ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS AUGUST 7 - 13, 2005 All times/dates are Pacific Daylight. Last week I mentioned where to buy and how to use an ephemeris - a book that lists all the planetary positions every day (usually for a century). As one reader kindly pointed out, you can also access an ephemeris for free on the internet, at www.astro.com/swisseph/swepha_e.htm. (That space is an underscore.) Last week, I was showing you how to find the Mercury retrogrades in the ephemeris, so you could start your projects well before the retro delays begin. You can also look up your own planet on the ephemeris - its retrograde periods indicate times of rest, retreat, rethinking, reminiscing - a "back to the planning table" period for you personally. If you are a LEO (Sun) or a CANCER (Moon) your rulers never retro - and true to this, you seldom cease producing. But for the remainder of us, finding the retro period for our personal planet is easy: run your finger down the column under your ruling planet, and you'll see your personal "go slow" periods - they begin with an "R" in the column, and end when you see the "D." (All planets retro once per year except Mercury (approx. every 4 months) Venus (18 months, approx) and Mars (approx. 2 years). Try to start important projects in the few weeks after the day marked by that "D" (indicating forward motion). That way, you'll have the longest length of time to push your venture. To find your ruling planet in the ephemeris, look for the symbols in the row running horizontally at the top of the page (or month). I'm listing these symbols in the order that they appear in the row, from left to right. First (after the Sun and Moon symbols) appears Mercury, the ruling planet for VIRGO and GEMINI. Your planet's symbol looks like a plus sign surmounted by a circle with horns. LIBRA and TAURUS, your planet, Venus, is shaped like a circle sitting atop a plus sign - no horns. ARIES, your planet Mars looks like a circle with an arrow shooting out at about 2 o'clock. SAGITTARIUS, Jupiter, your planet, looks like a number "4." CAPRICORN, Saturn, your ruling planet, looks like a lower-case h, and often has a small horizontal line across the upper stem. AQUARIUS, your planet, Uranus, looks like a capital H with a wee ball dangling from the cross-bar of the H. PISCES, your Neptune looks like a fat salad fork with three prongs pointing upward. SCORPIO, your planet, Pluto, is sometimes represented by a P and L overlaid, so it looks like a P with a long foot. Sometimes, Pluto is drawn as a vertical line topped by a bowl, and in that bowl lies a ball. Look up the day you were born: if your planet was retro, you're a deep thinker. Start Nothing: 3:09 a.m. to 7:08 p.m. Mon., 2:10 p.m. Wed. to 5:35 a.m. Thurs., and 5:06 a.m. to 12:47 p.m. Sat. Aries March 21-April 19 Delays and mistakes continue - remain alert, start nothing important before August 16. Now to February, your money flows will swell - when more comes in, bank it. This could be the most important money year for you in a quarter century - don't waste it or blow by it! There will be one critical problem to overcome: your love of pleasure, whether this is embodied in shopping, romance, vacation spending, luxuries, etc. Learn how pleasure doesn't have to be bought. Be realistic, even stingy! Co-workers treat you pleasantly! Old flame might appear. Taurus April 20-May 20 Remain restful. Meditate, sleep long, eat sensibly. Ponder your life thus far: who and what have outlived themselves and should be shucked off; who/what deserve more nurturing/loyalty? Don't make your final decision until after August 16 - but study your situation now. (And don't start any important projects until that date, especially in home, property, domestic areas.) You're starting to gather a head of steam that will make you more assertive, determined, even aggressive now into February. Be gentle with family, kids. Beauty, romance give you a wink this week! Gemini May 21-June 20 You're busy, but how much is concretely getting done? Not much, I'll bet, partly because everybody wants a favor. (To a certain degree you're enjoying being needed, and this is a good thing to next February, but it will also impact on your net worth/earnings.) Remain alert for mistakes, double-check figures, and start nothing important through August 15. Nature, family are sweet - study retirement needs, possible vacation spots. Realize your domestic set-up is changing. If traveling, head for old haunts. Old friends might appear. Avoid an argument Saturday (noon). Cancer June 21-July 22 Careful for ten more days, with spending, income projects, money and possessions in general. If a real bargain you wanted months ago returns, buy it. Otherwise, save, and start no big ventures. You might not notice it yet, but your social and career lives are beginning to merge. This helps your career, but, oddly, can negatively impact your earnings through February. Be wise in your choices, look far ahead before committing to something just to please another. Cultivate family, home Tuesday/Wednesday. Accept a change of duties. Beauty, pleasure, romance Thursday/Friday! Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Be patient for 10 more days - don't start new projects. You face a serious, hard-working two years. Use this week to contemplate your goals - and the obstacles in the way - rather than trying to leap ahead. Your money picture looks good. (Whether you have two years of fruitful earnings in 2008 and 09 - or empty pockets - depends on your efforts in 2005-07.) Higher-ups will display temperamental impatience now to next February, but you will also be more ambitious and quick to respond, earning their admiration. Romantic moments Saturday night! Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Early week brings (unfounded) worries about your job - or sweet illusions about a new, promising employment situation. Forget both. Maintain the status quo. Don't start any major project before August 16. Mid-week brings another quiet shift in your family, security or property interests. (Yes, change is still necessary here.) The week ends, Saturday, with potential for an argument or sharp word - but this influence also gives you insight, decisive qualities, and editing/pruning abilities. You won't be bored! But you are tired: rest, meditate, and protect your health all week. Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Your inner life is sweet, your outer life confused. Social delights, optimism and popularity occur frequently, but don't let them nudge you into starting new projects. Old flames/friends might return: be welcoming! Your subconscious urges, your sexual, intimate side, your financial power urges, a deep instinct pushing you to change your life - these arise now through next February. A partner, an attraction, or a desire triggers them. You might change partners. Act on these urges August 16 to mid-October for best results. Don't let "stodgy goals" or reputation fears interfere. Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Don't start new projects, especially in career, prestige, parenting or "court," before August 16. Social contacts are affectionate; if you're single, a "friend" could grow closer, more flirtatious. You're starting seven months of intense relationship occurrences. This autumn, you also begin a year of optimism, cheer, better income and luck, which will attract others to you. Some single Scorpios will marry in the year ahead! Here's your dilemma: "Big" love might arrive 2011 through 2025, but it's like a pension: sometimes, accepting less sooner is better than more later. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Themes of travel, internationalism, philosophy, religion, higher learning, publishing, law, principles, ethics, humanity, culture, anthropology, float through your mind this week - but don't start new ventures before August 16, especially in these areas. (You're "misconceiving" these areas Monday.) Your romantic, creative side has shifted to your work place. Higher-ups appreciate you, will grant a favor if you ask. They foresee or suspect you're changing your mind about work. But that creative side - and your work duties - impede all those areas first mentioned (travel, publishing, etc.) Rest, protect health Thursday/Friday. Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Do not begin investment, sexual, life changing, diagnostic, health or occult ventures before August 16. Research these areas, but make no firm commitments. You are susceptible to "con artistry" early week. Now through February your "nesting instinct" fuses with your romantic inclinations (and/or your creativity or "gambling" urges). This could deepen or end a love relationship. It could also strain your bigger financial situation. (Even so, you'd be wise to stick with that romantic, creative, gambling urge - e.g., decorate the house, buy a home with your lover, etc.) Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Accent continues on relationships. Make no promises; accept none. Start no new ventures before August 16. Now through February you're going to be handling a new level of intensity in relations: keep your temper intact, be diplomatic. (Don't argue Saturday!) Start a renovation or construction project (after August 16) to channel your energy constructively. (Even so, your mate might be a tightwad or unenthusiastic: so handle more yourself.) This week favors your financial, sexual and investigative interests, especially Sunday. Beware a subtly wrong concept Tuesday/Wednesday, probably in law, education or media. Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Work demands continue - so does the need to care for your health. But start no new projects in either area before August 16. For two years, work will be harder and slower (to achieve results) than you're used to. On the other hand, romance, adventure, art and creativity - the pleasure side of your life - will be more lively and fortunate! Just remember the ant and the grasshopper. Someone is treating you sweetly: could be they want a relationship. Love and friendship matters go through a few changes this week. www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-261-1337. /30/