ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS APRIL 23 - 29, 2006 All times/dates are Pacific Daylight. Received an email from a VIRGO who worried that Saturn was this sign's love planet. - "Saturn's 'heavy,' isn't it?" - Yes, Saturn's a serious, sober, deep influence, and it rules romance for Virgos. But most Virgos I know shrink from light, frivolous, romantic "gaiety" - it makes them feel self-conscious. Virgos hate to "compete" in "merriness." So Saturn suits them perfectly. Saturn is restrictive and serious, yes, but there is a deep joy in this planet. It's the joy of nature in her more massive forms - the secret vastness of mountains, fields of wheat throbbing under the wind, massive scuds of clouds, these are Saturn. Virgo yearns for an intelligent, deep, practical, earthy, sensuous love, and Saturn's all that. There is no such thing as coincidence. From September 2007 to July 2010, Saturn moves through Virgo for the first time in three decades, bringing serious romance. In 2008, Pluto, the sex planet, moves into Virgo's romance sign, for the first time in over two centuries, bringing sexy romance. (It stays there until 2024.) And Jupiter, the jolly bringer of luck and cheerfulness, spends 2008 in Virgo's romance sign, for the first time in 12 years. It brings lucky, cheerful romance. Not once (the usual event) but twice in 2008, Venus, the planet of love, travels through Virgo's romance sign. Just to prepare for all this, Mars, Virgo's sex planet, spends six times the usual stay in Virgo's sign of flirtation, hopes and new contacts in October to December 2007 and March, April, May of 2008. Happily married Virgos and confirmed hermits won't need to run out and have an affair. These "love influences" - all three of them - also apply to children, creative projects, and the simple beauty and pleasure of living. More than one Virgo will buy a farm or place in the country in 2007 (best before September) - and set the barn up as a studio or workshop, and plunk themselves down with those paints, writing gear, patent papers, or other creative ventures by 2008! All those potent planets traveling through Virgo's sign of love (except Mars) are actually setting up house in Capricorn. Virgos melt for Capricorn, and Capricorns find Virgos oddly fascinating. These planets have a deep effect on Virgo's heart - but they'll reserve their most powerful effect for Capricorn. Simultaneously, all these planets will also travel through Taurus' sector of gentle love, and could bring weddings, far travel, higher education, fame/publishing or other happy things to this sign. Virgos, Capricorns and Taurus will form the great love landscape of 2008! Start Nothing: 5:35 p.m. to 11:12 p.m. Mon., 6:44 p.m. Wed. to 0:27 a.m. Thurs., and 6:31 p.m. Fri. to 2:58 a.m. Sat. Aries March 21-April 19 Chase money - after Monday a fortunate emphasis lies on buying/selling, income, memory tasks, sensual motives, casual affairs, and possessions. Ask for a raise in pay, seek new clients, expand your business, etc. Sunday/Monday might bring a disappointment in a speculative investment, in love, or in business generally. Thursday morning is similar, so avoid entering deals at these two times. Short money (earnings, etc.) is more reliable than investments - restrict the latter to buying old, broken, or "failed" things. Now through May, a domestic project is better than domestic tension. Taurus April 20-May 20 Your energy, charisma, effectiveness and luck surge upward this week and the next few! Your luck this year lies in relationships, relocation, opportunities, negotiation, contracts, partnerships, and dealings with the public. So charm your way into agreements, etc! But realize: eventually, if those you deal with fail, so will you. (For example, if you sell a bunch of bad scooters to the public, at first the public hurts, but eventually your business dies.) So be fair, especially April 24, 29, and May 8, 11. Otherwise, charge ahead - expect success! Gemini May 21-June 20 Lie low, rest and contemplate, especially Thursday/Friday, when your energy ebbs. Study your circumstances and the personalities involved, then make careful plans for the future. (You'll act on them late May through June, and again in August - but really big plans, especially those involving marriage, relocation, employment, and writing or media tasks, should be left until late November onward before you enact them.) Make career plans Sunday, avoid all plans Monday, and envision a sweet, friend-filled future Tuesday noon through Wednesday. Spiritual, charitable actions win Thursday/Friday. Don't disappoint the government! Cancer June 21-July 22 Wishes come true over the weeks ahead! You'll feel sociable, popular, flirtatious, and optimistic. Legal, far travel, media, educational, philosophical and love problems can be solved, especially Sunday and Thursday. New approaches succeed. Your sexual magnetism is heightened now to early June - as are your determination and will power. Sunday's mellow, but watch your ambitions Monday - don't spend, and avoid negotiations. A partner doesn't agree about money or your goals. Be ambitious Tuesday/Wednesday - "destiny" favors you. Happiness, flirtations, and big hopes arrive Thursday/Friday. Rest, withdraw and contemplate Saturday. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Be ambitious. Show higher-ups what you can do, especially Thursday/Friday. Your community responsibilities and parenting role come into focus. Sunday blesses you in research, secret knowledge, intimacy and lifestyle changes (especially if these involve home, real estate or family). But do not invest Sunday/Monday (and even after this, never invest in a proposition you first met Monday). Strictly avoid legal hassles and collusive actions through early June. Legal, educational, religious, love, media and far travel concerns brighten Tuesday noon (NOT morning) through Wednesday. High hopes, popularity Saturday! Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Compassion and understanding grow - you feel mellow, gentle. Pursue love, far travel, legal matters, education, culture, media, religion and philosophy, especially Thursday/Friday and the first week of May. You could meet a very sexy person or a good money or research contact at a social function now to early June, or you might pursue an investment with the wings of hope sprouting from your feet. (And perhaps rightly so - but examine it first. These themes arise luckily Tuesday p.m., Wednesday.) Sunday (the 16th) brings excitement, but what about wisdom? Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Until late May, mysteries, secret knowledge, investments, mutual money, debts, sexual intimacy (and temptations) pregnancy and lifestyle changes arise. Various doors will open for you in these zones, especially Tuesday afternoon to Friday, and next week. But study situations well before entering - a "harmless" casual agreement or discussion about money, possessions or a sensual situation could open a cosmic laundry chute (with you the laundry) especially Sunday/Monday and April 28 to 30. Higher-ups are temperamental to early June, but you're ambitious, determined and you spy opportunities. Step lightly, and grin! Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 The weeks ahead offer you many opportunities, in love, partnership, contracts, relocation, and public dealings - but avoid these before Tuesday, even though Sunday's excitingly romantic. Even where others oppose you, you can turn their enmity to favor and friendship with your newfound optimism, friendliness, and luck! The only sectors that lack a buoyant "updraft" are legal fights - avoid these - and career, especially if you work in intellectual, travel or media fields. In career, it's hard work and hard biscuits, for 16 more months. You'll be rewarded for this - eventually. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 The month ahead emphasizes work, chores, dependents, machinery and health. Your duties might interfere with urges to love, travel afar, attend higher schooling, or just daydream - but what you neglect now can come back to restrict you later. So buckle down, especially Monday and Thursday/Friday. Your domestic situation remains sweet, affectionate - yet you might be (unconsciously?) aiming to change it. (April 29/30 provides strong clues.) Until early June, you feel powerful impulses in sexual, research and investment/financial areas - look before you leap, avoid debt, but don't repress these urges - live! Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Romance, beauty, pleasure, speculation, creativity, sports, games, children's affairs, and a winning streak - these visit you during the weeks ahead! (Especially Thursday/Friday, and the first seven days of May.) But this isn't a gentle idyll - events will take place with a heated intensity. If you're single, a powerful relationship could begin - is it love, anger, or just heat? Let time tell. Be understanding through May, as all relationships, even in business, transpire with a streak of passion or impatience. You might end an association. Don't share secrets this week. Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Focus on your domestic scene: children, seniors, real estate values, gardening, nature, diet and your soul, especially Thursday/Friday. Find that deep, core goodness again. Chase money Sunday, but steer clear of all finance - and purchases - Monday to Saturday. Relationships, agreements, love - all wear a gray cloud Monday. Something nice, something social, occurs Tuesday/Wednesday. Be hopeful; soak up life's happiness! Saturday brings a hint of romance, beauty and pleasure. Hectic work confronts you until early June, so balance this with your very real need for rest and sleep. Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Communications, dialogues, paperwork, short travel, casual friends and contacts, details and errands take up your time until late May. Be curious - you could discover paths, information, ideas that later lead to security, profit or creative success. Until early June, passion calls you - your courage and determination leap upward in romance, creativity, and speculative ventures. Your energy and charisma surge Sunday - love, travel, news, ideas flock to you! But take care with employment matters this day and Monday. All week, beauty/pleasure conflicts with your reputation or career demands. Make money Wednesday! www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-261-1337. /30/