ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS MARCH 16 - 22, 2008 All times/dates are PDT. The Sun enters ARIES (bringing the Spring Equinox) on March 19, about 11 pm Pacific Time. You Aries might glance down at your sun sign message below and go - whoa, it says Aries doesn't begin until April 21! Due to the precession of the equinoxes (caused by the wobble of the earth on its axis) the day when the Sun enters each sign "regresses" by about one day per century. Most people reading this horoscope column were born when Aries did start on the 20th or 21st of March. But babies born in the 21st century on April 20 (and sometimes 19) are, Aries, not Pisces. Perhaps soon I'll change the birth ending and starting dates of some signs, to accommodate younger readers. Last week I mentioned that early 2008 possibly opened a door to "destiny" for Barack Obama, and tended to neutralize his faults or "difficult karma." These times of relative safety and possible destiny actually occur for all of us, at ages 9, 27, 45, 63, 81 and 99. A time of wisdom, calm outlook and good decision making (so in this regard also a time of destiny) tends to occur at ages 18, 36, 54, 72 and 90. Sometimes these years also bring a repetition or "reinstating" of the karmic gauntlet, puzzle or picture that one came into this life to experience. I've given Obama much more print here than Hilary. So here's some "equal time": Hilary is a SCORPIO Sun with a PISCES Moon. She is deeply emotional and intuitive, both indecisive and stubborn. She can be extremely compassionate and sympathetic, and fierce and vengeful. The odd thing about the Democratic race is that both candidates have indecisive or changeable Moons - both will waffle or change their stance, even in the Presidency. I can't find a generally accepted birth time for Hilary. She's a winner in speculative, child-raising, creative and romantic arenas. But her sector of popularity is empty. She was born ambitious, but three heavy, serious planets in her career sector (Mars, Pluto and Saturn) show she has little sense of humor about her goals, ambitions and position in society. She considers these areas a battlefield where the strongest warrior wins. This makes it hard for her to communicate hope, and harder still to fight Obama's "hope platform," because so little of it exists in her nature. She would rather fight and win, than hope. In typical Scorpio fashion, she found Barack's vulnerable secret, and stung. Astrologers call Scorpio a silent sign. But, as Hilary shows, Scorpio can speak crisp, clear volumes when they decide to! Start Nothing: 11:58 a.m. to 6:04 p.m. Sun., 11:39 a.m. Tues. to 0:25 a.m. Wed. and 12:28 p.m. Thurs. to 8:45 a.m. Fri. Aries March 21-April 19 Work isn't easy this year, but your reward in terms of prestige and career opportunities are immense. What seems like drudgery might open a road to new heights. Early this week you might face a choice between withdrawal and hard work, and late week you might have to decide between following your own course, or following someone higher up. Actually, these might not be choices, but two ends of the same rope. Your answer - be ambitious! But do take some short love/pleasure or recuperation/travel breaks, March 16/17 and 22. Taurus April 20-May 20 Your social energy temporarily comes to a gentle end, yet the socializing doesn't - you face a hectic month ahead of communications, requests, paperwork, errands, casual meetings and contacts - and someone's playful! Still, your energy's ebbing - Wednesday ushers in a month-long mood of quietude, retreat, contemplation and spiritual awareness. Get plenty of rest in-between answering calls and being friendly - and protect your health from seasonal irritants. Sunday either contains sweet flirtation, or the very recent memory of it. Rest deeply Monday/Tuesday; attend to home, family. Romantic, creative and speculative urges lure you mid-week. Gemini May 21-June 20 The six weeks ahead favor making money. The three weeks ahead bring favor from higher-ups. It's time to ask for that raise, or campaign for lucrative new clients, etc. (Especially Sunday to Tuesday - Monday's best, after noon.) DON'T overspend! Wednesday/Thursday bring a sluggish, restful, stay-at-home mood, but this rest is actually the launching point for a month of socializing, popularity, optimism, and fun! You're going to meet your future, in some way! Late week subtly raises a new aspect of your life ahead - demanding a financial or "commitment" re-organization? Cancer June 21-July 22 Your thoughtful reveries end, to some degree, as ambition comes in to fill the weeks ahead. You're very conscious of money early week, and of prestige later this week. It's a jumbled time, better for watching, studying, getting your feet, than for launching significant ventures. Start new ventures next week, after you've seen or sensed the change that ambition will make in your relationships (or versa, the effect changed relationships will have on your forward success) - something's changing! Chase love, money or possessions Monday/Tuesday. Be curious Wednesday/Thursday. Rest Friday/Saturday. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 By mid-week, mysteries end and enlightenment begins. The deep, intimate and secretive continue mildly (and might extend an "unethical attraction") but overall a mellow, understanding outlook arrives. This supports love, fame, broadcasting, public appearances, schooling, writing, law, cultural events - and international travel. You're going places, literally or figuratively! (On the "figurative" side, what you learn or what you persuade others to believe, in the 4 weeks ahead, can boost you in career corridors by late April and May.) Rest Sunday. Your energy surges Monday/Tuesday. Chase money Wednesday/Thursday. Work's changing! Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 The past month has been filled with relationships, opportunities, negotiations, new horizons, and perhaps some opposition. These veer into deeper waters during the few weeks ahead - "courting" couples could become intimate, business negotiations lead to funding, opportunities to commitment. In all these, things that do not grow deeper will tend to wither or break off - which is not necessarily bad. You'll have lots of time to discuss developments with the people involved, on an affectionate, informative note! Your hopes rise thrillingly about sex, investments, and lifestyle changes! Rest, Monday/Tuesday. Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 A month of drudgery dissolves - though two or three minor, mostly enjoyable and social chores remain into early April. You'll feel an inexplicable sense of hope and anticipation Sunday night to Tuesday - perhaps because your life is finally getting into gear and changing. Or it could simply be a precursor of the weeks ahead, which are going to bring your favorite thing: relationships, new horizons and opportunities! (Some of this will trigger tempers.) Rest deeply Wednesday/Thursday. Recuperate spiritually, contemplate, solve taxes, contact government offices. Many changes Friday/Saturday - take charge! Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 The main thrust in romantic, creative, speculative and pleasure pursuits fades now as the weeks ahead emphasize employment, chores, health and service people. But a sweet, mildly lucky streak remains right into early April - so your work efforts will receive many moments of happy relief. Continue to avoid legal hassles, unless you work in legal zones. Sunday's mellow, happy, especially in cultural settings (church, weddings, school, etc.). Be ambitious Monday/Tuesday. Optimism rises Wednesday/Thursday - the future looks bright! Changes loom for your social, communications side: embrace them, or embrace solitude! Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Your recent hibernation mode lightens (and simultaneously your home and quietude grow sweeter and busier). The few weeks ahead emphasize romance, creative surges, gambling urges, smart and charming children and their affairs, pleasure forays and beauty projects. (These face a change late week, based on money or "possessiveness.") Can you feel the lightness coming to your life generally as a 12-year weight begins to lift? Not yet? Then soon. Mysteries yield to your understanding Sunday to Tuesday. Be ambitious Wednesday/Thursday - good luck hovers! Optimism, flirtations and friends fill Friday/Saturday. Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 A month of rest, quietude, of feeling sluggish, starts mid-week. You'll continue to field ego-boosting phone calls, affectionate messages and other happy minutiae, though, into early April. Now to late April, attend to home, family, property and "territorial" issues. Seek a secure foundation rather than chase ambitious will-o-the-wisps. Relationships remain intense, so be diplomatic at home and at work. Sunday to Thursday could waft dreams of love into your thoughts. Seek intimacy if you already have a love. A new "possibility" might not get past your need for privacy. Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 The weeks ahead bring travel, errands, communications, casual friends and contacts, reading, writing, paperwork and details. Not an important time, but you'll be busy! (One important developing trend does hide deep within this activity. Through 2024, your methods of communication will change. There will be an increasing need to express your inner feelings, your hunches and secrets. You might see a hint of this Thursday/Friday.) Your money luck continues, mildly but nicely, to early April. Relationships, exciting meetings come Sunday-Tuesday. Mysteries mid-week. Love, gentle knowing and travel come Saturday! Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Your energy and charisma stay high - your charisma in romantic situations even increases through early April. But the main emphasis turns to money Wednesday onward, for several weeks. Chase dollars, buy/sell, seek lucrative clients, etc. A deep, two-decade change is coming to your money efforts and investments, mainly because an even stronger change is coming to your goals, wishes and social inclinations. This will affect your ability to earn - probably positively! Study events this Thursday to Saturday for "early clues." Tackle chores Monday/Tuesday. Exciting meetings come Wednesday to Saturday! www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-261-1337. /30/