ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2006 All times/dates are Pacific Daylight Time. Just to make everything clear for GEMINI. I've pointed out that your career, reputation, ambitions and relations with higher-ups are blessed for the 18 months ahead, yet in other columns I've warned you not to start new employment projects before November 2006. The difference: employment means hands-on work, performing tasks for another - or hiring others. Career means prestige, your name in gold on the door. One = work. The other = being on top. LEO, the 18 months ahead (to mid-December 2007) present you with a "karmic" choice, a reward, and a temptation. To succeed (especially after November/06, since it's difficult before then) aim your thoughts and actions toward life's depths and mysteries. Don't accept that something happened - investigate, ponder the motives and forces underneath daily events. (Without being paranoid, of course!) Don't rely on "common knowledge" - do your own research, seek the hidden gem - in business, in finances and investing, even in love. Your smooth path will be found through exploration, courage and commitment - to a lifestyle change, to a mortgage, to intimacy, to childbirth, etc. Invest for the long term. Seek the truth about your health. Approach sex as a powerful, serious commitment. Embrace your intuition and welcome subconscious urges. But a hard, disappointing or delaying path awaits if you choose to chase the twists and turns of quick money, daily spending, monthly paycheck and bills, unnecessary purchases and "day trading" during these same 18 months. So take a long view of finances. Buy stocks for appreciation, not for dividend income. Don't panic and sell. Be skeptical of quick reports, easy facts or a multiplicity of details. Intuit, rather than analyze. Avoid casual sex, whether with casual partners or your life mate. Don't depend on your memory - instead, feed it new experiences! Steer away from rote and routine. During part of these 18 months - December/06 through August/07 - your life will blossom into pleasure! Romance will lift your heart. Children will please and reward you. Your creativity will soar - you might write a book, invent something, or earn praise for your art. Leo gamblers (I hate to mention this) will tend to win. It's time to take a big chance, Leo! A change of home, a retirement or parenting role, might be involved. Romance could move you into a new home, or taking a risk could earn you a new security. Any and all of these lucky areas might confront you with a choice that involves those karmic areas mentioned earlier (long or short-term money, casual or binding relationships, "common knowledge" versus research, etc.). You'll know which to choose! Start Nothing: Before 1:48 a.m. Sun., 9:02 to 10:19 a.m. Tues., 11:24 a.m. to 9:15 p.m. Thurs., and after 11:58 p.m. Sat. Aries March 21-April 19 Start nothing big before July 28. Work on projects already started, or from the past - especially in domestic, nature, gardening, property, foundational, soul, diet or "sales territory." These proceed very well Sunday/Monday. (Also two great days for rest and contemplation.) Romance, nature's beauty, pleasure, creative and speculative urges arrive Tuesday to Thursday noon - a nice run, but avoid self-deception Wednesday night. Work, health and machinery concerns are slated Friday/Saturday - all's smooth Friday daytime, subtly difficult Saturday. A financial "bonus" might appear this week, perhaps involving property, family, or investments. Taurus April 20-May 20 Deal with familiar people and projects this week through July 28. It's not a terribly important time - short trips, casual conversations, news, reports, siblings and paperwork. A partner or spouse - or someone you're trying to talk into a deal - has been "reluctant" since March. This person (or company) will perk up, grow decisive, early July onward - so you'll get your answer soon. If the answer's yes, and the project's an old one, go ahead. But try to delay the actual "physical" start until July28 onward - or better yet, December! Gemini May 21-June 20 Handle money, send invoices, seek employment or a pay raise, or buy a car or computer (etc.) Sunday (best) Monday, or Thursday morning. After this, until July 28, don't buy and don't start new projects, especially in money areas. Instead, stick to projects already started, or opportunities that return from the past. (Make sure they're really opportunities!) If you're seeking employment after Monday, my advice is twofold: 1) turn around and mine old prospects, old employers, and 2) you're better off seeking prestige (even starving prestige) than hands-on drudgery. Cancer June 21-July 22 Your energy and charisma soar now to late July - especially this Sunday/Monday! Love favors you all week, especially Sunday, Monday and Thursday. Could be a co-worker flirtation. This isn't the best time to start major new projects, as July will bring mistakes, second thoughts, delays and misunderstandings. Small new starts - things you can wrap up in a day or two - are fine. Make an impression Sunday/Monday, ask favors, see important people. Chase money Tuesday to Thursday noon. Short trips, calls or the media bring good news, luck, even romance Friday. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 You might make a new confidante, or find a good advisor/counselor - or succeed with a governmental/institutional chore Sunday, Monday, or Thursday morning. These three days offer very lucky home, family, property, security, retirement and similar dealings. However, don't start projects that will demand further effort in July. E.g., do buy a retirement fund to last fifty years, but don't promise a government agency you'll meet their specifications in two weeks. With these types of exceptions, stick to ongoing and former relationships and commitments now to July 28. Hopes rise soon! Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Your optimism soars Sunday/Monday and Friday - a feeling that will revisit you often in the month ahead! So will popularity, social joys, entertainment, and success with groups. This is a perfect week to write or call, especially about family, property, retirement or security matters - and reunions. (But, other than reunions, don't start any large projects now to July 28 - delays, mistakes and dead-ends would result.) An old friend - or light flame - might show up soon. If a flame, make sure your ethics are on straight. Good news arrives! Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Approach VIPs, bosses and parents Sunday (best) and Monday to make an impression or to ask for a favor or pay raise. (Thursday morning and Friday daytime are also favored for the pay raise request.) But don't suggest big new projects to them. If they accepted, you'd be stuck trying to sail a boat through sand, as July 4 to 28 brings delays, mistakes and second thoughts. So prepare to play it safe through July. A former career role might return soon. Your high hopes about a relationship are justified. Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 You'll hear beneficial news from afar, or about a legal, media, educational, cultural or religious event Sunday/Monday and/or Friday. The whole week favors these zones, especially if there's a money connection. But don't start big new projects now to July 28, especially in these areas and in career zones - stick to ongoing ventures and duties. Bosses and authorities are in temperamental mode this month and next, so keep your head down, have a "Plan B," and anticipate delays. Welcome love, and express it. Money mysteries reward, intimacy thrills! Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 This week - especially Sunday/Monday and Friday - boosts your luck in finances, investments, retirement, spiritual activities, red tape, and investigative, research, and intimate arenas. If you're writing exams, expect a good result! Don't start big projects before July 28. (Small things this week - projects you can complete in a day or two - are fine.) You might want to elevate a relationship to the legal, formal, or wedded stage, but another will likely grow indecisive by July - go slow! Generally, people respond with affection, and sweet tenderness enters intimate affairs, into August! Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Relationships move front and center - and yield good results Sunday/Monday, and Friday (thank goodness, after last week's possible disappointment!). But don't start any large projects - ones you can't complete in one or two days. Especially avoid beginning long-term co-operative ventures, negotiations, relocation projects or public dealings, no matter how rosy things look now, or how great your initial reception. The problem is, all relationships will swirl and eddy with indecision and delays in July. You can find "hidden gold" mid-week. An ex or old flame looms on the horizon. Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Work, health, employment, repairs, and care of dependents - these succeed this week, and generally occupy you well into July. You can begin a good, lucky project here Sunday/Monday - but only if it can be completed in several days. Don't start any major new projects before July 28. Your efforts will yield heart-uplifting rewards in career and parenting zones, especially Sunday/Monday and Friday. Relationships have intensified in June, and reach a mini-climax Tuesday to Thursday morning - all should be good in this, unless worry or suspicion interfere. Trust has benefits! Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Chase romance, creativity, pleasure, beauty Sunday/Monday and Friday - take risks, exercise your passion. You're on a winning streak! You might get a pleasing (or exhilarating) answer to a question involving career, international affairs, a cultural, education or legal matter. Proposals tend to net "yeses!" But be aware that all these areas, from romance to far travel, can turn backward in July - so only start projects you can complete in two/three days, or seek answers that are irrevocable. Get "done deals." Work yields accomplishment mid-week. Home becomes an affectionate place. www.astralreflection.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-261-1337. /30/