Do any of you use astrology for planning purposes, and if so, how?

I do - all the time. For example:

I have greatly improved the texture and body of my hair over the last few years (unfortunately I am genetitically doomed to fine hair) by getting it cut as often as possible when the moon is waxing in leo. Virgo is the second choice, it makes a haircut more precise so it lasts longer. Hmmm, better get my hair cut in the next few days then - the moon won't wax in leo again until february! when that is not possible, I pick a good venus aspect, of course! Avoid getting haircuts in pisces - unless you like it messy. and avoid bad venus (hair) and also mars (cutting) aspects.

When scheduling meetings with the boss - I check the emphemeris, or my calendar, which is from Llewellyn & list aspects. If given a choice & it is at all possible, I pick the best possible day for boss meetings and/or work presentations. For the business audits we do every year, and budgeting and stuff like that, I schedule around mercury retrogrades whenever possible.

Likewise for stuff like job interviews - when given a choice of days or times, I choose based on the astrology.

Another tip to keep in mind is that things are more likely to go your way when the moon is in your sun sign - and less likely when it is in the opposite sign to your sun.

When scheduling medical procedures such as surgery, the waning moon is better as there is less bleeding. And there is the old rule about not scheduling while the moon transits the sign that part of the body rules. When I get my teeth cleaned I prefer the waning moon, in capricorn if possible.

Void of course moons can also be used for scheduling things that you WANT nothing to come of - such as medical tests. Or things you don't really want to happen.

Also travel - I would change flights if possible to avoid really bad "train wreck" aspects, for sure!

Now, I can't say definitively whether or not doing this almost all my life has helped in any way. Which is what reminds me of the paradox of Schrodinger's cat:

(From whatis.techtarget.com:

This situation is sometimes called quantum indeterminacy or the observer's paradox : the observation or measurement itself affects an outcome, so that the outcome as such does not exist unless the measurement is made. (That is, there is no single outcome unless it is observed.))

But my belief is that it does help. While it is not always possible to get every scheduled event to line up, so to speak, when done consistently it gives one what I call "the edge". I have seen over the years that I do have "the edge" and I have seen improvement and what some might deem luck in many areas. My hair has gotten way better since I've done this, my teeth too, I get glowing reviews of my work, business situations nearly always go my way and I nearly always get the job if I want it. Just think of it this way: if over say a period of months and years you always pick a favorable time to meet with the boss, but everyone else chooses a time at random, maybe not obviously, but subtly, you develop an edge. Your relationship is good, because the conditions are favorable 90% of the time when you meet.

But would it be good anyway? One never knows, and thus the paradox. Just by observing the outcome you may have changed it. Ah quantum theory, gotta love it!

So anyway, do you have astro-techniques you use for planning? What are they, and do you think the result is any different than if you did not use them?

vajra you are brilliant and a joy to have here! and i'm not just saying that because i am slightly obsessed with my hair,ha

thanks Kash! Ya, hair obsession time, er...Venus in Leo coming up! 

A cartoon I wanted to post above but image post wasn't working:

http://www3.tsl.uu.se/~flechl/images/cartoon/schrodingerscat.jpg

I second Kash's sentiment! Great cartoon!

I have noticed that things go my way much easier when the Moon is in my sun sign, I'll be keeping this in mind. 

Do you recommend any good reading material on this topic?

The haircut tip comes from a book called Guided by the Moon: Living in Harmony with the Lunar Cycles

Laughing my butt off at the Cheshire Schroedinger's Cat.