ASTRAL REFLECTIONS
BY TIM STEPHENS
SEPTEMBER 30 – OCTOBER 6, 2012 

	All times/dates are PDT.
	A reader alerted me to a seeming contradiction between my Saturn forecasts (in the “Platform” section online) and the karma forecasts that we’re in the middle of. Here’s the problem: the lunar north node, which usually brings protection, peace, wisdom and buoyant results, is in SCORPIO now through February 2014. But the planet Saturn also enters Scorpio this Friday, to stay until 2015. Saturn usually brings delays, restrictions, a sober attitude and the need for structure. This seems to contradict the north node’s good karma – but not necessarily: sometimes, a little restriction and structure can be a good thing. Still, when reading the Saturn forecast for your sign (it’s now under “Platforms” online) at least for the 17 months ahead, you should sprinkle a little benevolence, protection and calm satisfaction into your appraisal. And when reading the “good side” of your karmic forecast (in the three prior columns and next week’s) apply a little scepticism and self-protective caution. 
      I base my “karmic forecasts” on the north and south nodes of the Moon. Hindu (Vedic) astrologers have long held that both the north and south nodes are “negative.” I have tended to disagree, seeing evidence that the north carries good karma, and the south bad or difficult karma. However, now to February 2014, due to Saturn’s position, it will often look as though the Vedic astrologers are right. So in reading your karmic forecasts, you might decide to avoid both the good and bad sides of the “axis” I’ve mentioned for your sign, as both can prove tough going.
      Here, for every sign, is the axis that you might be wise to avoid altogether, or to lighten your involvement in, now to February 2014. ARIES and LIBRA: your “avoidance” axis involves financial, sexual, lifestyle and health diagnosis areas. TAURUS and Scorpio, the life area you should lighten up on is the independence-interdependence axis, relationships, relocation, dealings with the public and emotional selfishness vs. openness. GEMINI and SAGITTARIUS, your karmic axis now to February 2014 lies in the zones of work, duties, interfacing with bureaucratic bodies, health and recuperation, counselling and management. Being cautious or lightening up in all these areas would be wise. CANCER and CAPRICORN, your karmic axis lies in the sectors of romance, friendship, group affairs, creativity and speculation, children and pleasure. Alone among all the signs, you should stick to the Saturn and karmic forecasts as written, for both will show you the road to success. Saturn will aid, not impede you. LEO and AQUARIUS, you should treat both sides of your karmic axis with caution: these “sides” are home, humility, security, and career, ambition, pride. Lastly, VIRGO and PISCES, your karmic axis lies in communications, travel, and mind – both long and short. (E.g., facts, details, casual friends, short trips, ideas, profound relationships, law, foreign journeys – all will need careful moral and practical choices.)
      
      
Start Nothing: 3:32 p.m. to 4:26 p.m. Mon, 0:44 a.m. to 4:47 a.m. Thurs., and 2:08 p.m. Fri. to 5:45 p.m. Sat.


Aries   March 21-April 19
The accent remains on crucial relationships. This week ends three years of relationship disappointment – and, hopefully, ends your less than shining attitude toward others. (Yes, implication intended.) Your energy and charisma remain high through Monday. This eve brings good money developments, if you think long term. An affectionate trend enters your workplace midweek, for most of October – but don’t let stardust make you chase a sweet, success-sapping illusion. Errands, paperwork, details, casual friends fill Thursday to Friday: talk, news or travel inspires you. Gemini aids.

Taurus   April 20-May 20
This week ends three years of hard work. If you shirked work, you’re about to encounter three years of consequences via others’ responses to your employment efforts. Well, lesson learned. Whether you’ve worked hard or not, the three years ahead bring hard-to-seize but valuable opportunities in cultural, legal, love, philosophical, and, most beneficially, educational strivings: these will reward for ten years ahead. “Truer” love will redeem a past mistake. Rest and plan Sunday/Monday. Your energy and charisma surge midweek. Money’s lucky Thursday/Friday: something new is brewing!

Gemini   May 21-June 20
You might fall in love soon. You’ll be surprised at how much someone wants to please/help you. Falling in love has a lot to do with confidence and disregard for the consequences. That’s why old people (like me) find it so hard to do. This week ends three years of an over-emphasis on sex, and a grey pall on love. Saturday begins six weeks of romantic courage and intense relationships – friends and enemies! Hopes fill Sunday/Monday. You’re weary midweek, but Tuesday begins 25 days of affection in home and family. Your energy and inspiration soar Thursday onward – start something!

