ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS JUNE 24 – 30, 2012 All times/dates are PDT. Do you ever wonder why America is such a staunch ally to Israel? I don’t really know the answer, but some clues exist. Look at the U.S. dollar bill. It contains a third eye (symbol of clairvoyance, a pagan concept, also of the Hindu 2nd chakra) a pyramid (Egyptian religious and magic practices), and many 13’s: stars, feathers, and leaves. These certainly represent the 13 colonies, but also carry an echo of occult lore (the semi-heretical idea of 13 disciples of Jesus – the 13th being Mary Magdalene; the 13 houses of astrology’s shadow chart, etc.). But the dollar also displays many 9’s – 9 sheaves of grain, 9 tail feathers, etc. Nine is the number of candle holders in the Jewish Minora, and the number of wisdom, law and tolerance in various psychic traditions: tarot, western numerology, and astrology, to name a few. But 9 is condemned in the Christian Book of Revelation, as belonging to Satan and worldly wisdom. So Judaism reveres the number 9, and Christianity condemns it. And the U.S., in establishing its nation and its currency, sided with the Jews (9’s) and Egyptians (pyramids) and East Indian psychism (third eye) rather than adhering to Christianity. There might have been good reason for this: the religious persecution in Europe that the original colonists fled, was carried out by Christians. When asked about paying taxes to the Romans, Jesus stated that God and state should be separate: Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, he said, and render unto God what is God’s – i.e., the soul. Earthly concerns and divinity are separated. But an ancient (c. 600 A.D.?) writing, known famously as the Emerald Tablet, and read by every alchemist (magician) of the day, says the opposite: in it, divinity is clearly earth-related, is carried “in the belly of the wind,” and “the earth is its perfection.” The father of the divine is the Sun and the Moon is its mother. This is clearly anti-Christian, for it says God is infused in the physical world, and implies that the “perfect” earth is the height of divinity – equal to the heavens. (The saying, “as above, so below” comes from this tablet.) It is in the clothes of this pagan view that the U.S. dollar is draped. The Roman coin contained Caesar’s portrait. The U.S. penny is stamped with these words: “In God We Trust.” America believes that church and state are, at least at the currency level, bound together, which reflects the Emerald Tablet, and is either a blunt denial of Christ’s words, or a brilliant change-up. The U.S. “money heresy” might adulerate the spiritual with earthly concerns (an impossibility, actually) but it also elevates monetary pursuits and practical matters to a spiritual level: this idea, if it works well, infuses life’s practical efforts with a strong moral/spiritual code. One last poke, keeping in mind the occult law that nothing is coincidence: look at the word “Jerusalem” – exactly in the middle stand three letters: U-S-A. Start Nothing: Before 4:43 a.m. Sun., 3:53 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Tues., 1:22 a.m. to 1:32 p.m. Thurs., and 12:46 p.m. to 3:04 p.m. Sat. Aries March 21-April 19 The accent lies on home, children, security, nature, nutrition and retirement. Since 2009, life has been nudging you to markedly alter (or eliminate) conditions on your career, relationship, and “self” fronts. Now through late July, you can effectively end projects, involvements and relationships that are going nowhere and now hold you back. Look for a “hidden” holdback, or one that surprises you. It’s quite evident Thursday/Friday, could be related to sex, secrets, reputation. Be honest, see yourself in the clear light of another. Chores early week; relationships midweek. Taurus April 20-May 20 Communications, short trips, siblings and casual acquaintances fill these days. You might head toward a dilemma/conflict, probably Friday, that pits your casual against your formal, in all these areas – e.g., a verbal promise versus a lawyer’s written contract. This “crunch” also pits communications/travel against your own restrictions, especially involving career or “status.” For example, your criminal record won’t let you travel across the border, or you’d like to travel but career (or lack of one) prevents you. Or gossip swirls. Money taps turn on: there’s more, now to August. Gemini May 21-June 20 Your charisma and energy continue, but now your focus shifts to money, income, possessions, and sensual “prospects.” These approach a barrier or conflict this week, culminating around Friday. You have to choose between short-term and long-term money (e.g., between staying where a job/income is, or investing in a good house that’s a continent away). You’ll also need to choose between popularity, social life, and optimistic future plans, or “holding on to what you have.” Home, property early week – avoid “sweet evasion.” Romance is tough but possible midweek. Chores late week. Cancer June 21-July 22 Your energy and effectiveness rise, Cancer – launch projects, ask favours, impress others, show off your skills, seize opportunities. But be quick, as mid-July will bring a “start nothing” slow-down. One or two of your “projects” might be of the repair kind, as this week approaches a Friday climax in relationships and career or community reputation. The climax could be astoundingly beneficial (you fall in love, true love, or you get a promotion) – or otherwise. Communicate, travel, handle details Sunday/Monday. Midweek emphasizes home. Romance, pleasure, creativity Thursday onward. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Lie low, Leo. Rest, contemplate and plan future actions/projects. Future luck awaits you in legal, international and educational/intellectual zones – but this week, as you plan anything, keep a weather eye on these very zones – and on health and work. All present potholes for your schemes to fall into. After Friday, the danger exits. You face a year of great luck, popularity and optimism. But think of late June through July as your “beauty sleep” phase. Money matters fill Sunday/Monday: be realistic, not wishful. Midweek’s busy with errands, paperwork. Seek home Thursday eve onward. Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Your optimism and popularity rise, Virgo. In addition, your career and status efforts begin to leap forward. Subtle delays end in this zone by Wednesday, and the entire year ahead boosts your career luck. But watch your own motives – these remain ultra-important through August. Selfish or something-for-nothing motives will create a trap for you. Be an angel – at least through August. Your energy and charisma shine Sunday/Monday. Start projects, but avoid escapism, rose-coloured view. Handle money midweek. DON’T invest, nor seek intimacy, late week. Others struggle; you win. Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Legal, travel, international, educational, publishing and similar matters, after a six-week delay, ramp up for action again – which can bring either great luck (or absolution!) or yet another pit ringed with promise but filled with black delay. To succeed, be realistic. To fail, try to grab more than you deserve or a quick payoff. Remember this Sunday/Monday, when castles float in the air – instead, rest, plan, avoid competitive action. Your energy soars midweek. Thursday to Saturday, money, career and security come into sharp focus, contain potential crises: be astute, diplomatic. Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 The main accent lies on far travel, intellectual pursuits, publishing, culture and love. Though your optimism rides high Sunday/Monday, you have to choose between love/romance) and sex, or between risk and investment. Pursue risk, and love/romance. All week, you approach a climax in work, health, travel and communications (Friday). Indications are that you will win any such struggle, or that you’ll actually seize on these crises as opportunities. Good, go – but take care if an investment of your money or body is required. Financial delays end, but pitfalls exist through August. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 For 8 months, bosses have displayed impatience, temper – this ends next week, so cheer up. (It’s unlikely they’ll bother you this week.) But other problems do arise: these involve seeing reality in connection to a relationship and career and home (Sunday/Monday) and dealing with financial choices and possible romantic, intimate or health surprises (Thursday/Friday). This is one of the worst weeks of the year for many: but it mostly glances off you. Be ambitious Sunday/Monday. Wish fulfillment (realistically) midweek. Retreat to rest and plan, Thursday onward. DON’T invest. Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 The emphasis lies on relationships for the weeks ahead – and problems in these could trigger a climax (Thursday/Friday) in home, marriage, relocation, opportunity and face-to-face dealings, even with strangers. Oddly enough, you’ll celebrate the result! This conflict will arise every June/July, October, January and April for the next six years – sometimes smaller, sometimes larger. To understand the underlying cause, read the Uranus and Pluto forecasts for Capricorn on my astral site. Early week brings understanding, even love. Be ambitious midweek. Social joy comes late week. Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 The accent lies on chores, service people or employees, health and machinery/tools. Don’t push anything strenuously this week – it ends with a Thursday/Friday “climax” that pits your duties against your health, or pits you against head office, or brings a restless, fast-driving impulse. DON’T buy machinery (or computer or tools) this week. Sunday/Monday are secretive and intimate. Research yields wrong answers. Your grow more mellow, understanding midweek. Be ambitious Thursday to Saturday, but diplomatic too – back off if anyone begins to protest. Your romantic luck climbs. Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 You face a great month of romance, creativity, games, pleasure, beauty and speculation. You’ll ride a winning streak – but perhaps not this week, which ends with a conflict or surprise involving your social group, your ethics, your secrets and, perhaps, money. These “fight” that romantic and pleasure streak. Be patient – your time is coming! Home, real estate and family continue to be sweet, lucky – and delays end here also. But remember, these are best after August. (Another trend, snappishness or temper among your friends and mate, finally ends next week.) Invest Tuesday. www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-727-3673. /30/