ASTRAL REFLECTIONS
BY TIM STEPHENS
APRIL 8 – 14, 2012 

	All times/dates are PDT.
	Someone out there is trying to sell a “Mercury Retrograde Shield” on the net. I would be very skeptical about this….even about giving my Visa information to someone like this….Whenever little is known but much believed (as in astrology, for instance) the field is ripe for abuse. Let’s continue the Neptune-in-Pisces forecasts for every sign:
	ARIES, from 2011 to 2026 Neptune will enhance your inner world. For decades, it might have seemed that your private life has been an open book for any passer-by to glance into, or that your deepest yearnings, dreams and spiritual quests have been sloshed back and forth by larger, stronger events: friendships, marriage, kids’ demands, group dealings. Now, your soul returns to its rightful, proper home: in you. You’ll grow more familiar with what the new agers call your “inner child,” and with your own intuition, hunches, sensations, emotions. This is a deep, necessary step on your road to wisdom. It’s “know thyself” (or at least “explore thyself”) time. 
	You might find, now to 2026, that you become fascinated (or more fascinated) with spiritualism, meditation, yoga, psychic phenomena, other-worldly things. The more earthy among you could find that warehouses, premises, assembly lines, factories, government agencies, institutions, therapies, health procedures and security become more prevalent. Home, property, career and finances become more “comfortable,” as your intuition takes over. At the same time, your social zone clears, and enjoyable, crisp, eccentric people enter – laughter rises!
	TAURUS, Neptune beautifully sculpts your friendships, popularity, fame, your plans for the future, your hopes and wishes, and your happiness, now to 2026.  This sculpting will not happen overnight, nor in big, clear strokes. Instead, it will be like the surf sculpts the sand, or the ocean sculpts pillars and hollows in the shore. Ideas (especially hopeful, inspiring ideas for ventures, love or friendship projects, entertainment, etc.) will sometimes build slowly, over years, softly hinting here now, there then, until the picture emerges. But sometimes inspiration will come in a moment’s insight, idea or feeling – follow your hunches; don’t mistrust them.
	Neptune will end the last 15 years of career uncertainty or worry: that area is finally open to straight-forward action without second-guessing yourself. Your social life is opening now onto new vistas. You could become a “gatherer of friends” until you have too many to count. Fame, renown are possible. You might also grow quite shy about friends and groups – but your popularity will still grow, whether quickly or slowly, over the 15 years ahead. You might befriend psychics, counsellors, nurses, social workers, and anyone who works to aid suffering humanity. Your own happiness will increase if you join the ranks of charities, aid workers, government offices or institutions, warehouse operators, etc.

	
Start Nothing: 11:56 p.m. Sun. to 8:12 a.m. Mon., 4:05 a.m. to 10:02 a.m. Wed., and 10:05 a.m. to 2:48 p.m. Fri.

Aries   March 21-April 19
An investment opportunity might appear Sunday – grab it. The same goes for intimacy, a lifestyle change or commitment – seize change this day, with both hands. Wisdom and a mellow mood Flow over you Monday/Tuesday, which helps reduce the irritation early Monday afternoon. Aim for far travel, intellectual matters this eve and Tuesday. Your career, business, ambitions and prestige meet good luck Thursday/Friday, but you might have to turn away from friends. (This will be a theme for a few years: friends or success.) Friends, flirting, hope and popularity, Friday night, Saturday!

Taurus   April 20-May 20
Continue to lie low, rest, contemplate and plan. You’re weaker than usual (physically, but also in competitive situations) but friends or allies are supportive, and you’ll succeed in government-related tasks. Fulfill old obligations, clear your “work pile” for future action (to come April 19 onward). I have repeatedly told you this was your lucky year (to June) – but you might have experienced it more as a time of upheaval and change. The upheaval itself is lucky – you’ll see, in retrospect. Meanwhile, another surge of luck and change awaits in late April, and May. Plan ahead!

Gemini   May 21-June 20
Wishes might be fulfilled in health, support, government-related, welfare, sleep and similar zones. (Geminis are insomnia-prone.) This week, wishes can also come true in work Sunday, in relationships, relocation and negotiations Monday/Tuesday (weaker), in investments, finances and sexual intimacy Thursday/Friday (but take care: look at the long-term “likelihoods”) and in love, travel, intellectual, cultural and legal zones Friday night/Saturday. Your popularity has been high for several weeks. A love link might begin. Someone’s attracted. Realty, family matters shoot forward soon.

Cancer   June 21-July 22
Remain ambitious – chase promotion, higher community status (politics or humanitarian involvements the best route here through 2018). Mingle with big-wigs, etc. Sunday, you’re romantic, creative and prone to take lucky risks. Travelling a short distance, and/or communicating, boost your success. Tackle chores carefully Monday, with ease and confidence Tuesday. Relationships arise Wednesday to Friday morning – act before 2 p.m. Thursday for best results. Keep an eye on the long-term: most new bonds will likely break/fade by October. Mysteries, sensual urges come Friday eve, Saturday.

