May 19, 2009

The Discovery of Neptune:Those who follow astrology (and those who don’t) know that we are in a period of profound change. The astrological shifts began with Pluto’s entry into Capricorn in January 2008 and grew more evident with last fall’s opposition between structured Saturn and deconstructive Uranus, a pattern that doesn’t end until next summer. Saturn’s entry into Libra this fall brings it into a series of tense 90-degree squares with potent Pluto, a powerful symbol for deep-rooted changes personally and collectively. Later next year electric Uranus and expansive Jupiter will enter Aries, a cardinal sign like Libra and Capricorn. This powerful pattern suggests that transformation is inevitable. However, whenever we are confronted with the notion of a major shift, especially one involving complex outer planets like Saturn, Uranus and Pluto, it’s common to expect the worst. And, of course, our current financial climate, along with two ongoing religious wars, has already laid thick a carpet of unease.

Good news, though, comes in several forms. The first is simply that we humans have so many unexplored avenues of creativity that there are many answers to the problems that we’ve created for ourselves. Second, the cardinality of the coming patterns is associated with the creation of something new rather than simply the destruction of the old. Cardinal signs initiate the four seasons of the year and correspond to conscious shifts of direction. There also is more gold in the pot of possibilities from the current conjunction of visionary Jupiter with spiritual Neptune and compassionate Chiron in Aquarius. This trio may be building a network of as yet unconscious awareness that may well blossom into an expanding vision of human potential.

An underreported astrological story is Neptune’s return to its place of discovery. The planet of faith and imagination was discovered in 1846 at the dawn of a shift to new political freedoms in Europe and the rising abolitionist movement to end slavery in the United States. Neptune expanded our solar system and our consciousness with a modern rebirth of metaphysics and spiritual values. Neptune returned to its discovery position of just under 26 degrees of Aquarius last month and, after turning retrograde on May 28, will begin moving forward at this point in November 2010. These “returns” of Neptune may infuse us with both the positive and negative meanings of the planet. The U.S. government’s investments to save failing companies scare those who see these as socialist tendencies that will undermine our capitalist system. Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto, published in 1848, certainly represents the Neptunian ideals of a more egalitarian society. However, Neptune’s tendency to blur details spurs emotional responses that are not helpful to discerning and defining the complex relationship between public and private interests that is in question now.

Constructively, Neptune reminds us that we are all connected. This spiritual truth is being brought home on the material level through collective economic contraction. While becoming lost in fear and projecting it through one’s individual political lens is understandable, we also may grow more compassionate toward one another. A culture less rooted in consumerism might overcome the isolation of modern life with more fulfilling community activities.

Faith is be one pole of Neptune’s force and forgiveness is another. Compassion is not something to reserve for the most unfortunate among us; it is a gift to give to ourselves and to our enemies. The dissolving force of Neptune can melt outmoded ideological boundaries, creating new syntheses of religion, science and politics. One of the challenges of working with this planet, though, is its tendency to create confusion through a lack of details. However, confusion can be an ally when entrenched patterns resist change. The clouds of uncertainly make it difficult to know where to stand and fight and, therefore, force us to let go. It is from the emptiness of surrendering what we know that the next forms of self and society will flow.

As published here on my Tarot.com blog.

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