ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS DECEMBER 2 – 8, 2012 All times/dates are PST. Oh my gosh, I almost forgot – the world’s ending December 21! I haven’t even closed my bank accounts or cancelled my utilities. I haven’t taken my vacation! Well, Merry Christmas to all the end-of-the-world-Mayan-prophecy folks. See you on the other side – of December 21. I’ve received a couple of emails this week asking about the “December 21 alignment,” or the “December alignment over Gaza.” (The last due to the recent battles there.) Here’s the thing: this December alone, 13 planetary “alignments” occur – which is about the average every month since the solar system has existed. If we include Moon aspects, then 94 alignments occur this December – again, about the same as every month. To say, “Oh, this is the one that ends the world,” or some such, would be a blatant falsehood – unless of course one of them does end the world. One aspect or “alignment” of sufficient magnitude to be considered “earthshaking” will occur December 30. But this particular aspect (Sun conjunct, or in a line with, Pluto) has occurred almost once per year for the last 4 billion years. The only other alignment with any notable destructive potential occurs on December 25. This particular alignment occurs about twice per year, every year. The third big alignment already occurred November 21, and will also occur about once per year. March, June and September also contained “earthshaking” alignments – last June held three times as many as our present month. So the chances of the world ending in December are about the same as any month, any year. Never say never, but I trust we survive.... Last week I discussed the long “Start Nothing” periods we’re experiencing. I showed how these long “empty” periods were due to the major planets being at or near the beginning of the signs they’re in. Saturn in SCORPIO (Oct 2012 to Sep 2015) is perhaps the diciest of these new sign positions. Saturn traversing one’s Sun sign often brings a time of reckoning, in which our weaknesses are exposed, or our neglect must be overcome with harder work. (But it also rewards us for past efforts and sacrifices. Many goal-oriented Scorpios will find this to be a time of gratifying accomplishment.) Saturn in the career sign often brings down crooked or lazy politicians, rulers, generals and other top-of-the-heap types. That’s why in the 1970’s Vancouver Courier paper I predicted the dictator Somoza would be deposed in Nicaragua. More recently Saturn “directly hit” Scorpio General Petraeus. His resignation and public humiliation were Saturn “catching up.” (Saturn reaches 29 years into the past for its “payback starting place.”) Start Nothing: Before 5:57 p.m. Sun., 2:08 p.m. Tues. to 3:51 a.m. Wed., 2:35 a.m. to 10:35 a.m. Fri., and after 4:37 p.m. Sat. Aries March 21-April 19 Wisdom and gentle love, compassion, social rituals, far travel, higher education, publishing and intellectual pursuits fill your days. (Or at least tap you on the shoulder, as you can “tune out” such good things by working too hard, being too angry, etc.) Spend Sunday at home or in nature, resting, supervising kids. This night through Tuesday bring romance, creative and speculative urges, love of children, beauty and pleasure. These three days could mark a new relationship opportunity – so could Friday/Saturday. Tackle chores midweek. You’re ambitious, but don’t test higher-ups. Taurus April 20-May 20 Mysteries confront you. Solving them could open a profit – or someone’s heart. Investment opportunities abound – the best of these might involve 1) a partner, or 2) your own earnings picture. (E.g., invest in a machine to help you work; or in your education to get you on a higher earnings plateau.) Relationships with others remain active, talkative and affectionate. A “lust affair” might begin. Beware violating social, moral or legal boundaries now to December 26. Avoid lawyers and lawsuits. Home calls you Monday/Tuesday. Romance or creative urges, midweek. Tackle chores Friday on. Gemini May 21-June 20 Relationships – and opportunities – are front and center. This is no time to retreat or stand in the background. Be forward, approach people, make friends or chase love prospects. Others will welcome you, be glad to see you – unless you demand, insist or attempt to take advantage. A prospect or opportunity from the past (perhaps one you pursued last summer, early fall – or one from 1999) hovers around you: it will be “ready to go” February onward. (Meantime, dream, plan.) Your yearning for friendship, blocked for some months, will produce results soon. Romance, sort of, late week. Cancer June 21-July 22 Work and health themes fill the few weeks ahead, Cancer. Eat and dress sensibly; avoid sudden temperature changes and driving with the window open. If a romance began last month, it remains vibrant. All relationships heat up through December 25, so be diplomatic. You could form a career/business partnership, at least for a while. Career opportunities abound, though they need a flexible, diplomatic approach. Your energy, charisma remain high Sunday. Chase money, buy/sell Monday/Tuesday. Travel, errands, communications fill midweek. Head home Friday/Saturday – strengthen family ties. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Romance, creative and speculative urges, love of children, beauty and pleasure fill the weeks ahead, Leo. Take a risk, express yourself – and your heart – to a lover, child or spouse (or world, if you’re creative). A love affair could start, perhaps with someone you met in a group setting a while ago. (This one might have difficulty reaching a wedding.) Work demands intensify – practice safety. Rest, lie low Sunday. Your charisma soars Monday/Tuesday – impress someone! Chase money, buy/sell midweek. Errands, calls, visits, news, casual friends and paperwork fill Friday/Saturday. Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Your home, parent/child relations, foundations, security, garden and nature, nutrition, stomach, soul, retirement – these are featured until late December. Be patient with career and other ambitious areas – a waiting, “gestation” period lasts all winter. Your social life continues to be interesting: friends amuse, but intensity and sexual attraction send their arrows also. Sunday’s happy, optimistic. Retreat, rest and contemplate Monday/Tuesday. Your energy surges midweek – start significant projects, especially in those “home” areas listed above. Chase money Friday/Saturday. Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 This is a busy but not important month, Libra. Chase money this week – buy/sell, pursue new clients, ask for a pay raise or extra work, etc. Your home holds friction to late month. A relationship might break up. Take this in stride, remain diplomatic, gentle – toward children, too. A legal, educational or far travel project is on hold (until February) but many short excursions will soothe your wanderlust. Your hopes and popularity rise Monday/Tuesday – a light romance might begin. Retreat, rest and contemplate midweek. Your energy, charisma soar on a bumpy Friday/Saturday. Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Chase money for the next few weeks, Scorpio. Add to your possessions. Buy/sell, seek new clients, nudge the boss for a pay raise, find extra work, etc. A spouse, partner or “third party” (or investment) might be beneficially involved – especially if a deal or introduction initially began before last October. Sunday’s gentle, thoughtful. Be ambitious Monday (best) and Tuesday. Midweek raises your hopes, brings popularity and social joys, and might fulfill a wish (perhaps involving travel, communication, friendship – and your work place). Retreat Friday/Saturday: rest, contemplate. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Your energy, charisma and clout are at a yearly high, Sage – you can attract that person who attracts you. A Gemini “mirrors you.” Start significant projects, venture forth, ask favours, meet people, see and be seen. Sunday contains secrets, but it’s unlikely they’ll yield to investigation. A wise, gentle mood flows over you Monday/Tuesday. Love could begin – so could a publishing venture, international journey, higher education or cultural event. Be ambitious midweek, show higher-ups what you can do. Social delights, popularity, optimism and wish fulfillment Friday/Saturday! Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Recuperate to late December – rest, retreat, follow spiritual or charitable paths, deal with government agencies, institutions, and corporate administrations. You might be asked to join a committee – accept, gladly; it can improve your employment prospects. Invest in warehousing or assembly lines, or a vacation retreat. Protect health and reputation: eat, dress and act sensibly. Avoid sudden temperature changes. Monday (better) and Tuesday bring investment opportunities, lifestyle decisions and health concerns. Mellow wisdom midweek. Be carefully ambitious Friday/Saturday. Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 You’re going to love December. Popularity, social delights, wish fulfillment, new horizons and hopes, new plans and new friends – these “visit” you until December 21. Live for the future this month. This week, remain ambitious: a cohort or boss has important, beneficial information or status to bestow on you. Until the 25th, guard your reputation: DO NOT gossip nor speak with unsavory people. Tackle routine chores Sunday. Exciting meetings – or love interludes – buoy your mood Monday/Tuesday and Friday/Saturday. In-between, you touch deep regions in sex, finances or health. Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Be ambitious this month, Pisces – but realize your larger and longer-term fortune (through next June) lies in the opposite direction: home, real estate, retirement, “stopping,” security and humility. (E.g., you could quit a 60 k job but make twice that on a piece of land.) You still feel enlightened, at peace, this week. Sunday’s for beauty, pleasure and passion: but (temporarily) there doesn’t seem to be anyone to lay that passion on. Tackle chores Monday/Tuesday. Midweek brings exciting meetings, new horizons. Sex and $ depths Friday/Saturday: be a detective. Avoid unsafe sex. www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. /30/