There are certain signs where a theme for a business blog is just obvious.  Many astrological signs are quite adaptable to our business world, and others take more time to develop a meaningful and practical message.  Cancer is one of those signs!

Why?

The sign of Cancer is really not known as a business sign, yet the sign that naturally deal with home and motherhood – not to mention hotdogs and apple pie.  In fact, Cancer is the sign that opposes the great business sign of Capricorn.  However, despite the difficulty, we can learn something about business from every sign.

But, you will have to wait!

The Astrology

The Sun and Mars make minimal aspects throughout the month of July, which precludes us from taking a lot of action in our business.   However, July 6^th and 27^th are great days for innovation and making short-term decisions.   On the planning front, Mercury moves into fiery Leo on July 1 it is time to begin looking towards our fall marketing.   This would be a great time to think about what your fall plans are for your business, and begin researching how to implement them.   Mercury will move into shadow towards the middle of the month as it prepares to move retrograde in August.  Financially, the month of July will be rather bi-polar, one day sales will be up and the next day they will be down, and this cycle will continue through most of the month.  Do not become lackadaisical on the days that money is flowing through the front door, as those will be the days that will balance out the rather challenging financial days.  Venus will move into Leo towards the end of July, which is a more favorable position for the planet to be in.

Your Business Cosmic Weather Forecast

So, how do we use the sign of Cancer in our business?   It’s back to basics baby!

I recently had a business client that contacted me regarding her website.   Her business has been down for the last several months, and she asked for my advice.   I went to her website and was very confused at what I seen.  I felt like I was at a web flea market!  If I feel totally confused at a metaphysical website (having been in the industry for 20 years), how would a potential customers experience be on the site?

I contacted the website owner and asked her who her target audience was.   She responded with a target audience that was completely different than her website.  I wrote to the website owner and asked her some simple questions – the primary being why did she have all these items on her website that simply were not for her target audience?  She wrote back and told me that she “liked those products and felt that these were the products that people really need.”  Needless to say, I was rather shell-shocked.    Her business was suffering because she was catering to herself rather than her customer.   Further, she did not seem to know what her customers’ needs were.  Moreover, much of her stock will probably sit there and never sell because it is not what her potential customers want

It’s time to work it – and reverse it!

Storm’s 4 Point Back to Basics Marketing Guide:

1.   Who are your potential customers?

Who are the customers that want to purchase your products?  What do they look like?  What do they purchase?  What magazines do they buy?  What television shows do they watch?   You have to research and know your audience.   Trends change and you have to stay on top of the trend before the trend gets on top of you.

2.  Cater to your target audience not to everyone!

I know this is hard.   I have found many business owners who want something available just so they can sell something to anyone.   Stick with your target audience!  If your target customer is 25-50 years old female and an executive, she is in your store to purchase something for her.  She is not going to buy a slinky or a Harry Potter broom.   You are wasting resources and space when you go outside your target audience.  You do not have to be all things to all people.

3.  Why do people purchase products?

People purchase products for 3 reasons – solving problems, feeling better about themselves, and for basic needs.  Pick 1 or 2 areas that fit your products.   If you own a candle shop, then the reason or people to purchase your products would be either solving problems or for them to feel better about themselves.   Candles (although if there is a black out they could be a basic need) are not a basic need.

4.  Create a marketing strategy to cater go your target market

Now that you know who your client is, what she wants, and why she is buying your products, you can begin to create a marketing campaign to get your target market into your stores (and onto your websites), and get them to stay there!

Let me know how this “Back to Basics” Marketing Guide works for you!

Planning Guide:

Great Money Days:  July 4, July 9, July 28, July 29, and July 31
Challenging Money Days:  July 7, July 8, July 9
Great Planning Days:  July 4, July 9, July 11, July 28
Challenging Planning Days:  July 5, July 29
Great Action Days:  July 6, July 22, July 27
Challenging Action Days:  July 1, July 2,

The primary way to view the astrology for June is as a “sea change” month.   In many ways, we have been floating around since January unsure of where our businesses are going to take us.   The chief culprit has been Saturn (the planet of restriction) being retrograde in Libra (laws and justice).  The retrograde energy of Saturn has created a political stir from union rights to local referendum changes.   We may see some of this heat up again during the summer months, but the good news is that Saturn will turn direct on June 12, which will create an ease of tension of “outer forces”, and allow us to get down to business.

