ASTRAL REFLECTIONS
BY TIM STEPHENS
SEPTEMBER 18 – 24, 2011 

	All times/dates are PDT.
	I just read that social scientists found African Americans scored significantly higher than usual on standardized tests in the months following Obama’s election. Of course, we’ll say, his election gave them a shot of confidence and new self-belief, which helped them score higher. True, true – but I don’t think that’s all. Additionally, perhaps, Obama and African Americans are/were an organic whole (though that whole fluctuates, shrinks and expands). Obama was an expression of a populace, just as, for example, a flower is an expression, or production, of the tree it adorns. They’re one organism. We don’t so much choose our leaders, nor they us, as we involuntarily join them in a living bond, just as all the cells of a human body join each other, or grow together. We are just as responsible for our leaders as they are for us. Sometimes, our leaders become the focal point – the distilled expression – of our guilt or our sickness. Hitler was not an isolated guy who came from nowhere and conned the whole German nation. He was a whirlwind spawned by a hurricane, an incarnation of the despair, impotence and anger of the populace. To say Nazi Germany was Hitler’s doing is to say the flower grows the tree.
      In the same way, Obama (and his administration, for these also are not separate) are an expression of American weariness with money and economics, but they also encapsulate a reaching out for goodness, for idealism. (These are mutually exclusive.) When Obama was elected the idea of goodness, of a new spirit of co-operation and peace and goodness was quite conscious – indeed helped elect him. The accompanying embrace of economic weariness, of a “financial rest” was quite unconscious – yet just as present, and as strong. 
      (All recessions/depressions are expressions of psychological/emotional weariness with money; they’re natural rhythmic periods of rest for the body politics’ psyche. A person could gauge the depth and severity of every downturn by correctly judging/sensing the depth of the weariness. In the present case, I think we are on a long ride, one of mostly gentle hills and valleys, but trending downward for many years, perhaps right into the 2020’s. I base this on the feeling that we are “resting up,” in N.A. and Europe, from a long period of expansion – effort, work, economic extroversion – one that “kept us awake” from 1950 to about 2000. Now we are sleeping in the west – and just as a day of 16 hours is followed by a sleep of 8 hours, so this rest, overall, might be proportional –15 to 18 years. Ten of those years have already passed – just look at the Dow, S&P, or any broad market. So we might have only 5 to 8 years to go. However, the rise of the east, China, India, and the mini-tigers everywhere, adds another dimension to this picture – and could prolong the situation, for now we deal not only with the effort-rest cycle within an organism – e.g., the west – but with the rise of new, large groups which have been “resting” for many centuries.)

Start Nothing: 0:09 a.m. to 1:06 a.m. Sun., 9:34 a.m. to 11:53 a.m. Tues., 6:22 p.m. to 6:55 p.m. Thurs., and 7:40 p.m. to 9:49 p.m. Sat.

Aries   March 21-April 19
A lot of work remains, but by Thursday night it will all be over – a little lingering bit, but mostly over – and a major month of relationships, new horizons, agreements, negotiations – and opposition – begins. Be careful Sunday – someone does not agree with you at all, whether they show it or not. (Or, someone does agree with you, even wants you as a partner, but his/her “home concerns” will kibosh it.) You’re busy. Six weeks of home-related anger/intensity ends; six weeks of romantic or creative urges begins. But settle into home midweek: heal, rest. Romance is real, later!

Taurus   April 20-May 20
It’s your last week of romance, adventure, creativity, life’s beauty, risk and speculation. Be careful Sunday: do nothing unethical or unwise, in love or anywhere. Don’t listen to someone who urges you on. This night also begins six weeks of potential domestic strife. Direct your energy into repairs, studies, research, government dealings, rather than squabble. (If you start these after supper Thursday, all will be well home-wise for the duration!) Otherwise, Sunday to dawn Tuesday is splendid for chasing money. Midweek’s for travel, communication, paperwork, reading, details.

Gemini   May 21-June 20
You’re still bound to home, children through Thursday. Use these days to garden, repair, contemplate, and soak up nature. You’ll feel restless, as a six-week period of speedy travel, communications and casual friendships begins now. Your magnetism glows Sunday/Monday, but a love or pleasure notion needs caution. Buy/sell, chase money midweek. By Friday, you’ll be ready to charge into romance, beauty, creativity, pleasure, joys with kids, speculations and risk. You’ll have a hot hand at the poker table. A good but unpredictable friend might woo, flirt! But that’s Friday onward. 

