Studies in Astrology

by

Elman Bacher

Volume II


Chapter VII

Neptune--Aspects and Positions

   It is interesting to note the correlation of Neptune, ruler of Pisces, with the other two signs of the water triplicity. Cancer, cardinal and ruled by the Moon, is water as a generator of power-rivers, streams, waterfall, and rain; Scorpio, fixed, is ice--compressed and static-- symbolizing resource of power; Pisces, mutable, is water as an enveloping agency--fog, mists, miasmas, and above all the mighty ocean which encircles all bodies of land.

   Cancer is the maternal body which generates sustenance for the new incarnation. Scorpio, ruled by Pluto, is the "collective unconscious"--the vast ocean of astral forces which surrounds the body of humanity. Pisces is the "Great Overshadowing"--the Divine Life in which we move and have our being. Neptune represents our capacity to "open up" or to "tune in" to the recognition of the Higher Agencies and to unfold our awareness of the divinity of Life. Through the "instrumentation faculty" of Neptune we can, depending on our states of consciousness, contact the sources of exalted inspiration or we can open the door to Pluto's realm and walk in the caverns of our unregenerate states.

   This "overshadowing" of Neptune has been treated previously by interpretations of the patterns involving the twelfth house--the overshadowing of our own past incarnation which must be redeemed, to a degree, in the present one. However, your own personal variation of Neptune's direct influence is shown by the house of your chart that has Pisces on the cusp--or Pisces intercepted--and the house which Neptune itself occupies. The former shows where illusion and disillusionment are concentrated; the channel of experience that indicates your need for developing Faith; if Neptune is afflicted, the Pisces house indicates where and how, in the past, you betrayed Faith and now need realignment with Principle. The Pisces house can indicate a relationship-pattern of deep spiritual value or one that is masked and veiled--its inner reality is not outwardly recognized by others. It is well to realize that the Pisces house of your chart is the one which you, yourself, may understand the least clearly--its realities are more "occult" than objective in quality and significance. It is where you can mislead yourself because it shows how, in the past, you may have misled others. In the extremities of your difficulties the Pisces house will show what, most likely, will impel you to seek Divine Assistance; seeing that chapter of your life through dark glasses you are moved to ask for guidance from Him who sees clearly.

   The house containing your Neptune is your direct expression of spiritual consciousness, the department of life in which you can be qualified to lead others to establish Faith, the focal point of your idealism, your capacity for establishing Heaven-on-Earth. Through your Neptune house the Divine says: "Be ye the voice for my words and the hands for my work." It is where and how you express your understanding of "Thy will be done, in earth, as it is in heaven."

   Because of Neptune's affinity with the element of water, the fourth, eighth, and twelfth houses may be understood to be the most "congenial" for its placement. They represent the emotional and astral levels of consciousness and, placed therein, Neptune's sensitivity is more definitely emphasized. The signs Pisces and Cancer are considered Neptune's two "best signs" because of their fluidic, emotional quality. Furthermore, since the Moon and Neptune are "personal mother" and "universal mother," respectively, the Moon's sign corresponds to the Neptune quality more than does any other, except Pisces. Therefore Cancer is considered the "exaltation sign" of Neptune--the dynamic, cardinal quality of the sign amplifies the sensitive mutability of Pisces. Neptune in this sign expresses with more "force" than it does in its dignity.

   Neptune's slow travel indicates it to be of great value from the standpoint of cyclic research. Millions of incarnations are made during Neptune's position in any sign; each group is like a miniature "life-wave" attuned to certain expressions of cosmic consciousness. The correlation of Uranus with Neptune in this respect is of particular value. Consider:

   During the later years of the eighteenth century occurred a stellar event of primary magnitude--the conjunction of Uranus with Neptune in the sign Sagittarius. New concepts were born, new ideals, new visions, and new prophecies of a liberated mankind were projected into the human scheme of things. Revolutions occurred, the old was shattered by blows of disintegrative effect. This conjunction carried over into Capricorn in the early 1800s. Metaphysical teachings were released, new concepts of art and morality were promulgated.

   This activation by Uranus and Neptune was in the nature of a "cosmic lunation"--the dynamic Uranus and the spiritualizing Neptune provided a "new birth" for the entire human race. The "full moon" of this "lunation" was the opposition of Uranus in Sagittarius-Capricorn to Neptune in Gemini-Cancer during the early years of the twentieth century. A world war of devastating significance brought out into the open the levels of unrest and change which had been "gestating" all during the last century. In other words, Uranus had returned to the "lunation point" and Neptune, like the full moon after a Sun-Moon lunation, had reached its halfway point. Persons who incarnate during a major planetary opposition do so for greater awareness of certain soul principles; Uranus-opposition-Neptune is awareness for the entire human family--a critical point in our evolution.