Before Saturn turns direct, Jupiter will move out of the sign of Aries and into Taurus on June 4.  This is rather exciting news, because Taurus is a sign associated with money.  If you read my article for the June 1 eclipse (the business eclipse articles will be separate from the monthly cosmic weather forecast), you will be aware that we are moving into a new period in business where cash is everything, and that we need to learn to do business within a 2011 framework rather than a 2005 past reality.   Jupiter moving into Taurus will give us renewed faith, because we will discover that even though business changes we can get through the difficult times with our “inner strength” and “self-reliance”.   In addition, Jupiter in Taurus gives us the ability to see that “tangible” (meaning money) buying power is of much more value than credit buying power.  We can then create new business encounters and have confidence and faith in the future.   This creates more flexibility and movement once Saturn turns direct in the middle of the month.

So, what do we do with this new found confidence and trust that Jupiter will provide us with?  Astrology is an instructive language – even when we are dealing with the complexities of business.    How do we use the sign of Gemini in a productive manner that Jupiter in Taurus would approve?  Since the sign of Gemini is the natural ruler of thoughts and communication it does not like being contained or limited.   Gemini likes the vast array of intellectual possibilities, and likes to explore every option with genuine curiosity.   However, there is one way in which Gemini can look at all options without feeling stymied, and that is by developing a business strategy.  A strategy provides Gemini enough space to be creative, yet enough structure to not get lost in a sea of possibility.  Further, a strategy will potentially give us more value, which Jupiter in Taurus will shine down upon.

Month of Gemini Business Strategy Guide:

1. Realizing the need for a strategy that works! Step 1 involves the realization that a plan for the future is needed.   Why?   It allows us to explore different ways of accomplishing our goals and tasks, and provides us with a cogent plan for the future.  What areas are you weak in that you can improve?  Where are your strengths?  Are there areas where you need to become more educated or ask for outside help?
2. Where do you want to take your business? How do you see your business future?  Be creative, wild, and imaginative.  If you can have it all – what would you want that to be?  Where do you see your business in 10 years?
3. What are your goals? Create a list of goals that you desire.   Again be wild, and imaginative.   The sky is the limit!   Highlight the goals you believe you can achieve in the next year.
4. What are your questions and concerns? Now we begin to come back to earth.   Write down questions about whether or not your business can move in the direction that you desire.  In addition, what concerns do you have?  Will it hinder being balanced in other areas of your life?   Is it financially feasible?   Is there too much competition in your field and if there is how does your business stand out in the crowd?
5. Are there REALISTIC answers to your questions and concerns?
6. Modify your expectations and goals into something you can attain and accomplish. Create short term and long term goals that you can manage successfully. For example, you may not be able to become the biggest metaphysical retailer in the world in the next month, but you can increase your sales by (X) %.
7. Enjoy your achievements. Create a personal reward system for your achievements.  Again, this must be realistic and financially achievable.  For example, if you increase your sales by 10% over a year period, you are going to buy yourself an iPad or a new computer.

There is a quote from “Alice in Wonderland” by English author Lewis Carroll that I find very inspiring when thinking about the energy of this month and the importance of having an active business strategy:

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”

Courtesy of Disney

“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.

“I don’t much care where,” said Alice.

“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.

What does this teach us?  The most productive choice we can make in our business it to decide where we want to go.   How do we create our business future?  It really is up to us!  Exploring our options gives us the ability to free ourselves from being stuck in “negative” thinking, and gives us back control of our businesses.

See you next month!

Great Money Days:   6/12, 6/17
Challenging Money Days:  6/10
Great Planning Days:  6/2, 6/4, 6/7, 6/12, 6/17
Challenging Planning Days:  6/3, 6/18, 6/19, 6/21
Great Action Days:  6/1, 6/12, 6/22, 6/25
Challenging Action Days:  6/26, 6/27

We interrupt your regular internet browsing activities for this public announcement.

A Storm Warning Is In Effect!

