posted March 05, 2006 03:14 PM            

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Neptune transits
Neptune has been interpreted as many things on many levels: confusion, deception, spirituality,
and creativity (just to mention a few). But when Neptune transits a natal planet, there is a common theme
that occurs over and over again and is consistent with the psychological transition taking place. First and
foremost, the Neptune transit is a call to understand and work with subtle and not so subtle human and
Universal principles and energies. These forces are brought to your attention by an increased sensitivity
on one or more levels. For example, during Neptune transits:
1. You might develop allergies as your body becomes more sensitive to certain foods or
environments. You learn to avoid those substances and situations which make you ill.
Sometimes you have to work to identify the offenders.
2. You may become more sensitive to those who are wounded, whether they are
emotionally upset, spiritually in need, physically ill, or disabled. As sensitivity increases,
compassion rises and you find a way to help. But if you are commonly taken advantage
of and weakened by self-sacrifice, Neptune will herald in a time when you must eliminate
activities which drain you.
3. Your increased sensitivity may call you to creatively express yourself in new ways. This
can be a time of great insight through symbol and metaphor.
4. Spiritually you may be drawn to a religion, philosophy or thoughts which have great
import to your understanding of life and the world you live in. Unfortunately, what you
understand and try to live may not be understood by others. If insights do not fit your
present life situation, you can get caught between two worlds, not sure of the next step
to take. Disillusionment can follow if your beliefs prove false.
5. For some, the increased sensitivity will become too much to bear. They will seek to
withdraw from raw perceptions or drown their senses in drugs, booze or addictions.
Finding it difficult to accept, understand, and grow with their new sensitivity, they will
feel compelled to retreat from it.

It is the increased sensitivity and the need to direct these sensations and subtle forces in a
meaningful way which are the hallmarks of the Neptune transit. As the protective shell which keeps you
immune to external influences sheds another layer and your awareness grows a little more, you are offered
a choice. You can either develop with, and learn from these new sensations, moving to a higher
understanding, or you can try to block out or ignore the new influences, staying with your old pattern
of behavior. Sometimes the process is frustrating and arduous. You are often asked to give more when
you have already given everything you have to a chain of events you do not fully understand. But there
are rewards for those who stick with the progress and try to get an overview of the big picture.

Choices are not limited to the spiritual plane alone, but can occur on the emotional, mental and
physical levels also. For example, Neptune on the spiritual level is associated with Universal Oneness,
Karmic Laws, Ideals, a strong trust in God, and higher beliefs which form the backbone of spirituality.
The growth process on the spiritual level has ramifications on the other levels as well. Each level of
experience supports and triggers the others. It is all the insights on all of the levels which eventually help
you toward a more rewarding and fulfilling lifestyle.

The lower manifestation of a Neptune transit on the spiritual level is disillusionment with beliefs.
The individual becomes entangled in despair, or fanatical concepts and outright fantasy. Distortions at
the spiritual and philosophical level eventually cause distortions in perceptions on all levels of awareness
as the trickle down principle takes effect. Spiritual despair rather than enlightenment is the result.
Hopelessness sets in and the support needed for growth is thwarted.

The same dichotomy of choices is present on the other planes also. At the emotional level, the
individual is capable of great compassion and sensitivity towards others. This is a time when empathic
understanding strengthens the bonds between loved ones. You are called to give more than you have
in the past while expanding your circle of concern to those you might not know.

The more difficult manifestation of a Neptune transit on the emotional level is a susceptibility
to anxiety and worry. The sensitivity which is meant to foster understanding instead heightens
vulnerability to life, others and the future. Fear prevails. There is no trust in God, Higher Self, or the
Universal Plan emanating from the spiritual level to support decisions. One feels lost and abandoned,
lacking both spiritual and emotional connections. In very negative situations, real relationships are not
established and emotional deception and fantasy occur.

At the mental level, creativity and inspiration help to expand the individual’s intellectual capacity.
Neptune is more closely associated with right brain activity than the left. New abilities and insights can
develop in those willing to let go of preconceived notions and thought patterns. Observation, freefloating
awareness, and an openness to seemingly irrational insights can lead to brilliant realizations.
Difficulties at the mental level involve confusion and deception. What you are told is different
from what you intuitively feel. Changing beliefs and thought patterns leave you without a point of
reference. You flounder because you are unable to make good decisions. New insights contradict old
ways of thinking and you are unable to discern the truth. The development of right-brain processes
breeds distrust. Creativity is thwarted, experimentation restricted. The child never gets to play. Without
an understanding of the big picture, mental energy is wasted through a lack of cohesiveness. One focuses
on insignificant details. There is no system, no rhyme, and no reason to thought, no purpose to the course
you have set upon.

