Episode 380: Astrology and HR With Jessica Munson

Welcome to the Workology Podcast, a podcast for the disruptive office chief. Be a part of host Jessica Miller-Merrell, founding father of Workology.com as she sits down and will get to the underside of developments, instruments, and case research for the enterprise chief, HR, and recruiting skilled who’s bored with the established order. Now right here’s Jessica with this episode of Workology.

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:00:26.62] This podcast is powered by Ace the HR Examination and Upskill HR. These are two of the programs I provide for certification prep and recertification for HR leaders. New Yr, new You. What assets, instruments, and data can you might have entry to, to make this your greatest 12 months ever as a person, as an HR skilled, as a pacesetter in enterprise? At this time’s visitor goes to stroll us by means of some new, fascinating, and thrilling methods to have the ability to do exactly that. However earlier than I introduce our visitor, I wish to hear from you. Please textual content “PODCAST” to 512-548-3005 to ask questions, go away feedback, and make strategies for future company. That is my neighborhood textual content quantity and I wish to hear from you. So on right this moment’s podcast, we’re speaking with Jessica Munson. She’s a Grasp’s in Schooling, SHRM-CP, SPHR, and a licensed profession counselor and vocational astrologist. Jessica has a grasp’s of training and has extensively studied common counseling, profession counseling and psychology. She is a licensed profession counselor and holds a number of certifications for her work in Human Assets. She has labored as an expert astrologer for 3 years and blends her experience in profession growth with vocational astrology. Her business acumen {and professional} background complement her holistic strategy and balances that have with artistic and non secular instruments corresponding to tarot mindfulness and Reiki. Jessica, welcome to the Work oLogy podcast.

Jessica Munson: [00:02:04.91] Thanks. I’m so excited to be right here.

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:02:08.05] I simply received my grasp Reiki certification, so.

Jessica Munson: [00:02:11.98] You probably did?

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:02:12.34] Yeah, in angelic Reiki, really. So I’ve been loving all this and I really like watching you on, on Tik Tok additionally, it’s, I simply, it’s such a unique dialog, I believe, than many of the different HR Tik Tokers.

Jessica Munson: [00:02:28.39] Yeah, it’s been troublesome for me to discover that area of interest and actually discover the intersection between these worlds of being very HR, very company and in some methods compliance pushed, however then opening up the neighborhood to issues which aren’t essentially these issues like spirituality, like tarot, like Reiki and a few of these different holistic practices. So it’s been lots of enjoyable for me to discover that after which discover the individuals who resonate with that work and join with them.

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:02:56.11] Properly, we’ll hyperlink to your Tik Tok over within the present notes, however let’s return slightly bit and speak about your profession path and what led you to the work that you just’re doing right this moment.

Jessica Munson: [00:03:07.81] Yeah, it’s so humorous as a result of the final couple of days I’ve been in college with college students speaking about my profession and I discovered that each class I used to be chatting with, I began it in a different way as a result of I’m undecided, like when did my profession start? I’m a real Capricorn and I began working in trade for cash at a really younger age, and I’ve all the time been tremendous industrious. And so I discovered that in each job I’ve ever had, I simply wished to climb to the highest. I wished to attain. I all the time wished to run issues like I felt like I’d be actually good at being in cost even once I was a toddler, a lot to my mom’s dismay, really. And so I discovered that once I was in roles the place I received to be like a coverage skilled, the place I discovered myself getting to coach folks on various things or the place I used to be in a position to assist de-escalate indignant folks, I shined, and that’s once I actually discovered these alternatives to climb the ladder or to be promoted and discover myself in numerous positions of energy, you would possibly say. And so it began actually, I used to be in undergraduate getting my diploma in psychology and management, and I used to be working for a extremely, actually small firm. So, naturally we had nobody in HR. There was no HR individual. We didn’t have sufficient full-time staff to supply advantages or something like that. And I simply began unintentionally doing HR duties. Lots of the coaching, I used to be hiring, I had my first expertise with firing anyone and what that regarded like and I actually loved it and I discovered that I actually loved working for that firm the place I received to do some little bit of every part and discover my completely different areas of experience.

Jessica Munson: [00:04:37.54] And the place I actually began to shine was in growth, and that performed into what I used to be learning at school, proper? And it crammed me up. I’ve all the time been so interested in folks and fascinated with folks, and so I wish to seek advice from that as like me working within the Wild West. It was very lawless, it was very unregulated, and that meant I received lots of artistic freedom to work on that, which was necessary to me. So I began writing insurance policies and I wrote an worker handbook earlier than I noticed it was an worker handbook. It was similar to, Right here’s what it’s good to know whilst you work right here. And so after a while and after I graduated, I made a decision that that’s actually what I wished to do. I wished to work in environments the place I used to be growing folks and the place I used to be serving to them discover their profession. Like, Do you wish to develop within the firm? Or, the character of our work was seasonal, so we all the time had a sequence of layoffs on the finish of summer time. And serving to folks establish like, you already know, that your job isn’t everlasting, so what do you wish to do subsequent? And the way can I assist you to join with that? So I made a decision to go to Colorado.

