Spiritual Astrology in January-February 2008 Pt. 1 - Jupiter Trine Saturn Practical Grounding with A Grand Irrationality Eclipse in Aquarius

by Robert Wilkinson

Jupiter and Saturn translate the energies of the outer Invisible Triad into widespread social influences within which our personalities operate in local conditions, however wide or narrow our field of influence. They show the pulses of inner and outer progress in a larger field of interactive experiences on social, cultural, and global levels. These months they anchor the promise of 2007’s Jupiter in Sagittarius.

Jupiter and Saturn left a long term biseptile in mid-Nov, ending a 4 month period when major changes were set into motion globally on every level imaginable. That's why things seemed crazier than usual with a constant "hard edge" to things.

While much didn't make sense, radical decisions were made showing us a larger destiny for a long time to come. We actually had two types of biseptiles between these planets in the last half of 2007. One was from Jupiter in Sag to Saturn in Leo in July-August, and the second was during September-October when Saturn slipped into Virgo.

This element shift indicated made for a very different energetic manifestation of this irrational, "destiny-producing" aspect. We examined this important aspect in the article, Astrology of Destiny in August-September 2007 - Jupiter Biseptile Saturn Offering Giant Changes in a Crazy Process. When you're done here, please check out the article to get a sense of what we all had to deal with when it happened the third time between mid-July through mid-November. At the bottom of this article you can find links to other articles on how this long term biseptile affected us its first two occurrences back in early 2006 and again in early 2007.

Along with Neptune and Pluto anchoring The Grand Irrationality, Jupiter and Saturn during this time created some weird times and forced some major choices. Due to the nature of the septile series aspects, obsessive-compulsive tendencies run high along with forks in the road in many life areas. The choices we made the past four months will determine our "destiny" for a long time to come. More on the Grand Irrationality later in this article.

At times it probably seemed to get too weird for words since it was happening on an almost constant basis due to the Moon activating one of the two patterns 14 times a month during those periods. For four solid months everyone were put on the edge of some kind of major changes, making character choices and decisions about duty and responsibility that shaped future opportunities and larger understandings. This is "the intersection of fate and free will," and our choices will show as progress or regress.

Between mid-November and mid-December we were blessed with Jupiter tredecile Saturn, and by the Winter Solstice we began a trine that is exact all of January and lasts through mid-February. This will stabilize the new futures and truths we confronted throughout 2006-2007’s Jupiter’s squares and biseptiles to Saturn that specialized during the tredeciles.

The tredeciles were times of unique interactivity that manifested as "serendipity" in the areas Jupiter and Saturn transited in our charts. This part of the Jupiter-Saturn dance was related to the tredecile of January 2007, so check out that article when you're done here. This brought unique gifts perfect for our circumstances, or our unique or specialized ways of relating the Jupiter to Saturn in our lives found situations perfect for these gifts to manifest.

The ones in January stabilized between March and May 2007, and showed as a further development of unique interactivity between mid-June and mid-July 2007. We confronted our "point of no return" between late July and mid-November 2007, with unique qualities and circumstances arising offering favorable solid ground for further development during the present forecast period.

Now that we’ve returned to a "Bucket Pattern" with either Saturn or Mars as the focal points for the other planetary energies, either of these planets can assume the status as the nozzle, or focusing device for all the other energies. To learn more about how the Bucket Pattern manifests, check out Aquarian Astrology at Work.

As you know from other posts, Neptune and Pluto are still in septile, and therefore anchoring The Grand Irrationality. As to why 2007 was somewhat over-the-top energetically, besides being the Year of the Fire Boar, the Grand Irrationality was continually triggered from November 2006 through 2007 by transits of various sectors bringing forth this collective weirdness affecting us all.

This septile-driven configuration is why strange, irrational, obsessive-compulsive energies are boiling to the top in personalities and situations, and there continues to be a hard edge to our lives. Collectively we are at a fork in the road of human evolution.

As I've noted in other Spiritual Astrology articles, it was almost non-stop in 2007. Boosting what began with the Autumn 2006 Eclipses, the process is intensified every time a planet crosses through any of the 7 zones of influence. These transits set off important changes and choices that may not make much sense, but we must make them anyway. We are learning how to greet the forward edge of our future "destiny" by how we're greeting the weirdness of the NOW.