Most people do not understand the wide reaching effects of eclipses, but they are one of the most dynamic factors that help us understand trends in our lives. The little information people do have about eclipses is based on supernatural fear from ancient times, which in modernity is neither practical nor constructive. This special Cosmic Weather Forecast will not focus on the theory of eclipses; there are many websites that do a great job at this which can be independently researched. I will focus on how we can use this eclipse (and the two eclipses that will follow this one) energy effectively in our businesses.

There are many controversies that surround eclipses, and some people pay a lot of attention to them, and others see them as just a passing influence that seems to affect more the world stage than it does the “common” people. In many ways, they are both right! Eclipses can come and hit a major part of your natal chart and there is no “event” that goes along with them, yet the world stage burst(s) into a heavy “news cycle” about various events. However, what I do feel happens with eclipses is that they show a movement that is occurring within the collective psyche which eventually trickles down to ordinary life. This includes our business lives.

Drawing up the eclipse for June 1, 2011, we find that the eclipse lands at 12 Gemini in the 8th house (for both the United States and Canada) of the chart. Gemini the sign of the merchant, commerce, buying and selling, trading, and communication, and is ruled by Mercury (Hermes in Greek) who was known as the merchant god. This means that the eclipse is going to affect ALL forms of business in one way or another, based upon changes which might occur on the world stage at the time of the eclipse. Also, the lord of the eclipse is Mercury which is in the money sign of Taurus (also in the Eighth House) conjoined with the fixed star Alcyone known as “the weeping sisters”.

The Eighth house of the chart is where this begins to get rather interesting. In natal astrology, this is the house of death, taxes, and regeneration. In business astrology, the eighth house is concerned with the same issues, except that it also involves our relationships with others. Simply put, it involves our relationship with our vendors, our sellers, our partnerships, our debt, and our lines of credit. In addition, we will see these same themes played out on the world stage – so pay close attention to the events that are occurring at the beginning of June, because these events will eventually trickle down to our businesses.

One of my primary jobs as an astrologer is to observe. I have noticed through many of my social connections a lot of people that are worried about their business, concerned about their finances, and not performing as well as they have in the past. In many ways, I think we are still in “shell shock” that began in 2008-2009, and have yet to adjust to a new reality. I think many of us are still living in a 2005 reality, where credit was plentiful and the amount of excess spending money was at an all-time high. I think for many of us, we have to let go of the “glory days” – 2005 is over and it is never coming back!

We do need a financial revolution – but this is going to occur on the inside not on the outside. We have to accept our current reality, and a reality that includes less availability to credit for ourselves and our vendors. We have to move into a “cash” reality, and begin to put savings away for times that are “financially slow”. In many ways, we need to get back to basics, and start working through the equations that work now, not equations that worked then. For many, finding new equations will be the toughest part, for others it is simply going back to what worked in the past and using the “tried and true” to get moving forward once again.

Work towards budgeting yourself out of the credit and financial lows, and begin to focus on utilizing new tools of marketing and promotion that are that are within your means. There are so many business resources that are absolutely free that will boost your business – all it requires is a desire to learn them. This will be rough for many of us, but the rewards will be many. The first question to ask is whether or not your business is worth fighting for and the inner process of revolution will begin.

Dates in 2011 to watch that are Eclipse Sensitive:
July 06, 2011, August 30, 2011, and December 03, 2011

Storm Cestavani, May 16, 2011

Ready. Set. GO!

After 6 months of trials and tribulations; we are free! Well, almost. Saturn is still retrograde and Mercury is in shadow until May 12th, but overall the month of May is the beginning of the end of the “Trials and Tribulations of 2011.” Normally I do not use a lot of astrologese when I am writing the business cosmic weather forecast, but I will make an exception this month. Don’t worry; I will make it as painless as possible.

We start the month out with a bang, as the New Moon in Taurus provides us with a wonderful opportunity for us to begin to focus on our financial ventures – this is a great time to apply for loans, start long term relationships with others companies (or business partnerships), and begin creative marketing campaigns. The operative word is FOCUS. This will dovetail into the Full Moon in Scorpio that occurs later in the month, which is about purging the last 6 months, and ridding ourselves of what we no longer need.

