What's your dream? Jupiter (abundance) sextiles Neptune (enlightenment) on June 8th. This first half of June is a good time to be reminded of our idealism. Getting back in touch with our dreams can go a long way into giving hope to difficult life events or impossible situations. Regaining our sense of wonder and faith help offer an alternate perspective into an existing issue.

Jupiter reminds us of the best that life can offer. Neptune urges us to look beyond the tangible world. Jupiter represents expansion, luck, happiness, and opportunities. He is currently in Taurus, where his energy seeks comfort and stability. Neptune governs the subconscious world, spirituality, visions, and imagination. She is presently in her home sign of Pisces.

Elsewhere in the sky and on the day that Jupiter and Neptune perfect their sextile, Chiron (healing), who is also transiting Pisces, stations for retrograde motion. As he turns his focus inward, Chiron reinforces the Neptunian/Piscean spiritual/intuitive/reflective nature.

Take advantage of their alliance by broadening your interests, stepping out of your comfort zone, or cultivating a more spiritual approach to daily life. Keep in mind that, at worst, Jupiter can be overzealous or overly optimistic, and Neptune can be confusing or too much of an escapist. So although, this may not be the time take action towards achieving your dreams, it's an ideal time to awaken your conscious self to whatever unconscious or semi-conscious drives you may have. What you eventually do with whatever's unmasked is up to you :)

Jupiter sextile Neptune occurs at almost 1 degree of Taurus (fixed sign) and Pisces (mutable sign). Those born around February 18-21 and April 19-22 or those with natal planets/house angles near 1 degree of fixed or mutable signs may be more sensitive to this Jupiter-Neptune sextile.

Unsure if you have natal planets/house planets near 1 degree of fixed or mutable signs? Cast your own birth chart at alabe.com for use as reference -- birth date, time, and place required.

Alternatively, I am also available for personal consultations tailored to your needs. Are you celebrating a birthday? Or know someone who is? Schedule your session for a Solar Return (birthdays) or 3-Chart Reading (detailed natal & overall outlook for the next 12 months) or request a quote for a more customized reading tailored to your needs. Consider giving a loved one the gift of insight.

Related articles:

• Chiron Retrograde in Pisces ~ June 8 to November 10, 2011
• Jupiter in Taurus ~ June 4, 2011 to July 11, 2012
• Neptune in Pisces ~ April 4 to August 4, 2011
• Neptune Retrograde ~ June 3 to November 9, 2011
• Current Planetary Transits
• Solar Returns Explained ~ your personal year
• Schedule an appointment
• Client reviews

Neptune joins Saturn and Pluto in retrograde motion. She'll station on June 3 at 12:27 a.m. PDT / 3:27 a.m. EDT and remain retrograde until November 9th. Neptune governs all that which is hidden and operates in the unseen world -- our subconscious, psychological self, dreams, imagination, and spirituality. She is often associated with confusion (lack of clarity), escapism (drugs/alcohol), creativity (music), transcendence, "oneness," and unconditional love.

Neptune, who came home to Pisces on April 4th, will now retrace her steps from zero degree of Pisces and back to 28 degrees of Aquarius. Neptune returns to Aquarius for the last time on August 4, 2011. Then next year, Neptune re-enters Pisces on February 4, 2012 to remain until 2024/2025.

While Neptune is retrograde, Chiron will also be retrograde from June 8 to November 10. Their energy together offers greater opportunity to give attention to our spiritual side, psychological self, imagination, and ideals; aspects of our selves that we may have neglected during the course of living our busy, daily lives. This is the time to get in touch with realities in the spiritual plane that are just as true and substantial as the realities we face in the physical world. Be wary of excessive escapism, especially with drugs, during this period, especially with Jupiter sextile Neptune also on June 8th. A fog of confusion is also common; don't fear it. Instead, embrace the abyss of the unknown. In surrendering, clarity will follow.

Those born between February 16 to 20 (+/- 2 days) or with personal planets/house angles at zero degree of mutable signs or between 29 and 28 degrees of fixed signs may be experience this Neptunian energy/fog more strongly than others.

