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 Capricorn on December 21st, 2016 at 2:44am for about 30 days.
Capricorn is an earth sign—a sign of practicality, responsibility and commitment. The symbol for Capricorn is the Mountain Goat or the Ram. If you’ve ever seen a Netflix nature documentary with footage of goats clinging to the side of a steep mountain slope, then you know how tenacious and committed these creatures can be!
Capricorn is serious about its business. It stands for leadership and accomplishment and does not shy away from tough, arduous work. It’s all about excellence, discipline, and taking charge. During the time of Capricorn, you’re likely to feel a strong sense of inner resolve and a renewed commitment to your goals. Let the upward climb begin!
On December 25th, Venus—the planet of love—creates a unique configuration in the sky with Jupiter, Uranus, and Saturn. It’s a triple-Venus day, which means tons of open-hearted feelings and lots of l-o-v-e- in the air! Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, this will be an excellent day to spend time with loved ones and soak up that beautiful, harmonious energy. Or, if you intend to spend time alone, try to fill your day with activities that feel enriching and soul-satisfying. Send “thank you” letters to colleagues and mentors, or spontaneously call up an old friend for a long chat.
The Sun conjuncts Mercury on December 28th. This is a great day for writing and communication in any form. Consider setting aside this day as a “mini writing retreat.” Re-write your business plan. Empty your inbox. Bust out one or two more blog posts before the year is over. You’ll be teeming with ideas, and words will flow with ease!
On January 2nd, Venus moves into Pisces, bringing another wave of harmony and love. It’s a gentle way to enter 2017, full of feeling and imagination. Music, poetry and photography are all connected to Pisces. Flip through a book of poetry on this day, or discover a new music playlist. Saturate yourself with art and beauty, and allow yourself to daydream about what you could create in the upcoming year.
On January 4th, Mercury continues the retrograde that started back on December 19th and dips back into Sagittarius for 8 days. This is a good week to revisit your goals, visions and plans for the New Year, and revise your plans if necessary. Could your plan be simpler? Are there any non-essential projects that you could eliminate? What really needs to happen first, before anything else? Make a list of action steps that you can implement with conviction starting on January 12th, when Mercury re-enters Capricorn.
January 7th could be an intense day with the Sun conjunct Pluto. The words we hold back, the feelings we don’t share, the old habits that we sweep under the rug, anything that needs to be brought to the surface… this is the day when it all might burst forth. The planet Pluto represents “the underworld,” and calls upon us to examine the darker aspects of our personalities—avoidance patterns, addictions, unhealthy tendencies, social media obsession. What’s the “secret” or “crutch” that you’re ready to release, once and for all?
Don’t get discouraged on January 19th if you feel like your efforts are being thwarted.
Mars squares with Saturn on this day, which can create a “boulder in the middle of the road” feeling. Be patient and take a few deep breaths. It will pass. The fact that you had to “wait” may ultimately be a blessing in disguise.
What does all of this mean for your career? Let’s look closer…
JOB-HUNTING?
Here’s what you need to know…
ELLEN: The time of Capricorn (December 21st, 2016 – January 19th, 2017) is an excellent for anyone who’s job hunting.
Firstly, Capricorn brings a determined, forceful, climb-up-that-mountain type of energy—you’re likely to feel driven and motivated, not lackadaisical.
Secondly, January is typically a peak month for recruitment and hiring. Most companies have a new annual budget in place, and new positions that need to be filled, and interviews/hiring meetings go into full swing.
Use December 28th—a strong day for writing and communication—to get your job hunting materials in tip-top shape. Add a slew of new achievements to your résumé. Write a series of thoughtful, personalized cover letters. Refresh your LinkedIn profile. Get everything squared away so that you’re ready to contact hiring managers in early January—say, January 4th, 5th or 6th—because that’s when people are likely to be back at their desks after the winter holidays.
If you feel shaky about your writing skills, check out this workbook and this one, too. Inside, you’ll find some of my favorite résumé and cover letter writing tips—plus some ready-to-use templates to make the process much easier.
ALREADY HAVE A JOB?
Here’s what you need to know…
ELLEN: Even when you totally love your job, there’s always room for improvement. Often, we fall into ruts, and we keep doing certain things around the office because “that’s what we’ve always done.”
