Imagine
yourself lying down to sleep, and as you roll over, you begin to dream.
Soon you’re swept away to a beautiful field of poppies and snapdragons.
You feel alive, free and unbound as you breeze through the flowers.
As if in a trance, you lift off your feet and begin to fly high into
the air over the fields below. You have forgotten the petty concerns
of your everyday life and are ecstatically merged with the moment, this
dream, this experience. You have entered the world of Neptune, the outer
planet associated with dreams, transcendence, enchantment and spiritual
experiences.
Neptune
helps us to rise above our ordinary perceptions and merge with transcendent
energy. This can happen through a dream like I described above, through
listening to a piece of music or through meditation and prayer. It can
also happen through taking drugs and alcohol, which give the user an
immediate perception of elation but then quickly return one to the ground,
leaving one cloudy, confused and eventually debilitated.
Neptune
and the Immune System
In medical
astrology, Neptune is related to the immune system. The immune system's
function is to ward off illness and disease and to protect against any
invading microbes and bacteria that could be harmful. Those with a strong
emphasis on Neptune* in their charts are often more sensitive
and susceptible to poisons and toxins that can adversely affect their
immune system. When our immune system is strong, we feel healthy and vibrant
and can live in the world without being overwhelmed and overpowered.
When our immune system is low, we feel run down and wilted like an old
flower. We get colds more easily and we feel the pressure and stress
of the outside world more acutely. We are more sensitive to any barbs
and criticisms aimed at us, and at the worst, we can feel victimized
and powerless in life.
In the
second part of this series, I will explore nutritional and herbal suggestions
for building and maintaining a good immune system. In this article,
I want to look at some of the ways we can develop a healthy immune system
through lifestyle choices.
Faith
and Healing
Turn on
the television to the religious channel. Eventually you will find a
time slot devoted to faith healing. Most of us have seen the images
of crippled and infirm people staggering to a stage where a charismatic
preacher will lay his hands on the sickly believers. “Through the power
of Jesus!” the preacher cries, and the ill person falls backward into
the arms of assistants. Later, the believer gets up and proclaims that
the illness has been cured, whether it be paralysis, crippling arthritis
or depression.
This sight
may make some of us grin and think it’s a hoax, but in actuality, faith
has a strong connection to healing. Scientific studies have shown that
when patients believe they are going to get better, the likelihood of
healing increases remarkably. In studies where some patients were given real
medications and others were given placebos, both sets of patients
healed from their illnesses at about the same rate. The professional
attitude of the doctor, the belief in his powers and pills from a bottle
were all that was needed to convince someone they could heal. How different
is this from the preacher faith healing on a stage?
Neptune
teaches us that our feelings, perceptions and thought patterns profoundly
affect the health of our immune system and our ability to heal or remain
sick. Some of the best ways to improve our health are through creative
visualization and prayer. For some cancer patients, this means envisioning
a tumor being surrounded by a ball of glowing white light and radiating
love into that diseased area. For others, it may mean creating a ritual
where the objects on an altar are symbolic of the healing taking place.
It has been said that faith moves mountains. When one prays deeply,
the most ingrained illnesses can miraculously disappear.
Music
and Aromatherapy
It has
also been shown in studies that music and scent can help relax and ease
one’s worries so that healing takes place more effectively. A sonata
by Mozart, a piece of jazz by Miles Davis or even a rock and roll show
can help us to release any tension we are holding. Aromatherapy in the
form of essential oils or even the smell of good cooking can also help
erase anxiety. In some hotels and shops, certain fragrances are emitted
to bring contentment to clients. These methods teach us that altering
moods can positively affect our health and well-being.
Conclusion
Like a
beautiful field of flowers in a dream, Neptune helps us to realize states
of bliss and transcendence. When we use our imagination and prayers
to help us heal, our immune system can fight off disease and illness
more easily. Listening to a favorite piece of music or wearing a soothing
fragrance all have the effect of alleviating tension and bringing peace
and tranquility to our system. Ultimately, Neptune teaches us to transcend
the everyday aches and pains in life and visualize the best health and
well being for ourselves. Good health to you!
Notes
*A
chart is said to be strongly influenced by Neptune if it has one or
more of the following factors: 1) the Sun, Moon or a group of planets
in the sign Pisces, 2) several planets in the Twelfth House, which is
associated with Neptune, 3) the planet Neptune is “angular” in their
charts, meaning close to the cusp of the First, Fourth, Seventh or Tenth
House or 4) Neptune is in a significant planetary configuration
(conjunction, trine, square or opposition) with the Sun, Moon or other
planets.