How might Neptune's retrograde transit influence your life? Answering the following questions is a good place to start. Where does her current transit fall in your birth chart? Do you have natal planets or house angles within 29 and 28 degrees of fixed signs to zero degree to mutable signs?

Unsure if you have natal planets/house planets between zero degrees of Pisces (or mutable signs) and 28 degrees of Aquarius (or fixed signs)? Cast your own birth chart at alabe.com for use as reference -- birth date, time, and place required.

Alternatively, I am also available personal consultations tailored to your needs. Are you celebrating a birthday? Or know someone who is? Schedule your session for a Solar Return (birthdays), 3-Chart Reading (detailed natal & overall outlook for the next 12 months), 24-month Neptune Transit reading or request a quote for a more customized reading tailored to your needs. You might also consider giving a loved one the gift of insight.

Related articles:

• Neptune's initial transit in Pisces ~ April 4 to August 4, 2011
• Neptune's Transit in the last degrees of Aquarius ~ November 9/10, 2010 to April 4, 2011
• Jupiter sextile Neptune ~ June 8, 2011
• Chiron's initial transit in Pisces ~ April 20 to July 20, 2010
• Chiron re-enters Pisces ~ February 18, 2011 to 2018/2019
• Chiron Retrograde in Pisces ~ June 8 to November 10, 2011
• Current Planetary Transits
• Solar Returns Explained ~ your personal year
• Schedule an appointment
• Client reviews

It's an exciting time to be alive! At the very least, astrologically speaking. The year began with Jupiter (ideals/expansion/optimism) returning to Aries, where he remains for a few more months. In February, Chiron (wounds/healing/teaching) returned to Pisces to stay until 2018/2019. Last month, Uranus (rebellion/radical change/awakening) also re-entered Aries, and this time will stay put for seven years. For four (2012-2015) of those seven years, Uranus will be locked in a tense square with Pluto (power/destruction/transformation) in Capricorn, who himself has been changing what security, wealth, success, and government mean to us since 2008. One would have to be hiding under a rock or just plain 'checked out' not to feel/experience the tension/crisis of their square, especially since its influence extending as far as early 2020s. But I digress. This post is about Neptune :)

In a few days, Neptune (spirituality/enlightenment/escapism) joins Chiron as she comes home to Pisces, a sign Neptune has not visited since 1847 to 1862. Yes, Neptune's last transit in Pisces began a year after Neptune was discovered, for you history buffs :) It takes her 165 years to transit through all of the zodiac signs.

On April 4, Neptune will take a short dip into Piscean waters before returning to Aquarius on August 4 to spend her last months there before coming back home in Pisces to stay until 2024/2025. In the last few years, we've had slower moving celestial bodies change signs. Their impact is generational and global, while they transit Capricorn (for Pluto), Aries (for Uranus), and Pisces (for Chiron and Neptune).

Any celestial body changing signs is an energy shift. For the Sun, it happens every 30 days or so. For the Moon, every 28 days or so. Their influence are more or less month to month/day to day. But for slow-moving planets like Neptune, the initial change could be immediate/jarring but actual results develop more gradually, and the complete impact, undeniable by the end of their transit.

Neptune governs all that which is hidden and operates in the unseen world -- our subconscious, psychological self, dreams, imagination, and spirituality. She is often associated with confusion (lack of clarity), escapism (drugs/alcohol), creativity (art/music), transcendence, "oneness," and unconditional love. In Pisces, Neptune's energy is enhanced, heightened, increased since Piscean energy mimics that of its ruler. When a planet transits its own sign of rulership, like Neptune with Pisces, it's akin to coming home after a long, tiresome journey and finally being in a space where you rule... where you are king/queen ... and master of your domain. For us, earthlings, it feels more like a double whammy!

