Neptune

I realize that I have written many posts about the influence of Neptune and this latest post might be considered by some to be somewhat redundant. So in the event you are one of the lucky few who are not allergic to it's influence and always are able to walk a straight line towards your destination which, simply being a resident of the planet earth, I very much doubt, you can stop reading right now. Even without challenging aspects from Neptune in your chart, based on the law of probabilities you should count on the fact that one day you will be getting a transit of this celestial ducker and weaver of the zodiac who has the ability to make a veteran sailor feel like he's lost his rudder.

The purpose of this post is to provide an antidote for the victims of Neptune's most debilitating influence. I know, I know it sounds like I am being negative regarding this planetary ingrate...no I'm just being realistic. Unless you are either walking on water or living in a cloistered community chances are you could be seduced by a wolf in sheeps clothing or simply be asleep at the wheel literally or figuratively. Remember danger can even be lurking behind the convincing stage of religiosity. Let us not forget Lucifer was once an angel.

The antidote lies in using your common sense...for instance if someone is offering you something for nothing in a business deal nothing will be the result. Birds of a feather usually stick together so if you find yourself in the company of substance abusers, scammers and sneaks get thee out the door. Lending money to people who haven't proven their worth usually isn't a good idea but under Neptune it is never a good idea.

Are you susceptible to being scammed, hoodwinked, screwed, bamboozled, or cheated? Take a look at your natal horoscope to find out where Neptune landed when you were born for a slice of clarity.

House 1: Wear a face mask of yourself so people remember who you are.
House 2: Remember Bernie Madoff.
House 3: Hire a translator.
House 4: Message to all seaside dwellers: Build a seawall!
House 5: Use contraceptives; love fades; babies are forever.
House 6: Always wash your hands.
House 7: Have your spouse wear a face mask so you can remember who he/she is.
House 8: Do you use sex as an escape?
House 9: Check that Guru's credentials.
House 10: If you're career isn't Jacques Cousteau or Mozart related it better be legit.
House 11: If your friends are smoking or doping get new ones.
House 12: If you are smoking or doping get into a program.

Today's Astrology Do's and Don'ts

Monday is every body's least favorite day. So to help jump start your day I have compiled some do's and don'ts based on my current astrological findings. But first you will have to read my personal observations on the Neptunian and Plutonian forces at work in order to fully appreciate the energies swirling around us.

Today's Sun in Aquarius is approaching a conjunction to Neptune. This conjunction has the potential to seduce the human spirit for good or ill. Even the most conscious and well intentioned of us when under the influence of Neptune can be tempted to hide facts from others or have the facts hidden from us by others. The highest purpose of Neptune is to elevate us, spiritually speaking from our dependence on earthly concerns. Nirvana is a perfect example of what Neptune represents. This state of consciousness is the proverbial carrot that motivate all mystics.

Practically speaking Neptune is an energy few mortals have mastered. A couple of the most famous for mastering this energy are Jesus and Buddah. Is it any wonder that when astrologers see strong Neptunian influences in the charts of mere mortals predictions of scandal, deception and confusion are a no brainer for them. So if you find yourself around lots of seedy characters, alchoholics, liars, musicians, actors or identify with them now you know why.

This deceptive and confusing transit of the Sun to Neptune will lose power after the 17th but there is another transit to contend with. Jupiter the planet of abundance will be applying to a square to Pluto the most powerful planet in the heavens. This applying transit to Pluto will begin to separate and lose it's strength late February. Jupiter needs to expand in order to feel free. Jupiter represents matters like religion, philosophy, higher education and foreign matters. Pluto represents ideology's, power, control as well as the masses. Pluto's higher purpose is to change things that have outlived their usefulness. It is no coincidence that we have been watching the people of Egypt demonstrating by the thousands that they have had enough. Pluto transits make people not want to take it any more.

If you find yourself around very controlling types or are behaving like that yourself be on the alert because Pluto has a way of forcing himself on others. If you are the one doing the pushing you will probably rationalize your behavior by telling yourself that sometimes pushy actually gets the job done.