Jessica Munson: [00:05:34.75] I received accepted right into a Grasp’s program on the market at Colorado State College, and I used to be really learning profession counseling and I assumed I would discover myself upon commencement, working in tutorial advising, like working with college college students. And whereas I used to be at CSU, that’s lots of what I did. I had HR jobs that sustained me whereas I used to be a scholar, however I used to be additionally an intern at a profession heart at CU Boulder in Boulder, Colorado. I labored as an intern for the Pupil Wellbeing and Resiliency Heart at Colorado State College, and that’s the place I received formally skilled in mindfulness facilitation. And that’s really once I began, like formally changing into an astrologer. Like I used to be an astrology fan and fanatic and I used to be all about studying about moon indicators and solar indicators and every part. However at first of my Grasp’s program, I bear in mind precisely like the place I used to be sitting within the classroom. It was a type of divine moments, if you’ll, sitting within the classroom listening to my professor introduce us to this system, what we might anticipate as college students and simply understanding to my core, I shall be doing this with astrology. Like that’s what I noticed in my future. And it took me a while to get there. I didn’t really begin professionally providing astrology readings till after I had graduated, which at the moment I re-entered company. I received employed as an HR generalist at a tech firm. After I graduated, I used to be achieved with larger training and began doing like resume writing and interview prep on the facet, in addition to tarot readings and dream interpretations.

Jessica Munson: [00:07:07.45] And I used to be sort of simply exploring slightly little bit of every part. I discovered myself simply actually loving human assets, however no more than I cherished astrology and no more than I cherished profession growth. And so I experimented attempting to determine like, how how do they intersect? Like, what’s this mixture? And the way do I discover a significant technique to provide all of it to folks? And so I moved again to Utah. I received my HR certifications. I already had my profession certification, my profession counseling license, and I registered my LLC, and I simply began changing into that witch from work. And I like to assist folks align their life with the profession that may be significant to them, the place they’ll discover a true sense of dignity of their work and really feel like their work has objective and that it issues. However I additionally realized that regardless of how a lot I labored with people, if corporations weren’t able to obtain unimaginable expertise and deal with them, it was all for naught. So I really like the work that I do in HR as properly as a result of I actually get to make a distinction for the staff coming in. I sit on a couple of completely different boards in my state for HR the place I get to assist affect laws and be certain that staff are blissful as soon as they get to the employer of their goals.

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:08:19.42] These of you who’re listening close to like okay, now I perceive why, why Jessica is on this podcast. It’s such an fascinating background. And if you mentioned employers are keen to obtain that’s such a crucial factor. I used to be speaking to my pal Kim Crowder, who’s been on the podcast a few occasions previously. She does DEI work and that’s one of many largest challenges for her is employers receiving that suggestions and being keen to make the change to have the ability to have the end result that they need.

Jessica Munson: [00:08:53.17] Mm hmm. Yeah, completely.

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:08:55.93] So let’s speak about what vocational astrology is, why don’t we get began right here.

Jessica Munson: [00:09:02.29] Yeah. So vocational astrology. I really love the way in which that Bryan Clark summarizes it in his e book, Vocational Astrology. He says vocational astrology is the astrology of profession calling and creativity. So what I do with people is we have a look at their natal chart, which is simply what had been the planets doing and the place had been they at within the sky on the precise second of your beginning? And thru that we will get perception into lots of issues in regards to the lifetime of the person that we’re , and that features sure issues that affect vocations, corresponding to cash. How do you generate earnings? What’s your relationship to cash and how are you going to make cash on this world? In addition to service. What work environments do you want to seek out your self in? What kinds of duties would possibly you take pleasure in doing day in and time out? As a result of that’s lots of what work is, is simply the every day grind and hustle that we discover ourselves in. In addition to, What’s your broader profession like? What does it appear like if you persistently end up engaged in service and also you’re receiving worth for that work, which is commonly the type of a paycheck or a perk or a profit bundle or one thing like that. The consistency that we discover between these two homes in the end turns into your profession, the physique of labor that you just do, and you will discover these in very particular items of a person’s natal chart. However I wish to quote John Holland all the time. He’s one of many profession theorists that I work with primarily once I’m working with shoppers, and he mentioned that profession selection is an expression of 1’s persona. And due to my background in profession counseling, I’m skilled to take a look at not simply job search methods or greater than your LinkedIn profile. It’s how does your total life affect your profession determination and the place does that present up in your natal chart. And the way can we get greater perception into when my profession transitions occur? What values do you might have? What values did your dad and mom provide you with and the way does that affect the way in which that you just navigate profession.

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:10:56.18] Are you seeing much more curiosity from folks proper now? As a result of layoffs are taking place, restructures are taking place. I really feel like we’ve been in a transitional time and it may be persevering with for some as a result of they’re popping out of COVID and now they could have a brand new job search on the horizon.

