ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS AUGUST 21 - 27, 2005 All times/dates are PDT. Several big trends have just started, or will soon. Here's a brief outline: We began one of the best "windows" for successful action, for launching important projects, last week. This window lasts until October 23. (Technically, it lasts to the evening of October 25 - but major projects/commitments begun October 24 and 25 will yield dull, constrained results.) Unfortunately, this window will be followed by a long period, October 25/05 through November 24/06, that advises against starting big practical ventures. The most obvious failures (of new projects) will be in biotech, medical research, police states, crime, sexual operations, meat and slaughtering, rendering, herbicides/pesticides, tropical diseases, jungle and swamp terrains, and some "psychic" areas. A huge crime bust - or more than usual - will fill the media. These 13 months (late October/05 to late November/06) will be hard times for murderers. Governments - especially monarchies and "benevolent dictatorships" - will try to curb expansion in crime organizations, oil companies, and generally those fields listed above (biotech, etc.). Saudi Arabia is a monarchy, and it will likely try to repress crime and murder (terrorists) and oil companies. But the Saudi chart, if correct, indicates that this repression might ultimately fail by 2008. The recent death of the king and the succession were not a large enough upheaval to "satisfy" the Plutonic indications. In 2008, Pluto squares the Saudi Sun, so we either get a major succession via the present king dying by accident, murder, etc., or a major transformation of the entire ruling family. (When I predicted a "peaceful revolution and transformation of the state" of the U.S.S.R in the early 1980's, this was the aspect indicating it.) This transformation could be accomplished by peaceful means, of course, should the Saud family decide to initiate big reforms. If the nation's chart is correct, we should know by early 2007 whether it is going to be by violence from outside, or reform inside. In the worst case (for the Saudis) a type of war will begin in 2007, and culminate in the overthrow of the monarchy by 2008. Another major but shorter trend is Mars in Taurus until February. All of us, since late July, have been feeling an impulse toward action in a different direction. This impulse will continue for many months, and it is a very important urge. We should follow it, but soon. The best time is August 29 to September 30. For many, it is a sexual, adventurous, inventive, masculine, "build things" urge. Not a gardening, nurturing urge. Macroscopically, it signals new trends in love, sex, beauty, art, and spending habits. Romance will tend to decline while the sensual side of life will rise. Start Nothing: 2:45 a.m. to 4:01 p.m. Sun., 4:46 a.m. to 6:58 p.m. Tues., 11:14 p.m. Wed. to 1:42 a.m. Fri., and after 7:49 p.m. Sat. Aries March 21-April 19 A month of work begins Monday. Your work duties, maybe your place of work, will change over the month ahead, probably around mid-September. If you want to change jobs, start a business venture, law suit or educational program, purchase a major machine, car, computer, etc., do so now through mid October, or wait until December 2006 (yes, 6) onward. You start this week with high energy and charisma and you end it on a friendly, happy note Saturday morning. A minor dispute or problem needs quick "cutting" action around Thursday. Taurus April 20-May 20 A month of romance, creativity, speculation, pleasure, sports and games, and joys from children starts Monday eve. You'll be on a winning streak! But rest Sunday eve to Tuesday eve - plan, contact the government, institutions, charities or psychics. Most importantly, this early week rest recharges your emotional and physical batteries for the opportunities, excitement, and blossoming experiences facing you in the weeks ahead. The hardest things you'll have to face are new domestic responsibilities. You might confront these Thursday: an argument is dumb; action, especially pruning action, is smart. Gemini May 21-June 20 Your decisiveness returns. The month ahead features home, family, property, garden/agri, renovations, security, retirement plans, kids, basic foundations in business. You and your mate might disagree on where to live or how. Use the month ahead to decide which projects and relationships are worthy of more "investment," and which are stale, incapable of further growth. Abandon the latter without guilt. You'll feel a bit sluggish: that's nature, telling you to rest. (You'll have a more successful autumn if you do.) A thread of romance/beauty brightens your days. Success Saturday morning! Cancer June 21-July 22 You start this week with ambition Sunday eve to Tuesday. (Monday's best, Tuesday's "too late.") Your mood turns social, and your hopes rise high Tuesday night into Thursday. Enjoy these days but don't start important projects, as practical barriers and problems lie in wait. One of the biggest difficulties lies in perceiving the truth about your earning power or your spending needs. Stop, look carefully: are you overestimating your reserves, or are you needlessly worried? Thursday should provide the answer, perhaps through a friend's comment. Retreat, recharge yourself Friday/Saturday. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 You will argue with and wrestle with the "impossibility of clarity" in situations from Wednesday onward - particularly relationship situations (marriage, contracts, dealings with the public, exploration of new horizons). This partly occurs because another (spouse, partner, associate) doesn't believe in the same future as you. (Or respect your career ambitions.) Or, you just feel fuzzy-minded! My advice: prune your expectations the way you'd prune an overgrown bush, so you can set off again with a sharper, more efficient approach. Love, travel Monday. Careful with money mid-week. Happiness Saturday morning! Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 At last, your month of weariness and burdens ends! You get a brand new start Monday night onward, as a month of high energy, charisma, effectiveness and good timing begins. (Don't expect your life to transform at once - that takes effort and resolve, but you have these now, in abundance!) Start important projects, ask favors, try to see important people, show off your skills, tackle "usually hard" situations. Your sexual and financial instincts are powerful now to February, but act (invest, change life, etc.) before October for best results. Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 On Monday you enter a month of quietude and lowered energy. Mid-August through mid-October (despite your lowered energy levels through late September) is one of the most reliable, productive times in many months. Begin important projects in government, administrative, spiritual, institutional, charity, assembly line, health, and similar zones before September 21. Begin significant projects that demand your personal presence, skills and magnetism - and important favors - between September 22 and October 23. Then begin nothing, stick with the status quo, for the following 13 months. Careful with finances, sex Wednesday/Thursday. Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Much pressure will lift from your shoulders Monday onward - not permanently, for you have just entered 2 years of increased duties and career striving. But your luck is rising! Monday brings a month of renewed hope, flirtations, entertainment, social delights, increased popularity and "lightness!" In addition, late October will begin a two-year run of personal and money luck unlike anything you've seen for over a decade! So do spend now through September planning a bright future! Sidestep someone's conflict with "authority" around Thursday - it's not your fight. Good changes Saturday. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Be ambitious over the weeks ahead. Work, career will be hectic, creative and intense. You have a window for successful action, mid-August to October 23. (Yes, one week's already gone, so get busy!) Then, major practical projects should not be started for 13 months - November 2005 through November 2006. This especially applies to money ventures. Romance, beauty and pleasure draw you Sunday eve to Tuesday. Start work tasks slowly, carefully mid-week. Sidestep an "old argument" about work or love Thursday. An exciting meeting or opportunity Friday night, Saturday morning! Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 The month ahead accents law, learning, far travel, international themes, foreign-born people, culture, rites of passage. Your understanding flows. Love will appear in some form, from compassion to romance. (Now to February, your passionate, creative side is pumping strongly, too! However, this week - as two weeks ago - you run into the paradox that sex is not romance, or that creativity is seldom rewarded. Stick with romance, creativity anyway.) You have just entered a two-month window of successful action lasting to October 23. Start projects; then forbear until December 2006. Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 The month ahead emphasizes mysteries, the occult, your subconscious, large finances, investments, debt, financial commitments, sex, pregnancy, intimate bonding, lust, power, diagnosis, research, detective work, lifestyle changes, and consequential actions. Your immersion in one/some of these could change your future goals - even your social circle - by mid-September. Now to October 23 presents a window for successful action, the best in a year, and the best for the 13 months to follow. So get ready to act. Be hopeful, seek "consequence!" Be gentle on the home front Thursday. Love, Saturday! Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 The month ahead brings important meetings. You will face some opposition, and need to be diplomatic. On the other hand, relationships will spark opportunities in love/marriage, in business (contracts, negotiations, new territories) in public dealings/fame, and in relocation. Be eager to join! Now to October 23 offers successful action and new beginnings, in relationships but also (tending toward October) in finances, funding, investments, debt, sex, health and lifestyle changes. Be prepared to act, to commit, because the 13 months following (November/05 to November/06) will not favor new starts. For a reading with Tim: 604-261-1337. www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. /30/