Neptune in the 1st House

Someone with Neptune in the first tends to be a quiet person who would rather wait and see what happens than act too hastily. Other people consider him passive, even lazy, but this is not how the Neptunian sees himself. He feels intimately involved, sometimes to the point of suffering, but his outward behavior - geared toward peace and harmony - does not convey what is going on inside.

What is going on inside is usually significant to the Neptunian. He feels very connected because he is aware of subtle energies, because he picks up impressions from other people that they are usually entirely unaware of giving. The Neptunian frequently finds himself in the uncomfortable position of knowing - on levels which are beyond the verbal - what others' unconscious motivations are, what they really want but usually hide under the veneer of civilized manners. The Neptunian finds it difficult, if not impossible, to confront others with their own truth, because he senses their inability to face themselves honestly without great pain. He hates to hurt others, and indeed he may not be able or willing to push his own awareness to the point of words. He will frequently choose to do nothing. This is usually interpreted as passivity or weakness by others, who do not see what pain the Neptunian endures because of his knowledge.

With Neptune in the first house, a person tends to be very idealistic. He is drawn to and prefers to live with harmony: peaceful non-demanding relationships, quiet environments and aesthetically beautiful surroundings. He tends to think kindly of others; his sensitivity to their inner motivations and needs brings out his natural compassion. He tries to treat others kindly. Whether they reciprocate or not, it is part of his value system that he treat others well. He can be most charming, often whimsical, sometimes romantic and usually empathic. He seems approachable and is often receptive to a degree others find startling and deeply gratifying, if a trifle eerie. He wants life to be perfect for himself and for others. In a chart which indicates the possibility of strength of character, this desire may be translated into volunteer work, social work or some activity devoted to improving the quality of life for others, or into some inspirational activity. In a chart which emphasizes passive tendencies, the desire for a better world may be channeled into artistic creative pursuits, or into mere daydreaming. It is also possible that this degenerates into chronic dissatisfaction with the way things are, with no constructive suggestions or impetus for improvement.

The person with Neptune in the first house often struggles with a great deal of confusion about his personal identity. He may be so open to others that he picks up their moods without realizing he is being affected. He tends to mimic, quite unconsciously, the strongest characteristics of the last person he was with. He can be easily misled by others, for he fits himself into their 'head space' with such ease that he doesn't always realize he has done so, and may forget - or be unaware of the need - to return to his own thoughts and feelings.

Some Neptunians find they are so open and receptive that they become emotional sponges, incapable of defending themselves from the unconscious messages and energies put out by others. Such people need to learn how to define psychic and emotional boundaries around themselves, but before they can succeed at this they will need to accept that it is necessary. Usually they resist this; they prefer to cling to their illusions of beauty and harmony, and in so doing leave themselves defenseless.

The person with Neptune in the first house does not mind suffering. He may protest that of course he does, but in fact he will often accept it when he does not need to do so. He tends to feel that others must always come first, and that it is better to sacrifice his own well-being than be responsible for someone else's suffering. He finds it difficult to refuse requests for help, a trait which other people frequently exploit. He is also easily deceived, not because of any inherent lack of intelligence but because he wants to see the best in people and easily dismisses the worst. When his illusions are revealed he will accept it with a sigh and will often dream up excuses for the one who deluded him.

The hardest task for the person with Neptune in the first house is that of establishing a firm identity. He needs it more than anyone and is least likely to accept or honor that need because it seems, to him, egotistical. Yet his beliefs (Neptune) about himself (first house) profoundly influence the decisions he makes and therefore have a major impact on the quality of his life. He needs to realize that his unconscious values and attitudes are the driving force behind his life, and as long as they remain unconscious, they remain out of his control. Therefore, essentially his life will feel out of his control. If he can accept this, and can begin to become aware of what he believes, sort out whether his beliefs make sense and serve him well, and change those that don't, he will build a firm foundation for his Neptunian nature. Quiet times alone are vital for this process, but regular meditation is even better.

