ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS DECEMBER 9 – 15, 2012 All times/dates are PST. Happy Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa, and, belatedly, Happy Diwali. Here are some gift suggestions: ARIES likes the latest gadgets, hot cars, the avant garde, anything connected to war, explosions, adventure, humor, engines, fire – and the colour red. TAURUS likes rich or emerald green colours, money, all luxury items (wine, chocolates, Porsches, etc.) music, art, wood, and nature: kayaks, tents, etc. GEMINI likes grey or silver (yellow, not to wear) crossword puzzles, travel tickets, phones, vehicles, planes, bicycles – anything that can help them travel or communicate. CANCERS, male and female, like kitchen implements, food, money, and anything that smacks of security, children or home – a retirement account with $ 100 seed money, a book on child-rearing, a new kitchen counter, or a wood chopping block, expensive knives or high quality pots and pans. Colour: pearl, opalescent. LEO likes warm orange colours, gold, glamour, glitz – and romance. A trip to Vegas or a handful of lottery tickets, a quality card with a sentimental message, a ticket to a play, opera or circus. A magic kit. VIRGO likes earth colours, brown, burnt ochre. Give Virgo tools or organizational aids – spice racks, day timers, tool chests. Anything for gardening. A compendium of home medical advice, mushroom/herb bibles or a big new truck.... LIBRANS like classic lines and colours (black w/white, navy blue, all colours). Gift certificates to high-end fashion stores: Holt Renfrew or Max Mara, etc. Intellectual gifts such as books. Fine glassware, art, paintings, statements of love/loyalty. SCORPIO loves red-purples (burgundy) and is interested in sex, intimacy, secrets/research, large sums of money. So books on medical research, astrophysics, sex (or just give ‘em sex) finances, stocks, a complete set of “Bones” or “House,” etc. SAGITTARIUS: international travel tickets, cultural events, school, foreign people, books or bookstore certificates, atlases, lectures and speeches, religious items, large animals (dog, horse). CAPRICORN: anything denoting status: a deluxe pen set, gold name plate, luxury car, fine business suit, fine dining implements/plates, prestigious/solid furniture, timepieces, books on corporate/government organizations and how to navigate them. Loves black and earth colours. AQUARIUS: anything outrageous. Colour: electric blue. Gadgets, computer, Faulkner’s collected works, a membership in a humanitarian organization. PISCES: loves pastels (pink, blue, sea-green) gauzy materials, shawls, flowing clothes. Buy books on dreams or psychic talents, a Tarot card deck, crystals, cruise line tickets, alcohol, sophisticated sauces, fish, aquarium, sea shells, sleep aids. Start Nothing: Before 1:51 p.m. Sun., 5:08 a.m. to 2:22 p.m. Tues., 0:42 a.m. to 1:43 p.m. Thurs., and 1:15 p.m. to 1:53 p.m. Sat. Aries March 21-April 19 Your wise, mellow mood continues, as do a stream of opportunities in far travel, education, publishing, law, cultural venues and other profound zones. You might find these end up as smaller things, or that smaller things lead to or benefit the bigger. (E.g., far, foreign travel becomes lucky when you engage in short, local trips. Or a large publishing venture emerges from a series of smaller emails.) This week and next, you’ll be increasingly drawn into these areas (travel, education, etc.) – to your benefit. A love affair might arrive. Bosses, parents are temperamental: smile! Taurus April 20-May 20 Early week brings an exciting or inspiring meeting, perhaps the stirrings of passion. Your instincts are accurate here regarding communicating, friendship, light romance (so make a light, friendly phone call) – but you might be fooled (perhaps by yourself) regarding sex, intimacy and “possession.” These last themes (intimacy) become more pronounced Tuesday afternoon to Thursday – you will probably learn clearly where another stands. Your sexual and financial antennae are alert: a good investment or debt reduction opportunity awaits. Wisdom, gentle moods flow over you late week. Gemini May 21-June 20 Tackle chores Sunday p.m. to pre-dawn Tuesday. (Avoid working with or on the water, laundry appliances, etc.) The tone of this month is struck Tuesday afternoon to Thursday morning: relationships, opportunities, relocation themes, exciting meetings – and possible competition or opposition. (Defuse these with diplomacy and cheerful softness.) Thursday midday to midday Saturday brings secrets, financial and sexual urges, and health concerns – a bonanza awaits if you research, investigate. These days can deepen a bond with someone. You can make a great new friend this week. Talk! Cancer June 21-July 22 Work and health concerns remain important for two more weeks, Cancer. Though early Sunday is sluggish, restful, the eve into Tuesday offers beauty, nature’s poetry, charming kids and romantic notions. Insight mixes with blind spots, so don’t take life-changing steps. Chores and health claim attention Tuesday afternoon to Thursday – charge in, almost everything succeeds. Thursday afternoon starts two days of exciting meetings, attractions, opportunities, fresh horizons – and possible enmity or challenge. (So practice diplomacy.) Long-range, believe in love – it’s coming (2013/14?). Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Charge after what/who you want. Take a chance; risks are likely to lead to bountiful rewards. Enroll kids in a great school. If you’re single and want someone, say so – to him/her. Your creative talents are right there, waiting to be used. You’ll win at sports, games and cards. Don’t delay – only 12 days remain of this splendid, rewarding phase. True love might come from a group meeting, or from friends’ introduction. (So don’t avoid parties, gatherings.) These themes are especially strong midweek. Earlier (Sunday eve to early Tuesday) be restful, contemplate. Chores, Friday/Saturday. Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Settle down, settle in all week, especially midweek. Your domestic situation is warm, vibrant, welcoming – and taking a few naps in the sunny window would be a good idea. It’s hibernation time – any extra rest you get now will redound to your benefit December 21 onward, when adventure, creativity and romance approach (and demand extra energy). Sunday afternoon to midday Tuesday brings errands, trips, communications with fascinating (romantic?) overtones. You might speak with a mate prospect. Romantic and creative notions arise Thursday noon to Saturday – but don’t push – rest. Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Paperwork, calls, visits, casual friends, siblings and errands fill your days – especially midweek. Channel all anger or friction into the physical side of home: repairs, renos, landscaping, etc. In some extreme cases, the choice becomes: renos, etc., or the possible end of a relationship (if it formed since January 2011). Both can also occur: think deeply before acting. Chase money Sunday p.m., Monday. Home (and those potential repairs, etc., and domestic friction) is accented Thursday afternoon to Saturday noon. Paradoxically, new friendship and/or love might also blossom. Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Continue to chase money – especially Tuesday eve to Wednesday midnight. A new earning (or spending) project brews these two days – it might be luckily connected to an investment or money partnership/association. (Unusual example: your spouse finds employment for you.) This is a good interval (Tuesday eve/night) to purchase land, food/shelter items, children’s items, electronics and high-tech, especially if they’re tools of your trade. A sensual relationship might blossom – but it would not suit marriage. Earlier, Sunday/Monday, your charisma, energy soar. Errands, calls, Friday. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Your energy, charisma and effectiveness remain high, Sage – and surge even higher midweek. Start important things, make contact, see and be seen. If you’re single, someone’s attracted. Though you hold the short-term advantage, they hold the long-term one. You might have to make the first move (or genuflection). Remember, until next July you will benefit hugely from approaching others, being a team player, forging a link in love or business. Throw aside false pride: embrace good fortune. Rest, plan Sunday to Tuesday afternoon. Chase money, Thursday eve onward. Buy on Friday. Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Continue to retreat, rest and plan rather than charge into the hurly- burly world. Your energy is low, especially midweek. Hopes rise Sunday eve to Tuesday; you’re inspired in social zones, fooled in monetary ones. Midweek deepens your thoughts: be sure to fulfill governmental, institutional or head office requirements, paperwork. Your energy and charisma rise somewhat late Thursday to midday Saturday. A wish could come true (Friday) – but more probably, you will take a step toward fulfillment of a much larger wish or life goal, one that might take 10-15 years to manifest: good! Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Wishes can come true, especially midweek. Your social life continues to expand or buoy you. Life’s good! Be ambitious Sunday p.m. to Tuesday noon – don’t mix money and friendship. Popularity, light romance, entertainment, group functions arrive Tuesday to Thursday – welcome these. Envision your future, make plans. (Try this: after 5 p.m. PST, but before 9:30, write your deepest wish on a blank paper, fold it in half twice, then put it under your mattress. Leave it there until you forget about it.) Retreat, rest Thursday eve to Saturday noon – after this, your energy soars. Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Charge after your ambitions, Pisces, especially midweek, when a new project, career role, or status opportunity begins to form. Though Sunday morn is misty, mysterious, the afternoon into Tuesday bring wisdom and a mellow mood. A subtle difficulty might underlie peer relationships, but relations with higher-ups will improve over the few weeks ahead. The world looks bright, happy Thursday afternoon to Saturday noon – your popularity rises, light romance or other social joys arrive, and a minor wish (about money?) might come true. By Saturday eve, withdraw to rest and contemplate. www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. /30/