More specifically, we have this summer the following configurations occurring:

June 26 – Moon in Capricorn opposing the Sun in Cancer (exact alignment being an eclipse) which is a strong pulling between the activities in the outer world with that of our instincts in our inner world.

July 24 and August 2 – Jupiter squaring Pluto which is a expansive and philosophical energy meeting power and the desire for transformation.

July 26 – Saturn opposing Uranus which is the same energy as that which occurred in the USA presidential elections of 2008 when Obama was elected. This is a tension between conventional structures and the desire to take the shackles off and create a space for more freedom and choice.

July 30 and 31 – Mars opposing Uranus and aligning with Saturn – this adds much more energy to the July 26 configuration just above – and is also a “greasing of the skids” for the configurations coming up in August.

August 3 – Mars opposing Jupiter and also Mars squaring Pluto – this is a turbocharged energy encouraging an expansive desire to transform through the use of power – and is a set up for the other configurations coming in August.

August 16 Jupiter opposing Saturn which is a tension between the desire to expand in a way that is opposed to conventional structures and practices – and is a set up for the next significant alignment coming on August 21.

August 21 – Saturn squaring Pluto – this is a very strong energy which pits the conventional structures of our society with the energy to dismantle those structures which are no longer serving us.

September 18 – Jupiter aligning with Uranus – this is the coup de gras which is an expansive energy for sudden surprise which allows a new path forward to occur. This configuration along with much of the above was in place at the beginning of the Renaissance period in the early 14th century.

Any one of these configurations by itself would probably not amount to much. However the combination of all of these energies can create a rhythmic energy which forms a standing wave. This kind of energy is very powerful. An example of the power of a standing wave is the famous collapse of the Tacoma Narrows bridge. This potential standing wave phenomena is what has the attention of astrologers.

Fasten your seat belts and enjoy the ride!

- Mike

I think it would be meaningful for the start of the new decade to view the signs of the zodiac from the perspective of quotes by famous people.

Each of us is born with a unique combination of energies, represented by the luminaries (planets) (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto) – and we mature with the use of these energies throughout our lives.

Each of our luminaries (planets) have characteristics represented by the signs of the zodiac (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces).

In this blog, I selected famous quotes which I feel are excellent and positive representations for each of the 12 signs of the zodiac.

If you are not familiar with your birth chart, you can go directly to the sign of the zodiac associated with your sun sign. If you are familiar with your birth chart, you can also view the signs of the zodiac section below which are associated with your moon sign, ascendent (rising sign) as well as the signs of the zodiac in which you have several luminaries (planets). Of course you can also look at all the quotes to see what is in them for you.

I invite you to ponder and enjoy these quotes.

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Aries

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It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them.  They went out and happened to things.

Eleanor Furneaux Smith

Writer

1902 – 1945

All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.

Mark Twain

Writer, humorist

1835 – 1910

No one ever yet was the poorer in the long run for having once in a lifetime “let out all the length of all the reins.”

Mary Cholmondeley

Writer

1859 – 1925

Success is not gained by perfecting the known, but by imperfectly seizing the unknown.

Kevin W. Kelly

Creator of Wired Magazine

Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.

Samuel Johnson

Lexicographer, critic

1709 – 1784

If you travel the earth, you will find it is largely divided into two classes of people — people who say “I wonder why such and such is not done” and people who say “Now who is going to prevent me from doing that thing?”

Winston Churchill

British Prime Minister

1874 – 1965

Racing is a process of learning where the edge lies.

Steve Podborski

World Cup Champion

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Taurus

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Until you make peace with who you are, you’ll never be content with what you have.

Joanna Field

Artist

Live simple, love well, and take time to smell the flowers along the way.

Mark Twain

Writer, humorist

1835 – 1910

If people knew how hard I have had to work to gain my mastery, it wouldn’t seem wonderful at all.

Michelangelo

Sculptor, painter, poet

1475 – 1564

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.

Theodore Roosevelt

U. S. President

1858 – 1919

When you understand all about the atmosphere and all about the rotation of the earth, you may still miss the radiance of the sunset.

