WEEKLY FORECAST — APRIL 9 – 15, 2023

IF YOU ARE ON A CELL PHONE, THE ADDED FEATURES (PLATFORMS, SHORT STORIES, YEAR AHEAD, ETC.) CAN BE ACCESSED FROM THE TOP LEFT HAND CORNER (STACKED LINES). ALSO, THE ‘TRANSLATE’ & WORLD CLOCK WILL APPEAR AT THE BOTTOM.

在手機上,添加的功能(平臺,短篇小說,提前一年等) 可以從左上角訪問(堆疊線)。

*** All times / dates: Please remember that all time references (e.g., “dawn”) are PDTPacific Daylight Time zone. You can refer to the World Clock in the sidebar for more listings or Google ‘time zone converter’.

Email: suningem@gmail.com

(NOTE: the phone # under “Readings” above, has been fixed. Sorry for the confusion.)

Tim’s YouTube linkUnveiling Astrology
Unveiling Astrology Part 2

START NOTHING: 2:09 am to 5:57 am Sun., 3:48 am to 10:33 am Tues., 7:14 am to 1:42 pm Thurs., and 8:16 am to 3:57 pm Sat.

(More than usual “Start Nothings,” hint that we are in a stop-start cycle, filled with short or interrupted projects, as we approach a Mercury retrograde period of slowdowns and second thoughts — which technically begins next week, April 21 — see PREAMBLE below.)

 

PREAMBLE:

ALL SIGNS: A Mercury retrograde period looms on the horizon, technically from April 21 to May 14. So aim to finish up projects, or start ones that can finish soon. By mid-April, things will start slowing down. Start NOTHING April 21-May 14.

 

WEEKLY FORECAST:

 

aries icon  ARIES:  March 21-April 19

 

You’re still on top, Aries. Your physical, mental, and emotional energies are at a yearly peak — so is your charisma. You are growing more interested in your domestic situation, but must be careful that you don’t become overbearing at home. Tuesday starts a few weeks of very pleasant communications, and might bring you to a life mate prospect or deepen your bond with spouse — or someone. Your ability to communicate might bring your closer to more $.

Sunday to mid-morn Tuesday (PDT) brings a wise, understanding, mellow mood. Far travel love, law, culture, media, profound thoughts — these hit a mild barrier Sunday, but great success Monday, esp. late. Assume the mantle of duty, work hard, Tuesday late morning to Tuesday afternoon, esp. during a lucky Wed. Something very fortunate, perhaps involving freedom or love or travel or media, could occur this first half of the week. Friends, popularity, social delights, friendly romance and optimism fill Thursday afternoon to Saturday afternoon. Good, even loving, Thursday, but tough, filled with refusal, Fri., then a mild Sat.

 

taurus icon  TAURUS:  April 20-May 20

Continue to lie low, Taurus. Ponder and plan, be spiritual/charitable, and liaise with gov’t, head offices. Get plenty of rest. Your money picture will improve from Tuesday to early May. Despite your weariness, you express yourself well, so this could be a good time to communicate with the government, tax man, or executive types. Ask for advice – you’ll get some valuable pointers. You’re growing more restless until late May, so express yourself, or explore new places.

Mysteries fill Sunday to mid-morning Tues. (PDT) — so research, ask questions. A treasure (financial, sexual, lifestyle-oriented) might be lying about waiting for you to pluck it — bad Sunday, superb Mon. A mellow wisdom steals over you Tuesday morning to midday Thurs. Handle travel plans, studying, legal, cultural, media and moral concerns — best Wed. A major decision might benefit you the first half of this week. (Ask to be elevated to a management role.) Be ambitious, show it, Thursday afternoon to late afternoon Sat. Best time to approach bosses or VIPs: Thursday afternoon/twilight. Worst: Fri.

 

gemini icon  GEMINI:  May 21-June 20

You remain optimistic, friendly, social and popular, Gemini. A wish might come true. A light romance could begin, esp. after Venus makes your charms glow, Tuesday to early May. Conversations involve shortcomings, secrets, medicine — confidential stuff. Use this to settle any conflicts with gov’t, a mentor, or “head office.” Money has started rushing toward you, and will be abundant to late May — but avoid spending. Pay down debt, or save.

