NEPTUNE RETROGRADE
“Lift the veil that obscures the heart and there you will find what you are
looking for.” —Kabir
As esoteric astrologers we pay more attention to progressions than to transits. Speedier planets are here and gone so quickly that it matters little when we know we have lived many lives and will live many more. Progressions provide information on temporary dynamics and energies impacting us as a kind of pattern, which we can work with.
Some slower-moving (relatively) planets can offer interesting transit information, though—these “generational” planets are not personal but affect whole generations. We also consider the retrograde expression of a planet far more spiritual than its direct counterpart. Of all of these, Neptune retrograde is the most spiritual expression.
When direct, Neptune CAN be the most insidious, confused, devious, negative planet in the zodiac.
Since more than half of us have this planet direct in our charts it behooves us to take full advantage during the times Neptune goes retrograde, both as a group called humanity and personally. Neptune takes about 165 years to do a complete revolution around the Sun, thus spending about 14 years in each sign of the zodiac.
Currently Neptune is in the sign of Pisces, so wherever Pisces is in your chart is where Neptune is slowly transiting. Neptune moves into retrograde every year for about 150 days; this year it occurs on June 29. When Neptune is retrograde it is clear-headed, positive, and certain about its course, all confusion gone. THAT is the time to make major decisions and move forward on projects which up until now may have seemed uncertain in their progress. Also a lovely time to meditate.
Everyone: Neptune will turn direct again on December 3; meanwhile, the fog lifts.
ARIES Planet: Mercury MARCH 20 – APRIL 19
Dynamic: A great time to begin something.
Direction: Tennis?
Soul Thought: One or two-handed backhand?
TAURUS Planet: Vulcan APRIL 19 – MAY 20
Dynamic: You too, could start something new.
Direction: Golf might be your game!
Soul Thought: What does it mean to swing a big stick?
GEMINI Planet: Venus MAY 20 – July 20
Dynamic: Honesty might be an issue this month.
Direction: But on the part of whom?
Soul Thought: What was the “Great Debate?”
CANCER Planet: Neptune July 20 – JULY 22
Dynamic: The fog will lift by the end of the month.
Direction: Determine what’s in the fog, then you’ll
know what needs to shift.
Soul Thought: If you can move on cats feet in the fog, you can move anywhere!
LEO Planet: Sun JULY 22 – AUG 22
Dynamic: Thinking may become fuzzier for a while,
but it will clarify by month’s end.
Direction: Determine what you can do in the fog.
Soul Thought: “Moonlight disappears down the hills, mountains vanish into fog and I vanish into poetry.” —Sanober Khan
VIRGO Planet: Moon AUG 22 – SEPT 22
Dynamic: It’s New Moon the same day that Neptune shifts.
Direction: Talk about opportunity!
Soul Thought: Is it knocking?
LIBRA Planet: Uranus SEPT 22 – OCT 22
Dynamic: It’s been a chronic condition but at least the other side has lightened up.
Direction: Perhaps time for negotiation?
Soul Thought: “We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned in order to have the life that is waiting for us.” —Joseph Campbell
SCORPIO Planet: Mars OCT 22 – NOV 21
Dynamic: A high energy time full of purpose.
Direction: Take full advantage.
Soul Thought: What is your purpose?
SAGITTARIUS Planet: Earth NOV 21 – DEC 20
Dynamic: You are fighting over something historical.
Direction: Determine its current relevance.
Soul Thought: When is it time to move on?
CAPRICORN Planet: Saturn DEC 20 – JAN 19
Dynamic: This ongoing challenge may pit friends against partners.
Direction: You can see both sides right now, better than usual.
Soul Thought: How do you help?
AQUARIUS Planet: Jupiter JAN 19 – FEB 18
Dynamic: It’s a big shift in energy for you; the
eclipse is just a highlight!
Direction: It might be time to become the leader of the group.
Soul Thought: Or at least to lead the way, whether anyone follows or not.
PISCES Planet: Pluto FEB 18 – MAR 20
Dynamic: Challenged first by one and then another when the one is done.
Direction: It’s a polarity thing.
Soul Thought: “When this is, that is. From the arising of this comes the arising of that.
When this isn’t, that isn’t. From th e cessation of this comes the cessation of that.” —Buddha
