Spiritual Astrology in September-October 2008 Pt. 2 - The Grand Irrationality and When It Will Be Set Into Motion

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 long wave global activating influence that began in the mid-1990s and will be with us for about a decade to come. It may help us understand why things are so weird on a constant basis, why people go obsessive-compulsive and make strange choices from time to time, and the reason crazy irrational behaviors seem to pervade our times. Due to this influence, we are all under pressure every so often to make life-altering choices and changes as we individually and collectively stand at forks in the road of Destiny.

As I've explained in prior posts, 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.

It was virtually non-stop in 2007. Boosting what began with the Autumn 2006 Eclipses, there were important septile series configurations made by transits that set off important changes and choices that did not make much sense, but we had to make them anyway. These transits continue for many years to come, showing us how to greet the forward edge of our future "destiny" by the ways we greet the weirdness of the NOW.

In 2008 and for a decade to come, The Grand Irrationality continues. It is triggered every time a planet or the Moon crosses any of the seven zones of influence. While not so prominent in early September, it's thick and heavy beginning in late September for many months to come due to Saturn entering the Virgo zone, crystalizing what Mars portended in late July and early August and given substance when Mercury and Venus also crossed that zone in the third week of August.

October becomes a time of very important shifts since Mars moves through the Scorpio zone around mid-month, and when the Moon is in Aries or Gemini a 5th point is added to the 7-pointed Star configuration. There have been points in the recent past when 4, 5, or even 6 points were activated. Please take a new look at this article from May to get a better understanding of early May, when we all hit critical "forks in the road. You can also find out more about why this Summer has been so heavy by re-reading The Grand Irrationality Is Triggered By Mars in late Cancer (Welcome to what Summer will bring)

Early May kicked off radical shifts 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. If we add the Ascendant and Midheaven, 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. The inner planet transits of the Cancer zone in July, along with Mars in the Virgo zone, kept the shifts active, as did Mercury and Venus moving through the Virgo zone in August.

During September and October 2008, the hot zones of The Grand Irrationality are approximately 27 Sagittarius-2 Capricorn, 20-25 Aquarius, 10-15 Aries, 1-6 Gemini, 24-29 Cancer, 15-20 Virgo, and 6-11 Scorpio depending on the exact degrees of Neptune and Pluto.

The recent Virgo transits anticipated the long term heavy events portended by Saturn transiting this zone Autumn 2008 through Summer 2009. Basically, July and August were a rehearsal for what will become necessary skills beginning this month, since the Sun has just vitalized and illuminated them.

As noted, these Virgo skills and lessons will be concretized by Saturn as it biseptiles Pluto and triseptiles Neptune in late September through all of October. I'll compose a more elaborate analysis of this important period ahead of us in future articles.

With Saturn's entry into the Grand Irrationality, it shows 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. Inner guidance and cooperation are keywords to successful function in late October and early November.

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 September and October, the first time the Moon either intensified or added another point to the Grand Irrationality is when it transited the Scorpio zone September 4, and will do so again October 1-2 and October 28-29. It then triggered the configuration when it moved through the Sagittarius zone and conjuncted stationary direct Pluto at the Galactic Center on September 8-9, and will do so again when it transits Sag October 5-6.

The Moon's transit through the Sagittarius-Capricorn zone when it conjuncts Pluto, as well as when it transits the Aquarius zone conjunct Neptune on September 12-13 and again on October 10 are particularly important. 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.

To remind you, June's Full Moon in Gemini-Sag, aka "the Christ Fest," set the 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" (conjuncts) 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 shows a widespread need to finish some renewal within a public or collective setup.

When the Moon transits Aquarius and conjuncts Neptune on September 12-13 and October 10 it will bring forth manifestations of the effects of the recent Lunar Eclipse on the 25 Leo-Aquarius axis. This link takes you to part 3 of the series explaining those eclipse effects, with internal links to parts one and two.

As I've been telling you, 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.

This year and next are sweeping away many assumptions, and clearing the way for new collective efforts symbolized by the North Node in the sign of Aquarius. Of extraordinary importance will be when Mars and then Jupiter move through the Aquarius zone, since major developments will come forth then on a global level.

Finishing up the timing of the Lunar transits through the hot zones, it moves through the Aries zone on September 16-17 and October 13-14, when we'll see further manifestations of the April Aries New Moon ("The Festival of Spring") at 17 Aries. It then moves through the Gemini zone on September 19-20 and October 17, the Cancer zone on September 23-24 and October 20-21, and the Virgo zone September 27-28 and October 24-25, giving the Saturn influence much more impact.

As noted, in September and October 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 Virgo and Scorpio zones. This 9 week period marks a very important point in getting clear about the magnetics and specific tasks to be done and training to be learned connected to 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 September 5-11 (Sun in Virgo), late September through all of October (Saturn in Virgo), September 27-October 3 (Venus in Scorpio), October 10-20 (Mars in Scorpio), and October 27-November 3 (Sun in Scorpio).

Saturn's entry into the Virgo zone adds a constant third point to the Neptune-Pluto septile. When the Sun, Venus, and/or Mars transits their zones it adds a fourth point to the pattern, activating all the other voids.

