Like our ancestors who worshipped both Mother Earth and Father Sky, I stay grounded by watching the stars. But what can astrology tell me about my career and leadership skills?
About 15 years ago I became interested in astrology. Based on the premise ‘as above, so below’, this endlessly fascinating science analyzes the marriage of Mother Earth and Father Sky. In other words, it looks at the relationship between patterns in the sky and phenomena on earth. I believe that studying your natal chart – the astronomical snapshot of the sky taken at the moment and from the position you were born – can provide you with precious tools to express your natural gifts, in many different areas of your life. So, when renowned ‘astro–economist’ Han van Straaten suggested a reading of my chart, focusing on my career and leadership skills, I jumped at the chance! Here are some highlights of the insightful ‘soul map’ he made for me:

A little crazy
Wearing heels to my Holy Communion and bright orange tights to elementary school; it was obvious from a very young age that I don’t like to conform to societal norms. Han credits my Aquarius rising, which makes me present myself to the outside world in an authentic way (your rising sign says a lot about your personality). He explains that people with their sun, moon or ascendant in Aquarius are ‘a little crazy’. Crazy in a good way, because with our non–conformist style, we inspire others to be themselves. (We have to weapon ourselves against bullying, however; not everybody likes a quirky outsider). Also, my moon, which drives your emotional, caring, and maternal side, is given an unconventional twist by Aquarius. Hence the fact that I’ve always been the opposite of a stay– at–home mom and was able to focus on building a reputation as a trailblazing artist/entrepreneur. When I started smashing sexual taboos by producing daring, high–quality lingerie I broke through worldwide. In other words, my Aquarian ‘craziness’ played a big role in making my brand a household name.

Passionate
The revolutionary Aquarius influence in my chart gets a boost from pioneering Sagittarius. With not only my sun (identity) and south node (developed qualities) in Sagittarius, but also my Mercury (knowledge and communication) and midheaven (purpose and career), you can say that this adventurous sign dominates my horoscope! The fact that the passionate, impatient and visionary Sagittarius is always ahead of the curve is very helpful for me as a designer, because it enables me to intuitively forecast future trends. And there is plenty of fiery energy – Sagittarius being a fire sign – to lead and inspire the people I work with. Han had one tip for me and all other Sagittarius leaders out there: be careful not to alienate people with your forward thinking; unfortunately, many of us still live with our backs turned towards the future…

Wild horse
Astrology is also known as a language of symbols. Han likes to describe my chart as ‘a wild horse’ (in Greek mythology, Sagittarius was half–man, half–horse) that I managed to tame. I like that! How else to explain the success of my brand, right? Well, my explosive urge to innovate, fueled by all those Sagittarian and Aquarian influences, is counterbalanced by the inevitable field of tension between four planets: the ambitious, controlling Saturn opposite the revolutionary combination of Uranus and Pluto, pushing all their energy towards Mercury, the planet that directs the way we share information.

The message
Sounds a bit abstract? To understand the spirit of the Uranus–Pluto combination, think of the revolutionary Sixties: the sexual liberation, the ‘flower power’ etc. Then, try to see Saturn as a strict and extremely demanding schoolmaster, and you get why there is so much tension between these planets. Can you imagine all that explosive tension finding an outlet through communication planet Mercury? No wonder storytelling has played such a huge role in the building of my brand! In this context, Han also mentioned the strength of my message: I am selling radically innovative lingerie (Uranus–Pluto in perfectionist Virgo) that is manufactured using the highest quality standards (Saturn in the crucial first house). When he said that, I was reminded of winning the Businesswoman of the Year award in 2007, getting praised for my brand’s ‘combination of groundbreaking design, perfect fit, detailed workmanship and innovative materials and techniques.’ Looking back and recognizing each planet’s influence in my accomplishments is both fun and inspiring; I can’t wait to harness their energy for all my future endeavors! Because even though some people still believe that astrology is about predicting the future, I think it’s so much better than that. It’s about empowering you to shape your own future.