ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS OCTOBER 21 – 27, 2012-10-05 All times/dates are PDT. “Forest fires proliferate.” Astralreflections.com, January 2012 Year Ahead. “Worst wildfire season on record…” Washington Post, October 8, 2012. “Farms suffer from over-fertilization or burned ground.” Astralreflections.com, January 2012 Year Ahead. “…the most wide-reaching drought since 1956” and “the hottest July on record dating from 1895.” Washington Post online, October (9?) 2012. Central and eastern Canada also experienced drought, punishing heat, and loss of crops. According to media reports, the amount of U.S. corn planted was the largest on record – but Bloomberg reported October 10 that the total harvest was 15 % below average. BTW, when I boasted last week that I had forecast the long economic malaise (from 2007/8 to 2023) I wasn’t forgetting my 2012 Year-Ahead forecast that the U.S. economic slump would “lighten in tangible ways…beginning in June, obvious by October.” And be followed by “one year of great growth.” The two should co-exist: the U.S. gets a nice little lift (summer 2012 through spring 2014) in the midst of a longer problematic cycle. I promised a very clever lady in Finland (or was it Sweden?) that I would share her emoticon (or actually, “typicon”) inventions here – that was about 5 months ago, and now I’ve lost her email. (If you’re her, would you re-send? I thought they were great.) People often ask me to address a certain topic in this preamble, and I always mean to, but my attention wanders, and I keep terrible records, and… so on. My apologies. One fellow just now asked me to write a preamble on Canada, where I live. Canada is a Cancer nation, like the U.S. (Cancer means nurturing, motherhood, patriotism – more nations were “born” in Cancer than any other sign.) Unlike the U.S., though, Canada has a Libra rising sign, which gives it a polite, gracious character on the world stage. The U.S. Sun degree (13 Cancer) is a brash, emotional, genius-sparking one; Canada’s Sun degree (9 Cancer) is one of (to quote Andrew Carelli, a twentieth century Italian astrologer who was not writing about nations) “a hard working, patient, thrifty being…held back by…a shy reserve, an inborn humble goodness.” Canada’s Moon is also in Cancer, in a degree (6 Cancer) that an eighteenth century occultist (Bonelli) said stands for a huge square tract of land. I’ll repeat two predictions I made long ago: one, in the 1980’s, that Canada would one day rule the United States; two, that Vancouver might burn in about 2023. (I plan on being old enough that no one can find me in 2024, to ridicule me for being wrong.) Hopefully, I’ll never repeat these forecasts again. Start Nothing: 8:32 p.m. to 10:02 p.m. Sun., 6:27 p.m. Tues. to 4:00 a.m. Wed., 8:04 a.m. to 12:31 p.m. Fri., and after 6:32 p.m. Sat. Aries March 21-April 20 A month of mysteries begins Monday. Research, be a detective. Some valuable keys, secrets, methods and treasures lie “under the surface.” These will not be quick, spectacular findings, but “entryways” to slow, steady, stable and quiet growth. Look at the powerful people whom you admire: most of them are the slow, steady type. For three years, emulate them in money, investment and “power play” areas. Same period, you’ll also be puzzling your way through a new sexual atmosphere. You might want sex less, or see it as a ladder to higher status, or be attracted to an “age difference.” Taurus April 21-May 20 A month of critical relationships starts Monday. You might meet someone (now or anytime in the next two and a half years) whom you’ll wed. This person might be noticeably younger or older than you, or more conservative. (That would be hard to be!) Loyalty will be an important factor; things will develop slowly. Midweek’s romantic. If you’re married, you’ll note (now to 2015) that your mate grows older, yet seems wiser, more full and gentle. Until mid-November, your physical fires/urges burn hot, affecting sex and health. Same period, take care with investments, fire and chemicals. Gemini May 21-June 20 Chores consume you over the next few weeks – you might as well dive in and get them done. They won’t be easy – now to 2015 work will progress slowly, with large jobs, probably connected to your finances or an investment. (E.g., you buy a farm, then have to work hard.) You might wander into hard work through a sexual attraction. (Remember Pinocchio at Donkey Island?) (Sunday might contain hints of this.) Far travel, legal, intellectual and educational matters fill a sweet, inspired Monday/Tuesday. Be ambitious Wednesday/Thursday. Hopes, flirtations rise late week. Home’s sweet. Cancer June 21-July 22 Romance, pleasure, beauty, sports, speculation and charming kids fill the weeks ahead. You’ll ride a winning streak. Every November is important to single Cancers for the decade ahead, as it is your romantic time, during an interval (2008-2023) that can bring true love (or true enmity, depending on your attitude). If you’re married, promote your children’s talents and creativity: this will prevent their alienation, make them “happy partners” in your plans for them. Tackle chores early week. Wednesday/Thursday bring gentle, mellow love and understanding. Late week, be ambitious. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Your home, family, property, security, retirement, nutrition, soul and stomach – all grow in importance over the month ahead. And all create more work (to 2015). It’s a great time to relax, be in nature, take long naps, and grow close to family members. Money’s still mildly lucky (good investments Thursday after 9:30 a.m. PDT). Romance – and your creative and gambling urges – remain intense through mid-November, but balance risk with security, romance with your need for rest. Tackle chores Sunday. Relationships, Monday/Tuesday. Mellow understanding comes late Friday p.m., Saturday. Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Letters, emails, errands, travel, paperwork and casual friends fill the weeks ahead. These activities will be slower, take more effort than usual, now to 2015. They might also bring you love – e.g., you meet while travelling, or via email/internet. The month ahead is not hugely important, so relax in your busyness. Your temper is showing on the home front (and will, to mid-November). This is not a good interval to move into a new abode, nor to “test” a lover. (That said, you’re still loved this week!) Relationships, meetings excite Wednesday/Thursday. Sex, money are lucky Saturday. Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 The month ahead features money, earnings, buying and selling – and sensual relationships, memory, rote learning, and values. It’s a good time to buy used or sturdy, lasting items – watches, heavy machinery, tools, even land. All these things, from sex to rote learning, will proceed a little more slowly than usual, and at greater effort – still, they offer stability. You’re restless, quick to travel, talk, argue, make friends (to mid-November). You might meet a mate while travelling/writing. Monday/Tuesday are romantic. Tackle chores midweek. Partners, potentials appear Saturday! Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 A month of personal power begins Monday – here forth, venture out, seek favours, approach VIPs, take charge of circumstances and people, and start important projects. You’re more talkative than usual – use this to make connections. (Mercury goes retrograde in mid-November, so hurry with those projects – and begin to ease up, be patient, by early November.) Money flows to you and through you – stop the bleeding. Friends remain charmed, love looks happy, promising, all week. Think over those financial, sexual actions: waiting (to February) might be wiser. Romance, midweek! Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 A celebratory mood fades, Sage. For the weeks ahead, be self-protective, rest and rejuvenate, contemplate, plan, study the situation. Be charitable and spiritual, honour old obligations, and deal with government, institutions and corporate head offices. Your luck in the 2012-June 2013 interval comes from relationships, from pleasing others. This week holds secrets, confidential meetings and approval from higher-ups. Your creative and romantic intensity, determination are high to mid-November, but your “presence” is low – proceed cautiously, diplomatically – but enjoy, too! Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Your energy and charisma continue high Sunday – impress someone! Chase money Monday/Tuesday – luck rides with you. Monday begins a month of celebration, optimism, popularity, light romance, entertainment, group affairs, and wish fulfillment. In everything you do, realize you are building a new future, and a new social structure. It can take a decade, but you’ll get there. (Now to September 2015 brings the deepest, most significant wishes, future and “social engineering.”) Talk, travel, paperwork and communications fill Wednesday/Thursday. Head for home Friday eve, Saturday. Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 You’ve been high-minded, idealistic, gently loving, and culturally aware. But the weeks ahead urge you to get practical, to pursue ambitious goals, butter up VIPs and show your skills. Rest Saturday. Your energy soars Monday/Tuesday – impress someone, start a “career” project. (Monday Best, as your money intuition is high, ideas inspired.) Chase money, buy/sell Wednesday/Thursday – Thursday’s better for fashions, luxury items. Chatter, casual friends, errands and paperwork fill Friday p.m., Saturday. Your financial and sexual luck remains high this week. Males befriend you. Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 A month of depth and mystery ends; Monday begins weeks of understanding, gentle joys, love, far travel, culture, international affairs, import-export, higher education, publishing and similar idea-related interests. This zone will proceed slowly for the next several years, but it won’t hurt you – in fact, it offers a certain buoyancy or protection. Your thoughts will often wander during the weeks ahead, but be warned: bosses and higher-ups are short-tempered into mid-November. If you’re alert, there’s more money available. Rest, lie low early week. Your energy soars midweek. www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-727-3673. /30/