With Neptune in the first house, there is almost always a strong awareness of and interest in spiritual energies. The person may actually be psychic, whether or not he is comfortable with or utilizes this ability. He may be deeply religious, although it is likely that he will not be fully satisfied with conventional religions. He feels more at home with belief systems which make room for the currents, promptings and energies which he knows from personal experience do exist.

The person with Neptune in the first house will tend to be physically inactive. He does not usually have the energy to lead a dynamic life unless there are other indications in the chart for this. He prefers quiet, spiritually nourishing pursuits to athletics. His very lack of interest in the mundane world in general and his own physical body in particular can lead him into careless dietary habits and a complete unwillingness to exercise, which can quickly undermine his sensitive health. It is difficult for the Neptunian to accept, but he may have to discipline himself to follow a pure diet, to avoid or carefully monitor the use of alcohol and to be especially careful with drugs, medicinal or otherwise. Frequently this Neptunian requires lower doses of medicine than others.

When the Neptunian theme dominates the house motif rather than expressing through it, the person is his own ultimate value. He may simply feel as if he should be perfect, or he may think he already is perfect. Neptune itself is not inclined to arrogance, but in combination with fire planets, houses or signs it can certainly produce that effect. A more positive use of the Fire / Neptune combination is in the graceful, artistic sports such as skiing, gymnastics, dancing, synchronized swimming, and so on.

With Neptune in the first, the person needs to face up to his tendency to harbor illusions or unrealistic expectations about himself and the way he approaches the world, and what he wishes from the world. He may need to confront his tendency to be too sensitive and to take things far too personally. With experience and growth, this Neptunian can develop a most humble and spiritual nature which is still strong enough to withstand the temptations of the world. He can lead others to appreciate the seemingly gentle but very resilient strength of the inner Divine spark.

Neptune in 1st House: With Neptune in this position, there can be a challenge related to the nature and definition of your own identity. The difficulties of this lie in the dissolving quality of Neptune which will affect any sense of a unique and separate identity, and so make it hard to establish any kind of fixed and firm centre within the personality structure. The need for this can manifest itself in search for self, and may eventually lead you towards a religious or spiritual quest which you hope will satisfy your dilemma and sense of inner unease.

You will often find it difficult to perceive your own nature, as every time you try to probe inwards, it seems as if a new inner landscape appears, reflecting a new combination of inner selves back at you. Your attitudes, beliefs, values and emotions can regularly change - as if on shifting sands - and so you find it perplexing to evaluate your own uniqueness, let alone attempt to understand that changing complexity. What you may begin to realize is that these inner shifts are partly stimulated by external influences, as you can be highly impressionable to the personal expressions of others, and it is often their attitudes, beliefs and opinions that are absorbed and reflected out by you as if they were your own.

There is a powerful reflective quality to your personality, almost like a reflection created by still waters, which can emerge as an unconscious mimicking of others as you take on their characteristics. Your persona (or social mask) is often shaped by your current influences and associations; and to others you may appear in the guise of a changeling or chameleon-type personality, hard to fathom and lacking in consistency. You can try to be all things to all men, where your identity forms itself around others' needs and wants, and perpetually moves its ground of being. There is a tendency to move beyond boundaries, in that your private sense of a separate identity becomes extremely diffused and begins to adopt a more inclusive perception, although in distinction from the mystical position; your expression of this could be in becoming dependent and relying on others. Sometimes in being so sensitive to the needs of others, you can become sacrificial in attempting to satisfy them, and in so doing lose your own purpose and direction through a misplacement of your identity.

You often respond to more subtle and psychic influences, and can be strongly affected by the quality and tone of your environment and the company you keep, at home, at work or socially. Registering hidden, inner realities and motivations is quite common for you; and this can create some confusion, especially if you are receiving conflicting messages from an inner perception of a person as distinct from their social expression. You learn to trust the 'vibes' and have faith in that. Because of this heightened sensitivity, you may be able to act as a channel for spiritual or healing energies; and an empathic understanding helps to create a connectedness with others so that healing can be transmitted.

