ASTRAL REFLECTIONS
BY TIM STEPHENS
DECEMBER 28, 2003 - JANUARY 3, 2004

	All times/dates are Pacific Standard. For Calgary and Denver, add 1 hour; for Winnipeg, Chicago and Mexico City, add 2 hours. For New York or Toronto add 3 hours. In England, add 8 hours. Central Europe, 9 hours. For Hong Kong, add 16 hours. (For example, "Tuesday eve" in Pacific Time translates to Tuesday night in New York, early Wednesday morning in Europe, about noon Wednesday in China, and afternoon in Australia.
	People are starting to ask where the 2004 Forecast is - well, it's almost written, and will be on the website after readers of the Vancouver Courier see it. They get first dibs because the Courier pays me to write it.
	SCORPIOS and SAGITTARIANS wrote me to complain that they were left out of the "mercury retrograde" mention in a prior column. That's true. There are only 9 days left of this phenomena, but for these days, you Scorpios should avoid starting new communications, mail, paperwork, travel and similar projects. You Sagittarians will find that former money sources return - so do neglected bills and expenses. You should not start any new money projects - nor purchase anything important - before January 6.
	Uranus moves in Pisces this week, which ends the last seven years of explosive and politically-oriented terrorism. From now on, we'll tend to see fewer explosions, but the chances are higher that terrorists will get their hands on gas, biological, and nuclear weapons. Terrorism will gravitate toward the oceans, shipping, etc.
	For these seven years, natural gas, shipping, fish stocks, and "Hollywood" will careen up and down dramatically - the kind of volatility that stock market gamblers will love. 
	We'll also see the second phase of religious change. The first phase began in 1996 and could be called "the destruction of religions." The last phase, from 2010 to 2025 brings new religions, or in some way returns religion to spirituality, which it has been divorced from for about two centuries. The phase directly ahead (2004-2010) prepares the ground for new religions, partly by causing schisms, and by introducing all sorts of weird offshoots, cults, psychic phenomena, etc. The psychic parlors of the early twentieth century return, triple-strength - so do the Blatavatskys and Rasputins. In general, these will flow into the vacuum left by the last decade's scandals (which have not been restricted to Catholicism). We'll see, before 2010, a significant melding of technology, religion and spiritualism. (In general, spirit is the energy or awareness; religion is the box we put it in. Much cruelty comes from those who prize the box over its contents.) 
	
Start Nothing: 4:03 p.m. Sun. to 10:08 a.m. Mon., 6:27 p.m. to 9:02 p.m. Wed., and 11:20 a.m. Fri. to 9:58 a.m. Sat.

Aries   March 21-April 19
Concentrate on your career all week, but don't start new projects. Instead, handle unexpected glitches - and keep your temper, especially Monday, and mid-week. From last June through mid-2005, your career and your home life, usually two very different things, might be unusually entwined. E.g., you \might work in the home, hire your child, work for a parent, end a career to retire, etc. A new energy and will power seeps into you now, but it might not be "useful" until mid-January. Friends come, and you sense a bright future!

Taurus   April 20-May 20
You're mellow, wise, but you might have to handle "fires from the past" - perhaps old loves, old lawsuits, old "history." In January, you'll start a government-related, administrative, spiritual, charitable, or "secret" project. At the same time, affection and approval greet you on your career scene (and with VIPs, authorities, parents) - it will be an excellent time to move to a (higher) management position. But remember, start nothing before January 6. In general, the last seven years of stress and unpredictability on your career/business scene ends now - for decades.

Gemini   May 21-June 20
Life's deep, mysterious, significant. You sense usually hidden or subsurface energies, intimacies. Your skills in research, detective work, and your hunches about big finances, about sex, all are heightened. You'll fare best if you focus these skills/hunches on past matters - avoid jumping into new projects before January 6. A former sexual lure/partner, or a former large investment (or a debt you've run from!) returns. Now through mid-January, the law is on your side. Through early February, your "social courage" and optimism lift - you see the future in absolutely correct terms!

Cancer   June 21-July 22
Investments, debt reduction, intimate attractions, lifestyle changes - these go well now through mid-January. But until January 6, let these be "from the past" - and collect, don't start. For example, a stock bought in the past now rises in value, but any stock you buy now you'll tend to "mishandle." Avoid new partnerships, same period. (Through Thursday this week, your ambitions might conflict with a partner's interests.) Your career receives an injection of determination - through January, you'll "set your course" with skill, wisdom and will power. It's a new start!