And finally, Neptune on the physical level is service to others. Principles filtered down from the
spiritual, emotional, and mental levels begin to flow into daily practices on the mundane plane. There
is a consistency; as above, so below. It is possible to physically manifest the spirituality you aspire to. You
are able to do that which you believe, feel, and say. Neptune at its highest level of manifestation on the
physical plane is a direct reflection of the enlightened promise made at the spiritual level.

When things start to go wrong on the other levels, it seems that only difficulties filter down to
the physical level. When it rains, it pours! Confusion, disorganization and exhaustion are most apt to
occur. You lack a total concept necessary to unify your actions and prioritize tasks according to their
importance. You are overly sensitive on all levels without an understanding of how to handle that
sensitivity or respond to outside pressures.

During Neptune transits, any of the above mentioned insights or difficulties can occur.
Sometimes actions are a confused mixture of ambivalent responses. This contributes to the confusion.
The more focused the individual is on a search for answers and the need to understand the newfound
sensitivity, the more cohesive actions will tend to become. A unifying principle at the spiritual level
structures responses, focuses energy, and promotes understanding right on down the line.

Neptune transiting the Sun
Neptunian transits to the Sun indicate that the ego of the native is being challenged. Lessons in
humility and vulnerability are common as egotistical responses to life are thwarted and denied. Personal
identity is questioned, especially if you identify more with what you do than who you are. You cannot
play a role during this transit, you must be real. Role playing leads to anger. Personality inconsistencies
result in confusion. A personality crisis is likely for those who lost touch with self somewhere along the
way. For these individuals, stripping away the ego and the personality facade results in an unstructured
response to life and a temporary loss of control and direction.

During this time you are more likely to be confronted with your own human frailties or those
of someone close. Awareness of personal shortcomings opens you to understanding the shortcomings
of others. Empathy becomes easier when you are no longer perfect yourself. We all suffer from a
pandemic disease called humanness, and we all eventually die from it. But that does not mean we have
to stop living now to accommodate someone else’s character flaw. Martyrdom and victimization are an
exaggeration of the issue if you give to the point of losing your sense of self. Your ego becomes so
identified with self-sacrifice role, you forget who you are. In these situations, personal or secondhand
involvement with alcoholism, drugs, addictions, or co-dependent situations is possible. Physical
tiredness follows.

This transit is meant to arouse understanding and compassion. You are asked to give to those
less fortunate and truly deserving. It is a time to be less concerned with self-oriented interests and more
concerned with the needs of others. But you cannot ignore the true self when setting standards for
behavior. Wise giving is more intelligent and more beneficial than giving from guilt without purpose or
understanding. Sensitivity leads to a stronger sense of self and an enlightened ego which chooses
according to the needs of all those involved.

Carol is a sixty-two year old woman who has been taking care of her mother all of her life. Her mother is now
eighty-five years old and senile. She has been living with Carol and her husband for forty years. Carol feels overwhelmed by guilt whenever she entrusts the care of her mother to someone else. She will not hire a nurse to watch her mother, nor will she take her to a senior citizen day care center. Placing her is a home is out of the question.
Though her mother has periods of poor health, she could easily live another ten years. Carol feels physically drained and mentally trapped by her mother’s need for round-the-clock care. She feels she has given up much of her own life to care for this woman who might now outlive her and/or her husband. Her husband is past the age of retirement, but has refused to stop working. They had always hoped to travel in their senior years, but with Carol’s mother around this seems impossible and he does not wish to quit work and sit home all day with nothing to do.
As Neptune transits opposite Carol’s Sun, she realizes that her ego has become so identified with
the caretaker role that she has sacrificed her own needs and those of her husband. For years she has put
off plans until her mother passed away. Now time seems to be running out while her mother’s care
becomes increasingly more demanding. Carol is being asked to give wisely. Sacrificing out of guilt is
draining away her energy. She has to look at the overall pattern of her responsibilities to make appropriate
choices for herself and her family. She and her mother have had a co-dependent relationship for years.
During this time, her mother had rejected the assistance of anyone other than Carol. Years went by and
regrets won’t bring them back, but with compassion and firmness, Carol can make changes that will
balance the scales of giving and helped her discover the part of herself ignored over the years.