   Those persons who incarnated while Neptune was in Aries were of the generation of visionary pioneers, particularly those who had Neptune in Aries and Uranus in Cancer--tumultuous souls who busied themselves in establishing the "new look" in human affairs: metaphysical teachings, woman's suffrage, birth control and all the other agencies of freeing humanity from outworn and crystallized concepts. We who incarnated during the opposition of the two planetary giants came into a world full of unrest and disturbance. We, by inner development and understanding, can take our rightful place in the scheme of things and make our contribution to the New Age, or, by inner undevelopment we can live--or try to live--by approaches that pertain to a bygone age and so find ourselves "out of line" with the changing aspect of things. Study Neptune in charts to determine how the persons concerned can be considered of this age, not just in it. Study the twelfth house conditions, the Saturn conditions and the afflictions to Neptune or to Neptune-Uranus, and get some sort of picture of how--or how not--the person is cyclicly "at home with this age."

   Neptune by position in the fourth, eighth, and twelfth houses conveys a certain natural sensitivity even if it is unaspected- -this pattern holds promise that sometime during the incarnation occult experiences are to be met and dealt with. It naturally follows that afflicted aspects to Neptune when in these houses are particularly acute.

   Neptune unaspected, like any other unaspected planet, is, on a given cycle, a "traveler starting out on a journey." If a traveler is not properly guided or instructed he easily risks taking the wrong roads, thus making many detours and delays before he arrives at his destination. Since Neptune is the transcendent expression of the "mental triad" (Moon, Mercury, and Neptune being the "triad of transmission"--the start of its new journey must be prepared for by (1) discipline and transmutation of subconscious feelings and redirection of feminine reaction-patterns-- symbolized by the Moon--and (2) knowledge by acquisition of facts pertaining to spiritual life-- as an expression of the intellectual faculties, symbolized by Mercury. Neptune, misdirected, can result in perversion of understanding which can bring the person into contact with the forces of black magic; such experiences result in various forms of disintegration and loss of "inner plane awareness." This in turn brings many difficult experiences--during later lives--by which realignment with Truth must be made. Study carefully the house position and house rulership of an unaspected Neptune to determine, as clearly as possible, what direction Neptune should take for its immediate unfoldment.

   Since Neptune is a fluidic, feminine, and impressionable vibration give careful study to the planet which disposits it (Venus for Taurus and Libra, Mercury for Gemini and Virgo, Moon for Cancer, and Sun for Leo)-- because the conditions of the dispositor will indicate the essence of "what comes through Neptune." For example, if Neptune is in Cancer--where it is particularly sensitive anyway--and the Moon carries an afflicted Mars vibration, the indication is that the sex urge and the potential for destruction can be strongly stimulated by the activities of Neptune by lunations, progressed Moon, etc. If Neptune is in Taurus and Venus is unafflicted then the person can be a focal point for a very spiritual love- radiation, as well as an artistic agency. Synthesize the dispositor of Neptune very carefully and, in your assistance to another, plan your "road map" so that the person will know ahead of time when certain subconscious tendencies will be activated and he can prepare his inner defenses. Help him to understand the subtlety of Neptune's expressions--people who appear on the scene when his Neptune is activated negatively simply objectify his own inner subconscious levels. They may "tempt" him, try to mislead him for their own selfish purposes, or give him false instructions. Therefore he must, for best results, "cleanse his thoughts and reactions" and establish awareness of what he really is, why he is, and what he can become.

   The above observations also apply to Neptune with sextiles, trines, and no afflicted aspects. These patterns promise certain realization of spiritual states in this incarnation, but still the Moon, Mercury, and the dispositor must be studied. During the years of childhood and adolescence many subconscious negatives can be intensified by repeated reaction and the full expression of a trine to Neptune may not be realized until later in life. Neptune "floats on the waves of feeling and thought"--if the mental faculties and capacities are undisciplined and unregenerate subconscious reactions have been intensified, a state of consciousness may prevail that obscures the full realization of the Neptune-potential. We cannot, in justice to those we seek to assist, take sextiles and trines to Neptune for granted since they are the flowerings of redirected consciousness.

   Neptune, wherever placed and however aspected, throws a decided influence toward the feminine, or passive, tendencies of the chart. If there is a "plus" of the earth and water elements and Moon and Venus are more in evidence than the Sun and Mars, then the whole chart carries a "hyper- feminine" quality. Neptune does not, of itself, act dynamically; it is we, as patterns of consciousness, who "act through Neptune;" if our channels are clear and clean we open up to inspirational and spiritualizing impulses; if they are not we bring through the opposite.

