ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS JULY 20 - 26, 2008 All times/dates are PDT. Last June, Maureen treated me to a Europe vacation. In a sunny hotel room in Prague, I started writing the most upbeat, breezy thing I've ever done. But when I returned home to North America (Vancouver) and took up the piece again, I began weighing it down with details, precision and - involuntarily - a more somber mood. In Europe, my "relocated" ascendant is SAGITTARIUS, sign of optimism, cheerfulness and lengthy writing. On the west coast of N.A., it's VIRGO - the sign of detail, practicality, and earthiness. Obviously, it affected my writing. Astrologers have long known that where you live affects your luck, mood, even the events that occur, because your rising sign and degree (30 degrees to a sign) slowly move as you travel east/west (NOT north/south). You might need as much as 2,000 miles to change your rising sign, but as little as 50 miles will change your rising degree. (Often, you can change your entire sign in a much shorter distance. If you were born near the end of one sign, a short distance would take you to the beginning of the next sign. Travel east advances you through the signs: e.g., Leo to Virgo; going west takes you backwards: e.g., Virgo to Leo. (At the equator, the distance around the earth is approximately 24,900 miles, or 40,000 kilometers. So you would give yourself a different "rising degree" simply by moving 111 km, or 69 miles east or west from your present location. At temperate latitudes - say Rome or New York - these distance would be much shorter.) Since the zodiac contains 360 degrees, and each degree "indicates" a different influence, you can, to a certain extent, "choose" your life by choosing where you live. To show how one mere degree can make a difference, look at a few: the 12th degree of LEO describes someone who is gentle, lucky, modest, and favored for inheritance; the 13th describes a powerful, steadfast, skeptical, sometimes sad/sullen person; the 14th, intensely spiritual and artistic, but unlucky with practical affairs; the 15th, many journeys, inborn power, bright mentality, a natural ruler. All are Leo, but what a difference between them! With North America's large commuting distances, many of us "inhabit" one degree at work, another at home. Sometimes, when I have clients for whom nothing has gone right for years, the answer leaps out at me from their cartography charts: they're living under a "bad line" and should move. I reject "spiritual masochism" here (the belief that the client is under this bad line to "learn a lesson"). If moving will improve his/her earthly life, I recommend it. A happy earthly life seldom harms the spirit! Start Nothing: 4:25 p.m. to 6:08 Sun., 11:38 p.m. Tues. to 1:22 a.m. Wed., 4:30 to 6:14 a.m. Fri., and after 9:52 p.m. Sat. Aries March 21-April 19 Rest deeply Sunday eve to Tuesday - you'll want all your energy for the weeks of romance, adventure, creativity, delight and pleasure that await! Emerge to impress the world, to pursue attractive people, Wednesday/Thursday - and on into late August! (One little caution: these very things, romance, pleasure, creativity, etc., wind down some tempting and wasteful paths this year, so have fun, but don't risk your life, your savings, or your heart on a throw of life's dice, not this year. Save your big hopes for 2009.) Money's lucky Friday/Saturday! Taurus April 20-May 20 Social delights and high optimism fill Sunday night to Tuesday. (But take no financial risks Monday daytime.) A month of rest and sluggish physical feelings begins now. You'll feel it by Wednesday/Thursday, as your energy dims. (Despite weariness, these are two excellent days for food, nutrition, real estate, family, agriculture/gardening, security and retirement issues. Build a foundation before things "slip away" on you.) Your energy and charisma rise nicely Friday/Saturday. If you're married, your spouse says, "I love you too." If single, someone might indicate the attraction is mutual! Gemini May 21-June 20 Life "lightens up" Tuesday into late August - you'll abandon stationary duties, take short trips, meet people, satisfy your curiosity, write or call about interesting prospects - the things you love doing! But be wary, the whole time, of being too quick and casual - profundity's better than gabbing, legal contracts better than casual promise, love better than careless friendship. In speech and writing, with paperwork and details, be patient - delays favor you. Rushing can cause embarrassment, unintended rudeness, or make your meaning misconstrued. Social joys, flirtations and new hopes arise Wednesday/Thursday! Cancer June 21-July 22 Monday/Tuesday, cultural events, travel or learning bless you - a revealing glance might hint at your next, new love. Tuesday begins a month of increased ambition and money. The ambition's fine - hold a few conversations about a possible ambitious partnership. (You might blow hot and cold about this, but it holds more promise than menace.) Avoid focusing strongly on monthly earnings, buying/selling, and casual lust - they can be traps, pitfalls of loss, especially around August 9/10. Instead, turn your attention to long-term investments, debt reduction, lifestyle changes - and deep, committed intimacy. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Delve into mysteries Monday/Tuesday, but avoid unsavory things - leave lust, collusion and revenge by the side of the road, where they belong. Sudden illumination might come about a partnership (love or business) or a new money horizon. Tuesday begins a month of increased energy, clout, charisma and luck! But take care, Leo - don't charge heedlessly ahead, disrespect others, display selfishness, nor talk too long. Be as moral as an angel. If you do, you'll succeed! Co-operating is better than independence. Seek others; seek new horizons. Consider relocation. Life's good! Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Exciting meetings occur Monday/Tuesday. The mysterious feeling of Wednesday/Friday is a good introduction to the entire four weeks ahead, which feature background areas, mysticism and spirituality, compassion, succor, charitable organizations, government institutions, retreat, contemplation and quietude. Usually I would advise sinking deeply into these zones to late August, but this time you'd be wise to skip lightly over these areas - immerse yourself in work, helping, service, and serving your dependents instead. This Wednesday/Thursday is great for investment, research, health check-ups and lifestyle changes, intimate vows. Wisdom, inspiration flow Friday/Saturday. Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Sunday brings beauty, romantic feelings or joys with kids. But tackle chores Monday/Tuesday to free your desk for fun, socializing, optimistic plans and entertainment - these will fill the weeks ahead. But remember: this year (and next) the profound is better than the light, in affairs of the heart. Seek deep pleasures, dive into the moment, take risks, don't look too far ahead. As if to encourage you, Wednesday/Thursday bring an exciting meeting. (These days also feature relocation, public, business and contractual opportunities - be diplomatic, eager.) The stakes deepen Friday/Saturday! Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 After a restful Sunday, your romantic and pleasure sensors rise this night through Tuesday. Indulge a bit! Tackle chores Wednesday/Thursday - you'll make good headway. The entire four weeks ahead accents prestige, relations with bosses, parents and VIPs, career and prestige ambitions. Don't buy into the "ambition road" too heavily, as this zone contains various delays, traps and dead-ends for you (through August 2009) - delays actually benefit you. Your better direction would be retreat, quitting, seeking roots, foundations, and real estate security. Work (not ambition) thrives, July/August. Exciting meetings, Friday/Saturday! Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec, 21 After a busy Sunday of trips and talks, sink into deep rest Sunday night to Tuesday. A month of your favorite things begins Tuesday - far travel, higher learning, culture and social rituals, religion, philosophy, legal matters and "elevated love." Don't bury yourself too deeply in these, as they contain certain subtle barriers, pitfalls, delays and dead-ends all 2008 through August 2009. (Delays are actually benevolent.) Instead, try to keep things light, casual - short trips, conversations rather than heavy tomes or legal contracts, newspapers rather than books. Romance calls Wednesday/Thursday! Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Make money or shop Sunday daytime. This evening to Tuesday brings paperwork, short trips and friendly meetings. Tuesday begins a month of big finances (investments and debt) lustful doorways to increased intimacy, deep health issues, lifestyle changes, research, mysteries and commitment. Your dreams could be vivid and memorable. Handle all these zones lightly - do what you need to, without increasing your involvement - subtle traps and disappointments await the unwary. Buy/sell rather than invest/hold. You continue to blow hot and cold about a wedding or legal matter. Romance calls Friday/Saturday! Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Chase money or purchases Monday/Tuesday, but stop short mid-afternoon Tuesday. (The evening brings a refusal - or worse, a "lemon" purchase.) Tuesday begins a month of new horizons, opportunities, exciting relationship prospects, and, generally, fresh air! But it also brings opposition, competition, and the need for diplomacy. (Others hold the trump card.) In general, go "lightly" with all these, from opportunities to relationships to competition, for they can hold subtle traps and dead-ends. Through August 2009, it's not a good time to marry, relocate, litigate nor sign a binding contract. Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Rest Sunday daytime. Your energy and charisma rise this night into Tuesday, but it's not a good time to start major projects. Concentrate on winning hearts. Tuesday begins a month of hard work, machinery, dependents' needs, health concerns and general drudgery. This year (and right into August 2009) don't take your duties or others' demands too seriously. Be no one's slave. Work can actually prevent luckier things happening for you. Contemplate this. If you're a parent, those kids will be healthier without your constantly serving them. Money's lucky Wednesday/Thursday! www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-261-1337. /30/