Neptune transiting the Moon
Neptune transiting in aspect to the Moon indicates a time when intuition and compassion arise
from a greater sensitivity to feelings not openly expressed or owned. While the ego and self-identity are
challenged when Neptune transits the Sun, the emotional and intuitive nature of the native is the point
of focus when Neptune transits the Moon. Emotional vulnerability increases as the unconscious,
feminine and receptive side of the individual is sensitized by subtle experiences that defy immediate
identification and/or comprehension. Vague sensations and intuitive glimpses represent the initial
intuitive or emotional input and you don.t know what you are picking up. What is this emotion? Are you
sensing another’s sadness? Is this vague perception an insight? Or is it all just your imagination?
Uncertainties leave you hanging as you await further information and developments. During this
period, emotional situations cannot be controlled or structured, so you learn to accept what is offered.
You also cope with emotional uncertainty, agreeing to relationships which are not clearly defined, giving
without a guarantee of return. You view insecurity as a natural by-product of your situation and trust that
things will eventually work out, one way or another.

Compassion and empathy are very much a part of the intuitive process and the movement
towards acceptance. Here is a transit which really pulls at the heart strings because you identify so strongly
with what others are experiencing. Sometimes this cognition clouds your perception of your own
feelings. Emotional connections are made because you rise above judgmental attitudes and truly
understand another’s situation. You readily offer assistance and give more than you normally would. You
let your nurturing nature flow and allow others to become dependent on you or you on them. You accept
people as they are, weaknesses and all. During this time, you might care for someone who is ill or disabled,
or you could simply care for another person more than you care for yourself and your own welfare.
Neptune-Moon transits are a sign of self-sacrifice. It is common to see this transit in the charts of new
parents and those with elderly relatives to nurse.

Spiritual or emotional idealism lifts your understanding to a new level. But putting someone on
a pedestal leads to disillusionment and diminishes the possibility of genuine progress which could have
been accomplished through recognizing and dealing with human weaknesses. Idealization is a blindness
which creates unrealistic expectations and distorts perceptions while blocking out human faults. You
deceive yourself when you avoid a truth more threatening than mystery. Situations remain clouded.
Inconsistencies go unchallenged and deception is likely. When much is left unsaid, false assumptions take
over. You fill in the gaps, seeing things not as they are, but as you hoped they would be. This continuing
lack of accurate information is usually compounded by emotional estrangement. You become estranged
from the person/truth you wish to avoid and your own emotional state. Anxiety and excessive worry
grow. You miss the opportunity to use your intuitive insights in a constructive way.

Neptune transits to the Moon call us to recognize our emotional commonalities. We are all one
and we can use our newfound sensitivities to foster understanding and emotional connections to others.

Peter is a middle-aged man who had been married for twenty-five years when Neptune transited square his Moon. He and his wife had drifted apart. Although they remained cordial with each other, they were no longer sexually or emotionally intimate. This left Peter in a state of limbo, neither married nor single. He did not know what to do about this, but avoided addressing the problem and acted as if nothing was wrong. This left his imagination free to create rejection scenarios regarding his wife and attraction fantasies about other women.
Peter displayed a temper and was easily provoked, but never admitted his anger, only his annoyance. He frequently stated that he could not control his emotions. For years, his wife would compensate for his outbursts by “fixing” everything. But now, because of the estrangement, she was withdrawn and he was left alone to cope with his own moodiness and to identify his own feelings. He found this process difficult.
During this time, Peter was forced to begin to comprehend his own emotional nature. He started
to pay attention to how people reacted to his words and began to see why they withdrew. He learned to
think before he responded and was able to gentle his words, especially to his daughter. Though still
troubled by his homelife and still unsure of his relationship with his wife, as Neptune left his Moon and
went on to square his Sun, he began to work with his situation in a more sensitive way.

Neptune transiting Mercury
Neptune transits to Mercury suggest development of the right-brain processes through studies
of a spiritual, intuitive or creative nature. It is a signal that a search has begun for subtle truth, possibly
of a higher nature. Information of this type is not necessarily taught or given, but must be felt and
experienced. Mental sensitivity increases as the native learns to work with those less clearly defined
pathways to knowledge. Intuitive insights and psychic flashes are common during this transit.

Dealing with subtle truths can lead to some uncertainty and confusion in the thinking process.
Increased intuitive or psychic awareness can precede the ability to weigh this information for its accuracy
and symbolic content. It is sometimes difficult to discriminate between what is really an intuitive
perception and what is more closely akin to worry, fear or false hope. Symbolic dreams are sometimes
mistaken for foreboding premonitions if a teacher is not available to guide the way. It is also hard to find
practical applications for the increased sensory input. Idealistic concepts and insights can be unrealistic
given your present situation. Mental stress and worry results from trying to integrate two different worlds
(practical and spiritual), and two very different forms of knowledge (factual and intuitive).

