ASTRAL REFLECTIONS
BY TIM STEPHENS
NOVEMBER 7 - 13, 2004 

	I've noticed in the past that the lunar south node often signals a bubble - and a subsequent crash - in whatever sign it's passing through. That sign's Scorpio from April 2003 to late December 2004. Scorpio rules oil - and oil prices have risen 75 per cent since April 2003. Where is the subsequent crash? Well, we have about seven weeks left. I'd be careful if I were speculating in this commodity right now. 
The south node often brings (or exposes) moral wrongdoing on some level. For example, when it went through the sign of big business (Sagittarius) from October 2001 to April 2003, a wave of corporate scandals erupted - Enron, Worldcomm, Tyco, Elan, and many others. The south node's passage through the oil sign (Scorpio) has already brought several things I predicted for this (April/03-December/04) period: scandals erupted involving fraud in financial companies, mutual funds, and investment banks.  (I missed insurance companies, though you just saw them fall last month.) Big oil wasn't immune: Shell, Royal Dutch, El Paso, and a host of other major energy companies (and many minor ones) revealed their oil reserves were far less than they'd claimed. This one "distasteful surprise" involving the oil companies might have been enough to "fulfill" the south node's message - if so, perhaps oil prices won't collapse before or by December. But, perhaps they will. In any case, caution's the wise stance until 2005. (Actually, oil fell four per cent today, just after I wrote this, so perhaps the "cracks" are already showing.)
_. A lot of readers have been unsettled by my warnings about starting a business project between now and July 16, 2005. There's good and bad news on this. The bad news is that, after a short summer hiatus during which new business starts will be favored - mid-August to October 24, 2005 - the "bad for new business" sign goes up again, from late October 2005 right into November 23, 2006. After this, conditions are good for starting a business until September 1, 2007, and then they grow bad to December 18, 2007, and then good again to January 2009 - actually, all the way to 2014. 
The good news is that these times of difficult conditions for launching new business projects are not particularly bad times for investing in other ways, or in established businesses. For example, the last "difficult" period comparable to now was 1995/96 - a period in which the Dow Industrials climbed fairly straight upward. On the flip side, the Dow can plummet when the planets show it's a good time to start businesses - 1987 was such a time. (When, to everyone's surprise, the biggest crash in history did NOT lead to business failures or unemployment.)  

Start Nothing: 10:32 a.m. to 3:23 p.m. Mon., 8:02 p.m. to 8:05 p.m. Wed., and 5:34 p.m. to 9:56 p.m. Fri.

Aries   March 21-April 19
The accent lies in depths, lifestyle changes, intimacy, investments and large finances, secrets, research, investigation, commitment and consequence. Several "old things" will fall away over the few months ahead, and "new things" will be born. This applies especially to partnerships, marriage, legal entanglements, opportunities, contracts and education. Strong hints about your upcoming changes will arise Monday eve to Wednesday night. Actual changes occur Thursday/Friday. Sexual attractions grow Thursday through mid-December - during the same period, don't be impulsive with investments and debt! A sweet, mellow mood enters Saturday - learn, love.

Taurus   April 20-May 20
You dream of romance, pleasure or a vacation Sunday, but your situation won't allow it just yet (or the one you dream of would not be a suitable mate). Tackle chores Monday-Wednesday - you'll succeed Monday/Tuesday. One or two long-standing duties will disappear over the months ahead, to be replaced by new ones - make sure you're trading value for value! Relationships, opportunities and challenges, contracts, agreements and opposition, relocation, litigation, increased dealings with the public - these occur late Wednesday to Friday, and grow for six weeks to come. Don't fight!

Gemini   May 21-June 20
Rest, seek home and nature Sunday. Romantic notions, pleasure and beauty draw you Monday night to Wednesday. One romance, creative, teaching or pleasure project, or "gamble" will end in the months ahead; another will arrive. Tackle work with a smile; into every life a little drudgery comes. (Especially Thursday/Friday!) Protect your health, eat, sleep and dress sensibly. An interesting job will arrive sometime between Wednesday night and December 25 - your hopes about work, your co-worker socializing, will rise. Don't be drawn into a workplace fight. Saturday brings an exciting meeting.

