ASTRAL REFLECTIONS
BY TIM STEPHENS
OCTOBER 19 - 25, 2003

	All dates/times are PDT.
	A few people have asked if I've seen the article that proves astrology is bunk. 
	After searching the web, I found the original article in The Washington Times. It refers to a study reported in a "recent" issue of "The Journal of Consciousness Studies." The article mentions a London-based study of 2,000 twins born "in early March, 1958." These twins, "often born within minutes of each other," were followed up after, the article implies, four decades, and measured in more than 100 categories - IQ, anxiety, marital status, abilities in art, science, sports, etc. The scientists failed, the article says, to find any similarities between these "time twins." Yet, according to astrology everyone born at the same time should be exactly the same. It looks pretty damning.
	But a little digging reveals some wee holes: First, the most recent issue of the "Journal of Consciousness Studies" which I could find on the web was dated 1994 - and nowhere on their website could I find a study of twins or astrology. Hmmnnn.
Second, as the article admits, these babies were not real twins, but only "time twins." This causes two huge problems for the "researchers'" case: time variability and distance variability.
Time: The article claims these "twins" were all born in "early March." Well, that covers, say, 5 or 6 days? That equates to 5 or 6 different Sun degrees. Each degree produces markedly different characteristics. Nine degrees Pisces is seclusion-seeking, but 11 degrees (born next day) is adventurous...and so on. But the "researchers" (for I suspect they were not anything deserving this name) seem to have wanted all 2,000 babies to be the same. Even worse (for the researchers) babies born March 1, 1958 had a Moon in Cancer (moody, ambitious) while those born March 2 and 3 had a Leo Moon (stubborn, romantic) and March 4, 5 had Virgo Moons (dry, practical). Huh? What? Identical? What characteristics should these personalities share?
Distance: Where were these "twins" born? In Europe? Europe and America? Any astrologer can tell you that two people born in exactly the same minute, hour, day, month and year (in other words, perfect "time twins") can have entirely different rising signs if they were born only a few miles apart - and WILL have different rising signs if they were born more than two time zones apart. A person born in Seattle as a Leo rising, will find his "time twin" in New York has Virgo rising. That Seattle baby will be romantic, decisive and idealistic, whereas his twin will be pragmatic, shy and indecisive. 
I suspect this whole "study" was just a commotion of anti-astrology emotion.

Start Nothing: 9:18 p.m. to 11:01 p.m. Mon., 6:19 a.m. Wed. to 2:27 a.m. Thurs., and 1:30 a.m. to 3:08 a.m. Sat.

Aries   March 21-April 19
Life brings a possible mate Sunday/Monday and Thursday/Friday - one who appears before 3:30 p.m. (PDT) Sunday or anytime Thursday, will argue or grow sad and make a poor mate. One who appears Sunday eve through 6 p.m. Monday or anytime Friday could become an "eternal mate" - and a good one! If you're already "playing," see who phones or appears during these times. If you're married, engage your mate in a solid project for the future. Lasting results are indicated! Work/health succeed Tuesday/Wednesday. Sex, secrets, finances lead to indecision Saturday.

Taurus   April 20-May 20
Your last week of work, drudgery and health concerns, Taurus. Home, property, security and family subtly stymie you through Sunday afternoon, but head toward great success this eve through Monday daytime. (So act to succeed - don't merely relax.) These two days conflict with your career or business ambitions - that's okay, be patient, work on the "underpinnings" or preparations for an ambitious move. Then act, be ambitious Wednesday, dawn to 1 p.m. or Thursday, anytime before 7 p.m. (all times PDT). You'll succeed! Romance, joy visit Tuesday/Wednesday and Saturday.

Gemini   May 21-June 20
Financial and sexual matters enter a "circling delay" late this week through February 2004. So be patient. If you're investing, an old opportunity might return these four months. So might an old flame, but one with whom your heart never really had a home (despite the passion). Communications, love and travel are a bit frustrating Sunday, but succeed very well late this afternoon through Monday. Home matters succeed Tuesday/Wednesday - better Wednesday.  Present or "freshly new" loves bring joy all week - joy with practical difficulties Thursday - and pure, successful joy Friday.

Cancer    June 21-July 22
Nurture your soul, your kids, and your peace of mind. Tackle your garden, repair the house, seek security. Money, vendors and salespeople are mildly deceptive or unhelpful Sunday. But Sunday eve (especially) and Monday bring you to great purchases and good earnings opportunities. You might be slowly developing a workable, valid love relationship. Short trips, calls, paperwork expand to fill Tuesday/Wednesday. Investments and debt re-arrangements succeed superbly Wednesday/Thursday. Your home-bound seclusion will end Saturday, when romance, pleasure, beauty or some other exciting urge propels you into a month-long adventure!

