ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS SEPTEMBER 12 - 18, 2004 All times/dates are PDT. In October, a new 12-month luck cycle begins, but it's a complex one. We should AVOID launching new business projects or major investments between September 24, 2004, and July 16, 2005. They will have a high failure rate. If you follow the stock market, realize the companies that launch huge new initiatives October/04 through mid-July/05, will tend to suffer defeat. (In 1994-95 society and the economy underwent a similar period.) There are many other areas of life that will succeed for us this year - just don't expect them to lead to prosperity. Accept this year's good feelings as your total reward! In some ways, I hesitate to call the upcoming 12-months a "luck cycle" at all - "caution time" might be more accurate. Some people will succeed hugely, but the general trend looks dicey. This cycle breaks down into three periods. During the first period, October to December 2004, practical realities restrict our luck. E.g., Dad banishes your new boyfriend, or the government refuses to aid your new business project. In the second period, December '04 to July '05, these luck-hampering practical realities continue, but we'll think (to our peril) that we can ignore or overcome them. In the last period, July '05 to October '05, disappearing restrictions will tempt us to over-expand, to follow "big luck" into a dead-end or trap. For example, imagine our great good luck in finding a bank manager who will give us, despite our small salary, a million dollar loan to buy that mansion. The trap appears months later, when we can't meet the mortgage payments, and we lose even our original down payment. (CANCERS should heed this example.) GEMINI, now through June 2006, wisdom calls you toward social connections, popularity, group affairs, entertainment, politics, clubs and associations, and optimistic "future planning" sessions. But desire pulls you (at least through October 2005) toward passionate infatuation, the intense pleasure of the moment, deep self-expression and creativity, gambling and teaching/raising children. You are certain to experience great moments of pleasure and love autumn '04 to autumn '05, but keep your involvement light-hearted. Enjoy romance, creativity, pleasure, etc. when they come to you unbidden, but don't chase them, and don't expect them to co-operate with your monetary needs. If a romance, a creative project or other desirable situation keeps pulling away from your grasp, or if you keep feeling that you'll succeed with it if you can just leap one hurdle, and then another hurdle appears, and another - get out. DON'T gamble on stocks or sports/games - earn by working. Protect your financial position rather than risking it. Start Nothing: Before 2:16 p.m. Sunday, 5:55 p.m. to 9:54 p.m. Tues., and 6:31 p.m. Thurs. to 3:25 a.m. Fri. Aries March 21-April 19 Sunday morning's filled with pleasure or beauty, but get to work later this day through Tuesday - start slowly and cautiously, though; unwelcome surprises could occur Sunday/Monday is you're at all reckless. You could grab a promotion Tuesday! Relationships lure and please Tuesday/Wednesday, but the ultimate outcome might disappoint. Look closely, sceptically, at the "deeper levels" of an investment, offering or sensual "opportunity" Friday/Saturday - con artists say greedy (lustful) people are the easiest to fool. All week, take advantage of your great luck in work, machinery, service zones and similar areas. Taurus April 20-May 20 Start Sunday restfully - sleep in. Romance, beauty, pleasure, gambling, speculation and creative urges flow to you Sunday eve to Tuesday eve - step forward, approach that special person, take that risk - you're a winner now! (These days, and these weeks!) Work flows well Wednesday, but might hit a barrier Thursday. Relationships surge into a sphere of luck, excitement, perhaps of worry and false lures, Friday/Saturday. If you are not passionately involved, why are you with someone? It would be better, at this time, to chase intense, "youthful" or "naïve" love. Gemini May 21-June 20 Though a new luck cycle is coming in late September, the one you're in right now (to September 24) is much more potent and life-changing - don't delay - take a firm step into a new security, home, family situation, etc. You might "acquire" an entirely new family! But our life vessel can only hold so much. So something will end this month, too. You'll break away and form anew Sunday/Monday, and embrace the reward or opportunity or this Tuesday before 5:55 p.m. PDT. Wednesday's for love, beauty. Be non-committal Friday/Saturday. Cancer June 21-July 22 Tackle details at once, especially Sunday eve to Tuesday suppertime. Something in paperwork, a communication, or a travel plan might be the doorway to good fortune. This good fortune might entail or cause a breakaway, perhaps from a work/service situation. Be curious, seek information sources, knock on doors, call, surf the 'net. Home (or a café) family and good food draw you Tuesday night to Thursday. The results of this are better Wednesday than Thursday. Enjoy beauty, romance, creative and pleasure surges Friday/Saturday - just don't bank on them. All's well! Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Keep chasing money - you could strike it rich! The two weeks ahead continue (and cap off or end) a year of earnings opportunities - everything "climaxes" now. Even if you've already made one successful step upward in money in the past year, you could make another one now. The "indications" (or inspirations) of Sunday, Monday and (especially) Tuesday could lead you to the money pot! Casual friends, siblings, travel and communications arise mid-week. DON'T buy real estate (nor contribute to a child's bank account, nor join a deceptive retirement scheme) Friday/Saturday. Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Your energy, charisma, sexual magnetism, determination, will power, assertiveness, and intuitive money sense are at a huge peak! Ignore nay-sayers, forget failures of the past - act now to change your (and your family's) life! This might be as huge and obvious as moving to Alaska, or as quiet and potent as a deep inner decision to turn your life in a new direction. Right now, don't act for money reasons; act in order to fulfill something deep and yearning in yourself. Now is your chance to "control catastrophe." Go! Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Rest, lie low (especially Sunday eve to Tuesday). Conserve strength. However, don't let this prevent you from acting quickly on governmental, retirement, red tape, administrative, institutional, therapeutic and spiritual concerns. These might hold a reward, perhaps a big one, before September 24. Be cautious about would-be partners, lovers, try to avoid relocation - these would weigh you down in future. Wednesday's "boost" hints that you'll soon emerge from 12 months of "low luck" - optimism, restlessness, cheerfulness and friendliness will be your new "song," from late September onward! Buy nothing Friday/Saturday. Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 I'll repeat my advice: join a club, group, new social circle, political party, etc. Seek entertainment, light romance, fun and frolic. Your wishes come true around money, travel, popularity or educational opportunities. Be optimistic, start things, talk over your aspirations with friends. You can impress even strangers now. Embrace life and people - defensive or "survival" postures, while often justified, only impede you now. Yes, problems exist. They "show" late Monday/early Tuesday and Thursday. But successes appear also, Tuesday, Wednesday (despite your weariness) and Friday/Saturday! Higher-ups favor you all September. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Launch a business, chase a promotion, or otherwise pry open the doors to success on a prestige, career or worldly level. Higher-ups will be short-tempered, critical, but they also sense that your talents can sweeten the profit potential for them. Be dynamic but diplomatic. These days need caution: Sunday/Monday (but not too much caution - strive, charge forth, most of the problems belong to others) and Thursday (when money demands care on all fronts). Tuesday/Wednesday promise expansion, luck. The temptation to withdraw, or to achieve in unsavoury ways, might arise Friday/Saturday. Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Bound after opportunities in foreign lands, in advertising, publishing or other media, in higher education, legal circles, the "fame circuit," or in scientific, religious or philosophical studies. Social rituals are filled with fortune, also - if you're single but seriously involved, declare your love. This is one of life's loveliest months for a wedding. Expand in some way, Cap! Next year (October 2004 to 2005) won't be so easy, so act now, at least make a start - e.g., apply for school, even though it might not start for a year. Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Your luck, now and next week, lies in finances, investments, inheritances, lifestyle changes, sex, intimacy, commitments and consequences, research, diagnosis and investigations. Be deeply curious! These matters are highlighted in a fractious way Sunday through 3 a.m. Tuesday, but in a swiftly fortunate way later Tuesday - act fast, act big! Wisdom, love, understanding and perhaps far travel flow to you mid-week. Show love, seek knowledge Wednesday. But beware spending, and work or health restrictions Thursday. Don't chase a prestige position, don't "get ambitious" Friday/Saturday - initial success obscures long-term difficulties. Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Handle relationships ambitiously - make things happen. Marry, divorce, sign agreements, litigate - almost any movement is better than remaining "within yourself." Associations can meet friction Sunday into pre-dawn Tuesday, but the world is a big, beautiful, opportune thing Tuesday daytime - seek, sign, join, love, relocate, whatever. This could be a seminal day, the start or turn that gives direction to the decade ahead. You might see this later, over the two years ahead, as you look back. Dig deep, join deeply, invest, be intimate Wednesday. Avoid legal, other commitments Friday/Saturday. www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. 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