Relationships, fresh horizons, public dealings and opportunities flow to you Sunday to mid-morn Tues. (PDT). Sunday’s a bit bland, dull, but Monday brings great love, great results — even destined love. A huge wish fulfillment or social blessing might come Sunday to Tues. Aquarian, Sagittarian or Aries might be involved. Secrets, hidden treasure, financial, sexual, medical or lifestyle opportunities fill mid-week — Wednesday best. Early afternoon Thursday to late afternoon Saturday brings a wise, loving mood, and far travel, legal, cultural, educational, and media concerns — easy, beneficial Thurs., terrible Fri., and “okay” Sat.

 

Cancer icon  CANCER:  June 21-July 22

The accent remains on your ambitions, your worldly standing and prestige relations, Cancer. Work hard, and display your skills. From Tuesday onward, confidential discussions can yield rewards — a huge one (promotion?) might be almost “destined” Tuesday, esp. if you take a “hidden route” — but not an unethical one! Remain hopeful. This is your time to advance upward in a big way. You are unusually assertive now through late May. That’s great for presenting yourself, but don’t be overly aggressive. Your sexual magnetism races on all cylinders now.

Tackle chores Sunday to mid morning Tuesday. Eat and dress sensibly. Sunday’s challenging, Monday’s successful. Mid-week brings relationships, fresh horizons, the “challenge of opportunity” — successfully Tues./Wed., not Thurs. Thursday afternoon to late afternoon Saturday shunts you into a mysterious atmosphere of lust, power desires, financial, medical and lifestyle opportunities. Research, dig deep for valuable nuggets. Thursday great, Friday terrible, Saturday “okay.”

 

Leo icon  LEO: July 23-Aug. 22

Your mild, mellow, wise mood continues, Leo. Far travel, higher learning, gentle love, cultural and legal matters flow well — might contain a huge reward or action that will enrich your life for years to come. Could be a trip to Alaska, a wedding, a media appearance, a university degree, etc. From Tuesday to early May, friends are sweet, and a friendly romance might blossom. Travel’s pleasant, also. Discussions can lead to career success. Until May 20, avoid belligerent/violent people, and “dark alleys” (etc.).

Romantic feelings and creative surges fill Sunday to mid-morn Tues. Sunday isn’t too encouraging (another’s skeptical) but Monday could offer a destined love, or a superb journey, or publishing success. Midweek “repeats” this good fortune (late Tues.). But do the work, tackle the chores, late Tuesday to Thursday afternoon. (Successfully Wed.) Thursday afternoon to Saturday brings exciting relationships, opportunities, relocation themes — fortunately Thursday, with many obstacles Friday, and mildly fortunately Sat.

 

virgo icon  VIRGO:  Aug. 23-Sept. 22

The emphasis remains on secrets, subsurface currents, investigation, medical and lifestyle choices, and desires — for sex, money or power. To succeed: research, then commit. This could lead to something big, a huge fortunate lifestyle change, or a super-lucky investment. In everything, be moral, ethical, honest. Friends are talking; this might lead to the return of a friend, lover, or “teacher.” Bosses favour you, Tuesday to May 7. An aggressive person befriends you until late May — good or bad? Same period, you might join an investment group (or, NOT recommended, a sex club).

Spend Sunday to  mid-morn Tuesday (PDT) at or near home, with family. Act to enhance security, or repair or build something — garden, meet people at restaurants.

Monday best. Mid-morn Tuesday to midday Thursday brings romance (or at least the notion) and creative urges. Wednesday best. This whole first half of the week offers major financial luck (e.g., great investment) and a potential “winning,” or almost destined, career-enhancing job. Tackle chores eagerly Thursday, very cautiously Friday, and with a “wordy attitude” Sat.