Jessica Munson: [00:11:13.61] Yeah, and I believe I began noticing it earlier than. Lots of just like the trending layoffs. I imply, undoubtedly by means of the pandemic. That’s once I determined to, like formally register my LLC as a result of I used to be making sufficient cash that I wanted to begin determining taxes and stuff like that. However I believe it actually got here with a clarification of values and priorities. We grew to become very conscious of what we would have liked from an employer, so we both selected to go away a corporation as a result of there was a mismatch in our values or there we had been out of alignment not directly. However there’s undoubtedly been an uptick in folks both impacted by layoffs or worry of layoffs or simply realizing like, I’m sad right here and I don’t wish to be right here, whether or not it’s their selection or it’s compelled upon them, I believe individuals are realizing that they wish to work from a spot of their very own artistic authenticity and expertise, a way of freedom of selection in the way in which that they work and who they work with.

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:12:07.91] Are you able to speak slightly bit about your journey as an HR skilled? You’ve achieved a lot of various things, however eager about HR particularly and perhaps the lens by which you view growth and design. How has that modified for you?

Jessica Munson: [00:12:23.81] Yeah, So I imply, beginning with simply my HR journey, I imply, contemplate once more, all the way in which again I used to be doing HR duties with out having an HR position and with out actually having a transparent concept of what HR even was or what worth they delivered to the group. I used to be a psych main, you already know, I studied psychology and organizational habits and management, so I’ve all the time had extra of a person-centered lens. However then after doing the work to find myself in formal HR positions, you already know, I’ve labored at actually, actually large corporations that had been round for much longer than I had been alive and received to be taught from professionals who had been within the business for a very long time to being a Division of 1 and truly proudly owning the operate and scaling it throughout the group. And now I discover myself niched down into studying and growth. However I believe in the end my journey by means of that, I’ve all the time come from extra of that psychological background. You understand, I’m very person-centered. I take into consideration human growth and life growth earlier than I take into consideration programs. And typically that’s troublesome for me in a piece atmosphere relying on the values of the folks that I’m working with.

Jessica Munson: [00:13:31.13] However I’ve additionally began bringing in the way in which that I perceive human growth simply overlays so superbly over the Zodiac wheel. And so I’ve began considering too, about it’s not simply, you already know, what section of life am I in? It’s virtually like what season of the Zodiac Wheel am I in. And eager about the cyclical sample and nature, as a result of that’s all that astrology is, proper? It’s simply observing the pure cycles and rhythms of life and eager about like what a part of the cycle am I in and the way is that influencing the way in which that I’m interacting with this individual, but additionally how is that influencing what the corporate is experiencing as properly? Very like a lunar section cycle, we see it develop in gentle after which lose gentle and we expertise that as people. However corporations undoubtedly undergo progress cycles after which shedding cycles. And so when you’ll be able to scope out and consider it actually large image, I discover it it’s slightly bit simpler to work with. And that has moved me, I assume, from being extra like caught in being very person-centered and all the time having that psychological perspective, however with the ability to zoom out a bit.

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:14:32.39] I really like all this. I, I’m so individual centered and feeling centered on lots of issues and I sort of actually like to know the completely different perhaps gentle science causes, I assume, or simply influences that, that may be impacting my life or, or my enterprise or my folks. And, and folks have a tendency to think about astrology as a lightweight science. I’m utilizing air quotes once I say science, however most of the persona assessments we take for work are literally primarily based on astrology. I used to be shocked after we began speaking about this, however are you able to share some examples of this?

Jessica Munson: [00:15:16.01] Yeah, completely. I believe my favourite instance is the MBTI, as a result of so many individuals, particularly in company work environments, are actually aware of this. And likewise I’ve used the MBTI fairly a bit, each with college students in addition to professionals and management growth and high-performing teamwork. However for these of you that aren’t acquainted, the MBTI is the Myers-Briggs sort indicator, and that is an evaluation that was developed across the Nineteen Forties by Isabel Myers and her mom, Katherine Briggs. And I did really have a look at their zodiac indicators whereas I used to be trying into this. They’re each Libra and Capricorn, for any astrology followers on the market that had been curious, and lots of their work was really taken from all the analysis that Carl Jung had achieved. And never lots of people are conscious of this, however Carl Jung was I don’t know if I’d name him an astrologer, however he was undoubtedly an astrology fan or very astrology curious. And lots of his work with the unconscious and the archetypes and these actually early childhood experiences, lots of that was rooted in his understanding of astrology. So when Myers and Briggs took his work and constructed this evaluation to assist folks get readability round their persona preferences, it’s really all achieved off of the analysis that’s closely rooted and steeped in astrological information and as properly the ASVAB, which is the evaluation that the army makes use of to put folks within the completely different branches of the army relies off of that very same analysis.

Jessica Munson: [00:16:44.28] And so it’s fascinating that we discover this some it feels woozy, it feels kooky in some sense, you already know, astrology, nevertheless it’s really just like the, the inspiration of lots of what we do round persona and preferences, which have turn out to be so commonplace and actually helpful within the workforce. And to be honest, I’d say that once I’ve heard criticisms for astrology and I’ve shared this, that very same particular person will share criticisms of psychology as properly. However with each of those, it’s not about believing it to be true. They’re similar to languages that we communicate to assist describe our experiences in life. And so the quotations like the sunshine science, no matter it’s, there are issues on this world that are intangible and perhaps troublesome to place by means of the scientific technique, however can nonetheless be so priceless if you have a look at the way in which that we work with each other. And I believe that’s why you see it’s so widespread in work settings and why it may be so helpful within the office as properly.

