Spiritual Astrology in July-August 2008 Pt. 2 - The Grand Irrationality Hot Zones and when they will be triggered

by Robert Wilkinson

As you know from other posts, Neptune and Pluto are still in septile, and therefore anchoring what I have termed The Grand Irrationality. This is a decades-long influence that began in the mid-1990s and will be with us for about a decade to come. It explains why things are so weird, people are making strange choices, and some crazy irrational behaviors seem to pervade our times. We're all under constant pressure to make life-altering choices and changes as we individually and collectively stand at forks in the road of Destiny.

As to why 2007 into early 2008 was over-the-top energetically, besides 2007 being the Year of the Fire Boar, the Grand Irrationality was continually triggered from November 2006 through all of 2007 by transits of various sectors bringing forth this collective weirdness affecting us all. Though we got somewhat of a respite from time to time, this year continues the constant pressure to make critical decisions that will have consequences for years to come.

To elaborate, The Grand Irrationality is a septile-driven configuration, and creates an "energy field" of strange, irrational, obsessive-compulsive energies. Its influence is fairly constant, and is a major factor as to why such strangeness is boiling to the top in personalities and situations, as well as the hard edge that pervades our times. Collectively we are at a major fork in the road of human evolution resulting from the almost constant pressure put on everyone each time this aspect series is triggered.

As noted earlier, it was almost non-stop in 2007. Boosting what began with the Autumn 2006 Eclipses, 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.

In 2008 and for many years to come The Grand Irrationality continues, and it is triggered every time a planet or the Moon crosses any of the seven zones of influence. It's thick and heavy in late July since Mars is in the Virgo zone and Mercury in the Cancer zone with the Moon in Aries and Gemini zones. A look at this article from May will shed more light on recent "forks in the road" in early May when Mars was in the Cancer zone and Mercury was in the Gemini zone at the same time. More at The Grand Irrationality Is Triggered By Mars in late Cancer (Welcome to what Summer will bring)

To remind you, this was a point of radical shift due to at least 5, and as many as all 7 points of the Great Septile, or 7 pointed Star pattern, being activated at that time by Moon, Mercury, Mars, Neptune, and Pluto in their respective hot zones. Add the Ascendant and Midheaven, and there was major activity going on in all our lives. The effects were boosted again when the Moon crossed the Aries zone again May 30-31 (when the Sun and Venus joined the dance!) and June 26-27.

During July-August 2008, the hot zones of The Grand Irrationality are approximately 27 Sagittarius-2 Capricorn, 21-26 Aquarius, 11-16 Aries, 2-7 Gemini, 25-30 Cancer, 16-21 Virgo, and 7-12 Scorpio depending on the exact degrees of Neptune and Pluto.

During July and August, Venus crosses the Cancer zone the second week of July, followed by the Sun the third week of July and Mercury the fourth week of the month with Mars in the Virgo zone. These will further develop what was set into motion in early May by Mars in Cancer, and Mars in the Virgo zone begins a series of shifts that will become clearer in August when Mercury and Venus also move through the zone in mid-Virgo.

These Virgo transits anticipate the long term heavy events portended by Saturn transiting this zone Autumn 2008 through Summer 2009. So consider July and August as a rehearsal for what will become necessary skills beginning September.

This series of lessons will be vitalized and illuminated by the Sun in early September, and concretized by Saturn as it biseptiles Pluto and triseptiles Neptune in late September and early October. I'll definitely be composing a more elaborate analysis of this important period ahead of us in future articles. This will accompany global changes in power structures, practical solutions to pressing problems, confrontations with unused powers and skills, and explosions releasing pressures so that our "will to wholeness" can come into form.

Since Saturn retrogrades back into these exact aspects in late January through February 2009, we should use this Autumn to perfect how we deal with the irrational, obsessive-compulsive energies that pervade September and October. We can expect a fairly wild ride for months to come, since the final transit of Saturn through the Virgo zone of the Grand Irrationality is July-August 2009. Obviously when the inner planets move through the various zones during this year-long activation the entire pattern will be intensified.

As I noted, of special significance is that any time the Moon transits any of the hot zones the pattern is triggered. In July and August, the first time the Moon either intensified or added another point to the Grand Irrationality is when it transited the Cancer zone July 3-4, triggering effects of choices made when Mars moved through late Cancer in early May 2008.

The next time the Moon activated the Grand Irrationality, triggering forks in the road in our lives, is when it transited the Virgo zone July 7. Any time the Moon transits the Virgo zone it gives us a heads up on what is about to be heavily activated by inner planet transits from late July through late August. We get another look at what's coming the next time the Moon moves through Virgo on August 3 and 30-31.