Cancer   June 21-July 22
A significant romance, creative, artistic or beautifying project, vacation, or relationship with a child might begin this week, especially late Wednesday through Friday. An even more significant "change-over" centers on Monday-Wednesday, though it might take several months to unfold, or become "hugely evident" - one home, job, career (place in the community) might slide away, to be replaced by another. For some, this began about a month ago. You face a new world in these areas - make sure it's a workable new world, financially and with your spouse. You're happy!

Leo   July 23-Aug. 22
The emphasis, this week and next, lies on property, domesticity, parent/kids, nature, stomach, soul, and deep foundational decisions - such as who should go and who should stay in your life. Be slow, thoughtful; get plenty of rest. In business, use this time to build your foundations, systems, and to map out or consolidate territory and markets. You're likely to shed one car, computer system, casual friend or stationery design, and acquire another, in the few months ahead. Be sure it's a practical move. Romantic notions, beauty and pleasure Saturday! 

Virgo   Aug. 23-Sept. 22
Follow your curiosity. In your life, many opportunities come; each is accompanied by a mild little hunch, and by curiosity. You let many of these opportunities quietly disappear due to uncertainty, or loyalty to friends, family or employers. This week and next, let curiosity reign. You owe no one such loyalty that you can't travel, phone or email to "view prospects!" An income source or valuable possession will fade away in the months ahead; another one will grow to take its place. Before embracing this development, check with "practical reality." 

Libra   Sept. 23-Oct. 22
Chase money - but be strictly ethical and realistic. Rest up Sunday; plan quietly Monday morning. Your charisma, effectiveness and energy surge late Monday afternoon to Wednesday, and your money astuteness rises Thursday/Friday, so use these days to get someone's attention, then ask for a raise, contract, sale, favor, etc. Don't push, though. Back away at the first sign of unexpected difficulties, at any whiff of unsavoury associates, glittering but false "opportunities." The six weeks ahead bring a gush of money - bank it, don't spend. You become a "new person" soon!
	
Scorpio   Oct. 23-Nov. 21
Your energy, charisma, effectiveness and sense of timing hit a peak! (But take a recuperative rest Monday p.m. to Wednesday eve. You might sense, these days, that old obligations and money sources are ending, new ones beginning.) Usually I would advise you, in such energetic times, to begin important new projects. But right now (to late December) you could be a little too determined, even aggressive - and charge grimly into the perfectly wrong project. Practice patience, caution and goodwill until at least November 15!  Your sex appeal soars.

Sagittarius   Nov. 22-Dec. 21
Rest; retreat. Dream, reacquaint yourself with nature, spiritual realms, your inner being.  Usually this would be an excellent month to visit psychics, doctors, other advisors or government agencies. But be cautious of these types right now - they could guide you in the wrong direction. This possibility is greatly reduced after November 14. Now through late December, romantic notions or the pursuit of pleasure or self-expression could lead you on a mysterious, illuminating passage through life's depths! An old goal (and social circle) fades; a new one will arise. 

Capricorn   Dec. 22-Jan. 19
A wish comes true this week and during the six weeks ahead - involves a retreat, a buyout or retirement plan, sale of a business, real estate, or a family matter. Make sure a cherished goal fits your life in a practical sense. It's better to decide on a course of action next week than now, while impatience and "temptation" run high. In the months ahead, a new career position or project will be born out of the ashes of the old. (Hints about this exist Monday-Wednesday.) Happiness visits Thursday/Friday! 

Aquarius   Jan. 20-Feb. 18
During the months ahead an ongoing legal, educational, far travel, cultural, religious, social, scientific, statistical or advertising project that you're involved in will disappear, to be replaced by a new one. That old one's already "dead," and the new one is already stirring, as the events of Monday/Tuesday hint. Make sure the new, here, is practical enough to survive! Wednesday night begins six weeks of "extra heat" in your career, status, and VIP-relations sector. Be diplomatic. DON'T make an important career decision/launch Wednesday night through November 14. Saturday's happy!

Pisces   Feb. 19-March 20
Start and finish career projects in November, as December will bring delays and confusion, just as the pressure builds for you to "deliver the goods." Have it wrapped and ready! The two weeks ahead promote far travel, weddings, love, religious/philosophical pursuits, higher education, legal and cultural involvements. Thursday/Friday trigger a six-week long heat/impatience in these matters. Be careful - wait until November 15 onward to decide what to do. Haste creates "blind pride." Monday/Tuesday hint that a new sexual or financial situation will soon replace your present one - be practical!


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


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