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:17:43.47] However like all people is aware of what they’re Myers-Briggs. I imply, most individuals in HR, I really feel prefer it’s so frequent and to assume that this was constructed and created with influences from astrology is fascinating to me, and it’s not one thing that I’ve ever heard anyplace at your native SHRM chapter assembly or convention.

Jessica Munson: [00:18:03.96] So yeah, yeah, I do assume that, you already know, I don’t know if I see a future the place as a substitute of asking somebody like, What’s your MBTI? They ask, What’s your solar, moon, rising? However I do assume that it’s, it simply helps contribute and it provides extra in the way in which that we perceive and work together with one another.

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:18:21.42] I do know, and I believe extra data permits for higher relationships, higher conversations, outcomes for, for each teams of individuals, whoever it’s.

Jessica Munson: [00:18:32.01] Yeah.

Break: [00:18:33.36] Let’s take a reset. That is Jessica Miller-Merrell and also you’re listening to the Workology Podcast. It’s sponsored by Ace the HR Examination and Upskill HR. At this time we’re speaking with Jessica Munson, HR chief, licensed profession counselor and Vocational Astrologists. Earlier than we get again to the interview, I wish to hear from you. Textual content the phrase “PODCAST” to 512-548-3005. Ask me questions, go away feedback, make visitor strategies. I wish to hear from you.

Break: [00:19:02.31] Private {and professional} growth is important for profitable HR leaders. Be a part of Upskill HR to entry life coaching, neighborhood, and over 100 on-demand programs for that dynamic chief. HR recert credit obtainable. Go to UpskillHR.com for extra.

Vocational Astrology and Profession Teaching

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:19:18.18] So let’s get again to the interview. And I wish to, I wish to dive extra into the vocational astrology and speak about the way you’re utilizing this vocational astrology when working with profession teaching shoppers.

Jessica Munson: [00:19:30.03] Yeah, it relies upon. I imply, all the time relies upon. That’s such a traditional counselor HR factor to say, however there’s reality in it, proper? So I’ve achieved this a couple of other ways. I believe probably the most simple approach that I’ve used it with shoppers is that individuals will e book with me particularly for vocational astrology readings as a result of they’re trying to make a profession transition. They’re discovering that they’re dissatisfied of their present position, however they don’t know what to do subsequent. I believe that oftentimes folks flip to astrology after they really feel like they want some sort of divine permission. They want some exterior authority to provide them a way of like, it’s okay to do one thing completely different. It’s okay to make this selection, it’s okay to make a transition. And in order that’s some of the simple ways in which I work with folks, is that they’re coming to me particularly as a result of I’ve that vocational astrology acumen. After which after that studying, we do a couple of various things so we will establish profession themes, most popular work environments. That is particularly useful for folks trying to make a profession transition, and so they’re coming to me to assist establish like, I don’t know what I wish to do subsequent, however I do know it isn’t this. And so we have a look at, Properly, what issues do you want to unravel? The place do you derive a way of which means and mattering? I believe the work atmosphere is admittedly key? As a result of as we all know, due to exit interviews, so many individuals go away as a result of they’re dissatisfied with their coworkers, dissatisfied with their managers. After which I believe additionally serving to folks get actually clear on what their values really are. Compensation is a large factor that we speak about with folks, however your whole compensation consists of much more than simply your annual wage. And so with the ability to have that dialog with folks and speak in regards to the second home, for instance, of their natal chart, there’s extra nuanced ways in which I discover myself incorporating this with people, and a few of that’s utilizing their natal chart to really inform job search methods.

Jessica Munson: [00:21:15.24] For instance, not everybody has the identical networking fashion or networking preferences, and you can begin to glean a few of that primarily based on the connection homes in somebody’s natal chart. We’ve additionally achieved timing transits of I’ve been in job seek for some time. I don’t really feel like I’m having any luck. And so we’ll really have a look at like, properly, what’s occurring along with your mid heaven and your tenth home and what transits do you might have taking place now? But in addition what are future transits of when you already know, Jupiter, the Planet of Luck and Alternative may be visiting that space of your chart, for instance. I additionally actually love to make use of the natal chart for folks’s private {and professional} branding. That is one thing that I believe I’ve had probably the most enjoyable with and I did slightly Tik Tok sequence some time in the past the place I had folks drop simply little items of their natal chart in my feedback after which I pretended to be them in a job interview and I answered the query, So inform me about your self. And I simply began embodying a Gemini son with a Taurus Moon. How would possibly they reply that? And that was lots of enjoyable and folks actually resonated with a few of the issues that I pulled out. So we replace their resume, we replace their cowl letter, we have a look at their LinkedIn profile and we observe telling the story in a approach that they really feel actually assured in themselves. Like how do you actually personal your resume expertise? And reply confidently the Inform me about your self query.