For part of Neptune's transit in Pisces, Chiron is also in Pisces. They traveled through Aquarius together, and now they'll continue their travels in Pisces. The combination of both their energy -- the wounded healer (Chiron) and the truth seeker (Neptune) -- in the compassionate, transcendent sign of Pisces brings up issues with the environment and our 'oneness' with each other and the world we live in. Together with Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn, ecological crisis, catastrophic sociopolitical and socioeconomic instabilities will most likely blow up even more as radical change becomes necessary to solve the problems we face, not just in our personal existence or our within our immediate surroundings but as a people living together on this earth with its other inhabitants and also co-existing within our universe.

Neptune enters Pisces on April 4 at 6:50 a.m. PDT / 9:50 a.m. EDT. She retrogrades on June 3 and returns to Aquarius on August 4. Neptune then becomes direct on November 9 and re-enters Pisces on February 3, 2012 to remain until 2024/2025. Early-degree Pisces and Virgo-Suns/Risings may have already begun feeling the energy shift as early as February, while Neptune transited the last degrees of Aquarius.

For me, as a late-decan Virgo-rising, much of Neptune/Chiron transits in Pisces actually happen in my natal 6th house (health/work/routine) even if she is the ruler of my natal 7th (partnerships). I've just gotten some pretty harsh news about my health. Nothing fatal or anything. And not exactly a surprise either. But it is a wake up call. I can't keep running on fumes because there's much I want to do. I'm not a machine, and even machines need to get maintenance sometimes :) I know that spending more time meditating, maybe some yoga, and practicing reiki on myself more regularly are small things that would benefit me tremendously. Healthier lifestyle choices are part of what's in store for me during this transit. Time to REALLY fix what's broken or it's gonna break me for good. And that would suck royally.

How might this opposition manifest in your world? Look to the natal/solar houses governed by Pisces to get an idea where in your life Neptune and Chiron's transit in Pisces may be most influential. Unsure where which natal house is governed by Pisces? Cast your own birth chart at alabe.com for use as reference -- birth date, time, and place required.

Alternatively, I am also available for a 24-month Neptune Transit reading or a customized reading tailored to your needs. Are you celebrating a birthday? Or know someone who is? Schedule your session for a Solar Return (birthdays) or 3-Chart Reading (detailed natal & overall outlook for the next 12 months) or request a quote for a more customized reading tailored to your needs. You might also consider giving a loved one the gift of insight.

Related articles:

• Current Planetary Transits
• Solar Returns Explained ~ your personal year
• Chiron in Pisces
• Neptune Retrograde ~ June 3 to November 9, 2011
• Jupiter sextile Neptune-rx ~ June 8, 2011

Coming off at the heels of a New Moon in Scorpio (November 5/6) and following Chiron's lead in also becoming direct (November 5), Neptune stations on November 6 at 11:04 p.m. PST (Nov. 7 at 1:04 a.m. EST) and prepares for direct motion. She began her retrograde cycle on May 31st.

In a previous post, I explained that:

The planet of all things hidden and illusions, Neptune, joins Pluto as she stations on May 31 in preparation for retrograde movement. Neptune, who is still slowly strolling through the last degrees of Aquarius, will retrograde from May 31 to November 6/7, 2010.

In a previous post for Neptune's retrograde last year, I wrote the following explanation about Neptune retrograde in Aquarius:

• Tarot Affirmations: Queen of Cups for Intuition, Insight & Answers by Starcana
• Jupiter Conjunct Chiron ~ December 7, 2009
• Sun in Capricorn ~ December 21, 2009 to January 19, 2010
• Jupiter-rx Conjunct Neptune-rx ~ July 10, 2009
• Jupiter-rx Conjunct Chiron-rx ~ July 22, 2009
• Triple Conjunction in Natal Houses
• Jupiter, Chiron, Neptune Conjunctions ~ May 2009
• Neptune Conjunct Chiron ~ February 16 & 17, 2010
  

Weeks ago on September 15, when Saturn opposed Uranus, we were urged to shed the old and embrace the new. On October 4, the subject matter of release and change are revisited when Mercury (mind) and Mars (drive) harmonize while both link up with Uranus (awakening) and Neptune (insight).

This time the message is more specific -- we are to awaken the self to its own thought process. Decision, actions, and motivation are all seeded by thought and ideas. Whether we believe we can do something, achieve success, embark on a new project or think we can't be successful, that what we desire is impossible, that we have no support -- all of these begin in the mind.

