Electional Astrology: Business

S tarti n g a Bus i n es s o r M ajo r Pro jec t

Although starting a business of any sort is something that few take lightly, the
exact timing of the launch of a business is generally not as well thought-out.
In this article, we explore some basic conditions in Astrology that favor
viability and profitability of businessesfrom sideline businesses to more
ambitious undertakings. Timing isnteverything, but it certainly helps.
One of the most basic factors to consider when timing the launch of a business (or a
major project) is actually very easy to do, and doesnt require too much in terms of
astrological knowledge or know-how. This involves paying attention to lunar phases. At
first thought, attuning ourselves to nature by observing the cycles of the Moon and
applying these cycles to the world of business seems an odd mix. However, more and
more people are turning to the intuitive arts for help. Probably, it has much to do with
the knowledge that timing is important. Applying logic to business endeavors is an
absolute must, but some times seem to be more magical than others.
The first and most basic factor is to begin a business during the waxing period of the
Moonthat is, when the Moon is increasing in light, from the New Moon to the Full
Moon. This is not to say that a business begun when the Moon is waning is doomed to
fail, by all means. However, those businesses begun when the Moon is increasing in
light have a better chance of longevity, presuming all things are equal. The inception
should not be too close to the New Moon, nor should it be too close to the First Quarter
Moon or Full Moon. Ideally, its inception occurs when the Moon applies to a sextile to
the Sun or a trine to the Sun. The applying sextile generally occurs about 5 days after
the New Moon, and the applying trine generally occurs about 10 days after the New
Moon.
The next factors to consider are the Moons applying aspects and void periods. This is
certainly more technical. Void-of-course Moon periods should be avoided. We have
tables for these periods here. Applying trines and/or sextiles of the Moon to Jupiter,
Saturn, and/or Venus are very helpful. Applying squares or oppositions to Mars and/or
Saturn are ones to avoid.

Projects and businesses launched with Moon sextile or trine Saturn are generally wellconceived, respectable, and stable, but not necessarily pick me types or flashy. If the
Moon trines Mercury, the head and the heart of the business are in harmony.
Remember that the Moon is in some ways the heart of the business, but the Moon also
rules the publicity of the business or projecthow well it is received and supported.
Not quite as important, but something that can be factored in, is the sign position of the
Moon. Ideally, its in earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, or Capricorn) for longevity. Of the
three, Taurus is more fruitful.
Once we are certain the Moon is fortified, we can look at the condition of the other
planets. The planet that rules the type of business should be well-positioned.
For illustration purposes, well take a look at January 2006 and apply some of these
rules as an example. Lets presume the business were starting is a metaphysical web
site. With an internet business, especially an alternative one, we should look to
Uranus. Because Uranus produces erratic results, we dont want it to be too strong, but
we do want it to form easy aspects. Neptune, which rules many of the healing arts,
should also be well-aspected. Again, this is an outer planet that shouldnt be too strong,
as it also rules chaos and confusion.
The best thing to begin with is one of the givens (a factor that you want for certain)
that is also broad enough to rule out many dates. This will be the waxing phase of the
Moon and any day of a New or First Quarter Moon.
In January 2006, we can immediately rule out the following dates:

Days of the New Moon, First Quarter Moon, and all waning days (from Full Moon
to New Moon): weve greyed out these days in the calendar below.

Next, well take a look at the first week of January:

