ASTRAL RELFECTIONS
BY TIM STEPHENS
DECEMBER 25 – 31, 2011

	All dates/times are PST.
	Happy Holidays to you all.
	I’ve begun receiving emails asking when the 2012 “Year Ahead” will appear. It will be in the Vancouver Courier newspaper in early January. After this, it will appear on the astral web site under “Platforms.” 
	The housing collapse in the U.S. was not primarily caused by the banks, nor by greedy consumers, but by the IRS. The U.S. tax code lay like a Trojan horse in the economy. In America, you can deduct your house’s mortgage interest (for most people, this comprises almost the entire mortgage payment) from your income. But if you sell your residence, you must pay tax on any profit, unless you buy another of equal or greater value. Say Joe bought his home for $ 100,000 in 1985, and it was worth $ 300,000 in 2005. If Joe sells his home in 2005 (or any year) he suffers one of two consequences: 
      1) he won’t have to pay income taxes on his profit if he spends the proceeds on another residence of equal or greater value. But from his sale price he will lose, say, $ 2,000 in legal fees selling and $ 2,000 buying, and $ 20,000 in commissions from his own sale. (I’m ignoring property purchase/transfer taxes.) He’s now lost $ 24,000, so he cannot  buy a house just like the one he sold, unless he’s prepared to pay an extra $ 24,000.  
      2) he can sell but refuse to buy another home. Then he will owe, say, $ 50,000 to the IRS on his capital gain. Either way, selling their houses entails a loss for Joe and all his countrymen.  
	In the 1980-to-2010 period, the third world undercut America’s manufacturing platform, so the U.S. economy turned to service and consumerism. Americans were encouraged to spend. But how to spend when the economy was heading south, manufacturing was being lost and wages were stagnating for most Joes? To the rescue came the banks. Encouraged by the seemingly endless rise in house prices, they began to encourage “refi’s.” Now Joe did not need to sell his house to get cash, he only needed to remortgage it, or expand his present mortgage – often to 110 per cent, even 120 per cent of its market value. What a deal. Instead of selling his house for 300 grand, and netting 276 after commissions, or a mere 230 after taxes, he could refinance, at a nice low rate because the underpinnings of the economy were tanking – and, through the magic of 120 % assessment, get 360 grand, no commission, and still live in his house! AND he could deduct all the interest payments on his income taxes! What a deal: on the one hand, lose his house and get $ 230,000, or get $ 360,000 – $ 130,000 more! – and keep his house, and reduce his income taxes by a huge wallop! (As mortgage interest is deductible.)  
	The credit crunch was not responsible for the housing collapse. It merely burst the bubble the IRS made Joe blow. 


Start Nothing: 5:36 a.m. to 9:14 a.m. Mon., 1:32 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Wed., and 5:37 a.m. Fri. to 1:48 a.m. Sat.

Aries   March 21-April 19
Be ambitious – use the holidays to show parents and rich uncles how far you’ve come and how talented you are. Many things move forward now in career and in money. A four-month money delay ends. If you’ve “collected” extra money over the past several months, it was from previous/old situations. If you have a money scheme that you’ve nursed for some months, launch it now. If not, find one! (For career advancement, realize a relationship – not necessarily a career one – must be solved or “onside” first.) Happiness, popularity visit Monday to Wednesday. Lie low Thursday/Friday 

Taurus   April 20-May 20
 Charge forward with personal plans involving education, far travel, legal or cultural projects, research, investment, lifestyle changes, surgery or diagnosis, and/or intimacy and commitment. Now to June, you’ll succeed with these spheres, in a huge, elevating way, with the slightest effort! (Well, education, legal, travel and cultural zones will only succeed if you take a work-like approach – handle these like a job and you’ll accomplish well.) Ambition, relations with higher-ups are important Monday to Wednesday – all’s good. Happiness, optimism Thursday/Friday. Rest, Saturday.

Gemini   May 21-June 20
One of your best financial, investment months of the year starts now. It’s complex, though. Yes, lucky investments appear, particularly in negotiations, contracts, in projects that deal with the public, or entail relocation or a partnership. But final success will only come if you can work with “creative elements.” If you’re in love, and invest, your love will direct the investment properly. (Don’t ask me what all this means.) Your sexual desires rise, which can lead to satisfaction with a comforting person. Seek your answers Monday to Wednesday noon. Be ambitious Thursday.

