ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS DECEMBER 24 - 30, 2006 All times/dates are PST. Christmas is supposedly based on Christ's birth. But many scholars say Jesus was born in September. I think Christ was probably a Pisces, born in March. (He was almost certainly a Virgo, Gemini, Sagittarius or Pisces, for these signs love paradox, and Jesus' attributed sayings were filled with riddle and paradox.)_. A reader asked: what if you or your child was born during one of the "Start Nothing" times? (They're usually listed below this preamble.) Do such people start nothing their entire life? The "Start Nothing" intervals denote a "void of course" Moon, which occurs when the Moon has not yet left a zodiacal sign, but has no more major aspects to make. A person born during the "void" Moon would tend to be emotionally independent, free of such outside influences or pressures as, say, a dominating parent. Void Moon people are often psychic, able to see the reality beyond events. People born when the Moon is in the first few degrees of a sign (the six hours immediately following a "start nothing" or "void" interval) will have a very full, adventurous emotional life. Such "first degree people" are like those born during the void period, in that they tend to be impervious to outside emotional appeal. But unlike Void Moon people, First Degree people try to dominate their family - and emotional situations generally. Void Moon people are often able to sense the future. First Degree people tend to be psychic about what others are doing, saying or feeling, but they often exhibit a remarkable blindness about the future. f course, you'd need to know your own birth chart (or see an astrologer) to use this information_. I'd like to give you a game for Christmas. Here it is: Take a chess board and the usual chess pieces. All rules remain identical to chess rules. But instead of setting your pieces up beforehand on your first two rows, you are allowed to place one piece, any piece, absolutely anywhere on the board, every time it's your turn, until you have placed all your pieces. When both you and your opponent have no more pieces to place, the second, "normal" stage of the game ensues. Some points: You and your opponent take turns, of course. There might be a great (too great advantage) to the player who moves first. I'm not sure. At any time, you can move a piece that is on the board instead of putting a new piece on. There are two restrictions: 1) you can't place a new piece on a square already occupied, whether by your piece or your opponent's; and 2) pawns cannot be first placed on the two rows furthest from you, as that would make conversion to queens too swift. Merry Christmas! Start Nothing: 12:09 p.m. to 5:43 p.m. Sun., 7:05 p.m. to 9:04 p.m. Tues., 6:54 p.m. Thurs. to 0:08 a.m. Fri., and after 6:37 p.m. Sat. Aries March 21-April 19 Higher-ups and parents favor you. Submit proposals. Even if they say "No," you'll get points for trying. Your link to culture and society swells now through 2007. You find yourself, after all these years and all those events, in love with mankind. If you're young, this is a time of learning in the best, broadest sense. You feel social, happy Sunday, but seek contemplative rest this night to Tuesday. Your energy and charisma surge Wednesday/Thursday -start important projects, but not relationships. Money and spending go well Friday, not Saturday. Taurus April 20-May 20 The secret side of life opens like a revealing flower: watch, research, and learn. You can temporarily abandon the rat race to embrace the gentle joys of understanding, compassion, learning, religion and life philosophy - and love. This is an excellent week to discuss an upcoming wedding, university admission, or international voyage. (These are "supported" now, and "fulfilled" in 2008.) You have to work hard Sunday morning, but social delights arrive this eve through Tuesday - enjoy, mingle, joke around! Retreat, recuperate Wednesday/Thursday - government matters go well. Your energy, charisma rise Friday/Saturday. Gemini May 21-June 20 The most exciting, fortunate periods of your life occur when you find a mate, relocate, deal with the public, or pursue lucky opportunities. This year ahead qualifies as one of these periods! But now into late January, the doors open to more hidden, private areas, to secret knowledge. Dive into research, investigation and investments - take life by the guts and quietly give it a turn. Don't let a lustful attraction "bend" your ethics or emotional goals. Get the job done Sunday to Tuesday. Social delights arrive Wednesday/Thursday! Rest, retreat Friday/Saturday. Cancer June 21-July 22 You get a respite from work, as fresh opportunities and people enter. An exciting meeting could occur! Others wish you well, especially before Wednesday and after Thursday. Monday (Christmas Day) brings a subtle but important change in your duties, or your view of your duties, especially regarding dependents. Then Wednesday begins to bring news or information about a person and/or place. Travel or a phone call might be involved. All these bring clues about 2008, when you will begin dealing with this new "horizon" in big, mostly lucky ways! Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Tackle work, Leo. You've just entered a major lucky year, but for now chores demand doing. Get as much accomplished as you can now and next week, while co-workers are co-operative. You might flirt with a co-worker, but this isn't the "main event" - now or in 2007. (In fact, despite chores you might already be dealing with your "next love" - a big one. A foreign country - or a school, creative or speculative or publishing project, or a beauty or art venue - might be involved.) Mysteries Monday/Tuesday. Love/travel mid-week! Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Romance, beauty, creativity and deeply pleasurable moments - these fill your days until January 3, then semi-fill them into January 19. You're going through many deep, beneficial (perhaps gigantically lucky) endings and new beginnings over the next 12 months, but right now, here, you'll tend to steep yourself in the joys of whatever and whoever surrounds you, in love's nostalgia and romance's future. Sunday's work, but relationship excitement enters Monday/Tuesday. Be patient with an upset older relative. Secrets, sex, intimacy, deep finances are lucky Wednesday/Thursday. Understanding, love Friday. Disagreement Saturday. Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Home, nature, family and old traditions - these draw you now. You're seeking security, and this is a mildly beneficial time (strongly to January 3, mildly to January 19) to invest in retirement, sell a business, deal in real estate, etc. However, you've also recently entered a year of luck in travel, learning, communication, etc. You'll be dealing more than usual with your siblings, too. Now to mid-January (especially this Wednesday/Thursday) keep your eyes open for a potential marriage mate or business partner - he/she "arrives" in a casual, conversational way. Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 This week will be filled with travel, communications, details and paperwork. You'll use your hands. Siblings treat you with affection. The weeks ahead are busy but not overly important. (The only significant themes will be money, possessions and sensual relationships.) Sleep in Sunday. This eve to Tuesday, your romantic, risk-taking, pleasure-oriented side surges forth, though these pursuits contain a few bumps, especially if you display possessiveness or push the sensual side too strongly. Work comes Wednesday/Thursday - it has a lucky result, so dive in! Relationships succeed Friday, not Saturday. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 You've just entered a lucky personal year, Sage, one accenting personal freedom and self-fulfillment. But the few weeks ahead accent money, possessions, buying/selling, earnings, memory, rote learning and sensual attractions. These are lucky to January 3, then merely a bit better than usual to January 19. Romantic, creative and adventurous urges continue to tug at you, especially Wednesday/Thursday. Giving in won't lead you astray! Sunday's active, but retire to home fires this eve to Tuesday, when a delicious sluggishness overcomes you. Sleep; re-acquaint yourself with family. Tackle chores Friday. Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Your energy, charisma, effectiveness and sense of timing rise now through January 19. Start important projects; seek favors; display your talents. You're in a larger, yearlong phase that encourages contemplation, planning, and confidential contacts, so don't ignore these. If you don't find your soul, it will find you. Shop Sunday morning. Monday/Tuesday prompt you to travel, drive, call, visit and chat - watch/prepare for pitfalls in these. Mid-week, your luck resides at home, with family, and in real estate, retirement issues, security, Mother Nature. Romance flares Friday, stumbles Saturday. Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 You face an exciting, expansive 2007, Aquarius, filled with light romance, wish fulfillment, and more friends than you've seen in a decade! But use now through January 19 for rest - contemplate your year ahead, reacquaint yourself with your soul. This breather is valuable, for it will let you enter the adventurous times ahead with a rested heart and a clear head. Don't worry, you won't be alone these Holidays! Handle money, gifts and possessions cautiously Monday/Tuesday - lost items possible! Travel, communications succeed Wednesday/Thursday. Take a rest, be home Friday/Saturday. Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 The year ahead is filled with lucky ambition, career and business opportunities, Pisces, and these continue. But this week and the few ahead accent fun, friendship, social delights, popularity, optimism and wish fulfillment. Some play is essential! (If you push your ambitions too strongly now - or are lazy - you might encounter impatience, temperament, even rudeness from higher-ups or parents.) Rest Sunday daytime. This night through Tuesday, your energy and charisma, effectiveness and timing soar - start something important! Money and shopping are lucky Wednesday/Thursday. Travel, communications succeed Friday, not Saturday. www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-261-1337. /30/