PrFont34Bin0BinSub0Frac0Def1Margin0Margin0Jc1Indent1440Lim0Lim1ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS APRIL 1 - 7, 2012 All times/dates are PDT. Neptunians (people born with Neptune rising, and PISCES natives) are "quick learners" of psychic abilities. I think this comes from a tendency to flow past boundaries. Often, Pisces cannot even perceive regular social, psychological or other limits. Even the boundary between our corporeal life and the "other side" can seem like a transparent membrane of water, or a saran wrap that one can float through. Neptune rules perception: both clarity and deception. It rules healing and addiction, charlatans and true gurus. Christ is often thought to have been a Pisces, and Christianity is generally accepted by astrologers as a Piscean religion. (Fish, the center of New Testament nurturing and miracles, are the modern symbol of Pisces.) Like GEMINI, VIRGO and SAGITTARIUS, Pisces is a "mutable" or "double-bodied" sign. These signs tend to embrace both sides of any experience or perception - as such, they are often indecisive, restless, and tend to have "two's" - two careers, two cars, two or more houses - and they often marry more than once. If you show them a card painted black, they'll involuntarily also image the unseen, unpainted, white side. So Neptune encompasses contradiction: it rules spiritual leaders and pornography; human kindness and sadism (and masochism); insight and fantasy. Lists eventually become lifeless and boring, but here is a list of some things Neptune rules: pornography, spies, spiritualism, drugs, alcohol, meditation, yoga, scent, dreams, the subconscious, sleep, fantasy, lingerie, factories (assembly lines) warehouses, government bureaucracies, hospitals, respite, palliative care, seniors' homes, recuperation, nurses, solitude, contemplation, jails, corporate administrative departments, welfare, sympathy, addiction and secrets (partly: Pluto is the Grand Pooh-Bah of secrets). This fascinating planet takes 165 years to orbit the Sun, so none of us who are alive today has experienced Neptune in its home sign, Pisces. Last April to August, 2011, this planet first put a toe into the ocean of Pisces, then pulled back; now it has entered with more determination, and will swim through Pisces for 14 years, finally exiting in early 2026. During this time (February 2012-January 2026) all of us will "touch base" in a new and deep way with our fantasies, sympathies and realities. For Gemini, this decade and a half will bring new career heights - and in many cases, the true career, after much wandering. For VIRGO, these years will bring a true interface with others, especially mates and partners. For LIBRA, an inspired sense of duty and work; for CAPRICORN, essential communications; for SCORPIO, true love and enhanced creativity. In columns to come, I'll outline the Neptune influence, now to 2026, for each sign. Start Nothing: Before 1:35 a.m. Sun., 6:47 a.m. to 6:53 a.m. Tues., 10:37 p.m. Wed. to 8:32 a.m. Thurs., and 3:15 a.m. to 8:18 a.m. Sat. Aries March 21-April 19 Your energy, charisma and clout remain high, and now, at last (Wednesday onward) you can charge ahead effectively, give orders, ask favours, impress the right/key people, and start important projects. (In doing so, remember that your luck is high in earnings and sales, so a good project would be monetary: to earn more, sell, buy - "lock in" money favour by starting a job, business, etc. now.) A government or similar obligation (taxes) hangs over you - solve this. Romance calls Sunday/Monday - answer! Tackle chores midweek. Relationships excite, confuse and climax, Thursday on. Taurus April 20-May 20 Lie low, rest and contemplate. Wednesday onward, plan future actions. This day ends recent delays, mistakes and indecisiveness. Lie low, rest and contemplate. Wednesday onward, plan future actions. This day ends recent delays, mistakes and indecisiveness. Your money picture looks better now into early August. It's an excellent time to seek employment, especially before mid-May and after late June. Settle into home Sunday/Monday. Romance, pleasure, beauty and creativity lure you Tuesday/Wednesday. Tackle chores, Thursday/Friday. Someone wants you and doesn't want you, Saturday. Gemini May 21-June 20 Delays, mistakes and indecision end - technically Wednesday, but it can take you awhile to get back in the rhythm. By April 10 you'll be fully confident and ready to act, and by the 13th (onward) your hopes will return solidly. That leaves the present week - despite some uncertainties, you are beginning to radiate a new, gentle charm; this is the beginning of a four-month phase during which others (Aries? Aquarius?) will be attracted to you, even as mate material. You're back on the rise, Gemini! (But don't push it before September.) Best travel day: Sunday. Love day: Friday. Cancer June 21-July 22 Recent delays and mistakes end. They affected your career, prestige, legal, travel and intellectual pursuits. Your ambitions come into sharp focus - be ready to act on them next week. (This week is best spent reconnoitring, planning.) Your inner life grows sweeter over the next four months - old allies return, things go well with government links, and you luxuriate in moments of solitude. It's a good phase to make family and property decisions. You might end things with a Libra - to both your benefit. Money's lucky Sunday/Monday - chase it. Midweek's friendly. Caution Thursday p.m. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 There's always a reason. When you contemplate the last 15 years and the love disappointments that might have occurred, remember this. When you contemplate the next 15 years, include two things: 1) sex gets better; 2) past deception ends. The four months ahead boost your popularity, your happiness and playfulness. Someone's flirting! A rather big wish involving travel or earnings will come true. This week, recent delays and indecisions end (technically, Wednesday morning). Your energy and charisma soar Sunday/Monday. Chase money midweek. Travel, friends late week. Be home, Saturday. Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Delays and mistakes (especially in relationships) end Wednesday. Now forward, chase new investments (or solve debt problems) seek intimacy with someone compelling, charge into lifestyle changes, commitments, research and (health, etc.) diagnosis. You're going to take some significant action in one or more of these sectors before July. Tuesday begins four months of unusual favour from higher-ups, parents and VIPs - propose a project or two. You might be promoted. Lie low, research and plan Sunday/Monday. Your energy and charisma surge midweek. Money needs caution Thursday/Friday. Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Delays and indecision end. You're free to proceed with new ventures, especially in work and relationships. The fifteen months ahead promote success with members of the opposite sex. (Sweet understandings now to August, cheerful agreement September to June 2013. Marriage possible - but better if he/she shows after July 3.) These 15 months also boost your success in legal, international, higher education, cultural, publishing and far travel zones. Your popularity rises Sunday/Monday. Someone flirts. Retreat, rest and contemplate midweek. Your energy, charisma surge Thursday/Friday. Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Tackle chores. Ambition's lucky Sunday/Monday. Recent delays and mistakes end. If an old flame reappeared lately, now it ends or proceeds. Huge love and sexual attractions loom, this April right into June 2013. Lust and love, lust and marriage, are different things, with different motives. Great good luck and karmic "tests" mingle deeply here: so proceed, but realize everything's complex. Listen to clues, and check with your intuition. One thing's fairly simple: marrying (or divorcing) is lucky until June, and quite unlucky (bad karma) from September 2012 to February 2014. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Recent delays and indecision melt away; you're free to advance. Loving Venus enters your sign of partnership and relocation Tuesday, to stay until early August. Others will treat you with grace and affection. In addition, lucky Jupiter enters this same zone in June, to stay for a year. Love and luck! Yet difficult karma inhabits this area until August 30. I'd wait. Partnering, relocation, fame, public interfacing, litigation - all might be a sweet trap to August. Sunday/Monday is wise, loving. Be ambitious midweek. Popularity, optimism Thursday/Friday. Retreat Saturday. Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Delays, mistakes and conundrums end (technically, Wednesday). Soon, too, a barrier will fall in a legal, educational, publishing, fame or international situation, perhaps one involving real estate, a family member, or "putting an end" to something. Messages that had been delayed or lost show up now. Your work scene grows much more pleasant to August and health improves - still, difficult karma creeps through these zones, so accept gladly what comes, but don't pursue more. (This summer begins a huge increase in work for you, to mid-2013.) Climb a career ladder Thursday/Friday. Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Delays, mistakes end Wednesday. Fifteen years of indecision is also ending now. Little by little, every month, every year for the next 15, you will grow more firm in your convictions and choices. Drug/alcohol use will abate. Back to normal. Travel, talk, writing, details, errands surround you in April - get going! Your romantic, creative, speculative and child-oriented zones glow with sweet affection Tuesday - for four months. In June, even more good luck comes to these, for a year. It will be hard to escape love! But a subtle trap might exist here until September: be patient. Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Personal indecision and outer delays end Wednesday, but it can take you a week or so to firmly find your feet and direction again. Next week (especially April 9, late, and 10) will be a superb time to chase money and prestige. This week, money's a prime theme also, but a partner or a financial opportunity might be unstable, reluctant or delayed: be patient. Your home, family, security and property zone fills with affection and luck Tuesday to August. And an even bigger luck comes this June, to mid-13. Still, karmic traps might lurk: be patient until September. Mysteries, late week. www.astralreflections.com Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-560-1269. /30/