Being a little obsessive compulsive, I am all for spring cleaning. It is wonderful! Opening up the windows, and letting the old stale energy of winter out and letting the fresh fragrant beauty of spring in is invigorating. Unfortunately, this is usually the only work that people do! It is only a small part of the energy of spring. The biggest part is the area that most of us ignore! Spring is planting season! Now, I am not talking about getting out in the dirt, digging, or putting seeds in the ground. I am talking about planting seeds in your business.
Many people avoid making business changes. Why? They are afraid of letting go of the old and embracing the new. So, let me give you a few strategies that you can implement immediately that will help build your business and use the energy of the month (and there is a lot of great energy this month) productively.

Strategy 1: Stay in Touch with Valid Emails

It is imperative that you develop and email list. Why? Pretty much 80% (and possibly higher) of Americans have a current email address. As a business owner you can create a form letter that you can send out to your clients letting them know that you value their services, and visiting your business. You can offer discount codes for their next visits, which will increase your repeat business. As you develop a relationship with your client and you learn what their likes are, you can then even drop them an email letting them know that a new product is available that you feel they might like.

Strategy 2: Extend Invitations

Everyone likes free, especially if the free offers the client a value. You can do this through free classes; online webinars if you have an internet based business, book signings, open houses or other means of drawing customers to you. You can then offer discounts in the store if the customers purchase the products while they are there. For example, you could offer a candle magic class and then offer your candle magic products at a discount on the day of the class or webinar. This gives you a great opportunity as well to introduce new products to the customer.

Strategy 3: Newsletters, Blogs, and Guest Articles

Next month, when we are in the sign of Gemini I will put together stuff for communications. However, since we are in a “seed” month, now is the time for you to look at your means of communicating with your customers. Do you have one? If not you need to look into getting one, and there are many inexpensive online services for newsletters. The goal of newsletters is to become an information provider, so think about what types of interests your clients have and develop newsletter content around those interests.

Do you blog? If you do not it is time for you to start. Why? Search Engine Optimization – Google loves blogs and bloggers. You will be amazed at how much of your in store or online traffic can come from simply blogging. Blogs do not have to be fancy; they just need to have pertinent content that your customers will enjoy.

Finally, research the internet and find likeminded people that may either have newsletters, magazines, or blogs and see if you can write an article for them. This is called guest blogging. Guest blogging is very powerful because it exposes you to an entire new audience that might not have been exposed to you before. It brings more traffic, and this is valuable traffic because if they follow you to your webpage, then they are already interested in you and your products. This means sales!

Have a great month!

Great Action Days: May 1, 12, 20, 25
Challenging Action Day: May 22
Great Money Days: May 9, 11, 16, 21, 23
Challenging Money Days: None
Great Planning Days: May 9, 11, 16, 20
Challenging Planning Days: None

“Twilight drops her curtain down, and pins it with a star.”

~Lucy Maud Montgomery

The Moon. It casts a silvery glow across the landscape, and yet we still have to squint to see. What is behind the tree over there? Was that something that moved?

When we see by the cast of the moon, we have to fill in context. We don’t see the full picture, so we must use our imaginations to fill in the gaps.

So it is with The Moon Card.

There are illlusions, secrets, things we don’t fully see. What are we filling in with the context of our imaginations? What don’t we fully understand because we only see pieces?

Today, draw one card from your favorite tarot deck. and ask:

What have I misunderstood because I have

used context to fill in the parts I did not see?

Here’s wishing you a tarot-filled week of self-discovery.

Warmly,

Donnaleigh

www.Donnaleigh.com

10.

What will my next husband’s name be?

I mean, I know I’m married, but suppose there was another one coming…

9.

How is the sex life of my husband that divorced me 18 years ago?

8.

When will I die?

7.

Can you remove the curse that was put on me and all my descendants

and their descendants?

6.

What will the winning lottery numbers be?

5.

That can’t be true. Because the other reader told me….

4.

Oh my gosh, I’m SO sorry I sneezed all over your deck…

3.

How many chickens have you sacrificed in this business?

2.

You don’t really believe those cards work, do you?

And the #1 top thing you should NEVER say to your  tarot reader:

1.

Do you mind if my kid plays with these cards while we wait?

Here’s wishing you a  tarot-filled week!