Alfred North Whitehead

Mathematician

1861 – 1947

Sow an act and you reap a habit.  Sow a habit and you reap a character.  Sow a character and you reap a destiny.

Charles Reade

Novelist, playwright

1814 – 1884

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Gemini

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There are no uninteresting things, there are only uninterested people.

Gilbert K. Chesterton

Critic, novelist, poet

1874-1936

To the person who says, “I know what I like,” I can only reply, “You like what you know.”

Edgar Dale

Educator

The less of routine, the more of life.

Amos Bronson Alcott

Educator, mystic, writer

1799 – 1888

Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago.

Bernard Berenson

Art historian, connoisseur

1865 – 1959

Never let schooling interfere with your education.

Mark Twain

Author, humorist

1835 – 1910

I am going to give a long speech today.  I haven’t had time to prepare a short one.

Winston Churchill

British Prime Minister

1874 – 1965

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Cancer

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Love…force it and it disappears.  You can not will love, nor even control it.  You can only guide its expression.  It comes or it goes according to those qualities in life that invite it or deny its presence.

David Seabury

Psychologist, writer

Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow.

Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead.

Walk beside me and be my friend.

Albert Camus

Existentialist writer

1913 – 1960

What you are speaks so loudly, I can not hear what you are saying.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Essayist, Poet, Speaker

1803 – 1882

When I was young, I admired clever people.  Now that I am old, I admire kind people.

Abraham Joshua Heschel

Educator, writer

1907 – 1972

A child is not a vase to be filled, but a fire to be lit.

Francois Rabelais

Satirist, physician, humanist

1494 – 1553

What happens to a person is less significant than what happens within him.

Louis L. Mann

Actor

1865 – 1931

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Leo

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If you can walk, you can dance.  If you can talk, you can sing.

Zimbabwean Proverb

Let your enthusiasm radiate in your voice, your actions, your facial expressions, your personality, the words you use, and the thoughts you think!  Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Essayist, Poet, Speaker

1803 – 1882

The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.

Alan Watts

Mystic, writer, lecturer

1915-1973

Problems are simply opportunities to be creative.

Chapman Kelley

Artist

1932 –

Each day, and the living of it, has to be a conscious creation in which discipline and order are relieved with some play and pure foolishness.

May Sarton

Poet, writer

1912 – 1995

Leadership is the ability to put the right people in the right jobs and then stand on the sidelines and be a rousing good cheerleader.

Unknown

If we listened to our intellect, we’d never have a love affair.  We’d never have a friendship.  We’d never go into business, because we’d be cynical.  Well, that’s nonsense.  You’ve got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down.

Ray Bradbury

Science fiction writer

1920 –

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Virgo

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Trust in Allah, but tie up your camel.

Arab Proverb

Perfection, fortunately, is not the only alternative to mediocrity.  A more sensible alternative is excellence.  Striving for excellence is stimulating and rewarding; striving for perfection – in practically anything – is both neurotic and futile.

Edwin C. Bliss

Writer, productivity expert

I continue to find my greatest pleasure, and so my reward, in the work that precedes what the world calls success.

Thomas A. Edison

Inventor

1847 – 1931

When I am working on a problem, I never think about beauty.  I think only how to solve the problem.  But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong.

Buckminster Fuller

Inventor, designer, futurist

1895 – 1983

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.

Albert Einstein

Physicist

1879-1955

Man needs challenges: they are necessary for health.

Carl Jung

Psychiatrist

1875 – 1961

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Libra

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We can choose to throw stones, to stumble on them, to climb over them, or to build with them.

William Arthur Ward

1921 – 1994

Spiritual writer

Respect is appreciation of the separateness of the other person, of the ways in which he or she is unique.

Annie Gottlieb

1946 –

Psychologist, writer

Persuasion is the art of letting someone else have your way.

Danielle Vare

Diplomat, Author

1880 – 1956

People don’t resist change as much as the way they are changed.

Winston Churchill

British Prime Minister

1874 – 1965

When two people meet, they ought to be like two water lilies opening side by side, each showing its golden heart, not closed up tight, and reflecting the pond, the trees, and the sky.  And there is too much of the closed heart.  When I come to you, we talk for hours.  If I’m going to take hours of your time, I ought to unfold for you, and to be sure that it is myself that I give.