 

libra icon  LIBRA:  Sept. 23-Oct. 22

The accent — an exciting one — remains on relationships, relocation, opportunities and dealings with the public. For some, fame. Communication and travel will be the best roads to further any of these. Not the best time to start big new things, because a period of delays and mistakes begins next week. It’s best to continue with ongoing projects and people. However, love has a way of eluding logic, so if you’re single, it could show up any day. Be diplomatic with higher-ups: they are impatient and a bit snarky until May 20. Your intellectual, travel and legal affairs meet good fortune now to early May. You might be digging into or discussing a major investment, research, or lustful situation. This will soon slow or reverse itself — don’t worry, either this situation will return in a workable way next month, or you will happen upon something even better in the same area from May 2023 to May 2024.

Sunday to Tuesday morning accents travel, paperwork and communications. Poor results Sunday, great progress Monday. Be home, hug the family midweek. Love’s destiny, partnership’s growth/joy the first half of this week. Romance or creative urges midday Thursday to Sat. — good Thurs., bad Fri.

 

scorpio icon  SCORPIO:  Oct. 23-Nov. 21

Only 11 more days of hard work and niggling health concerns, Scorpio. (Your work will still expand, and offer lucrative rewards until mid-May, but the “heaviness” will lift soon.) Rather important conversations could involve marriage or a practical partnership, or an opportunity. Be willing to “play” with this, to go over your options, to find what/who you really want and in what direction, until mid-May, when a whole year of grand good fortune begins in relationships and opportunities. The weeks ahead hold secret but lucky actions/discussions in sex, finances or “life changes.” Strictly avoid lawsuits until after May 20.

Chase $, buy/sell, memorize something, Sunday to mid morning Tuesday. Monday’s best. Perform errands, travel, communicate and handle paperwork Tuesday to midday Thursday (PDT). Steer toward home and family Thursday p.m. to Saturday afternoon. Thursday is great, Friday is totally frustrating, and Saturday runs smoothly.

 

sagittarius icon  SAGITTARIUS:  Nov. 22-Dec. 21

Ah, sweet romance! (Or creative surges, risk-taking urges, and experiencing beauty/pleasure.) You have 11 more days of strong romantic feelings and the courage to pursue them, but the grand love luck will continue until mid May. Others respond affectionately to your approach until early May. Sexually, you are pretty turned on now through May 19. Discussions at work might create a new project… However, everyone concerned might be wise to research this in and out until May 15 before putting the gears in motion.

Sunday to mid-morn Tuesday, your energy and charisma soar to a peak that only occurs two or three times a year. Sunday might hold a refusal from a rather casual a friend/love interest. This is not the person you need. Monday evening into Tuesday could bring the very person you do need, an almost destined love. You have lots of courage now, so chase someone — if you’re single! Shop, buy/sell, chase $ Tuesday to noonish Thurs. (PDT). Wednesday is best. Thursday p.m. to late afternoon Saturday is filled with short trips, communications and paperwork. Good results Thursday, many obstacles Friday, and smooth sailing Saturday. Friday’s NOT a good time to chase love.

 

capricorn icon  CAPRICORN:  Dec. 22-Jan. 19

The accent remains on your domestic situation, Cap. In all areas, use this time to enhance security, to lease premises for business, to garden, to set children’s future paths, to repair or decorate the house. DO NOT begin renovations or other long projects, though, as a period of mistakes and indecision is looming (technically, it starts April 21). Your work mates become affectionate and your job more creative, Tuesday to early May. Other relationships, though, are intense, volatile until May 20 — be diplomatic with spouse, partners, and the general public. A break-up possible if you allow anger to reign. If unattached, a talkative, sensual person attracts.

Lie low, rest, ponder and plan Sunday to mid-morn Tues. (PDT). Monday best, esp. if you have to communicate with gov’t, management types, or institutions. Some thing “fateful” but beneficial might occur on the job/money scene. Your energy and charisma climb Tuesday to midday Thurs. Get out, get things done. Be cautious Wednesday eve to pre-dawn Thurs. — something “lucky” might not be. Chase $, buy/sell, welcome casual intimacy, midday Thursday to late afternoon Sat. Thursday’s great, Friday’s bad, Saturday’s okay.