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:22:31.65] I really like all this. I’ve a pal of mine, she does HR consulting and he or she’s additionally Reiki licensed and does card readings as properly. And, so, and crystals, we had been really speaking about this over textual content final week. And, how do you place that into your corporation with out making it entrance and heart? Like, I’m not going to be doing Reiki healings obtainable to the general public. But when a pal or a member of the family says, Hey, that is what I want, positive factor. I take pleasure in doing that. And it’s been an fascinating and enjoyable studying course of. So I discover it fascinating and the way you’re inserting it in, within the work that you just do, and it’s completely related in my thoughts, prefer it helps so many alternative, completely different folks in numerous methods.

Jessica Munson: [00:23:24.21] Yeah, completely.

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:23:26.34] Let’s speak about utilizing the weather of vocational astrology now to enhance our workplaces. Discuss to us about that.

Jessica Munson: [00:23:34.62] So I’m stuffed with concepts. I used to be, it was, it’s exhausting for me to compartmentalize as a result of I really feel like there’s simply so many alternatives, and you may take it all the way down to one thing very granular and understanding that, you already know, each Zodiac signal and even parts of lunar phases and the qualities of the planets are related to the 4 parts. After which you’ll be able to herald like feng shui within the office and the way do you honor these the completely different parts. So there’s actually, actually large scale, however then you may also get slightly bit extra granular. Like for me, the very first thing that I considered was folks analytics. That is the way forward for HR. For those who’re not dwelling there already, then folks analytics and information round like your well being metrics of the group, retention, and all of that is actually like, it’s going to be such a heavy emphasis going ahead and actually sturdy. HR goes to want lots of this information acumen. However we now have lots of data as HR practitioners and a few of that’s beginning information for workers, proper? So how fascinating would it not be, for instance, we speak about generations within the workforce. Now we have 5 generations within the workforce proper now. However as a substitute of speaking about what can we do with the millennials? What if we are saying, what can we do with the Pluto and Scorpio technology? As a result of Pluto is a type of generational planets the place you’ll be able to lump folks collectively and nearly all of millennials are the Pluto and Scorpios. So if you already know that Pluto and Scorpios worth, you already know, tattoos within the office, we wish to have coloured hair.

Jessica Munson: [00:24:57.99] We don’t need issues to be taboo. We wish you to be sincere. Discuss pay transparency, proper? Pluto and Scorpio has this bizarre relationship with the thought of debt. And that’s lots of what millennials speak about. Like, these are the assets that we want. That is how we must be compensated. So if you’re constructing profit packages, if you’re creating engagement tasks and stuff like that, as a substitute of considering, Oh, what are we going to do with these millennials and their avocado toast? You’re considering, No, it’s Pluto and Scorpio. Equally, Gen Z is the massive query mark for therefore many individuals as a result of they’ve been within the workforce slightly bit longer now. However we’re sort of like, you already know, they haven’t been within the workforce lengthy sufficient for us to actually get a transparent concept of what a few of these values are, except you’re on Tik Tok after which we’re loud and clear on that. Proper? However if you happen to have a look at it because the Pluto and Sagittarius technology, properly, what does Sagittarius worth? Freedom. They wish to work on issues which are artistic to them. They don’t have the identical psychology round cash that Pluto and Scorpio does. In order that they’re not going to be attracted with these actually, actually excessive wage packages if meaning that they’re going to be compelled into sitting button chair in a workforce. They wish to work from Bali, you already know what I imply? They wish to be entrepreneurs and so they wish to do issues which are actually artistic and passionate and thrilling for them.

Jessica Munson: [00:26:11.28] So if you concentrate on similar to generational within the office and what can we do to have interaction them, what can we do to draw them and to retain them, and the way do we have to alter the profit packages that we’re providing are compensation philosophies, but additionally progress and growth plans. There’s an astrologer that’s really doing this with college students within the classroom, and this could be fascinating to deliver into the office is folks primarily based on their Jupiter signal as a result of Jupiter stays in the identical signal for about 12 months. So the way in which that you just train anyone with a unique Jupiter placement is admittedly fascinating from studying a growth. I’ve considered, for mentoring applications, as a substitute of matching folks up primarily based on some random algorithm that you just’ve tried to create, match them up primarily based on Jupiter indicators. Each 12 years, you’re going to seek out somebody with the identical Jupiter placement as you, and that’s going to be a giant hole of their profession growth as properly. So senior chief, incoming individual, each Jupiter and most cancers, this is sensible. You’re going to have a few of these identical values and signatures and also you’ll simply have this synchronicity in the way in which that you just work. On high of, I imply, have a look at all of the ways in which we use MBTI or the TKI or the strengths finder for private growth, excessive performing teamwork. It’s all astrology. It’s all astrology anyhow, so let’s simply lean into it, proper? I imply, I believe that the chances are countless.

