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 Sagittarius on November 21st at 7:05 pm Pacific Time. Sagittarius is the sign of freedom and adventure. It wants a big vision and a big goal and is eager to pursue it. It is optimistic, risk taking and lives with a sense of CAN DO. This is a month to see, articulate and dive into the journey towards your next major goal. Inspiration abounds. Breathe it in.
On December 1st, Venus joins the Sun in Sagittarius. Venus lends its beauty and creativity to the adventure. The journey itself is exciting and innovative. With Venus in Sagittarius, we love to grow, expand and push past old boundaries.
December 2nd brings two major transits. Jupiter trines Neptune in the heavens. This is a deeply idealistic and imaginative time. Dreams feel possible and the intuition is alive and thriving. This is also the day that Mercury goes retrograde. It will stay retrograde until December 22nd. Don’t worry so much about Mercury retrograde. Use it as a quieter, reflective time if you can. Don’t try to manifest a new major idea. Review what has been accomplished this year instead. Reflect, review and remember. Then, you’ll be ready to launch 2018 having synthesized the journey of 2017.
December 3rd is the Full Moon of Sagittarius. The Moon is actually in Gemini, but we consider this the Full Moon of Sagittarius. This is a day when the energies of Sagittarius are MOST available to us. Vision, inspiration and optimism rule the day. Remember the phrase for Sagittarius: “I see the goal. I reach the goal. And then I see another.” There is movement and growth, inspiration and exertion. Sagittarius is also considered “the one pointed disciple.” We get focused and clear about the path we wish to walk.
Mars moves into Scorpio on December 9th. Mars loves to be in Scorpio. It is a tenacious combination and fights the good fight. Dig in. Dig deep. Be determined. Don’t give up.
The New Moon of Sagittarius falls on December 17th. We plant seeds of hope, faith and inspiration. We have the opportunity to breathe new life into any endeavor.
Finally, December 19th is a big day. Saturn moves into Capricorn. It has spent most of the last 3 years in Sagittarius and now shifts into the earthy sign of Capricorn. Saturn will stay in Capricorn for 2 1/2 years. It will be a time of testing and great growth for all who have strong Capricorn in their astrological chart. It’s a time to build, climb and achieve.
Use this month to clarify your goals and launch yourself with renewed optimism towards all you envision.
What does all of this mean for your career? Let’s look closer…
JOB HUNTING?
Here’s what you need to know…
ELLEN: On December 2nd, Jupiter trines Neptune. On this day, there’s an idealistic, imaginative quality in the air. It’s a great day to tap into your intuitive decision-making powers.
If you’ve been offered a job recently, don’t make a snap decision based in fear (“I won’t get another offer…” “There’s nothing else out there…”). Breathe. Meditate. Talk a long walk. Visualize the next five years of your life. What do you really want? What do your instincts tell you about this job opportunity? Is it truly right for you? Use your intuition to guide you.
If you’re job hunting and you’ve been coming up empty, again, tap into your intuition. What are you not seeing? Are you on the right path? Is there another way to go about this search? Sometimes, we get so fixated on doing things one way—or getting that one job—that we forget to look at the world of possibility out there that is available to us.
With Mercury retrograde throughout most of December, this is an excellent time to pause, reflect, and get organized for 2018. Back-up your computer. Save an extra copy of your résumé on a flash drive. Update your LinkedIn profile to reflect your latest achievements. Get your ducks in a row so you can reboot your job hunt in January. Historically, January is one of the biggest months for hiring—so take some time in December to get prepared, and then swing back out there in full force after January 1st!
ALREADY HAVE A JOB?
Here’s what you need to know…
ELLEN: With the Full Moon of Sagittarius on December 3rd, all the best Sagittarian qualities—focus, taking aim, bounding towards a goal, adventure and optimism—will be magnified. This is a powerful day! If you’ve been feeling unfocused or uninspired recently, you might notice a major attitude shift on the 3rd.
If you’ve got a job, take some time on December 3rd to map out your plan for next year. Is there a special project you’d love to lead? Is there a new skill you’d like to acquire? What would make 2018 feel like your best year ever? What would make you feel even happier and more fulfilled at work? Write it all down. Then set up a meeting to discuss your vision with your supervisor.
Feeling stuck? Not sure what you want to focus on next year? Here’s a fun exercise that I learned from a colleague of mine who’s a life coach…
Start writing an email to your best friend and pretend that it’s December 2018—not December 2017. In other words, pretend it’s one year from now.
