ASTRAL REFLECTIONS
BY TIM STEPHENS
JULY 24 – 30, 2011 

	All times/dates are PDT.
      Many of the “Start Nothing” periods that I outline every week just below this preamble, have started to become much longer. That's because in 2008 Pluto moved into a new sign, then in early 2011 Uranus and Neptune both moved into new signs, and so did Jupiter, and they’re still there, in the first small parts of the signs they’re in. Saturn is also in the first third of a sign. That’s every planet past Mars – five of the eight planets. Four of these planets will continue to spend much of the year ahead in the very early degrees of whatever sign they’re in. When this many planets happen to be in the early degrees of the signs, the “Start Nothings” get very long. 
      The “Start Nothing” periods are simply times when the Moon has passed every aspect it can make, but has not yet entered the next sign. The entire time the Moon takes to finish travelling through a sign, after the last aspect it has made while in that sign, is called “void” by astrologers. It’s a good word – for during this period, usually, you cannot start anything that will grow, or succeed. It has no “connection” to the Sun or any planet, therefore cannot affect anything, cannot begin a relationship. All growth on earth comes from relationship. 
      To give you an illustration from this week: on Thursday, The Moon aspects four planets, but its last aspect is a square to Saturn at 4:03 p.m. (Saturn’s in Libra). After this, the moon keeps going through Cancer for over 31 hours – until 11:16 p.m. the next day, Friday, at which time it enters the next sign, Leo. For this entire 31 hours, the poor Moon doesn’t make one major aspect to another planet or Sun. If, say, Jupiter was near the end of Taurus, the Moon would make a “sextile” aspect to it late Friday. But Jupiter’s in the first third of Taurus, so the Moon contacted it long ago, at about 10 a.m. Thursday. I call this void period a “Start Nothing” time, and list it below. Many failures are launched under a void Moon.
      As an e-mailer pointed out recently, the profusion of very long “Start Nothing” periods is frustrating. Sorry, guys, I can’t change the planets in their courses. But I can point out something: when all the major planets (Saturn through Pluto) are in the early parts of signs, it means major new trends and circumstances are flowing over the world: e.g., the Arab Spring. This trend of major planets entering new signs began in January 2008, timing the credit freeze and the huge U.S.-European stagnation. (Note that as the Arab Spring blossoms along the southern shore of the Mediterranean, the northern shore – Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal – collapses financially. No connection? Not logically, but logic is only one intelligence.) 
      When major changes such as these take place in our environment, we should think a lot about our moves: wise action is better than much action. The “Start Nothing” periods are Nature’s Sabbath; they reward contemplation, rest, spirituality – not action.
      

Start Nothing: 6:12 a.m. to 9:34 a.m. Mon., 5:35 p.m. to 6:11 p.m. Wed., and 4:03 p.m. Thurs. to 11:16 p.m. Fri.


Aries   March 21-April 19
A month of romance arrives. It grows sweet, lucky Thursday onward, when Venus  enters your love sign. You could fall in love! (Maybe with someone from the past – an old flame, or a former co-worker or friend.) Instead of romance, the weeks ahead could bring a creative project, vacation, educational program, speculative venture, or sports involvement. The sae influences apply: you’re lucky, and the past will hold sway. (E.g., visit a former vacation spot.) Finish rather than begin things now: a slow-down looms. Tuesday/Wednesday are very friendly, Saturday’s lucky, love-starred!

Taurus   April 20-May 20
Don’t start anything new before August 26. The weeks ahead feature home, family, property, security, retirement (or plans for, if you’re young). They can also tempt you to start a new project in these areas, or can bring an old/former project back. The latter’s lucky, the former (the new) is not. Generally, these areas will be fortunate, especially this Thursday onward. You’ll be shutting down one connection or situation in your life, and beginning another. You might need a rest. If so, take it now: go camping, or sleep away few afternoons in the back yard hammock. Life’s easy!

Gemini   May 21-June 20
Wrap up, finish rather than begin, Gemini. A slow-down or “retracing steps” influence lies just ahead. A month of travel, communications, paperwork and casual friends and siblings has just begun. You might take a very pleasant trip soon to a former haunt, visit long-lost friends, etc. Welcome the past, beware the entirely new. Your determination and sex appeal remain high this week, especially Monday to Wednesday (new friends, wishes fulfilled!). Rest, retreat Sunday. Be careful with money Thursday. August will bring major (mostly lucky) money flows: be cheap, savings oriented. 

Cancer   June 21-July 22
A month of lucky money interests faces you. Chase dollars, buy/sell. A slow-down or “backtracking” period will arrive early next week, so finish projects or reprise old ones rather than begin anything. Seek new clients amongst old contacts. Your memory will not be reliable soon, so take notes, write appointments on a calendar, etc. An old money issue might arise; you’ll finally pay up, or be paid. This is also a sensual period – your sex appeal, determination and “career clout” will grow soon (in August, not now). Sunday’s happy! Lie low Monday-Wednesday. Shine, Thursday/Friday!

