Neptune

The function of Neptune is to dissolve boundaries, to mix the material and the non material. Through our Neptunian function we glimpse other dimensions and higher states of being, entering into a magical, indefinable world. Neptune has been called the higher octave of Venus, whereby personal love is transmuted to universal love. Neptune will tend to refine whatever energies it comes into contact with in the natal chart. It will seek to refine, cleanse, to erase imperfections or defects. Planets touched by Neptune are rendered both purer and more difficult to get hold of.

Neptune dissolves our ego boundaries and beckons us to transcend the limitations placed upon us by external reality. Our sensitivity and perceptions are heightened, taking us in the world of dreams, seductively inviting us a realm of unlimited possibilities. Psychologically Neptune represents our vision of perfection our ideals. For most of us this will be our fantasy world, our escape route from reality, which we find in sleep and dreaming. Some will seek this through drugs or alcohol, or through make believe worlds of theater and the movies, music others will find it through religion.

The ability to discern and appreciate subtly is one of the main gifts of Neptune. This is one of the reasons why those whose charts are touched by this planet are often very creative and artistic. For the artist whether, the fine art, music or drama, is usually someone with a heightened perception of form colour or sound. According to Liz Greene, "Neptune is a symbol of the sea of collective feeling which moves us from below to immerse ourselves in the mass. Neptune has a healing experience because through it one discovers respect for the unconscious and develops a more balanced perspective on the role of the ego".

On the individual birth chart, Neptune symbolizes the urge towards sacrifice of the personal “I” , and sacrifice of personal feeling toward to the collective feeling of life. Neptune gives us a strong urge to merge with something greater than ourselves and induces a sense of yearning for the unseen and the intangibles of life. Neptune can undermine our sense of reality. When we are in the grip of Neptune we may experience hypersensitivity, difficulty in adjusting to the demands of the everyday world, vagueness and illusion. When a planet is contacted by Neptune, we often give away whatever the planet represents. We become a victim or martyr. If we constantly sacrifice ourselves for others, we run the risk of identifying with the savior/healer. An challenged Neptune can become unstable, bringing self deception, loss of will power, gullibility, dishonesty, and flight from reality. Neptune can distort our grip on reality so that we lose all sense of who we are, leaving us at the mercy of it's powerful unconscious currents. Uranus and Neptune challenge the boundaries and world view of Saturn, because of the erosion of boundaries and reality. Sometimes it is only through disillusionment and suffering that we realize that the world can never satisfy our longing. When we internalize our spiritual longings we are able to make legitimate sacrifices in order to get closer to our true nature