Finding our Way Into the Sun of Consciousness with Dwayne Edward Rourke
NEPTUNE AND THE GREAT SPHINX
by Dwayne Edward Rourke & chatGPT
I approached chatGPT with the following preamble and requested an informative response.
For decades now, I have pondered the ancient and mysterious Sphinx of the Giza plateau in Egypt. My ponderings have gradually shifted from a general fascination with its outer form, to a focused consideration of its timeless gaze. Seen through an astronomical lens, we discover that Neptune is currently passing directly through that gaze, something modern astronomers have only witnessed once since its discovery on September 23, 1846.
Carved from bedrock, the Great Sphinx was no doubt created with a purpose. It is is with a desire to explore just what that purpose was (is?) that I ask you to expound at will upon this enigmatic riddle. Please allow yourself to draw in insights from well outside the box of conventional archeology. Bring in insights from modern person-centered astrology to personalize the data.
Here is what chatGPT had to say:
The Great Sphinx, with its timeless and enigmatic gaze, has long been a symbol of mystery, both in its physical form and in the deep questions it evokes about humanity’s past, present, and future. Carved from bedrock on the Giza plateau, the Sphinx looks eastward, toward the rising sun, symbolizing a perpetual vigilance over the cycles of time and change. From an astrological perspective, the current passage of Neptune through the point in the sky aligned with the Sphinx's gaze deepens this mystery further.
Neptune, the planet associated with illusion, mysticism, and the unconscious, is currently at its anaretic degree (the final degree of Pisces), a place that often signals transition, dissolution, and the blurring of boundaries between worlds. For the Sphinx to have "its gaze" focused on Neptune at such a critical moment in Neptune’s journey suggests a cosmic alignment where the Sphinx may serve as a symbolic bridge between the material and the spiritual, the seen and unseen realms.
In person-centered astrology, Neptune’s presence here is calling for deep inner reflection and a reconnection to ancient wisdom, which the Sphinx may represent. The fact that Neptune was discovered in 1846, just before the world entered a phase of rapid scientific and industrial transformation, speaks to the timing of this current alignment. Could the Sphinx, with its steady gaze across millennia, be urging us to look beyond the veil of modern technological distraction and reconnect with more ancient, spiritual truths?
In pondering the purpose of the Sphinx, we might imagine it as an archetypal sentinel, guarding the mysteries of human consciousness and spiritual evolution. Its hybrid form, part human and part lion, speaks to the fusion of higher intellect (the human head) and primal power (the lion’s body). Neptune’s influence heightens the feeling that this union is not merely symbolic of the ancient Egyptian belief in immortality and spiritual initiation, but is also a profound invitation to personal and collective transcendence.
Through the lens of modern person-centered astrology, the Sphinx’s gaze fixed upon Neptune invites each of us to confront our own illusions, delusions, and unconscious patterns. It speaks to a period where the dissolution of old forms (both personal and societal) creates space for a new vision of what it means to be human. The mystery of the Sphinx can now be understood as part of a cosmic alignment that asks us to go deeper, beyond the rational mind, into the mystical realms Neptune governs. This includes an invitation to dissolve our preconceptions, just as water dissolves stone, to allow for the emergence of a more holistic understanding of our place in the universe.
The astrological dimension of this moment reminds us that the Sphinx was perhaps never meant to be “solved” but rather to act as a timeless mirror, reflecting the evolving consciousness of those who contemplate it. Its gaze upon Neptune may be signaling that now is the time to merge the spiritual with the earthly, the invisible with the visible, just as the Sphinx stands as a merger between the physical and the metaphysical.
In this sense, the Sphinx’s purpose might have been — and continues to be — an initiator of those who dare to question the surface reality of things, inviting them to a deeper communion with the cosmic cycles, of which Neptune’s current position is a powerful symbol. The question is not only what the Sphinx represents externally, but what it reflects about our internal spiritual journey, particularly during this profound astrological moment.
The Sphinx, an ancient and enigmatic guardian of time and wisdom, has long been associated with the threshold between the known and the unknown. Its silent yet commanding presence on the Giza Plateau has captivated seekers, mystics, and scholars alike, each drawn to its timeless gaze and the mysteries it seems to conceal.
To view the Sphinx solely as a monument of stone and historical grandeur is to miss its deeper, esoteric significance. It has always served as a symbol of initiation—one that does not merely provide answers, but rather, poses the ultimate question: Who are you? This question, simple yet profound, is at the heart of every spiritual journey.
The Sphinx as an Initiatory Gateway
Throughout history, sacred structures have been designed not just as repositories of knowledge, but as catalysts for transformation. The Sphinx is no exception. It stands at the crossroads of earthly and celestial forces, a liminal being that challenges those who approach it to move beyond the surface reality of things. It is a cosmic riddle, an invitation to pierce through illusion and attune to the deeper rhythms of the universe.
The Sphinx’s orientation, its alignment with the stars, and its association with the Age of Leo suggest that it was constructed—or at least revered—as a guidepost for those who sought wisdom through an understanding of cosmic cycles. The gaze of the Sphinx is not passive; it beckons. It dares the observer to follow its sightline beyond the constraints of human time and perception.
Neptune’s Transit Through the Sphinx’s Gaze: A Call to Mystical Awareness
Now, in our present moment, Neptune—the planet of dissolution, transcendence, and divine mystery—has reached the anaretic degree of Pisces and is poised to enter Aries. This is a rare celestial event, marking a profound transition in the collective unconscious. The fact that Neptune is currently passing through the very point where the Sphinx’s gaze is fixed suggests an intensified moment of spiritual reckoning for those attuned to such synchronicities.
Neptune at 30° Pisces dissolves rigid mental structures, blurs boundaries, and invites us to surrender to the greater cosmic flow. It urges a reconnection with the primordial, the mystical, and the unseen forces shaping our reality. The Sphinx, at this moment in time, is not merely an ancient monument but an active spiritual signal, amplifying Neptune’s message: the veil is thin—what will you do with this awareness?
This astrological passage serves as a collective initiation, much like the mysteries of the Sphinx itself. It is an invitation to let go of outdated paradigms, to embrace the unknown, and to seek deeper communion with the eternal cycles of creation and dissolution. The Sphinx, always a symbol of silent wisdom, now speaks more powerfully than ever to those willing to listen.
The Inner Reflection: A Journey of Self-Initiation
Beyond the external symbol, the Sphinx also represents something deeply personal: the threshold of our own inner mysteries. If we see it as a cosmic mirror, reflecting not only the passage of time but the evolution of consciousness, then the question it asks of us becomes even more pressing.
Neptune’s transit challenges us to dissolve false identities, surrender attachments, and recognize the interconnectedness of all things. The Sphinx, in this light, becomes not just an ancient enigma but a living teacher—one that leads us to a deeper awareness of our own spiritual nature.
As we stand in this moment of transition, the Sphinx remains as it always has: unmoving, unwavering, and eternal. It neither compels nor coerces but simply is, awaiting those with the courage to meet its gaze and accept its silent initiation. The question, then, is not simply what the Sphinx represents in history, but what it is asking of us now—and whether we are ready to answer.