Important facts (left-brain data) that you receive may be partial, inaccurate, or vague. Some
people will be the victim of intentional secrecy or deception. Without adequate information, you could
be left hanging. Your normal points of reference for evaluating situations have changed. You easily
become confused or misled, especially if you do not listen to intuitive perceptions and warnings. It may
not be possible for you to accurately assess your circumstances and make an informed decision during
this time. In older individuals, this transit might signal the beginning of senility. Medications can create
a befuddled mental state regardless of your age. Neptune’s most negative interpretation is a loss of mental
capabilities through drug and alcohol use. This manifestation is more closely associated with an
individual history of abuse, but problems can begin during this period. Those who normally turn to
chemicals to help them cope with problems will find their rations escalating.

This transit is meant to foster great insight which leads to learning of a less obvious nature. Those
who heed intuitive impressions, have the option of growing in their right-brain sensitivity and creative
expression. (See the example for Neptune transiting Venus.)

Neptune transiting Venus
Neptune transits to Venus are associated with uncertainty surrounding financial situations and
relationships. Changes occurring in these areas assist you in becoming more sensitive to inner qualities
of beauty. You will be able to anticipate the shifting sands if you are conscious of subtle signals and
messages.

Financially, this is a time when you can live without fiscal guarantees. You may have to if you are
starting a new business or investing money in a new venture. Anxiety over money will not stop you and
is likely to occur regardless of what you do or don’t do. Those with a steady job will have paychecks
affected by commissions, incentives, profit-sharing revenues, layoffs, or leaves of absence without pay.
Salaries can also fluctuate because of part-time work, second jobs, or on-call hours. Under these
conditions, you never know exactly what your salary will be until the check arrives. In rare situations, you
could be unemployed and not know where your next dollar is coming from.

Changing circumstances (i.e., relocation, divorce, illness, large purchases or major sales) also
affect the amount of money available to you. Many times, it is impossible to predict the effect these
changes will have, especially when several variables are involved. If you expect money from others in the
form of a loan, gift or inheritance, you cannot be sure how much you will receive and when you will
receive it. Regardless whether or not financial uncertainty is job related, monetary uncertainty exists in
some form or another, but it need not be a serious problem. This is a good time to foster a strong
appreciation of the nonmaterial side of life and allow your appreciation of the inner qualities to grow.

Neptune transiting Venus can indicate the growth of unconditional love. Significant emotional
relationships become more supportive as partners become sensitive to each other. The subtleties of
unspoken preferences are made known. You yield to your partner’s needs, sometimes neglecting your
own. Empathy and compassion increase as inner beauty is appreciated and allowed to blossom. External
trappings are devalued and what you materially own and share is not as important as what you are willing
to give emotionally.

If you are not already married, you or your partner may not wish to make a commitment at this
time. New or less stable love relationships tend to lack definition and clarity. The situation may be such
that you can’t even label your relationship or give it a name. In any relationship, your partner’s intentions
may be unclear or actions contradictory. He or she may come and go, appear and disappear, say one thing
and do another. One minute you know you are loved and the next minute you are not so sure. It’s difficult
to know where you stand. While in this limbo, the relationship remains suspended in time, without a
guaranteed future or a present reality. Clandestine relationships are common with this transit.

No relationship comes with guarantees to begin with, but with Neptune-Venus contacts the
security can be even less evident. A persistent sense of confusion can cause you to misinterpret what is
actually occurring. You don’t always see the truth. This is most likely to happen when one or both
partners are ambivalent or deceptive. At worst, there are lies to contend with. Because of the lack of
clarity, idealization, and deception might occur, making partners seem too good to be true. Aggrandizement
of this sort can only lead to disappointment.

The best relationships breed compassion and sensitivity. Lovers who are honest and open with one another deepen their commitment and grow to appreciate each other’s inner qualities.

