ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS APRIL 16 - 22, 2006 All times/dates are PDT. ARIES will now go the extra mile for his/her child or children. This trend began in July 2005, and lasts until September 2007. Aries parents now realize their reputation and status is bound up with their children's success. This is a good time to chase "deadbeat" Aries parents, be they men or women. New Aries parents will remain dedicated for life. Aries are often called hotheaded, reckless, impetuous -- but this is exactly what's valuable about them. Without reckless Aries, the west might never have been won, the moon landings might have been a figment, and most wars would have been lost. Aries - the sign of the warrior - has heard about Doubt, but thinks it lives in another country. (As in "Thereadoubts.") Aries starts things; without them we'd be wandering in circles. My historian friend Bob tells me certain Amerindian tribes made their best warriors (i.e., Aries types) live apart from the tribe - then called them in when there was a war. Their violent personalities were unappreciated during peacetime. We have a similar structure today, with our armies living on bases. I think Aries' sense of humor - probably the strongest of any sign - might have been bred from centuries of dealing with this conundrum: that society needs them - intensely at some junctures - yet many members of society feel threatened by Aries' full-speed ahead personality. Poor Aries has had to charm his/her way into society, and since he couldn't do the shrinking violet thing, he has learned to laugh and joke his way in. Aries is the primal leader. It is also the first sign of spring. In ancient times Aries was not a god of war, but of agriculture - he ruled the emergence of plants. Aries is the sword blade of grass pushing through the soil. (The seed is sexy SCORPIO; the flower is beautiful LIBRA, and discriminating VIRGO rules harvests, "picks" the fruit.) Many Aries underwent major relationship dilemmas and pressures from 1972 to 1984. From 1984 to 1995, some members of this sign walked through the biblical "valley of the shadow of death" - its walls were the mysterious pressures of life and sex, power and inner psychological puzzles. From 1996 to the present, Aries has awoken to wisdom. Now this sign understands life as few others do. 2007 will bring the fortunate height of wisdom, compassion, love - and travel! Aries who enter higher learning this year (December 06 through August 07 is best) will do extremely well. In 2006 many Aries will climb to the heights of career success, and be launched on a "power phase" (2009 to 2024) in which their career - and status as parents - will change. Start Nothing: 11:41 a.m. to 2:13 p.m. Tues., 6:15 p.m. Wed. to 6:56 p.m. Thurs., and 4:03 p.m. to 9:43 p.m. Sat. Aries March 21-April 19 Plunge into legal, far travel, media, advertising, higher learning, philosophical, fame, writing, ideational or cultural pursuits Sunday before noon or Tuesday morning. In love, the road is winding, complex. A secret love's possible. Be ambitious Tuesday eve through Wednesday - luck is with you, two ways. You can achieve a stabilizing of your status. Or you could attain a potentially huge advance if you research or investigate, hold a confidential discussion, and/or seek the aid of government or head office for investment, financial or "wholesale change" plans. Happiness late week! Taurus April 20-May 20 Over the next several weeks, you start to speak/deal with "hidden allies," government agencies, even with those who have fought against you. (Think back to June/July 2005 - and to some degree to August 05 through February 06 - that period started you on some course. Now you can, with curiosity, investigate all the options that path has brought you to.) Expect confidential discussions! Sunday and early Tuesday show the "success road" for finances, sex, and lifestyle changes - take it! Your energy and effectiveness rise strongly Wednesday onward - for a month! Gemini May 21-June 20 You'll meet something or someone Sunday to Tuesday that/who changes your life in a productive way; as a result, you might make an investment, begin an intimate affair, or instigate a lifestyle change mid-week. (Wednesday is best.) The "trigger" might be nothing more than unexpected information. Now to late May, you'll sink more deeply into yourself, you'll contemplate new horizons and plan for the future. Your income looks great now to June 3, but you might also go on a spending binge - practice restraint, or you'll be worse off! Cancer June 21-July 22 Tackle chores Sunday to Tuesday - that leaves you free to enjoy the month of social delights, popularity, entertainment, flirtation, optimism and happiness that starts Wednesday night! Relationships, opportunities and challenges fill Tuesday eve to Thursday. (Wednesday's most successful.) Life's depths arrive Thursday night to Saturday: dig deep, look within, underneath. Be slow to commit. You are going to be determined, assertive and ambitious now to early June - for some reason, this will attract the opposite sex, also. Be gentle with everyone, neither pushy nor strict, especially in love areas. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 You enter a month of ambition, relations with VIPs and bosses, parenting roles, status and prestige, pressures and "tests" mid-week. A lot should go well with these areas, especially in early May, when closed-door meetings, research, government links or "quiet alliances" could trigger opportunities in career, sales territory, real estate or family arenas. Don't make enemies, and strictly avoid legal hassles, now through early June. Destiny calls Sunday - love, romance, a creative venture or gamble could be your doorway to stable success. Work goes well Wednesday. Relationships excite Friday/Saturday! Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Mid-week ushers in four weeks of enlightenment, understanding, compassion, culture, publishing/media, higher education, far travel, legal affairs, insurance, philosophy and gentle love - a sweet, nice time! Now to early May, others treat you affectionately, but "destiny" might interfere with the ultimate success of a love (or creative-public) venture all April. Still, early May will bring such a sweet social streak, easy conversation and flirtation, that you'll forget earlier disappointments! Tie up a property-related investment Sunday morning, if you can: destiny is on your side. Be romantic, creative, speculative Wednesday! Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Wednesday night begins a month of mystery, life changes, the birth of some possibilities and the death of others, investments, debt, pregnancy, lust, dreams, occultism, investigation and research. Your subconscious will rise close to the surface - ask it questions, make requests! "Destiny" aids travel, communications, love and partnerships Sunday, but it nixes your work, health, or machinery goals around April 30. Time significant actions for the first week of May, when many things will go well - including money, sex, relationships and work. Through May, step lightly with bosses, parents. Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 A somewhat un-enjoyable month of work, health and demanding situations ends midweek, to usher in fresh horizons, new relationships, and intriguing opportunities - as well as some challenges and opposition. The challenges tend to cluster around April 24, 30, and May 10 and 14. You "best run" will be the first week of May, when many love, travel, educational and cultural, money and creative doors open - for those who knock! Strictly avoid legal hassles through June 3. You can wrap up (or successfully begin) a big money-related chore Sunday. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Mid-week begins a month of work and health concerns, of machinery, tools, dependents and other practical stuff. Life will be enlivened by a few smaller trends: 1) until May 3, your home remains a sweet, friendly place; 2) until May 4, flirtatious (or creative) words and messages give you moments of joy; and 3) until June 2, you'll be deeply intrigued by one or more of the following: a sexual temptation, a romance turning deeply intimate, a speculative, inventive investment, or a pleasurable streak of secrecy, detective work or research. Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 A wee streak of destiny could help you solve a property or family issue (or begin a successful project in these areas) before noon Sunday. Then lie low, be contemplative, restful into early Tuesday. Your energy surges upward late Tuesday onward, just as a month of winning, of romance, beauty, happiness, pleasure and creativity begins! Make your mark Wednesday. Chase money Saturday. Until June 3, relationships of all stripes (love, business, etc.) will be volatile, intense. Be diplomatic, but be ready to end a non-productive link. Your future's bright! Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Your money still looks good (until May 3). Midweek begins a month of domesticity, real estate and property concerns, of nurturing, gardening, agriculture and parenting. You'll feel tired as a brief "hibernation urge" takes over. This conflicts with a hectic spate of work demands lasting into early June, so alternate work and rest. Protect your source of income around April 30, when an optimistic idea might not work. Earlier (Sunday this week) a social contact could turn your life's path into "easy lane" or open a path of opportunity! Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Destiny is co-operative Sunday in areas of career, parenting, prestige and community status. You could be admitted where you wouldn't usually think yourself "equal." Tuesday to Thursday raises your hopes about life, love, and the future generally. These days also begin a month of travel, casual contacts, communications and details. Now to early June, expect some powerful flirtations or sexy stares. Take advantage; respond with courage. This trend is "doubled" the last two weeks of April, but you might have to decide between sexy stuff and your career/reputation. www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-261-1337. /30/