ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS AUGUST 1 – 7, 2010 All times/dates are PDT. Mercury retrogrades mid-day August 20, so we should all get our projects in gear a.s.a.p. I’d be wary of starting any new, big project after August 6 or 7.... A few more of those “T-square” aspects culminate this week. As I said before, the main “events” of this historic aspect will probably be “smooth” yet massive – e.g., the passing of world leadership from America to China. Think of the extreme possibility: if China starts making big items at one-fourth the price of U.S./European manufacturers: cars, planes, nuclear reactors, tractors: then deflation must ravage western societies. Wages, house prices, etc. must drop – in half? Worse? – simply because the west cannot earn the money. This change takes 10-20 years, but is massive. Less certainly, we might see an outbreak of hostilities around August 3, or difficult news on industrial fronts. Perhaps massacres where governments are weak – e.g., Africa. As I forecast several years ago, blacks generally, and Africa especially, are entering a new, more powerful, hopeful and productive role. (The FIFA World Cup this summer was an early example.) Africa’s climb will entail a revolution in land ownership, and in some cases revolt. We’ll see some of this before June 2011. I suspect more bad news for the (U.S.) housing market this week. Some shocking murder or rape incidents, but that’s hardly a prediction. Love planet Venus grows very lively – on Friday/Saturday she strikes hypnotic love sparks, then the following Sunday (August 8) she holds hands with Saturn, acting conservative and dowdy (and wants proof of loyalty) then Monday (August 9) she hits Jupiter and Pluto, so love unions crash, yet pregnancies soar. Sexual politics and perversities flower. LEO, LIBRA and ARIES could enter “love heaven” soon (hopefully AFTER August 9!). Protests over sexual art. A researcher finds the germ that revolutionizes genetic engineering, and fertilization in people, animals, plants. (Media reports, 2011?) The nuclear and space (outer space) industries face many new restrictions, perhaps due to an accident/ dire event, but more likely due to governmental application of pressure in a legalistic or “justice” form. When I started speculating on this T-square, I wrote that big holes would open in the earth, but I’m not sure if I included it here. Anyway, a hole about a kilometre wide swallowed a Quebec house (all dead, I think) and just in mid-July, another hole threatened a condo development. The BP gulf oil disaster was a hole in the earth too, I suppose....there might be more to come... Start Nothing: 8:55 p.m. Sun. to 1:13 a.m. Mon., 5:45 a.m. to 9:54 a.m. Wed., 2:22 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. Fri., and after 11:46 a.m. Sat. Aries March 21-April 19 A major struggle might occur. Your humour is at a low level. If you’re challenged, calm down, study events, stride ahead slowly and steadily. Study the conditions around events – this setting is your answer: gaze on it, then plan your ensuing moves. Your career/life status is undergoing major change: a) accept this, but better yet, b) use it as an opportunity to charge forth in a way that conforms to the “new setting” around you. Though you feel expansive and impulsive, others hold your on-off button – co-operate! Saturday onward, sweet affection returns to relationships! Taurus April 20-May 20 Avoid arguments. Attend to security, property, domestic, family, and supply issues for the next three weeks. Your energy might ebb – you’re in a natural “hibernation” phase until late month. Paradoxically, work demands much effort all August – but you’ll almost enjoy it by next week, as co-workers grow affectionate. (This message applies to some degree into late 2012.) Carefully regulate your energy, alternate work and rest, especially outdoors. Employment changes might emerge from legal, government, management or international quarters. Money looks good Wednesday/Thursday. Gemini May 21-June 20 DON’T invest. The accent lies on communications, paperwork, details, emails, calls, office chores, errands – dive in! Be curious, ask questions, explore, travel, talk to people, connect with siblings. This week contains barriers or problems in “big money,” investments, debts, mutually owned reserves, especially around Tuesday. An Aries or Libra, a “hothead” might be involved. Maintain composure; your position is pretty rock solid, as long as you don’t abandon it. Smile, be diplomatic Friday, despite provocation – sudden love could appear – careful! Complete projects, delay big starts. Cancer June 21-July 22 This could be crunch time, Cancer, especially early week. Your relationship(s) is/are under pressure from both business/career and family/domestic/security arenas. Consider: a major link is undergoing deep, irrevocable changes, and you’ll be better off accepting this, adjusting to it. In some cases, a break-off is overdue. But if you have a good, long-term bond, don’t throw it away due to a temporary conflict. A mood of happy expectation surrounds all this!