On January 4th, the stars invite us to ask, “What’s the plan for this year—and does it actually make sense? What should we keep doing? What could we stop doing?” Maybe there’s a particular section of the company website that you update every week—but does anybody even visit it? Or maybe there’s a standing weekly meeting that happens every Thursday at 2pm like clockwork—but for what purpose, exactly?
At some point between January 4th and 12th, have a private meeting with yourself—or with your entire team or department—and spend some time revisiting and examining your 2017 plan. Mercury is retrograde until January 8th, making this an especially good time to spruce, revise, and revamp.
SELF-EMPLOYED OR RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?
Here’s what you need to know…
ELLEN: On January 2nd, we’ve got a beautiful day associated with music, poetry, photography, aesthetics and beauty. On this day, send an artful gift to a couple of your favorite clients—or potential clients. It doesn’t have to be anything expensive. It could be a free music playlist, a link to a poem that you love, or a postcard that you drop into the mail. Say something like, “I hope you had a beautiful winter vacation. I’m thinking about you today—and I’m really excited to begin our work together in the New Year.” All too often, we forget to express our appreciation—even though it’s so simple to do. Small, heartfelt messages can create a big impact.
January 2nd would also be a wonderful day to start—or publicly share—a new “art project” of your own. Let your “inner artist” come out and play. Start working on a new e-book. Try writing a haiku. Host a workshop in your living room. Play around with a free audio recording tool, like Audacity, and record a short podcast just for fun. Who knows where it could lead, and there’s no harm in trying new things!
On January 19th, Heidi warned us about a “boulder in the middle of the road” type of feeling, thanks to Mars squaring off with Saturn. Don’t push too hard on this day. If you’re waiting for a response from a client—for example—and they’re being sluggish, just chill out. Take a break from your computer. Go for a walk. See a movie. Do something that invigorates you.
Take stock of your own actions, too. Do you struggle to take action consistently? Do you have a couple of tasks on your to-do list that, somehow, just never seem to get done? Are “you” the biggest boulder in your own road? (We all get blocked and distracted at times—we’re only human!). This workbook contains great tips on how to stop feeling so stuck, and if you need something a bit “stronger” than a digital workbook, I’d be honored to work with you personally.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
December 21st – The Sun moves into Capricorn for about 30 days. (Set your sights on your goals and dig in your heels like a tenacious mountain goat. You’ve got this!)
December 25th – Venus trine Jupiter; Venus sextile Uranus and Saturn. (Big day of loving, open-hearted feelings, pleasure, and harmony. Soak it up!)
December 28th – Sun conjunct Mercury. (Terrific day for writing and communication in all forms. Charge up your laptop and sharpen those pencils!)
January 2nd – Venus moves into Pisces. (It’s all about love, beauty, and artistry. If there was ever a day to try your hand at writing poetry, or pick up a camera and hone your photography skills, today’s the day!)
January 4th – Mercury retrogrades into Sagittarius. (Take a step back. Review and reflect. Does your 2017 plan still make sense? Does anything need to be revamped?)
January 7th – Sun conjunct Pluto. (Intense emotions and things emerging from “beneath the surface.” Think: explosive outbursts, surprising revelations, or a long overdue “reality check” with yourself about something you’ve kept buried for too long.)
January 12th – Mercury moves back into Capricorn. (After a brief lull, we’re back in full-tilt Capricorn-mode. Driven, ambitious, committed energy. Climb that mountain summit!)
January 19th – Mars square Saturn. (If something’s blocking your path, it will likely pass. Relax and be patient.)
YOUR CAREER MANTRA FOR THIS MONTH:
“Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.” —E.B. White
During the month of Capricorn, there’s a tendency to become hyper-focused and driven. That’s fantastic—you can make huge strides with your goals—but don’t forget to smell the proverbial roses along the way. If you’re barreling up a mountain, peek up occasionally and take in the majestic scenery. “Be on the lookout for the presence of wonder,” as E.B. White urges us. Wonder is all around us, at every turn, even during the most arduous moments of our lives.
Happy New Year! Whatever career aspirations you’ve got this year, remember that every door can be unlocked. With the right attitude and strategy, there’s always a way to create what you want. Nothing—and I mean NOTHING—is out of your reach.
Have an amazing month!
Learn more about my career & business coaching services here.
Learn more about Heidi and her astrological services here.