I broke out the calculator today and determined I am going through an ordeal less than 1/10 of 1% of the population will ever face. Consequently there is no advice. I simply have to operate on instinct, pretty much adapting like the Borg to whatever I encounter.

One thing I have found via the soldier is that what is learned way out at the rim of life is completely applicable to the every day so here are some tips for Saturn in Virgo around effective communication in intense situations or negotiations.

First as I mentioned before you want to be economical with your words. (Blathering Allowed, But Not Welcome) At the beginning of this fiasco I was blathering and storytelling and HQ helped me to reign myself in, going as far in the early stages to condense ramblings into a concise bulleted list… I got the point.

Secondly, there are times you really want a man’s voice if you can find one. When you go in as a single mother, the lowliest of the low you are very apt to be met with disdain and shown very little respect, even (or perhaps especially) if you are dealing with another woman. If you can’t get an actual man to speak for you, then for Godsakes if you want someone to hear you, then lower your voice an octave and “talk low and slow like John Wayne”. This tip courtesy some old man I knew when I was 19 and he was right.

Last, do your work and while you’re at it, do theirs too if the thing is important. This because people are lazy. They tend to stand around waiting for the other person to do the thing or show up expecting to be taken care of, so if you go into these situations somewhat studied you will be met with shock, intense gratitude, instantaneous respect. Further, most will be willing to extend themselves on your behalf seeing as you are respecting rather than wasting their time with your unedited drivel.

These are my tips. Contribute if you can.