ASTRAL REFLECTIONS
BY TIM STEPHENS
AUGUST 21 – 27, 2011  

	All times/dates are PDT.
	I’ve finally collated and updated the karmic and luck forecasts for 2011-2012. They’re on the “Platforms” section on the astral site.
      Some quotes: “2010 through 2012 will be known as the time of…another economic dislocation similar to the 9/11 and 07/08 ones.” – 2010 “Year Ahead”
      “We might not reach our interest rate bottom until 2010, our economic nadir until 2011. Lock up your doors.” – 2009 “Year Ahead”
      “Oil's recent $ 147 peak won't be regained until about 2020.”—2009 “Year Ahead”
      “(Obama’s Inauguration) chart shows success in every field except finances and real estate.  (Here) the presidency will contain dead-ends, mistakes and "re-do's… Both money cusps are soundly negative.” – February 1, 2009
	“This credit downgrade is the first in American history.” – TV pundit, August 2011. 
      Last week I showed how the Bible places the elements of astrology (the planets, chart wheels and creature-representatives of the zodiac) next to God – closer than the angels in Revelation. Now, there’s a potential flaw in all this. If the four zodiacal creatures – the ox, lion, eagle and man – were part of Jewish mythology before astrology adopted them, it would indicate that the creatures were not essentially astrological but Judean – which could ultimately indicate that God does not accept astrology. But astrology’s “first phase” began about 2300 B.C., probably earlier than the first sections of the Bible were written. 
      Abraham, the “grandfather” of Israel, was born about 2100 B.C. – about the time ziggurats (pyramids to study/worship the stars) were constructed.  (In fact, Abraham came from Ur, a city steeped in astrology.) The zodiacal signs supposedly came into being during astrology’s second phase, about 1500 B.C. Yet for 1,000 years Ezekiel’s “living creatures” are nowhere mentioned until he describes them about 500 B.C. For that 1,000 years, linking God to creatures – beasts – was a pagan practice that was adamantly and repeatedly rejected by the Old Testament. Yet Ezekiel, one of the major prophets of the Bible, did exactly that – probably because he lived, practiced and had his vision of God in Babylon – the ancient world’s vibrant, pagan centre of astrology.  
	But if astrology is so integral and close to God, why does he repeatedly condemn those who bow down and worship “the sun, moon and stars?” The answer lies in Revelation: when John bows down to worship an angel, the angel quickly corrects him, saying “Do not do it!...Worship God!” (Rev 19:10). Though the elements of astrology are close to God, they aren’t God. The sun belongs to God, but isn’t God. To worship it would be tantamount to worshipping God’s throne, or God’s mechanisms, his “things,” rather than him. So astrologers must walk a complex path of behavioural subtleties, and never worship their subject. 

Start Nothing: 5:00 p.m. to 5:53 p.m. Sun., 2:34 a.m. to 3:31 a.m. Wed., and 6:04 a.m. Thurs. to 9:09 a.m. Fri.

Aries   March 21-April 19
Beauty, romance and “sports luck” don’t end now, but they do fade in big enough chunks to let work, health concerns and duties reassert their hold on your life – tackle these. A co-worker will attract you. Remember, start nothing new and important before Friday. Sunday’s deceptive. Talk, travel, casual friends fill Monday/Tuesday.  Your home, security, property, children draw your attention Wednesday (barriers) and Thursday (success). This whole area intensifies now to September 19 – don’t move into a new home before then. Romance, creativity lure and please you Friday/Saturday. 

Taurus   April 20-May 20
A period of restriction ends Tuesday. The weeks ahead feature romance, sports, beauty, charming kids, creativity and self-expression. You’ll be lucky – perhaps luckier than in the last 12 years! Yes, do take a chance. However, don’t start anything major before Friday, especially in monetary, domestic, property or romantic zones. If you’re single and looking, next week (August 28/29) will bring a superb chance to start a new relationship. Wait until then. Deal with money Monday/Tuesday. Friends, travel irk Wednesday, please Thursday. Quie satisfaction fills you Friday/Saturday.

Gemini   May 21-June 20
Tuesday starts a month of domestic, property, security concerns, gardening, nutrition and physical recuperation – a lucky smoothness aids these, especially if a legal, international, or seclusion factor is involved. E.g., buying property in another country, or suing over a lease, or seeking a vacation retreat. But don’t start anything big in these (or any) areas before Friday. (August 28/29 will be a good time to pursue these domestic concerns and to end a bad link.) Rest Sunday. Your energy, charisma rise Monday/Tuesday. Thursday solves a sexual dilemma. Travel at week’s end. 