The Moon is void until 7:15 AM on the 1st. At that point it enters Aquarius, which is a
good fit for the type of business. The last applying aspect the Moon makes before
leaving the sign of Aquarius happens on Jan. 3rd at 6:45 AM, and it is a sextile to
Mercury, indicating a favorable outcome. So far so good. However, we see that the
Moon forms an opposition to Saturn late night on the 1st, and a square to Mars in the
wee hours of the 2nd. The square to Jupiter is also somewhat unfavorable. If the launch
is timed for after the Moons conjunction to Neptune, but before its sextile to Pluto on
the 2nd, we get two favorable aspects of the Moon before changing signs, and we
benefit from the Suns trine to Mars that is still in orb. This is good, but not fantastic,
especially since Mercury will be in the last degree (a critical degree) of Sagittarius at
this time.
When the Moon is in Pisces, however, we have much more favorable conditions. If we
were to time the launch for the afternoon of the 3rd, the Moon would apply to a
conjunction with Uranus, a sextile to Mars, a trine to Jupiter, a sextile to the Sun, (a
square to Pluto), and, finally, a sextile to Venus before changing signs to Aries on the
5th. The Sun would be sextile to Jupiter, which is an excellent aspect for any business.
Mercurys semi-square to Neptune is less than favorable, however. Nevertheless, this
date is the best we can find so far.
We want to avoid the Moons applying square to the Sun altogether, so we are brought
to the next chunk of time to consider, when the Moon is in Taurusone of the best
Moon signs to begin a new business under.
Because the Moon squares Saturn, conjuncts Mars, opposes Jupiter, and squares
Neptune on the 8th, we will want to avoid starting anything before these times. If we
look to after the square to Neptune, we can look to a time of around 8 pm on the 8th.
The Moon will then apply to a trine to the Sun, which is excellent, and a trine to Venus
as its last applying aspect before changing signs to Gemini. Mercury will be sextile
Uranus, which is excellent for the type of business we are dealing with, but its quincunx
to Saturn is less than desirable. Still, this is a good time.
In Gemini, the Moons last applying aspect before changing signs is an opposition to
Plutono good. Lets skip to the Moon in Cancer. We can also rule this one out, because
the last applying aspect of the Moon while in Cancer is an opposition to the Sun on the
14ththe Full Moon. We can safely rule the rest of this week out.

The last 2 days of January that we didnt rule out above are not illustrated here, but
suffice it to say that the first date is too close to the New Moon, and that the last
applying aspect of the Moon is a square to Pluto. Again, not good.
We are left with two potential dates and timesone when the Moon was in Pisces and
the other when the Moon was in Taurus. An astrologer would go forward and
experiment with charts for these periods of time, placing the planets as well as possible
into houses and on angles that made the most sense.
An important note: In reality, Venus is retrograde for the entire month of January 2006.
As such, the whole month is best to be avoided for launching a major business! The
above example is shown to demonstrate the overall technique of electing a date to start
a business. We will take a closer look at February 2006, when Venus is direct.

Well use the same technique with February 2006grey out the days of the New Moon,
First Quarter Moon, and all the days of the waning Moon (Full Moon to New Moon):

This time around, lets eliminate the days when Venus is still retrograde and stationing.
This leaves us with the 6th through 11tha rather small window!

Weve already ruled out the 5th because its the day of the First Quarter Moon. We dont
want the Moon square the Sun on the day of our business launch. As far as the 6th
goes, we see an exact conjunction between the Sun and Neptune and an exact square
between the Sun and Jupiter! We like Mercury sextile Pluto, but the Suns challenging
aspects wont work for us. The Moons trine to the Sun is generally ideal, but it occurs
when its too close to the Suns exact challenging aspects. Lets skip forward. On the
8th, Mercury is changing signs. When a planet is in its final degree of a sign, its an
anaretic degree. Again, we want to avoid this.
The 9th looks a little more favorable. We dont much like the Moons opposition to
Venus at 8:40 PM, but its trine to Jupiter at 11:01 PM looks promising. If we were to
time a launch in between these two times, preferably closer to 11:00 PM, we would
have a chart with the Moons applying aspects a trine to Jupiter and a sextile to Mars as
the final aspect before the Moon changes signs the next day. The Moon would be in
Cancer, the sign it rules. Because our next options involve the Moons conjunction to
Saturn and then an opposition to Neptune and the Sun the following day, we will have
to stop right here. Weve determined the best day and time of the month, and its slim
pickings.
When we look more closely at February 9th at about 10 PM, we can see some favorable
aspects: Venus is applying to a sextile to Jupiter and these bodies are parallel as well.
Venus and Jupiter are also parallel Neptune and Pluto. These are excellent conditions.
However, the Sun is still conjunct Neptune and square Jupiter, although separating. The
Sun is applying to a square to Mars. Here we have some especially fortuitous
conditions, but its a mixed bag. A mixed bag is not awful. For example, the Suns
square to Mars might be considered drive and ambition. We always need some hard
aspects to add oomph to our undertaking. However, the Moon inconjunct Sun makes it
challenging to elect a time when either of the lights is trine the Ascendant or
Midheaven. This is because, for example, if we put the Sun in the fifth house in trine to
the Ascendant (at about 10 PM), the Moon will square the Ascendant.
March is a poor month for starting dates, due to Mercurys three week retrograde and
both a lunar and solar eclipse.
For the best times to start a new project in the current week, see This Week in
Astrology-Timing with the Moon.