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 years to come. It may help us understand why things are so weird on a constant basis, why people can be so 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 fairly frequently to make life-altering choices and changes as we all stand at forks in the road of Destiny.
To recap, The Grand Irrationality is a septile-driven configuration, and creates an "energy field" of strange, irrational, obsessive-compulsive energies. For those who want to know more about these very important, "destiny producing" non-rational angular fields, at the end of this post I've included an article elaborating on these aspects which may help to explain how these aspects work their influence within the larger energetic field in which "we live, breathe, and have our being."
Due to Neptune and Pluto being in a very long term septile and the other planets making regular visits to the various zones in Sagittarius, Aquarius, Aries, Gemini, Cancer, Virgo, and Scorpio, its influence is fairly constant. This 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, we entered into a very heavy time span in late September lasting for many months to come due to Saturn in 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. More about the period since May that precipitated major choices is at the end of this article.
During November and December of 2008, the hot zones of The Grand Irrationality are approximately 28 Sagittarius-3 Capricorn, 20-25 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.
With Saturn's entry into the Grand Irrationality a few weeks ago, 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 have been 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 pervaded September and October and will be very prominent in December. 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 November and December, the first time the Moon either intensified or added another point to the Grand Irrationality is when it transited the Sagittarius zone and conjuncted Pluto at the Galactic Center on November 1-2 just as Neptune went stationary direct at the recent Venus T-square portending December's T-squares.
The Moon will again transit late Sag and early Capricorn November 29-30 and again December 26-27. This makes for THREE Galactic Center conjunctions in this period, which makes it even more portentous than other periods. There is also the added importance of 1 degree Capricorn being a "critical degree" as defined by the ancients. This is due to it being a point of entry into one of the Lunar Mansions, but more than this must be the subject of another article.
The Moon's transit through the Sagittarius-Capricorn cuspal zone when it conjuncts Pluto, as well as when it transits the Aquarius zone conjunct Neptune on November 6-7, December 3-4, and again on December 31 are particularly important. Both influences are very heavy and far-reaching in their effects on the whole of humanity, since the Sagittarius-Capricorn zone involves the Galactic Center and the Aquarius zone activates long range eclipse effects.
Every time it moves through the Sag-Cap cuspal zone it activates the growth of new 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. December's Full Moon will bring these energies to surface in very significant ways. 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.
As noted, 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 2008 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 in November and December it brings forth manifestations of the effects of the recent Lunar Eclipse on the 25 Leo-Aquarius axis. This link takes you to a previous article explaining those eclipse effects, with internal links to other related articles.
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 November 9-10 and December 7, the Gemini zone on November 13-14 and December 11, and the Cancer zone November 17-18 and December 14-15. It then transits the Virgo zone on November 21 and December 18-19, giving the Saturn influence much more impact and then the Scorpio zone on November 24-25 and December 22-23.
As noted, in November and December 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 Sagittarius and Aquarius 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 November 1-3 (Sun in Scorpio with Saturn in Virgo), November 7-11 (Mercury in Scorpio; Saturn's already left its zone), November 10-14 (Venus in the Sag-Cap cuspal zone), December 10-14 (Mercury on Sag-Cap cusp), December 19-23 (Sun on Sag-Cap cusp - The Winter Solstice!), December 26-29 (Venus in Aquarius) and December 25-31 (Mars on the Sag-Cap cusp).
The Moon either reinforces the pattern or adds another point to these inner planet transits on November 1-2 (Sagittarius-4 pts), November 7 (Aquarius!-3 pts), November 9-10 (Aries-4 points), November 13-14 (Gemini-3pts), December 11-14 (Gemini and Cancer-3 pts), December 19 (Virgo-3 pts), December 23 (Scorpio-3 pts), December 26-27 (Sag!-2 pts, but featuring Sun and Mars conjunct Pluto and Venus conjunct Neptune), and December 31 (Aquarius!-2 pts, featuring Moon conjunct Neptune and Mars conjunct Pluto.)
These days will definitely mark important forks in the road since we have at between 2 and 4 points activated, with a potential 5th the first half of November whenever the transiting Ascendant or Midheaven moves through an empty zone. 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, 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.
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 was especially intensified, since Mars cruised through the Cancer zone in late April-early May, the Virgo zone in late July, the Scorpio zone in mid-October, and will hit the Sag zone in late December. Along with the other inner planets, the year will be closed out in a BIG way when they transit the Sagittarius zone in late December.
When Mars 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. Even though Saturn is no longer exactly biseptile Pluto or triseptile Neptune during these months, it's close enough on the outskirts of the zone to be triggered any time a planet makes a septile series aspect to it.
Of some substantial importance, 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 mentioned earlier, here's an article for those of you unfamiliar with the influence of the septile (51+ degrees), biseptile (102+), and triseptile (154+) aspects. 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, 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.
And now a little more about why our decisions the past 6 months have been so important:
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 every day to a greater or lesser extent.
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.
