ASTRAL REFLECTIONS
BY TIM STEPHENS
JANUARY 4 - 10, 2004

	All times/dates are PST.
	A new year! Numerologically, 2004 is a 6, the number of domestic joys, peace and servitude, of employment and employees, of dependents, pets and animals kept for work or profit, service people, daily health and nutrition. It's a predominantly practical number. 2003 was a 5 - a number of gambles, speculation, creativity, beauty and romance. Such things are hard to see in a national or international sense, but two clues came: 1) the stock market was a gambler's paradise, and 2) the fortunes of Vegas casinos improved immensely. These trends should fade in 2004.
	As if to emphasize the practicality point, Jupiter spends nine months of 2004 in the practical sign of VIRGO. I've already mentioned many of the effects of this in previous columns: the expansion of grain harvests, the prudent stock market outlook, etc. For us as individuals, Jupiter will promote practical luck (though for TAURUS, PISCES, SCORPIO and CAPRICORN, romance in some form is a definite part of this luck!).
	Last week, Uranus moved into Pisces for a seven-year stay. Uranus always affects us on some "alert" level. It shocks and jolts, brings unexpected events and meetings. Uranus rules electricity, political revolts, activism, and is often involved in crashes and explosions. (When I predicted the Challenger crash in this column decades ago, it was Uranus' position that indicated the trouble.) Uranus is often involved in insomnia, stress, and nervous conditions. (For instance, I have Uranus very close to my Sun, and my hands have trembled since I was a teenager.) People who have Uranus prominent in their birth chart often have a gamin look - bright eyes, elfin face. They are often unusual people, difficult to predict, to argue with (reason with!) and to pin down. Uranus types fascinate LEO people, but between these two, argument is as likely as love.
	In Pisces, this planet of shock and revolt (and of all technologies connected to electricity) will be plying its mischief in the sign of spirituality, oceans, and dreams. That's why, last week, I marked out the second phase (2004-2010) of terrorism and religious change.
	I've mentioned the Uranus effect for many of you in the sign messages below - wherever it says "seven years." For a more complete forecast of Uranus' effect in your life now through 2010, read the "Uranus" article in the platform section of www.astralreflections.com. Don't be thrown by the article's assertion that Uranus entered Pisces in March last year - it did, then it exited backward (retrograded) from September to December 2003 - now it's back in the beginning of Pisces, for a 7-year voyage.

Start Nothing: 3:14 p.m. to 10:38 p.m. Mon., 12:00 p.m. Wed. to 9:38 a.m. Thurs., and 2:00 p.m. to 6:37 p.m. Sat.

Aries   March 21-April 19
Your hard work this year will yield later rewards. January heightens your ambitions, but this week provides a rest, a chance to prepare, before you hurtle forth. Gather facts, make contacts, take care of busy details Sunday/Monday. (Sunday night's sweet, affectionate.)  Settle into nature, family, and contemplation Tuesday/Wednesday. Prepare the ground ambitious action. (E.g., get your suit and tie ready.) Romance, pleasure, beauty, creative urges - and a touch of exhilarating risk - arrive Thursday to Saturday. Good work news! The seven years ahead bring "private friends" with whom you'll share confidences.

Taurus   April 20-May  20
January's mellow, brings understanding, religious or philosophical thoughts. Legal, international, intellectual, media and travel matters begin to "lift" from recent delays charge forth with these Wednesday, or next week (January 11) onward. Money's lucky Sunday, perhaps Monday - but buy nothing important. Travel, talk and paperwork mid-week. You face success in love, and joy in nature, earth, and home Thursday to Saturday. A former sexual or financial matter is solved or somehow "makes sense" now. The seven years ahead reduce your career/status stress, and promote your social life. Popularity's coming!

Gemini   May 21-June 20
January features big finances, major changes, lifestyle commitments, sexual and intimate bonding, research, occultism, intuition, subconscious urges. For best success, aim yourself toward family, healing, nutrition, base, roots, real estate. (E.g., sex = baby = family. Or invest in a house.) The seven years past have brought mental alertness. The seven ahead transform your mind into a saleable commodity on the career scene. Travel, education, foreign countries/people, publishing or law might form a part of your work. But you'll have to avoid stress - fresh country air is your best curative.