   The person who incarnates with Neptune on the Ascendent has evidently invited a difficult experience. Even with the best of aspects the physical body is sensitive to an extreme degree; susceptible to all manner of thought forms, atmospheres, and emotional vibrations. This position of Neptune is the arch-symbol of the "instrumentalist;" the vehicle can be used, beautifully, by the White Forces or disastrously by those of Blackness. Such a chart must be approached with great care; it is advisable to find out a few things about the person to acquire a perspective on the "Neptune-picture." A highly developed Ego can be represented by this position, and the planetary afflictions to Neptune could represent the difficulties he may have in "keeping his feet on the ground" in adjusting to the practical phases of life. These aspects can tell a story karmically, of the phases of human life which the person can regenerate by his own spirituality. Since "planets are people," each square or opposition to the Ascendent-Neptune can symbolize persons who need the spiritualizing influence or persons who serve as "testers" for the Neptune person. This person, to neutralize the negative effects of unregenerate influences must keep himself "inwardly alive" by repeated spiritual recharging. Particularly difficult is the pattern of Ascendant-Neptune being squared or opposed by the ruler of the chart, whatever that planet might be. The Ascendant and its ruler are the "newness" of the personality--its focal point of expression for this incarnation. This pattern presents a picture of the physical body itself being particularly sensitive to Black Forces and the indication is clearly shown that psychic training of only the most spiritual kind can be dealt with. This person needs continual alignment with White Forces through dedicated service, prayer, physical purity, and inspirational agencies such as music. If he chooses to walk a spiritual path, in his life activities, his motives and purposes must be immaculate, and he must acquire conscious understanding of the psychic nature of the human organism--he must come into an understanding of his own sensitivity and the responsibility that he has to those around him to "be a Light." Without understanding of his own nature and potentials he could be misdirected into negative expressions and eventually find himself on the downward grade.

   Neptune conjunction Moon is the arch-symbol of psychic sensitivity--particularly when found in the charts of women. Women with this position would do well, if circumstances permit at some time during their lives, to transcend the purely personal phases of woman-experience by "reaching out with hands and heart" to express motherhood in terms of welfare of those not connected with them by blood relationship. This position intensifies the maternal urge and the qualities of sympathy and tenderness are very deep and strong. Concentrated on the comparatively narrow sphere of home circle it can be very confined. Such women have come to a starting point in impersonal living and "all those who need nurture can be their children." Fortified by strong aspects, this Neptune-Moon conjunction can indicate the "born medium"--the faculty of living consciously in the higher dimensions of realization through clairvoyance or clairaudience. But, as noted before, solid groundwork must be established--such a sensitive person cannot risk attunement with that which is false and misleading.

   Neptune-Saturn combinations are very important--and very interesting. These two planets represent the "extremes" of the feminine polarity; Saturn is the most condensed vibration of the planetary spectrum; gravitational in function, it symbolizes the vibration of earth. Neptune, however, is the most sensitive, the most ethereal and "un-earthy" in the spectrum. The square and opposition aspects of these two to each other must first be analyzed by determining which one is the stronger by position, sign, and scope of influence in the chart. Also a comparison must be made from the standpoint of which is the more "afflicted" by other planets. Whichever one of the two is otherwise unafflicted is the key to the solution of the square or opposition "problem" since, being a free agent, it serves to counteract the negatives of the other. Too much Neptune, undirected and undisciplined, is "clear out of this world"--impractical, irresponsible, perhaps inspired but probably just a little too "precious;" too much Saturn, laying on with a heavy hand, "obscures the starlight," the consciousness is trapped in the world of forms and effects, idealism is strangled by the heaviness of burdens to be borne and responsibilities to be fulfilled. The opposition aspect of Saturn- Neptune is very significant--it indicates that this incarnation provides opportunities for the spiritualizing of attitudes toward responsibility-- fulfillments by Faith and Idealism and the demonstration of spiritual consciousness as a redemption of responsibility-karma. Both vibrations must be used to establish equilibrium between these two forces--by living a synchronized expression of both, the best of both can be utilized. Saturn in favorable aspect to an otherwise afflicted Neptune is a marvelous antidote to the swamping of astral conditions; also this pattern promises a relationship-- or relationships--with people who objectify the fine Saturn quality; they will be persons who act as "steadying-agencies" in the subject's life, through whom he will--or can--become alerted to the maturity of responsibility-fulfillment. They will vibrate harmoniously with serious aspects of his nature and through association with them the finer qualities of his character can take on added depth and significance of expression.

   An unafflicted Neptune in favorable aspect to "heavy" Saturn is like fresh water on a parched garden. The persons represented by the Neptune will be a source of inspiration and spiritual refreshment to the subject, who, by the afflictions from Saturn, may find life quite a drudgery through responsibilities and his own "limitation consciousness." If such a chart is heavily characterized by the earth vibration and Uranus is not much in evidence the subject may feel that his Neptune friends are rather a strange lot--he may not be able to understand them very well, but he will recognize his needs for their "lifting touch" in his life. He needs their realization of the inner life-his own is so preoccupied with the outer--and the aspect basically promises that through them he may take steps in this life to free his consciousness from the heavy chains of form.

   Neptune is the cry of the human consciousness for "Shangri-la--the place of Peace, the source of Life-giving waters." Peace is established in the human heart when living is done through adherence to thebest, the finest, and the most perfect realizations. The perfected state is first dreamed about, then visualized, then approached through processes of transmutation, and when the pull of Earth consciousness has been transcended the gates of true realization are open to Beauty, Inner Peace, and Knowledge of Truth.

  



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