ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS DECEMBER 7 - 13, 2008 All times/dates ate PST. Next week, I'll begin outlining everyone's new luck cycle, which starts January 4. Unusual stock market turbulence is likely Tuesday to Friday. (On November 9, I wrote here that BCE, the big telco, would "disappoint investors, performance-wise." My editors deleted the rest: "because it doesn't pay its debts." November 26, 10 days before a scheduled buy-out at $ 43, an accounting firm revealed that BCE would not pass a solvency test, scuttling the buy-out. The stock fell to $ 25.) Obama's a great civil general who will bring change - it's destined. But that change might contain many missteps. Inauguration Day, January 20, holds a "Start Nothing" period until 12:30 p.m. (He's scheduled to be inaugurated at noon.) Mercury will be retrograde (January 11 to 31). Mercury retro causes confusion, false starts, aborted or mis-launched programs, indecision, and changes of mind. This isn't necessarily terrible - the Declaration of Independence was voted on, and first signed, during Mercury retrograde - but it wasn't fully signed until August. (Hence the sign Leo, and the generous, boastful national character - and the present difficulties, slated to end about August/09.) If it were possible (and George and the constitution would allow it) I'd advise Obama to take the reins before January 1, or to delay inauguration until February 1 onward. Failing this, Obama should instruct his inner circle to secretly sit on their hands for ten days after January 20, and issue nothing but void or "wait and see" statements. At the very least, as he's sort-of doing, Obama should puppy his programs into Congress now, so he can simply vet and approve them by February 1 onward - not January. (I'm told a billionaire reads this preamble: If so, if you can get a message to Mr. Obama about this, you might be doing the world a favor.) The new administration will display an idealistic outlook, a dictatorial, unbending attitude coupled strangely with indecision, a deft talent with display and video/film, and some prevarication - or "very complicated" truths. The economic and financial situation, especially housing, will not solve the first year. There will be slow but huge upheavals, anger, upsets, elbowing, and revenge among civil servants. (The beurocracy has, these last 8 years, been tired, lazy or depressed, self-centered and - well, unpatriotic. Just think Katrina, New Orleans, and FEMA.) It goes against modern thought, but the aspects advise Obama and the new administration, September 2009 onward, to increase U.S. insularity, to be "Teflon" towards other countries, allies and enemies, to sign no pacts. Start Nothing: 1:35 p.m. to 10:52 p.m. Mon., 2:23 p.m. to 11:33 p.m. Wed., and 10:01 a.m. to 10:40 p.m. Fri. Aries March 21-April 19 You start this week with heightened energy, luck and resolve. Working the right angle could get you promoted! Tuesday/Wednesday bring buying opportunities, but steer clear of anything high tech, mechanical or optical (Thursday/Friday also). Work aids and status symbols - and educational outlays - favor you. Take care with driving and electricity- this entire week is accident-prone, especially Thursday. You face a wee dilemma or conflict Wednesday-Friday, between your ethics/morals and a secret connection, group, or activity. Be honest, and all will be fine. Spend Saturday near home - a friend confesses? Taurus April 20-May 20 Lie low, rest, contemplate and plan Sunday/Monday. Government agencies, charities or institutions can aid you - with a surprising willingness! Your energy and charisma return Tuesday/Wednesday - but this isn't an easy time. Watch out for things from left field. Hopes conflict with money resources; friends conflict with the need for secret action or intimacy; advice is wrong. Take a big view, read a book or do your own research. Thursday/Friday are no picnic, either - watch for unexpected financial events, accident potentials, and guard your health. All week, be financially careful. Gemini May 21-June 20 Sunday/Monday love opens a door, flirtations excite you, friends fete you, and optimistic plans boost you toward happiness! But from Tuesday on, this isn't an easy week. Lie low, rest, contemplate and plan Tuesday/Wednesday. Plan - or take action toward - financial, property, domestic, family, sexual or lifestyle commitments (Wednesday morn and afternoon best). But take care with your reputation, career, community standing, and in relations with bosses, parents and VIPs, especially Wednesday to Friday. Your energy and charisma surge Thursday/Friday - enjoy attention, solve problems, but make no commitments. Saturday's easy! Cancer June 21-July 22 This week's tough, especially for work, machinery, legal, educational, travel and international interests. You face some splendid career or ambition opportunities Sunday/Monday - jump on them! Happiness visits Tuesday/Wednesday, but keep a weather eye open for mishaps, or friends who argue, Tuesday. Avoid these things Tuesday to Friday: slacking off at work, legal disputes, accidents with machinery, and stock market investments. If you're a student, this is an excellent week for editing your paper - not for writing a new one. Rest and contemplate Thursday/Friday. Your energy and charisma rise Saturday! Leo July 23-Aug. 22 The main emphasis lies on romance, creativity, speculation, pleasure, beauty, sports, and children's interests. You're riding a winning streak, so the financial, health or sexual disruptions that occur Tuesday to Friday might even aid you in an unexpected way. Show largesse, tolerance. Love could visit Sunday/Monday - both days are splendid for far travel, cultural involvements, legal, educational and intellectual pursuits. Be serious about your duties Tuesday/Wednesday. Happiness rides the social winds Thursday/Friday! Expect flirtations, optimistic hopes and entertainment - accept invitations. Rest, Saturday - contemplation reveals the solution to those "disruptions." Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 The main emphasis lies on your domestic situation, property, security, retirement, soul, gardening, nutrition, and business foundations. Sunday/Monday offer great chances to change things here, or to invest, research, seek intimacy, alter your lifestyle. Valuable secrets exist. The rest of this week gets dicey. Relationships meet stress, Tuesday to Friday. What you did Sunday/Monday might cause someone to wig out (Thursday?) - perhaps you shouldn't have been so intimate with someone! Your job and finances will be strained - DON'T make new investments. Saturday brings travel, new friends, conversations - all's well! Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Letters, emails, errands, contacts and casual friends, details, paperwork - tackle these now, before they grow stale with neglect. An exciting meeting Sunday/Monday might portend a love affair for singles. These two days are also filled with practical opportunities - they're "carried" by others, or necessitate permission or co-operation, so be diplomatic and eager to please. Finances, sex, and all the secret power side of relationships arise Tuesday (difficult) and Wednesday (afternoon best). Take care, Tuesday right into Friday, with secrets, romance, health, work and machinery - don't gossip! Saturday's for homebodies. Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 The main accent lies on earnings, money, possessions, buying and selling, memory (it gets better) and casual sex. This week is no picnic - social pursuits, romance, speculation, creative projects and pleasure forays all run into money barriers, or refusals from people you thought were on board. Communications, driving, and paperwork meet obstacles. You might feel like investing or changing your lifestyle Thursday/Friday - this could work, or it could fail spectacularly. There's good stuff - Sunday/Monday are great for work, machinery. Relationships bring money or intimate luck Wednesday afternoon. Saturday's mellow. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Your energy, charisma and effectiveness continue high, Sage! Romance, speculation, a creative or pleasure project succeed Sunday/Monday - jump on a winning streak! But home affairs (property, abode, family, security) - which have frustrated and/or surprised you for four years - begin to go off-center and downhill Tuesday through Friday, which can cause arguments. (This "home disruptiveness" is designed to free you, to break stale bonds, especially those that exist inside you. Best approach: be adventurous.) Bosses and higher-ups are unimpressed Friday; wait to December 16 onward to approach them. Saturday's sexy! Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Lie low this week. Watch others, discern trends, contemplate and plan future action (December 21 onward). Get plenty of rest. Be proactive in charity, discrete (or retreat) in competitive situations. Home, family, security, retirement, and all food/shelter issues benefit from Sunday/Monday's benevolent developments. Get something repaired. Romance and visions of beauty or pleasure come Tuesday/Wednesday. Enjoy life's moments! But mid-week also triggers a wee tempest (through Friday) in communications, paperwork, travel, and casual relationships. Be careful with driving, computers and machinery. Don't gossip; don't attempt legal projects. Saturday's fine! Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 It's a time of social delights, flirtations (especially Sunday/Monday, when travel, communications, conversations and errands go well, and Thursday/Friday). Optimism, hope, and wish fulfillment buoy your spirits! However, it's also a week of monetary disruptions and barriers, Tuesday through Friday. You could be embarrassed if you try to steer a social relationship into a more intimate, sexual or romantic zone. Keep your lip zipped in important or critical situations. DON'T invest, nor make a lifestyle change, through Friday - your hopes and reality are on different paths. Putter around, Saturday. Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Chase money, buy/sell and talk to business associates Sunday/Monday. Good luck accompanies you! The entire week focuses on your ambitions, career, and reputation. But it isn't an easy week. You're in one of the most sparkling, adventurous - or disruptive and rebellious - phases of your life, 2003 through 2010. If "sparkling" applies, then this week merely brings pressures, intensified ambition, and "strong" dealings with higher-ups or parents. If "rebellious" applies, Tuesday through Friday might bring refusal, disruption and disappointment. A relationship faces the "truth point." Saturday restores pleasure, beauty, passion! www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-261-1337. /30/