At present the hot zones of The Grand Irrationality are approximately 29 Sagittarius-2 Capricorn, 20-24 Aquarius, 11-15 Aries, 3-7 Gemini, 25-29 Cancer, 16-20 Virgo, and 7-11 Scorpio depending on the exact degrees of Neptune and Pluto.

Of special significance is that any time the Moon transits any of the hot zones the pattern is triggered. In January-February the Moon either intensifies or adds another point to the Grand Irrationality when it transits Scorpio on January 2, 29-30, and February 26, and when it’s in Sagittarius conjunct Pluto at the Galactic Center on January 6-7, February 3, and March 1-2.

The early January transit should be an important time for new developments to take shape since the Moon will conjunct Jupiter still in close conjunction with Pluto very close to the GC. This should give us specific forms of that larger galactic influence, though with more of an Earth energy than the Fire conjunctions of December 2007.

The next time the Moon triggers the Grand Irrationality is when it transits Aquarius occulting/conjuncting Neptune on January 10-11 and again on February 7 as a significant player in the February Solar Eclipse at 18 Aquarius. This Eclipse happens at 7:44 pm PST on February 6, and promises that many things will be unveiled in years to come according to the length of this Eclipse. Appreciation and gratitude will dominate the energy, as well as the need to finish our renewal within a public or collecive setup.

I’ll compose more about how the coming Aquarius Eclipse of 2008 will affect all of us as well as each individual sign in the near future. Of extraordinary importance is that it falls at the beginning of the year of the Earth Rat, which would seem to indicate that the coming year is a departure from prior long cycles since the Rat begins the sequence of animals.

Due to the position of the Moon’s Nodes, which create the Eclipse effect, we will also have another Solar Eclipse on January 25, 2009, at 11:55 pm PST (January 26 all points east) marking the beginning of the year of the Earth Ox. These next two years will no doubt sweep away many assumptions, and clear the way for new collective efforts as indicated by the sign Aquarius.

Back to the Moon’s transits of the Grand Irrationality hot zones in January and February 2008. To complete the sequence of signs it moves through triggering forks in the road in our lives, it transits the Aries zone January 14 and February 10-11, Gemini on January 18 and February 14-15, Cancer on January 21-22 and February 17-18, Virgo on January 25-26 and February 21-22, and Scorpio on January 29-30 (exactly when Mars goes stationary direct!) and February 25-26.

In January and February, the pattern is set off by other planets three times. While not many in number, these will be important points in getting ideas, insights, communications, and illuminations about forks in the road and forms of obsessive or compulsive behaviors in self or others. They are January 20-February 5 (Mercury direct then retrograde in Aquarius zone), January 22-25 (Venus in the Sag-Cap zone), February 7-12 (Sun in Aquarius zone).

Pay very close attention to the Mercury effect, since it will be vitalized by the Sun in February. This will be followed by related personality fusions and integrations when Mercury and Venus conjunct Neptune septile Pluto in that Aquarian span in early March 2008.

Thus the Grand Irrationality is going to be stimulated by the inner planets along its most characteristic Sag-Cap-Aquarius energies. These conjunctions add intensity to that anchoring aspect and bring the energies of the personality planets to focus on Neptune while marking a sprouting of the Plutonic seeds set into motion by the December 2007 conjunctions.

Take note of the houses and planets ruled by Sun, Mercury, and Venus, since they’ll be intensified during the time between January 20 and early March. Thus highly energetic times are January 21-22, 25-26 and February 10-11 (Moon adding a third point from Cancer, Virgo, and Aries respectively), January 29-30 (Moon adding a third point from Scorpio just as Mars, its dispositor, goes stationary direct), and February 7 at the Solar Eclipse. The times when the Asc moves through the 7 zones during these time spans should prove most important!

As previously noted, since the Sun, Mercury, and Venus are involved, it will trigger changes in the houses ruled by these planets, as well as any life areas where we have planets in those hot zones. The houses they occupy as well as rule will be most directly affected. By staying on top of where these zones are triggered by outer events symbolized by the transiting planets, we are given a heads up on what’s coming.

During transits to any of the 7 zones of influence, expect shifts, changes, forks in the road, irrational or compulsive behavior in self or others, and important times of decision. Adding to the intensity of our times are the other septile configurations that come and go, some more quickly than others.