There can be artistic abilities and a need to be creative, both as a form of self-anchoring and as a way to express and release all the impressions that move through you. This could be as a reflector of collective needs, visions, attitudes and perceptions, where any creation 'speaks to many' as a common experience; many musicians can tap into this area of universal human experience, and lyrically reflect emotions and feelings that are extremely resonant. You could become an artistic medium - like an open channel - serving as a voice for the people, because much of the sacrifice that may be asked by Neptune is that you should universalize your identity, and this is why it can be so difficult to maintain an independently unique and separate personality.

One challenge that may be hard to overcome is that of commitment and persistence, in that you have problems in establishing a chosen direction and focusing your energies on following it until success is achieved. As there is self-confusion often allied to insecurity and inner deceptions, your objectives are elusive and prone to regular fluctuation. You may need to struggle to build a satisfactory degree of single mindedness in your endeavors, but this will partly be formed through a more defined and grounded identity. Yet the way to achieve this is not through merely reflecting whatever is around you, but by opening more fully to become a channel for some higher impulse to work through you, so that the visionary nature can shine and be inspirational.

Use of drugs or alcohol is probably best avoided, especially with those tendencies of excess, as these will just serve to fragment an already fragile identity and stimulate the negative face of Neptune into action. There can be a strong charisma around you, an enigmatic and mysterious persona (because of its apparent depth and reflective nature) which can intrigue many who desire to investigate your secrets. This can lead to unusual relationships, which can be very influential - positively or negatively - and you may be wiser to exercise some discrimination in this sphere, especially as your judgment may not always be too accurate. Some could take advantage of your mutability; for instance, by seeking to mould you into their own preferred shape. If this is allowed, then you could experience the Neptunian tendencies towards victim and martyr. The real way forward is to move towards the whole, and not become lost by reflecting just the parts of life.

Neptune in 1st House: A rising Neptune gives an intensely compelling charisma, yet at the same time it isolates and makes them feel remote from others. They have the ability to reflect back the dreams and yearnings of others, so that others see in them reflections of themselves and crave contact with them, but they themselves feel that they stand alone behind the mirror and that no-one can see who they really are. The truth is that they absorb the dreams and desires of others to such an extent that they do not know themselves who they really are. They are capable of being totally overcome by the personality of another or of being absorbed into the being of another. The locations of Jupiter and Saturn and their relationship to Neptune are all-important in determining whether they have enough perspective to be absorbed only by high-level beings. They are subject to possession on all levels, and should be guarded in childhood (by psychic protection) from disturbing astral entities.

They learn rapidly by absorption, but have a hard time with formal studies. They usually hate school as children (unless there is enough art and music to make it worth their while), and get away from it as soon as they can, though they may return to some specific studies later in life. They are capable of being intensely inspired by circumstances and come to rely heavily on inspiration to get them through all kinds of situations. They are highly responsive to love and kindness; to anything else they simply turn a deaf ear, so that if maligned they are inclined to retreat into silence rather than stoop to argument or self-defense. They may give an appearance of aloofness, but their close associates know how intensely warm, humorous, talkative, far-out, and even silly they can be.

They love music and need it as other people need food. They like to sing, and often teach themselves to play an instrument, though they generally feel that they are not as good as they would like to be. The truth is that they find it hard to buckle down and practice, and hate to put the effort required into learning to read music, relying mainly on natural talent and inspiration. They are usually too shy to enjoy performing.

See also: Neptune in the 1st House;

Neptune in the 1st House: Woody Allen, Lucille Ball, William Blake, Jim Carrey, Dick Cheney, Bill Clinton, Tom Cruise, Isadora Duncan, Bill Hicks, Nicole Kidman, U.G. Krishnamurti, Marilyn Monroe, Willie Nelson, Benjamin Netanyahu, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Stevie Wonder, BenSt, Beth (end), Clark, Dewitt, Ellen, Jen, Keith, Komala, Lorraine, Pete, Raga, Ricardo, Seligma, Travis, VinCal, VinCar

Neptune in the 2nd House

The person with Neptune in the second house tends to be idealistic about the use of money and personal resources. Often she is not terribly attached to her personal assets. She tends to look upon her possessions as wards in her care; and while she may be saddened when the time comes to part with something, she can let it go where others simply cannot. She has, deep down, an intuitive awareness that 'you can't take it with you'.

