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 Pisces on February 18th, 2017. Pisces is the last sign of the zodiac, and it represents “the end of an era.” The question is… “What comes next?”
At this moment in time, will we spiral into disillusionment and hopelessness, or rise together? Will we turn our backs on those who are hungry, homeless, and in danger, or lend a helping hand? Will we rely on reality TV shows and mindless drinking and snacking to cope with the harsh realities of the world, or can we find healthier options? Will we take a passive backseat, or take action to create a better world—marching, writing, fundraising, teaching, mentoring, and creating art?
Pisces is a time of intense vulnerability and sensitivity. It’s a time when we must learn how to feel our emotions fully, without sinking into self-sabotaging behaviors or trying to “numb out” or “escape.” Like the two fish in the ancient legend, we have to keep swimming forward, not sink into the murky darkness below.
Pisces is also connected to dreaming, imagination, intuition, and inspiration. Musicians, poets, photographers and filmmakers are all deeply influenced by Pisces. Throughout this month, be on the look-out for bursts of unexpected inspiration. If there was ever a time to channel your emotions into a creative project, this is it.
On February 25th, the planet Mercury moves into Pisces as well. Mercury rules writing, texting, blogging, podcasting, public speaking—all types of communication. But with a Mercury-Pisces combination, this might NOT be the best day to express yourself in a public setting. Instead, use this day for inward communication and reflection. Write in your private journal. Pour out your emotions. Take a long walk and see what types of messages come into your mind. Sit down with a friend for a wandering conversation over tea. You might have a surprising realization, or find inspiration for your next project.
On March 1st, the Sun sits next to Neptune. Typically, this would be a quiet, dreamy kind of day, but this year we’ve got three planets and the Moon in the sign of Aries, so it’s the perfect moment to take action around a creative project. Take a concrete step forward. Outline your next book. Hire a designer. Reach out to a possible mentor. Apply for a grant. This is not a “meditative” day. This is a “Go get it!” day, as Ellen would say!
On March 9th, Mars moves into Taurus. Mars is all about energy, action, and desire, and Taurus is represented by the bull—strong, determined, eager to “bulldoze” through whatever obstacles lie ahead. This Mars-Taurus combination will be hanging in the air for the next two months. This is great news if you’re chasing a big goal right now—whether it’s launching a new podcast, or paying off the rest of your student loan debt, or finding the perfect location for your new shop. You’ll feel more determined than ever, ready to move mountains and get things done.
On March 13th, Mercury moves into Aries. Aries is all about spontaneity, optimism, and being daring—like when you leap headfirst into a new adventure without worrying about all the fussy details. And again, Mercury is all about communication. What do you need to say? Who needs to hear you? This is a powerful day to start (or re-start) a communication-focused project. Maybe it’s time to revive that old email newsletter that you’ve been neglecting for months. Or start a new blog. Or post a video on Instagram. Be bold and decisive. Say exactly what’s on your mind.
Finally, on March 18th, Mercury and Venus sit next to one another in the heavens. We’ve got more communication mojo from Mercury, plus the loving, tender qualities of Venus. If there’s one word that sums up this day, it’s… eloquence. When Mercury and Venus align, words flow beautifully. This is a powerful day to “write from the heart.” Send a “thank you” note to someone you care about. Email an update to your customers about a project that’s filling you with intense joy. People will feel your warmth and enthusiasm. Your communication powers will be hugely amplified.
To sum it all up… this is going to be a very interesting month.
We’ve got the sensitive, emotional qualities of Pisces. We’ve got a number of planets in Aries, bringing bold new ideas and decisive action. We’ve got tons of Mercurian energy, too, which amplifies our powers of communication. Emotion + action + communication = a magical combination.
In astrology, though, there’s always a shadow side to every shining opportunity. Will we use our powers of communication to gossip, snark, and belittle people—or to heal wounds and promote understanding? Will we allow our emotions to run wild, instigating fights, creating even more division—or create more unity?
We all need to be cautious about how we’re using our words, our time, and our energy—especially during the time of Pisces.
As the saying goes, “With great power comes great responsibility.” This applies to all of us, because we’re all much more powerful than we realize.
What does all of this mean for your career? Let’s look closer…
JOB-HUNTING?
Here’s what you need to know…
ELLEN: When you’re searching for a new job, it can be tempting to snatch up the very first job offer that comes your way—especially if you’re unemployed and if money is tight. But when the Sun moves into Pisces on February 18th, it marks the end of an era, and the beginning of something new.
This is the perfect time to ask yourself:
What did I love about my last job?
What really bothered me about my last job?
What do I want to get / have / learn from my next job?
What type of career do I really want to build for myself?
What’s the next stepping-stone to get me there?
Use this time to reflect seriously on what you want. Imagine a whole new chapter of your career is beginning. What do you really want to do? You don’t necessarily have to take a new job that’s similar to your last job. You could pivot in a completely new direction. Or, you could negotiate for something new—like working from home, or extra vacation time, or new responsibilities that pave the way for a promotion in the future.
