ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS MAY 25 - 31, 2008 All times/dates are PDT. Mercury retrogrades this Monday to June 19. Avoid starting any important projects during this interval. I'll outline the area of concern for every sign in the weekly messages below, but we should really avoid new starts in every area, simply because it is difficult to separate one project from another. For example, if this Mercury retro occurs in your employment arena, it might also involve the clothes you buy, whether you buy a car or try to learn a new machine, introduction of new software, what you pack for lunch, romance at work, etc. Also, I can only speak to your Sun sign here; the retrograde will also affect your rising sign. It gets worse: Mercury also "rules" two signs, and hence two major zones. For example, for TAURUS, Mercury rules earnings and purchases, but also creativity, romance and pleasure. Then it rules two more areas for your rising sign. If this Taurus were ARIES rising, Mercury would also directly affect communications, travel, work, machinery and health. Add to this seepage and overlap, it's hard to begin any significant project that the retro won't touch! Don't buy anything important, either - new tvs, cars or clothes will likely be lemons, or unsuitable, no matter how perfect they seem at the time. Mercury retro DOES have its good side. It's a great time for nostalgia, for dealing with matters you neglected to wrap up in the past, for reprising past projects and relationships, etc. This particular retro is likely to be a strong one, as it occurs in Mercury's sign, GEMINI. It will likely bring an old flame or old pleasure back to AQUARIANS, and a former love or "ex" could also visit Libra, SAGITTARIUS, and LEO. A former friend drops into ARIES life. However, in many cases these returning flames are more for clarification than a foundation for the future. Coincidentally (although nothing is coincidental) Neptune turns retrograde the very same day - May 26. This hints that our perceptions could be extra fuzzy. Rumors could weave through our societal foundations like fire smoldering underground in a peat bog. Neptune's retrograde lasts much longer than Mercury's - to November 1, 2008. Pluto and Jupiter have recently turned retrograde, and Uranus joins them in late June. Overall, retrograde planets tend to cause indecision and lack of forward action in their spheres. When we have a lot of major planets going retro, large "chunks" of national and societal progress tend to slow or slacken. The present overlap of retrogrades hints at a pull-back in the stock markets and a slow-down economically until the autumn. Start Nothing: 7:50 p.m. Mon. to 6:38 a.m. Tues., 11:22 p.m. Wed. to 12:52 p.m. Thurs., and 5:54 a.m. to 3:18 p.m. Sat. Aries March 21-April 19 Sunday/Monday bring you new hopes, optimism and a jolt of popularity - life looks beautiful! But you might have to handle a subtle obstacle in work, employment, health, head office or government-related situations Monday. Start nothing new from Monday to June 19. Communications, calls, messages, paperwork, travel, appointments and schedules tend to go awry during these four weeks. DON'T buy machinery, computers, telephones or software.. That said, nothing major is at stake, and you could find these weeks buoy your spirits! Former friends, places and contacts return. Happiness visits Friday/Saturday! Taurus April 20-May 20 Take care on the career scene and with your reputation Sunday/Monday. Reality and romance somehow don't mix. Despite obstacles, you feel happy Tuesday/Wednesday! Retreat, rest Thursday to mid-day Saturday. Now to June 19, DON'T buy anything of significance, not even new clothes. You'd later want to return the item, yet might remain so indecisive about it that you never do. Also avoid starting any new money, earnings, memorization, educational or sensual/sexual venture during this period. These can succeed, however, if they come from the past (e.g., a former job). Gemini May 21-June 20 A puzzle for you now through June 18, Gemini: Your vitality, charm and magnetism are at a yearly peak, you're lucky, and others want t please you. Yet anything brand new that you start will become entangled in indecision, delays, and dead ends, and prove ultimately unsuccessful. For success, reprise past projects and ventures. Seize that investment you missed the first time around. Make that repair that's been hanging fire. Send that manuscript you wrote but never mailed. (But DON'T start re-writing it.) Someone wants to re-kindle love's fires! Cancer June 21-July 22 Start nothing new before June 19. That's easy, as you'll be quite content to spend the next few weeks resting, napping, contemplating the world and your loves, and planning future conquests. Good - but realize any plans you make will probably have to be revised or abandoned after June. (Still, the exercise is beneficial.) DO NOT begin new government-related, head office, administrative, warehousing, assembly line, institutional, hospital, charity, health or spiritual projects or contacts. Instead, deal with the old, former - e.g., incomplete tax forms, former counselor or spiritual contact. Nostalgia pleases! Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Your magnetism's simmering hot, and your social side is bursting with vigor, optimism and good spirits. This could lead to a love affair - or "hot popularity." (Obama's a Leo.) But a friend/lover you've never met before, or a new social group, will not go anywhere in future and thus would ultimately be a waste of time. Your good stuff resides in old, former or ongoing contacts - including old flames - until June 19. In general, start nothing new in any arena before June 19. Love, travel, education bless you Friday! Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Be ambitious, but stick to ongoing and former career/business projects until June 19. Be prepared for delays, mistakes, missed appointments and missing supplies until then. Have a "Plan B" ready. Start NO new projects. A former position might be offered - if you need it, take it. A collusion or secret pact might also be "offered" - in business and/or in lust, perhaps Thursday/Friday. Entering this door would hurt your reputation. Stick with your principles. Tackle chores carefully Sunday/Monday. Be diplomatic mid-week! A lucky investment could arise late Thursday, maybe Friday. Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Until June 19, avoid fresh starts and new projects, especially in legal, educational, far travel, cultural, social ritual (e.g., weddings, mitzvahs) insurance, international, export-import, religious and broadcasting or publishing zones. Good things might return from the past in these same arenas. But protect ongoing projects from delays, mistakes and fuzzy thinking - it's a good time for research, but not for organizing your data or writing a paper. If you do travel, recheck schedules and reservations, and mind your wallet. A former love might appear; spouse can rekindle sparks. Friday's exciting! Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Watch for mistakes, delays and confusion in ongoing projects. Start nothing important before June 19 in any area, especially in finances, debt, investments, sex, intimacy, lifestyle changes, health diagnosis, commitments and depth psychology. On the other hand, you could gain from reprising former ventures, particularly in these areas. (If you made an investment May 20 to 22, think about withdrawing from it.) Research should go well. A sexy person could return from the past - but this person is only a catalyst, not meant to stay. Romance, pleasure draw you mid-week. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Before June 19, a former mate, business partner, lover, or attractive person could reappear. (If they reappeared last week, before May 23, it won't work out well.) Opportunities you didn't grab the first time around might make a reappearance - especially if relocation, an agreement or contract, or dealing with the public was/is involved. These are fine. But until June 19, DO NOT start new ventures or relationships, especially in business, contracts, relocation, etc. You might travel afar this month or next - good, but watch for snafus. Avoid legal hassles. Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Through June 18, mistakes, missed appointments, delays and confusion can crop up in employment matters, hands-on work, health, machinery and tools, service people, dependents' affairs, and to some degree in legal, educational, travel and cultural areas. Make sure your insurance hasn't lapsed. DON'T start new projects in any of these zones (or in anything) - but do embrace "returning" chores, repairs or health matters. DON'T buy machinery, computers, appliances, etc., (even if you saw them in the past). An important "ending" could occur "deep down" Thursday/Friday - the heart knows! Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 An old flame is almost certain to appear, even if only in your thoughts. If you're married, children or your spouse show confusion, yet grow dearer. Relationships are very intense through June. Exercise diplomacy. In 2008, romantic passion leads to new worlds, but marriage motives/commitments are dicey, might contain a dead end. Now to June 19, the past swirls in on light feet, entering romantic, creative, beauty, vacation, children's education and similar zones. An opportunity might return for a second chance! But avoid brand new projects in any area. Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Until June 19, avoid starting important projects, especially in construction, real estate, domestic and family arenas, security, sales territory, retirement, gardening and agriculture, relationships and agreements. Former concerns or projects might return from these areas. In this case, you're cleared to proceed, but judge the circumstances - if they're positive or lucky (or involve needed repairs) go ahead! Sign no contracts. Neither make nor accept promises. Your work pace continues to be intense - but proceed cautiously, watch for mistakes and supply delays, and practice all safety rules. Money's lucky Friday! www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-261-1337. /30/