Cancer   June 21-July 22
The weeks ahead bring a busy but not terribly important time. Communications, errands, travel, paperwork and casual acquaintances will fill your days. You’re ambitious, determined, social, and lucky – a wish could come true, especially about employment or health. (Still, don’t start anything big until Friday onward.) The money emphasis fades, but collect some Friday/Saturday. You finally get a green light for shopping. Sunday’s social. Retreat early, and rest through Tuesday. Your energy and charisma soar Wednesday (step lightly) and Thursday. Money’s lucky Friday/Saturday.

Leo   July 23-Aug. 22
You’ve been centre-stage over the last month, Leo, but now turn your focus to money, earning it, paying, buying/selling, possessions, memory, and sensual relationships. (To September 18, avoid legal fights. Wednesday/Thursday might give you a definite clue about this.) Live up to your parental or career “role” Sunday. Popularity, social delights, entertainment, optimism and light romance visit Sunday night to Tuesday. Lie low, rest, contemplate Wednesday/Thursday. Your energy, charisma and effectiveness soar Friday/Saturday.  In the eight years ahead, you’ll find “true” marriage. 

Virgo   Aug. 23-Sept. 22
Your energy, charisma and effectiveness will surge upward Tuesday onward, Virgo! Don’t start anything important before Friday – but after that, pursue big, important things. Ask favours, seek co-operation and aid, be brave, go after what you most deeply want, especially in sexual, intimate, lifestyle, financial, and health zones – AFTER Wednesday. A wish comes true in these areas over the next four weeks. You’ll attract the opposite sex for four weeks. Live up to parenting or career roles Monday/Tuesday. Popularity, social joys arrive midweek. Retreat briefly Friday/Saturday. 

Libra   Sept. 23-Oct. 22
Start nothing before Friday. Sunday contains mysteries – and asks you questions which have no answers. (The questions are false.) Gentle understanding, love, compassion, travel and intellectual themes come Monday/Tuesday. Higher-ups treat you badly Wednesday, nicely Thursday, but with little result this day – well, that’s not entirely true. You might receive a big “quitting fee” or a great retirement or housing deal. Your hopes and social happiness rise Friday/Saturday. But generally you face a quiet, secluded month ahead: rest, plan future actions, and deal with governments.

Scorpio   Oct. 23-Nov. 21
Start nothing before Friday, Scorpio. A month of happiness, popularity, optimism, and light flirtation begins Tuesday (especially next week, August 28/29). Relationships need care Sunday. Investments, sexual urges, secrets (and detective/research work) lifestyle and serious health affairs – these are highlighted Monday/Tuesday. (In these, a “gamble” from the past could be a winner Tuesday!) Wisdom, gentle love, travel and learning approach you Wednesday (take care) and Thursday (good results). Your career, ambitions, and community/parent roles meet success Friday/Saturday. 

Sagittarius   Nov. 22-Dec. 21
The month ahead features ambition, career and prestige, and relations with bosses, VIPs, authorities and parents. Luck will walk with you. Bosses will favour you. They’ll be willing to “alter” your power or your assets upward – though risk exists: will the alteration, over time, bless you or not? IF this, or a talk about it, etc., occurs this week before Friday (or did occur since August 2) the outlook is bad; if after (to September 13) good. E.g., you’re offered equity in the company, or you receive notification you’ll be placed in a new career vector. Happiness, late week!

Capricorn   Dec. 22-Jan. 19
Someone might reveal their attraction for you in the month ahead. If you’re already involved, love grows, and a wedding is possible. (It doesn’t have to happen now into late September, but the wheels start rolling.) Whether you’re married or single, far travel, religion, higher education, cultural events or legal affairs expand over the month ahead, and will strike a note that can thrum luckily for you right into next June. Whatever happens, don’t start anything before Friday. (If one of these “projects” – wedding, far travel, etc. – comes to you before Thursday, beware it. 

Aquarius   Jan. 20-Feb. 18
Rest, recuperate Sunday. Your romantic antennae vibrate Sunday night into early Wednesday. Enjoy what you have, but don’t start anything, relationship nor project, before Friday. Delay and indecision would affect it, but worse, real ill could brew here, into Thursday.  So wait until Friday/Saturday, when relationship excitement rises again. The whole month ahead features sexual urges, the need for intimacy, finances, investments, debts, secrets, lifestyle choices and health diagnosis. These will generally yield lucky, gratifying results – but not if they arise before Friday.

Pisces   Feb. 19-March 20
A month of drudgery ends; a month of excitement begins. Opportunities, new horizons, agreements, partnerships, negotiations, relocation – these await you, but don’t act on them (especially if they’re new) before Friday, or you could incur their flip side: opposition, enmity, obstacles and competition. (This wouldn’t be direct: first you’d incur bad luck, then frustration would make you belligerent instead of diplomatic: and the result’s obvious.) But that’s unlikely, as you’re treated with affection by others for four weeks! Keep at a minor task. Romance , Wednesday/Thursday.


www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 416-686-5014.


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