Cancer   June 21-July 22
The accent remains on home, kids, garden, nutrition, rest, Mother Nature and security. A pall, glue, lifts off these things late this week (for three decades). You might need to choose between these home interests and outside ambitions Sunday/Monday. A few days of hope, friendliness, and “fun times” begin Monday eve. By Wednesday if not before, you begin to glimpse the poetry of love, whether in your situation or someone else’s. Retreat, rest, plan and seek the spiritual (or be charitable) Thursday to Saturday. A beneficial project might begin here, or in governmental areas. 

Leo   July 23-Aug. 22
Travel, communicate, handle paperwork, write reports, do errands during this busy but not overly-important week. (There is one significant theme; it drifts just beyond sight – but not beyond sensing: money and sex drift into an “inspiration” lane now, so follow your hunches in money/investments, and follow “poetry” in physical attractions.) Wisdom comes early week, though you might not like its insights. Be ambitious, approach higher-ups Monday eve to Wednesday. Flirtations, popularity, accurate optimism about your future come Thursday to Saturday. That inspiration/poetry kick in.

Virgo   Aug. 23-Sept. 22
Chase money, Virgo. Income and spending restrictions lift this week, for many years. Sunday/Monday are for investigations – though you might not like what you find, you need to know it. Intimacy or money, lifestyle or health might be involved. Wisdom, gentle love drift over you Monday eve to Wednesday – and they bring splendid inspiration or intriguing flashes of opportunity, of far-away places, or of love/marriage. All these require a more intuitive, less logical way of thinking. (The inspiration continues, like a dream, into Friday.) Be ambitious late week – success likely!

Libra   Sept. 23-Oct. 22
Your energy and charisma, clout and effectiveness continue at a yearly high, Libra. Even better, the sober pall that has lain over you for three years ends this week. Not all will be solved (relationships and home/security remain problematical for some years) but you’ll certainly bounce upward soon. Sunday/Monday might signal the end of a certain type of relationship: good. Monday eve to Wednesday brings secrets, financial and intimate “openings” and the opportunity to make changes. Your inspiration grows about work and obligations. Late week, learning, love, travel: your choice.

Scorpio   Oct. 23-Nov. 21
Lie low, rest, contemplate and plan. Deal with government, institutions and large corporations. Fulfill old obligations. All these work to free you for late month and November, when important things will begin (and return). Tackle chores early week. Monday eve to Wednesday brings relationships, opportunities and opposition: proceed with the confidence not of strength, but of intuition: yours is splendid now, and growing. Hopes about romance seem unrealistic, but in this fantasy lays solid truth. Mysteries, research, sexual and financial urges come late week: success indicated!

Sagittarius   Nov. 22-Dec. 21
The accent lies on wish fulfillment, optimism, friends and popularity, entertainment and light romance. You could meet a good life mate this “year” (to June ’13) so a month like this one is important – especially as Friday ends a three-year wet blanket on this social zone, and Saturday begins six weeks of romantic courage and sudden, intense relationships – but I’m anticipating. Sunday/Monday emphasize the same old restricted romance. Tackle chores Monday eve to Wednesday. Thursday to Saturday bring relationships, exciting meetings, new links, and home/privacy inspiration.

Capricorn   Dec. 22-Jan. 19
Be ambitious. Focus on prestige relationships (e.g., butter up the boss) shore up your community reputation, study (then act on) career options, etc. This arena has been a struggle for some years, but this week sows a change to more ease and happiness in ambition – you’ll agree, in a month or few! Sunday/Monday fight this trend, so rest up, lie low and attend to basics. Care for your children. Romance, creative surges please you Monday eve to Wednesday. Tackle chores Thursday to Saturday – these days begin, socially, to help your ambitions – see inspiration, accept and use it!

Aquarius   Jan. 20-Feb. 18
October features gentle love, intellectual empathy, learning, far travel, legal affairs, fame, culture, internationalism, compassion and understanding of society’s ways. Soon, you’ll expand joyously into at least one of these areas! (E.g., travel, succeed at university, fall in love, etc.) Your communication abilities will virtually explode – you might have to slow yourself down so others can catch up. (Small hints of this Sunday/Monday.) Be home, care for family midweek. Thursday to Friday bring romance, pleasure, beauty: true love? Money/career inspirations are spot on.

Pisces   Feb. 19-March 20
October promotes investments, debt reduction, inheritances, other people’s money, sexual urges, mysteries and research, health diagnosis, commitments and lifestyle changes. Long-lasting delays and restrictions lift from this general area Friday, freeing you to plunge into them profitably, successfully, in the month and years ahead – especially this October to next June, when an investment in real estate can be a huge lifetime winner; or sex can create a very lucky child, etc. You will be imbued with wisdom about this and other subjects now, especially Thursday/Friday. Act!


www.astralreflection.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-560-1269.


					/30/