Cancer   June 21-July 22
January emphasises relationships, relocation, agreements and disagreements, opportunities and challenges. Be diplomatic, eager to join. That won't be entirely easy, since you're not terribly "eager" about anything right now. "Sceptical" would be more correct. Work matters get cleared up this week and next. Your ambitions find focus and will power this month - go after your goals. Communications, travel will aid you. The seven years ahead bring a new alertness, an adventuresome curiosity - and an end to disappointing financial "surprises." Lie low, rest Sunday/Monday. Your energy, charisma rise Tuesday onward!

Leo   July 23-Aug. 22
Love matters clear up this week and early next. If you're single, you could meet someone attractive, sparkly rather than sultry. This person has a strong mind, powerful and steady "impulses." He/she might not be a long-term mate, because your relationship won't be exactly romantic - it's more a "working relationship." Still, it's nice! January ends seven years of relationship "challenge" - both the excitement and the conflict die down. The seven years ahead move you deeper, into the private, intimate, secret-sharing, or heavily financial side of associations. Money luck Friday!

Virgo    Aug. 23-Sept. 22
January brings romance, beauty, creativity, joys from children. It also begins a seven-year period of exciting - and erratic, unpredictable, friendly - relationships. (You had a taste of this influence last March to September.) You'll be involved with groups, perhaps activist, humanitarian or political ones - perhaps as a part of your job. Two family, security or real estate matters are solved this week or early next. Chase your career Sunday/Monday. Your popularity rises midweek - optimism, happiness reign! Rest, retreat, security, government agencies, real estate, spas, hospitals yield luck Thursday to Saturday.

Libra   Sept. 23-Oct. 22
The accent's on home, family, nature, gardening, soul, stomach, nurturing. You'll feel sluggish - digest the trends of your life, and decide who/what stays, who/what should fall away. January determines your future direction, so be astute, decisive and, above all, courageous. Your romantic, beauty-sensing side "speaks" now. This month you might meet a life mate, or a natural partner is business, friendship. Better if it occurs after January 21 than before. For seven years, romance will tend to arise at the workplace. Same period, your work grows much more creative.

Scorpio   Oct. 23-Nov. 21
The seven years ahead will bring two seemingly contradictory things: a huge gradual fall in your stress levels, and a parade of unstable romantic, creative, or speculative adventures. You'll be chasing Alice through Wonderland. Welcome new feelings, ideas, and odd people. This is a necessary prelude to true love for singles, to creative success for artists, to vast horizons of joy for parents - all to come 2010 onward. First, you have to go through the "wonderland" that's coming up. This week, a money matter clears up. Home's sweet, affectionate.

Sagittarius   Nov. 22-Dec. 21
You'll regain your bearings this week and next, especially about a key relationship, a possible relocation, career goals, and in earning and spending areas. Communications are affectionate. If a romance (or creative project) starts in the next four weeks it could be a constant future source of pleasure (inspiration). Better if it begins after January 5, even better if after the 14th, and best after the 21st. The seven years ahead will bring at least one major home change. You'll be restless. Prevent stress (2004-2010) by exercise, outdoor air.

Capricorn   Dec. 22-Jan. 19
Your magnetism, energy and effectiveness rise even more - indecision ebbs. Monday night (Tuesday morning for some) strikes a friendly, comradely note. It's a hint of a major rise in friendship, group activities, travel and communications for the seven years ahead. Much of this will be connected to your income. The last seven years have brought very erratic money/income trends: these cease, giving you peace at last. Money's evenly, mildly lucky through mid-January. All month, you'll be making new, sure steps in security, family and property areas (including "business territory" issues).

Aquarius   Jan. 20-Feb. 18
Yield to weariness: rest, connect again with spiritual, family and governmental currents. Contemplate, meditate and fill out tax forms (no, not simultaneously). Life's sweet - and perhaps even busier than you'd like. Tackle some essential new paperwork - after January 5.  The seven years ahead usher you gently off the tense, whirling platform of "self-discovery" you've been on since 1996. Expect money and spending (and to some degree sex) to grow more erratic. If you're careful and willing to contemplate long before you act, these can be seven fruitful money years!

Pisces   Feb. 19-March 20
A career, parenting, prestige or business matter will clear up - four "items" here will be "solved." Money flows to you all January - this is the culmination or payoff for your efforts since last June. But it's also a beginning, so look for great new income ideas, take forward steps boldly, forget shyness, hesitation. But do NOT spend - what seems like a necessary expenditure is not! Your private life is sweet. The seven years ahead "energize you" - so avoid high stress, breathe outdoors air. Your spiritual side will grow hugely.

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

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