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:27:26.73] I really feel like simply packaging your message such as you’re speaking about with, like Pluto and these areas would possibly resonate with a unique group of individuals another way and begin conversations versus, you already know, oh gosh, it’s the 5 generations within the office presentation. I really feel prefer it’s a brand new technique to share an analogous message. I imply, clearly repackaged with new data and maybe it’s the time that that message goes to get to that supervisor or to that group of staff and actually resonate with them. And I imply, we try this in advertising and branding anyway. Why not try this in how we talk or place or prepare or develop our folks?

Jessica Munson: [00:28:15.96] Yeah, precisely. And that’s the place I believe that it might must be achieved ethically, in fact, as a result of comparable with a few of these different assessments, you open up for room for discrimination, like, Oh, I can’t rent them, they’re an introvert, they’ll by no means be good at gross sales or one thing like that. So I believe that it might must be achieved actually consciously and with a robust integrity. I do assume it might be a extremely enjoyable and distinctive technique to strategy the office.

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:28:38.47] I agree it’s been a few years in the past, however chart hop and myself work collectively and so they had an astrology information for hiring that they despatched out. I believe I informed you this on the prep name. And we did an e mail blast for them and a few social media promotion and it, and it got here out on April Idiot’s Day. However I used to be actually . It was actually fascinating to see the response from folks, prefer it’s just like like Tik Tok. You’ll get like actually constructive reactions or actually unfavorable ones, and lots of people don’t actually have a humorousness, particularly on LinkedIn as a result of these had been probably the most strongest reactions that I acquired. And I’m like, It’s April 1st, simply chill. Like I didn’t write this, is for a promotion. For those who don’t like, don’t learn it. However I really feel like relating to astrology, it’s very, you’re both a believer otherwise you’re completely closed off. There’s not lots of enter in between, however I believe it’s a enjoyable technique to perhaps generate some dialog. Like I mentioned, packaging issues in, in a brand new approach. It doesn’t damage anyone. That’s the enjoyable half.

Jessica Munson: [00:29:50.47] Properly, and, you already know, to cite one other astrologer, Colin Bledel, he mentioned one thing to this just lately. He was speaking about how astrology isn’t one thing that you may consider in. Astrology simply occurs to you and it’s irrelevant to your individual perception system. And I believe psychology, once more, could be very comparable. Whether or not you consider in Piaget’s beginning or beginning order idea, it doesn’t matter. Most center kids nonetheless find yourself the identical approach. So it’s only a approach that we expertise the world and the way in which that we expertise different folks, actually.

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:30:20.20] And it’s, I don’t know, I’m the oldest. So once I consider beginning order like my, my center sister is all about it. So she’s all the time, all the time working within the center. And I wish to swap over to mindfulness coaching. So you’re additionally skilled as a mindfulness facilitator. How is, does that work in your observe proper now?

Jessica Munson: [00:30:43.06] Yeah, I imply, I had a meditation observe lengthy earlier than I began getting skilled in it and earlier than I began actually moving into astrology or something like that. And so the thought of utilizing like meditation and mindfulness as a technique to scale back stress and, you already know, simply perhaps like discover a sense of peace on the earth is all the time been actually necessary to me and a giant worth of mine. Whereas I used to be at CSU and that is once I was working as a scholar coordinator within the Pupil Wellbeing and Resiliency a part of the college, I received skilled on the crew curriculum that got here out of Duke College, and I used to be simply working with college students and completely different workers members on completely different mindfulness methods in an effort to scale back stress for folks. And, you already know, I used to be in a counseling program, so I needed to write like large proposal proposals for stress reduction-based group counseling applications utilizing mindfulness methods. And for me, like one factor that I actually love about it’s that after we say mindfulness, folks simply assume it’s meditation that, that they’re interchangeable. And there’s some overlap, undoubtedly. However we’re mindfulness is completely different is that you just don’t must have like this quiet, serene setting with just like the sound of a babbling brook and also you’re sitting in full lotus, you already know, simply emptying your thoughts of every part prefer it’s really one thing that you are able to do if you had been doing the dishes. It’s one thing that you are able to do if you’re in the course of a heated argument, prefer it’s so accessible and it doesn’t require any degree of like bodily means. You don’t must be like an skilled in something. Like typically it’s as straightforward as only one aware breath out and in.

Jessica Munson: [00:32:22.78] And so I actually like it. Like I’ll usually invite this. I’ve used this with shoppers of, we’re speaking and issues are getting actually heated, or I can inform that their nervous system is beginning to turn out to be overwhelmed and we’ll simply invite a second of stillness. We’ll do thought-labeling workout routines. I used to be really doing a half-day coaching with a expertise acquisition crew as a result of let’s give it up for our recruiters. The final couple of years, if anybody has been struggling in HR, it’s the TA groups, proper? And so I used to be serving to them simply determine like how do they incorporate mindfulness in between interview calls, we did a conscious consuming observe the place you simply eat one thing very consciously and slowly and we turned everybody off of Halloween sweet for the remainder of their life. But it surely’s really easy and it’s so accessible. So I’ll begin conferences this manner. I’ll similar to randomly invite it into the second. The opposite day, my total crew was feeling actually exhausted, so I used to be like, Does anybody wish to do dynamic respiratory with me? Or we will go get an vitality drink, no matter they had been feeling. But it surely’s simply, it’s really easy, it’s so accessible, and I actually love incorporating it and introducing it to folks as a result of it’s not the identical as like, once more, I’ve to be in a quiet room. I must have the crystals round me. It’s really simply, wherever I’m proper now, I can deliver this into my observe as a technique to sort of cope and construct up that resiliency to sort of get by means of no matter we’re working by means of.

