by Robert Wilkinson
In Parts 1, 2, and 3 we explored general Spiritual factors of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto bringing forth our Higher Self as we stand individually and collectively at the threshold of a new era. I offered points of particular importance due to major aspect patterns going on from late 2007 through February 2008. Today we continue to explore more about the pressure we're under and within, what it means, and how this is impacting certain signs directly.
In 2007, Pluto danced around the end of Sagittarius, with 29 Sag a key point of focus, helping us all "get in shape." It went stationary direct at 27 degrees Sagittarius on September 7 at 7:54 am PDT, and occupied that point through the end of October before it again resumed its movement through 28-29 Sag in November-December 2007. Since then it has entered the unknown zones of 30 Sag and 1 and 2 degrees of Capricorn which marks a moment of Cosmic shift. This is a span we haven't experienced in 250, mas o menos.
It will go retrograde at 2 Capricorn on April 2, and will retrace its span of February and March through mid-June, when it re-enters Sag for the last time in this 250 year cycle. It will RX back to 29 Sag and go direct in early September 2008. When retrograde, it will bring us feedback from external and subconscious sources about how well we're handling our Pluto purification challenge, and come to awareness of what needs to be adjusted by what's coming to surface.
In September, Neptune moved retrograde from 21 to 20 Aquarius, where it went stationary direct the last day of October. This degree was a previous station, and has been bringing us all "rewards and gifts from Spirit" since early 2007. Then it went forward, retracing ground from its station May 2007 at 23 Aquarius, the first time it hit that degree in over 150 years. This profoundly affected the atmosphere, showing us all patterns of Divine Power we had to use wisely between the Winter Solstice at 10:08 pm PST December 21, 2007 through the end of February 2008.
Due to things unveiled in 2006, in 2007 we were challenged to rise to some occasion, show our strength, and use everything at our disposal to deal with "an exaggeration of life-problems" revealing our truth and expanding us. To the degree we did this, we've been reaping rewards from Spirit for moving through crises with courage and strength.
The recent Solar Eclipse was on the same "unveiling" degree that Neptune activated in 2006. While before it was a vague notion, dream, or ideal, it's now becoming a reality with each transit of 18 Aquarius. That could mean that a previous thing we dreaded, or an ideal we longed for, is now coming to form.
Neptune crossed 23 Aquarius beginning late February, and now enters virgin territory on a collective consciousness level. Whenever the outers enter a zone they haven't occupied for a whole cycle, it introduces new dimensions of transpersonal experience.
The overall theme of the last half of 2007 was a training period of self-induced movement and self-discipline, where we learned to build adequate vehicles to demonstrate our spiritual awareness and power. Many of us found we were able to do things beyond what we believed.
We're now moving into Neptune's "Unknown zone" of 24-25 Aquarius, where we can learn or teach deep wisdom on the basis of our experiences, demonstrating dispassion and self-discipline. This will also help us be more volitional, less instinctive in how we approach problems, and find "alien ideas" that will open choices that will achieve greater clarity by early 2009.
In May-June 2007, Uranus entered a zone it hadn't occupied for over 80 years, showing we were at a threshold state of discovery, revolution, and individuation. Uranus stayed retrograde through November, challenging us to continue to consolidate the awakenings of recent months, internalize them and see how we could become more autonomous, inventive, broad-visioned and connected to the life around you.
In 2005-2006 we awakened to a new "higher law" that required that we "walk on" and move into a greater spiritual individuality. This opened the doors to enter a new way of life if we demonstrated courage in confronting ordeals in our search for a higher truth challenging us to stand up for our ideals.
In 2007 we got the results of facing inner fears and becoming more physically, emotionally, and mentally ready, willing and able to move into a larger realm. We proved our worth or qualifications and received rewards, techniques of protection and camouflage, and opportunities to rehearse our new individuality in dramatic or important circumstances.
Spring 2007 Uranus helped us feel the source of strength behind and around all manifestations, with potential for inspiration and a "deep, vibrant realization." In silence many found gifts to offer society to fill a collective need. This was a rehearsal for what we experienced in October when Uranus echoed that span, but with a greater receptivity to collective energies and/or the "ripples in the pond" returning back to us showing us a greater individuation.