Leo   July 23-Aug. 22
Life’s mellow, easy. Your head and heart are filled with notions of love, far travel, educational or intellectual pursuits, cultural affairs. Last year your marriage planet began a 7-year phase of successful love, one that can easily culminate in wedding your “equal.” Deception (1996-2011) is gone, and your sexual/sensual side now flows into a place of sensitivity and “dreamy awareness.” Now to June, Venus calls you to a light, playful love. This could expand June to mid-2013; it or a new love will fulfill a decade-long romantic wish. Now to late August, don’t play the field.  

Virgo   Aug. 23-Sept. 22
Mysteries and opportunities still surround you, Virgo. Your career, under pressure for the last year, receives two boons or gifts: 1) now to early August, bosses, VIPs and parents favour you – even feel affection for you; and 2) June begins 12 months of career luck and expansion. Still, neither of these is entirely safe while a bit of old karma hangs around this zone – to August 30. (That great career expansion might entail leaving/losing one job.) Talk, write or travel Sunday. Home, real estate succeed Monday/Tuesday, but don’t invest Monday. Romance lures Wednesday/Thursday.

Libra   Sept. 23-Oct. 22
The accent remains on vital relationships, Libra. Now to early August, love runs much more smoothly and sweetly – and themes of marriage or internationalism enter. From June onward (to mid-2013) great good luck is added to the brew. But until September, various subtle or unseen traps or dead-ends might exist: so proceed, but carefully. A Gemini might attract you. (Until July 3, if he/she’s a Gemini with a bad temper about recent 2010-11-12 family/home disappointments, give it a pass.) All told, your best love will arise September 2012 onward. Romance calls Friday night, Saturday.

Scorpio   Oct. 23-Nov. 21
Work. Chores are a bit overwhelming, but the pressures will ebb late next week. This Friday, the winter’s subtle delays and holdovers in work end – chores will march to their conclusion much more quickly in weeks/months ahead. You’ll also be able to buy tools and equipment without hesitation (lemons retreat from the field). Meanwhile, protect your health; eat and dress sensibly. Your energy and charisma step upward nicely Sunday. Chase money Monday (carefully before 2:30 p.m.) and Tuesday (smooth). Wednesday/Thursday promote friendships, travel, news. Be home for the weekend.

Sagittarius   Nov. 22-Dec. 21
Odd delays have occurred in your career or work zones for awhile. These end late this week, enabling you to charge forward, especially with creative career/business projects. However, this “release” also means a higher-up, who might have been containing his/her anger, now can let it loose – be diplomatic! Peer relationships glow with affection now to August – and with major luck June to mid-2013. Still, be cautious, aware until September: pitfalls might exist. (Perhaps a “honey trap.”) Same luck, same caution, applies to pubic dealings, contracts, competitions, marriage.

Capricorn   Dec. 22-Jan. 19
Now to August, your work scene becomes a much more pleasant one. Co-workers show affection. From June to mid-2013, your work load expands mightily. But now through August, this entire area (work, chores, health, dependents, machinery) also contains subtle tests of your character and morals, with pitfalls if you descend to unworthy motives. So: no temptations, no wishful thinking, no burying yourself in chores to escape other situations. Sunday’s hopeful, happy! Retreat, rest Monday/Tuesday. Your energy returns Wednesday onward. Decide who/what stays in your life, who/what goes.

Aquarius   Jan. 20-Feb. 18
Sweet romantic feelings arrive now to August. From June to mid-2013, optimism, camaraderie, major luck and joy will enter romantic situations. A major love affair is brewing! However, until late August, some subtle snares affect this same zone. You can “insulate” yourself from these possible pitfalls by choosing your romantic partner from your social group, or from some gathering – or by refusing to become involved until September onward. Be ambitious Sunday. Your hopes, popularity soar Monday/Tuesday. Retreat, rest Wednesday/Thursday. Your charisma soars Friday eve, Saturday!

Pisces   Feb. 19-March 20
Chase money wherever, whenever you can. Indecision and delays end Friday in dealing with a partner or prospect (or ex-spouse) regarding a money situation. Your home, family and property interests are filled with luck and affection now to August. In June, a huge wave of additional luck enters this area, to stay until mid-2013. A beautiful baby could arrive. You might be wise to delay any family or property commitments, though, until September (2012) onward. Sunday’s mellow, loving. Be ambitious (but not competitive) Monday/Tuesday. Joy, hope, friends midweek. Retreat Friday eve.


www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-727-3673.


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