We had two such major configurations occurring for much of 2007 during the previously mentioned Jupiter biseptile Saturn, as well as the times when Saturn was triseptile Uranus in Feb-March and mid-June through mid-July. As I mentioned earlier, it was almost nonstop with the Moon triggering big weirdness and shifts 7 times each month. No wonder so many heavy decisions and events came down last year!

All septile series aspects indicate an on-going weirdness, strange choices, crucial decisions, and general edginess and the sense that forces beyond our control are at work. Not necessarily bad, as long as we remember that we may not be able to reason our way through what's happening and the energy doesn't get too crazy or destructive.

This aspect set moves us to make choices that affect our potential "higher destiny." The days mentioned above are the times when the generic weirdness is triggered, and bring decisions that may not make much sense but have to be made anyway.

In Part 2 we will discuss Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto's influences, and how they are impacting past and present eclipses.

(As I promised earlier, here's more on the Jupiter biseptile Saturn we all dealt with for the past 22 months)

To recap what I've previously written about this, In our personal lives the process was directly related in bringing forth our higher truth of Being. The first point of choice and change was early 2006 and the second period from mid-December 2006 through early January 2007. I originally noted this aspect in the March-April 2006 Spiritual Astrology article, mainly in terms of when it would be activated. I addressed the second biseptile, along with the inner planets also making Sag biseptiles to Saturn with Jupiter, in this article.

These were times when all of us confronted major forks in the road of our destinies, whether we noticed it or not. These choices continue to shape our personalities toward a future on the way like an express train continuing over the next few months.

This put our Sag and Pisces energies at a point of decision and change, an "intersection of fate and free will" relative to our Capricorn and Aquarius planets and houses. Obviously this affects at least a third of our reality, and as these 4 signs constitute the "Harvest sector" of the zodiac, no doubt our "harvests" have been and will be greatly affected by our choices around vision and duty.

The last of the three Jupiter biseptile Saturn periods happened between mid-July and mid-November 2007. The edges of our larger social change originated February 2006 with Jupiter in mid-Scorpio and Saturn in early Leo, then moved back into range mid-December 2006 through early January 2007 with Jupiter in early Sag and Saturn in late Leo.

The next biseptile was Jupiter direct in July-August from mid-Sag to late Leo, with the final biseptile from Jupiter in mid-Sag to Saturn in early Virgo from September through early November. Advanced astrologers should take note of the decan and degree placements as well as other planetary aspects to each of these to get greater insight into how the Jupiter-Saturn effects worked out on every level.

Each biseptile was in two different signs, as well as two decans in one sign. In one way to apply this, on a national level Saturn in Virgo will manifest differently than Saturn in Leo, as will national sectors ruled by Jupiter. Education, imagination, vision, and law have hit a turning point relative to the power structure and "leadership" sectors of our world.

If nothing else, people everywhere who have endured the "child leaders" of our past (Saturn in Leo) are now recognizing the necessity for greater practical accountability and workable solutions to practical problems. (Saturn in Virgo). There are many other applications, so ask your imagination to show you ways to view this "turning point at Eternity Boulevard."

© Copyright 2008 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Damien]

hah, great article as usual. Feel with this eclipse conjuncting my mercury, venus (conjunct in Aqu. in the 9th house) i'll be making at lease a housing move if not a larger move to another location. Looking back I didn't really make any specific decision during the 4 month period of last year as you described. Moreso i've just taken more time to engage in healing practices as my sensitivity and ego wipeout (Neptune on Aqu midheaven) are causing a major transformation in my sense of self and sense of existence. In other words my decision was, "I'm not giving up." Also decided that I wanted to travel in the new year.

The energies themselves feel f***ing intense though and its been a major struggle of mine to keep myself together. Anyways, to the future/past/ALL we go.

Peace.

[Felita]

Hi everyone who may be in Melbourne, Aust. Tuesday 8th Jan. A vigil to save the Bay, A chain of lights around the Port Phillip Bay to bring a positive last appeal to save the Bay from being dredged before the court case on Jan 10th. Please be active if you can , bring a candle. Hi Robert,am hoping new Moon aquarius with Neptune may help this situation here, is this a positive transit to save the dolphins and prolific wildlife that live in and around this Bay?
Would be loving that all who come here could throw some positive vibes towards our Bay. Thanking you kindly . Aum Shanti Felita

[Wild Horse Running]

Akamaste omededo gozaimas, Robert-san....Happy New Year!