Mary Haskell

Letter to Kahlil Gibran

1873 – 1964

Love doesn’t make the world go around.  Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.

Franklin P. Jones

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Scorpio

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Every act of creation is first of all an act of destruction.

Pablo Picasso

Artist

1881 – 1973

There are a thousand hacking at the branches of a problem to one who is striking at the root.

Henry David Thoreau

Author

1817 – 1862

We don’t see things as they are. We see them as we are.

Anais Nin

Writer, bigamist, diarist

1903-1977

Power can be seen as power with rather than power over, and it can be used for competence and cooperation, rather than dominance and control.

Anne L. Barstow

Shaman, writer

The only interesting answers are those which destroy the questions.

Susan Sontag

Critic, writer

1933 –

We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.

T. S. Eliot

Poet, critic, playwright

1888 – 1965

Everyone has talent.  What is rare is the courage to follow the talent to the dark place where it leads.

Erica Jong

Writer, poet

1942 –

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Sagittarius

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Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think.

Benjamin Disraeli

British Prime Minister

1804 – 1881

In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.

Thomas Jefferson

U.S. President

1743 – 1826

It is a myth, not a mandate, a fable not a logic, a symbol rather than a reason by which men are moved.

Irwin Edman

Philosopher

1896 – 1954

Dream what you dare to dream.

Go where you want to go.

Be what you want be.

Live!

Richard Bach

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

1936 –

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.

Henry David Thoreau

Writer, poet

1817 – 1862

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Capricorn

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If you tell people where to go, but not how to get there, you’ll be amazed at the results.

George S. Patton

WW II General

1885 – 1945

The wicked leader is he who the people despise.

The good leader is he who the people revere.

The great leader is he who the people say, “We did it ourselves!”

Lao-Tzu

Founder of Taoism

604 BC – 531 BC

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

AA Serenity Prayer

Success doesn’t mean the absence of failures; it means the attainment of ultimate objectives.  It means winning the war, not every battle.

Edwin C. Bliss

Writer, productivity expert

Millions are idle – even if they have jobs.  Some carve great careers while other simply chisel.

Lawrence J. Peter

Author – Peter Principle

1925 – 1990

Strong people make as many ghastly mistakes as weak people.  The difference is that strong people admit them, laugh at them, and learn from them.  That is how they become strong.

Joseph Needham

Historian of science

1900 – 1995

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Aquarius

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The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.  Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.

George Bernard Shaw

Playwright, essayist

1856 – 1950

You do not merely want to be considered the best of the best, you want to be considered the only one who does what you do.

Jerry Garcia

Grateful Dead

1942 – 1995

The best swordsman in the world doesn’t need to fear the second best swordsman in the world; no, the person for him to be afraid of is some ignorant antagonist who has never had a sword in his hand before; he doesn’t do the thing he ought to do, and so the expert isn’t prepared for him; he does the thing he ought not to do; and often it catches the expert out and ends him on the spot.

Mark Twain

Writer, humorist

1835 – 1910

If an idea does not appear bizarre, there is no hope for it.

Niels Bohr

Physicist

1885 – 1962

Without changing our patterns of thought, we will not be able to solve the problems we created with our current patterns of thought.

Albert Einstein

Physicist

1879-1955

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.  Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away.

Henry David Thoreau

Writer, poet

1817 – 1862

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Pisces

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I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge,

That myth is more potent than history.

I believe that dreams are more powerful than facts,

That hope always triumphs over experience.

That laughter is the only cure for grief,

And I believe that love is stronger than death.

Robert Fulghum

Unitarian clergyman, writer

1937 –

The gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge.

Albert Einstein

Physicist

1879-1955

If I keep a green bough in my heart, the singing bird will come.

Chinese proverb

My heart wants roots.

My mind wants wings.

I can not bear

Their bickerings.

E. Y. Harburg

Librettist, lyricist

1898 – 1981

Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant with the weak and the wrong.  Sometime in life you will have been all of these.

Robert Goddard

Rocket and space pioneer

1882 – 1945

You can’t depend on your judgment when your imagination is out of focus.