With Neptune in the second house, there may be an indifferent attitude toward personal finances, earning an income and taking care of possessions. Some of these people are very generous and will give away one of their belongings to someone who admires it. They can believe that possessions do not truly belong to anyone but are there for the good of all, and should be with the person who is happiest with them. Such an outlook greatly satisfies the Neptunian idealism. They may be just as easygoing with their money, and can easily be taken advantage of by acquaintances.

Neptune in the second house can signify a fairy-tale attitude toward money - either that it will always be there when needed, or that it is simply another one of the world's idiotic preoccupations and a delusion.

Sometimes this position simply indicates forgetfulness or impracticality with resources. Bills may be overlooked, costing the individual in interest charges. Checkbook balances may be forever incorrect, resulting in N.S.F. checks. Purchases may always cost more than planned because the person is somewhat naive and doesn't know how to ask about additional charges, or she simply forgets about them. She may not be willing to sit down and figure out which item is the best buy, preferring to simply go on her intuition. Purchasing decisions may be based on the fact that she hasn't eaten yet today rather than what she can afford. She often has no clear idea of what she can afford. She frequently doesn't care much, either.

She is not inclined to read the small print in a contract, and may easily lose money through trusting the wrong people, through impractical investments which appeal to her altruistic nature, and through outright con games. She can often be talked into making loans to people who cannot repay, simply because she yearns to help out. She may leave her finances in an incredible muddle year after year rather than impose effort and discipline on the issue.

Sometimes, with Neptune (beliefs and ultimate values) in the house of money and possessions, there is a strong tendency to value and perhaps overvalue material possessions. If there is an emphasis on Earth in the chart, this person may be inclined to take great care of her things and her money, putting a great deal of time and effort into upkeep. She will usually want her possessions to look attractive and to be aesthetically pleasing. If there is enough drive in the chart to do this upkeep on a continuing basis, it may be possible to turn this into a career.

Neptune and the second house share a strong creative tendency. It may be expressed as interest and possible talent in pure art, or in music, or in other artistic / creative pursuits; but it will certainly be inherent. This person will need at least periodic access to music and to lovely surroundings, including pastoral outdoor settings where she can soak up the peace and serenity. if there are any other indications of possible artistic ability in the chart, this individual needs to have some background training and some way to express the creativity. Music and/ or other creative pursuits as well as visits to parks will all be ways for this individual to relax and let go of built-up tensions.

Since the second house also relates to sensual pleasures, it is possible that the person expects these to provide a kind of ultimate ecstasy. She may retreat to these whenever life threatens to get too nasty, looking for reassurance and fulfillment in an area which can only provide temporary pleasure. She may make pursuit of sensual pleasure an ultimate value, something she will cling to in the face of much difficulty.

With Neptune in the second, the person needs to face up to her tendency to create illusions about money, possessions and sensual pleasures, or creative pursuits, to expect more from them than they can provide, or to ignore or deny their importance. With patience and insight, this Neptunian can achieve a truly wholistic perspective on the role of material possessions and sensual pleasures in a balanced life. That is, she can come to understand that possessions and pleasures contribute important experiences, but are not to be clung to as ultimate values for there is nothing truly lasting about either.

Neptune in 2nd House: The issues with this Neptune position revolve around the themes of money, resources and possessions, topics that are central to modern Western capitalist and consumer thinking.

Money is often the main symbol for success in the world; and most of man's activities are designed to generate this commodity, both for essential survival needs such as food and homes, and for the satisfaction of additional desires such as luxurious and extravagant living, enhanced security, and the accumulation of possessions which enrich life.

Neptune may stimulate several contradictory attitudes towards money and resources; but one common thread underlying them is the need to develop a new understanding of their relevance in your life, a deeper perception of their significance and meaning.