What thoughts do we choose to entertain? What ideas do we opt to believe in? What plans do we pick are probable or improbable? Hmmm...

Does our thought process require renewal or adjustment? Are we our biggest obstacle, keeping us from that which we desire? Be awakened (Uranus) and enlightened (Neptune) to what truly motivates (Mars) us and adjust the way we think (Mercury) about them. Elsewhere in the sky, Venus (relationships/self-worth) in analytical Virgo is fatefully at odds with Jupiter (expansiveness) in forward-thinking Aquarius. Examine ... without mental boundaries. Free the mind of what binds and welcome clarity.

This celestial get together occurs at 24 degrees of Virgo (Mercury), Pisces (Uranus), Cancer (Mars), and Aquarius (Neptune). Those born with natal planets and/or house angles on or around 24 degrees of these four zodiac signs may be influenced stronger than most. Mercury was last at 24 degrees in Virgo on August 20 and September 24. Events or situations from on or around these dates may resurface now seeking resolution or perhaps just a reflection.

For me, this gathering falls in my natal 12th house while transiting Mercury, Uranus, and Neptune touch my natal Mercury and natal Saturn; and transiting Venus and Jupiter link up with my natal Moon. It's time to uncover what lies in the subconscious (12th house), break away from old ways (natal Saturn), get to the heart of the matter (natal Moon), and make changes beginning with how I think and communicate (natal Mercury).

The time for change is now. We remain under the auspicious umbrella of the Jupiter-Chiron-Neptune triple conjunction and the Saturn-Uranus opposition. Change is often not easy and can even be gut-wrenchingly painful but change is the only constant thing in life. Do you choose to flow with it or resist it?

Worth a mention ~ Full Moon in Aries at 2:10 a.m. Eastern (October 3 11:10 p.m. Pacific). Happenings today may be fueled by the tension created by the opposition between the Libra-Sun and Aries-Moon.


Related articles:

• Full Moon in Aries ~ October 4, 2009
• Mercury Sextile Mars ~ September 30 to October 4, 2009
  
• Saturn-Uranus Opposition ~ September 15, 2009
• Sun in Libra ~ September 22 to October 23, 2009
• Mercury Re-enter Virgo ~ September 17 to October 9, 2009
  
• Mars in Cancer ~ August 25 to October 16, 2009
  
• Neptune Retrograde in Aquarius ~ May 29 to November 4, 2009
  
• Uranus Retrograde in Pisces ~ July 1 to December 1, 2009
• Triple Conjunction ~ 2009 to 2010
  
  

As Venus nears the end of her visit in the zodiac sign Leo, she aligns herself in succession to the triple conjunction -- Jupiter (ideals), followed by Chiron (healing), then Neptune (enlightenment) -- and finally Uranus (radical change). As she makes each of these connections, beginning September 11th through the 16th, Venus touches upon our relationships and material worth. What are our aspirations (Jupiter)? What is at the root of what keeps us from achieving them (Chiron)? Let's become attune and figure it out (Neptune). Then let's bravely take the self out of its comfort zone and make the difficult but necessary changes to move forward (Uranus).

Venus represents our relationships (all types -- intimate, platonic, familial, and with the self), our material wealth, our value systems, our self-worth, our capacity to see beauty in the world, and our desires.

The last time she found herself aligned to these spiritual celestial bodies in July, the energies were more free flowing. This time around the energy is more challenging, tense, and desperately seeks harmony.

Elsewhere in the sky, the Sun in Virgo (exacting/meticulous/practical) follows Venus' trail and makes his own frustrating alignments to the triple conjunction, requiring adjustments to satisfy obstacles. On September 15, Saturn and Uranus also perfects their strenuous opposition, adding to the already tense few days. As if the strain of the previous days were not enough, on September 17, Mercury will be in conflict with Pluto PLUS the Virgo-Sun will blend energies with Saturn and oppose Uranus -- are we to relive/review/remember the events of September 15 again?