Gloria was a divorced middle-aged woman who lived with a man named George for fifteen years. During
much of this time, George had a series of second mistresses. As time went by, Gloria felt less and less loved and more and more insecure. But Gloria was afraid to leave George. She had never been on her own and she was afraid she could not make it financially. Although she earned a good salary, she was heavily in debt and lived rent-free with George.
Life continued like this until Neptune began to transit Gloria’s Venus, Mercury and Moon. She met Larry,
a very wealthy man she grew to both love and loathe. The two made plans for a business and life together. After only two months, Gloria left George, agreeing to marry Larry. They contracted to have two houses built, one for investment and one to live in. They made a bid on a restaurant. But even before the wedding,
problems began to emerge as Larry’s checks began to bounce. He was about to close on a 7 million dollar
deal and had cash flow problems. Gloria borrowed money and covered thousands of dollars worth of
checks.
Immediately after their August wedding, the check for the two houses bounced and Gloria began
to suspect that her husband was not the millionaire he purported to be. She caught him in one lie after
another. She confronted him with the evidence she had gathered and only then did he admit the
deception. Gloria had enough sense to get out quickly. She immediately filed for an annulment.
She was evicted from her new home after only two months. Now she was without a place to live
and was in worse financial shape than before. Unable to depend on anyone but herself, she started to
take control and make some decisions. She rented an apartment in a building with security guards and
friendly neighbors who watched out for each other. She went to garage sales and filled her apartment
with beautiful furniture. She closed all the accounts she had with Larry and wrote all the creditors. She
sued him for the money she lost.
Gloria is thankful that Larry got her to leave George. But she realizes that if she had been braver,
she could have left on her own. She was used to George’s deception, but she had not trusted her intuition
when it came to Larry. There were many clues along the way and a deal “too good to be true.”

Neptune transiting Mars
While Pluto transits to Mars imply actions that are unconsciously motivated, Neptune transits
to Mars imply actions which have no obvious motivation at all. There is a great deal of uncertainty as to
the direction you are headed in and the goal you intend to reach. You ad-lib life with no definitive need
or desire directing your course of action. In some situations careful planning is not feasible. Surprise
events or unexplained twists of fate can occur, disrupting your schedule and leaving your previous course
of action hanging and incomplete.

Uncertainty and confusion seem to go hand in hand with this combination and contradictory
actions are possible. It is easy to stray from your original purpose when goals are not clearly defined. Some
people might view your actions as confusing or inconsistent. It is easy for others to misinterpret what
you are doing when your direction is unclear. This is a time when you can keep your plans secret, but
if you are open to suggestion, objective feedback will help you remain well-grounded and consistent with
your stated goals. Take time to listen to what others have to say.

If you do follow a specific plan of action, there are probably no guarantees that your actions will
pay off. For example, if you are working on a research project that is a long shot, it’s questionable whether
or not you will see a practical return on your investment of time and effort. Employment might be
unpredictable with rumors of layoffs, or changing company politics and office procedures. Despite bleak
predictions, you might decide to trust things to work out and continue on the course you have set.

You have the ability to function despite uncertainty. Inner guidance is especially strong and
projects can become almost effortless if you are sensitive to the universal flow of energy. You can be
correct in assuming success even when the odds are stacked against you. But if you idealize your situation
and miscalculate the results, you will be disillusioned when your efforts are for naught. Misguided
endeavors are consistent with Neptune transits to Mars, especially with the more difficult or stressful
aspects such as the square and the opposition. Therefore, you must consider carefully your intentions
and actions. Be ready with an alternate plan if matters do not progress.

Humanitarian pursuits and volunteer efforts are also associated with Neptune transits to Mars.
You willingly give your time and energy to a worthy endeavor and are able to sacrifice your own needs
and desires.

The spiritual aspects of sexually can awaken in you now. Perhaps it is time to be more careful
with your body. Who you have sex with affects what you think of yourself and what you believe about
others. New subtle physical and nonphysical energies can be felt by those most sensitive. You may wish
to investigate Tantric or Tao sexual practices (eastern traditions) and become more versed in the
exchange of energy taking place during love-making.

Jan was in her mid-thirties, working full-time and attending graduate school when she became pregnant unexpectedly. She had planned to continue her education, but now did not know what to do. She had recently remarried and her older husband did not wish to have any children. He had three from a previous marriage. They had just purchased a new home and the mortgage required two incomes. Jan’s husband pressured her to have an abortion, and she was very torn. She did not want to threaten her new marriage, but she did not
want to abort the child either. The decision went back and forth for weeks. It was during this time of turmoil that Jan began to feel like the unborn child was a comfort to her. She sat talking to the baby, sang songs and read it books. She felt a gentle mixing of energy within her body. This was her first pregnancy and it was a time of discovery. She decided to take the chance, school or no school, job or no job, husband or no husband. She rearranged her schedule so she would have time off when she needed it most. Reason might have indicated a different behavior, but Jan went with the subtle feelings she felt.

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