There may in some be a preoccupation with money, resources and possessions, where money is elevated to a position of supreme importance and where all ambition is consumed with the desire for more. Here the tendency is to excessive consumption, extravagance, the need to feel secure by being surrounded by the material forms of purchases, and external displays of having money. There is a continual dissatisfaction which always demands further satiation through buying and acquiring more; more cars, TVs, bigger houses, holiday homes etc.; and there is a resulting lack of appreciation and value. Some may have that 'financial knack' where, like Midas, everything that is touched turns to gold, and money accumulates with little effort or through wise business acumen.

Another tendency can be a lack of financial sense; one wastes money through careless impractical schemes and foolish dreams, or by failing to generate sufficient self-application to ensure that a potentially viable business project eventually succeeds. Speculations can be wrongly made, money lost through depending on others, either fraudulently or through an unreliable trust.

Some may believe that life should fulfill their every need without their having to do anything in return, becoming social parasites and dependent on state generosity without due reason apart from laziness.

Others may imbue the issue of resources with an idealistic vision, whereby excess money and possessions can be shared within a social context, perhaps through donations to favorite causes and charities, or where unwanted possessions are freely given to those in need in the world, thus creating a freer flow of the energy contained in money. This can sometimes emerge as a feeling of 'guilt in the mind of the successful liberal', but is a prompt towards social responsibility.

Neptune asks you to reconsider your attitudes towards money. Does it condition your life so that everything else is secondary? Do you really appreciate and value what you have now? Could some possessions or money be released to help others in greater need than yourself? Are you irresponsible with money, and do you waste it? Do you derive a sense of self-worth, value and identity from your accumulated possessions; and do they act as a status signifier for you? What is really important to you, and is a search for more money merely a substitute for something else that is lacking?

Neptune may strip away all forms of externally based security if that is the lesson required. What is necessary is an inner re-evaluation, where value is placed on less material substitutes and possessions, where actual use of personal qualities and those inner resources such as gifts and talents is made, so enriching the life in that creative way. Many personal attitudes and beliefs are reflected by our money attitudes; and in changing either the other can be transformed, such as where inner insecurity relies on external possessions for strength, or where stability in life is looked for in bricks and mortar. Much of the personal identity is tied up in status-ridden employment for many, as is witnessed in the attitudes of personal superiority that many managers possess whereas, in truth, often those lowest in the hierarchy are much finer people and less obsessive and unbalanced!

The power of money is considerable; and its influence on contemporary choices is profound. Social transformation is similarly linked to changes in our personal and collective attitudes towards money and resources; and in this lies one of the fundamental keys to the future well-being of the planet. The visionary dreaming of Neptune can help us choose our attitudes wisely, with balance and discrimination, and with awareness of global repercussions. It is a re-evaluation that all concerned with the New Age ideal need to make.

Neptune in 2nd House: This placement of Neptune gives sensitivity to the environment. These people are inclined to see the environment as a whole, and how society is molded by it, and therefore are deeply interested in social improvement and environmental protection. They have a great love of nature and the outdoors - animals, birds, trees, and particularly lakes, rivers and the seashore. They will often give up the conveniences of urban life in order to live more closely with nature.

Often, these people are attracted to a basic natural lifestyle. They are inclined to take the broad view of life, and may have some difficulty focusing on immediate specifics. They are not inclined to stick to one thing, and generally take things as they come. They also have a tendency to be super-independent, and have a hard time compromising when they believe themselves to be right.

They make good scientists or technicians because they can easily absorb the basic concepts of physics and chemistry. Generally 'handy' around the house, they are able to figure out what to do to fix things. Rewards come on or near water, with perfumes and oil, in the entertainment industry (music, film, theatre), or in non-profit work for a cause.

They are very sensual and are likely to be overwhelmed by attractions to others from time to time. They in turn are usually very attractive to others, but often lack interest in those they attract. They tend to idealize or romanticize sexual relationships, while real intimacy may fail to live up to their expectations.