I am approaching pluto conj. my saturn..4 cap...and then it moves to conj my Desc/IC and enter my 4th house....I know this is major transformation...letting go of the past, most likely with painful expierences. As it is approaching my saturn..(end of 3rd house) Im finding communication skills easier...and Im feeling stronger in the face of confrontation. Im feeling stronger in the ability to "stand up to authority"...and listen to my own voice and express my feelings/belielfs...and not allow others intimidation/manipulation...which in the past I now see...I succumbed to. I wrote awhile ago ref my natal return chart, 11 15 59 3:22am Tarrytown NY westchester co....and you wrote back ref Venus quintile Jupiter...will that be closer to the end of the year...after the Pluto/IC conjunct....expansion after destruction?

2008=1 new beginnings....best wishes for all...namaste WHR

[Christine E]

Yes 2007 was some wild ride...I hope 08 will be a little more stable, without getting completely dull :)

[Robert]

Hi Damien - It should open up wider vistas. Sometimes choices don't manifest as "decisions" at the time. Just recognitions of what is past and what is present, and the need to live a different way. Definitely an intense period in any case.

Hi Felita - New Moon should put the focus on larger ideals and collective imagery. Neptune's degree encourages strength, resilience, and endurance despite disappointing conditions. That's why I'm encouraging everyone to endure this brief span, since our appreciation and gratitude should show results starting in about 2 weeks, and last for quite a while due to Neptune's position at the Feb New Moon Eclipse. The worlds Bays and Oceans definitely will be a major focus in years to come.

Hi WHR - And a Happy to you as well! Pluto on Saturn is cross-generational, affecting three distinct groups at any given moment. Purification of roots guarantees success. Glad you're hearing a voice of inner power and authority, since self-referencing is the only way to learn to steer one's boat rather than get distracted by random hitchhikers. Pluto on IC is a long range influence, so consider all the aspects (inner and outer planets) as occurring simultaneously.

Hi Christine - After the excitations of the past year, I would think the Earth Rat will stabilize many things, and we can get ourselves into solid positions for the radical expansions of Jupiter in Aquarius.

[magenta]

Yo Robert,

Thanks so much for your generosity and insight about what's comin' down the pike !
I trust I am not the only one who has difficulties with the following type of dichotomy, which is maybe not a dichotomy but sure as hell hard to know how best to integrate and to know which voice to pay more attention to : the Scorpio MC / Venus, 9th house Sun-Saturn stellium which seems to be "asking" to push , persist, initiate, firm up the ego in a positive way and persevere in trying to make things work while residing in arguably one of the most advantageous locations (NYC) for the diverse aspects of my work (healing, integral evolutionary awareness, music) as well as the ability to "git outta Dodge" for work elsewhere because of airportproximity...
AND/OR
the 0'59" Aquarius ASC (and 1st house progressed Moon in AQ, etc.) with all the Jupiter and Pluto stuff in the 12th soon ( as well as stuff affecting my MERC/NEP. conjunction in Libra 9th or 8th) which I'm hearing as a desire to retreat upriver to get the space, the air, the spiritual distance to maybe hear the self more clearly, to create more, with more influence of the improvisers.... but even more literally isolated than I am already another move and new environment. And I'm not a kid. Both prospects seems pretty nebuous and sort of exhausting. My response finds me just watching and waiting for something to drop from out of the blue, at least enough to give me a clear lead in some direction, maybe different from either of those. Feeling varying degress of wonderful Neptunian receptivity on all kinds of levels but also just kind of fuzzy and sometimes sad. Naturally am putting out feelers etc. and asking questions about the above self- queries, but it feels unwise and arbitrary for me to simply decide one way or the other based on what I know ad feel right now. Don't have the bucks to keep the apt. in NYC("cheap" and ideal except for the practice/ teaching space difficulties) AND have a little place upriver, not now anyway. Teaching - being in an institution - is not attractive partly because I'm feeling less and less desire to TALK, especially about the"creative process", ESPECIALLY in places (schools) and with people ( most students in those schools) with whom everything boils down to marketability. I have a hard enough time trying to support myself so it seems disingenuous to "prepare" folks for a profession that seems less and less viable.

