ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS AUGUST 1 - 7, 2004 All times/dates are Pacific Daylight. ALL SIGNS: Mercury goes retrograde August 9 to September 2. This will cause indecision, false starts and delays in everyone's life, especially in practical, detailed, computer, gardening/agriculture and service areas. We'll hear conflicting news on employment statistics. Many of us will find we have to return to the drawing board to re-jig a lucky plan or goal. But instead of making major changes to our plans, we might be better off to leave them alone during this uncertain month, then examine them again - and push them forward - in September. That month will be marked by luck and accomplishment for many of us - and a final, huge grasping of one goal or another! Meanwhile, the delays and mistakes that will beset us August 9 onward are already setting in to a mild degree. So although I urge you to complete any unfinished projects or tasks this immediate week, you will need to be alert, take nothing for granted, and double-check that others have understood or responded to your directions. DON'T START anything new, anytime in August.... Scientists will discover - probably before 2025 - that every beam of light is unique, and leaves its "fingerprint" on objects that it touches. For example, say a workman in the future cuts metal with a laser beam - and say the metal he's cutting is, unfortunately, a murder weapon - a pipe to bonk someone with. In a court case, forensic technicians would be able to detect a tell tale "signature" or "fingerprint" in the cut metal that identified the particular laser, as accurately as present-day police can identify a gun from the fired bullet. I believe also that light has a kind of intelligence or memory. This might sound a bit far-fetched, but think how unlikely it sounded when I wrote here that outer space was filled with a sort of "invisible plasma." Years later, in the mid-late 90's, scientists began to speculate that the universe was filled with "dark matter." Remember my speculation that we would one day use water to store memory, and possess liquid computers? That sounded far-fetched, too. But it came true in a limited sense in the late 1990's, in a laboratory experiment with semi-liquid computers, and it came closer to being true last month, when Microsoft announced it had achieved a system that uses the salt liquids in a person's skin to store and send information. (So a watch on your right wrist could program a watch on your left wrist, etc.).... GEMINIS will receive "earth-shifting" news in September. CANCERS will hear about a sibling's "career." LEOS will "find" a bundle of money. But that's September.... Start Nothing: 1:51 p.m. to 9:34 p.m. Sun., 7:58 p.m. Tues. to 0:59 a.m. Wed., and 6:59 a.m. to 8:26 a.m. Fri. Aries March 21-April 19 Romance, pleasure, beauty, charming kids, speculative and creative successes roll toward you - you're on a winning streak! You're talking right, charming right - someone answers! But be serious also - tackle chores before they go into a chaos of delay and mistakes. (They're heading that way already, so be alert, make sure you aren't expending effort for nothing.) This chaotic atmosphere lasts until September 2. Earning and spending remain blessed; investments, partnership monies continue under a cloud, through December, so don't follow your partner's lead. Grab success Wednesday (and Saturday night)! Taurus April 20-May 20 The accent lies on home, family, real estate, security, recuperation, rest, reflection and nature's beauties. Contemplate who (and what situations/projects) still belong in your life, who/what do not. Act now in romance, a creative project, vacation/pleasure venture, or concerning a child's future (education) - or wait until September. These matters "turn backwards" next week into September 2. DON'T start a speculative venture. An old flame might arrive soon - it's to finalize matters if he/she shows before August 22; to re-ignite things if August 22 onward. You're happy Monday/Tuesday, effective Friday/Saturday. Gemini May 21-June 20 Immediately tackle paperwork, details, travel or communications concerning kids, parents, security, food, retirement plans and/or real estate, unless you can leave these until September. Delays and mistakes will plague these areas next week through September 2. DON'T start brand new projects in these zones - but do rush to complete anything connected to them, or to your hopes generally. You continue to charm, to get your way in important areas for six more days. Sunday's sweet, loving. Be dutiful, career-oriented Monday/Tuesday. Wishes come true mid-week! Rest, lie low, contemplate Friday/Saturday. Cancer June 21-July 22 Alertly finish tasks involving paperwork, travel, communications, news media, distribution, friends or siblings. Soon these will enter a chaos phase lasting to September 2nd. DON'T start any new projects before then. Collect all monies due you before August 10, as these also might be delayed. Buy nothing except necessities in August. A former income source might appear. Life's pleasures will return Friday/Saturday onward - you'll shake off the shyness and quietude of past months! You'll nurture someone; you'll enjoy children and your home. Be wise, tolerant Monday/Tuesday. Be ambitious Wednesday/Thursday. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Your energy, charisma and determination soar - but you might have trouble finding the right target. Goals are becoming fuzzy, especially in money and possessions zones. Don't start any important projects in August. Money matters will clear up in September - the perfect (and lucky) month to chase them. Meanwhile, a former money source might appear - take advantage of it without "burying yourself" in a past situation. You continue to radiate sensuality this week - take advantage Wednesday/Thursday, but take care with sexy stuff earlier, Sunday night to Tuesday - someone/thing's "off limits." Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Rest, lie low. Reflect on the past and gaze on the future - but don't make future plans until September 2 onward. (You'd have to change them - after they led you astray.) Start nothing new all August. This week, try to complete anything that's critical and unfinished, especially in career, status and "personality" areas. Relationships need care, sensitivity all week. Finances, sexual involvements and lifestyle changes are filled with stress, danger, and big potential success Wednesday to Friday. In the weeks ahead, a red tape matter you ignored "comes back." Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 In August an old wish might come true, or the door be opened to it (it's up to you to walk through). This could be something you yearned for in 2004, or in the 1970's-1980's. This week extends recent social joys, optimism, and sweet luck in religious, legal, international, intellectual or love areas. But set aside time to complete any unfinished red tape, administrative or government-linked task. The rest of August will stamp these areas with delays, confusion. Be "reliable" Monday/Tuesday. Relationships attract, repel, and puzzle Wednesday to Saturday. Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Be ambitious, take advantage of lucky financial conditions, but don't start brand new projects. Dodge temper tantrums from VIPs. A wish you had given up on might come true August/September. August might bring an old friend or old friendly lover. Complete any paperwork, communications or travel this week - especially those connected to a person or group you like (even in business). Romance calls late Sunday to Tuesday, but proceed with gentle good humor. Tackle work Wednesday/Thursday, but practice safety procedures, avoid gases, liquids. Choose between spouse/friends/love versus money Friday/Saturday. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Retreat rather than test your strength Monday/Tuesday. Relationships continue sweet, intriguing, enlightening and profound this week. Take advantage, especially Wednesday/Thursday. Yes, there are problems, incompatibilities, adverse circumstances. So step alertly, but don't avoid fortune's offerings! Soon, your career, relations with VIPs, ambitions and prestige/status concerns will slide into a mild chaos of mistakes and delays. Try to wrap up any loose ends in these areas this week. DON'T start any ambitious projects in August - September will be soon enough for these (and a supremely lucky time for them, too). Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Complete legal, international, scholastic, media, or related tasks this week - at least get them to the "safe storage" phase so you can re-open them for a big, successful push in September. Don't change direction with these matters anytime in August - if you feel compelled to change them, drop them! Don't start new projects in any area this month. The week ahead extends your pleasant good luck in work relations, but continues to impel you - perhaps not fortunately - toward hasty financial or intimate actions. Go slow. Romance is complex Friday/Saturday! Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Exciting relationships and opportunities wandered into your life over the last two months; some have been around for two years. You'll revisit deeper matters (intimacy, mysteries, money, lifestyle, psychological, commitment zones) with these people in August, but expect everyone involved to be a bit indecisive. In September, you'll break through to significant action with these people/opportunities - and to potentially great good fortune! Be patient. A former opportunity or love might appear in August. This week, finish tasks related to agreements/contracts, litigation, negotiation, fame, relocation, financial, debt or investment situations. Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Try to complete anything which is near completion, in finances, debts, payments, investments, relationships, litigation, relocation, public dealings, negotiations, signed agreements, etc. Your energy is high this week; you should get a lot done. But DON'T start anything new in these zones anytime in August. (You'd fail, and the arguments would heat up. Wait until September, when major good luck breezes in.) You'll spend August re-doing some things, waiting on other things, and re-visiting old haunts or old situations. An ex-flame/spouse might reappear soon - it's not a small thing! Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. www.astralreflections.com. For a reading: 604-261-1337. /30/