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:33:45.04] As you’re speaking, it’s killing me as a result of I’ve been studying this Buddhist monks educating on audiobook. And I, and it’s, I most likely learn like six of his books and he has this actually efficient approach to usher in mindfulness. And it’s only a bell. So any time there’s a bell, he calls it the bell of mindfulness. I’m so sorry that I’m having a mind fart round it, however I’ll put it within the present notes once I bear in mind it in a while after this recording. However it’s, it’s only a small approach. You may choose something. You may choose when your ring doorbell goes off, proper? As a result of it does in your telephone. He additionally really useful, like when your telephone rings, I imply, my telephone doesn’t ring. It simply goes on vibrate. However there’s various things that you may herald to simply be conscious of the second and take a deep breath and, and that’s and respect. After which you’ll be able to transfer on to the remainder of your loopy life.

Jessica Munson: [00:34:40.44] Yeah. I’m considering of so many people that for us, it’s the crew’s messages. Like after we’re getting a name in Microsoft groups as a substitute of it instantly placing nervousness into your physique, like let that be an invite to turn out to be current within the second and prepare for no matter’s in entrance of you.

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:34:55.89] Yeah, I believe it’s a fantastic, it’s a fantastic observe and one thing that doesn’t price any cash to do or take lots of time. And also you don’t should be surrounded by crystals with a bunch of candles and, you already know, no matter, to be, for it to be efficient. And I believe that’s sort of a misnomer relating to like mindfulness. They assume it’s good to be like a yogi guru, you already know, individual touring to, to Bali or India. And it will possibly simply be a minute of time to simply, to simply relaxation and mirror.

Jessica Munson: [00:35:31.08] Precisely.

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:35:32.82] Properly, let’s speak slightly bit about 2023, all proper? What issues ought to we be being attentive to after we take into consideration astrology by means of the HR lens?

Jessica Munson: [00:35:44.94] Yeah. So transit clever, there’s a couple of large ones which are arising that I believe lots of astrologers are speaking about and getting actually enthusiastic about. There’s been lots of buzz round it and that’s Saturn shall be transferring out of Aquarius and into Pisces. That’s going to be taking place in March. Jupiter goes to be transferring out of Aries and into the signal of Taurus. The lunar nodes are shifting from Taurus and Scorpio and into Aries and Libra. In order that implies that the following couple of eclipses the place everybody’s going to be getting loopy, proper? It’s going to be within the Aries and Libra axis. After which I believe that the largest one goes to be Pluto transferring into Aquarius. And that’s as a result of Pluto, once more, is so gradual transferring that that has lots of sturdy implications and we expertise it extra on a collective scale quite than particular person, which is why I believe that HR practitioners will most likely be most inquisitive about pluto shifting into Aquarius. Would you like me to speak slightly bit intimately of, like, what that may really feel like?

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:36:39.18] Yeah. After which when, when is that this taking place? So I can put it on my calendar and be ready?

Jessica Munson: [00:36:43.86] Yeah, I even have my spreadsheet. I used to be similar to taking notes on this. So Pluto goes to maneuver into Aquarius on Friday, March twenty fourth. Now, Pluto has been in Capricorn since 2008 and is simply barely going to be making its approach out of Aquarius. So I wish to be clear that simply because on that day Pluto is shifting into Aquarius, don’t anticipate this like in a single day shift within the expertise as a result of it’s a really slow-moving planet. However we’ll begin to see some clues or like perhaps seeds being planted of what the remainder of that transit goes to really feel like. And really Pluto will transfer ahead a couple of levels after which retrograde again to love the later levels of Capricorn earlier than transferring ahead once more into Aquarius. However after we take into consideration Pluto and for this reason I believe it’s particularly fascinating for HR practitioners, if you concentrate on a few of what Saturn in Aquarius has been doing. Pluto is the planet of energy. We take into consideration who has the ability, who has the authority to say what’s and what’s not. And Pluto in Capricorn, we take into consideration monarchs, we take into consideration presidents, we take into consideration CEOs, and we take into consideration authorities and these large federal establishments take into consideration like larger ed or well being care, like these large established like organizations which have endured by means of time.