 

Aquarius icon  AQUARIUS:  Jan. 20-Feb. 18

The accent remains on short trips, new contacts, paperwork and communications. Be curious, ask questions. A nice romantic streak starts Tuesday and goes to May 7. If you’re married, the same period enhances creative and childrearing “play.” There will be much discussion about home affairs, children, property, etc. However, don’t think your plans are permanent — a new “wrinkle” can arrive late month and into May. (If selling a property, don’t buy your new one until after May 17, which is the start of a whole year of real estate luck.) Work grows in “intensity” now to late May.

Your hopes and popularity, joy of life and flirty stance blossom Sunday to mid-morn Tues. (PDT). Monday best — a significant, fortunate communication comes, or is sent by you. Retreat, lie low and rest mid-week. Plan, seek advice, be charitable and spiritual. Your energy and charisma suddenly pop upward Thursday afternoon to late afternoon Sat. Thursday’s loving, lucky (but DO NOT start a love affair) — Friday’s a mess, and Saturday’s calmly productive. Usually a good 3 days to launch a project, but only, this time, if the project can be finished in a week.

 

Pisces icon  PISCES:  Feb. 19-March 20

Continue on the money path, Pisces. Buy and sell, ask for a pay raise, memorize things, and, possibly, depending on your situation, embrace casual intimacy. A grand surprise might await you (before mid-May) in money zones. You are filled with romantic and creative energy until May 20, but don’t become aggressive, esp. with children. Much discussion about something, anything, but realize what’s discussed, plans made, can change significantly in the month ahead. Your home, so fractious and argumentative these last months, becomes the opposite now — affectionate, sweet. Good time to decorate — but start nothing you can’t finish before April 21.

Be ambitious, show your skills, Sunday to mid-morn Tues. (PDT). Monday best. Ask for a pay raise, or inch your prices upward. You might learn a secret that makes you feel secure and warm. Mid week is for happiness, optimism, social delights, popularity, entertainment and friendly romance. Make and accept invitations. But retreat to rest and ponder early afternoon Thursday to late afternoon Saturday. Thursday is fine, Friday is yuck, and Saturday offers smooth progress.

THE END.

AFTERAMBLE:

Since I’m trying to avoid my addiction to political commentary, I’m going to place both future predictions on worldly subjects, and short stories in this space. Most of these stories will be new ones, but I will also take stories from the cache on the blog and place them here. This first story, “The Coming,” was written a few weeks ago, and is also under the “Short Stories” tab (I think; things often disappear on me when computers enter the picture.) Anyway, here’s the first story, a light, wee thing:

THE COMING

By Tim Stephens

Ben’s head began to shine. Not a “Brylcream” shine, and not because he was bald and began to oil his noggin.  He saw it one day in October as the first faint flakes of an unseasonal snow lazed their way to the ground.

It was very soft and faint at first. Looking in the mirror, he attributed it to cataracts in his eyes (‘tho he was only thirty-nine), to headlights or the Sun casting a glow behind him…but most days he could — not forget it, but accept it. 

“Is my head shining?” He finally asked his wife.

“Only to you,” Rebecca said without looking up. She was watching porn. She had read that women should do this to “catch up.” It was a Democratic thing.

At work they took it in stride, even joked about it. “Hey, Shinerola!” At first they were surprised, even astounded (after they looked closely and could discover no source) but after a few days they treated him casually again. Ben seldom had the presence of mind to lie, so he just stood, speechless, although he could have said he’d been to the doctor and everything was okay. 

“It’ll go away soon,” he muttered. By now it was as strong as the phosphorescence in the ocean. In the sunlight, it disappeared.

So he took to standing in the Sun, and cringed mildly at grey days.

But after awhile the light showed even in sunlight. 

People began to follow him, at a distance, hesitantly, but he could see them if he turned around quickly.

After a few days of this, his stomach ballooned with fear and nausea as he lay on his bed. 

“God, are you doing this to me?” (For he believed in God.) 

There was no answer, so he rose from bed and stood at the window, clutching the sill. 

“Am I supposed to do something? Have I done something wrong? Why are you doing this to me?”” 

Then a huge, silent voice filled the room: YOU ARE NOT ALONE. It filled the landscape outside, all the houses and trees and street; it filled the curling clouds with their sky caverns.

But what did that mean? 