Perhaps reflecting on this publicly will be of help to others in their own situations.
Maybe this is exaggerrated by the final hours before a strong new moon (conjunct progressed Chiron and progressed MC in my 12th, I see...) but would appreciate whatever observations you'd care to share about all this. Thanks, Robert ! magenta

[Henry]

Hi Robert.

First of all, I am still more "in tune" with your Heaven-redings since I read your early January and Christmas Full Moon predictions -I was in tune before, but this has been "core-nailed" to real facts-. So OK, you've got a real blessing and thanks for release our souls from the turmoil.

I've got a question: you mark some dates and degrees to be affected...just a silly question, perhaps, but THE OPPOSITE DEGREES should be affected the same way...I guess...

For example, my turmoil can be read by myself in 22º Leo but the point you mark is in Aquarius -opposite-.

Always interested in your Holyeaglesight!.

Thanks,
Henry.

[Felita]

Hi Robert, I know we are all uniquely and collectively affected by all these weird transits at the moment,and have been observing the interplay in my chart, through all your great teachings of this. Saturn transiting my natal Pluto seems to me a disciplining of the Shiva process and in opposition to Uranus Pisces(with natal nodes/chiron), and have accepted the Capricorn energies by working through my other earth placings i.e fine tuning positve qualities of Mars in Taurus and Virgo 4th house.

I was hanging the washing just after moon in Leo last month and all of a sudden pronounced out loud "Uranus is an a....hole" and then burst out laughiing . I know Neptune is opposition to my natal Uranus in Leo at the moment and am not yet mad. Although in looking at the reactions I sometimes create , it could seem that way. I understand the correct course of my spiritual path, but seem to be rebelling or resisting, curious as to my natal Uranus 20* Leo and handling this. And as asked by previous post are the opposites in degrees affected. Mars in Gemini, everyone seems restless and changing lanes and indicators when driving spontaneously.
I am being strong and patient concerning the future like we all are i suspect. I am extremely grateful the Universe created such a great teacher like you for us all. Aum Shanti Felita

[Jilly]

I think deep down I'll miss being in this hot zone after it is finished.

[Robert]

Hi Magenta - Remember Mars is still RX tho speeding up. Therefore go slow for awhile, get your ducks lined up to deal with Mercury RX, and let go of whatever is "bankrupt" that frees you from pressures you no longer need to bear. I would think don't do anything to upset what works while preparing for whatever is the next phase to come. Maybe you can combine the alternatives? I'm fairly isolated where I am, but still found a way to make things work. Moving is exhausting work (believe me I KNOW!) so don't do anything you don't need to do. Keep on the alert for opportunities while moving through the collective sorrow. You probably don't need a place upriver right now, though in the future one could open up that would be perfect for whatever you're doing at the time. Teaching works on many levels, and you never know who you could connect with who also isn't into marketability while being totally dedicated to a greater vision for them, you, and whoever else wants to show up to dance. Since artists are having a hard time these days anyway, unless you win American Idol, don't start feeling like you cannot encourage budding talent. You just never know what might show up just around the corner at "Eternity Boulevard..."

Hi Henry - Whatever helps everyone to remember not to get attached to illusions. Opposite degrees are often affected due to each sign exteriorizing through its opposite. Not necessarily affected the same way, but interrelated ways. Neptune is opposed your 22 Leo point, so go figure accordingly.

Hi Felita - Yes, your Pluto function is being restructured by Saturn. Uranus can certainly feel like that sometimes. Just stay focused on the bigger picture and don't get distracted by lesser things or vague confusions arising from collective dread and illusions. Neptune is bringing a unique part of you to surface, though it probably will stay somewhat vague until Jupiter and Mars cross the oppositional axis. "Driving spontaneously" is certainly one way to characterize Mars' somewhat hectic expression at this time.

Hi Jilly - Not sure this hot zone will EVER be finished! Something about being "blessed to live in exciting times..." I'll just bop till I drop.

[Robyn]

Also,

Q: When you mention planets (ex: This will be followed by related personality fusions and integrations when Mercury and Venus conjunct Neptune septile Pluto in that Aquarian span in early March 2008.),could that symbolize people who have charts dominated by those planets. Like as i would be a Mercury person because my chart is dominated by Mercury (Gemini)?

just curious. there are so many ways to interpret this stuff.