The timeline (all dates reflect Eastern time zone; give +/-2 days for life span of influence):

• September 11 ~ Venus Oppose Jupiter. In Leo, Venus is fun-loving, warm, and opts for the pleasurable things in life. This day can be one of "productive" play, of allowing the self to entertain thoughts of success, of achieving one's goals, of living one's dreams. Let the self feel that stirring of hope and excitement for improvement (Jupiter in Aquarius). Also, on this day, Pluto stations and begins moving forward again.
  

• September 13/14 ~ Venus Oppose Chiron. Now that our hearts and minds have been stirred/awakened, we now begin to think of the reasons/excuses of why our dreams are too far from our reach. In a previous post, I mentioned a few ordinary people who rose above their "reasons/excuses" and lived extraordinary lives -- Helen Keller, Harriet Tubman, J.K. Rowling. All had incredibly difficult, seemingly impossible odds to contend with but proved that success is achievable. On this Venus-Chiron opposition day, yield to courage of the Leonine energy Venus currently possess and bravely tackle what is at the root of blockages. Resign yourself to the Sun in Virgo for a practical approach that is tenacious and precise.

• September 14/15 ~ Venus Oppose Neptune. Today coincides with the perfection of another tense alignment -- Saturn-Uranus opposition. Discerning truth may elude us but remain faithful. Neptune has a keen ability for exacting insight that is beyond reason or logic. The key for today is balance, and in order to achieve that, release control and surrender.

• September 16 ~ Venus Quincunx Uranus. Expect the unexpected. A change of heart. A parting of ways. Breaking away from what binds.

• September 17 ~ Sun Conjunct Saturn & Oppose Uranus Plus Mercury-rx Square Pluto. The reality of our situations, the limitations imposed upon us, and the responsibilities we are commissioned with are all right there -- laid out in front of us. A constant reminder of why it's just too hard to make the changes. Is it truly so difficult that we choose to stay as we are? Allow Mercury's link to Pluto to give us the resolve and deep concentration to ferret out a solid plan or establish a foundation for our objectives. This is the time to let go of the old and welcome the new. It's up to you, to each of us, what we choose to live for from this day forward.

Last month, before leaving the zodiac sign of Gemini, Venus blessed us with her alignments to the Triple Conjunction and Uranus. This month, from August 13 to 18, Mars in Gemini recreates the same exact connections. Perhaps, he is picking up where Venus left off. What does this mean for us earthlings? How does this differ with Venus' alignments last month?

While Venus' energy is receptive, Mars is assertive. He goes out there and gets things done! How he does it depends on the zodiac sign he is transiting -- in Aries, his actions are bold and aggressive; in Taurus, his steps are measured and persistent; but in Gemini, he is quick to act and a natural multi-tasker. Imagine all that he can accomplished these next few days! One caveat, however, Mars in Gemini is eager but can be a little lacking in focus. But now that we're armed with that knowledge, we can make sure to enlist Mercury (mind) and Saturn (duties), who are both in Virgo (planner) with their conjunction (blending of energies) steadily growing stronger, to aid in giving Gemini-Mars the explicit instructions he'll need to execute intelligent and productive actions.

The timeline (all dates reflect Eastern time zone; give +/-2 days for life span of influence):

• August 13 ~ For most of the day, the Taurus-Moon (stable inner drives) links with Mercury (mind), Saturn (work), and the triple conjunction while Mars (action) gets friendly with Jupiter (ideals). With our emotional responses grounded (Taurus-Moon) to match our organized mind (Virgo-Mercury), our actions can be more deliberate (Virgo-Saturn) as we take advantage of what can be possible (triple conjunction).

• August 14 ~ Today, Mars' link to Jupiter remains a strong influence, continuing to give us a spring in our step and hopefulness in our movements. The Leo-Sun (conscious will) seeks balance with the energies of Jupiter. Do we continue to believe as we faithfully put ourselves out there? But how can we not continue to move forward when we've already tackled obstacles that resulted in our having taken the first steps?