Sometimes, Neptune here can postpone a sexual relationship, leading to long engagements, or postpone the consummation of a marriage. Sex may seem gross to the delicate Neptunian sensibilities. It is a partial testimony to homosexual relationships; but, if so, most likely it is more of a childish, sentimental desire for the innocent love of a pal and hasn't much real sex in it.

Neptune in 2nd House: Like Uranus in this position, Neptune in the 2nd requires a deeper understanding and feeling for the whole sphere of money, possessions and resources. Neptune has a dissolving effect wherever it is placed in the chart; and in the 2nd, any tangible or outer forms of security may be subject to this influence. Unconsciously, the person may feel guilty about acquiring money or holding onto possessions, believing that what belongs to one should belong to all.

Conversely, they may feel that the world owes them a living - what is other people's should rightfully be theirs as well. Whether they like it or not, watery Neptune creates fluidity in the 2nd house sphere.

I have seen a variety of manifestations of this placement. Sometimes, it indicates general confusion and nebulousness in the handling of finance and investment. Unforeseen forces undermine speculation - what seemed safe turns out to be a fraud. In some cases, thieves come in the night and claim what they feel should be theirs. Or they may receive a large cheque in the first post and a bill for the same amount in the second. Or, generous to a fault, they are a soft touch for any hard luck story, continually reaching into their pockets to give spare change away, or getting out the cheque book to donate to a worthy cause.

Poseidon had great riches under the sea and yet he still longer for the earthly power of Zeus. Those with Neptune in the 2nd may be dissatisfied with what they already have, and always want more - especially if someone else has it. They may worship money and possessions as the key to heaven on earth, or value money because it allows them to live out their fantasies. Even if they achieve the material status they hope to gain, they may discover that it isn't all that they imagined it would be. Something is still lacking.

Ultimately, rather than seeking security and well-being from outside of themselves, they might need to reconsider their value systems and look inward to what some call the 'higher spiritual plane' for fulfillment. They might even unconsciously provoke this by 'setting up' losing what they have gained or dearly value as if they sense that giving everything away is their path to rebirth and redemption.

I have observed that these people are often unsure of their own inner value and worth. They may not be appreciative enough of their innate gifts, such as their sensitivity and empathy, their artistic and creative imaginations, and the ability they have to heal and soothe others. Money could be earned through a 'Neptunian profession': acting, modeling, painting, poetry, dance, fashion, photography, healing, the selling of alcohol or drugs, etc.. Professions as varied as that of a chemist, clergyman or merchant marine could be connected to a 2nd house Neptune.

Finally, there is a tendency to imbue the material world with symbolic and emotional significance. An object or possession may be valued not so much for what it is, but for the feelings it inspires in them. Often, they can perceive the essence underlying the form itself.

See also: Neptune in the 2nd House;

Neptune in the 2nd House: Muhammad Ali, George Carlin, Madonna Ciccone, Judy Garland, Art Garfunkel, Steve Jobs, John Malkovich, Nisargadatta, Al Pacino, Jack Parsons, Dolly Parton, Ezra Pound, O.J. Simpson, Donald Trump, Orson Welles, H.G. Wells, BenT, Beth (cusp), Carolyn, Eva, JBLight, Jeff, JulieD, Leen, Leif, Lina, Maitreyi, Tyler

Neptune in the 3rd House

Neptune in the third house scatters the mind but compensates with intuition. An interest in extrasensory perception may be accompanied by genuine clairvoyance, but the unwary can delude themselves into fancying their hallucinations to be revelations from on high.

The ability to tap hidden channels of the psyche may lead to inspired thinking or it may cause a diffusiveness baffling to people in the immediate environment. A person with this placement often changes their name or adopts a pseudonym. Frequently, they feel themselves to be a medium for ideas which reach them from an unseen source.

Parents of children with this placing should be on their guard if they want to have any more children; the influence of Neptune may confuse the elder sibling’s attitude towards the younger. For example, there may be an above-average show of jealousy, simply because the child finds the situation bewildering. Other areas of the child’s chart will show the way through this possible difficulty - and we wish to stress that it is only a possibility.