Uranus' RX station at 19 Pisces late June 2007 dominated the Summer, releasing many from old "race" karma. We could begin to understand recent and future events with intelligence, synthesizing our previous survey of life into forms of Soul energy strengthening us physically.
This set the theme through all of 2007 and 2008-2009 as Uranus continues to make this degree significant in our charts. We have been and will continue to be "instructed by our Master," so that by accepting our excellence and effectiveness we can move through the unstable imbalances with relative ease. Continue to eliminate all that diverges from your special skills that ultimately are leading you to perfect and enjoy your individuality, on whatever levels you can do this.
Uranus now crosses into its "Unknown zone" in this forecast period, transiting 19-20-21 Pisces en route to its stationary RX point in late June at 23 Pisces. During March and April 2008, we'll find an "ordeal" is ending, helping us "gather our medicine" and find spiritual nourishment. This period will open new potentials and help us expand in ways that demonstrate our "success in meeting the challenge of a new order." We can codify new values, so hold yourself to your highest standards.
There are many dynamic aspects in March and April made by the inner planets to Pluto in Sagittarius, Neptune in Aquarius, and Uranus in Pisces. Early March showed Mercury and Venus conjunct Neptune triggering the Grand Irrationality, and Sun conjunct Uranus. Late March shows Sun square Pluto then semisquare Neptune, and Mercury and Venus conjunct Uranus. Early April Mercury and Venus will square Pluto and semisquare Neptune before they move into the Aries zone of the Grand Irrationality, tracking the Sun in the same zone.
As you will note, the Sun triggers the Grand Irrationality 7 times a year. Obviously this also applies to Mercury and Venus. These periods get fairly wired and edgy, and people are stranger than usual, making crucial decisions whether they realize it or not. It's the obsessive-compulsive factors in people that make these times most difficult, since things make less sense than usual, which makes almost no sense at all.
Mars makes an opposition to Pluto in early March, then moves through the favorable tredecile and trine to Uranus on its way to a quincunx to Neptune in late April. The last few days of the month it triggers the Cancer zone of the Grand Irrationality at the same time Mercury squares Neptune. Expect things to get more than a little strange every time the Grand Irrationality gets stimulated.
So all in all, early March continues the harmony between Aquarius and Sagittarius, and late March begins a month of harmony between Cancer and Pisces, showing a favorable time for those with planets in Earth and Water signs. April Aries energy shows great productivity and stable understanding across multiple chart areas, harmonizing whatever we have in Fire and Air signs. Though things will be strange and cosmic due to the Grand Irrationality being triggered by the Moon 7 times each month, these forks in the road of our destiny will help us get in shape, claim some power, and show us how we've been given and will be given "rewards from Spirit."
Frictional aspects from planets to Pluto are showing us elements of our unique song, narrowing our focus to enlarge our vision, and helping us revise our ideas through the nurturing power of whatever Wisdom-form we were given this year. Frictional aspects to Neptune are helping us find courage to move into unknown areas as well as ritual forms of connecting with a more powerful life force, and showing us which way the winds of destiny are blowing. Frictional aspects to Uranus are helping us verify our knowledge through interactions, giving us a vision of things to come that require us to use foresight and understand cycles, all leading us to a form of cultural excellence.
The Cardinal (activating) signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn, The Fixed (stabilizing) signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius, and the Mutable (distributive) signs are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces. Planets in Fixed signs configure dynamically with Neptune, while planets in Mutable signs challenge Uranus and Pluto. In 2008 Pluto will begin to put pressure on planets in Cardinal signs and vice versa through mid-June and after late November.
Pluto continues to put long term pressure on people with birthdays in the third and fourth weeks of March, June, September, and December. If you have a birthday during these periods, go to the core of your being and clean up your magnetism to regenerate your heart.
Be a pioneer, show self-control, concentrate, and throw off the chains in your mind that keep you powerless. Let go of obsessive or compulsive feelings and people, and purify however you need to, becoming the "captain of your own fate."
