off social media, put your phone on silent, and dive in! You’ll be amazed by how much you can get done.
OVERALL, THIS IS A GREAT MONTH FOR…
• Focus
• Organization
• Planning
• Practicality
• Precision
• Productivity
• Sprinting
BUT WATCH OUT FOR…
• Perfectionism
• Obsessiveness
• Excessive working, burn-out
• Being hyper-critical and nit-picky
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
• August 22nd – Sun in Virgo (we’re kicking off a 30-day period of hard work, lists, spreadsheets, organization, and heightened productivity!).
• August 25th – Venus moves into Leo (put on your crown, create, shine, and rule your kingdom).
• August 31st – Mercury moves into Leo (excellent day for leadership, self-expression, and communication in all forms).
• September 2nd – Mars trines Uranus (bold action—expect the unexpected!).
• September 3rd – Mercury conjunct Mars (great time for strong, powerful communication).
• September 5th – Mars moves into Virgo (even more get-it-done energy in the air!)
• September 6th – Full Moon of Virgo (rich Virgo energy—soak it in! Put things in order, create better systems, and create more ease).
• September 10th – Mercury moves into Virgo (do some careful editing, refining, and streamlining on this day).
• September 17th – Venus trines Uranus (sudden ideas, unexpected breakthroughs, beautiful surprises!)
• September 19th – Venus moves into Virgo (a stellium of five planets will give you a huge surge of focused, diligent energy—major productivity!)
CAREER MANTRA FOR THE MONTH
“Your self-worth is determined by you. You don’t have to depend on someone telling you who you are.” —Beyoncé
Beyoncé is a Virgo—which isn’t too surprising, given her incredible work ethic. She’s considered one of the hardest working people in show business—if not the entire world!
In this interview, she explains: “I am a Virgo to the tee! […] I pay attention to details. When I do something, I do it 100 percent. I have high expectations of myself and expect the exact same thing of everyone around me. I’ve always been that way. I am all or nothing.”
This month, tap into your inner Beyoncé. Hold yourself to the highest standards. Make your list of priorities and tick things off—no excuses, no delays. Give your very best effort—not 50 or 60 percent.
How would you move through your life—and workday—if Beyoncé was watching?
It’s a slightly intimidating thought, right? But it’s definitely something to think about!
Have a fantastically productive month! Whether your career involves writing, designing, accounting, or recording your next musical masterpiece in the studio, you’ll benefit from the Virgo energy in the air. The stars and planets are completely on your side!
Learn more about my career & business coaching services here.
Learn more about Heidi and her astrological services here.