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 past Summer has been so heavy by re-reading The Grand Irrationality Is Triggered By Mars in late Cancer (Welcome to what Summer will bring)
The recent Virgo transits in August and September anticipated the long term heavy events portended by Saturn transiting this zone between Autumn 2008 and Summer 2009. Basically, July and August were a rehearsal for what will become necessary skills. These Virgo skills and lessons were concretized by Saturn when it biseptiled Pluto and triseptiled Neptune in late September through all of October. More recently, we went through Important shifts in mid-October when Mars moved through the Scorpio zone boosted by Moon in Aries and Gemini. This added a 5th point to the 7-pointed Star configuration.
There have been points in the recent past when 4, 5, or even 6 points were activated. This will occur from time to time in November and December when the Moon is in one of the zones during the major intensifications set off by -the inner planets all moving through conjunctions with Pluto, activating the Galactic Center influences for another two years due to the Mars transit. This will also activate whatever 12 year promise, expansion, or adventure in consciousness was indicated by the December 2007 Jupiter conjunct Pluto at the Galactic Center.
As the inner planets do their thing, the Moon will play a part as described earlier. These obviously affect many sectors of our charts, and indicate times when we're making personality choices that will impact what future presents itself in subsequent Grand Irrationality periods. That's why it's so important to note what's happening during these hot zone periods, as it gives clues about how we're shaping our destiny in months and years to come.
Copyright © 2008 Robert Wilkinson
Hi Robert:
Found the article on the Grand irrationality very interesting. Although I am aware that you do not use TNPs , I would like to suggest that Poseidon and Vulkanus, two important TNPs currently occupy two additional points of the Grand irrationality, 218 and 116 respectively.
To quote Martha Wescott words this could mean that there is potential for people to persuade with one’s vision or new ideas. People could change their minds utterly and about really esoteric and psychological subjects perhaps after some catharsis. She also adds that there is opening here for surrender to the higher will. We may see that people have their own motives for their beliefs and that intellect can be used to "push" at others and capitalize on their weaknesses and deepest needs. We may see instances where a person's "metaphysics" have become an obsession or a kind of thought disorder.
Javed
Posted by: Javed | November 14, 2008 at 09:02 PM
Robert,
I'm back to the concept of Destiny. You put it in quotations marks (as you do with metaphysics). The quotation marks usually indicate that you're not saying exactly what you mean -- that the word inside is short-hand for something else.
Metaphysics I get -- there really isn't another word for it, and it's not usually applied to a personality.
Destiny, on the other hand, does apply to people almost exclusively (unless there is a mammal or globl arm to this, too, now).
What do you mean by it?
You write quite a lot about the relationships among/ the meeting points of free will, forks in the road, and destiny (which, I believe, means fate -- or that which is going to happen no matter what).
Can you please elaborate on the concept of destiny and free will here as you mean it? I still struggle with your take here.
Thanks,
Annette
Posted by: Annette | November 15, 2008 at 12:49 AM
Thanks Robert...this is wonderfully detailed and comprehensive. Now I just have to keep it all in mind as the next 2 months unfold! Still dealing with Pluto square my Sun. I know this is a necessary transit but man, will I be dancing for joy when it is finally over. It is so heavy. But the election cheered me up alot :)
Posted by: Christine E | November 15, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Hi Robert,
Last year was totally crazy and this year I am adapting more to the weirdness. My natal Sun in Scorpio is in the "hot zone" and my progressed Sun is at 1 Cap, with transiting Pluto conjunct, also in the "hot zone." It seems we Scorpios do love to transform ourselves, as TPluto was conjunct my natal Sun many years ago, and now I am in for another remodelling, LOL! December sounds as if it will be really wild with the inner planets crossing the Sag/Cap cusp. My Solar Return has an Aries Ascendant with cardinal signs on all angles, so I'm doing my best to understand that "wild and crazy" is the new "normal."
Thanks for the article and info about the Grand Irrationality. It helps to keep the balance!
Posted by: Viki | November 17, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Hi, Robert, how are you. This post is great and thought its lenghty its very juicy. hehehehe
but i do need a clarification on your following statement
"When Mars 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"
first what was the old cycle and where might have it fallen in my chart
second how does it activate the jupiter-pluto conjunctiong that happened way back in december 2007...
thanks micheline
Posted by: Micheline | November 17, 2008 at 05:21 PM
Hi Robert,
Another fine article. I am navigating the irrational seas fairly well- not thinking very clearly but I don't think I'm supposed to at this time LOL. May I insert a small request here- I am going to do an astrology column soon for my sister's website, called Delmarva Almanac. May I put in a link to your site which I believe would be interesting and helpful to readers?
http://delmarva-almanac.com
This is the site if you want to take a peek- hope this is not inappropriate.
Thanks! :)
Posted by: Valerie | November 20, 2008 at 04:58 PM
Hi Javed - Yes, I don't use Uranian astrology points since having investigated it extensively some years ago, I found it to make too many points "hot" to be able to do precision work. When we have a hundred points made active, anything can result in anything. And they are in fact theoretical planets. Not saying they don't exist somewhere in space-time, but I find that sticking with what we have confirmed actually have form yields plenty of results. Much of what you quote could be attributes of Neptune.
