ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS DECEMBER 17 -23, 2006 All times/dates are PST. Many people deal with old issues at Christmas. For LIBRA, the holidays occur during a time of nostalgia, hibernation, security, and "home." Librans look to the holidays, consciously or unconsciously, as an opportunity to reconnect with their roots, and to get a little of that old-time nurturing. Even if they deny this, you'll usually find a Libran at the familial home during the holidays. GEMINI sees Christmas as a time of mystery_ This sign doesn't really give a fig about receiving Xmas presents, even as a child - but is quite generous about giving gifts. If you really want to impress your Gemini with a present, give a car, tickets to an exotic location, a computer, razor phone - or a mystery (of some kind - you decide which). SAGITTARIUS loves those travel tickets too - even more than Gemini. Sag usually lucks out at Christmas - they're big spenders and big receivers. For CANCER, Christmas is a time of opportunity. They love meeting new people at holiday gatherings, and will often host parties. Cancer (and VIRGOS and TAUREANS) sometimes meet their life-long loves at holiday gatherings. For SCORPIO, Christmas is a time to travel, and they are often handed the car keys and told to make it through those snow drifts. When they want to be, Scorpios are the best protectors of life and limb of any sign. (Though this designated driver role seldom actually occurs, as many Scorpios love to drink also. As does PISCES - but Pisces possesses the knack of staying incredibly sober "inside" their intoxication.) This Christmas, Scorpio will cast a fond eye on a certain Pisces. For LEO, Christmas is a time of work - but they don't mind, for two reasons: 1) they love children, and love surprising people with big, generous presents; and 2) they're often still feeling the glow of a pre-Christmas romance or "possibility." AQUARIUS feels a bit tired at Christmas, but loves (a bit like Libra) to snuggle into a comfortable armchair and watch the proceedings. Aquarians experience heightened spiritual influences during these holidays. ARIES' ambitious cycle occurs during the holidays. CAPRICORN often feels mildly uncomfortable with social gatherings, and benefits greatly from "social schooling" because it adds confidence to his/her natural grace and diplomatic skills. Capricorn truly shines during the Christmas holidays - everyone notices him/her, and Capricorn can start significant, successful ventures, especially ones that rely on their personal touch/input. Start Nothing: 3:31 p.m. Sun. to 1:10 a.m. Mon., 6:01 a.m. to 8:39 a.m. Wed., and 8:05 a.m. Thurs. to 1:49 p.m. Fri. Aries March 21-April 19 Love and intellectual expansion still thrive - especially Monday through Wednesday dawn. Do all you can to start significant projects in any of these areas: law, far travel, culture, writing, abstract ideas, advertising concepts, religion/philosophy, post-secondary learning, and love. What you start now can grow to immense proportions over the next nine months Thursday begins a month of ambition, career events, status concerns. Higher-ups and parents like you - ask favors, make proposals Wednesday/Thursday - Wednesday's best. Be careful of sudden accidents, legal snafus or gossip. Happiness visits you Friday eve, Saturday! Taurus April 20-May 20 Mysteries and health pains end Thursday, as a month of gentle bliss begins! Agree to nothing Sunday; relationships and opportunities disappoint. A "birth" occurs in financial, intimate, sexual, lifestyle, research or occult zones Monday to Wednesday dawn - especially if you act courageously, and give circumstances a gentle nudge. From Wednesday midmorning through Friday noon, look at the social, legal, contractual and ethical aspects of that "birth" (in sexual, financial, research areas, etc.). Take care, all week, with a conflict between social/career circumstances, and your more hidden motives or involvements. Gemini May 21-June 20 Some immediate resistance, disagreements and opportunities swing to a close by Tuesday_but a big reservoir remains, and you'll meet much more of this in future weeks/months. You won't get your way but you will be offered a way that is, probably, more rewarding. If you're single, respond to exciting members of the opposite sex. Social settings provide career/reputation danger through Thursday, excitement then to mid-January. From Wednesday morning to January 2, investments, sexual intimacy, and lifestyle changes are filled with a mild, sweet good fortune. Be careful Sunday. Cancer June 21-July 22 Careful with romance, gambling and beauty treatments Sunday - results disappoint. A new work or health project might begin Monday to Wednesday dawn - better after Monday. Work continues through January (and all 2007) but the "biggest burdens" lighten by Wednesday. Your efforts now shift subtly toward your career ambitions, rather than being "mere work." Wednesday begins a whole winter of relationship excitement. Expect four phases: affectionate meeting (now to early January) then talk, then mutual effort, and finally "ambitious partnership" (or fight!). Practical goals are luckiest even in love, this year. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Be careful with home, family members, real estate and security concerns Sunday - lock your door before leaving, etc. Romance surges Monday to Wednesday dawn. However, if you first meet someone before Friday, the two of you likely won't marry due to sexual or financial differences. (Wednesday's wee hours might open your eyes to "the inherent end" of a relationship - though an end can be a beginning.) Creative, speculative, teaching and beauty projects might begin the same few days. A month of mildly lucky work and health concerns begins Wednesday. Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 21 Travel and casual meetings bore you Sunday. Your real estate, family, domestic, gardening or security concerns face some friction until mid-January, although most of the turbulence climaxes this Monday through Thursday. You're breaking away to a new world, building a new, lucky base - and another might not like this. (Or perhaps the other is breaking away, simply because you're slow off the mark.) Still, it's a great time to invest in real estate - just don't move in before January 16. Wednesday starts a month of love, affection and pleasure! Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Shopping isn't advised Sunday. A short trip could start anytime into 2007, but Monday to Wednesday dawn seem most likely. That's good - travel can keep you busy until mid-January, and might bring you to someone who could be or wants to be your mate (or bring you closer to your spouse, if you're married). But before Friday this week, especially Monday and Thursday, mating urges conflict with romantic notions, leading to possible glitches, even embarrassment. So be diplomatic, walk softly! Wednesday begins a month of sweet domesticity, rest and nostalgia. Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Be careful all week (through Thursday) - make sure your money pursuits are legal, especially if food, shelter or real estate industries (or family members) are involved. In 2005/06 money was a cold hard mountain pass; now it's a luxuriant, green valley. The more you change your view to money, the more you'll see its pathways. An income or spending project might begin Monday to Wednesday dawn - it's better Tuesday onward. (And best December 27 onward.) Wednesday begins a month of lucky travel, affectionate friends, siblings and communications - be curious! Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Your charisma, luck, effectiveness and sense of timing continue high, especially Monday to Wednesday dawn! But lie low Sunday, make no commitments. Despite your luck and empowerment, a domestic, real estate, or security situation (or family member) could trip you up this week. You're in the winning position - but remain alert, flexible. Don't gossip, and don't place your loyalties with unpredictable people. A new, significant project could begin - but it will have better "legs" if you wait until next week to start. Your money luck improves now into January! Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 A month of problems, burdens withdrawal and weariness will end Thursday, when a cycle of energy, charisma, and affection begins! Until Thursday, deal with old and new obligations. (This is actually a lucky area for you in 2007 - charities, spiritual connections, management, administration and civil service, as well as investment, planning, retreat, and dealing in closed-door sessions bring in this luck.) Take care, remain alert, as unexpected communications, paperwork, or gossip can derail your projects (in these lucky areas) briefly through Thursday. After that, affection and effective money results! Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Be self-protective Sunday; don't buy anything nor start projects. You're in a blossoming social phase, into 2007 - but this week (through Thursday) highlights a conflict between your social aspirations (or your happy plans for the future generally) and your bank account. Take care: be alert. New friends might arrive Monday to Wednesday dawn, or Friday/Saturday - good! But friends who arrive before Friday might always present a wee "accident prone" influence. Don't drive with intoxicated individuals Wednesday/Thursday. Wednesday begins a quiet month of sweet recuperation, spiritual regeneration, and red tape. Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Through Thursday, protect your reputation, career, ambitions and relations with VIPs from one danger: your unpredictable impulses! You might speak out of turn, show a sudden greedy side, or otherwise surprise higher-ups, who are feeling rather impatient and temperamental now through mid-January. Ah, well - just step slowly, with aforethought, and you'll be okay. Be careful around machinery, especially Thursday. A new career project might start Monday to Wednesday dawn - it, or one that comes along later (even months later) could prove very fortunate. Wednesday starts a month of happiness! www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-261-1337. /30/