• August 15 ~ With Mercury & Saturn still growing closer, the obstacles before us may be all too real and keeping hope alive may be more challenging. As Mars link up with Chiron (wounds/healing), we are able to find the release (Chiron) we sorely need which allows us to regain our motivation (Mars); and by the end of the evening, the Gemini-Moon unites with Mars, reminding us of our innermost desires (Moon) and why we must act to fulfill them (Mars).
  

• August 16 to 17 ~ Mars aligns with Neptune (enlightenment) while the Leo-Sun opposes Chiron and Neptune. With the Leo-Sun struggling to seek balance with Chiron and Neptune, cling to Mercury and Saturn in analytical and practical Virgo to gain stability in our thinking and planning, as Mercury and Saturn finally perfect their union. Keep a look out for Mercury upsetting Jupiter, however, and remain true to aspirations. Make wise (Neptune) choices (Mars).
  

• August 18 ~ Finally, Mars makes his last alignment in Gemini, before entering Cancer -- a hard link to Uranus (radical change/unconventional). With the Leo-Sun continuing to oppose Neptune and is now also upsetting Uranus, while Jupiter and Saturn antagonize one another, this may prove to be a day of impulsiveness and irrational decisions/actions. Expect the unexpected. Willfully embrace (Sun) and act (Mars) in the spirit of learning (Gemini) or awakening (Aquarius/Uranus) instead of fear of loss (Saturn) or of the unknown (Neptune).
  

• August 20 ~ New Moon in Leo

• August 25 ~ Mars enters Cancer

• Triple Conjunction Transiting Natal Houses
• Triple Conjunction with Jupiter, Chiron, Neptune ~ Long term influence
• Jupiter-rx Conjunct Neptune-rx ~ July 10, 2009
• Jupiter-rx Conjunct Chiron-rx ~ July 22, 2009
  
• Jupiter Retrograde in Aquarius ~ June 15 to October 13, 2009
• Neptune Retrograde in Aquarius ~ May 29 to November 4, 2009
• Chiron Retrograde in Aquarius ~ May 30 to October 31, 2009

• New Moon in Leo ~ August 20, 2009
  
• Saturn in Virgo ~ September 2007 to October 2009
• Uranus in Pisces ~ December 2003 to May 2010
  
• Mercury in Virgo ~ August 2 to 25, 2009
  
• Sun in Leo ~ July 22 to August 22, 2009
  
• Mars in Gemini ~ July 11 to August 25, 2009
• Transiting Mars in Natal Houses
  

Venus gives us a treat before leaving Gemini! She fortuitously links herself to the promises of the triple conjunction between Jupiter (ideals/opportunities), Chiron (wounds/healing), and Neptune (dreams/insight), giving our relationships and finances a chance for healing and renewal. Now, isn't that nice of her? and who of us doesn't have a need for that?

Venus represents our relationships (of all types, including that we have with the self), our material worth (as well as our self-worth), and our aesthetics. With the help of Saturn in Virgo, the Sun in Leo, the Moon in Libra [July 27] / Moon in Scorpio [July 28 & 29], Mars in Gemini, and Uranus in Pisces, we are able to stop avoidance and face up to some harsh realities (Saturn in Virgo). Our willfulness (Sun in Leo), objectivity (Moon in Libra), and determination (Moon in Scorpio) give way to our eagerness in finally making movements (Mars in Gemini) that settle these relationship and/or financial issues which may have been lingering for some time. Our way to solving money matters and relationship issues may be through unconventional means (Uranus in Pisces).

While Venus is linked with the triple conjunction, she also forms a challenging alignment with Uranus (radical change), so expect the unexpected ... be open and think outside the box when searching for solutions to common issues. Each situation is original and so might be their answer to repairing them.

We have the blessing and protection of the triple conjunction's long term influence on our side to help us get through the rough patches. So let's get things moving these next few days, while we are still within the new moon phase with the super charged Solar Eclipse in Cancer at our heels; and as the energy is building to a Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Aquarius [August 5] which encourages improvement at any cost, including those of radical changes. Mars in Gemini will also make his own alignments next month [August 13-18] and hopefully, he will pick up to continue what will have been started during this period.