In your email, tell your friend about all the wonderful projects, achievements, and experiences that you’ve enjoyed over the last 12 months. Write “as if” all of these things have already happened—as if you’re “recapping” the year for your friend. This is sometimes called “pre-capping” or “pre-membering.” It’s a really fun exercise—and you might be surprised by what you start typing out!
Also, mark down December 9th on your calendar. On this day, Mars moves into Scorpio, which creates a tenacious, persistent energy. If there’s a project at work that’s been lagging behind schedule, this is a great day to hold a meeting, get your colleagues fired up, and get things moving again. The theme of the day is: perseverance. Is there a colleague who hasn’t returned your emails? Pick up the phone and call. Is there a supervisor who forgot to approve your vacation request and you’ve been waiting for ten days? Nudge them again. Maybe you’ve been told, “Sorry, we can’t do XYZ because it’s not within our budget this year.” Revamp your proposal and get back in there—try again! With the Mars-Scorpio combination on the 9th, your persistence will be rewarded.
SELF-EMPLOYED OR RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?
Here’s what you need to know…
ELLEN: On December 1st, Venus joins the Sun in Sagittarius. Venus is all about love, beauty, affection, and connection. Lovey-dovey, swoony feelings. Don’t be surprised if you get some fan mail or a glowing review from a client on this day! Sagittarius brings a spirit of adventure and a goal-oriented perspective—think: an archer taking aim at the target.
On the 1st, this Venus/Sagittarius combination is terrific for entrepreneurs. We’ve got love in the air—plus a spirit of adventure and optimism. Anything is possible! Consider questions like, “What do my clients love most about working with me?” and, “What’s the next adventure for me, as a business owner?”
The New Moon of Sagittarius falls on December 17th. The New Moon is always a potent time to plant new seeds, begin a project, or set a new intention. This is a wonderful day to breathe some new life your business. What’s feeling stale or stagnant? Maybe it’s time to update the photos on your website. Or change some business policies or systems. Or maybe there’s an exciting new program or service that you want to develop—this will be a great day to put things into motion!
OVERALL, THIS IS A GREAT MONTH FOR…
• Clarifying your goals.
• Being quiet and reflective (especially from Dec 2nd – 22nd).
• Cleaning, clearing, setting the stage for a successful new year.
• Using your intuition and imagination to find new solutions and pathways.
• Optimism, possibility, taking creative risks, and feeling a little more “daring” than we might typically feel.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER…
• November 21st – Sun moves into Sagittarius. (A month of optimism and enthusiasm begins!)
• December 1st – Venus joins the Sun in Sagittarius. (Love is in the air, along with a spirit of adventure.)
• December 2nd – Jupiter trines Neptune. (A day of idealistic, imaginative thinking.)
• December 2nd – Mercury goes retrograde until December 22nd. (Reflect, clean things up, organize, clear space and the set the stage for the new year.)
• December 3rd – Full Moon of Sagittarius. (Sagittarian qualities will be in full force! A day of optimism and curiosity. Set some exciting goals.)
• December 9th – Mars moves into Scorpio. (Be persistent and tenacious. Your efforts will be rewarded.)
• December 17th – The New Moon of Sagittarius. (Begin a new project, plant new seeds of hope and possibility.)
• December 19th – Saturn moves into Capricorn. (It’s time to build, climb and achieve… away we go, into the new year!)
CAREER MANTRA FOR THE MONTH
“It is true that we are called to create a better world. But we are first of all called to a more immediate and exalted task: that of creating our own lives.” —Thomas Merton
As Merton reminds us, yes, our professional goals are important. It’s wonderful to set big, ambitious, world-changing goals, to build a business, or build a legacy. At the same time, let’s not forget about the other parts of our lives. After all, “work” is one facet of life. But it’s not the whole picture.
If you’ve been hyper-focused on your career lately, take a step back, and consider the other parts of your life. Relationships. Health. Family. Friends. Is there an artistic, travel, or fitness-related goal that you’ve got in mind? Something that’s not directly related to your career? Something that’s “just for you”? Write it down. Set the intention. Take aim and let your arrow fly towards the target.
Sagittarius invites us to gallop into the future with a “Yes, we can!” attitude. This month, the cosmos seeks to remind us that anything is possible. With the right attitude, nothing is out of reach, and every door can be unlocked.
Wishing all of you a lovely holiday week.
With love,
Ellen & Heidi
Learn more about my career & business coaching services here.
Learn more about Heidi and her astrological services here.