Pluto's nature is "economy of energy," and it tends to make our lives more efficient through annihilating obsolete life factors. Banish the corrupt, corrosive, or dishonest elements in your life, and regenerate the seeds of power in the houses it influences in your charts. Pluto's long range influence is presently most personally disruptive to those with a Sun, Ascendant, or planet between 29 degrees of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces and 4 degrees of Capricorn, Aries, Cancer, and Libra.
In past months, Pluto's powerful transformative energies have been at 29 Sagittarius through 2 Capricorn, where we found the seeds of a new determination, persistence in getting in shape, a wealth of spiritual resources, and a concrete form of our ideals. Recent radical transformations offered us ways to master situations through purposeful planning, showing self-connfidence as we greeted opportunity, and being faithful to our Higher Self.
The first half of 2007 we evolved toward finding elegant, beautiful, and practical forms to link the best of the past with the need of the present, and were put through forms of exercise to become fit for what's happening now. We were shown what is enduring in community, and should have found ways to stabilize our lives more effectively. The tests of these were from June through November 2007.
The first half of 2007 also helped us build our conscious determination through persistence, expressing a new power and effectiveness in the houses ruled by Aries, Scorpio, and Sagittarius. Whatever we learned that led to our rededication to a larger goal or purpose in 2006 gave us imagination, potency, detachment, and an ability to anticipate what's coming.
This theme continued from March through May, as Pluto sat steady on 29 Sag. This will be the point it retrogrades to in August 2008, so get fit for something you'll have to do at that point.
A final note on Pluto. When the outer "spiritual" planets are involved in an eclipse, they will exert a very big influence during the time span of that eclipse. Since Pluto went stationary retrograde 29 March 2007, the day of the Solar Eclipse in Aries, (More at this link), we will continue to see powerful social revolutions changing our world dramatically.
These Plutonic influences were unleashed by Mars' transit of late Sag on the eclipse degree and its conjunction with Pluto January 2007. These seeds were expanded in December 2007 when Jupiter transited these degrees. At that time there were multiple conjunctions in late Sag and early Capricorn that portended Pluto's first entry into Capricorn since 1762 between January and June 2008. Since late 2007, the new evolution revolution is taking shape in some fairly specific ways. More at this link.
Neptune continues to make life somewhat strange, unclear, or even very weird for people with birthdays in mid-February, mid-May, mid-August, and mid-November. If you have a birthday during these times, let go of self pity or feelings of inadequacy, and be resolved to do whatever needs to be done to come out of uncertainty, doubt, and confusion.
Get clear about your role, release drifting through things that don't interest you, and find the light of your highest ideal. At this time in history, Neptune's long-range influence is presently most confusing to those with a Sun, Ascendant, or planet between 21 and 26 degrees of Aquarius, Taurus, Leo, and Scorpio.
In 2006 Neptune's influence showed we had to rise to some occasion and be of indomitable Spirit. We learned how to maintain those skills in mid-2006, and what was unveiled has led and will lead to rewards from Spirit in 2007, 2008, and 2009, especially when Jupiter moves over the span where Neptune has been this past year. For the most part, September through December 2007 confirmed "gifts from Spirit" and rewarded us for our faith, courage, and perseverance.
We've now learned resilience despite difficulties, and our perseverance in finding inner strength served us well in August-September 2007 and December 2007-January 2008. In March, April, and July 2007, we had opportunities to cultivate gratitude and open to opportunities to grow happily into our Higher Self through prayer and meditation. These tools of gratitude and appreciation built our "spiritual vehicle" which will deliver concrete results in 2008.
Uranus continues to evoke revolutionary developments or needed renovations and creative renewing in the houses in our charts ruled by Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. Its influence is associated with disruptive and/or unexpected changes that challenge us to individuate. Uranus currently affects most strongly those with birthdays the middle of March, June, September, and December.
If you have a birthday during these periods, learn cooperation, flexibility, and try to innovate and synthesize things into a newer, broader view. Uranus' long-range influence is presently most disruptive to those with a Sun, Ascendant, or planet between 17 and 24 degrees of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces.
