ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS OCTOBER 5 - 11, 2008 All times/dates are PDT. Typo alert: In some versions of last week's column, I advised Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces to avoid new starts before June 15. Should have read "October 15." Sometimes we're reluctant to embrace our loved ones' totality, because it threatens our inner independence. To accept everything that our senses tell us is a threat, to dissolve our defenses and embrace another on ultra-deep levels, is to endanger our sense of self, to risk losing our position "in life" or in reality. Doing so takes real love - and courage. That's surely why love novels key on such words as "surrender." For air signs GEMINI, LIBRA and AQUARIUS, love occurs on the level of thought, and the inner walls that often have to be let down to let true, complete love in, are the walls of ethics, principles, ideals and beliefs. A lover must meet and/or agree with their ideals, politics, etc. The potential loss of independent thought is the scariest prospect of surrendering to love. (One wrinkle: Gemini can delight in absorbing another's thought patterns, like a chameleon absorbs colors. This seldom extends to morals, though.) For the water signs, CANCER, SCORPIO and PISCES, love occurs on the level of emotions. These signs find surrender relatively easy - sometimes too easy! But the scariest part of true love for water signs is to yield the right to possess the loved one. To not be jealous, never suspicious - to let the loved one wander the world without them - that's the most fearsome surrender these signs face. (One wrinkle: Pisces sometimes grants the lover/loved one total freedom, often as a sort of spiritual exercise or ecstasy.) The earth signs, TAURUS, VIRGO and CAPRICORN, love on sensual, earthy levels. Sex is of prime importance, and the physical abandonment of sexual orgasm is often used as surrogate surrender. Yes, that is too easy - the scariest surrender of all to an earth sign is the surrender of possessions - house, property, bank accounts, or that cellar of fine wines. (A wrinkle: Capricorns most fear losing prestige, so often will love, but not marry, beneath their "station" - unless they believe in the person's ambition to rise.) ARIES, LEO and SAGITTARIUS, the fire signs, love with enthusiasm. For them, love is hot passion (as romantic as sexual) and a defiant disregard for mundane considerations. The scariest surrender of true love to a fire sign is to let go of infatuation, to embrace the cool reality of the practical, everyday ordinariness of their love. To fire signs, only cold fish live in still, deep waters. (Wrinkle: Sagittarius is often attracted to cool, anxious/placid types - it fills an inner cavern, for Sage has a similar persona lurking deep within him/herself.) Start Nothing: 6:08 p.m. to 8:48 p.m. Sun., 12:37 p.m. Tues. to 9:03 a.m. Wed., and 4:13 p.m. to 6:31 p.m. Fri. Aries March 21-April 19 Circumstances (or urges) offer you some potent sexual high jinks! Good, if with your present love/spouse or an old flame. Don't start new relationships before October 15. You might want to dive headlong into a lifestyle change, a totally new life in a new location, or into a major investment or contract - careful! If these relate to the past (e.g., relocating to a former hometown) action is good. If not, wait and see - you can make your move next week (or by then you'll see reasons not to). Taurus April 20-May 20 Although delays, indecision, mistakes, late supplies, and wasted work are still likely, this week runs smoothly and happily. The main accent lies on work, machinery (buy NONE!) and health, but love and attraction arise also, as a kind of relief theme. Sunday's mysterious, filled with deeper urges. A sweet, mellow mood floats in Monday/Tuesday - careful with contracts Monday. Your ambitions are stymied by another Wednesday, but soar luckily on the wings of friendship or affectionate co-operation Thursday/Friday. Social delights raise your hopes Friday night and Saturday, but doubts remain_ Gemini May 21-June 20 Old flames, former loves and other passions (creative projects, vacation retreats, semi-lost children) fill your days. Reject new passions and romances - especially with a co-worker (anyone in your field). You could be itching to start a work project - especially a construction, decoration, or similar one - delay this until October 15 onward. Sunday brings exciting meetings and possibilities - but remember, nothing new will work. Mysteries, secrets, subconscious urges and hunches, sexual desires, investments, debts and large finances, dreams, health diagnoses fill Monday (a glitch) and Tuesday (success). Love, wisdom Wednesday-Friday! Cancer June 21-July 22 The emphasis lies on home, family, property, security, retirement, food, agriculture - all the basics of life. Indecision, delays and mistakes prevail in this arena (and generally) until June 15. Be vigilant with on-going projects and refrain from starting anything new before then. You might deal again with family members who temporarily come closer. Your romantic, creative side blossoms - remember, 2008 holds lucky relationship developments! One of these might arise Sunday night to Tuesday - but the most reliable relationships and opportunities will occur mid-October through November (and next January). Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Not much is at stake, Leo, so keep active but relaxed. And maintain a sense of humor - many little mistakes can be made before October 15 (you catch the wrong bus, forget your wallet at home, etc.). The best thing you can do, is to do nothing important. To create challenges, to MAKE things important - e.g., to challenge a lover - would be a mistake. Sunday daytime's sweet, romantic. Tackle chores this eve to Tuesday. Relationships encounter friction Wednesday, joy, affection Thursday, and mystery Friday/Saturday. Make no commitments; sign nothing! Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Your money luck remains buoyant. But bend your efforts toward collecting from the past, paying past-due bills, and protecting ongoing income situations - don't start new money projects before June 15 - and DON'T spend on new items. Communications are affectionate. You could receive/make a call or email that hints at more than just a neutral relationship. It's better to wait in this until October 15 onward. Rest near home or in nature Sunday. Romance, creative surges and happy children fill this eve to Tuesday. Tackle chores Wednesday-Friday. Exciting, puzzling meetings, Friday/Saturday! Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Your energy, charisma and clout continue high - you're a winner this autumn! Even so, mistakes, glitches and delays, like cats underfoot, can make you stumble in new initiatives. Stick to the old or ongoing until June 15; bask in the glow from "old faithfuls." Money's lucky - though again, wait until June 15 onward to chase new sources (and especially to spend any of it). Concentrate on home, security Sunday eve to Tuesday. Romance involves an unsuitable mate Wednesday, a suitable one Thursday/Friday. An old flame - or teacher - might reappear. Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Don't make new contacts or initiatives with institutions, civil servants, management or head office before October 15. They'd waste your time for weeks, even years, with "semi-promises." (And the worst is, it would be your fault!) Despite your present physical weariness, your sexual and emotional magnetism glows ever stronger. Before October 15, this could get you in dicey situations - after, who knows? Chase money Sunday. Talks, emails, paperwork, short trips and errands fill Monday/Tuesday - check for mistakes, typos. Be home, appreciate family Wednesday-Friday. Romantic notions provide sweet moments Saturday. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Welcome old friends, especially those you might run into on the street - they have a short but significant role to play. One might bring you back into the fold of a former group that still has something to "give" you. An old flame is around these weeks, bringing hopes of a reunion, even of a life together. If this occurs, play it lightly, think deeply. Your magnetism shines Sunday. Chase money Monday/Tuesday - buy nothing important. Talks, trips frustrate Wednesday, succeed Thursday/Friday. Rest, Saturday. A happy week, with tantalizing nuances! Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Don't start new ambitious, business, career, power or status-oriented projects before October 15. Your popularity grows. You're feeling brighter, more cheerful - the seven weeks ahead will intensify these good feelings! January-to-June, you might have felt wrenched out of a comfortable situation, or sensed big changes looming. These experiences have faded, but the change theme will return by November 26 - for 15 years. Since successful new starts are denied before October 15, use the ten days ahead to contemplate this huge change. Soon (October 15 onward) successful plans will form! Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Your cerebral side hungrily embraces love, romance, far travel, publishing and media, law, ethics, profound thoughts, tomes, higher education, religion, culture, etc. Don't start anything in these areas before June 15 - until then, protect ongoing projects here, or reprise the past (e.g., re-read a favorite book). Former loves reappear, in actuality or in your thoughts. You ambition, career and community status scene begins to stir - expect a lot of action here for seven weeks. Romance/lust might develop with a co-worker or boss. Take care. Rest Monday/Tuesday. You shine Wednesday/Thursday! Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Mysteries or secrets might resurface from the past - so might sexual or financial temptations. I can't condemn these, as your ethical side is also wide awake (and growing) now through late November. So if your honest, honorable self says go ahead, then go ahead! Sometimes temptations are nature's way of nudging us toward what is right and real (or away from what's superficial). You decide. A new temptation, travel plan, educational application, investment or commitment, though, has a "fatal flaw" - be patient until October 15. Hopes and happiness visit Monday/Tuesday! www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-261-1337. /30/