ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS OCTOBER 11 – 17, 2009 All times are PDT. Beauty doesn’t seem to change, not the big beauty. Human beauty fades: women grow wrinkled, and men lose their muscle. But when you walk along the street, the rain on the gravel shines with the same undecipherable, reassuring message that it had when I was ten, running home from school, or twenty, walking home after a night with a girl. (Schools and girls, both slap your wrists when you utter the wrong answer.).... I know, it’s not astrology.... Obama’s a Leo. Mars, the planet of war, anger, determination and of leaping without looking, enters Leo Friday, to stay for seven months, an unusually long time. Obama’s a pretty balanced guy. His mistakes are never huge, his anger’s tempered with logic, and if anything he’s almost too unflappable. His big test will come this week through June. Some months ago I opined that this might manifest as an expanding war in the Afghan-Pakistan region; but I’m not so sure now. It feels different. For the last two months Mars has been in Cancer, tempting many of us to indulge in a deep, gut-level anger as it approached the south node of bad karma. Anger especially about Cancer things: children, home, property, mom and apple pie, nationalism and patriotism. I shudder to think what divorcing spouses fighting over custody of the kids have gone through these weeks. We’ve seen the rancorous fight over health care in Washington, we’ve seen Michele Obama snub the Italian chauvinist Berlusconi. Let’s hope Obama hasn’t been deeply engaged in back room deals to push his health care through, for the back room is exactly where this Mars and “bad karma” south node have been in his chart. He would suffer for any such deals, in future, be tied down and compromised by them.... As you read this, we might have recently witnessed some horrific accident or storm of nature, some ugly residential fires or spousal murders.... But the real effect of this Mars-south-node thing (they touched October 9 and 10) isn’t the immediate firework. The troublesome prospect is that this aspect produced a temptation, especially a temptation to be seduced by anger (the most foolish of emotions) which might have nudged some of us (you know, like me) into a course of action that will lead to a long road down the next seven months. What was started in anger will probably end in rage – rage mostly that the anger is not working. So we could see martial action almost anywhere in the world. Fewer lawsuits will be settled. All of us, if we have started actions recently based on anger, should back off, cool off, and make friends rather than enemies. But that’s always true. Start Nothing: 6:37 p.m. to 10:02 p.m. Sun., 2:21 p.m. Tues. to 0:45 a.m. Wed., 3:18 a.m.to 3:29 a.m. Fri., and after 10:33 p.m. Sat. Aries March 21-April 19 If you’re in a fight, you face another 11 days of opposition. Realize a Libra or Capricorn has the capacity to “beat” you. If a recent setback occurred it arose from a temptation involving an “ending” or property, family issues. To resolve it, stand up, be human, reject foolish anger. If there’s no fight, you have 11 days of opportunity, exciting meetings, and possible “love statements,” left. Friday/Saturday offer agreement; if you make the approach, he/she will accept. Delays end in social, travel, legal, wedding and educational zones. Sweet romance, pleasure, Monday/Tuesday! Taurus April 20-May 20 Work/health themes continue (successfully Friday/Saturday). Career prospects that have been delayed since late last spring now flow into forward motion. Investment, financial and, to some degree sexual matters also begin to move forward (as you’ll see by December – wished-for parenthood could arrive!) These forward steps will either enhance and enrich your domestic sphere, or they will fight it. Be alert, aware of subterranean developments, hints. Sunday’s happy, social. Be restful, home, Monday/Tuesday. Romance, creativity, pleasure and beauty call Wednesday/Thursday, but deep disagreements lurk. Gemini May 21-June 20 You have a week and a half of romantic luck left, so use it ! At least respond to one of those glances or urges you’re getting every few days. A legal, travel, publishing, religious, educational, love or cultural matter of considerable luck (or of considerable girth) will start to move forward swiftly now, after months of delay. This could be one of the lucky turning points of your life, so do pursue it – NOW. True love, wedding, awaits some! (“Considerable girth” – could be bigger than lucky, in, for instance, a lawsuit.) You might end a financial or sexual link mid-week. Cancer June 21-July 22 The domestic saga continues – in a productive, growing way Sunday. But look at yourself around sunset: is there some extra determination, fire, anger or slow burn there? If so, it’s possible you made a bad decision or acted on a temptation (disguised as determination) awhile ago. If this rings true, step from the path it might have steered you into. Delays in intimacy, financial engineering, investments, and “detective work” end now – results will arrive, soon! Mid-week hints that what seems ambition, a chasing of opportunity, might disguise domestic unease. Think about this. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 The emphasis continues on paperwork, details, timing, curiosity, short trips, communications. You might have made a mistake in the last 7 weeks, especially in the last few days, involving an institution or government agency, administration, a secret or a charity – perhaps linked to legal, travel or educational projects. If you recognize it (or had bad luck in these things) then do a turn-about now. (Contemplate this Sunday, when it’s “close.”) Your energy and charisma attract admirers Monday/Tuesday! Chase money Wednesday/Thursday, but buy nothing; don’t invest. Sweet dreams/success, Friday/Saturday! Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Continue to pursue money: ask for a pay raise, raise client fees or new clients, buy/sell, etc., especially Friday/Saturday. Earlier, Monday/Tuesday bring weariness – rest, contemplate and plan, help others. Your energy and charisma rise Wednesday/Thursday – you might attract or chase a sensual but not highly emotional situation. Okay, but a new world is dawning in relationships, to last decades: you might find that someone wants romance, not quick sex. Thursday’s disruptive – take care. Luck’s with you in money and work Friday/Saturday – buy video, boating, liquid/gas and fashion items. Libra Sept.23-Oct. 22 Your energy, luck, clout and effectiveness ride a cresting wave! Start things, demand that things be your way, reject compromise unless it truly benefits you. A desire to co-operate, litigate or respond to an attack, since mid-August, has led you the wrong way. Change direction now. Romantic, creative, pleasure-oriented, cultural, international, educational and legal matters that have been delayed move swiftly forward. Don’t hesitate! Ignore/abandon those who would slow you. An “enemy” shares your interests – you might engage in a 7-month “dance” soon – of conflict or love. Reject promiscuity. Scorpio Oct.23-Nov. 21 Domestic, security, property, gardening and related projects, held up since last June, move forward now – and with a pent-up luck that could grant you what you want! Have faith and march forward, especially with ventures that arose last spring. Soon, you might face seven months of friction from “upstairs” – bosses, parents, authorities, judges. If so, it might be a result of some wrong choices you made since late August (especially last week) perhaps in legal, educational, cultural, employment or intellectual areas. If you have to, apologize, change direction! This week, rest, contemplate. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Dreams can come true this October! Communications, paperwork and short travels that have been put off or slow to come through should proceed apace now. Soon (Friday onward) seven months of “fun” begin (though it might not appear “full strength” until your birthday onward). A lively, friendly, effervescent but strong romance, free from infatuation and from “ties that bind,” yet potent, might occur. This could be a true mate, Sage. Wait and see. You’ll be a “party girl/guy” for seven months – but don’t be a skank! Friday/Saturday hold happiness – and clues to future joys! Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Money delays end – something big is on the way. Contact clients, employers, seek buy/sell opportunities, etc. Earnings and “short-term money” are lucky to January, but you could hit pay-dirt in deeper, investment waters Monday/Tuesday. Be ambitious Thursday to Saturday – you could trigger a whole month of favour from higher-ups. The next seven months need careful steps – a splendid investment (real estate, agriculture, security, or “investigation” areas) is possible, but impulsiveness can create disaster. Avoid fiery foods, STDs. If you began the “wrong relationship” last 3 months, cut it off now. Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 You’re in a lucky year, yet you’ve been held back. You’ve had to deal with the “dead wood” within you. Inflexible, not growing, not adjusting to circumstances, it’s blocked you. Now you can stride forward. Whether you pry it out or (lazier) flow around it, you’re “released,” ready for expansion, new worlds, new friends, exciting horizons and two dreams coming true! If you yielded to the temptation of haste or anger in health, work or communications the last two months, and now feel trapped, change direction – or next seven months can bring real war (of words?). Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 This is a quiet year for you, and this month is filled with quiet mysteries. Continue to lie low, observe and contemplate. Your dealings with institutions, government and “head office” go forward now and in months ahead—red tape knots untangle. Get “deep rest” – the seven months that start Friday will bring an intense step up in work demands. You might feel the stirrings of change in your life – successful ones Friday/Saturday. They involve intimacy, commitment, sex, life style changes, large finances, research and secrets. Step carefully with relationships Thursday. www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 905-372-8996. /30/