ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS AUGUST 22 - 28, 2004 All times/dates are PDT. John Kerry's a Sagittarian. (Read Sagittarius' message below.) His political fortunes/popularity should peak in September - but August/September might bring a surprising aspect of his character to the fore, or severe criticism from powerful people. Nevertheless, if he can coast until November on the heights he reaches in September, I think he'll beat Bush. South Korea's consumer confidence fell to its lowest level in four years last month. Korea's "gloom" (as the papers are labelling it) should lighten after December '04, but this nation won't return to vibrant trade until late summer 2005. I see the Dow fell another 140 points today (August 6) after a 160-point loss yesterday. This leaves me in a quandary. As you might remember, back in 2001 or 2002 I wrote here that the Dow would probably fall to 6300, and advised buying stocks whenever it went below 7500. Well, the 7500 worked out nicely, twice. But we haven't breached 6300 yet. (It's no magic number; I just picked it out of the air.) But in my Yearly forecast last January (it's on the website) I said the markets would fall in April and August, and that "brave souls" would profit from this. Well, the markets fell last April, some sectors, such as REITS, by 20 per cent. Anyone who bought then (despite my worries/warnings at the time) made a handsome profit. Now it's August and the market's fallen again, to new yearly lows. Here's the problem: has the Dow hit a bottom, and does buying now provide you brave souls with handsome profits over the next few months? Or is the Dow in a longer decline, with, say, a 6300 or 7500 target, perhaps with that target not being reached for months or years? Actually, I suspect both answers are true. I think that by the time you read this, the Dow will be on the road to recovery for at least the short term - so you should have already bought. But if now, in late August as you read this, the Dow is continuing to fall and has not recovered, I wouldn't buy anything, for we could be in one of the long down slopes that should characterize the 2001 to 2010 period. My son's a TAURUS. One of my two daughters has a Taurus Moon. My wife's two daughters both have Taurus Moons. Patterns like this tend to run in families (as the great French statistician Michel Gauquelin proved) and in semi-permanent groups of people gathered for a common purpose such as workers in a firm, or residents of a communal house. One nice thing about Taurus - this sign will rarely upset anyone. The last sign to keep anyone "on edge" is a Taurus. LIBRANS highly value calm, and project calm, but they're seldom calm inside. No signs are as nervous as GEMINI and PISCES. Start Nothing: 1:53 pm Sun. to 2:08 am Mon., 4:13 am to 4:47 am Wed., and 7:58 pm Thurs. to 6:08 am Fri. Aries March 21-April 19 The four weeks ahead bring gigantic piles of work with potentially gigantic rewards. But wait until September 2 onward to begin any new tasks, ventures or projects. (Otherwise, you'll waste gobs of time in detours and., dead-ends.) Use the eleven days ahead to clear away old tasks and obligations. You have a knack in finances, research and intimate situations Sunday, but go slow. Wisdom, mellowness arrive Monday/Tuesday. Your career instincts are "right on" Wednesday and late Thursday - get it done! Old chains are broken Friday/Saturday - embrace new horizons, hopes! Taurus April 20-May 20 The month ahead heats up romance (perhaps with an old flame). You'll have to make a serious decision about love. A lover might have another obligation, or a "weight" curled around their heart. Don't make any love decisions before September 2. The same timing - and a powerful luck - applies to children's welfare or education, beauty, creative projects, speculation, pleasure and sports. Relationships glide along Sunday. Don't plunge into investments, sex or lifestyle changes Monday/Tuesday - think, watch, investigate. Sweet love or compassion, mellow your outlook Wednesday/Thursday. A surprise meeting lies ahead! Gemini May 21-June 20 The 35 days ahead provide a climax to a year of family, home, real estate, security, retirement, agriculture, gardening, soul, healing, and similar trends. Your present luck is huge in all these areas, but even good fortune can be accompanied by upheaval or opposition. Act on your gut instincts. Sidestep one who tries to block your efforts. September could bring a major purchase or sale of property. DON'T begin new projects in any of these areas before September 2 - but you can complete ongoing ones or reprise old ventures. Cancer June 21-July 22 The month ahead brings a bonanza in communications, travel, casual friendships and paperwork. You'll feel as if life dumped a major bag of busyness in your lap - but this bag holds profit and luck, too! Don't invest, nor start new projects before September 2. You'll be "scattered" until then. Sunday's romantic, pleasurable. Duties call Monday/Tuesday - be careful with around tools, driving, personal relations, and expenditures Monday. (Caution Tuesday in legalities, what you say or write.) Relationships - perhaps a slowly growing, special one - fill Wednesday to Saturday. You'll be surprised, pleased! Leo July 23-Aug. 22 The 35 days ahead bring money matters to a lucky, bountiful climax! The financial "crunch" (or surprise or hard decision) of August is essentially over - but don't make a firm decision nor start a money venture before September 2. (In September, both new and old monetary projects will be fortunate, but brand new ones might be luckiest of all. The luck will lie in earning/making money, NOT in property investments.) Until then, take care of business by remaining alert, correcting mistakes, catching up with old obligations, bills, invoices, etc. Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Your energy, pizzazz and charm are tops now! Expansion is imminent - in your own cheerfulness, learning and "vision" - and in "food/shelter" (family, pregnancy, real estate, security, retirement, soul, agriculture, gardening, etc.). The 2004 "crisis" in these areas has peaked and passed (despite Monday/Tuesday's "rumblings"). Yes, you're upset but lucky - the way ahead looks fortunate indeed! Two things. One, don't dither. See your goal and go after it with courage. Two, act/commit after September 1, but before September 25. Wednesday/Thursday toss a "love surprise" in your path. Drive carefully Friday. Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Lie low, rest for the four weeks ahead. Regain your perspective. Consult advisors. Meditate, contemplate. Make contact with your spiritual side. Plan ahead for children, a house down payment, for retirement, etc. Set your life on course from the inside out - begin with a calm, decades-long view. Act after September 1. You could uncover a golden key in governmental, institutional, administrative areas. You might find a tax loophole, or buy a government property for a "song," increase your future pension with the stroke of a pen, etc. Look deeply Wednesday/Thursday! Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Join a special new social circle, club, organization, or political party in the next 35 days. Before September 2, aim for a group you've already met. But try for a brand new group from September 2 to 25. A new association, a new circle, could uplift your life to bright new emotional and/or monetary levels for the decade ahead. This isn't to be missed, Scorpio - conquer any proud reluctance! Recent social "difficulties" or dilemmas are over. This week, an old dream might come true. Life's grand, flirtations, optimism abound! Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 The month ahead emphasizes and blesses your ambitions, career, business, community status and relations with higher-ups, including parents and VIPs. You could take a bigger step upward than you have in over a decade - perhaps the biggest of your life! For some of you, this will be a continuation of other successful moves over the last year. For others, this could be a new, unexpected lucky break. Until September 2, don't start any new ventures - clear the decks, get ready for the unexpected! Career dilemmas have peaked; barriers are melting! Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 A month of relative peace and understanding begins. You'll travel or experience other cultures - perhaps through foreign movies. Legal, higher learning (post-secondary) cultural, ritualistic, media, philosophical, religious, statistical, scientific and similar involvements (love, for some Caps) could reach a quarter-century peak of luck in the next 35 days! Dilemmas or upheavals in these zones have likely just passed, freeing you for forward action - but don't act until September 2 onward, unless a "past connection" is evident. (E.g., solve an old lawsuit; don't start a new one.) You shine Wednesday/Thursday! Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Think deeply about all aspects of your life through September 1. Be ready, in September, to initiate changes. This will be a period of unprecedented growth, change and fertility - you might not see it this way, but in looking back, years from now, you'll see that your life blossomed - IF you make changes. Those changes are most likely - and lucky - in sexual, financial, debt/investment, research, occult, life style and health areas. Dilemmas in these areas (existent for 8 years, apparent for 12 months) are "over." Pregnancy will bless some. Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Relationships fill the weeks ahead. Until September 2, deal only with old or ongoing links. After that, deal with anyone. Your luck will surge if you do any of the following: relocate, sign agreements, seek opportunities, deal with the public, marry, divorce, fall in love, praise or engage with others, co-operate or "join up." (Think about one or two of these Wednesday/Thursday when your "future sight" or optimism/yearning are accurate!) Others will be feisty, impatient, sexy, assertive - but don't be pushed into anything (nor sign anything) before September 2! Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. Www.astralreflections.com. For a reading: 604-261-1337. /30/