ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS MARCH 9 - 15, 2008 All times/dates are Pacific Daylight. I've been puzzled by Barack Obama's success in the primaries to date, given his LEO sun sign. The lunar south node is traveling through Leo now (Dec. 07 to Aug. 09) - which often highlights a person's grumpier side or their "old crimes," making them less lucky in public life. Pervez Musharref, a Leo, just lost the Pakistani election. For a subtler example, look at Leo Bill Clinton's actions in South Carolina, when he was trying to ensure wife Hilary's win there - a win the pundits had already granted her. Bill somehow tainted the message, showed his arrogant and disdainful side. He "infected" the whole campaign. Suddenly Hilary, until now beloved by African-Americans, was slighting them - in one instance placing Lyndon Johnson above Martin Luther King in civil rights history. What a mad mistake! It almost seemed fated. Hilary's campaign stalled, then took a deep and prolonged nosedive. Yet, like Musharref and Bill Clinton, Barack Obama is also a Leo. Where's his dark, angry, distasteful side? Well, Barack's chart shows several saving factors: One, his Moon is probably in GEMINI. (If his birth time of 1:06 p.m. is correct.) Geminis are masters at skating over their own blemishes, faults, or weaknesses. They're usually natural persuaders (and make great con artists, in their lower forms). The Gemini Moon would explain Barack's slender build. Two, Barack was born with the good (north) lunar node in Leo, in the exact part of Leo where the "bad" (south) node has been since mid-January. The two nodes coming together tend to neutralize each other, and to signal a destined period in a person's life. (This phenomenon occurs once every 18 years, in everyone's life.) Three, being born with the north node in your sun sign, as Barack was, usually indicates a moral, peaceable, good-hearted person. (Though it's no guarantee he's "clean" as a politician - a state perhaps even an angel couldn't achieve.) Four, Venus and Mercury have been traveling through Barack's sign of public acceptance, fame, and opportunity all February. These two planets, especially Venus, cause a "love affair" with the public until March 12. We might see a decline in this love affair from March 10/11 onward. If by the time you read this, Barack has won Texas and Ohio, this discussion is probably academic, and he might become the Democratic nominee anyway. But the present week will start to show any negative sides of Barack, and give us a solid clue as to whether he'll surge triumphantly to the Presidency, or stumble. Start Nothing: 4:09 a.m. to 9:14 a.m. Mon., 10:26 a.m. to 10:54 a.m. Wed., and 1:23 p.m. to 1:37 p.m. Fri. Aries March 21-April 19 Your energy and charisma ebb lower this week and next. But Sunday/Monday bring relief - your energy, instincts and charm help you get big things done. Chase money Tuesday. (A lucky pay raise or promotion hovers around you all year - it's most likely in May or November, but can arrive anytime - if you chase it! One caution: temperamental, impulsive acts now to May 9, perhaps triggered by home conditions, could blow apart career or financial prospects!) Exercise monetary caution Wednesday, until nightfall. (This night could bring a sweet sensual interlude.) Taurus April 20-May 20 Social delights, popularity, optimism, flirtations, luck, and happy plans fill your days. Your horizons brighten! Expect travel, dealings with siblings, and significant communications for the next 60 days. Some of this (especially in April) might involve a secret, family skeleton, or large company, government agency or institution - or merely a rest-oriented vacation! Keep your eyes, ears and curiosity open to "subsurface indications." Rest, retreat and contemplate Sunday. Your energy and charisma put you in charge Monday-Wednesday. Start significant things. Exercise money caution Wednesday/Thursday. Relationship, travel news surprises Friday onward! Gemini May 21-June 20 Life accents your reputation, prestige and career prospects. Work hard; be confident and eager. You'll be tested, and you'll pass! Higher-ups grant you the benefit of any doubts. The sixty days ahead increase your money flow, and could fatten your bank account IF you save. But you'll also be tempted (or urged by another) to spend recklessly. (Remember October-December last year, when the same influence existed: did you end ahead?) Sunday's hopeful, friendly. Retreat and rest Monday/Tuesday. Your vigor and charm return Wednesday onward. Think twice about money Friday/Saturday! Cancer June 21-July 22 You remain placid, thoughtful and broad-minded. Foreign-born people, scholars and lawyers befriend you, so seek them out. Think big, beyond details. Despite your present mellow mood, intensity is pouring into you, and will for sixty more days. You'll grow more ambitious and radiate more likes and dislikes - and testosterone. If you're male, your sexual magnetism surges. If you remain self-disciplined, you could rise high! You recently entered two decades of opportunities and relationship changes - some of these could appear Monday/Tuesday (mildly, pleasantly) and Friday/Saturday (powerfully, with love at issue!). Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Mysteries and secrets, financial and sexual urges/situations continue. All year, your "jackpot" lies in relationships, in forming them, accenting and fulfilling the desires of others, etc. At present, you're dealing with the deeper levels of this, with commitment, consequences, funding and/or intimacy that could lead to lifestyle changes, mortgages, investments, etc. In some ways, it's an exhilarating time! Now to early May, be sure of your facts (and effect) before you speak - avoid enmities, legal or media "fights." Your career and prestige meet luck Tuesday/Wednesday. Your hopes rise Friday! Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Relationships are still exciting, perhaps over-stimulating and unstable. The days ahead turn down the unpredictability factor, so you can begin to relax. From mid-week to early April, others will treat you more considerately, even affectionately. This period will also present you with various small opportunities to relocate, partner, sign contracts and negotiate agreements. For a full sixty days ahead, you can discuss usually hidden, "off limits" or sensitive subjects with ease. A social contact might become an intimate lover. Your financial and lifestyle wishes start to come true Friday/Saturday. Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Tackle chores. Clear away tasks, as you face an important, exciting late-March and April - a period that might bring a change of residence, or a major change in a relationship due to domestic, security and/or property factors. Your career, prestige and business sector heats up now to May 9, and you might want to join with your mate or another in an ambitious project. But your major fortune, all year, lies in the opposite direction: retreat, security, home, agriculture and retirement - for success, get ambitious about one of these! Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Romance, adventure, creative surges, beauty, joys from children, pleasure and a vacation atmosphere - these fill your days now, and any affair or project that starts in these zones could get an "extended run" through early April. Avoid legal hassles to May 9, unless these come from your employment, or you're a lawyer, etc. - in these cases, you'll be very busy, successfully so! Far travel for your employment is also well-starred, especially to early April. Tackle chores Sunday. Relationships excite Monday/Tuesday. Be cautious in committing your heart or money Wednesday/Thursday. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 The accent continues on home, domestic, property, retirement and security issues. Later this week (through early April) a subtle, nice luck enters these affairs. Through early May, a relationship that's been intense for the last few months (even since last August) turns deep once again. Themes of commitment, of intimacy (or in a business relationship, of funding) arise in a significant way. Either you both grow closer and accept new, binding responsibilities, or the end starts to approach. Outcomes look good, at least into April. Be diplomatic, flexible Wednesday/Thursday. Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Communications and short trips fill this week. Be curious; ask questions. Mid-week into early April brings heartening messages and replies, pleasurable trips and affectionate conversations. Siblings might rally round. You're on the cusp of major changes. Relationships grow intense Friday/Saturday through May 9. You might change partners. You might set up house, or end a partnership. Whatever the case, strong feelings prevail - anger, love, or both! When in doubt, remember that 2008 is your lucky year: if you give destiny a chance, it will come through in pleasing ways! Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb.18 Your money picture remains good - try to increase your earnings through March 19. Even after this, to early April, financial rewards and small money opportunities will come. Soon, you'll be able to purchase a luxury item. Work grows hectic, fast-paced through May 9. Through it all, remember that 2008 is your best spiritual and healing year in a long, long time. This is a great time to meditate, deal with counselors, "fix" your tax picture, or interface with charities and government agencies. CUSO, UNESCO, or the Peace Corps (?) await some! Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Your energy, charisma and effectiveness remain high! Start significant projects and relationships. See and be seen. Ask favors. You're the star - you were earlier this month too, but "sweetness" and a ready wit were lacking. Now to early April, these flow abundantly! Passion - creative, romantic, or for the advancement of a child or of your bank account - passion calls you now to early May. Respond - luck accompanies you! Friday/Saturday give you a taste of this luck - and show the "difficult underside" that might accompany your ardor. Honesty protects you. www.asralreflections.com Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-261-1337. /30/