Leo   July 23-Aug. 22
Your clout, charisma and energy grow now to late August – you’ll get your way. But don’t start  important projects. You’ll grow a bit indecisive soon – to August 26. A slow-down, backtracking period affects everyone, causing missed appointments, broken promises, unexpected delays. But for you, the effect is more personal: you will reconsider your goals, your money situation/plans, and your social desires. It isn’t major, and you almost don’t notice, as you feel sweet, loved: but it’s there. Don’t start anything new. Wishes come true Monday-Wednesday. Saturday, you attract love!

Virgo   Aug. 23-Sept. 22
A slow-down looms in August, Virgo, so don’t start anything new, even this week. A month of reduced energy, rest and contemplation has begun. Start to slow down, retreat from the hectic fray. Sidestep competitive situations. Though you face some weeks of relative solitude, it will be a sweet solitude. Be spiritual, charitable. Deal with government and institutions – these will treat you graciously and helpfully. Sunday’s sweet, gentle. Be ambitious Monday to Wednesday. You’re wishful, optimistic Thursday/Friday: enjoy the mood, forget the results. Find a valuable secret Saturday!

Libra   Sept. 23-Oct. 22
A slow-down looms in August, so finish rather than start projects.  A month of happiness, popularity, wish fulfillment, entertainment, light romance and social delights has just begun – the weekend coming (July 30/31) will bring sparkling evidence of this. You could fall in love, make a new friend, even meet a life-mate. This Monday to Wednesday are almost the same, except that the mood is more gentle – and serious. Now, how does this “big new love” vibe reconcile with the “don’t start anything” period that looms? Not sure. The love might connect to the past – yet not an ex. 

Scorpio   Oct. 23-Nov. 21
Start nothing; finish instead. The month ahead (to August 26) brings slowdowns, missed meetings, short supplies, etc. Have a Plan B – this is important, because you have just entered a career month, in which higher-ups will be expecting you to perform, and important people will be watching. So plan contingencies (and check supplies, firm up schedules, etc.) now, while you’re still in a strong, good phase. Enjoy relationships Sunday. Finances, research, sexual urges, all succeed Monday to Wednesday. Great work/career luck Wednesday and July 30/31 – it  might entail “an end.”

Sagittarius   Nov. 22-Dec. 21
August will bring slowdowns, indecision and backtracking, so finish projects now; start nothing important. A four-week streak of great intellectual, travel, international, educational, cultural, religious and love pursuits faces you – with good luck Monday to Wednesday (when relationships, marriage, contracts, opportunities and new horizons are accented) and even more so July 30/31, when friendship and love are hard to tell apart! But in pursuing these, stick to a past or ongoing connection rather than creating a purely new undertaking. An old flame might be on the horizon.

Capricorn   Dec. 22-Jan. 19
Start nothing new, Cap. You’ve had an exciting month, but a more telling, significant (and beneficial) one lies ahead: a month of depth, mysteries, sexual intimacy (or urges, at least!) health diagnosis, financial engineering, investments/debt, and significant commitments, lifestyle changes – all very fortunate Wednesday and July 30/31. Because these themes exist largely within a “backtracking” influence now, don’t look for nor pursue the completely new – seek a connection to the past. (E.g., an investment you pondered last year.) Step lightly with relationships, eight weeks.

Aquarius   Jan. 20-Feb. 18
An exciting month has just started. Usually the weeks ahead would bring new people, new challenges and opportunities, and new horizons into your life – but this time they are likely to bring the “renewed” – opportunities from the past, ex-flames, etc. Pursue these, or stick to ongoing relationships, agreements, etc. Soon, your work is going to be very hectic, and you won’t have room to cultivate a brand-new link anyway. That said, what does come is romantic and fortunate Monday to Wednesday, and exciting and luck-starred July 30/31! Be careful with tools, health, work Thursday. 

Pisces   Feb. 19-March 20
Don’t start anything new before August 26, Pisces. A month of work, health chores, nutrition, and care of kids/pets has begun. Overall good: co-workers will be pleasant, kids well-behaved (to a point, of course) and your health should hold up well. (Watch sweets, blood sugar and digestive areas.) In addition, newly cheerful friends will surround you, and a strong streak of romance will exist. So you’ll survive; you’ll sidestep terminal boredom. Property and family are lucky Monday-Wednesday. Work/money luck soars July 30/31. Romance has a snag or a joy Thursday night: marriage!


www.astralreflections.com  Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 416-686-5014.


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