The Moon either reinforces the pattern or adds another point to these inner planet transits on September 8-9 (Sagittarius!-3 pts), September 12-13 (Aquarius!-3 pts), September 19-20 (Gemini-4 pts), September 23-24 (Cancer-4 pts), September 27-28 (Virgo!-4 pts), October 1-2 (Scorpio-4 pts), October 10 (Aquarius-4 pts), October 13-14 (Aries-5 pts), October 17 (Gemini-5 pts), October 20 (Cancer-5 pts), October 24-25 (Virgo-3 pts), and October 28-29 (Scorpio-4 pts).

These days will definitely mark important forks in the road since we have at between 3 and 5 points activated, with a potential 6th in mid-October by the transiting Ascendant or Midheaven. From the frequency of hits, it seems that the influence is non-stop and things will be in constant motion!

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, 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.

As I've noted in previous posts, we had two such major configurations occurring for much of 2007 due to Jupiter biseptile Saturn, 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!

This year is especially intensified, since Mars cruised through the Cancer zone in late April-early May and the Virgo zone in late July. We still confront it moving through the Scorpio zone in mid-October, and along with other planets it will close the year in a BIG way in the Sagittarius zone in late December.

When it conjuncts Pluto at the Galactic Center, it will end the old cycle that began January 2007 and activate the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction cycle that began December 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.

On a related 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 forming 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.

As I've explained in past articles, for those of you unfamiliar with the influence of the septile (51+ degrees), biseptile (102+), and triseptile (154+), 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.

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

[Chickie]

Your Highness,

Thanks for such an intense article....from 9/11-9/14 I will be in seclusion with Maria Teresa Valenzuela. I do hope this virgo sun, aquarius/pisces moons assist me in a much needed cleansing!

[hitchhiker72]

Hi Robert,

Haven't posted in the comment stream for a while but have been reading. Thanks for this post. After this prolonged weirdness, I wonder if we'll actually recognise the calm when we see it!

Thanks for sharing.
hh72

[Robert]

Hi Chickie - The fact that you've embraced the process guarantees you'll find some degree of resolution and peace. May you find more than you could imagine, and come through the passage with light, love, humor, and power.

Hi hh72 - You know, I've wondered that myself. Something about PTSD comes to mind. At least we'll KNOW when the process is done, and I have no doubt we'll be restored to collective sanity once this constant pressure is off for a long enough period for us to recognize that in fact we have entered a new era.

[Julie]

Sun, Venus, and Mars... Feb 9, 1970, 1:12pm, Windsor Ontario, Canada; Lay it on me Robert - I can take it!

[hitchhiker72]

PTSD! LOL, good one. 'Constant pressure' is putting it mildly. I'm not feeling as besieged as during the Pluto-Saturn opposition of 2001 or so (picked up a few lessons since then), but the outer planets are on the angles on my chart. Uranus has been on my IC for a while and Saturn's approaching the mid-heaven. Thankfully, Pluto's well in to my first house now, and separating from the Ascendant. I want a break already. But may have to settle for PTSD... :P

[victoria]

I get the humor. Yolks on me.

[Robert]

Hi Julie - Well, your Moon and Jupiter have also been in the mix for awhile too. As these trigger, you'll make choices that determine your future. Look to the houses they're in, and which houses they rule. You're already familiar with the energies, due to your Sun-Moon septile and your Mars triseptile Jupiter. This is the year to get it in gear, apply yourself to the practical core of things, stop worrying and show what you know, and expand your vision. You have fine talents, but suffer from low aim. The past year you've been challenged to take responsibility and prove your qualifications, and have grown tremendously. These skills will yield great opportunities in early 2010.

Hi hh72 - Thank heaven as we learn to maneuver the rapids we come to some measure of peace simply by knowing we've gotten as far as we have without things being worse than they were. With Uranus on the IC stay flexible, since you may become a bonsai tree from time to time.

Hi Victoria - Well, when the heat is on, we take our laughs any way we can!;-)

[H]

Hi Robert & all

Brilliant article... so exciting....Wondering if any readers out there got same birthday as me - 22nd Nov 1968? Just a passing curiosity as possible interesting parallels??? Mmm... PTSD + throw in a bit o OCD & what a ride we're on... yahoo.... :)

[magenta]

Aquarius (the Water-bearer !) full Moon conjunct Neptune in the Grand Irrationality seems
a scarily apt transit for a catastrophic hurricane, what ? And throw in the fact that they also conjunct the NN and Chiron, just for good measure. Sun opposition Uranus at the same time. Wow. Dunno what else to say. magenta in manhattan

[Annette Kramer]

Robert,

I have a logistical question. You say,

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 collecive setup.

I went back through your article many times, but I'm still confused by all the aspects, degrees, and so forth.

To what period of time are you referring when you say "When the Moon transits the Aquarius zone . . . "? Please forgive my question if this is very obvious and I missed it.