Early education is often unsettled, and there may have been tendencies to spend time in daydreaming at school, so that concentration on the matter in hand was very poor. As a result the subject may have gained rather unsatisfactory grades.

This is a house related to the mind, nonetheless, so there is a good chance that the imagination will be heightened by this placing, especially if the chart as a whole shows imaginative flair. Some astrologers believe that this placing enhances the voice; the subject certainly may have the potential for singing, and there is often a subtle delicacy in the tone of the voice, and also good projection.

See also: Neptune in the 3rd House; Neptune in the 3rd House; Neptune in the 3rd House; Neptune in the 3rd House

Neptune in the 3rd House: Ursula Andress, G.W. Bush, Bobby Fischer, Carl Jung, Henry Kissinger, Carl Lewis, Jack Nicholson, Friedrich Nietzche, Meryl Streep, Mark Twain, Tiger Woods, AndyF, Cate, Collon, Doug, Fisher, George, Jason, JerGar, Joy, Judi, JudyPl, LucJr, PapayaJ, Robert, Tammy, TomW, VinG, Zoë

Neptune in the 4th House

This position is a loaded one: an unconscious planet in an unconscious house. Furthermore, it is the house of our most basic and essential emotional security needs. Usually we look to Mother to provide these, so she and the needs all get tangled up with a vague sense of ultimate importance. There may be no easier place to have all our fondest dreams and wishes smashed to smithereens, for with Neptune the needs are vitally important and frequently beyond the ability of a mere human to fulfill.

With Neptune in the fourth, the need to feel safe in a secure nest is fundamental. However it is also quite likely to be unconscious. The person's idea of heaven includes an impregnable home, lots of food and someone around who will take care of her. In the fourth house, we tend to want to feel like a baby and to be taken care of like a baby. With Neptune there, it is all supposed to happen by magic. Furthermore, it can be accepted as our 'Divine Right' to have all this.

There can easily be an unexamined assumption that mother, early home life and emotional security needs will all be perfect. That is, all needs will be met with ease, all needs will be in harmony with the general flow of life, and there will be no need for upset or disappointment. Mother, or the parent who gives the most emotional care, is supposed to be there when needed, regardless of other commitments.

With Neptune, of course, there are illusions which must be exposed and released. The illusions connected with the fourth house are deeply intimate; and any threat to them is profoundly threatening to the individual. She may successfully defend them throughout life because to challenge them is too painful to contemplate. She may go to extraordinary lengths to preserve her images, carefully failing to see any flaws or failures.

Neptune in the fourth generally has to overcome the strong need for the nurturing parent not only to be perfect but to continue to provide the perfect surroundings.

This Neptunian has great difficulty separating from the nurturing parent; it may never be fully completed. It makes little difference f the actual parent lived up to her expectations, for this Neptunian can put equal importance on the parent in her head - the parent she wished for or imagined to exist. There is a tendency for the individual to go around with a despondent air because ordinary humans cannot live up to her expectations, so she feels continually disappointed.

Sometimes the Neptunian desire for perfection focuses on the home rather than the parent. In this case, there may have been an idyllic childhood home situation, or it may have been mysterious and elusive. The adult can react by trying to create or re¬create the perfect nest. Anyone with Neptune in the fourth house will need to examine her strong need for harmony, beauty and fulfillment in the home. Kept in perspective, it can lead to the creation of a beautiful home with a peaceful, loving atmosphere. An important part of this can be the preparation of one particular room for the Neptunian to use as a retreat. Overemphasized, it can lead to a home where an all-pervasive spirituality and a kind of magical-love are expected, to the exclusion of all else.

With Neptune in the fourth, nurturing itself may become an ultimate value, a way to find sublime satisfaction. Some individuals will keep this in balance; many will not. Those who do will take care to do their nurturing where it will actually be of benefit. They can make the most sensitive of caretakers, nurses and companions. Those whose need to nurture others is a convoluted expression of their own hunger to be taken care of will often give too much to others; eventually they become resentful because no-one appreciates their sacrifices.

