ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS DECEMBER 2 - 8, 2007 All times/dates are PST. Last January, in the "Year Ahead" article, I opined that the major stock markets might have sudden downturns in April/May and August/September, due to "business news." The two significant downturns of 2007 occurred in March and August, the latter due to the credit crunch and "bad paper." (November seems to be experiencing another significant downturn, for the same reason.) Solutions/recovery come March '08 onward. What often holds me back is the need to be "perfect." (E.g., I won't write my column today because I'll miss something, or I won't act yet because it might be flawed.) Where the line lies between caution/wisdom and lost opportunity, or between assertive action and unlucky impulse, is a major concern of my mature life. Partly this arises because I have a personality that flows past boundaries. I have spent my entire life groping to find and validate the boundaries most people carry with them as second nature. But I wouldn't trade my life for anyone's. Boundaries give easy, healthy decisiveness, but they also prevent the sight of many things. Caution, too, has been my life's bane. I have lost more from caution than I ever would have lost from following my impulses. The average person, if only ordinarily blessed with luck and intelligence, will gain more from action than inaction, from risk and impulse than from holding back. Over a lifetime I've learned that, on balance, our urges and impulses are more often right than wrong, more often constructive than destructive, benevolent than punitive. That's just the nature of life and the cosmos. That's why, slowly, surely, mankind advances - from a trillion small impulses, from the faith and hope of every small guy, from the Chinese farmer to the Australian lawyer. LIBRA, your next KARMIC CYCLE runs from December 18, 2007 to late August 2009. During this time, you can choose a puzzling, frustrating, disappointing road: it lies in socializing, entertainment, groups (unions, politics, seminars, conventions, etc.) future plans, and light romance (flirting with many, playing the field). Or you can travel a blessed, gratifying, and oddly easy road by embracing risk and impulse - plunge into deep romance (or infatuation) express your heart, dive into the pleasure of the moment, create, teach/raise children, and pursue beauty. Your life will benefit even if a particular object in this area doesn't succeed. For instance, you might chase romance, not land him/her, and yet still be happier than if you hadn't tried. So paint the picture; don't run the art gallery. Move things to the personal; don't seek safety in groups. Your life will soon change deeply and meaningfully - change with gusto! Start Nothing: 6:12 p.m. to 10:01 p.m. Sun., 6:48 a.m. to 10:31 a.m. Wed., and 2:17 a.m. to 11:11 p.m. Fri. Aries March 21-April 19 Your mellow, tolerant mood continues. Love happens. But all December, crucial relationships will trip, sooner or later, over a) your determined assertiveness on the home front, or b) another's (e.g., your spouse's) determined assertiveness on the ambition front. When assertiveness is blocked, it sooner or later creates anger or depression (muffled anger). Be alert for these emotions, especially in a promising love situation, and try to solve them. Perhaps someone's needs are being ignored. Hints of this hover Monday. Sweet inspiration, love, dreaminess return Tuesday. Ignore financial temptations Wednesday/Thursday. Taurus April 20-May 20 Secrets, mysteries, sexual and financial lures surround you, especially late this week and early next. A year of change culminates now: expect a change of lifestyle, of commitments, financial allocations - and psychological, emotional transformations. Next week is better for action than the present (and December 11 to 19 is best of all). Sunday's filled with pleasure and romantic attractions, but fulfillment eludes. Tackle chores Monday (carefully; be safety conscious) and Tuesday (smooth success!). Opportunities arise in love, money and relocation Wednesday/Thursday: study them, but be patient -surprises await! Gemini May 21-June 20 You're poised on the precipice of radical action in relationships, negotiations, relocation, contracts, and dealings with the public. Some Geminis will divorce or marry this month - you've spent a whole decade getting here. Action is better December 11 to 19 than this week, partly because domestic, family or security matters hinder you or need attention - so do certain career or reputation concerns. Sink into Sunday and think about these, to prepare yourself. Romance, self-expression arrive - dynamically and perhaps with conflict Monday, with sweet dreaminess Tuesday. Make NO agreements Thursday/Friday. Cancer June 21-July 22 You continue to be assertive, intense and determined - but exactly where you're going is not clear - to you, either. Use that intensity to get lots of work done. This will impress the bigwigs, even while your career direction remains uncertain. Remember this Monday (afternoon/eve) when you might think about throwing in the towel in a fit of pique. By Tuesday, you see the world's on a good course again, and by Wednesday/Thursday, romance, pleasure or beauty bring you 'round to happiness! Guard your health against heat, rashes and headaches. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Pursue romance, creativity, self-expression, pleasure, beauty, sports and games - you're on a winning streak! In these areas, in the arts, in raising/teaching children, in anything to do with the heart, you're blessed - but that doesn't mean practical things will work out (e.g., seeking employment). Save pragmatic actions for December 10 onward. Guard your money Sunday. Short trips, communications and friends are snarled Monday, smooth Tuesday. Take a rest mid-week. Friday's best action: rest, read, do nothing, promise nothing. Saturday brings pleasure, romance. All week (all December) avoid legal commitments. Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 End stale or suffocating situations, even if this causes some pain. This is a month to plant, prepare the ground, grow your base - but first you might have to plow up old notions and weed out hangers-on. Communications become easier, more affectionate Wednesday onward (through late December) which should help you dismiss some people, enlist others. (You don't like doing either of these, except in fantasy - but these are exactly what you should do.) Talk to family about changes, new homes, children's futures, etc. "Destroy" this week, build next. Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Not much will proceed successfully in practical zones this week, so be cautious and patient - wait until December 18 onward - and ultimately, best of all, until February 18/08. Many things will change before then, and what you want to do now has little impetus or strength behind it. In 08 you'll quit superficial things and dive into super-lucky "deep" things. Wait, Libra. But you're primed for lots of swift action now on less practical fronts: love, travel, curiosity, social contacts, learning, speaking, etc. Be careful with machines, electricity Thursday/Friday. Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Your money luck could soar over the next three weeks, perhaps bringing a reward, a bonanza, bigger than anything for a number of years! Still, you might not notice your money blessings this week, when other, unexpected things grab your attention. Or, you could work against your best monetary instincts when an emotional gamble, a romantic notion, or a creative impulse distracts you. (Especially Thursday/Friday - take care.) On the other hand, being too greedy of possessive could make love flee. If you can, wait until next week to act. Sagittarius Nov. 22- Dec. 21 You're eager to make major changes, especially in romantic, sexual, creative and financial/ownership areas, but you're not sure which changes to make, or how - or others delay you. Be patient - the best changes in these zones will come next March to May. For now, it's not change so much as self-promotion that's desirable. Stand up, show yourself and your talents, be there in person. You're the star of the show; the impression you make now can lead to the most fortunate changes of all! Tuesday, true inspiration's available! Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Lie low, rest, protect your health and reputation, contemplate and plan. Deal with government agencies, institutions, head office, therapists, advisors, psychics, health professionals, spiritual or charitable organizations - one or more of these are likely to loom large this month. The result should be the lifting of a weight off your shoulders - or an increased but lucky/lucrative burden. It's big stuff, Cap, bigger than most years. DON'T violate legal or moral boundaries. Relationships remain intense (Monday): a contemplated partnership change will come later, March to May. Dream big dreams Tuesday/Wednesday! Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Be ambitious Wednesday; otherwise, forget ambition; be sociable, humane, optimistic and flirtatious - welcome the beauty of nature and life. A dream could come true. You'll make one or two fantastic friends this month, or join a group that blesses you for a long time to come (probably emotionally/spiritually if you enter now to December 10; in practical ways if you enter December 11 to 20). (That latter period is also good for envisioning/planning your future.) Take care with money, spending, this week, especially Thursday/Friday. Love, understanding drift in Monday/Tuesday. Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 You might be promoted this month (more probable after December 7). In any case, higher-ups notice you, favour you, are willing to consider your proposals and plans. Be ambitious, prepare to show your skills, to edge into the door of a bigwig - plan this for December 8 onward. You'll get more of an audience than you'd hoped! Your reputation, community status rise - some wed! But if you're bad, here come de judge. Passion, creative surges still fill you - Wednesday onward adds wisdom and sweetness to these - a great combination! www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-261-1337. /30/