ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS NOVEMBER 2 - 8, 2008 Times/dates change to Pacific Standard Time. So far, it looks like my first forecast, that the market downturn of 2008 would be milder than the 2002 one, has been right. A few weeks ago, the Dow descended to about 400 points above the worst bottom in modern times (the 2002 low of 7274 that followed the 9/11terrorist attacks). It's been erratically rising ever since. (Coincidentally, both lows, of 2002 and 2008, occurred in October. The 1987 crash also occurred in October, as did the 1929 crash. October and September often mark record highs and major falls in American markets. If you think about it, when else should a major fall occur than right after a record high? September and October often mark major lows, too. These two months are significant turning points.) So I wouldn't look for a 1929-32 style meltdown, at least not until after the bull rally that should arrive in 2009. I could be wrong about this - if the Dow closes below 7200 this winter, watch out. (Oddly enough, Jim Cramer's recent forecast in the New York magazine, that the Dow should fall to 6300, named the exact figure I said the Dow would hit in 2002. I was wrong, of course.) I suspect the entire 2010-2024 period will be deflationary, but first, I think, we'll see some strong inflation in 2009. What does make the present financial crisis more potentially vast, deep and dramatic than others (including the 2002 crisis mentioned above) is the transit of Pluto this November from SAGITTARIUS (expansion, world trade) to CAPRICORN (hierarchical ambitions and political structures). Pluto's approach to Capricorn has almost shut down world trade (up to 90 per cent of goods are not moving off docks) and brought us the infamous "credit freeze." Capricorn rules winter and freezing. But Cap is also deeply creative and growth-oriented. The world economy might even expand for the next 16 years, but in a more structured, restricted way. Old structures will die off. For all of us, this Sunday, Monday and Tuesday bring two notable occurrences: 1) more planetary squares (squares = problems) than I've seen crowded together in a long time, and 2) a significant hint, or foreshadowing, of the vast 16-year Pluto-in-Capricorn zeitgeist that arrives November 26. Oddly enough, the problems of Sunday-Tuesday seem to have almost nothing to do with the changes these three days foreshadow. In some cases, reacting to the problems could propel us quickly into that decade-and-a-half of Pluto's changes. I've tried to outline the present problems and future changes for you below, if it applies to your sign. (To read in more depth about this change and how it will affect you, click on "Pluto" on the left-hand menu of the astralreflections.com site.) Start Nothing: 1:41 a.m. to 3:13 a.m. Sun., 10:47 p.m. Mon. to 4:01 p.m. Tues., and 1:33 a.m. to 2:43a.m. Fri. Aries March 21-April 19 Mysteries and urges arise from the depths. Research, be curious; listen to your hunches and intuition. Major changes lie ahead, in career, status, relationships, finances and parenting roles. Sunday-Tuesday give you some early hints of these - and more than hints. Some "early shifts" could occur in relationships, agreements, government and institutional connections. DON'T begin a new love or friendship Sunday/Monday. Don't worry, either. All events are marching to an end that is meaningful, different, and not boring! You see a bright, hopeful future Wednesday/Thursday. Retreat, rest and contemplate Friday/Saturday. Taurus April 20-May 20 Relationships, opportunities, new (and far) horizons, and challenges/oppositions are emphasized. Be diplomatic, as others hold the cards - and they're a bit impatient, temperamental. Tuesday onward, they are going to start telling you exactly how they feel and what they want. All is not grief here, though. There's a "sweet meeting spot" between you and others: it's where sex, finances, intimacy, or other deeply consequential "mergings" take place. This opportunity to merge is open to November 11, so don't be too coy. (However, seek no agreements Monday.) Happiness visits, Friday/Saturday! Gemini May 21-June 20 Major changes loom in sexual, financial, research, occult, health, lifestyle, and structural zones. These will come late November onward (for years) but this Sunday to Tuesday shows you hints of the forces that are gathering - or it might highlight the ongoing problems and barriers that demand major changes. In this regard, these few days could bring explosions of note in communications, legal, travel, publishing or educational zones, home and family, career, and, ultimately, finances. Wow, quite a list - but you'll handle it, maybe even eagerly cause it! Success, Friday/Saturday! Cancer June 21-July 22 Romance, love, raising and teaching children, beauty, pleasure - all are accented. An ambitious motive runs through these areas this month (has to some degree since 1990). This isn't good - e.g., chasing the boss often leads to exploitation and disappointment. Your relationships in general enter a huge "transformation zone" from November 26 to 2024. That ambitious streak will be replaced by pure motives, pure attraction/love. You'll run into the present problems that future "real attractions" will solve - Sunday to Tuesday. "Wrong-headed" agreements, relationships or opportunities fall apart - that's good! Leo July 23-Aug. 22 The main emphasis lies on your domestic sphere, property, security, gardening, nutrition, and soul. This is a hibernation period for you (to November 20) so sink in and enjoy it. Sunday to Tuesday brings up many questions, many obstacles, especially in relationships, finances and earnings, sex, and lifestyle changes. Many of these problems will be solved (or become irrelevant) from November 26 to 2024. A vast - perhaps slow, subtle - change is coming (late this month onward) to your work, duties, relations with dependents, and health zones. Valuable "keys" Friday/Saturday! Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 This is not a strong time, so turn your attention toward watching, learning, communicating. Follow your curiosity. There is one big thing to learn Sunday to Tuesday. These three days heighten your romantic, pleasure and beauty responses. But they also bring various problems to a head, all of them rooted in relationships. You want security and/or an affectionate home, but your spouse or another wants to climb, to seek ambitious goals. The best solution might be if both parties can chase their goals in "one place." Friday/Saturday bring accord. Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Sunday to Tuesday brings a significant foreshadowing of the entire 16 years ahead. These three days bring tough problems or barriers in romance, creativity, work, health, and/or with government agencies, management, or institutions. Yet these problems themselves seem to trigger an ultimate solution. You could say, "No more!" or bravely break through a barrier. DON'T act self-destructively (e.g., drink, escapism). This doesn't mean that the November/08-to-2024 period will feature problems - only that present problems - and their solution(s) - will usher in major change, perhaps a change of home. It might exhilarate! Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Your charisma, effectiveness, and energy continue high - you're on a winning streak! Start important projects, seek favors, request an audience. A flurry of problems fills the first three days, but these are mostly other's problems - be sympathetic, but don't get drawn in where hurt feelings and grudges could result. Your own love life might be challenged too - or you could find it hard to communicate with someone you're sweet on. Discretion might be the best tack - you'll be able to speak your heart Friday/Saturday. Rest Tuesday eve: something ends. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 A decade of "quiet hurt" will end late this month. Yet this good ending might come via a confluence of irritations, problems or barriers, all highlighted Sunday-Tuesday. The problems are mostly related to domestic and property situations, to parent-child things. You might find it difficult to communicate your worries or your anger. Listen, Sage: it hardly matters. You'll soon leave this "situation" far behind. Until 2024, you'll pursue money with a single-minded determination. Don't let this interfere with your high ethics. (If you do, you'll lose your money drive.) Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 You might have felt a shift (or merely stared at fate and recognized it) last January to June. If that was a freeing, empowering time of setting new goals and wanting new social contacts, then rejoice, for late November will bring this again, through 2024 - lots of time to achieve your biggest, farthest, cherished goals! But if those six months brought despair, sadness, withdrawal, then slap yourself and turn around - new goals (and methods) ARE needed. With determination, rethinking and faith, you'll enter a whole new, fulfilling life! Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 The accent lies on ambition, career, relations with higher-ups and parents, and your community status. VIPs remain temperamental, impatient, so keep your sense of humor, and don't push anyone too hard - but don't let worry steer you, either. Chase your goals, especially Wednesday/Thursday, when your charisma, energy and effectiveness rise, and Friday/Saturday, when you're lucky in earnings and money interests. Early week (Sunday to Tuesday) you might run into various barriers and frustrations in financial, earnings, sensual, possessive, social and career zones. You can fight, or flow - flowing wins. Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 The accent's on legalities, wisdom, understanding, love, cultural passages, far travel, higher education, publishing, scholars and foreign born people. You'll feel upbeat, optimistic, flirtatious and friendly Sunday to Tuesday. Nevertheless, a relationship situation that's been growing for about a year builds to a climax now. He/she wants a commitment, and represents a promising, "dutiful" future - but you have other ambitions, you're vibrant with potential and adventure, alertness and possibility. Stay free for now, Pisces - a hugely different future, social circle, and set of goals looms, late November into 2024. www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-261-1337. /30/