ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS AUGUST 22 – 28, 2010 All times/dates are PDT. Thought some more about that July-August “T-Square.” (It’s not over yet; one of the “squares” – difficult aspects – will last until late 2012; the longest for another 8 years.) It occurred to me that nature behaved much more badly than mankind. Most of the crises were natural: worst fire and drought in Russia’s history (700 people a day dying in smoke-choked Moscow) Iceland’s air-travel-halting volcanic ash, historic heat waves (April and July) in the U.S. east, Pakistan’s August floods, in which 14 million people are already displaced and in distress, etc. Yet mankind did not, generally, act with the same vehemence or violence. Overall, humanity was calm, reasonable, and continued to seek peace, world community and right government. (E.g., the ‘coming together” in Africa during the FIFA World Cup.) Is this one more small evidence of mankind’s progress toward angelhood? I think so. (That “hood,” BTW, arrives circa 2239 to 2480AD.) Speaking of angelhood (and otherwise) I regularly receive some very discouraged emails from people in the deepest funks. Often they have suffered lifetimes of abuse, frustration, setbacks, etc. They’re not angry with me, but with life. I never really know what to say. But last night I came close to a standard answer while replying to one such email. Here it is: (I’m ignoring various New Age explanations – with which I emphasize.) Hi, — , it's one of life's biggest dilemmas – do we deserve our fate or not? Linked with that is: can we change our fate or not? If you believe you can change your fate, then you have to accept that you deserve the fate you have. If you cannot change your fate, then you have to accept one of three answers: 1) that our fate, if negative, is a karmic punishment for actions we took in this and previous lifetimes; or 2) life is run by a malevolent God, or 3) there is no God, life runs entirely on chance, and your luck, your “chance” has been bad.   I believe that we can alter our fate (and that “fate” is closely allied to our unconscious, which shows you where to begin). Many people have been abused – probably every human has been unfairly dealt with at some time. It helps to contemplate worse lives – try the children picking through human feces in India, to find and eat the undigested bits. Compassion dissolves anger; anger is the jailer who keeps you in your funk.   Try many things, cures, etc. At the very least, they give you temporary hope – fresh breath in the self-suffocation you’re locked into. If your life is totally crap, why not just sign on for Africa, and start helping? It might free your heart and give you a huge new life.   Next week: back to each sign’s Uranus forecasts. Start Nothing: 1:30 a.m. to 7:11 a.m. Tues., and 6:59 p.m. to 7:49 p.m. Thurs. Aries March 21-April 19 A month of work and health issues begins Sunday. Yet your main experience will be pleasure this week. Sunday/Monday feature social delights, happiness (attraction) in love, optimism, entertainment and wish fulfillment! Thursday night through Saturday boost your energy and charisma. (Saturday might bring a further development to Sunday/Monday’s attraction.) This week subtly furthers your (fortunate) destiny in work, career, and ultimately, finances. Even your “down time,” Tuesday to Thursday eve, flows smoothly: rest, think. Remember, start nothing major before September 12. Taurus April 20-May 20 Reject new starts, projects and relationships before September 12. Loads of work streams your way, but there’s satisfaction, even affection in this. Also, a month of romance, pleasure, charming kids, speculation and beauty starts now! You’ll have lots of relief from all those duties. (But keep your eye on the ball, for late September will bring another basket of chores.) Your status/career meet luck Sunday (best) and Monday. Social joys, optimism, happiness and entertainment arrive Tuesday to Thursday. Your “destined love” is “around.” An old flame? Lie low, rest late week. Gemini May 21-June 20 Delay all new starts – especially in domestic, realty, mother nature and security spheres – until September 12. You’ll be tempted to “jump early” in those domestic, realty (etc.) areas, as they grow large for the next four weeks. Let events evolve: destiny is on your side, especially financially. Romance (or the lack thereof) remains a strong secondary note. Love’s opportunities exist right into mid-September. However, better now if it’s an old flame – perhaps from a former neighbourhood. Love and/or friendship are favoured Sunday/Monday and Thursday night to Saturday. Mid-week, be ambitious. Cancer June 21-July 22 Start nothing new before September 12. Sunday begins four weeks of travel, communications, errands, curiosity, casual acquaintances, siblings, paperwork, news, and “daily business.” A busy, not an important time. It’s busy partly because these activities (travel, communications, etc.) meet delays, misses, mistakes, forgetfulness. Keep a running “to do” list, take a list when shopping, etc. Your home, kids, a security or realty project remain front-and-center. Finances, intimacy, lifestyle decisions favoured Sunday/Monday. Gentle love, wisdom mid-week. Ambition, Friday/Saturday. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Projects, relationships and ventures begun before September 12 will almost certainly meet overwhelming mistakes, indecision and delays. So stick with the ongoing, or past situations, especially in earnings and spending – an area that will generally be fortunate for the four weeks ahead. (An “unseen destiny” aids you in money areas mid-week.) Double-check amounts on checks, change at the store, watch your wallet, etc. Relationships demand (and reward) your attention Sunday (best) and Monday. Secrets, intimacy, lust, investments, debt, mid-week. Gentle love, wisdom Friday/Saturday. Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Your energy and charisma soar this week through the next few, Virgo. But don’t start big new (or even small important) projects, nor relationships, before September 12. So that leaves you in a bind: you’re in the best start time of the year energy-wise, and one of the worst circumstantially. Solution: seize something incomplete or abandoned from the past, and revive it. Best (past) place to look: earnings, money, possessions, rote learning, memory, a sensual contact, financial investment/debt, sexual bond, lifestyle change. Work’s lucky Sunday, relationships and travel lucky Tuesday/Wednesday. Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Rest, lie low, contemplate, be charitable and spiritual now to late September. Don’t start new projects before September 12. Anticipate delays, mistakes in administrative duties and government, institutional links. A tax or other neglected matter might return to demand completion. But in general, life will flow smoothly, your romantic progress (if you’re in one) pleases, life is sweet and nostalgic! (If you’re single, unattached, late January to early summer 2011 will bring a lucky partnership opening.) Romance, creative urges Sunday/Monday; exciting meetings Friday/Saturday. Work, mid-week. Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Start no important new projects, ventures, relationships before September 12. That might be difficult, as your mind naturally travels to the future for the next 4 weeks – you’re optimistic! Well, enjoy the state. Your popularity grows, social joys enter, entertainment, flirtations abound. A former lover or sweet friend might return. It’s fun and full of bounce, so don’t say no. But on a deeper level, the love here will raise issues of “deep duty,” perhaps of burden, or ”sweet sorrow.” You decide what’s worth what. Duties, sweet or not, appear Sunday/Monday, Friday/Saturday. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 A former job, career contact, parenting role, or status position might return now to September 12. (“Destiny” aids here mid-week.) But don’t start brand new projects or relationships, especially in these areas. Instead, seize that past opportunity, or stick with ongoing ventures, while protecting them from delays, mistakes and misunderstood communications. Your social life remains happy, upbeat. A light, flirtatious romance could arrive (perhaps Thursday night through Saturday) – or better, an ongoing one thrives. (A brand new relationship will tend to stay light, not “grow.”) Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Start nothing new before September 12. A former educational, publishing, cultural, love, international, legal or intellectual interest, project or situation might return. (Or you daydream about it/him/her.) Returning to the past can reward. If an old flame returns, a strong “career” or ambition streak is involved – e.g., he/she perhaps was once your boss, or a major client. Chase money Sunday (best) and Monday. Travel, communications mid-week – a turn of destiny could bring, aid, one of those educational, international, etc. things! Let things end Thursday night through Saturday. Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 A former investment, debt, secret, sexual, research, lifestyle, criminal/police, diagnostic or health situation could reappear before September 12. It’s generally favourable, could be a doorway to profit, satisfaction. But think before you leap. During the same interval, start nothing new, especially in these areas. You’re going be dealing with heavy themes, serious matters! Gentle, true love, intellectual growth, mental creativity, pleasurable travel and/or legal process – all continue. Your energy, charisma surge Sunday/Monday. (Someone has romance on the mind!) Chase money mid-week. Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Avoid new starts before September 12 – in projects and, especially, in relationships. You’ll have plenty to keep you busy with ongoing links – including one from the past. These might “reappear” after some absence: negotiations, litigation, a relocation, partnership or business opportunity, or even an enemy. Take everything in stride, be flexible, diplomatic. You might face a choice: to join or compete. Joining’s better, as your competition holds the aces right now. Lie low, rest, contemplate Sunday/Monday. Your charisma surges mid-week, triggering success! Money caution after Thursday. www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 416-686-5014. /30/