ASTRAL REFLECTIONS
BY TIM STEPHENS
AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 2, 2012 

	All times/dates are PDT.
      In the 80’s, I predicted universities would decline, or become “bad” – places of corruption (based on the 1983-2232 era chart – the “Pluto return” for you astrologers). Since then, witness the multiple shooting massacres at universities, the Penn State sex scandal, etc. The media reported last year that many U.S. universities, going broke, have begun turning away local students and replacing them with foreign ones, because the latter pay much higher tuition fees. 
      What I failed to predict (because I didn’t think of it) was that all 9th house matters (international trade, philosophy, cultural understanding, insurance, publishing, religion and the law) would decline for 250 years also. The law, to pick one, has definitely corrupted in the last 30 years in at least four ways: first, judicially, as in the corrupt practices of the Ontario Family Courts, which has become so blatant even lawyers subservient to that court have written protest articles about it; second, in the executive (witness the scandals – now lawsuits – surrounding the RCMP for its sexual misbehaviours and mistreatment of aboriginals); third, economically, in the increasing denial of legal services, and therefore rights, to ordinary citizens (a function of prohibitive costs resulting from lawyers’ greed); and lastly, in the organic deterioration of the law itself, arising from its over-sophistication, in which the law grows more and more complex and harder to honour (for example the growth of new financial law since 2000 in the US and Europe). Since democracy is partly founded on a healthy rule of law, this implies that democracy itself is in a decaying stage in our era (a forecast I did write in the1980’s, and since). 
	I actually made another prediction in this vein in the 80’s: that the Catholic Church would fall apart. I was puzzled when this didn’t happen. Then, in the 90’s, the church’s widespread molestation of children was unmasked. We now know that even the Popes – and, if recent media reports are true, the present one – condoned this. It seems only God remains unsullied.
      We blame celibacy for this perversion. After all, how long can an all too human man go without sex? The church would have us believe that celibacy is a holy thing mandated by God, to keep priests pure and close to Him. Actually, this “pure” state was mandated in about 1074 by Pope Gregory VII, who forced priests (most of whom were married and owned farms) to become celibate and give their property to the church. This was a very clever move: it impoverished their children, who, without farms to feed themselves, would then enter the church to survive; it gave the church huge amounts of land and wealth; and it let the church build a huge organization staffed with men who had no other loyalties (i.e., no kids, wives). In essence, priests became slaves in the catholic Moloch. The church has long practised (among others: greed, fraud, lust, theft) one of the gravest sins against God: the sacrifice of children. But I’m puzzled: if the hell priests and popes describe does exist, why are they so gleefully scurrying there?
      

Start Nothing: Before 6:58 a.m. Sun., 3:33 a.m. to 10:38 a.m. Tues., 10:48 a.m. to 3:31 p.m. Thurs., and 1:02 p.m. to 10:37 p.m. Sat.

Aries   March 21-April 19
A month of work faces you. Well, buckle up and shift into higher gear. Sunday/Monday emphasize your career, meetings with higher-ups, and their judgement of your efforts. There’s opportunity here, but it entails much work. Friends want to gather ‘round midweek, but wait until Tuesday evening onward to celebrate. Wednesday, a great plan, perhaps to travel with friends, or to them. Retreat Thursday p.m. to Saturday: you’re tired, your charisma ebbs – all’s fine. All week (to October 6) you grow more urgent or impulsive about sex and big finances – careful, especially Tuesday.

Taurus   April 20-May 20
A very pleasant month lies ahead. At the very least, you’ll pick up hints of romance, your creative depths will awaken, beauty will drift into your sight, and pleasures will call. A “long night” of legal, intellectual or cultural barriers will end October 5, so take heart.  (I mention this because Sunday/Monday, though romantic and dreamy, might again encounter these barriers.) Contain temper Tuesday: others are watching. Your ambitions meet an open door Wednesday: apply, propose, show case your skills. This could be a significant turn! Popularity, fun, soaring optimism late week!

Gemini   May 21-June 20
It’s “down home” time. You might find a new home, or bury yourself in repairs, gardening, and children’s programs. (Your kids are the foundation of the rest of your life: as they wilt or blossom, so will you.) Your workload intensifies to early October: take care with diet, driving, tools and fire. Mysteries and deep urges surface Sunday to Tuesday: avoid a financial or intimate commitment or change. (The “big change” remains strong, fruitful.) Midweek’s gentle, wise and loving – grab a travel or investment opportunity. Build ambition’s foundations late week: new heights loom!