In early 2006 we quickened, dropped unnecessary considerations, and got ready to live a new way of life. The past two years we've entered new areas of self-dedication and an awakening by the "conscious mind to the intuitive Soul realms." The keynote was "the capacity inherent in every individual to seek at whatever cost entrance to a transcendent realm of reality." We have now been "guided into the sanctuary," and have been tested in our purity of heart, our awareness, our maturity, and our spiritual "self-mobilization."
This led to greater responsibilities and ways to prove a greater courage and fearlessness. In the past 2 years, we’ve all endured ordeals, re-affirmed our purpose through a higher realization of truth, and moved into a new faith. Those who were inconsistent, hypocritical, clutching, fearful, or tried to hide from what was being revealed experienced the "emptiness of dread." We've had to move forward while proving our ability to accept the role we have declared our own.
November and December brought closure, fusion, and new seed forms out of what began early 2007, and brought Uranian processes to forms of fulfillment. In past months we've quickened, opened new initiatives and ways of self expression as well as relationships while consolidating our wisdom and building spiritual vehicles by practicing new skills. Having seen newer, better ways of living and being, we've been eliminating stagnant life materials and finding a new focus that naturally expanded in December.
When Jupiter exactly conjuncted Pluto, we were offered a once-in-12-year point in time to launch a greater Way, Truth, and Life. This helped us to open our vision, our imagination, and our sense of life's adventures in a new freedom to be who we really are and living our heart-fire on our own terms. We have refined our depth experience of life at very profound levels and shown how things are connected, or not, and what part each plays in the greater picture.
We are continuing to receive more rewards from Spirit, so yield to the future that already presents itself. The seeds of the future that took flight between March and June 2007 now stand revealed. Late Summer 2007 we closed out Saturn in Leo lessons and opened new initiatives resulting from our concentration and purification. By Summer 2008 Jupiter in Capricorn favorable to Saturn in Virgo will harmonize whatever work or service begun last September.
Jupiter conjunct Pluto in December 2007 began 12 years of blessings and openings beyond our wildest dreams, so learn to ride this new wave of Fire energy in your life, straight from the Galactic Center! The great wheel has turned, so continue to show appreciation and gratitude for the freedom you're glimpsing, as these seeds will prove to be potent stimulators for years to come. Definitely get inspired, since there's a lot of work to be done now that we've glimpsed the light of the heart of the Galaxy!
In Part 5 of this month's Spiritual Astrology series offers a look at how the present shows us the seeds of the long range future.
© Copyright 2008 Robert Wilkinson
Hi Robert, Thankyou for this inspiring,generating and positive essay."Pluto purification challenge"personally effects my moon libra 4th house squaring to 8th Pluto Cap. I said to a friend yesterday,I am pleased pluto is exposing and bursting open some needed confrontation, that a libran moon normally would not do as a need for peace at all costs creats my own prison as such,I sometimes abhore the insincerity of not expressing the true emotion at the instant,and always feeling obliged to family.So I feel I can be my positive moon expression more so now that Pluto is helping this. Certainly weird out there with the world!
Have a beautiful, colorful day everyone.Aum Shanti Felita.
Posted by: Felita | March 12, 2008 at 04:07 PM
Hi Robert, Its been great reading and assimilating what you write. I hope I can ask you something important regarding my life. My birthday is on 21st March (1974). In Indian astrology it has been said that I will see continuous progress in my career after my 34th birthday. Though I said at the time many years ago that I will make my own destiny, it turned out that I ended up waiting for my 34th year. I feel I have reached a threshold(passed my internship, so to speak). Can I now look forward to progress in my career?
Is there a special Mantra one can recite to control one's anger? It is so easy for me to get angry over meaningless things(I realize after I cool down). The anger is trying to control my life but I don't want it to.
Thank you
Posted by: Aditya | March 13, 2008 at 08:00 AM
Hi Robert
Confession: when i wrote u in sept 2006 about a disintegrating partnership, no job etc etc you replied with all of us being forced or persuaded to escape a narrow destiny. What kind flaky verbiage I thought. But uncannily right as I see. I am so grateful for where I am. Forced to confront the emptiness of dread, I see today the absolutely unproductive careful life I was leading which has been ripped apart over and over.Your magnificent essay really is inspiring.Big achievement of 2006-2007--- I am no longer afraid and that for a pisces rising with afourth house cancer moon is quite a feat.Also as you predicted lots of friends have suddenly streamed into my life becasue I made that dreaded phone call.I still have to get creative energy and courage to sing my unique song though.