[Robert]

Hi Robyn - Yes, usually planets do manifest as people in our lives, just as we manifest as planets in other people's lives. The inner shifts mirror in the outer affairs.

[CIndy D]

Help!
I am feeling like I am going to loose it soooon!
I have been dealing with enough for the last 2 years and now feel like I am being ripped apart at the seams.
29 may 1960 7 degree virgo rising.
I just need to know what to expect with these eclipses and with saturn reto back into the 12th soon to reconjunct pluto.
I have lost everything but my job, is that next?? I love my job as a psychic healer!
Thanks!
Cindy

[Robert]

Hi Cindy - Well, we're ALL going through adaptive changes, that though stressful, are and will leave us in much better positions down the road as major changes occur. Sounds like you've been "liberated from a narrow destiny" as per the eclipses of 2006-2007 which you may want to reread in the archives, as they are still affecting all of us in major ways. Welcome to Saturn on your Asc showing you that you're not a kid anymore!!! I also have an article on Saturn conjunct your Asc that you can find via site google which you may want to read. Saturn conjunct Pluto is showing you a long term restructuring of your divine power through purification. That which is empty can be filled with contents appropriate to our evolved self. I'm sure that by this Summer you'll be doing fine.

[CIndy D]

Thanks!

[shelbie moore]

hi, i am in love with this man and i just want to know if he is in love with me too???

[Robert]

Hi Cindy D. - You're most welcome.

Hi shelbie moore - I have no idea. Astrology is not fortune telling or making wild guesses.

[poetryman69]

"Triggering the Grand Irrationality?"

Cowering in an obscure corner of the food pyramid

somewhere between the tofu and the unflavored yogurt

contemplating the juxtaposition of intangibles for all you are worth.....

[Kathy G]

Hi, I am new here and looking back, I have had quite the rollercoaster ride.

I am a Leo with Aries rising. Spring of 2006 I attempted to move my whole family to TN (on my own as my dh was working "out of state"-- not present, by July it was evident our house would not sell "on schedule" and my father received news of a cancer diagnosis so we regrouped and came back home. Nov-Dec 25 my dad was dying and Jan-- the aftermath, funeral, dealing with his affairs, my dh taking off to go work out of state again, then to August, when I quit my job (oncology nurse at a state hospital--couldn't work in that environment anymore and was just empty/burnt out) and was severely depressed.

Since then I have tapped into a large creative pool, just inundated with color, ideas, techniques as well as reintroducing myself to energy work (reiki, yoga, meditation) and worked myself out of the depression. Our (my dh and I) diet has vastly improved, and he came home mid-November and is just now going back to work out of state but has seemed to make up his mind to try and be home after this job--in 5-6 weeks. We saw some major changes in the basement of our home in the past week (basement tear out)--fixing some foundation issues that prevented our home sale and renegotiating the space. I finally feel like I can go back to work (as a nurse) but feel very particular of the kind of work I want to do as well as looking forward to a Reiki 1 attunement mid month.

Lately I have felt strongly urged to work on the physical, getting my body in better shape. Energy wise, I felt mostly stagnant and inert throughout December and January but have a newer vigor since Mars went direct (most likely due to some Pluto energy which is located in my Aries. My personal work is very focused on the throat chakra (interestingly, I am dealing with a C5 disc out of whack). I am also meeting some more people and really fleshing out my "team" to help support me into this new transition/transformation. I am also enjoying new friends, very good people, some unexpected but inspiring.

Sounds like there will still be much more gut wrenching turns and loops to look forward to.

[Robert]

Hi Kathy G - First, my condolences on the death of your father. No wonder you couldn't keep working in oncology. That type of work would be stressful enough without it becoming that up close and personal. A certain amount of sadness is certainly appropriate as we grieve, and it sounds like you took matters to heart and rebuilt your life on more joyous ground. Glad you knew it was time to move in a different direction and shift your focus to a more creative life. Much of your process sounds like a great use of Mercury RX energies. The Dec-Jan "stagnation" was Mars crashing into and out of retrograde, felt by many. Glad you're moving forward with a support system.