Welcome to another installment of our Stargazer Series: a quarterly predictions report dedicated to the intersection of technology, innovation and the stars! In each report, Astrologer Ariel Neidermeier gives a rundown of the top technology trends based on the astrology of the quarter to help you better market your app. In this report we cover Q4 2021 appstrology trends including the possibility of passionate flare-ups, and a shift in focus to relationships, shared resources, and trust.

Stargazing in Q4 2021

Hello and welcome to the fourth and final Stargazer trends report for 2021! This marks the last installment of our astrological trends reports, in which make starry-eyed predictions about technology trends and how to apply them to your app growth strategy for the quarter.

Astrologically, 2021 will be closing out with a bang. The last two eclipses of the year will occur in November and December. The second of these two eclipses will mark the final eclipse on the Sagittarius-Gemini axis before the lunar nodes transition to a series of eclipses on to the Taurus-Scorpio throughout 2022. Overall, this indicates a time of completion and new chapters moving into 2022.

What do the stars have in store for Q4? Here are 3 key Q4 2021 astrological trends and how to use them to optimize your app growth strategy, team dynamics and beyond.

1. Expect Tempers to Flare

On October 30, Mars will enter one of its home signs: Scorpio. Whenever a planet is in its home sign — also known as when it’s in ‘domicile’ — it’s strengthened. But, depending on the nature of the planet, that’s not always a good thing. Astrologically, Mars is the planet of drive (yes, that includes sex drive), passion, ambition and energy. In Scorpio, the passionate drive of Mars is intense and focused. This is beneficial insofar as Mars in Scorpio will allow us to face down our demons. On the other hand, it could be indicative of power dynamics in which manipulation and psychological warfare are used as weapons of relationship destruction.

From October 30 to December 13, Mars will be transiting the sign of Scorpio and making the following tense aspects throughout its journey:

  • November 10: Mars will square Saturn
  • November 17: Mars will oppose Uranus

These are two dates to mark as days in which tempers will flare and tense, high-pressure situations could arise. In particular, on November 10, Mars’ square with Saturn will also include Mercury and the Moon so communication breakdowns that lead to emotional flare-ups could be a theme.

The overall takeaway of Mars’ term in Scorpio is that expressing one’s rage is healthy. In its higher manifestations, Mars in Scorpio is committed to healing transformation. How can you use disagreements as a way of learning more about yourself and others?

How this could affect your mobile marketing strategy:

Astrologically, the planet Mars represents conflict and commotion. It can also represent leaders who act behind the scenes, such as engineers or military leaders. From this standpoint, Mars’ fiery foray through the sign of Scorpio could represent an intense time of disputes in your organization — and, frankly, in the world too. As stated above, the highest octave of Mars’ energy is one of healing and transformation. How can you foster stronger bonds of unity when disharmony occurs within your app’s team?

Note the dates when Mars will make challenging aspects to Saturn and Uranus. As Mars is the planet of breakdowns, these could be days when sudden malfunctions occur in your growth campaigns. Stay calm in the face of breakdowns and do investigative work to root out hidden issues in the functionality of your app.

2. A Time to Focus on the Ties That Bind

On December 19, Venus will retrograde in the sign of Capricorn. This retrograde will continue into 2022, ending on January 28, 2022. Venus retrogrades about every one and half years. So, it’s not quite as frequent as a Mercury retrograde which occurs every 3 to 4 times per year. As the planet of relationships, when Venus goes retrograde, our partnerships and close friendships are impacted. As Venus will be traveling through the sign traditionally associated with authority — Capricorn — this transit might include power struggles. It could also highlight relationships related to your career that are out of balance.

Finally, Venus’ retrograde will be coinciding with a very close conjunction to Pluto, the planet of power, control and transformation. That being said, an overriding sense of feeling controlled by one’s relationships could be a blossoming theme during this time.

How this could affect your mobile marketing strategy:

As Venus in Capricorn affects relationships in the career sector, expect team dynamics to be a focus. A heightened push for or against control could be a theme with retrograding Venus’ close conjunction with Pluto, the planet of power. Examine how your team’s work policies have changed in the face of ongoing pandemic restrictions. Rather than cementing more freedom, have work from home mandates created more mechanisms of control in you and your team’s day-to-day life? On the flip side, are easing pandemic restrictions leading to a call for going back to the office in the name of renewed supervision?

Harmonization is a key theme to aim for when working with difficult Venus transits. How can you harmonize with each team members’ needs to create a more balanced and unified whole?

3. The Importance of Shared Resources & Trust

On November 19 there will be a partial lunar eclipse in Taurus. Lunar eclipses are amplified Full Moons during which the Moon opposes the Sun in close conjunction with the lunar nodes. The lunar nodes are known as the “nodes of fate”. Astrologically, eclipses are known to have a vast effect on the collective’s consciousness and karmic development.

For the last 18 months, we have experienced an eclipse cycle on the Gemini-Sagittarius axis. On November 19, the lunar nodes will shift to the Taurus-Scorpio axis, therefore, marking our collective shift to Lunar and Solar eclipses in the signs of Taurus and Scorpio over the next 18-19 months.

That being said, since May 5, 2020 we have been focused on Gemini-Sagittarius themes of truth, expansion and freedom. Gemini and Sagittarius rule worldly matters such as air travel, tourism, commuting, roads, transport, education, our school systems, our beliefs, religion, faith, life philosophies. Therefore, for the last 18 months, there have been major changes to these spheres with global travel, our education systems and beliefs undergoing major shifts in the face of the pandemic.

With our shift to an eclipse cycle in Taurus and Scorpio, our collective focus will transition to themes of values, self-worth and personal vs. shared resources. These resources include those that are tangible (money, food, shelter) as well as intangible (resilience, perseverance, kindness).

This inaugural Lunar Eclipse in Taurus on November 19 will activate themes related to what you value and how you value it. There is a risk of overextending one’s resources via overspending on or around this date.

How this could affect your mobile marketing strategy:

Turn a discerning eye to your ad spend and budgeting on or around November 19. With the partial Lunar Eclipse in Taurus activating themes related to resources, this could be a time when you could realize there are imbalances in how much you’re spending versus receiving in ROI. As the Taurus- Scorpio axis is one of passion and perseverance, handle your growth partnerships with care. Trust is also a major theme with these signs. Evaluate potential partners with rigor and follow your gut. Surrounding yourself with growth partners who you have long-term relationships with built on trust will be increasingly important as we move into 2022.

Takeaways

In our fourth and final installment of our Stargazer appstrology trends report, we cover the energetic themes of Q4 using the insights from the stars. See a quick summary of the major transits and trends below.

  • Mars in Scorpio (10/30-12/13): Mars will be transiting Scorpio from October 30 until December 13. It will also be making challenging aspects to Saturn and Uranus throughout its journey. This means themes of conflict, healing and transformation will be a focus. How can you use disagreements productively to learn more about yourself and others?
  • Venus Retrograde in Capricorn (12/19-1/28): Venus will be retrograding in the sign of Capricorn from December 19 through the end of the year. Relationships and commitment will be themes. With Venus traveling very close to Pluto, the planet of power, control will also be a major theme. How can you implement mechanisms within your workplace that give your team members a sense of empowerment while maintaining accountability?
  • Partial Lunar Eclipse in Taurus (11/19): This will mark the lunar nodes’ shift from the Gemini-Sagittarius to the Taurus-Scorpio axis. This means themes of values, self-worth and personal vs. shared resources will take focus. Careful of campaign overspending on or around that day. Focus on surrounding yourself with growth partners that you trust.