Cancer   June 21-July 22
The paperwork rush continues. Errands, trips and casual acquaintances keep you busy through Thursday. After this, you enter a month of relative rest, of comfy home, kids, gardening… the pace will slow. Be cautious Sunday/Monday: your energy and luck are low, and a subtle but deep disagreement, dislike or other problem exists. (Could simply be that your love of home, security, interferes with a relationship opening or other opportunity.) Your energy and charisma surge back noon Tuesday to Thursday: tackle small things. Chase money Friday/Saturday. Buy hi-tech Thursday night.

Leo   July 23-Aug. 22
Continue to chase money Sunday to Thursday. A new phase begins Friday, bringing a month of talk, travel, paperwork, casual acquaintances – and a friendly romance, if you’re single. Your magnetism, determination and ethical, cultural awareness grow now through November 10 – you might have to sand some rough edges off your personality. Your hopes and popularity rise nicely Sunday/Monday. Be cautious Sunday in using tools to decorate anything, and in what you say to co-workers. Your energy falls midweek, but soars back Thursday night onward – you could meet a sparkling friend or idea!

Virgo   Aug. 23-Sept. 22
Your energy, effectiveness and luck remain high, Virgo, so tackle important projects. Be ambitious Sunday to 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. This last morning could bring a great agreement – or solution to past disagreement – with your spouse or at the workplace. Beware money talk or a financial gamble Sunday. Your optimism, popularity rise midweek, but “reality barriers” remain: be patient. Thursday night begins a month of money, and it starts with a great work idea or opportunity, or a “financial friendship” – a good one! It will pay off for six weeks. Your work scene faces big changes.

Libra   Sept. 23-Oct. 22
These are your last five days of lowered energy, Libra – your energy, charisma, clout and effectiveness begin rising swiftly Friday onward (into late October). Even earlier (Sunday night) your popularity begins to rise, for a six-week flight! This popularity streak brings great new opportunities, including life-mate prospects to singles, and practical partnership prospects to married folk. You are in a year (until June 2012) of superb financial, investment, intimate and sexual luck. This blesses financial partnerships, but could offer temptation in love – be honest, open, moral. 

Scorpio   Oct. 23-Nov. 21
Five days of fun, flirtation and popularity remain, but life is beginning to grow more serious. The six weeks ahead emphasize hard work in your career field (rather than, say, at home) (if you stay at home all the time, that IS your career). These weeks, higher-ups and authorities can be impatient, temperamental, so be diplomatic, good-natured. (Thursday to Saturday, your career luck soars!) Friday begins four weeks of quietude, contemplation, management and administrative dealings. Be charitable, kind. Sunday/Monday are sexy, but chase no one Sunday. Wisdom, love midweek.

Sagittarius   Nov. 22-Dec. 21
Remain ambitious for five more days. Friday starts a month of popularity, flirtations, social joys, entertainment, group affairs (from parties to conventions to politics) optimism and wish fulfillment. Sunday also begins a six-week period of “blessed love.” You might formalize a partnership (e.g., wed or sign business papers) fall in love, travel to a foreign country, attend school, start a publishing enterprise, etc. One caution: avoid legal hassles. Relationships come front and center Sunday/Monday, but someone new can be a “sex trap,” or harm your finances – say No.

Capricorn   Dec. 22-Jan. 19
A gentle, understanding mood continues to flow over you. But Friday brings a new injection of ambition that will have you striving upward ceaselessly for a few weeks. Even before Friday, you spend this week curling into deeper thoughts about money and how to increase it, about the structures underlying appearances and how to use them. (Great ideas here late week!) The six weeks ahead will increase your impetuousness in investing, and will heighten your sexual urges, so be careful (but not afraid!). Tackle chores Sunday (avoid struggles with a “gracious” higher-up) and Monday.

Aquarius   Jan. 20-Feb. 18
Mystery begins to dissipate – you enter a month of understanding and wider vision Friday. Until then, deal with research, detective work, finances, health and intimate urges. Sunday/Monday are romantic, but a legal matter or a love wish will not benefit you Sunday – proceed cautiously. Tackle chores midweek. Thursday night to Saturday brings exciting meetings, good friends, and launches a month of wisdom, gentle love, far travel, legal and intellectual affairs, religion and higher learning. Sunday starts six weeks of intense relations: friendship could become love – or enmity.

Pisces   Feb. 19-March 20
Relationships and opportunities continue – so does the need for diplomacy. Spend most of Sunday/Monday at home, or in nature.  Relax, sleep, deal with children, garden. Sunday might bring a secret liaison into the open, or put a temptation in your path that would prevent one of your fondest wishes from coming true – proceed cautiously. Romance, beauty and pleasure call midweek . Thursday night to Saturday brings chores and mild health  concerns/duties – a great money idea/opportunity exists – chase employment. Friday begins a month of secrets, urges, finances, lifestyle changes.


www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 416-686-5014.



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