Thanks,
Annette

[Robert]

Hi H - Thanks. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why "Monk" is such a popular show here in the states! I suspect we all need a little skew just to blend in with our environment. The trick is to walk the razor's edge so we don't fall into unhelpful views or relationships with people crazier than we are!;-)

Hi magenta - Well, at least lunar eclipses don't last THAT long! Of course, it's not really that "catastrophic," given these are not category 4 or 5. I was just speaking with a friend in Houston last night and we agreed that some of this is media hype, always trying to "juice" the story. As a kid in coastal Florida, I went through plenty of hurricanes, and we simply did what we had to do. Only evacuated our barrier island once in all the years I was there. While I agree that we now occasionally have superstorms on a level we never did 50 years ago, the fear around these tropical storms is way beyond reason. Perhaps the Chironic healing energy is working to get us all over that fear of being blown away and remembering it's not nearly as bad as we believe it could be. Gotta watch those subjunctive tense states of mind. Coming to Nuevo Yorko soon....

Hi Annette - There are many layers to this configuration and its effects, and many questions are opened by what and how I write about a thing, or so I'm told. I'd be glad to try to explain my approach to understanding how it works.

The Moon goes through Aquarius once a month for about 2 to 2 1/2 days at a time. I wrote "When the Moon transits Aquarius conjuncts Neptune on September 12-13 and October 10 it will bring forth manifestations of the effects of the recent Lunar Eclipse on the 25 Leo-Aquarius axis." That means in the next few weeks those specific days will be when this pattern activates. And for those not familiar with the term, an "occultation" is a conjunction to a planet in the zone of an eclipse, in this case any planet in late Aquarius. We could also say that because Chiron was part of the stellium in Aquarius it too was occulted.

The degree spans of the signs I mentioned are the zones of influence at present. I give the days when the Moon and other planets are moving through those zones since those days will be when the influence is more notable in general. If we have natal or progressed planets in the zones, we are under a constant influence, heightened whenever the planets or Moon move into a zone and stimulate the entire pattern.

[AB]

Dear Robert,

I was wondering if you could tell me how this Grand Irrationality will affect me next year (dob: Nov 2, 64, 6:45 pm, Bombay, India). Its been one thing or another for a long time, with Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, Pluto affecting me continuously. I thought that with Jupiter moving to Aquarius in Jan 09, I'd finally catch a break at least on the career front. But now--after reading these articles and with the eclipses affecting the angles of my 4th and 10th house--it seems maybe not. I would be grateful for your take on this. Thank you very much. At some point I would like to make an appointment for a more detailed reading but its been overwhelming for a while now.

[Robert]

Hi AB - The Grand Irrationality shows we all must make critical choices at critical moments to determine how Dharma manifests. Jupiter will in fact assist you next year by helping you find an integrated vision. Eclipses shut down old ways, and since Nature abhors a vacuum, we inevitably attract to us new conditions. 4/10 house eclipses do affect the home, foundations, and professional direction. But it's not necessarily bad to let go of old ways so new ones can appear.

Your natal Saturn and Neptune shows you're a being of great Spiritual potential once you embrace the ongoing process of transfiguration and remember that from time to time you need to find new ways of being here. Learn how to change your picture of what would look "perfect" and embrace the process. You are guaranteed major rewards in the near future for your courage. Just remember that when you're out on a limb, it may be time to retreat than advance.

Confront the caged up powers of Viveka, Vairagya, and Upeksha within you, unlock the imprisoned Eternal Being of the Will-to-Good, go for the future vision, and remember that you usually only experience the depth connections you desire after you do whatever must be done with others. The Lunar Eclipse is opening new responsibilities and helping you let go of old inflexible ways of doing things.

[AB]

Thank you Robert. I will be in touch.

[A.]

Hi Robert
Excellent interpretation!
Went back to re-read the mercury retrograde posts (I know!!) and got prompeted to write this Thank you note for giving me-us this compressed pearl of wisdom contained within your insightful interpretation of the Neptune- Pluto Septile:" THY SHOW US HOW TO GREET THE FORWARD EDGE OF OUR FUTURE DESTINY BY THE WAY IN WHICH WE GREET THE WEIRDNESS OF THE NOW.

Wow+Love
A.

[Viki]

Hi Robert,

Thanks for the great article and the list of times that the Grand Irrationality will be most active. My Sun is at 8 Scorpio, so it is in one of the "hot zones" and explains why I have encountered so much craziness the past few years.

[Robert]

Hi A - Thanks. Truly, the septiles do show us the "forward edge of our future destiny" in the NOW. And this one rumbles on, affecting all of humanity. With Saturn joining the party and opposing Uranus, it's going to be a wild ride indeed!

Hi Viki - That would indicate that your light/life has hit major forks in the road the past 21 months. I suspect you're living a different life than you were back in 2006. Elimination, regeneration, focus on what to repel and what to attract are all elements of the process these past 600 days.

Now the primary zone of influence has begun to move beyond affecting your Sun. By February you'll move into a very fortunate sextile and tredecile from Pluto and Neptune to your Sun. Jupiter shows important emergences in April expanding on what Neptune brought in 2007-2008. Saturn and Pluto will give you one last look in June-July 2009, Jupiter with Pluto in August, and Pluto alone through November 2009. By then this life-altering chapter will be done.