Leo   July 23-Aug. 22
Your charisma, energy and effectiveness surge upward Sunday/Monday! But others will be a bit elusive Sunday morning, so wait until the evening (or Monday) to tackle important things like love, business projects, etc. A "quiet job" might improve your home. Chase lucky earnings or purchases Tuesday (especially around suppertime) and Wednesday. All week, an important and very beneficial relationship or opportunity faces  you - it's "right there" Wednesday and Thursday --  act, respond! Talk, travel, perform paperwork Thursday/Friday. A month of home and quietude begins late week - you'll know it Saturday.

Virgo   Aug. 23-Sept. 22
Rest, avoid competitive situations Sunday/Monday.  All's fine (unless you ignore safety precautions Monday eve). Contemplate a steady future with people of a different age. Your energy and charisma return Tuesday/Wednesday. All week, especially Wednesday mid-morning to noon Thursday - and Friday - your employment, machinery, nutrition and health interests are immensely favored - you could grab a job you almost got last year or earlier-yes, grab it! Or ask your boss for more responsibility, more money. Or buy a computer. A month of trips, communications, paperwork starts in earnest Saturday. 

Libra   Sept. 23-Oct. 22
Your energy and magnetism continue high, so keep on conquering the world! Your hopes (and popularity) soar Sunday/Monday, but conditions are mildly deceptive Sunday morning. Use a deft touch with career and money both days...infer, suggest, gently seize an ambitious advantage. Retreat to rest and plan, to renew your soul Tuesday/Wednesday. Avoid government contacts. Your energy and charisma soar Thursday/Friday. All week you can attract true romance, and lead it down a sweet, idealistic path - the same goes for creative, child-related and beauty or pleasure projects - dream and smile!

Scorpio    Oct. 23-Nov. 21
This is your last week of weariness and extra burdens. Lately, you've discovered and handled "mistakes" from the past. By the 25th (Saturday) you'll return to this year's main trend: upbeat, cheerful, social, flirty and playful! A major dream will come true this year. It concerns money, earning ability, or a possessive urge. Education's a factor. Meanwhile, Sunday/Monday boost your career prospects. Happiness and fresh possibilities amuse you Tuesday/Wednesday. Retreat for one final rest Thursday/Friday - by Saturday, you'll come surging out of your den, ready to conquer the world!

Sagittarius   Nov. 22-Dec. 21
You remain popular, but your desires are taking a private turn. Perhaps you want to pluck someone out of the crowd and "get private" with him/her. Your mind travels gently, lovingly and far Sunday/Monday. Big finances are slow, sober until 2005, but Sunday/Monday could bring a good, steady investment, debt reduction plan, or sweet, secure intimacy. Be ambitious Tuesday (especially!) and Wednesday - you face superb career luck, now and for eleven months. Optimism and social joys visit Thursday/Friday, but you're slowing down - Saturday begins a month of rest, quietude.

Capricorn   Dec. 22-Jan. 19
Grab a last chance to enact ambitious plans, especially Sunday eve into Monday afternoon, Tuesday daytime, Thursday dawn to afternoon, and Friday all day. Your arrow is ambition, but your target should be money/earnings, not prestige. Investments, research, confidential discussions can aid your cause Sunday/Monday. (These are sexy days, too.) Communications, wisdom, calmness, lawyers, advertising and/or foreign-born people provide "success" Tuesday/Wednesday. (Chase/accept love these two days, also.) "Pure ambition" is the winning ticket Thursday/Friday: charge ahead, meet VIPs, show your skills! Saturday's social and happy - so's the month ahead!

Aquarius   Jan. 20-Feb. 18
Love, far travel, foreign contacts, law, religion, philosophy, big, profound ideas, weddings, rituals, fame, higher education, publishing - these are still favored through Friday. (Especially Thursday/Friday, with Friday being the best day.) Exciting relationships or opportunities face you Sunday/Monday. Don't be too ambitious nor too indecisive Sunday - ambition can cause you to be vague about committing to a person or project you feel isn't "rich" or "vital" enough for you: try to be clear! Secrets, research, investments, intimate desires, health diagnoses, lifestyle changes, deep commitments - these surge into luck Tuesday!

Pisces   Feb. 19-March 20
Tackle chores Sunday/Monday. (Start Sunday eve onward, as muddled thoughts/directions float around midday.) You might meet or develop a practical yet affectionate relationship early this week. It could last years, decades. Exciting meetings, opportunities, fresh horizons and opposing viewpoints arise Tuesday/Wednesday. You can succeed in career, foreign travel, education, advertising, religion and love - if you can place optimism over "power struggles," openness over secrecy. (These draw you Saturday also - be gentle, kind, "accepting.") Secrets, power plays, investments, sexual drives - all succeed but fight love Thursday, and simply succeed Friday!

www.astralreflections.com. E-mail: timstephens@shaw.ca.  For a reading: 604-261-1337.



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