Opportunity Costs in Astrology

Just like everything else in life, we must weed out the less important aspects in astrology if we are to focus more intently on others. We can’t absorb all the details, or we’ll never have time to take constructive action on any of them. 

Sometimes we just have to trust that we know enough and go act. We have to give up the time it would take to read another book, take another class, or analyze yet another aspect in our charts so that we can move forward with the knowledge we already have. 

Learning about the aspects in astrology helps us to prioritize our focus – to recognize what’s most important to focus on.  Aspects are like laser beams shining light on specific areas of our charts/lives that need attention.  Aspects show us what parts of our personalities are involved and what type of communication is happening between them. 

If, for example, Venus is present, it could be about your values and what you choose to put up with in your relationships.  Or, if Mercury is involved, it could be about your communication style.  Are you effectively communicating your needs to others, or do you need to speak up and assert yourself in a new way to be heard?  

Aspects offer us great insight as to why we act the way we do.  Or, why we suddenly feel so differently about a belief, a person, or even ourselves. 

How does this relate to opportunity costs?  Because at any given time there can be several aspects occurring within your transit chart.  And every day, new ones are forming.  This means we have to be vigilant of the aspectual hierarchy if we are to know which aspects to hone in on and which to ignore.  Most people will happily allow their astrologer to do this kind of analysis, however, if you learn it once, you’ll always be able to interpret the aspects for the rest of your life.

Aspects are occurring within your natal chart (the one that is frozen in time forever) and your transit chart (the chart that reveals the current planetary motions in the sky).  For example, you may have transiting Pluto in the sky conjunct your natal Sun.  This is one of those aspects that should receive VIP seating in the theater of your mind.  The reason is simple: Pluto has a much greater impact on you than any solar eclipse, Mercury retrograde, or Mars-Venus conjunction.  Why?  Because it’s longer lasting.  It has more time to “work on you.”

Thus, you can use the idea of opportunity costs in astrology to save your energy for responding to the major life transits (and transitions) while you simultaneously withdraw your attention from these lesser important aspects (even if the whole collective is beating the drum of their importance – it’s not relevant to you).  This is where you must exercise wise judgment and recognize that just because something is a big deal to society, doesn’t mean it is for you. 

As a rule of thumb, the outer planets, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are always going to be “higher impact” planets when they make aspects because they are slower moving.  Saturn will also be a strong force in your chart that you’ll want to keep tabs on too.

When I think of opportunity costs in my own astrology practice, I think of all the details I consciously choose not to pay attention to.  One of those is daily horoscopes.  I choose not to read or write daily horoscopes because I’d rather put my time and energy into areas that interest me and have a greater impact on my life.  When I began my career as a professional astrologer, I got really clear on what I wanted to do: Evolutionary Astrology; Soul development; personal growth through an awareness of the cosmos.  In choosing this path that meant I had to discard many other areas of focus in this vast metaphysical field. 

Managing Your Focus Manages Your Energy

Each morning we awake to new decisions we have to make and opportunities to pass up or take.  We can’t choose everything, so we need a trusted inner compass; a clear understanding of what we really need and how we really want to feel.  This takes conscious self-reflection and time for assessment.  When done regularly, this reflection brings clarity to our long-term goals and the necessary short-term sacrifices that must be made in order to accomplish them.    

When you trust yourself to make wise decisions you also give yourself permission to make mistakes.  You accept that you might choose wrong, but you have to choose anyway.  In doing so, you practice leaning on your intuition - your gut response – and realize that the information coming to mind now is relevant simply because it’s “coming to mind.”

We must stop doubting ourselves and permit ourselves to act or to share something - even if it ends up being a mistake.  

"It takes bravery to give yourself a break and refuse to let guilt dictate your life."

~ Reshma Saujani

I encourage you to remind yourself that there is always tomorrow.  And that you only have so much time and energy to put towards your work/life/relationships today.  So don’t feel guilty because you didn’t get it all done, rather be thankful you took action on anything at all.