Mark Twain

Author, humorist

1835 – 1910

Forgiveness is primarily for our own sake, so that we no longer carry the burden of resentment.  But to forgive does not mean we will allow injustice again.

Buddha

Founder of Buddhism

563 BC – 483 BC

Each of these two configurations by itself has the potential to be very significant – and two of them together creates exciting possibilities. This article will focus on these energies from a business perspective.

Let’s get a bit more specific and see what these planetary energies are and how they can manifest in a general sense. Then I will discuss how businesses can flow with these energies to make the best of them.

First Configuration: Uranus, Saturn, and Pluto in Cardinal T-Square

There are three major actors in this world-wide planetary configuration whose energies interact strongly with each other. Let’s first look at the individual planetary energies and then consider the combination of their energies.

• Uranus transitioning from Pisces into Aries is an energy that wants to take the shackles off and break free in a way that advances the world’s sense of compassion, spiritual growth, support of community, and consciousness of our planet. This energy can be very abrupt and sudden, and will become much stronger starting in the spring of 2010 as it enters Aries .
• Saturn transitioning from Virgo into Libra is an energy that wants to do a sanity check on business and government structures. Having been in Virgo over the past couple of years, the focus has been on structural changes, controls and constrictions in the daily work habits of people – i.e. a significant change in the employment situation. As Saturn moves into Libra this fall, the shift will be on structural changes and control that puts things back in balance.
• Pluto (sometimes also represented as ) transition from Sagittarius into Capricorn is an energy that wants to use power to transform. While Pluto had been in Sagittarius for the past decade, the transformational Pluto energy would naturally be directed toward expansion outside the normal boundaries, and when overdone, leading to excesses which are unsustainable. When Pluto entered Capricorn early in 2008, the transformational Pluto energy would naturally be directed toward doing a sanity check on structures and institutions, and transforming and eliminating those that no longer work or are unsustainable. Pluto will remain in Capricorn for about 15 years.

Now let’s put these three planetary energies together to see the possibilities. These three planets are configured in what is known as a T-Square. In this case,  Saturn is opposing Uranus (i.e. they are opposite each other so that when one is at the eastern horizon, the other is at the western horizon) and both of these planets are square to Pluto (i.e. Pluto is at the noon position in the sky when Uranus is at the eastern horizon and Saturn is at the western horizon). Because these planets are at either oppositions or squares with each other, their energies will play out in an environment of tensions, problems and obstacles.

Considering the Saturn and Uranus combination with the planets opposing each other, we have a situation where Saturn energy is focused on fixing our institutions and organizations in a way that uses more control while Uranus wants to take the shackles off the institutions and organizations so that there is a liberating change. When Pluto enters the picture, its energy will purge and force transformation of those institutions and structures that no longer serve their purpose.

So, there is a very powerful energy playing out that wants to change, transform, purge, or significantly alter institutions and organizations that are no longer serving their purpose or are serving their purpose in a way that is too structured and stifling and not providing enough liberation and freedom.

The bottom line is that the powerful Pluto, Uranus, and Saturn combination can play out in two very different ways for organizations and institutions. If an organization or institution that has outlived its structure or needs to refocus its purpose tries to just batten down the hatches until the storm passes by, it will probably not survive. At the opposite end of the spectrum, those organizations which embrace these times and focus on liberating their organizations or institutions through novel changes and who redirect their purpose toward respecting people, the environment, and toward a higher purpose will more than likely look back on these times as the turing point and catalyst that allowed them to become successful.

Second Configuration: Uranus in Mutual Reception with Neptune and Jupiter

There are three major planet energies associated with this configuration with Uranus also being in the previous configuration. As with the previous configuration, let’s first look at these energies separately before putting them together.

• Uranus  transitioning from Pisces  into Aries  is an energy that wants to take the shackles off and break free in a way that advances the world’s sense of compassion, spiritual growth, support of community, and consciousness of our planet. This energy can be very abrupt and sudden, and will become much stronger starting in the spring of 2010 as it enters Aries .
• Neptune in Aquarius is an energy that wants to bring humanity to a higher level of spirituality and consciousness using new ideas, new technologies, and new approaches. This energy is generally not very tangible and concrete and instead is about ideas, visions, and aspirations.
• Jupiter in Aquarius is an energy that is expansive, experimental, and optimistic with a focus on ethics and philosophies.