TODAY'S DO'S

1. Use that spa day gift certificate you've been saving for a rainy day.
   
2. Don't believe anything unless it comes from the horses mouth.
   
3. If it walks like a duck etc etc.
4. Meditate instead of popping a Xanax
   
5. Consider the opinions of others based on their track record.
6. Keep away from religious fanatics.

TODAY'S DON'TS

1. Don't listen to a snake oil salesman
   
2. Don't overextend yourself.
   
3. Don't force the issue
4. Don't try to fit a square peg in a round hole.
5. Don't marry him or her if he or she says, "I would rather die than be without you".
   

Neptune in the Seventh House: Is Anybody There?

Continuation from last week...

I don't know the profession of my Gemini participant but from the looks of the horoscope it is an excellent example of an astrologer's chart. Gemini rising indicates a curious person as well as a person who needs to advertise himself or herself. Saturn in the first says that this person wants to communicate that he or she is an authority of some sort or at least embodies an authoritative appearance and demeanor. This placement of Saturn in the first house is a common placement for teachers. Aquarius on the Midheaven could be an indication of a person who's career is less conventional in it's expression than what Saturn in the first appears to be at first glance. We all know that Aquarius and it's ruler Uranus rule the subject of astrology and astrologers. So this chart could be the horoscope of a person who teaches the subject of astrology or at the very least someone who is very interested in the subject.

As far as an interest in tattoos for this person I can't say that anything jumps out except for the generational thing. This person is from the Neptune in Sagittarius generation and tattoos are as common as dirt for them. I still have a way to go as far as this subject is concerned and have no definitive astrological data except for my eighth house observations as well as a sprinkling of Pluto that is also a common signature. So in order not to repeat myself I will continue on with Gemini's planetary releases.

RELEASE PERIODS
Starting from the first house going in a clockwise direction the ruler for the first seven years of this person's life was Mercury because Mercury rules the first house. This person will learn what it is like to have Mercury in the twelfth house between the ages of birth to seven years of life. The ruler of the ages seven to fourteen is Mars because Mars rules the next seven years of this person's life. This person will experience what it means to have Mars in the second house conjunct Venus from the ages of seven through fourteen years of age.

BIRTH TO SEVEN YEARS
Since Mercury is in the twelfth house it looks like this person was not encouraged to communicate early in life, but it also indicates because of a trine to Pluto in the fifth that this person has a gift for communicating and in spite of the spiritual or silent nature of this type of Mercury the talent winds up expressing itself anyway.

SEVEN TO FOURTEEN YEARS
Somewhere between seven and fourteen years of age Mars goes into release along with Venus, and because of the conjunction between these two planets, this period of life is a time when this this person feels a lot more comfortable in his or her own body...now feeling safe, loved and secure.

ABSENCE, CONFUSION AND MYSTERY
Things change now when Neptune rules the ages between fourteen and twenty one. Neptune in the seventh house says that this is a time when he or she would be open to a more spiritual outlook especially through associations with others. But Neptune can be quite seductive and mysterious especially for a young and inexperienced person. Our Gemini would be very vulnerable to unsavory types now because under Neptune's influence the people that he or she is now encountering will not be presenting themselves as they really are.

Neptune also rules the natal eleventh house of this chart which says that most of the friends during this period are not to be trusted. Since Neptune is located in the seventh house the message is clear that this will be a time when people cannot be really be counted on.

Because the seventh house Moon conjuncts Neptune it looks like encounters with women can be especially confusing. The Moon also rules the third house which makes me wonder if a female sibling was not able to be counted on. Granted Neptune and the Moon located in the seventh house can make for a very psychic person but it can be very difficult to discern under the influence of Neptune whether what one is experiencing is real or imagined. So we can expect this to be a time when he or she will actually have the experience of sensing what others are thinking but also also a time where it would be necessary to protect oneself from unsavory individuals.

I would like to add that Neptune will always activate the imagination and inspire all of those for whom it touches. This could very well be a time when the inspiration for a tattoo might whisper it's come hither message to Gemini.

To be continued......