ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 4 All times/dates are Pacific Standard Time. Mercury retrogrades March 2 to 25, bringing our old friends Delay, Indecision and Confusion back. This time Mercury's in Pisces, the sign of psychics. Pisces loves to dream, woolgather, and is hard to pin down. We'll be groping through mists, nuances, and innocent misdirection. We'll be certain we saw something strange and significant - then, after, we won't be sure. Water signs (PISCES, CANCER and SCORPIO) and earth signs (TAURUS, VIRGO and CAPRICORN) might meet an old flame, and become all wound up in what-ifs and maybes. As usual, we should avoid starting any new projects during this time (or even the week preceding it - that is, now forward)_ Speaking of Pisces, I often write "it's a good time to see a psychic" in my weekly advice to this sign or that. Then I get a smattering of emails saying, "Where can I find a psychic? Who's a good psychic?" Well, a few points: First, I always write in a sort of shorthand. When I use the word psychic, I often mean any counselor or advisor, psychologist, accountant or other financial advisor, best friend, astrologer, doctor, etc. I would use "advisor," but then many readers would think this did not include psychics. Good psychics are rare. In Vancouver (1.5 million pop.) I've only met two in 30 years. (Clever criminals, not psychics, offer to cure love or health situations for money.) The great thing about true psychics is they renew the faith. When a psychic says, "I see a person, a Capricorn I think, Michael, or Mitchell, or_" And then two weeks later you date a Melville, and he's a Capricorn, your faith in a divine universe is rejuvenated. The bad thing about psychics is that their information is sometimes hard to use - for example, they might not know if that Capricorn is ultimately good or bad for you. Often, the psychic receives a "snapshot," a picture that he/she - or you - might misinterpret. My favorite example of this occurred during a psychic show on CBC TV about twenty years ago. An astrologer, a psychic and another person - forget who - had to guess the identity of the hidden guest. The astrologer was given the birth data, the psychic was given an article from the person, a watch or locket, etc. For one guest, the psychic said, "You're a famous singer. I see many gold records spinning." The hidden guest was Mark Spitz, famous for winning an unprecedented number of gold medals in Olympic swimming. The psychic saw a stunningly accurate picture (gold records) but interpreted it wrongly. That's the chance you take with psychic information. The astrologer, by the way (Jeff Grey) guessed Spitz's identity, but don't ask me how. Start Nothing: 8:25 p.m. Sun. to 1:56 a.m. Mon., 8:14 p.m. Tues. to 4:19 a.m. Wed., and 2:42 a.m. to 5:22 a.m. Fri. Aries March 21-April 19 Start nothing new before March 25. You'll soon hear from an institution, government agency or admin department of a large corporation about something "left behind." Could be good - a pension sum you forgot you had; or bad - back taxes owed. Or a matter connected to charity, to your Mom in a senior's home, etc. Good or bad, this "renewed connection" spells future change. Sunday's hopeful. Lie low Monday/Tuesday - rest, be skeptical about "research." Your energy and intuition rise nicely Wednesday/Thursday. Treat money carefully Friday/Saturday. Higher-ups continue to favor you. Taurus April 20-May 20 Social, organizational and entertainment plans might go awry now to March 25. Avoid new ventures, whether they're your own idea or someone else's suggestion. Now to late March, only research, investigative, and "from the past" projects will be free of glitches. An old friend might appear - flirtatious sparks could fly! Money flows swiftly to you (and, if you're not conservative, flows from you) now to mid-April. Save it! Your plans for the future will change daily - be patient. This week's easy, happy - but you want to break away Saturday. Gemini May 21-June 20 Your energy, sex appeal shine! But don't start new projects before March 25. Ongoing ventures could be subject to delays, confusions and mistakes. Double check; have "Plan B" ready! These weeks are excellent for revisiting old projects, relationships and places, to research, solve old puzzles, etc. Your career will "go backward" for a few weeks - you might be asked to redo a chore, reprise a former career role, deal with a past VIP, etc. This week's easy - hopeful and friendly Wednesday/Thursday - but career or parenting relationships need adjustment Saturday. Cancer June 21-July 22 Avoid fights, accent diplomacy now through mid-April, especially with authorities, in your career, where your reputation might suffer, etc. Not a big deal - you face a period like this every two years. A fight is the least likely outcome during the present easy, mellow week - love is still possible, relationships remain affectionate. The weeks ahead feature far travel, legal matters, higher learning, religion, "life philosophy," foreign-born people, love, understanding, social rituals and culture. Start NO new projects, especially in these areas, before March 25. A former love might appear. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Don't start any new projects before March 25, especially in finances, debt, investments, mortgages, sexual commitments, health, surgery, lifestyle changes, settlement negotiations, and occult areas. Research and investigation are exceptions: a new research program, facility, formal project, isn't a good idea, but spontaneous research or investigation, especially of people/things already encountered, could yield surprising, superb results. A former sexual lure could reappear. (From March 5 onward, so could a new bright sweet person; but is your "chemistry" up to it?) Your optimism and social skills grow bigger through mid-April! Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Avoid starting any important projects before March 25 - promises might be broken, others are indecisive, relationships and opportunities lure yet turn in unexpected directions. On the good side, life will be exciting, bright and alluring! Don't act impulsively just to overcome the frustration of indecision. A former love, or business or relocation opportunity might reappear. In these, there could be something worthwhile - but problems might also lurk. (Problems would show around March 1 to 7, 16, and April 13.) Money "returns" Wednesday/Friday - so might a sexy temptation. Adjust, Saturday. Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Avoid starting (or joining) new projects, ventures before March 25. They would tend to go awry, especially if machinery (lemons!) employment, hands-on work, dependents, pets, health regimes (diet, exercise) agencies, government, institutions or red tape are involved. Legal matters, far travel, higher education, cultural involvements might grow hectic, heated, yet mistake-prone, delayed. Be cool! Remain alert: protect ongoing projects, chores and duties from confusion, supply disruptions. You might meet an old lover who's undergoing "hard times." The present week is easy, smooth. Say yes to someone you respect midweek. Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Old pleasures return, old loves appear, now to March 25. You could be drawn to a former creative project. I can't promise success in any of these, but if you do plunge in, you'll pry some secrets from life, learn some things you never thought to. But DON'T start any new important ventures before March 25. Stick with the old or ongoing. In general, it's a pleasing, beguiling, nostalgic time; though you might lose an address, forget a phone call, etc. Your sexual urges are powerful now to mid-April. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Everything around your home, family, kids, real estate, foundations, sales territory, security, retirement, gardening, furniture, cooking - you get the picture - encounters delays and mistakes until March 25. Don't start renovations, don't buy furniture or new drapes, etc. - something would go wrong. However, these weeks flow smoothly and easily, and nostalgia mixes with a delicious feeling of safety. One exception: relationships excite, challenge, and might spark love or anger (and a short trip or two) right into mid-April. Patience! Sink into contemplation and restful naps. Beauty, pleasure, love visit you Wednesday/Thursday. Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Avoid starting or joining new projects before March 25 - especially in love, culture, internationalism, higher education, law, work, machinery, employment, travel and communications. Do not buy machinery, a car, computer, even software - lemons (and simply wrong choices) abound! Instead, protect ongoing projects/situations from delays, missing shipments, detail mistakes and confusion. (Really, it won't be THAT bad!) Now to mid-April, work is hectic (yet, to late March, confused) - get your rest, don't be run ragged. The I Ching says: "When you're exhausted, chance takes over." A secret's exposed this week. Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Buy nothing before March 25 - later, you'll discover it's unsuitable, or a lemon. Don't start new projects for four weeks ahead, especially in money, earnings and sexual areas. A new casual lover would leave you puzzled - after early April, when his/her passion would tend to fade. A new "crazy love" is better in one respect - it will last longer. This isn't idle chatter: your romantic courage has recently ramped up, and stays high to mid-April. Next week (to early April) your allure magnifies. The present week needs "goal adjustment." Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Until March 25, you're filled with energy, charisma - and indecision, especially about partnerships, marriage, opportunities, relocation, public dealings, contracts, litigation, family, kids and real estate. DON'T start new ventures in these (or any) areas. Nurture ongoing relationships and projects - give attention, flattery (not promises) to loved ones, and alert attention to practical affairs. Mistakes, details, memory lapses abound! Your home either bubbles with energy and enthusiasm, or seethes with tension, now to mid-April. Which, is largely your choice! Make a career adjustment this week. Rest Sunday. Money's lucky Wednesday/Thursday. www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-261-1337. /30/