(?) Your energy and charisma surge upward Friday/Saturday – use these to handle the problems or sudden events that crop up. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Your energy, charisma and clout shine! But don’t make big new starts that could soon hit the eddies of indecision, delays and back-tracking (due by August 20, or sooner). Focus on wrapping up what’s already in the works. This week will be momentous, tumultuous for some of the people around you – be a friend, an aid. Your own work, health, communications, legal, intellectual, travel, publishing, educational, cultural and love spheres face deep changes/challenges, highlighted Tuesday and late week, but lasting for several years ahead. Happiness mid-week – a flirty Gemini or a deep Aries? Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Lie low, conserve energy, avoid fights – plan, manage, act behind the scenes. Be charitable, spiritual, moral, honest with yourself. You “skate by” many of the powerful stresses and challenges that occur now; they affect associates more than you. Still, these major forces do affect your financial, sexual, research, intimate and health spheres, so take events, trends seriously, especially around Tuesday and late week. Your own deep sense of speculation, of taking a risk, might struggle with economic “realities” – yet you might be right! Be ambitious mid-week, diplomatic Friday. Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 The years ahead accent deep changes in, and a cautious, sober, serious, slow-growth approach toward, all security, real estate, and domestic spheres. Flow with this, embrace it. Oddly, now to 2019, your relationships will be anything but sober, predictable, and cautious! Sudden hypnotic attractions, overnight decisions to marry (or split) or sparkling new oddball friends might be the norm (hints late week). Early week accents that first sober trend: be willing to fight, but make sure you’re not over-reacting. Legal, love, travel, intellectual matters shine mid-week. You’re happy! Scorpio Oct.23-Nov. 21 You might receive some dire messages this week – but they are not as dire as they seem. Your spheres of work, health, duties, charities, spirituality, management, dealing with head office and government – all are under pressure, the status quo must change. Realize this and proceed with a willing, helpful attitude. Don’t get riled up Monday/Tuesday when you might sense a “challenge” – be quiet, diplomatic, study the flow of (and origin of) events. Same thing Friday/Saturday, but your mood is more mellow, understanding. Mid-week, you can delve deep, learn some real secrets! Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec.21 You’re in a wise, mellow, compassionate, loving phase. Look around you and see the major trends occurring in the world. What you understand now can boost you immeasurably in the future. Early week features dead-ends (which are really changes in direction) in money, romantic, child-oriented, creative and social spheres. Your social and love needs might directly counter your money wishes. So you can adapt, change, resign yourself, or charge ahead with a new plan. Wednesday/Thursday show you the possibilities – and the opposition. New love’s possible, but dicey! Careful, Friday. Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 The main accent lies on depths, research, secrets, investments, debt, intimacy, sexual desire, health and lifestyle choices/commitments. Here, all is well – or at least, “normal.” But another long-term drama, a subtle but important one, is slowly transforming you and your life – your personality. Here, you face great challenges, pressures – mostly on career fronts, a little in domestic areas. Definite choices are necessary. Bosses and power people are no-nonsense, sceptical, even angry: careful Tuesday. They grow more amenable Friday through August – wait to approach! Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Big romantic, social, marital and partnership choices this week! Travel, publishing, advertising, education, import-export, sibling interactions and communications might be under pressure. It’s a good pressure, for it forces overdue change. (Legal and litigation questions might arise. My advice: avoid lawsuits to September 15. They can prove burdensome right into October 2012, with little “win” quotient – talk it out!) Others hold the aces; be diplomatic, flexible. Something ends early week. Romance mid-week! Careful Friday: accidents and “wrong love” possible. Be an angel all week! Pisces Feb.19-March 20 Lots of work to do, Pisces – dig in! For three weeks, concentrate on finishing or giving a big forward heave to ongoing projects rather than starting any new ones. This week, especially around Tuesday and Friday, brings a climax in certain difficult situations. The main problem is that your money (and sexual) interests are “fighting” your cherished wishes. For example, you want a future wedding (the wish) but you’re not sexually attracted to “Mr./Ms. Right.” Or you can’t afford the life you want (what else is new?). Careful with finances, investments. Avoid money, possession “show downs.” www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 416-686-5014. /30/