Warmly,

Donnaleigh

www.Donnaleigh.com

This blog is dedicated to Ginny Hunt, who created the clever blog titled,

The Top 10 Things Your Tarot Reader Won’t Tell You…

Welcome to the world of the Steele Wizard Tarot.

This video review shows the quality and color of a new deck

that will be easy for fans of the Rider Waite Smith system to slip into using.

Meet your newest “old friend” in today’s video review.

VIEW VIDEO HERE

To learn more about this deck, visit www.SteeleWizard.com.

Here’s wishing you a tarot-filled week of vibrant color.

Warmly,

Donnaleigh

www.Donnaleigh.com

Welcome to the world of the Steele Wizard Tarot.

This video review shows the quality and color of a new deck

that will be easy for fans of the Rider Waite Smith system to slip into using.

Meet your newest “old friend” in today’s video review.

To learn more about this deck, visit www.SteeleWizard.com.

Here’s wishing you a tarot-filled week of vibrant color.

Warmly,

Donnaleigh

www.Donnaleigh.com

Cosmic Business Forecast for April
Storm Cestavani

I need you to do me a favor! Please remove all objects that you can throw away from the computer.  Are you ready?  Let me start off by getting to the point.  Mercury is retrograde! I will now interrupt this article to allow you to rant, scream, use profanities, and curse for a moment.  Let it out! Get it completely out of your system. Now, Breathe!

Fantasizing about what could possible go wrong during Mercury retrograde is rather useless.  Plus, focusing on what “possibly could be” will only give you a headache.  Even if we hide and try to ignore Mercury, he will still be retrograde, and it is better to take the bull by the horns than avoid life because of a planet.

So, let’s get the infamous Mercury Retrograde (Mercury is retrograde through April 23, but his energy will be prevalent until May 11) checklist out of the way:

Communication Blocks and Problems – Especially with Electronics
Avoid Signing Contracts
Do Not Begin Anything New
Do Not Move House or Location
Backup Computers and Smart Phones
Potential Problems with Automobiles
Possible Problems with Traveling

In astrology, Mercury is the planet of commerce.   He rules conversation, thoughts, sales, advertising, customer service, quality control and our ability to take thoughts and ideas and manifest them into something tangible.   Mercury allows us to see constructs, processes, and to discern whether or not “a situation” is good for us.   Further, he goes retrograde 3-4 times a year (As viewed from the earth it appears that Mercury stops, and then begins to move backwards), which provides us with the unique opportunity to reflect and turn inward.    Since this occurs frequently, we need to learn how to constructively use Mercury retrograde, rather than simply bemoaning its occurrence.

It’s easy for us to reflect inward when dealing with our personal life.  We can make changes and adjustments based on our circumstances.  However, it is often a bit more difficult to understand how to use Mercury with our businesses.   So, how do we turn mishaps, miscommunications, general annoyance, employee problems, and frustration into something positive?  There words – performance, feedback, and revision.

Being an astrologer, I often get questions from clients about their business.   One thing that I have noticed the most (to the point that it is an epidemic) is that many business owners are very caught up in their own ideas (it is time to let go of that darned Ego) about what works for a business, and do not listen to the most important person in their business – the customer!   The customer relationship is the most valuable part of your business.  You can learn the most from them!  They tell us what products sell, what products they would like to see, and how to make changes in our business that will makes them repeat customers.   In other words, we see our product performance, we get constructive feedback, and we can revise our business based on the needs of the customers.  Performance, Feedback, Revision!

Mercury retrogrades give us the unique opportunity to really get in touch with our client base, and analyze what their needs are and make revisions based on their recommendations.   We should all spend some time getting in touch with our customer base throughout the month of April.  Find out about what your customers like about your business, and where you can make productive changes that lead to more sales.   You can do through this a survey, questionnaire, contests or simply having discussions with your customers.  Regardless, you will notice that when you make them happy your sales will dramatically increase

Let me know what you have learned from your customers and what changes you made.

Good Planning Days:   April 11, April 19
Challenging Planning Days:   April 22, 23, 24, 25
Good Action Days:  April 3, April 6, April 20, April 27
Challenging Action Days:  April 4, April 11, April 18, April 20
Good Money Days:  April 2, April 22
Challenging Money Days:  April 27, April 30