Cancer   June 21-July 22
The main emphasis lies on communications, short trips, errands, paperwork, siblings, casual friends – and curiosity. Read, ask, learn while others are quite willing to divulge. You’ll feel a surface compatibility with almost everyone. Money continues to be good. Six weeks of anger, domestic friction, now yield to a double effect: you’ll have romantic courage, and creative ambition, until early October. At the same time, you’ll feel that your domestic situation is holding you back – by October, this barrier will dissolve. Lucky finances Wednesday. Sweet understanding late week.

Leo   July 23-Aug. 22
Turn your thoughts to money for the weeks ahead, to earnings, possessions, purchases. Sunday/Monday contain a couple of problems, and might bring a health concern, but these two days also offer money through work. (Now to 2018 is not the best time to purchase large machinery: it could contain electrical or fuel glitches. These same years beg you to travel internationally, attend higher learning, or plunge into a cultural ritual such as a wedding – but all these will entail giving up some work time or job security. I’d plunge into them anyway.) Opportunities, new people come midweek.

Virgo   Aug. 23-Sept. 22
Your energy, charisma and effectiveness are rolling to a yearly peak! Start important projects, call in markers, seek favours, submit proposals, ask for interviews, see and be seen. If you don’t know what to do, analyse your situation objectively, then step forward into what seems to be the best direction/venture. Realize higher-ups (and parents) are “in love” with you now to next June. They’re ready to give you a chance, to grant you favours – if you’re young, ask a parent for a down payment. Success times: Sunday a.m., Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday a.m. New love, late week?

Libra   Sept. 23-Oct. 22
Retreat, find sweet solitude.  Some social life still bubbles through this week, so enjoy moments.  Use the weeks ahead to rest and recuperate, to examine your life thus far and make plans for the future. Keep up with government and administrative chores (e.g., tax records, office systems) and attend to health concerns. Get that dental work started, or apply for medical insurance. Higher-ups and VIPs still favour you for two more weeks, so remain ambitious. Sunday/Monday accent home, kids, security: just slog on through. Romantic notions sweeten midweek. Tackle chores Thursday on.

Scorpio   Oct. 23-Nov. 21
Your popularity ascends all week and the next few. (It’s stronger after this week, which contains a lot of personal vibes and interests.) You’ve worked hard; now celebrate, seek entertainment, be with friends, swim in joyous optimism (okay, at least a pinch of optimism) and flirt – with prospects of all kinds. Casual friends, siblings and short trips arise Sunday/Monday.  Accept and issue invitations. Be gentle on the home front Tuesday: you’ll bask in success here Wednesday. Romance, creative urges and a winning streak bless you Thursday eve to Saturday. Love’s possible!

Sagittarius   Nov. 22-Dec. 21
Be ambitious, Sage – the weeks ahead emphasize your career, worldly status, and dealings with parents, authorities and bosses. (Notice how much easier all this is recently than three, four years ago?) As long as you’re eager and earnest, you’ll impress higher-ups and pass the tests they might give you. Right now, attitude is more important than skills. (Wish I’d known this 40 years ago!) Until October, it’s a good idea to put romance on hold. (You’d start an “imprisoning” love.) Money, spending need caution Sunday/Monday. Midweek’s  busy. Sink into home, rest late week.

Capricorn   Dec. 22-Jan. 19
Your start this week in fine form, Cap – your energy’s high, you attract admiring glances, and you’re in accomplishment mode. Still, the “serious skies” over your career ambitions remains – meaning you’ll progress through diligence, not through slacking. (And your home life, parent-kid relations, need calm, diplomacy, especially Sunday night.) Take care with money Tuesday – happiness makes you spend unwisely. But pounce on money opportunities – and social joys – Wednesday/Thursday. Late week brings short trips, casual friend, and information. Gentle love wafts through this week.

Aquarius   Jan. 20-Feb. 18
Retreat, rest, contemplate and plan Sunday to Tuesday morning, Aquarius. Be spiritual, charitable. Avoid competitive situations. Midday Tuesday your energy and charisma start rising – but avoid arguments (especially with higher-ups, police, etc.) and accidents. By this night, and Wednesday, you head into luck and success, especially in love, sex, finances and career. Look deeply, pry off the covers, be a detective: golden discoveries await. (This applies right into late September.) Chase money Thursday eve onward: but don’t buy big things: prices are near a temporary peak. 

Pisces   Feb. 19-March 20
Important relationships fill this week, Pisces. You’ll face opportunities and challenges, co-operation and competition. You’ll gain if you co-operate, join, and lose if you demand or say “me first.”  You’ve begun to change, and others might be a bit puzzled by you. (Virgos stand out here – very subtly, in a wee but growing amount, they’re pleased but perplexed. Well, they’ll come around.) Sunday (though it needs money caution) and Monday fulfill a wish, and bring social delights. Retreat, rest, contemplate midweek. Your energy and charisma soar Thursday eve onward. Love possible!


www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. For a reading: 604-560-1269.


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