The Moon moves through the Scorpio zone July 11-12 and August 7-8. Of particular importance are when it transits through the Sagittarius-Capricorn zone and conjuncts Pluto on July 15-16 and August 11-12, and also when it transits the Aquarius zone conjunct Neptune on July 19-20 and August 16-17. Both influences are very heavy and far-reaching in their effects on the whole of humanity.

Every time it moves through the Sag-Cap zone it triggers forms of Pluto's Transformational long range Seeds. This is releasing influences beyond comprehension (but not experiencing!) due to Pluto conjunct the Galactic Center. Since the Moon nurtures and gives form to whatever it touches, when it transits late Sag and early Cap it focuses the Galactic Center energies currently sprouting with the Pluto conjunction.

You can find out more about the Galactic Center energies by checking out Pluto at the Galactic Center. There is a lot to explore, so take your time and try to get a sense of these "galactic" energies that will impact our planet for at least 250 years to come, and probably a lot longer, if other long cycle time-wave factors are taken into consideration.

Also of note is that last month's Full Moon in Gemini-Sag, aka "the Christ Fest," set this Moon in Sag conjunct Pluto energy into the collective field for the next year rather than simply for a month. You can find out more about this recent third "High Moon" effect by going to The Full Moon of June 2008 - It's The ChristFest, as well as the audio talk "The Long (and Short) Term Effects of Christ Fest 2008." For your convenience, here's Part 1 and Part 2.

When the Moon transits the Aquarius zone of the Grand Irrationality it "occults" Neptune and reinforces and gives form to manifestations arising from the February Solar Eclipse at 18 Aquarius. That eclipse will unveil many things in years to come, and show a widespread need to finish some renewal within a public or collective setup. Of particular importance is when it transits Aquarius August 16-17, as we have another Lunar Eclipse occurring at that time on the 25 Leo-Aquarius axis.

As I wrote a while ago, it is extraordinarily important that the February Solar Eclipse began the year of the Earth Rat, indicating this year departs from prior long cycles since the Rat begins the sequence of Chinese Astrological animals. Due to the position of the Moon’s Nodes, which create the Eclipse effect, we will also have a 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 sweep away many assumptions, and clear the way for new collective efforts symbolized by the sign Aquarius.

Finishing up the timing of the Lunar transits through the hot zones, it moves through the Aries zone on July 23-24 and August 20, when it will trigger effects related to the recent April Aries New Moon ("The Festival of Spring") at 17 Aries. It then moves through the Gemini zone on July 27-28 and August 23-24 and the Cancer zone on July 30-31 and August 26-27, re-triggering the next step of activating the recent Mars transit of that zone.

As noted, in July and August the Grand Irrationality is set off numerous times by other planets, so expect things to get very heavy in the way of choices and changes due to the non-stop activity in the Cancer and Virgo zones.This 9 week period marks a very important point in getting ideas, insights, communications, and illuminations about forks in the road and forms of obsessive or compulsive behaviors in self or others.

The main points in time where the activation by the inner planets are heaviest are July 7-12 (Venus in Cancer), July 16-21 (Sun in Cancer), July 23-26 (Mercury in Cancer), July 26-August 5 (Mars in Virgo), August 18-23 (Venus in Virgo), and August 19-22 (Mercury in Virgo).

Each of these adds a third point to the Neptune-Pluto septile by Sun, Mercury, Venus, and/or Mars, activating all the other voids. The Moon either reinforces the pattern or adds another point to these inner planet transits on July 7 (Virgo!-4 pts), July 11 (Scorpio-4 pts), July 20 (Aquarius!-3 pts), July 24 (Aries-4 pts), July 27-28 (Gemini-4 pts), July 30-31 (Cancer-4 pts), August 3 (Virgo-3 pts), August 20 (Aries-4 pts), and August 23 (Gemini-4 pts).

These days will definitely mark important forks in the road since we have at least 5 points and sometimes a 6th activated by the transiting Ascendant or Midheaven. Of particular note is the period from July 16 through August 5, since the influence is non-stop and things will be in constant motion! Pay especial attention on July 24-28 and August 20-23.

Each time the Grand Irrationality is stimulated by the inner planets, it manifests along its most characteristic Sag-Cap-Aquarius energies. The Aquarius 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.

Since the Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Mars all move through one or more of the zones in this forecast period, 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 due to Jupiter biseptile Saturn, covered in part 1 of this series, as well as the periods when Saturn was triseptile Uranus in Feb-March and mid-June through mid-July 2007. Due to the Moon's influence, big weirdness and shifts were triggered almost nonstop 7 times each month. No wonder so many heavy decisions and events came down last year!

