ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS DECEMBER 27, 2009 – JANUARY 3, 2010. All times/dates are PST. A new decade. Hmm. I told you last year that China’s appetite for foreign raw materials would begin to wane because the nation will begin discovering big deposits within its own borders. Last week the media reported that a deposit of 1 billion tons of iron ore has been found in Hebei province, the biggest find since 1980... In case you think the financial crisis is over, look at Lithuania: 54 per cent of mortgages in that country are in trouble. More than half! Dubai, the darling of oil-rich Arabia (and of nurses and engineers) essentially defaulted on its sovereign bonds... Greece is in trouble, too...and Spain and Ireland. In the old days you could make a fortune buying the bonds of these troubled countries. In the 1980’s, when I had more youth than caution, I bought a bunch of New Zealand bonds at 24 per cent. A year later, NZ interests rates fell to 12 %, and I made a killing. Now, though, either I’m too wise and scared to try anything, or this time the risks of small countries defaulting really will be fulfilled. (They were recently by Iceland and – probably – by Dubai. Dubai’s still promising to “pay later,” although they’ve already defaulted.) If you see the U.S. dollar rising sharply against other currencies, that’s your signal that the river of debt is close to the lip of Niagara Falls. One thing that ticks me off is that people really don’t follow my advice. Back in the early 1980’s when interest rates were 19 per cent, I said (in this column) that bonds would outperform stocks over the long run. At that time you could buy a 12 to 14 per cent government “zero coupon” bond paying off in the 2000’s to 2020’s. You also did not have to pay taxes on the interest until the bond matured, or you sold it – just like stocks. If we take the Dow at its lowest, around 880 in 1980/81, and observe it now at 10,500, that’s growth of about 12 times your original money. Pretty good. But over that same 28 years a compounding coupon bond at 12 per cent (the rates back then) would have doubled every six years. 28 years divided by 6 = 4.66 “doubles.” So $ 100 becomes $ 200 (that’s one double), then 400, 800, 1600 – that’s 4 doubles. Now add another “half double” to $ 2,400. That’s 24 times your money, versus 12 times for the stock market. Yet the television pundits keep mouthing the mantra, “In the long run, equities (stocks) outperform every other investment.” This is the triumph of salesmanship over truth. And if it was a lie during the greatest bull market in U.S. history, how much bigger a lie is it now? Look at a 100-year chart of the Dow. Think “cliff.” Be wary. Start Nothing: 9:54 a.m.to 5:13 p.m. Mon., 12:29 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Wed., and 10:43 a.m. to 9:41 p.m. Fri. Aries March 21-April 19 Start no new projects nor relationships, especially in career, prestige and business zones. New starts would lead you in unproductive circles. Instead, focus on the old and the ongoing. Protect ongoing projects from delays and mistakes. Chase money Sunday, but advance none of your own. Destiny is working this day, probably involving a significant relationship, a change in it, and sex or money. Be careful, Monday too. Friendly meetings and success (legal, travel, intellectual) come Tuesday/Wednesday. Property, family matters need care; re-examine these: have you made a basic mistake? Taurus April 20-May 20 Start nothing new, especially in cultural, intellectual, far-travel, legal, love, publishing, educational and insurance zones. Instead, reprise old projects (or fall in love again with your mate or, if you’re unattached, a former flame).Protect ongoing projects from mistakes. Anticipate delays. You might have received a lucky “gift” from the heavens in financial, inheritance, or sexual areas in the past four weeks. If so, make it legal, ethical now. Wisdom is needed about this Sunday/Monday. Money, spending are lucky Tuesday/Wednesday – but don’t buy anything important. Say nothing Thursday. Gemini May 21-June 20 Start nothing new in any area, especially in financial, sexual, lifestyle and health zones. Research, especially into past matters, yields rewards. Protect ongoing projects from delays and mistakes. Double-check figures. A former partner, in money or sex – a former seducer – might return now or in the week or two ahead. Look deeply into these sexual and financial areas – and deep within, even into subconscious realms – Sunday/Monday. Realize multiple levels affect your thoughts and your results. Only love can solve mysteries. Your charisma and luck take an upward trajectory Tuesday/Wednesday! Cancer June 21-July 22 Start nothing. Instead, reprise the past, or stick with ongoing projects. Delays and mistakes are normal; so double-check and refuse to rush. Particularly avoid forming brand-new relationships, or launching into relocation, contracts, public projects, or negotiations. An associate or partner might return from the past. It could be beneficial: judge it on its own merits. A former money source might return, also – but it’s not a good person, idea, or project, if it (re)appears Sunday, Monday or Thursday. Your charisma and energy rise nicely Thursday/Friday: find a “secret key,” or make love. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Avoid new starts of any kind, Leo, especially in work, health, service and machinery zones, to January 15. DON’T buy machinery, a car, computer, etc. A time of romance and pleasure is over -- back to work now, but check instructions twice, anticipate delays and watch for mistakes. Co-workers will treat you with affection, into late January. Don’t forget about love (or an exciting other opportunity) – you’ll get a big, rare chance for it in about a month. Meanwhile, take care of practical matters. Be careful, safe, Sunday/Monday. A social/love wish could come true Wednesday! Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Start nothing new before January 15, in any area. An old flame might return, or more likely, you will daydream about an old love. Two things here, Virgo: 1) if you experience a slight little thought about this person, but not a full-fledged fantasy, then he or she is very likely to appear; 2) considering your love life over the past decade or so, you might be better off waiting for future loves (2010 – and, especially, 2012 through 2025). Love’s destiny “rules” Sunday, and it might not include sex. Monday you make the hard decision. A better destiny is just around the corner! Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 The weeks ahead feature life’s basics: property, family, security, food, sleep, children, retirement. Normally you’d be ending situations and relationships, and starting others – but leave this part alone before January 15. What you do now you might wish “undone” later. Start nothing new in any area. A former family situation could arise. You might revisit a former residence or city, welcome a wandering relative, reprise an old retirement plan, etc. Your “destiny” is plain Sunday (look deep) but it might not include a partnership hope, not this time. Love, wisdom bless you Tuesday/Wednesday! Scorpio Oct.23-Nov.21 The accent’s on communications, paperwork, details, short trips, siblings and casual acquaintances. (Both will treat you affectionately to mid-January.) Start nothing new, especially in these areas, and be alert for mistakes until January 15. Delays occur in mail, distribution and scheduled meetings. Considering how temperamental bosses are now (to June) make sure these mistakes and delays are not yours, especially Friday! (You might be returning to a former job/career task/position for 9 weeks.) Exercise (financial, career) caution Sunday/Monday. Sex might lead to love, Tuesday to Friday. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Start nothing new before January 15, especially in money, buy/sell and sensual areas. An opportunity from the past might arise in these zones – a former sensual affair revives, something you always wanted to buy becomes available, an old bill is paid (to you or by you). Luck’s good! Be cautious Sunday and Monday in relationships. ”Destiny” appears in money matters, but intellectual and love relations are under pressure. DON’T start a love affair these two days! (Not a great idea before January 15, anyway.) Love’s continuance, or travel, are blessed Tuesday/Wednesday! Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Your energy and charisma soar! But don’t start new projects nor relationships before January 15. Use your energy to complete (and guard) ongoing projects, and your charisma to attract/deal with past opportunities and relationships. Sunday tolls destiny’s bell in love and ambition – two areas that will occupy you pleasantly and frequently through mid-January. But don’t be tempted to dig more deeply into the intimate side of a relationship, nor to invest, before March 10. Work and health “end well” Wednesday. Relationships reach a muddled, sweet, indecisive climax Thursday. Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 You’re still in a year of great personal luck, expansion, new social contacts, freedom. These come to the un-cynical. But the weeks ahead emphasize your limitations and weaknesses. Look deeply Sunday: you’ll see these, and understand their “place” or necessity. Your energy, charisma and clout descend to a yearly low. Even so, you’re still loved. (If you’ve really screwed up, apologize and start over.) Now to January 15, start nothing new. These go well: therapy, research, charity, confession, reprising the past, subconscious explorations, and regression techniques. Love’s future, Wednesday! Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Typically, this time of year leads to plans about, wishes for, and visions of your future. But this winter your visions have one foot in the past. Your wishes might be that a situation, person, or ”the way it was” returns. That’s quite possible, although it depends on at least two other people (and maybe more). Your plans might, similarly, be to return to a former haunt, to re-establish a relationship, etc. On Sunday, all this comes close to “destiny,” to your unconscious shaping your life. Fulfillment might entail forfeiting money or a job. Avoid new starts before January 15. www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 416-686-5014. /30/