Neptune

 Coin of Sextus Pompeius,
showing the god Neptune

here

 

December 1st - in ancient Rome on this date a festival in honour of their god Neptune was held. We've long since abandoned the idea of gods, but Neptune remains, as a far away planet and as an astrological concept, which we can still choose to celebrate if we feel so inclined.

Astrological Neptune has provided astrologers with lots of leeway to imagine, suppose, suggest, wax lyrical on its possible interpretations - in fact entire books have been written about Neptune by astrologers.

In the section on Neptune in Louis MacNeice's book "Astrology" he notes that astrologer Ingrid Lind suggested that, in the cases of slow-running planets, the transits are the things to look for, and wrote that Neptune's transits lead to muddle - she adds "it really takes a strong and sane man to control the Neptune in him". Readers are left to surmise how a woman reacts to her Neptune! Astrologer Evangeline Adams said that Neptune has more to do with Zeitgeist than with individuals.

It takes Neptune around 15 years to pass through one zodiac sign. Neither Neptune nor Pluto can complete the zodiac in a human lifetime, so there's no chance to compare what happened last time an indivdual experienced, say, Neptune conjunct Sun in Aquarius, because there was no last time and there will be no next time. Neptune's stay with any of our personal planets is a one-time-only affair.

Neptune, modern ruler of Pisces, is briefly described by Rob Tillett:

"Neptune, the planet of deception and spiritual enlightenment, rules the oppressed and abandoned: the misfits of society. On a higher level it rules visionaries, and those who are glamorous and charismatic. It represents spirituality, mysticism, and ideals.

Speaking personally, Neptune's house position and its aspects with other planets in your chart will describe spirituality, abstract thinking, illusion, disillusionment, and areas of your life where things aren't always what they seem. It rules derangement, guilt, persecution and describes the potential for experiences related to confinement, abandonment, and addiction or physical intolerance to drugs and alcohol.

Neptune's role in society is often to cloud the issues, making things seem other than they are. Neptune is the master of disguise. Ruling oil, liquids, solvents (and makeup!), this mighty force usually operates beneath the surface, but can be brought into the forefront of consciousness when affected by significant transits from the visible planets."

I have Neptune at 23 Virgo trine Mercury in Capricorn. I see this simply as a grounding aspect through Earthy indications. I refuse to become carried away by what I see as the more fanciful sides of astrology or of any mystical subject.

Natal Neptune in Virgo also squares Venus in Sagittarius. An astrological reading I bought many years ago mentioned (and possibly with reference to Neptune Square Venus) that I'd have disappointments in my romantic relationships. I did, but then, who doesn't?

Transiting Neptune has been conjunct natal Jupiter for much of this year. I've flipped through several interpretations online for this transit: religion and/or spirituality loom large. Neither fits for me. The single interpretation I've found that partially fits my experience, so far, is this paragraph from Aquarian Digest

Several astrology authors note about this transit that it can bring great material as well as spiritual rewards. But the material rewards, if they were to come, would come without effort during this particular transit. The real opportunity here is to focus on the transpersonal and the higher spiritual realms.

How does that fit? My absolutely "out of the blue" experience of becoming, or to become, recipient of monetary benefits from the estates of two relatives in the UK; part is still to be realised, probably sometime during next year.