Jessica Munson: [00:38:04.80] That’s very Capricorn, proper? The sustainable constructions. So we’ve seen lots of dialog. And that is additionally the US chart. The Sibley chart has Pluto and Capricorn. So the Pluto return of the US has been a giant dialog. What’s going on with our authorities? What’s going on with our well being care? Who has the precise to dictate what legal guidelines you’re alleged to comply with? I do know it is a large factor with the pandemic, proper? Like, properly, which legislation triumphs within the office? Is it federal? Is it state? Like who has the ability? After which I assumed what was most fascinating is by way of hiring, we began realizing that staff held lots of the ability, don’t they? And Saturn and Aquarius, we noticed, you already know, the good restructuring, the turnover tsunami. We noticed lots of people exiting the workforce and coming again in feeling like, hey, because the job seeker, I’ve the ability right here. It’s a must to give me the wage that I need. You could give me the liberty to work and all of this. So I believe that after we contemplate Aquarian, Aquarian is the folks, proper? Aquarian is the collective Aquarian Power is radical.

Jessica Munson: [00:39:09.95] And it’s actually pushed by freedom. So that is once more, like the liberty to work wherever we wish, the liberty to have a facet hustle, the liberty to decide on our personal profit plans. I believe it’s going to be actually fascinating for HR to consider the continuation of this theme of like unions, like, I ought to have whispered that. Set off warning to all HR practitioners. Unions are going to proceed to be a extremely large theme on this as a result of we’re going to see the ability shift from the one, the one head of the corporate, the one head of the nation, or no matter it’s, and shift again into the fingers of the folks, which shall be actually thrilling. However everyone knows that change administration is usually a nightmare if it’s not achieved properly. And so one piece of recommendation I’d say Aquarius is an air signal. Air indicators are about intellectualizing and it’s about speaking. So be actually clear on what plans it’s a must to talk, talk early, talk usually, and keep in contact with folks, however prioritize the thought of autonomy and freedom and be keen to open your thoughts to new paradigms and new methods of doing issues. As a result of that’s what Aquarius needs, is the radicalization of what has already existed.

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:40:20.00] I believe that’s actually exhausting for HR folks as a result of outdoors of perhaps you and me and a handful of others had been not likely very radical.

Jessica Munson: [00:40:28.70] I believe we wish to be.

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:40:29.87] However we must be. Let’s do it. Let’s do it.

Jessica Munson: [00:40:33.08] Proper. And isn’t it? I used to be simply speaking with college students about this simply the opposite day of like so many people go into HR as a result of we love folks. We’re folks folks, however then we discover ourselves in positions the place hastily we begin feeling like law enforcement officials. We begin feeling just like the authority, we begin feeling very Capricorn in the way in which that we work, proper? And so it’s virtually like, Oh. That’s achieved now, proper? We’re hiring folks which are self-led, which are autonomous. And yeah, we’re there to introduce assets, however we now have authorized, we now have compliance, we now have different departments which are accountable for lots of these issues. Our job is to assist put together the world of labor once more to obtain wonderful expertise, to construct up our leaders in a approach that they’ll belief their groups, that we will have psychological security within the workforce. And I believe that the DE&I motion, I’m so grateful for the work that everybody has achieved and I’m actually excited to see what that appears like sooner or later as a result of I believe that we now have solely scratched the floor on what that actually can appear like within the office.

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:41:32.32] Properly, Jessica, thanks a lot for, for speaking with us. The place can folks go to attach with you and be taught extra in regards to the work that you just’re doing?

Jessica Munson: [00:41:42.22] Yeah, so really a couple of completely different locations. As an expert vocational astrologer, you’ll be able to go to www.ThatWitchFromWork.com. All of my handles are @ThatWitchFromWork. However I’m additionally a community astrologer for accessible astrology. And if you wish to be taught extra in regards to the upcoming transits then myself in addition to another astrologers which have a background in psychology, we now have an EMDR licensed therapist, we now have a grief and artwork therapist. We’re creating the 2023 launch equipment that provides you with an summary of all the developments that’s taking place in 2023, in addition to completely different assets, books to learn, movies to observe, that will help you put together to embody the Aquarian vitality that we’re going to be steeping ourselves in subsequent 12 months.

Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:42:24.55] Superior. Properly, thanks for, for taking the time to speak with us. I really like watching you on Tik Tok, and I can’t wait to see what you’re going to do within the New Yr.

Jessica Munson: [00:42:36.22] Me too. We’ll discover out collectively.

Closing: [00:42:39.19] I so respect Jessica for sharing her experience and expertise with us right this moment on the podcast about vocational astrology predictions for the New Yr, all of the issues. I completely love the topic. And if you happen to comply with me on social media, you would possibly know that I just lately grew to become a Reiki grasp trainer and I’m additionally learning angel card readings and crystals. If that’s not for you, cool, cool, cool. But it surely’s one thing that I really like doing. The present notes and all of the assets that we talked about on right this moment’s podcast are over at Workology.com so go over there and examine them out. Thanks for becoming a member of the Workology Podcast sponsored by Upskill HR and Ace the HR Examination. This podcast is for the modern and disruptive office chief who’s bored with the established order. Let’s change the office higher collectively. My title is Jessica Miller-Merrell and I wish to hear from you. Textual content “PODCAST” to 512-548-3005. Ask questions, go away feedback, and make strategies for issues like future company. Till subsequent time, you’ll be able to go to Workology.com to hearken to all our earlier podcast episodes. Have a fantastic day.

Join with Jessica Munson.