ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS OCTOBER 24 - 30, 2004 All times/dates are PDT. CAPRICORN, the year ahead brings luck and a powerful expansion to your career, ambitious, status and prestige goals. This could be the year of your big break! But a simultaneous influence makes this a dangerous, pitfall-laden year in the very same arenas. You have two choices: to brave the dangers/pitfalls and charge ahead with ambitions, while attempting to stay on course and work through problems - or to simply shrug your shoulders and focus on some other non-ambitious area of life such as home, nature, research, investment, creativity, etc. This last tactic, though it's not your usual course, is a viable option. (For example, clearing the land on your farm could add value to your net worth, even though no one says "Hey, great job!") If you do chase those expanded opportunities for career, business, and status success during this year ahead, here are the problems you're likely to encounter: 1) This October into July 16, 2005, others (especially peers, spouse, competitors, co-workers and government agents) tend to disagree with your ambitions. They treat your proposals with gentle scepticism. To solve this, try to show a spouse or other that your ambitions will increase their security. 2) From December 24, 2004 right into mid-2006, self-delusion is a potential trap. You're convinced you can take three steps up life's ladder at once, when life (and most of your trusted friends or advisors) say it isn't realistic. You find it hard to see subtle yet powerful pitfalls. This occurs because/if your inner motives are not "saintly." You could walk into a lucky new job, but find a year later that it was a "golden handcuffs" trap. In the year and a half ahead, you'll remain "safe" if you aim toward security, home, family, nature, and "endings" - retirement, ending a job, selling a business, etc. But when you aim for ambition in the "outside world," or when you seek admiration, you'll be subject to delays, potential miscalculations, selfish motives, etc. If you experience "inexplicable delays," abandon your project - for delay is trying to shut the door to a losing situation. AQUARIUS, the year ahead (to late October 2005) brings expansion, luck, optimism, cheerfulness and camaraderie in intellectual, philosophical, religious, media, publishing, legal, educational, international, cultural and far-travel zones. Many of you will cross international boundaries in 2005 or attend a wedding (perhaps your own!). You might enter college, write a book, or befriend a scholar, poet or a foreign-born person. You love such things, and you'll love this year ahead (and you might fall in love, too!). (Next week, Aquarius, I'll outline the pitfalls to avoid in these happy things.) Start Nothing: 10:17 p.m. Sun. to 3:24 a.m. Mon., 5:24 a.m. to 10:37 a.m. Wed., and 2:50 p.m. to 8:11 p.m. Fri. Aries March 21-April 19 A month of mystery begins. Subconscious urges burst to the surface; you'll feel greed and lust, you'll learn secrets and uncover valuable data; you'll diagnose situations and people's motives. You'll see, and later you'll understand. Examine your own motives, make sure they're unsullied by even a small smudge of selfishness. That said, some great stuff can come: your inspiration and luck soar high in government and employment zones Sunday/Monday, you impress someone deeply Monday/Tuesday, and a great friend, potential mate or travel opportunity might arrive Friday night or Saturday! Taurus April 20-May 20 Relationships fill the four weeks ahead. Be careful who you let into your life; take care in public appearances, relocation, litigation, in signing your name, agreeing to terms, or even entering negotiations. Subtle, tempting pitfalls exist! Otherwise, this is a great week. Your optimism and social side rise Sunday. Be restful Monday to Wednesday morning - despite your weariness, a career wish could come true. Your energy and magnetism return Wednesday to Friday. An exciting meeting could spell love! A door opens to lucky money and/or intimacies Friday night and Saturday. Gemini May 21-June 20 Work, health, machinery, tools, employment issues and co-workers, pets, service people, kid's health concerns and other such drudgeries fill the four weeks ahead. (But a streak of romance, pleasure or creative joy will relieve this drudgery.) Don't volunteer this week. You've already had a hint of the chores facing you, even been given them at a meeting, etc. Proceed slowly and with the best motives. Your hopes rise Monday/Tuesday, when a career, school, or travel surprise arrives. Be restful, contemplative Wednesday-Friday. Love, beauty and energy "return" Friday night, Saturday. Cancer June 21-July 22 Romance, life's intimate and deep pleasures, heart-swells, love of children, vacations, speculative winning streaks, creativity and self-expression - these fill the month ahead. Be wary of your motives in all these areas during this week ahead. Be a saint! The whole year ahead features security, home ownership, children, and the basic "warmth" of life. These bring emotional more than financial profit. You'll feel philosophical, loving Sunday. Your ambitions get an unexpected, friendly boost Monday/Tuesday. (Don't argue with a "scruffy person.") Social delights, optimism and popularity come Wednesday-Friday. Retreat, rest Saturday. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 The month ahead brings home, domestic concerns, nature, restful sluggishness, security. It's your hibernation month. Be self-aware, examine your motives the first few days of this month - let things ride, DON'T start big new home/security projects, renovations, nor buy real estate, etc. The year ahead holds a lot of wanderlust, travel, rather than "putting down roots." Contemplate (Sunday/Monday) who and what belongs in your life, and who/what should be gently discarded - aim for growth. A mellow, sweet mood steals over you Monday/Tuesday. Travel, new acquaintances arrive Friday night, Saturday. Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Money's still flowing swiftly, and your financial luck sweetens even more Friday into late November. Plug expense holes, save the extra amounts that arrive. Institute big earnings and savings projects - make every effort to climb onto a new money plateau now, rather than wait until winter, when circumstances might start to impede your monetary progress. Relationships, relocation and contractual opportunities, delayed since last May, get a "green light" now to next May. Friendship, love, intimacy and "big money" form a potent brew Sunday to Wednesday. Listen to your intuition! Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Chase money for the month ahead, but carefully. Be aware of your own motives, act with principle. A tempting situation will not work out well. Aim for long-term money results; reject short-term or "monthly pay check" situations. Buy and hold investing will work better than "trading." You've had lots of charisma and courage this October - now a sweetness and grace will radiate from you, into late November. You're the flower, they're the bee! Work, Sunday. Relationships excite Monday/Tuesday (a co-worker?). Depths, mysteries, intimate and financial commitment arise Wednesday-Friday. Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Your month of weariness and travail ended last Friday. Now your energy, magnetism and effectiveness rise. You can start major projects, ask favors (and have them granted) and gain the attention of important or special people. A "long night of the soul" is ending also. You've paid off some major "karmic debts" in the last year or two, and soon you'll begin a long, calmer, sweeter spiritual, emotional path! Romance "exists" Sunday. Tackle chores Monday/Tuesday. Relationships excite (and confuse) Wednesday/Thursday. Intimate, research and financial luck comes Friday night, Saturday! Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Take a breather during the four weeks ahead. Your energy levels and charisma will ebb, you'll enter a natural "hibernation" time. Seek increased spirituality, contemplate, plan, be charitable, visit shut-ins, deal with government agencies and institutions, head office. Tackle medicare, retirement and similar applications/programs. Get your life in order for (and rest up for) a late November launch into bright lights, creative projects, love and travel! Be home or visit nature Sunday. Romance, pleasure, sweet notions lure you Monday/Tuesday. Tackle chores Wednesday-Friday. Relationships hold luck and excitement Saturday! Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 The month ahead brings social delights, flirtations, optimism and joy! Your frictions with VIPs and higher-ups continue until November 11, but your buoyant mood takes the edge off this. In addition, VIPs will soon mingle affection with temper. Your career prospects are starting to shine; little praises, openings or rewards will encourage you. Take a step back Monday/Tuesday: rest, think and plan. Note what and who are now essential; what/who could profitably be ignored. Romance, pleasure and creative urges fill Wednesday-Friday. Work expands luckily Saturday - seek new employment! Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 The month ahead nudges you to be ambitious, but ponder the long view, examine your own motives, give your urges the "reality test." You'll have a better "playing field" in career, prestige and status ambitions in 2005, and one of the luckiest years for these things will come in 2006. So there's no rush. Your legal, learning, travel and love prospects improve mildly after Friday (into late November). Be friendly, curious, handle paperwork and details Monday/Tuesday. Be home, domestic Wednesday-Friday. Love, risk, pleasure, creativity hold luck and magic Saturday! Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 The month ahead highlights law, higher education, international affairs, far travel, other cultures, import-export, religion and philosophy, science, publishing and media. Don't be quick to charge into these areas nor to start new projects in them - be self-aware; pull back at the first sign of "inexplicable delay." (Delays prevent you from entering a losing situation.) Your energy rises nicely Sunday. Chase money Monday/Tuesday, but avoid "high risk" methods. You'll see the world in a new, wide way this early week! Curiosity, travel, communications fill Wednesday-Friday. Home and security bless you Saturday. For a reading: 604-261-1337. www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. /30/