Last year we were given somewhat of a respite, since the configuration was triggered only by the inner planets transiting the zones. This year it's MUCH different, since Mars is cruising through the Virgo zone in late July, the Scorpio zone in early October, and will close the year in a BIG way in the Sagittarius zone in late December, conjunct Pluto at the Galactic Center, ending the old cycle that began January 2007. Add the constant Saturn pressure from the Virgo zone discussed earlier, and things will heat up globally in huge ways later this year into 2009.

A final note: late December 2008 will be more volatile than usual as a result of Jupiter moving into a waning septile with Uranus. This marks the beginning of the seed of the future Jupiter-Uranus cycle to begin in 2010 with their conjunction in early Aries. The septile in December 2008 and January 2009 marks Jupiter's exit from Capricorn and entry into Aquarius. Groups will form on the basis of the personal disciplines and organized plans of 2008, so get trained, get into harness, and be willing to persevere in doing the work you are here to do.

Regarding the septile series aspects. For those of you unfamiliar with the influence of this aspect series involving the septile (51+ degrees), biseptile (102+), and triseptile (154+), 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.

Most of us have at least one of these aspects between our natal planets, and we all certainly experience many of them over our lives due to progressions and directions. When a transiting planet forms a septile series aspect to a natal planet, it moves our essential nature to choose and express something related to that planetary function. When they impact our progressed planets, it moves our evolved self to choose one path or behavior over another.

When it's a transiting planet to another transiting planet, as described above, it shows a circumstance that must be dealt with that precipitates us in a direction aligned with our "destiny," for good or ill. It may arise as a result of the consequences of our own prior actions or inactions, it may be something that occurs between us and another forcing one or both of us to make an important choice, or it can be a far-reaching local or global event that throws us out of one path into another.

In future parts of this Spiritual Astrology series we will explore what's going on with the Outer Invisible Triad relative to degree spans, how these affected past and present eclipses, when planets will make dynamic aspects to the Invisible Triad showing periods when we are most challenged to cooperate with "Spiritual" energies, and how the present shows us the seeds of the long range future.

Copyright © 2008 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[VH]

Thanks Robert! Awesone information. I certainly have been experiencing the "weirdness" since 2007, with my natal Sun in the Scorpio "hot zone," and tranisting Pluto conjunct my progressed Sun at 1 Cap! Obviously I'm being called to shift my identity in a major way. Sure has made for a wild ride. Woohoooooo!

Your timely analysis helps me to track the times of maximum shift and weirdness.

[Wild Horse running]

wow, was yesterday a difficult day...mars was conjunct my natal pluto...and the scorpio energies effecting my natal neptune...Im still trying to acess if I read someone right and they were compulsive, and playing me...or old stuff of mine, reared its ugly head...and I repeated old behaviours. I hope I moved forward a little bit...and not back. namaste

[LK]

I have been told that July 19, 2008 will repeat an astrological pattern not seen in over 600,000 years, and that the veil between the spiritual and physical realms will be very thin. A great time for manifestations, both positive and negative. Any insight on the situation? Thanks in advance!!!

[John Harrison]

In relation to July 19, 2008 being a strange day: Several people in my immediate circle felt that on Saturday morning there was a time stretch which resulted in approximately 50 minutes of extra time between about 10:00am and 11:00am. This was felt subjectively and through various scheduling anomalies. It seems like it went from about 9:00 am to noon with time getting gradually slower and slower until it almost stopped at about 10:30am, then speeding up again to noon. Any ideas?

[Kunal]

Thanks for the awesome information, yes things have been kind off weird, and i have been experiencing some strange feelings and thoughts. Also feel like im connecting to a different world all together. It started from february, any ideas.

[donna]

Hello Robert,
I've been doing my homework as far as the Grand Irrationality and have this question - does the Neptune Pluto septile have a greater effect on a person if Pluto is conjuct their natal Mars? Specifically in regards to obsessive compulsive behavior? All thanks in advance for any attention you might be able to give on this.

[Robert]

Hi all - Sorry for not responding to the earlier comments, but they fell off the sidebar before I got to them. At least it seems there were no burning questions that need answering!;-)

Hi Donna - Yes and no. Any Pluto effect will be more evident in those of us with Pluto prominent, just like a transiting Mars aspect will usually impact those with a strong Mars more than someone with an obscure Mars. If you're speaking of transiting Pluto conjunct natal Mars, well, yes, that's an extremely powerful long term transformative influence which will be set off as other aspects are made to that point. Of course, it also means that Neptune is septile the Mars. In this regard, it's important to remember that we all choose whether and how our obsessions, compulsions, or irrationality will manifest. And often it is not us who displays these qualities, but another person or even a circumstance that we must deal with and thereby move our "destiny" in whatever direction is dictated by our personality choices and decisions.