Think expansively. Dream bigger. It’s the dawn of a whole new era. What do you want to swim towards?
ALREADY HAVE A JOB?
Here’s what you need to know…
ELLEN: Working in a team has so many advantages. You’ve got people to bounce ideas around with, people to have coffee with, people with diverse skills that complement your own.
But of course, working in a team setting has disadvantages, too. Sometimes, emails go unanswered. People show up to meetings late or unprepared. Red tape gets wrapped around your ideas. The more people are involved, the more likely it is that projects get stalled… or never get finished at all.
If there’s something at your job that’s been “stalling out” for a while, good news! With the Mars-Taurus combination on March 9th, you’ll feel a surge of “bulldozer” energy. Now’s the time to rally the troops and get things done—for real this time!
March 9th would be a great day to march over to peoples’ desks to chat in person, rather than sending yet another email. Or hold a meeting—with free snacks and lots of coffee—to get people re-excited about the project that’s been neglected. Set a new deadline for the project. Offer exciting incentives—like prizes or cash bonuses—to get people into high gear. With Mars and Taurus aligned in the sky, your efforts will be doubly rewarded. Things might get finished even faster than you expected!
SELF-EMPLOYED OR RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?
Here’s what you need to know…
ELLEN: A friend once said to me, “Every business problem can be traced back to a communication problem.” Think about it. If customers aren’t buying your products, that probably means the language on your website is confusing or boring. If clients keep canceling appointments at the last minute, that probably means your “client policies” need to be re-written more clearly. If your employees are doing a half-assed job, that probably means you haven’t found the right words to motivate them.
Low sales, low morale, cancellations, unhappy customers who want refunds—usually, it all has something to do with how you’ve communicated in the past.
Here’s some excellent news: February and March are positively jam-packed with energy from the planet Mercury, which rules communication. Your writing, texting, emailing, blogging, and podcasting powers will be strengthened and amplified. Hooray!
On February 25th, do some writing in private, or meet with a coach or consultant to discuss some of the business problems you’ve been having. Brainstorm, reflect, and figure out some new policies and ideas. Do some behind-the-scenes work to upgrade your communication.
Then on March 13th, go public. Update your site. Announce a new project or policy. Post a video where you share strong feelings about something you really care about. Post new product descriptions that you’ve rewritten with tons of passion and energy—maybe, product descriptions that tell the fascinating “behind-the-scenes story” of how this product came to be.
On March 18th, keep the communication rolling! With Mercury aligning with Venus, today is all about words + love. Send a surprise gift to your mailing list subscribers. Write a heartfelt “thank you” letter to a business mentor. Email 10 recent customers, out of the blue, just to say, “I really appreciate you.” People will be enchanted and inspired by your words and thoughtful gestures.
Warm, tender feelings abound today—and it goes both ways! You might wake up to discover some “fan mail” in your inbox, or an appreciative text from a client who absolutely loves you. Bask in the love. Also, save the praise you receive in a special file. Re-read those love notes whenever you’re feeling discouraged, and remind yourself, “This is why I’m doing this. This is why I run my own business. All of the effort is worth it, because of emails, texts, and moments like this.”
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
February 18th – The Sun moves into Pisces. (It’s the end of an era. What’s next?)
February 25th – Mercury moves into Pisces. (Today is all about communication combined with emotion and reflection. Turn inward. Journal. Meditate. What messages come into your mind?)
March 1st – The Sun conjuncts Neptune. (Take action around a creative project. No stalling. Go get it!)
March 9th – Mars moves into Taurus. (You’ll feel like a “bulldozer of love.” Starting today, and for the next two months, move mountains and get big things done.)
March 13th – Mercury moves into Aries. (There’s spontaneity, optimism, and a daring quality in the air. Say exactly what’s on your mind. Be bold and decisive.)
March 18th – Mercury conjuncts Venus. (Today is all about communication combined with tenderness and love. Spread positivity. Send gifts. Say “thank you” and “I love you.” People will swoon over your words.)
YOUR CAREER MANTRA FOR THIS MONTH:
“I don’t want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them.”
—Oscar Wilde
The month of Pisces can be a challenging time, especially for highly emotional, intuitive, sensitive people. Sometimes, anxieties about your career, your income, or the world around you can feel like “too much” to handle. It’s tempting to crawl into a Netflix-and-pizza-delivery cave, pull the blanket over your body, and hide out.
Our challenge—at all times, but especially this month—is to find ways to “use” our emotions instead of “drowning” in them. Channel your frustration into a creative project. Pour your discouragement into your work. As the late Carrie Fisher once said, “Take your broken heart and turn it into art.” It’s tough, but we can do it.
Until next time…
Learn more about my career & business coaching services here.
Learn more about Heidi and her astrological services here.