Leo   July 23-Aug. 22
Remember, go slowly, alertly, cautiously with work projects.  Finish past duties rather than assume new ones. Through early February, you can be invigorated by new ideas, far travel, foreign-born people, publishing or media "excitement" - or you can get into legal hassles and philosophical arguments if you overwork, try to delegate everything, or argue with head office/government. The lucky side of these is far more likely. (Partly because the first half of January brings relationship affection, happy friends, even love! A former flame might return briefly to "touch" you.)

Virgo   Aug. 23-Sept. 22
If an old flame returned recently, one of three things could happen: now through mid-January, you might end it completely or quickly cohabitate; or, now through early February, you might begin a lust-oriented affair. If a new flame appears, the last choice (torrid affair) is most likely - but whether that's lucky or not, is uncertain. The five weeks ahead focus you strongly on commitments and consequences, especially in large finances and intimate areas. Best not to start anything before January 6. Work's pleasant, co-workers affectionate. Spread your wings Friday!

Libra   Sept. 23-Oct. 22 
The five weeks ahead bring many partnership, love, business, public and relocation opportunities - and challenges. Through Thursday, these matters run into resistance or disapproval from your career or status demands, your parents, or authorities. E.g., if you elope with that handsome pirate, you might lose your position as bank president. On the other hand, you might sign a lucrative contract with a foreign company and escape from your present slave driver. Overall, people/deals/opportunities that appear after January 5 represent better prospects. You're restful all week, but romance, beauty call.

Scorpio   Oct. 23-Nov. 21
Home's sweet, through mid-January. Work's hectic, through early February. Finances, sex, commitments, and your view of the future are "not to be trusted" through January 5. (Your future's brighter than you think!) Romance, beauty and pleasure beckon Sunday, but keep it mild. That hard work appears Monday-Wednesday. Follow safety rules. Relationships draw yet challenge you late Wednesday into Friday - they end well, with a happy Friday success! Look deeply Saturday: more's there than is obvious. All week, on some level, your intellectual or travel urges conflict with duties: duties win. 

Sagittarius   Nov. 22-Dec. 21
Your money luck continues, but you're "in-between" - nothing comes from the past any longer, yet the new won't "kick in" until next week or later. That leaves you plenty of time for romance, mating, dealing with a certain significant yet problematic relationship (in business or love). You could make contact, between now and early February, with someone who could become an important love. You might also, same period, begin a strong creative, speculative or pleasure project. (Wait until January 6 onward if you can.) Communications are affectionate until mid-January.

Capricorn   Dec. 21-Jan. 19
Your energy and charisma remain high - you attract favors, admiration and money! Now through mid-January, you'll learn two secrets that eluded you. The same period brings money luck, and gently supports any sensual forays you make in romance or in creative, beauty areas. Buy clothes or luxury items January 6-13 (not now). Your home (and your will power regarding kids, security, real estate, etc.) get "on track" now through early February. Your new determination here, can cause friction/rifts with your spouse or neighbor this week. So get assertive next week.

Aquarius   Jan. 20-Feb. 18
Continue to pamper yourself - rest, sleep, avoid the competitive, bustling world. Contemplate, renew your soul - and your deeper vision of your future. Despite your weariness, others are attracted, will call you Monday-Wednesday. A social program gets back on track. You might find yourself on more trips, visits and calls than you want. All this communication and travel conflicts with your employment or duties. So do refuse it if you want to. But handle essential paperwork, especially if the government's involved. Buy nothing Sunday/Monday. Romance "peeks at you" Satyrday!

Pisces   Feb. 19-March 20
Your popularity, optimism and social joys continue! But a serious, ambitious note enters relationships now. You might be called back to a meeting with VIPs, or restart a career/business project - wait until January 6 onward, if possible. Until early February, money will flow swiftly to you - and might flow through you if you spend too easily - be a temporary tightwad! Sunday to Thursday, money situations/ambitions might conflict with your romantic or creative urges - let money win for now. Closed-door discussions benefit you now to mid-January - so do intimate talks.

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

				
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