ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS JANUARY 22 – 28, 2012 All times/dates are PST. Last week I suggested that we’re all self-regulating, and that karma, God and destiny emerge from within us, or, at least, access us through our subconscious. This leads us close to the New Age concept that we are divine, that we are all God, and we only need to evolve more, blossom more fully. I suspect we are all God, but not individually. We are all one God, the God – and so, probably, are all animals, plants, etc. Individually, we are nodules of God. Everything is an expression of the God-ness. For millennia in Christian and Islamic societies we have tended to see God as “over there” and us as separate, “over here.” This concept is so removed from an easy, flowing intimacy with God, that when a person or society “breaks through” to glimpse the God-ness, he/it usually does so in a substitute image – for example, the visions of God in the Bible. It might be that the more insensitive we are to God-ness, the more powerful will be the occurrence of a vision or other “concrete” experience of God – as though the pent- up energy, held back by the fence of ignorance, finally bursts through in a blazing invasion we call a “miracle.” Perhaps we do not see huge, blatant miracles today because we are, in general, closer to God. (We certainly are more loving toward our fellow humans and creatures.)…. On another note: Television is a medium of recognized types. It does not foster growth; it rarely even accepts growth. It only wants the essence, the epitome, of a trend, fashion, zeitgeist or recognizable personality type. It doesn’t matter if the celebrated type is stupid (Homer Simpson) chirpy (Ellen Degeneris), intelligent, beautiful – even ordinary (Joe the Plumber during Obama’s election campaign) – so long as he/she is the epitome of ordinary, a more magnetic ordinary than every other Joe – all that’s required is that the celebrity project a strong essence. Snookie’s tattooed cohorts are promoted because they so faithfully project lower class strut. Johnny Carson and Regis were archetypes (though differently) of the reasonable, affable gentleness in us all. Larry King and Oprah: the essence of hopeful, balanced inquiry. Television is the greatest source of archetypes on earth. But the actors we love as the epitome of a type are seldom the same off screen. Gillian Anderson, whose (X-Files) trademark is quiet, sultry aloofness, becomes friendly, even flirty, in person. Many screen personalities are very shy. It’s fascinating to watch actors on talk shows. On Leno, half the actors seem to stick to their on-screen essence, and half are almost frantic to display their “real” humanity. (And the third half struggle between these two states of being.) I saw Simon Cowell on Leno. He was obviously aware of this choice, and didn’t know how to act. So he crossed his arms and sulked. Start Nothing: 5:38 p.m. to 6:53 p.m. Sun., 0:34 a.m. to 1:11 a.m. Wed., and 8:52 p.m. Thurs. to 10:28 a.m. Fri. Aries March 21-April 19 Be ambitious Sunday, but don’t expect co-operation. This night through Tuesday brings joy, friends, optimism, freshness, plans for the future, and wish fulfillment – a trend that will last until late February. It’s a splendid time to make new friends, but not with a Libra, Capricorn, Gemini or Virgo before Friday (okay after that). Retreat for a wee rest Wednesday/Thursday. Your energy surges upward Friday/Saturday – a wish could come true Saturday. All week, work gears down…a breather comes, through mid-April. Love takes a shy/private road, but will trumpet itself in February. Taurus April 20-May 20 People who have been working against you (if they have) back off now to mid-April. You get, during the same period, some relief from burdens (though an old one might return). A secret romantic attraction, or a research-heavy creative project (if they exist) also wilt. In April, though, all these will “catch fire” again. So use the interval to decide what to accept/pursue, what not to. Otherwise, use the weeks ahead for business, career, prestige and status concerns. Be ambitious, especially Sunday night to Tuesday. Success awaits! Joy, friends midweek. Rest, plan Friday/Saturday. Gemini May 21-June 20 The four weeks ahead bring a mellow, understanding mood. It’s a little early for big, new, splendiferous love, but the love that exists grow finer, sweeter. Discuss meaningful things with your spouse, lover, whomever. Far travel, legal matters, international concerns, higher education, religion, publishing – these succeed over the weeks ahead, especially Sunday night through Tuesday (when a new project might begin in these zones). Sunday contains one last echo of health concern, sexual urge or financial derring-do. Now to mid-April, an old property/family hope might return. Cancer June 21-July 22 The weeks ahead feature mysteries, depths, research, sexual urges, subconscious desires, hunches and intuition. Investments and other heavy finances (mortgages, debts, a partner’s worth, etc.) will become important. All these are doubly accented Sunday night through Tuesday, when a new project might be born. Sunday daytime contains some relationship puzzles or frustrations. A mild, understanding mood flows over you Wednesday/Thursday – solve legal, travel and educational problems Wednesday. Be ambitious Friday/Saturday. All week, the news you receive is “realistic,” correct. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Relationships come to the fore through the weeks ahead, Leo. Be diplomatic, eager to join, or you’ll create opposition. If you co-operate, you’ll open the door to opportunities, success, even love. (Though truthfully, love isn’t a big possibility before June.) Money has flowed your way since November, but now the flow curls, ebbs – the faucet will turn on again in April. Meanwhile, pay your debts, avoid spending. Chores or illness mar Sunday, but this night to Tuesday brings fresh horizons, opportunities. Thursday/Friday steer you into deeper waters: desire, big finances – careful! Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Employment, chores, machinery and health concerns fill the weeks ahead (especially this Monday/Tuesday). A new project might begin in one of these – but take care on the money and legal sides, as some glitches exist. (E.g., don’t overpay for that bulldozer, and make sure the transfer papers are correct.) Relationships, opposition and opportunity, new horizons, exciting meetings, negotiations fill Wednesday/Thursday. A subtle but firm “difficulty” exists between you and another which can make communication slow. No harm here. Late week wakens your desires, financial and sexual. Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 The weeks ahead are filled with the sweetness of love, especially for teens and twenty-types. Rest or clean house Sunday daytime. This night through Tuesday romance, creative urges, speculative and adventurous risks, beauty and deep pleasure pull you – and succeed. But let me raise a wee caution: you might, in succeeding, be indulging lust, and closing a door to love with a very marriageable person. (This danger lasts to Friday, then ebbs.) Protect your health and tackle chores Wednesday/Thursday – don’t buy machinery. Relationships move well Friday, stumble slightly Saturday. Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Sink into domestic situations, Scorpio. Home, nature, garden, farm are your natural habitat through the weeks ahead. Pay attention to nutrition, soul, digestion. (Funny how stomach and soul are so connected.) You might start a new yard or property project, especially Monday/Tuesday. You’ll feel sluggish, so get lots of rest. Romance, nature’s beauty, charming children and a creative surge visit you Wednesday/Thursday. In romance, you might feel communications are slow or mildly obstructive. Avoid actions which can lead to gossip. Tackle chores Friday/Saturday. All’s well! Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Communications, short trips, paperwork, details, news media, errands, siblings and casual acquaintances fill the few weeks ahead. You’ll be busy, but this is not an important time, so stay relaxed. Protect your money Sunday – don’t shop. Monday/Tuesday favour trips, calls, and friends. Sink into home or foundational matters Wednesday/Thursday: nutrition, soul, children, systems at the workplace, plumbing, etc. Your romantic side flares nicely Friday/Saturday – but this is not a good time to start a love affair. You’ll enjoy these two days: the world looks wide and welcoming! Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Chase money for the few weeks ahead, especially this Monday/Tuesday, when an earnings (or purchasing) project might begin. But remain cautious through Thursday, as your ideas and your speech tend to dead-end against a higher-up’s staunch, polite refusal. (Buy NO communications devices – nor anything used – before Friday.) Your energy remains high Sunday. Later, Wednesday/Thursday are for paperwork, errands, calls and contacts – busy, light stuff. Bury yourself in domestic, foundational, security and retirement matters Friday/Saturday. Until April, a legal hassle takes a breather. Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Your energy, magnetism, effectiveness and timing surge to a yearly high now through late February. Start important projects, see people, ask favours, tackle formerly daunting tasks – you’re on a path to success! However, exercise some caution this week – people might talk, or a secret be exposed through Thursday: remain moral, and keep what’s private, private. This is not the best week to seek medical opinions/aid. The strong sexual and/or financial urges of the last three months ease now to mid-April – then will begin again. Rest Sunday. Conquer the world Monday/Tuesday! Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Rest, retreat, contemplate and meditate. Your spiritual, charitable side needs to breathe, to act. Contact government agencies, institutions and company head offices. Seek therapy, advice. All this, Monday/Tuesday, and for four weeks. Take care through Thursday in relationships, investments, health and sex: others say the outlook is rosy, but you know the reality. Your relationships have been intense, exciting since mid-November. Now someone intriguing “backs off” to April. It’s just a pause – he/she needs to digest recent events. Success, Wednesday/Thursday! Chase money Friday. www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. /30/ The two Pisces daughters – these were my step-daughters, the girls of my then-wife, Maureen. One a Pisces Sun, the other Pisces rising. So, no lie. And no typo or mistake.