Cancer   June 21-July 22
Relationships are front and center in the weeks ahead. Be diplomatic yet eager. Both opportunity and opposition occur. You might meet true love. (That’s a possibility about every second month for the next twelve years. Some of the better “true loves” will appear after October 2012. Before then, it can be difficult to find a lover who is also marriage material.) Social and group affairs that have been held up since August now get a green light, into June. Mysteries and investment opportunities arise Monday to Wednesday. Wisdom, mellowness flow Thursday/Friday. Caution, Saturday.

Leo   July 23-Aug. 22
A month of hard work, duties, dependents, machinery and health lies ahead. A career, business, prestige or similarly ambitious venture, perhaps started last summer, can finally charge ahead – so the weeks ahead should combine work and career luck – you could be promoted, or have your responsibilities expanded. Chores face you Sunday. Relationships, exciting meetings and new horizons arrive Monday to Wednesday. Life’s deeper side, sexual desires, financial commitments and mysteries needing investigation – these come Wednesday eve to Friday. Be cautious with money, spending Saturday.

Virgo   Aug. 23-Sept. 22
Romance, creative surges, pleasure forays, speculative ventures and charming children fill the weeks ahead. You’ll win in these zones! Delays end in higher education, international trade and travel, publishing, cultural rituals, law and intellectual pursuits. Where these two spheres of influence combine (e.g., romance and a wedding, or creativity and publishing) you could meet surprising success! The one flaw is money: its “demands” can prove stronger than romance, et al. Tackle chores Monday-Wednesday. Deep relationship developments Wednesday night. Avoid temptation Saturday.

Libra   Sept. 23-Oct. 22
The weeks ahead are “down home” – security, family, property, nutrition, gardening, all the basics. You might make changes in these (e.g., move or renovate your residence). You might also change who you associate with – gently abandon stale projects and hangers-on. You can benefit deeply from changes now – lifestyle, health. This is a splendid time to invest in property. The only glitch is your own slowness and caution. Rest deeply Sunday. Romance, creative urges brighten your life Monday to Wednesday. Taackle chores Thursday/Friday. Be careful with relationship words Saturday.

Scorpio   Oct. 23-Nov. 21
Communications, travel, errands, paperwork, casual friends and siblings – these dominate over the few weeks ahead. Be curious, especially about the matters and situations that are holding you back. (E.g., if you’re in jail, read books about the world’s jails.) This is a good time to take a communications course. Partnership in love or business is a great opportunity mid-2011 to mid-2012. Something along this line might have stalled since August – but the delays are over. Step ahead, open your arms! Romance calls Wednesday eve to Friday. Take care with machines, driving, Saturday.

Sagittarius   Nov. 22-Dec. 21
Chase money, buy/sell, ask for a pay raise, apply for scholarships or student loans, and seek new clients – now through the four weeks ahead. Your work and employment luck is huge this winter/spring (perhaps I should say expansive rather than lucky). This dovetails splendidly with the present accent on money. Even those temperamental, impatient higher-ups might throw more money at you. Only one thing can foul this up – your social life and/or your fond wishes. For the moment (to June 2012) be practical. Love and opportunities will come – hugely – from June 2012 onward.

Capricorn   Dec. 22-Jan. 19
Your energy, charisma, effectiveness and clout rise high now to late January. Start important projects, display your talents, seek an audience with higher-ups, and/or tackle jobs that once intimidated you. You’re going to make an impression! Love should thrive now also (to June, but especially this month ahead and May). Love delays end – so might someone’s apparent lack of interest. Approach the one who attracts you. Creative, speculative, and sports ventures can also shoot forward luckily now to June. Chase money and buy/sell Monday to Wednesday. Avoid a “hot head” Saturday.

Aquarius   Jan. 20-Feb. 18
Lie low, rest and contemplate. Form plans for the future. Seek therapy, advice. Be charitable and spiritual. Deal with government or head office, and catch up with neglected chores. All this Sunday, and for the entire four weeks ahead. This is a splendid period to purchase a home (or other property). Rest Sunday. Your energy returns Monday to Wednesday, and your charisma glimmers here and there, but no more than sunlight through trees. Get things done – you’ll accomplish easily. Money’s important Wednesday eve to Friday: shop Wednesday. Guard your speech, driving Saturday.

Pisces   Feb. 19-March 20
A wish could come true this week (perhaps Sunday) or during the three weeks following. A month of optimism, socializing, popularity and entertainment has just begun! You’re going to say, “I know what happiness is – just a bit.” But that bit will expand to huge proportions from next February onward for a whole decade and a half. No more will you ever say, “I’m not fulfilled.” Sunday promises, but Monday to Wednesday pulls you back to quietude, solitude, and rest. Plan, contemplate and help others. Your energy and charisma rocket upwards Wednesday eve to Friday – see and be seen!



www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca.



				/30/