ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS JUNE 18 - 24, 2006 All times/dates are PDT. I have three don'ts and a do for you today. First, Mercury retrogrades in early July, so we shouldn't be starting anything new from here on. Since Jupiter (prosperity) badly aspects Saturn (practicality) into November, we shouldn't start anything practical for many months. Third, a new 18-month karmic period starts this week (June 22) - showing each of us a path of most resistance, of dead-ends and delay, loss and temptation, and a path of smooth, pleasing results, of ease, fruitful effort and calm conscience. Since I'm late with these karmic forecasts, and since many newspapers that publish "Astral Reflections" don't print this preamble, today I'm going to address these three don'ts and one do for every sign in the weekly messages below. But I'll also keep writing the in-depth karmic forecasts over the weeks ahead. I've done PISCES, ARIES, TAURUS and GEMINI, so today is CANCER'S turn. (BTW, please remember, these forecasts are mainly "karmic advice" - many other events and trends are not covered here.) Cancer, the 18 months ahead (June 22, 2006 to December 18, 2007) encourage you to broaden your vision, to read and learn, travel afar, sample other cultures, watch foreign films, and generally to soak up the world and its rationale. This is an excellent time for Cancer scholars, lawyers, accountants, insurance agents. It's also a good time for all Cancers to enter such fields - for example, to enroll in college or law school. Religion, philosophy and cultural events (weddings, bat mitzvahs, etc.) bless you. During these same 18 months, avoid wasting your time on casual contacts, short trips, mere curiosity, details, paperwork and errands. Seek the profound, in relationships and intellect - books, not magazines; ideas, not details. Sign contracts rather than rely on verbal commitments. Learning and vision will be tied to "a secret" or research in the spring of 2007. You might marry a sexual partner, or sign a significant financial contract. During the last year of this period (December/06-December/07) your work will expand, and somehow this will trigger a) love with a co-worker, b) a more creative job, or c) a new life horizon (to appear in 2008). Your work will in some way highlight, or bring to a climax, your choice between the "karmic choices" mentioned in the last paragraph. For example, you might have to choose between a work contract and a casual understanding with the boss, or between studying to improve your career potential, or slaving away in the same routine. In both cases, chose the first option! Start Nothing: 7:08 a.m. to 11:54 a.m. Sun., 2:20 p.m. to 3:23 p.m. Tues., 5:44 p.m. to 7:49 p.m. Thurs., and after 5:02 p.m. Sat. Aries March 21-April 19 Start no new projects now to July 28. (They would go in circles.) Stay out of heavy financial, sexual and lifestyle commitments before November 24. For the 18 months ahead (to December 18, 2007) you'll find peace and success if you embrace spirituality and charity, involve yourself in red tape, manage others, delegate tasks, and deal with government agencies, institutions and head office. Find a sweet retreat, rest, plan and contemplate. But AVOID plunging too deeply into hands-on work, employment affairs, dependents' affairs, machinery and health regimens (exercise, dieting). Taurus April 20-May 20 Don't start any new projects before July 28, Taurus. They'll never complete. Before November 24, avoid new practical ventures - "new" divorce, marital, financial partnership, relocation, contractual, negotiation and public projects might be too constricted to succeed before then. (But huge success opportunities arise December onward!) Until mid-December/07 you'll find a smooth, rewarding path in social life, popularity, entertainment, dealing with organizations, and looking forward to the future. Simultaneously, avoid deep, heavy romance, plunging into the pleasure of the moment, pouring out your heart, and creative and speculative risks. Gemini May 21-June 20 Now to July 28, don't start ANY new ventures. Now to November 23, start nothing practical, nothing connected to employment, finances, business, contracts, relationships, writing or communications. Finally, now to December 18, 2007, if you want to succeed (and in a calm, nicely-clean-feeling manner) DO concentrate on your career, prestige situations and community status. Bolster your relations with parents, VIPs and higher-ups. Appeal to authority. Be ambitious. To avoid dead-ends and disappointment, avoid real estate deals, and don't over-emphasize domesticity, security, withdrawal, gardening, land, children and Mother Nature. Cancer June 21-July 22 Your energy remains low through Tuesday; then a month of vigor, charisma and success arrives. However, stick with the old: any projects begun now to July 28 will "never end. Don't start practical, romantic, creative or teaching projects before November 24. For success, happiness and a smooth path now to December 2007, seek profound relationships, higher education, and far travel. Involve yourself in legal, advertising, insurance, statistical, religious, philosophical, cultural and love situations. But AVOID wasting time in casual or unimportant contacts, communications, short trips, curiosity, paperwork and details. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 You're lucky in realty, home, security and similar areas until late November, but your own skepticism - or work demands - interfere. (So be cheerful?) Don't start new projects before July 28. Now through mid-December, 2007, you'll benefit if you focus on long-term investments, research, mysteries, depth psychology, intimacy and sexuality (pregnancy) and crucial health matters; if you change your lifestyle, commit to others, and listen to your intuition/subconscious. You should avoid buying/selling, "day trading," short-term money, casual sex, and accepting things "as they appear to be" for the same 18 months. Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 A month of entertainment, social delights, popularity, optimism and flirtation begins Wednesday - you're going to taste happiness! But don't start any new ventures now through July 28; and don't start projects that put your finances or home, security or retirement at risk, before late November. Reject a feeling of urgency, that you just "have to act" now - be patient! Until December 2007, to be happy, aim yourself toward relationships, relocation, contracts, negotiations, dealing with strangers, co-operation and fame. Avoid exercising extreme independence, self-reliance, or pushing your agenda on others. Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Start nothing new before July 28, and nothing new in practical, financial or spending areas, before late November. This week, the lunar south node (difficult karma) leaves your sign, ending 18 months of "free-floating" disappointment. For the 18 months ahead, the path of growth, calmness and ease lies in hands-on work, employment, health regimens, and caring for dependents. A tougher path awaits if you join the civil service for the first time, delegate your tasks, or try to deal with head office, red tape, government, charities and spiritual "entities." Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Your work is hard and long, but you're lucky, and the payoff will come in 2007. Don't erupt! Start nothing new before July 28 (nor before November 24, in earnings, spending and casual sexual zones). Until December 18, 2007, for an easier, more successful outcome of your life, DO plunge into the pleasure of the moment, respond to creative, romantic, speculative urges. Express yourself, teach, play sports. Enjoy and help children. Take vacations. REDUCE: socializing, entertainment, "future planning," light romance (playing the field) public appearances, politics and organizational links. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Three periods ahead: Until July 28, start nothing new. And until November 25, avoid new practical, spiritual, government-related, red tape, charitable, legal, international and educational projects/starts. (Best time to begin university would be the January/07 semester.) Now to December 18, 2007 (18 months) DO, for a smooth, growth-oriented pathway, aim yourself toward real estate, security, retirement, home, family, Mother Nature, gardening, agriculture, mining, forestry. Simultaneously, accept the status quo and AVOID pushing too hard in ambition, career, relations with higher-ups and authorities, community status situations. DO NOT change careers. Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Start nothing new before July 28. Before November 24, avoid new practical, business, investment, research, government related, administrative or "power corridor" situations (e.g., closed door, Karl Rove stuff). For success, for the 18 months ahead, stay light on your feet. Be curious, read newspapers rather than books, seek details rather than be weighed down with ponderous ideas. Grab short trips, but avoid long, international ones. Talk, communicate and make new contacts. Plunge into paperwork, write reports, listen to conversations. Avoid wallowing in legalities, higher learning, religion/philosophy, and foreign cultures. Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Before July 28, start nothing, period. Before November 25, avoid starting new projects in career, ambitions and local politics. Steer clear of relationships that have a clingy, secret, or collusive side - of public dealings and relocation. Spurn "sacrificial love." For 18 months (to December/07) for success and a smooth path, aim yourself toward making money, spending, casual sex (even with your spouse) and "grasping the immediate world with both hands." Accept appearances! AVOID long-term investments, heavy finances, financial partnerships, deep sexual bonds, mysteries, research, depth psychology, investigations - and crime! Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Avoid new ventures before July 28. An old flame might return. Until November 25, be careful with legal, international, educational, media, religious, philosophical, insurance, bond, and similar projects - luck here is more limited than it appears. Launch NO new business, retail store, etc. Now to December 18, 2007, be independent, not interdependent. Reject unsolicited advice, new partnerships, relocation, and public dealings. You'll be calm, mellow and blessed. Chase money Sunday to Tuesday - you'll find some! Avoid speaking, short trips Wednesday/Thursday (Thursday afternoon's good).Be home, be peaceful Friday/Saturday. Gardening dissolves stress. www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-261-1337. /30/