Let’s now put these energies into their configurations. First we have Uranus in mutual reception to Jupiter and Neptune . This means that Uranus is in Pisces   and Pisces is ruled by both Jupiter and Neptune and at the same time, Jupiter and Neptune are in Aquarius I and Aquarius is ruled by Uranus. When we have a mutual reception, the energies in these planets reinforce each other and are much more powerful. To top it all off, we are also going through a period which will last throughout 2009 of Jupiter conjunct with Neptune. Jupiter has the effect of expanding anything it touches, in this case both Neptune and Uranus.

How do all these energies come together? This configuration has an energy that wants to remove constraints and come up with novel ways to advance mankind in the areas of compassion, creativity, consciousness, and spirituality. In short, it is an energy to take another step toward enlightenment.

For businesses, this powerful energy can be used to focus attention on addressing the pressing needs of the world – solving problems that previously seemed unsolvable such as world peace, greater connectedness with each other, removal of oppressive structures, nurturing the environment, and global cooperation.

Putting Both Configurations Together

We are living in an amazing time astrologically. The energy is very powerful and focused on transforming structures, patterns, and mindsets in ways that open up the paths toward great strides in the evolution of mankind. If we channel these energies constructively, we have the opportunity to gracefully move toward a new modern renaissance. If we don’t, we will still get there but there will be tremendous disruptions, significant chaos, and much pain in the process. The best way forward is to honor these energies and have the courage to make the big changes toward a common improvement of mankind and our planet.

Mike Grabarek

I provide astrology discussions for people all over the world – much of it using Skype. My rate is $100 per session which lasts approximately one and a half hours. I also offer an audio recording at no extra charge – and upload the mp3 file in a protected area on the web for you to download after the session. To schedule a session, please call 505-424-1990 and ask for Mike. Alternatively, please send me an email at mike@grabarek.net.

Hi, I’m Mike Grabarek. For two decades I have developed a broad skill set in organizational and leadership development. About 4 years ago I discovered that astrology is an incredibly powerful discipline to add to my tool-kit. I spent over two years studying and practicing astrology full time and received my certification. This web has two primary purposes:

1. To educate business people on astrology and demonstrate how it can be used powerfully in business. The content for this part is under the section called Business Astrology which you can access in the tab at the top of this page. Here I have made my best attempt to help business people understand the basics of astrology.
2. To share best practices and ideas on other leadership and organizational development processes. The content for this is under the section called Business Strategies which you can access in the tab at the top of this page. I have used this section as a way to share insights I have gained over many years in the broad areas of organizational and leadership development. The intent is to spark new ideas and also have you share your experiences.

Astrology is similar to other human diagnostic instruments such as Meyers-Briggs in that is can help business people gain perspectives on themselves and others. However, astrology can lead to far deeper discussions and insights relative to the vast majority of other instruments available.

Natural outcomes of astrological discussions include:

• Individual discussions:
  • Deep insights on innate interests, desires and patterned behaviors
  • Ways to redirect energies for improved results and impact
  • Identification of strengths as well as ideas for building on these strengths
• Group discussion following individual discussions:
  • Greater understanding of each team member’s strengths, desires, and improvement paths
  • Better utilization of each team member by consciously tapping into the strengths and interests of each person
  • Increased teamwork and support among members

I would like to help you become as excited as I am about the power of astrology in business and help you get better results. Supplementing astrology with other organizational and leadership development practices will add an edge to your initiatives.

I provide astrology discussions for people all over the world – much of it using Skype. My rate is $100 per session which lasts approximately one and a half hours. I also offer an audio recording at no extra charge – and upload the mp3 file in a protected area on the web for you to download after the session.

To schedule a session, please call 505-424-1990 and ask for Mike. Alternatively, please send me an email at mike@grabarek.net.

I invite you to enjoy this exploration of business astrology and organizational and leadership development best practices.

- Mike