But without a constantly editing partner, I no longer have to be so constrained. I've gotten real.
Also glad to know that be it the mountain astrologer or so many other sites you are linked or quoted.
Posted by: anu | March 13, 2008 at 08:22 PM
hi, Robert, i know i know i know and i am waiting to see what pluto will bring me as it goes over my solar arc venus in sag at 28 d, and will hit my sun/moon midpoint at 1 d cap.
Posted by: Micheline | March 14, 2008 at 12:19 AM
Hi Felita - Pluto can help us get down to the core of things, and regenerate from the primal seed pattern. Glad you were inspired.
Hi Aditya - Timing is built into the chart, and certainly Vedic is very accurate in many ways. There are many astrological factors that could indicate you being a late bloomer. As for anger, I believe mindfulness in detaching and becoming impersonal regarding that which provokes anger is helpful. That, and forgiving self and others for whatever one is angry about.
Hi anu - Though it may take awhile to see results, due to timing, usually I'm accurate about what, why, when etc. Glad you find inspiration in these posts, and certainly getting over fear, to whatever degree and however it happens, is a great accomplishment.
Hi Micheline - I don't work with midpoints to any great degree, since I already have too many things to examine as it is. Pluto always purifies whatever it touches, so it will show as some form of that.
Posted by: Robert | March 14, 2008 at 05:30 AM
I get what you are trying to put across Robert. I do feel that I am becoming more mature as I get older. Probably that helps in progress in career.
Namaskarams
Posted by: Aditya | March 14, 2008 at 06:03 AM
Hi Aditya - Yes, maturity is key to knowing what to live with and what not to live with in one's career. Even then, clarity around boundaries, duties, and responsibilities is important so that lazy or incompetent people don't coast off our energies. Also seeing if there is any "long term" future in what we're doing, and if our superiors appreciate us and we are receiving the rewards for our efforts. I have found life may very well offer us several "careers," since we must keep learning and growing regardless of our expertise. That way we don't become bored or complacent even if we are the best at what we do.
Posted by: Robert | March 16, 2008 at 07:56 AM
Well put Robert. I changed my last career or was forced to do so on 5th October 2005 as I felt my mind becoming dull from doing the same thing over and over again, like clockwork, so to speak.
I have a clear set goal now and planning my future course of action accordingly. I also know that when I hav enough money I will come and glean more wisdom out of you. You may just point me in the right direction in my quest.
Aum Namah Shivaya
Posted by: Aditya | March 16, 2008 at 03:43 PM
LOL Pluto is wearing a hole in my chart haha.
Posted by: Jilly | March 16, 2008 at 05:23 PM
Hi Aditya - Well, we do what we can until we see what the next work is. Sometimes repetition is good for getting clear about things, as well as overcoming discontent, since discontent is useless except as a prod to further development along different lines of endeavor.
Hi Jilly - "Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall, I'd love to turn you on...." Pluto is like that. Eventually the hole worn in a rock by dripping water becomes smooth.
Hi "Astrology" - I depublished your comment, since besides being erroneous and somewhat off topic, it constituted a blatant advertisement of a commercial site with superficial information. My guidelines for posting are quite clear about these kinds of spammy comments.
Posted by: Robert | March 17, 2008 at 08:09 AM
Lost in the clouds with Jupiter transcendent
Lost in the clouds with Mars ascendant.
Love Luck and the music of the Spheres.
Azure in the arms of Cerulean
Cast adrift in the Indigo isles
May Angel love and Moon glow light your path.
---klqtzzzz
Posted by: poetryman69 | April 06, 2008 at 06:49 PM
Hi poetryman69 - Good verse. Keep creating, keep striving, keep transforming, keep aliving.
Posted by: Robert | April 07, 2008 at 08:05 AM