ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2008 All times/dates are PDT. TAURUS is the zodiacal sign of music, but life seems filled with GEMINI song-meisters: Judy Garland, Alanis Morriset, Laurie Anderson, Bob Dylan, Tom Jones, Vic Damone, Josephine Baker, Kenny G., Joe Cocker, Bernie Taupin (Elton's lyricist) Dean Martin, Rosemary Clooney, Lenny Kravitz, Gladys Knight, and Paul McCartney. Something about songs fits Gemini's character: they're short (Gemini hates long) and they're usually clever, and (sorry, let's admit it) a bit superficial_ If Gemini wanted to be an animal, it would be a butterfly, a bird, or perhaps a ferret_ Oil's price surge might be one of the more benevolent ironies of life_speculators and China forcing us to reduce carbon emissions simply via our pocketbooks_ (Nevertheless, I did forecast wrongly on this one)_ Just as I decided to write no more about Barack, Hillary and McCain, a reader pointed out an unexpected possible consequence of an Obama victory. "H," from Vancouver, noted that this city's recent appointment of a police chief of Chinese descent seemed to embolden the Asian underworld, triggering months of gang warfare and many deaths. She envisions a kind of lynch pin, holding back pent-up energies, being released by the appointment to high office of an ethnically identifiable member - a kind of "entitlement signal" that the violently-inclined take as a strange permission to act up. Perhaps there's something to this - call it the Jeremiah Wright Syndrome. She worries that America, historically a powder keg of racial tensions, might suffer the same fate - though on a much bigger scale - if Obama is elected chief executive. (Before you send me any castigating emails, that's her opinion, not mine.) Another Obama note: some months ago I mentioned that the lunar south node was, all 2008, traveling through Leo, Barack's zodiacal sign. This spring, it was in late Leo, where Bill Clinton's birth Sun resides. What happened to Bill was classic south node stuff - his personality's failings emerged, he made unfortunate comments, and his ensuing anger and self-pity tarnished his reputation. Unfortunately for Hillary, the south node was in her political and reputation sign - and hitting her planet of communication. (Remember her comments about "whites," assassination, etc.) This autumn, including Election Day, the south node is in early Leo, where Obama's Sun resides. I'm not saying he'll lose, but that his personality will show its worst side. Past karma will be lurking, waiting to slip its account under the door. On the bright side, by early 2009 that node begins to recede from Obama's sign. And good character can dampen the node's effects. Start Nothing: 11:43 p.m. Sun. to 1:03 a.m. Mon., 0:08 a.m. to 0:53 a.m. Wed., and 1:13 p.m. Thurs. to 1:15 a.m. Fri. Aries March 21-April 19 The accent lies on home, property, family, security, retirement, gardening, nature, rest and "muscle therapy." Yield to feelings of sluggishness; take short naps. Let your career efforts ebb for a little while - you remain lucky in ambitious spheres, but everything needs a rest period. Soon, work will intensify with two new projects - gather your second wind in preparation. Be careful with money and purchases Sunday. Monday/Tuesday bring messages, short trips and daily contacts - a possible "destined meeting" leads to wisdom, school entry, or far travel. "Unstable" romance attracts Friday/Saturday. Taurus April 20-May 20 The main emphasis lies on errands, short trips, details, paperwork, casual contacts and communications. Be curious. A seven-week trend of impatience on the home front, or with kids/parents, ends mid-week. In its place comes a seven-week intensification of romance, creative and speculative ventures, and pleasure pursuits. You might receive a "deep clue" about these Monday. Monday also favors pouncing on a financial, debt, investment, intimate, lifestyle or partnership solution (rather than opportunity, though the two are often similar). Anyway, it's the end of friction and the start of pleasure! Gemini May 21-June 20 The weeks ahead focus luckily on money, possessions, memory, learning and gathering "facts," and casual sensuality. (If you're unattached, you might link up with a pleasant person for awhile, but it isn't life-mate stuff.) Tuesday begins seven weeks of intensity, hope and heat on domestic fronts. Avoid friction with family members - instead, use this energy to landscape, repair, build and garden. (Don't fertilize excessively.) You might invest in property - be cautious, not impulsive! A showdown looms - mid-August - with your partner. Could be the last big one for about two decades! Cancer June 21-July 22 Your energy, charisma, and effectiveness are at a yearly high -- go after what you want, ask favors, deal in person rather than behind a veil of emails, telephone, etc. Start significant projects. You'll win in competitive situations. Now to late November, a tide in your affairs sends you back to practical involvements. A significant clue to these five months comes Monday, if you're alert - it's contained in a success, perhaps a lucky event or opening, in career, financial, work, machinery, health and such zones. You'll have to travel! Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Lie low, rest and contemplate, especially Wednesday/Thursday, when your energy hits a low spot. Attend to management, administration, governmental and institutional matters. Be charitable, but also look after your own interests. The next seven weeks bring increased money flows - gather what comes, but don't spend - bank it, or you could end up poorer than you started! Additional income could be linked to teaching, far travel, a foreign contact, a legal affair or - yes, love. Monday/Tuesday signal a turning point in these things. You'll understand, and your optimism will rise! Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Popularity, optimism, flirtations, dreams and wishes, bright plans for the future, entertainment and social delights fill this week and the next two. A significant secret flows by you Monday, just waiting for you to catch it - could be in a book, a comment, or something you see. It concerns home, family, your security or a property deal and a lifestyle change - perhaps a lustful situation or a tempting investment. Wrap these up, rather than launch. What tempts now will only attract you to November. Tuesday onward, new attractions build! Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Perhaps a partnership came close to ending or transforming over the last 5 months. A pause, a peacefulness entered recently - it will last to November, then you'll face the need for transformation again. If you're married to (or in business with) a Leo or Aquarian, realize they hate change and will refuse, deny, fight back - and finally embrace it! Sunday/Monday might bring you an insight into all this (and into a possible relocation). Spend July and August contemplating changes - avoid marrying, relocating these months - and belligerent people. Joy comes, Friday/Saturday! Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 A mellow mood fills your days. You understand love - but lust and greed fight love and risk this week. You're ready to get intimate, to invest, to make a commitment to a person, a lifestyle, or other "program" that could change your life. Be wise. Go ahead with minor financial changes and commitments, but leave huge outlays aside (all 2008). In emotional spheres, ask: what use is successful intimacy without love? This week is bumpy, event-wise. Relationships strain Sunday, repair Monday, and bring lucky excitement Wednesday/Thursday. Don't invest Friday/Saturday. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Mysteries, discoveries, subconscious desires and hunches, research, and altering your life through financial, sexual, intimate, lifestyle and/or health actions - these are slated. You'll get one of three results if you push these areas - slow but steady steps forward, sudden, unexpected opposition from someone, or an equally sudden, lucky leap forward. So do push, the odds are good! Tuesday begins seven weeks of temperament and impatience from bosses, parents and VIPs - be diplomatic, eager and responsible. You might (next week onward) begin a creative money/career project. Avoid home-spouse friction Friday/Saturday. Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Relationships come alive. You might sense "movement under the surface" early week. This holds something potentially good for you - a last minute investment success, solution to a health/medical puzzle, or valuable information that (however it appears) holds some future security for you, or presages a strengthening of your domestic or property standing. You feel sweet toward someone, and he/she to you - express this Wednesday/Thursday. A mutual admiration society results! Tuesday begins seven weeks of heightened intensity in intellectual, media, travel and love zones - strictly avoid legal hassles, same period. Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Work piles up, especially Wednesday/Thursday. Dive in and slog away - you'll succeed! Protect your health; eat and dress sensibly. A conversation early week might show the road to making a dream come true, particularly a career goal. This influence might even signal a relationship or negotiation success, at the last minute. If one of these occurs, you'll have until late November to build upon it, work with it and/or seal the deal. Relationships excite but are unstable, unreliable Friday/Saturday. Tuesday begins seven weeks of heightened sexual and financial desires. Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Expect emotional excitement - triggered by physical beauty if you're young, by another beauty if you're mature. Your creative, musical, romantic, adventurous and speculative side emerges strongly, especially Wednesday/Thursday. You'll tend to win when you take risks - but take none Sunday or early Monday. (Later Monday - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. PDT - you might grab a late, great chance to increase your long-term earnings via work/career.) Tuesday begins seven weeks of intensified relationships - anger could mask attraction, so don't be quick to dismiss anyone. Be diplomatic. An income partnership looms. www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-261-1337. /30/