One day, having shaken off his silent pursuers, he sat in an urban stairwell, just off the sidewalk. A man stumbled by. He obviously had a neurological illness: his head trembled uncontrollably, and his steps were jerky. Ben suddenly sensed that he could cure this poor man. All he had to do was catch up to him and touch him. He knew it in his heart, in his gut. But he hesitated: it was an irrational act. People, even the poor afflicted man, would think he was crazy. What if it didn’t work? Even if it did, Ben’s head was filled with visions of electroshock, comatose drug regimes, extraction of his teeth, nuthouse windows with steel bars… So…he let the man go.

At home, his wife complained about the light. How can I sleep with that light in my eyes? How can we make love if that light’s watching?

Now on the bus no one would sit beside him. In the street, people stayed back and gawked. Wherever he went, 10, now 20, now 100 people followed him. At work, they locked the crowd out, but once the whistle went, a gathering was they’re still, standing outside the warehouse. 

….But now there was a thousand, even thousands, filling the streets in all directions, watching with a sort of astonishment. Ben tried to walk home, but they surrounded him, and even filled his yard and the entire neighbourhood, like frogs at mating time. 

He sat on his front stairs, amazed. Suddenly, he began to weep. Vendors crawled through the crowds, selling water bottles. Down at the corner, 2 hot dog stands muscled into the crowd.

“Say something,” one or two in the crowd began. “Tell us!” “Give us the word!” “Miracles! Miracles!” The crowd began to chant.

He shook his head sadly. “I have nothing to tell you.”

“What? What?”

He stood up. “YOU ARE NOT ALONE,” he shouted, though he began almost in a whisper, and didn’t reach full volume until “ALONE.”

A sigh or murmur eased through the crowd. 

“What did he say?” 

“What did he say?”

“Oh my God. Oh my God.” 

A wave pushed through the crowd, pressed toward him. Then the reason for the push revealed itself:  two Catholic priests showed, with a third in tow, a higher-up, someone with embroidered robes and a satin cap. They pushed through the crowd, and brought the bishop or whatever he was, before Ben.

The satin-capped priest, not an old man, really, thought Ben. He began to ask Ben, loudly, so the “congregation” could hear, a series of questions.

“I don’t know,” Ben said, perhaps twenty times. The bishop or whatever he was, exasperated, sighed and turned toward the crowd, as if for an explanation. 

Finally he turned angrily toward Ben and said, “Don’t you have ANYTHING to say for yourself?”

“YOU ARE NOT ALONE,” Ben shouted angrily, more loudly than he had intended, jumping to his feet, ready to sock the damn priest. It was as if someone else lifted his throat. The words expanded and filled the air around him. The crowd surged forward, grabbed the priests, and gently pulled them into the crowd just as helicopters began to circle the event.

In the weeks that followed, Ben became a world phenomenon, his shining head featured on every tv station. Hopeful tv pundits and political campaigners and simple influencers tried to adopt him, everyday offering him gourmet meals with wine, and 5-star hotel suites befitting a celebrity. Ben was naturally shy, so he turned down most of these invitations — he sensed there was something “extra,” or unnatural about them. He asked his wife to accompany him to all these places, these huge cities and strange countries. (Yet in every country, he looked into the brown, firm eyes of the men, and the blue, open eyes of the women, and he couldn’t separate himself. When he looked at an Arab, for instance, he thought, felt, Arabian. Just as easily, a week later he “was” Chinese.) 

But his wife refused. “I’ll be here when you’re finished,” she said. “But I can’t sleep with that light on.” 

Almost nightly, the news carried live footage of the crowds that coalesced around whatever hotel he was in — crowds, in the sense that half of New Yorkers left work and homes to see him, filling hundreds of city blocks; the other half scoffed and tended to their trading platforms. 

Always, they wanted a speech, but he didn’t know what to say, and thought if he started rambling, he’d just say stupid things. So he just repeated the one phrase that seemed to work; ‘YOU ARE NOT ALONE.”

On Christmas Day he was shot by a religious person, and died. The coroner told his cop buddy: “He looked peaceful, no facial contortions — not a smile on his lips as people are saying.”

“What about the glow?”

“Gone. No source.”

”Humph.”

Still two centuries away, the aliens floated toward Earth.

/30/