ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS NOVEMBER 16 - 22, 2008 All times/dates are Pacific Standard Time. Pluto enters CAPRICORN November 26, and will stay there until 2024. This planet takes 247 years to circle the zodiac. The Salem witch trails of 1692 took place with Pluto in 28 degrees Cancer. The American revolution of 1775/6 occurred with Pluto at 28 degrees Capricorn - exactly halfway around the circle, or 180 degrees away. This huge rush of speed - only 84 years to travel half of a 247-year orbit - might be part of the pattern of huge growth and change in that time. This is Pluto's doing, the utter, permeating transformation from a society so stricken with paranoia it burns its own mothers and daughters (somewhat as the Middle East does now) to the triumph of idealism, equality, justice, and consciousness of the French and American revolutions. In our present world, Pluto was in 28 degrees Cancer in 1938, when World War Two started. It will be at 28 Capricorn in 2023: a time that will see another "revolution" for humanity. This recent half-orbit is also swift - only 85 years. To some degree, we can expect events of similar magnitude to occur. Our "witch trial" was WW II. Hopefully, our "revolution" will be as freeing and uplifting as the 1775-99 ones. (French victory, 1799.) It will be as vast as the world war, but might take place on a much more intrinsic, less violent level - partly because our world is different. Last January, contemplating this change (Pluto in Capricorn) I wrote that African Americans, being Capricorn ruled, would rise in power from 2008-2024. (That column drew a flurry of hate mail from Blacks, but none from Capricorns.) A year later, Barack Obama rose from obscurity to president of the U.S. That was one of the first notes of the coming transformation. The credit freeze wasn't another, but the reaction - the nationalizing of U.S. banks and the Capricornian restriction of capitalism - was. The 1736 Pluto era chart, showing events through 1983, was filled with "squares" - showing disruption, friction, huge forces vying against each other - thus, armed revolutions, world wars, etc. The 1983 era chart, showing events up to 2232, is filled with planetary "conjunctions" - indicating coalescing and union - and birth! Hence, we have the world's military might consolidating in the U.S., we have global banks (HSBC, Citigroup, etc.) and one world-wide financial system. Such concentration gives thousands of years of peace between nations, but when it stumbles (as the financial system did in 2008) the consequences can be vast. But there are great good things to come in the mini-era of 2008-24. Hopefully, I'll find some by next week! Start Nothing: 5:43 a.m. to 1:07 p.m. Mon., 4:47 p.m. to 5:13 p.m. Wed., and 0:02 a.m. to 0:20 a.m. Sat. Aries March 21-April 19 Your last week of mystery, change, and "crucial stakes." Your luck is all over the place this week, so depend on your intuition, be nimble, and stay alert. Don't depend on your intuition Sunday/Monday, though, as your impressions seem misguided or fuzzy. Despite this, good luck happens to you, in real estate, home, family, security, retirement, sales territory and similar zones! Romance, creativity and gambling lure you Monday to Wednesday, but take care - disappointment lurks. Tackle chores, buy machinery, care for dependents Thursday/Friday (NOT Wednesday eve). Interesting meetings Saturday. Taurus April 20-May 20 Avoid the temptation to be impulsive in lifestyle changes, finances (investments, etc.) sexual and secretive areas Sunday through December 26 - you could get burned, or, chasing a lure too far, end up trapped. (For example, chasing a married person for sex could end with you married to him/her - or abandoned - to your endless regret!) So easy does it; "default" to your usual calm, steady approach. Sunday/Monday bring great trips and friends but unreliable information (about career, business?). Be careful with property, security and family Monday-Wednesday. Romance soars, succeeds Thursday/Friday! Gemini May 21-June 20 This is your last week (for a few months) of work, boredom, and health concerns. Trudge through, perform essential tasks, and clear your life for the opportunities that will soon surface. Now to late December (best next week to December 20) you could meet someone who drags you into a new social circle, even into a new life! For the next three weeks intimate sexual or deep financial luck accompanies your contacts. Chase money Sunday/Monday. Read directions twice. Communications and travel are snarled mid-week. Retreat, rest and contemplate Thursday/Friday. Cancer June 21-July 22 Romance fades mildly as the week goes on. Oddly enough, as romance fades, others begin treating you with more affection. Relationships are a source of luck now to January. A pile of work looms. You might be surprised by the swiftness with which chores come - or how fast you're expected to perform them, now through late December. Pace yourself. The 45 days ahead could bring you closer to a cherished promotion. Your energy and charisma shine Sunday/Monday. Avoid intimate clinches, and new investments. Be careful with money, purchases, mid-week. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 A period of semi-hibernation ends Friday, but even before this you'll start to notice delicious hints of romance, little flirtations, a creative feeling, a gambling attitude. One of the more significant romantic months in some time will begin Friday. More importantly, one of your best relationship, love, marital years of your life will begin January 5. (Means the romantic phase just ahead might tie in to a bigger picture.) Lie low, get lots of rest Sunday/Monday. Your energy and charisma leap upward mid-week, but obstacles exist. Money's luck Thursday/Friday! Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 A wish might come true Sunday - social delights, flirtations and/or entertainment also make this a happy day! Sunday also begins a six-week trend of potential friction at home, so resolve to hold your temper and deal gently. (These six weeks also favor investments in property, repairs, renos, etc.) Retreat for a rest Monday noon to Wednesday - contemplate, but don't plan, as your logic wobbles and stumbles. Your energy, charisma and effectiveness return Wednesday eve through Friday - charge ahead in love, romance, speculative, creative and child-oriented affairs Thursday/Friday (not Wednesday). Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Make money while you can (to Friday). The biggest, best thing you can do this year is to buy or gain a home, lot, house, apartment, farm, etc. This "secures you" for at least a decade to come. There will be many changes and transformations in your life, your family and your soul now to 2024. Having a "place to stand" is the best way to approach this long period. If you haven't made this move/purchase, do it December 21 through January 4, 2009. Until then, search, travel and investigate. Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Your energy and charisma remain high, you accomplish things easily and attract favorable attention! But the subtle sexual magnetism you radiated for the last six weeks fades a bit. Turn your attention to money, for it will "rule" the few weeks ahead. Friday begins six weeks of fast-flowing money, which will bring more to you (partly from all the hectic work of October/November). But unless you're disciplined, money will also flow away from you - swiftly! Bank it, be cheap for awhile. Chase ambitions Monday-Wednesday. Social joys bless you Thursday/Friday! Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 A period of relative seclusion begins to end. Sunday onward (for six weeks) imbues you with a new determination, assertiveness, creativity, inspiration, and risk-taking courage. You'll be sexually magnetic the entire period! But the energy you need to accompany such brave prospects won't arrive until Friday or Saturday, so be patient this week. Plan your break-out! Sunday's for mysteries (and good investments). Legal, far travel and intellectual matters grab the spotlight Monday-Wednesday - with some confusion or illusion. Be ambitious Thursday/Friday - your boss (parent) is ready to acquiesce! Socialize Saturday! Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Look over the past few weeks, in a deep way Monday-Wednesday, and in a more mellow, distant way Thursday/Friday. You've dealt with social and friendship issues, and with your "optimism factory" - with your future views and overall goals - these few weeks. This zone will change deeply, wholly, from late November right into 2024. If single, you're going to enter some powerful, serious flirtations - with people who have an obsessive drive - or admire yours! Soon, you'll take the reins of leadership. Rest during the weeks ahead. Contemplate what must end. Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Be ambitious. The hard work and pressure will end Friday eve. Sunday's perfect for tackling large, important chores. Relationships puzzle, perhaps disappoint Monday to Wednesday. If you suspect someone's trying to deceive you, think: your own wish to step around the truth might be the cause. Look at him/her again in this light. Hold your temper Wednesday night. Mysteries of a profitable/valuable nature arise Thursday/Friday. Invest, seek intimacy, whisper words of love. Saturday brings mellow understanding. The six weeks ahead emphasize social times, entertainment, flirtations, optimism and new goals! Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Bosses and parents will be temperamental and impatient for the six weeks ahead. But you'll have two opportunities to turn extra effort - or extra courage - into extra cash (or, better, a pay raise). So be ambitious and assertive through December (but strictly avoid aggression). Social and cultural, legal, educational, far travel and publishing interests go well this week. Be mellow and loving, especially Sunday (when romance or a very successful creative streak might arrive) and Thursday/Friday, when exciting meetings could spark attractive relationships and opportunities. Mysteries, intimacies hover Saturday. www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-261-1337. /30/