ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS SEPTEMBER 25 - OCTOBER 1,2005 All times/dates are PDT. My comments on Katrina (and Bush) provoked a lot of emails. Let me present the opposite view, as put in an email sent to me. The writer asked to remain anonymous. "_after reading your intro for next week, I will have to strongly disagree with your criticism of Bush and the military. New Orleans is 67% black; the Mayor and the majority of the city council is black, as is the Chief of Police. When did the Mayor order a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans? Saturday - the day before Katrina struck. Who was the one who placed poor people in the Dome and did not evacuate them while there was time? The Mayor. These actions are not racism but reflect the Mayor's bad decisions, a Mayor who fell apart during this crisis. Did the Governor of Louisiana counter his decisions? No, she did not. Nor did the Governor request Federal assistance till Wednesday! Because the leadership of the Federal Government respects states rights (this in fact is characteristic of our country), in domestic situations the Feds cooperate and coordinate with the State leadership, in this case, Louisiana. While the Federal government will offer assistance, the State can turn down the Feds. In case you don't know, President Bush offered assistance to the Governor of Louisiana and she said she would give her response in 24 hours! Sorry, I don't know what day this week this occurred. "Since I served active duty in the US Navy, not the National Guard (there is a distinction between the two), for several years I know it isn't elitism that restrains the US military from acting during national crisis, but the fact that we take our orders from not just generals and admirals but ultimately the civilian leadership. The US active duty military acts when the President tells us to, not when the governor does. The only troops that are under any Governor's control are the National Guard - again, not active duty - comprised of citizens from his/her respective state. "I do agree that we as a country could have performed better. I also agree there are federal agencies that failed the President and the people in the aftermath of Katrina, namely FEMA and to a lesser extent the Department of Homeland Defense. The hard lessons are the ones we remember and learn the most from." Start Nothing: 6:24 p.m. Mon. to 7:03 a.m. Tues., 8:12 a.m. to 7:44 p.m. Thurs., and after 6:22 p.m. Sat. Aries March 21-April 19 Relationships become your main focus through late October. A significant change brews with your spouse, business partner, lover or other. Single Aries could move (or already have) swiftly to intimacy - and later to relationship. Someone talkative, restless, with a keen intellect, if met before October 8, could form an unfortunate combination with you. After the 8th, you will meet cheerful people who are inclined to pursue (or argue with) you. This combination could be quite fortunate! Home, nature, a sluggish mood Sunday/Monday. Romance, other pleasures Tuesday to Thursday. Work, Friday/Saturday. Taurus April 20-May 20 The month ahead features hands-on work, machinery, health, diet, nutrition, and care of dependents. Don't bury yourself in these things this autumn, as that could make you miss something better. This is a month of temptations, in some respects. If you see that you're just tackling a job in order to ignore a problem or decision somewhere else, leave the job and tackle that other problem. Don't buy machinery, car, computer, etc. - or if you must, do it after October 8. The opposite sex intrigues, provides a relief to drudgery! Gemini May 21-June 20 Them month ahead features romance, pleasure, speculation, creativity, charming kids, vacations, fun travel. You'll love life, you'll see beauty, you could fall in love! But this whole area contains some odd, inexplicable delays and/or mildly unsavory motives - if you sense these (in yourself or another) turn and walk away. Pristine motives are necessary, or you could walk into a sweet trap. If you're single, you'll meet "more likely" prospects after October 8 than before. Chase money Sunday/Monday. Flirt, travel, communicate, write Tuesday to Thursday dawn. Seek home, family, nature Friday/Saturday. Cancer June 21-July 22 Your energy, charisma and effectiveness rise Sunday/Monday, so tackle important tasks, get things done. What you want to accomplish, this week and the next three, might be related to home, family, real estate, security, perhaps to your future retirement. Don't be led into a subtle trap in these zones, especially before October 8. The promise of unrealistic rewards, inexplicable delays, or a general un-alert fuzziness in your thinking, a sort of "automotion," are signs that a trap might be lurking. Chase money Tuesday/Wednesday, but avoid deception around midday Wednesday. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Don't get tangled up in time-wasting paperwork, errands, short trips, casual contacts. Stop long enough to see the "big picture" in all things. This way, you'll have a "direction finder" as you enter one of the most important two years of your life. In the first year ahead (starting late October) you're going to find and examine the foundations of your life. In the second year, you're going to burst into a successful new venture - it could be love, it could be creative, but it will be an adventure! Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Chose between earning, buying and selling on the one hand, and investing, buying to hold, commitment to the long term, on the other. The latter will probably work out better - and the former could be a trap, especially before October 8. The same "either/or" affects sex (casual no, profound, yes) lifestyle changes (yes) versus the status quo (no) and whether you depend on supposedly "known facts" (no) or do your own research (yes). Optimism, flirtation and social joys arrive Sunday/Monday. Lie low Tuesday-Thursday. Your energy, charisma soar Friday/ Saturday! Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Your energy, charisma, effectiveness, sense of timing - all these surge upward now through late October! Start important projects, seek favors, place yourself where you'll get attention - see and be seen! But (especially before October 8, but generally now through next June) be willing to seek advice, to partner with someone, to share your good luck and energy - avoid even a hint of arrogance! Major changes loom in partnership, sex, finances and potential relocation but they might be put on hold for awhile. Your money picture looks good. Be ambitious Sunday/Monday! Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Rest, lie low, avoid competition for the four weeks ahead. This is your last period of lowered energy before the most buoyant, bubbly, cheerful, upbeat 2-years of this decade begins (October 25)! That 26 months will be the more successful, the more rest you get now. (I'm not promising everything will be hunky-dory. You'll have to work hard. Higher-ups will expect much and give little, the whole two years - but you should see more - much more - money by 2007, and could "lock in" your career position for 3 decades!) Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 The four weeks ahead bring wish fulfillment, optimism, flirtations, new hopes, bright skies, entertainment, group activities and social delights. These are great things, but watch that they are not leading you away from more valuable, significant things, such as the creative urge, romance, love, deep pleasure, and the joy of children. (Many Sages, this year, in an unusual turn, are much less social anyway - that's okay!) You might want to join a new group - if so, after October 8 is better than before. Mysteries, investments, intimacy succeed Sunday/Monday! Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Ambition (or your boss or parent) calls you for the next four weeks.You face career, business, prestige, community and reputation pressures. Usually, I'd say this is a great opportunity for success, but this month (and year) you have to be a little suspicious of your own motives, and of "ambition." If you experience weird little delays, or feel like you can capture a great reward but it keeps dancing just beyond your grasp, turn and walk away. Relationships are sweet, opportunities real, Sunday/Monday. Careful with investments mid-week. Love, Saturday? Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Strictly avoid lawyers and lawsuits this month ahead (and generally through June, 2006). Education, academia, far travel, foreign-born people, cultural rituals, love, all intellectual endeavors, publishing, religion and "the meaning of life" attract you now, but these matters could also be time wasters, or have a negative effect on other parts of your life. E.g., this is not the time to abandon your spouse for a wild trip to Patagonia. It sounds superficial, but sticking to lighter things, short trips, conversation, casual modes, would be better. Mysteries, changes Friday/Saturday. Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 The month ahead features mysteries, secrets, sexual desires, subconscious urges, lifestyle changes, health diagnosis, commitment and consequence. Usually these fascinating things are beneficial to your progress in life, Pisces, but this time around they might be doorways to a trap or dead-end. Be careful what you commit to, especially before October 8. (After that date, to October 24, these things might trigger great good fortune for you!) Romance, passion, beauty, creativity's fine fury, visit you Sunday/Monday! Take care with chores and machines Tuesday-Thursday. An exciting meeting or opportunity comes Friday/Saturday. www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading with Tim: 604-261-1337. /30/