Hi Annette - When I put something in quotation marks, besides meaning that the term is shorthand for something greater than can be expressed, I'm also conveying the fact that many people will define that term according to local belief systems. As for "destiny," (or "fate") I've written before that there are only two things that are destined, or fated. One is to be born where you were, when you were, to the folks you were born to. The other is the timing on certain major choices. This is not what most think those terms mean which is why they get quotes. Most think those terms encompass far more than they actually do and that fate, or destiny, makes our life rather than vise-versa. EVERYTHING is free will except those two determinants. As we make our character through our choices, we make our destiny.
Hi Christine - Pluto transits are heavy, but also purifying and ultimately transforming seed forms into realities so we can choose our unfolding potential. And while the election also gave me encouragement, the system is still the system, the neocons aren't going away, and Dubya put us all in a ditch that it'll take years to climb out of. He was truly the worst president in history.
Hi Viki - Yes, it would seem your "enlightenment principle" is at a critical fork in the road relative to the larger gestalt. Flexibility is truly a virtue in an Age in Transition!
Hi Micheline - Doing fine now that I'm off the road! The last cycle began the last time Mars conjuncted Pluto in late Sagittarius. Where that is in your chart is where it fell. It activates the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction point as a result of its transit over that point due to it being the first transit of that point since it happened.
Hi Valerie - By all means, please place a link on your site to this one. From what I saw, it looks classy so far!
Posted by: Robert | November 25, 2008 at 05:39 AM
Thank you!! Have a great Thanksgiving... :)
Posted by: Valerie | November 25, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Hi, Robert, there is nothing like home. How is the new one going for you by the way? I can not wait until the day when I can afford to buy one of my own. Actually, speaking of home and homes and having your house. Some interesting things have come to light. When I went home for the month of July and spend that time staying at one of my big sisters place in Toronto, my sister confronted me about my future and she is worried about what how I am going to retire and all that stuff. Mind you I am only 44 and I am not planning on laying down yet. I feel I still have far too much to accomplish and do in my life. Especially now that I have changed my direction a bit and I more on the right path the before. She wanted me to come back next year but then she just got an offer to teach for two years in Lithuania, which in a way is good for me cause it gives me more time to save for the possibility of full time school, if that goes well, then a masters degree in ethnomusicology, if that goes well then i am going to go for the doctorate..... But who knows. One has to remain flexible.
Also, want to comment on what you said based on what I said previously. (sorry that was long winded but that above stuff refers to the mars conjunct my sun in my fourth house i believe/interesting huh!)
the last time mars conjuncted pluto in late sag would have been in my fith house.... cause i know that pluto is about to transit my sun/moon midpoint, someone said that this would bring some kind of power struggle..... why does it have to be some kind of power struggle.... anyway its my fifth house
have you ever heard of Firdaria
(check out this site http://firdaria.com/)
i found this really interesting because as i have mentioned before i have been going through my own crossing of the roads, and felt very lost all of a sudden around the time that according to the firdaria is when i have my south node period.... and that is lifting
the sun is coming out
what i find interesting is that according to the calculations of the firdaria i am going into my sun time period on dec.6.2008....which happens to coincide with this sun/mars conjunction as well.
lets see what happens
peace and namaste to you and thank you for taking the time answer my questions.....
okay so i went and took at look at transits for that time
both pluto and jupiter where conjuncting each other in my fift house and thats when i really started to get serious about learning guitar
music singing art communicating poetry children i teach them right now but have no formal education degree of course for that whichi is also another good reason to be going back to school
i dream of travelling and being to learn the kind of music i want to learn more about and i do my best with the resources at hand and i have been meeting some great people here for that
well thats all for now
again thank you very much
peace micheline
Posted by: Micheline | December 02, 2008 at 04:36 AM
With this Grand Irrationality going on I must re-read articles from time to time.
So one thing that has made a lot of sense -rational or irrational, I don't know by now-, just quote:
"Of some substantial importance, 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".
Does it mean that, perhaps, you can meet people that will be important afterwards or start to shape a new destiny -although by now it is not very clear, but "intuitively" you know it "could" be a "further step", still taking nothing for granted but feeling lots of new intuitive inputs or "seemingly-fated" contacts in late December?-. Yes, volatile. Nothing for sure but I wonder if last Sun/Mars conjunct Pluto adds that new sense...
Perhaps that's a valid effect for this specific septile and all the cosmic dances surrounding.
Don't know, really Grand means Grand.
Posted by: Henry | December 26, 2008 at 05:15 PM
Hi Henry - It's definitely happening on a grand scale! That particular Jupiter septile could very well mean opportunities that are unexpected or unusual that open future circumstances. What you surmise could also very well be the situation, since Mars conjunct Pluto septile Neptune could also yield intuitive impressions about future possibilities. The future part comes as a result of both Mars and Jupiter make waning septiles, which are totally future oriented. The Mars effect will come quicker, this coming Spring, whereas the Jupiter effect will show in 2010. Happy Nuevo Ano!
Posted by: Robert | January 02, 2009 at 06:47 AM