ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS APRIL 6 - 12, 2003 All times/dates are PST. From April 15, 2003 to December 26, 2004, the Moon's north node travels through Taurus, while the south node trails through Scorpio. All of us would be wise, during this time, to take the words of Taurus people a little more seriously than usual, and to cast a skeptical glance on the urgings of Scorpios. Taurus will undergo a mellow, healing time, while Scorpio will be faced with various temptations. Astrologers associate the lunar south node with a descent into darkness, with temptations, siren songs, the hidden, the subconscious, death, dreams and illusion - and bad karma. Actually, the south node denotes old karma, which can be good or bad, depending on our past behavior. So your south node can bring belated rewards. But because the cosmos wants us to progress, it discourages any attempt to pursue old karma. So chasing after south node goals often leads to projects or pursuits which dead-end, suffer constant delay, or end in financial, emotional or spiritual destruction. The south node has a canny ability to tempt, to attract and draw us. Once we're "hooked" on this lure, we'll argue ourselves blue in the face to justify what we want. It seems so reasonable, so logical, so just - yet it's all fool's gold and self-rationalizing. As Shakespeare wrote: "When the Gods wish to destroy a man, first they make him mad." The north node, on the other hand, is associated with good (in reality, new) karma. The north node brings peace and serenity, unhurried thought - and it usually keeps a person safe in whatever sector of life it lays. Usually. For example, from this April to December 2004, many Taureans will find that others "attack" them in word, law or deed. If Taurus refuses to rise to the occasion, no harm comes to Taurus, and the "attacker" tends to fade away in a self-consuming cloud of muffled frustration. (If you Taurus people attack back, you'll regret it, because then you're chasing/engaging the south node.) Saddam Hussein is a Taurus, and will to some degree be protected - though things don't look good. (But he's already survived the assassination bombing attack ordered by Bush, who has Pluto, planet of death, going over his south node of delays and opportunities that don't pan out.) The north node is not as obvious as the south, it whispers rather than shouts - but when we follow it, our way unfolds smoothly and serenely, and we end with a deep, almost spiritual satisfaction, a feeling that we've fulfilled our task or destiny. Your sun sign messages this week and next peek at ways to handle the new north-south "karmic axis" that arrives April 15, and lasts through December, 2004. Start Nothing: 2:34 p.m. Mon. to 2:36 a.m. Tues., 10:34 p.m. Wed. to 11:54 a.m. Thurs., and 7:18 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. Sat. Aries March 21-April 19 For the past 18 months, "karma" held you back in higher education, legal, international, religious, and publishing zones. Here you met delay, disappointment, or you felt continually spurred onward, but with no concrete result. Now you can push toward success in these zones, especially through August 27, 2003. From April 15, 2003 through December 25, 2004, your luck lies in work, while your smooth karmic path lies in earning money, buying and selling, possessions, and sensuality. Casual sex keeps you safe. Your memory improves; short school courses go well. Taurus April 20-May 20 From mid-April 2003 through December, 2004, a new karmic axis arrives. You'll be blessed and mellow; those you relate to will not be. A subtle entrapment awaits if you slide passively into marriage or a business partnership. Also avoid relocation, picking fights (or answering challenges/insults) and litigation. (If they sue you, you'll win.) Don't automatically jump on "opportunities." If someone (for example an investment advisor) gave you bad advice over the last two years, sever all ties with them now, and end any commitments you made on their advice. Gemini May 21-June 20 Now through December, 2004, you'll be blessed in spiritual, meditative, governmental, red-tape, head office, institutional, and similar zones. Warehousing, spas and retreats will favor you. Solve your tax problems; update your retirement plans/savings. During these 20 months, lean toward delegating tasks - let go of the "hands-on" approach. Minor chores, daily tasks, working "just for a living" will be traps you should strictly avoid. Learn to use mass production techniques. (For example, write a "template" you can use to answer all those similar e-mails.) Seek labor-savings methods. Be a confidant. Cancer June 21-July 22 Your rule of thumb for the 20 months from April 2003 through December 2004 should be: "Run the art gallery; don't paint the picture." You'll be lured by deep, personal romance, by creative urges, by the prospect of teaching children, by the intense pleasure or beauty of the moment - but that way disappointment awaits. Instead, chase friends, entertainment, light romance, social pleasures -and your future! Avoid risk, speculation and gambling. You might meet your life mate at a social function. If you keep it light, love can blossom! Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Until December 26, 2004, disappointment will result if you purchase real estate, plunge into family affairs, let yourself be tied down by children or your spouse. Do everyone a favor: hire a nanny and get out into the world of ambition, status and competition. Don't retreat to nature, don't expand your garden, don't build a new house or addition, don't invest in natural resources nor construction companies. Don't nurture, but DO direct: be paternal rather than maternal. Be pro-active, determined. Fall in love but don't "set up housekeeping" yet. Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Now through December 2004, the short, superficial, newsy, anecdotal and casual will waste your time - or worse, lead to loss - while the long, far, deep, abstract, formal and idealistic will further your life and inner joy. For example, don't waste your time reading newspapers or watching television news. Instead, pick up a book, or attend college/university. Gossip leads nowhere, but philosophical discussions renew your soul. Religion favors you. See the long-term consequences of actions, rather than acting impulsively. In love, reject casual associations: seek the "social approval" of marriage. Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 If you lived life casually over the last 18 months, you now stand empty-handed. But if you sought profundity (formal contracts, legal outcomes, religion, philosophy, understanding, higher education, foreign travel) you now feel deeply closer to your destiny. This April (2003) through December, 2004, your karmic picture shifts: seeking quick payoffs will disappoint, whereas investing in the future will bring growth, peace and reward. For example: do invest, don't spend nor "buy and sell" in the stock market. Reject casual affairs; embrace deep, consequential sex. Change your life. Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Now through December 2004, you'll be sorely tempted, at times, to be independent, to ignore advice, or to insist that another conform to your ideas, desires or lifestyle. This stance will lead to loss and seemingly inexplicable ("unfair") bad luck. Instead, make yourself travel a road labeled, simply, "Go To The Other." This takes many forms: be diplomatic, flexible, compromise. It also takes a "seeking" form: seek partnership, marriage, advice, seek contracts, seek audiences, fame, chase opportunities, relocate (especially to somewhere far). Interact. Seek the person who balances you. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Now through December 2004, your peace and success will flow from work, duties, machinery, dependents and fitness (exercise, vitamins, diet, etc.). Be helpful to others in any way. It's a great time to find employment, or seek more. From September 2003 onward, your career gets a lucky boost. But don't take a boost in status to mean you should now sit back and order others to work. You'll get into trouble if you delegate tasks, or focus solely on management. Roll up your sleeves and work alongside everyone else! Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 During the 20 months through the end of 2004, you'll face a choice between two polar opposites (which, confusingly, seem quite similar). On the good side lie: romance, infatuation, beauty, creativity, sensual pleasure, teaching or raising children, gambling, speculation - all deeply personal expression, joy and risk. On the disappointing side are: parties, entertainment, light romance, playing the field, groups of any kind, popularity, optimism, wishing about the future. Your "wedding luck" increases mightily September 2003 to September 2004 - but seeking "the best suitor" will bring disappointment. Follow love instead! Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 If you change your job/career now through December 2004, you'll tend to both move into a worse situation, and to make this situation permanent. You might be sorely tempted to make that move anyway, as your present career position might seem insufferable or stagnant. Just accept this-don't force things with your boss (or any authority, including judges, police, social authorities, parents, etc.). Be patient! Ending a job or selling a business, however, is very favored. So are real estate, security, home, family, children, nature, stomach, and soul matters. Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 I've warned you away from making/forcing career changes for 18 months, Pisces - now (April 2003 into 2008) you're free to make those changes without "karmic repercussions." Your karmic axis shifts to intellectual, communication and travel areas. Now through December 25, 2004, you'll benefit from the "short side" of these areas - newspapers, television news, conversations, short trips, errands, details, paperwork, casual friends. But strictly avoid the ponderous side of these: long journeys, legal matters, court suits (lawyers in general) higher education, religion, philosophy - and avoid "formalizing" love, understandings, other matters. www.astralreflections.com. E-mail: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-261-1337. /30/