Although we are all beneficiaries of this celestial alignment between Venus and Jupiter/Chiron/Neptune, those with natal planets/house angles at 24-26 degrees of fixed signs (Leo, Aquarius, Taurus, Scorpio) or air signs (Aquarius, Libra, Gemini) may be influenced more strongly than others.

Unsure if you have natal planets/house angles at 24-26 degrees? Cast your own birth chart if you don't already have one -- birth date, time, and place required. Or request a quote for a personalized reading.


Related articles on the Triple Conjunction:

• Triple Conjunction Transiting Natal Houses
• Triple Conjunction with Jupiter, Chiron, Neptune ~ Long term influence
• Jupiter-rx Conjunct Neptune-rx ~ July 10, 2009
• Jupiter-rx Conjunct Chiron-rx ~ July 22, 2009
  
• Jupiter Retrograde in Aquarius ~ June 15 to October 13, 2009
• Neptune Retrograde in Aquarius ~ May 29 to November 4, 2009
• Chiron Retrograde in Aquarius ~ May 30 to October 31, 2009
• Uranus Retrograde in Pisces ~ July 1 to December 1, 2009
  

• Saturn in Virgo ~ September 2007 to October 2009
• Sun in Leo ~ July 22 to August 22, 2009
  
• Mars in Gemini ~ July 11 to August 25, 2009
  
• Eclipses in Astrology Explained
• Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse in Aquarius ~ August 5, 2009
  
• Mars Trine the Triple Conjunction & Square Uranus ~ August 13 to 18, 2009

Just after midnight (Eastern) on May 29, Neptune switches gears and turns retrograde. Neptune rules all that which is hidden and operates in the unseen world -- our subconscious, psychological self, dreams, imagination, and spirituality. She is often associated with confusion (lack of clarity), escapism (drugs/alcohol), creativity (music), transcendence, "oneness," and unconditional love.

Neptune currently transits Aquarius, known for its originality, innovation, rebellion, love for freedom and independent thought. Aquarius is humanitarian, civic-minded, and unconventional. In Aquarius, Neptune's ideals are stretched to reflect the identity of the self within the whole, the purpose of the individual within the greater society, the contribution of one that reaches many.

Since Neptune's entrance to Aquarius in 1998, there have been technological advances that introduced new ways of connecting with people across continents or with similar interests or reconnecting with old friends (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Ning), giving to charities or helping others in need (Kiva, Nothing But Nets, The Petition Site), easier searching for volunteer opportunities (onebrick.org, idealist.org, Volunteer Match), and generally, bridging the geographical/cultural gap between communities/societies/countries to jointly meet in a virtual world, where everyone is equal and has a voice. These are just some examples of global developments representative of Neptune (oneness) in Aquarius (innovative) influence ... as above, so below.

Neptune is retrograde from May 29 to November 4, 2009. This period offers us the opportunity to give attention to our spiritual side, psychological self, imagination, and ideals; aspects of our selves that we may have neglected during the course of living our busy, daily lives. This is the time to get in touch with realities in the spiritual plane that are just as true and substantial as the realities we face in the physical world. Be wary of excessive escapism, especially with drugs, during this period. A fog of confusion is also common; don't fear it. Instead, embrace the abyss of the unknown. In surrendering, clarity will follow.

We continue to be under the umbrella of the phenomenal Jupiter-Chiron-Neptune conjunctions which was strongest from May 23 to May 27, making these next few months an advantageous period to seek deep within, heal, transform, and welcome new experiences.

Those born between February 12 to 15 (+/- 2 days) or with personal planets/house angles between 23 and 26 degrees of air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) or fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) may be feel this Neptune retrograde more strongly.

Unsure if you have any planets or house angles in these degrees/zodiac signs? Cast your own birth chart by clicking here (opens a new window) -- birth date, time, and place required.

Related articles:

• Chiron Retrograde ~ May 30 to October 31, 2009
• Jupiter, Chiron, Neptune Conjunctions

Image of Neptune, as seen through Voyager 2, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.