Those who repress the need to nurture or be nurtured will tend to project, to see and find strong and perhaps overwhelming Neptunian traits in their nurturing parent. Such a parent could be very spiritual and loving, or vague and confused, or even absent, so that the individual is left with only a fantasy of what that parent could ¬and should - have been like; or the parent could be a victim, whom the individual feels obliged to try to save. This can range from the person who wants the parent to take more exercise or more vitamins, to stop smoking and so on, to the person with an alcoholic or otherwise self-destructive parent.

With Neptune in the fourth house, the individual needs to take a long, hard look at her tendency to have illusions in regard to her own mother or nurturing parent, to being a parent herself, to children and babies and to the whole issue of nurturance. She will tend to feel that caring somehow involves being swallowed up completely, and this may be something she yearns for or is terrified of. She will also tend to feel that if her emotional security needs, which are often unrealistic, are not met, she cannot survive the disappointment. While it can be frightening beyond belief for this person to confront her assumptions about what she must have in order to feel fulfilled, she will find her life a great deal more satisfying if she can do so, for she will be living according to realistic values rather than mysterious ones.

This Neptunian can make the most patient and loving of parents, one with a strong sense of emotional bonding and yet one who will remain aware of her spiritual responsibilities as a parent. She may do more to create an ideal parent / baby relationship than anyone else, and can serve to remind others of how important it is to strive to do the best for children that we can. She also has the ability to create a spiritually nurturing atmosphere for others, perhaps in her own home, but also in their homes, as well.

Neptune in the 4th House: This position of Neptune gives an emphasis to personal roots and foundations in life, and can often indicate deep unconscious ties to family, parents and social traditions, and a need for security and stability which is opposed by the Neptunian tendency of dissolution and expansion.

Motivations, attitudes, beliefs, value structures and personal identity will tend to have foundations in your earlier life. The influence of parents upon you will be considerable; and many of the conditioning emotional associations will be closely intertwined with that parental relationship and your childhood. Some degree of idealism or distortion is likely in your memories and family connections; and it is possible that you have a desire to return into a golden age where the womblike embrace of the family offered security and protection.

It may be, however, that your early life experience was unsatisfactory and unfulfilling, where expectations were disappointed and the home life was more unsettling and unstable, and that this pattern has been carried over into your adult life. The father is associated with the 4th house,; and part of this insecurity could be connected with his role in your life. Child idealistic projections onto him could have been later disillusioned, or he may have seemed distant from you, offering little emotional comfort or relationship, or he could have left or been rarely at home when you needed him there. Some type of unbalanced relationship is indicated by this placing of Neptune; and in many instances this implies a divided marriage situation or a broken home.

Neptune offers great emotional sensitivity; and you are likely to have absorbed into your unconscious mind most of the underlying psychic currents present in your family home. These can be parental frustrations with an unhappy marriage, the denial of ambitions or dreams for successful futures for their children; whatever they were, they have made an impact on you as you received that 'atmosphere' into your unfolding nature. A parent may have been very dominant, so much so that their way of perceiving life has never left you, and you have difficulty in breaking free of the parental embrace and umbilical cord, so that you can stand free as an individual in your own right. Or you may have received 'family traits', delusions and challenges passed down through genetic lineage, repetitive family patterns of behavior and attitude, like a family adherence to religious conditioning or political beliefs.

Many of the themes that will be highlighted in your adult life will have their roots in your childhood. It is quite likely that in some way you will tend to repeat similar paths and patterns which were present in your parents' lives. The challenge is to transform them, so breaking unconscious repetition and avoiding becoming a victim to such tendencies. Your adult marriage and family life could be the sphere of this repetition. Where Neptune is involved, the need for sacrifice in some way is often found, as are the themes of victim and martyr. You may need to consider whether you are unconsciously duplicating the tendencies and failings of your father or mother, because they were your early role models of behavior. You may be required to be self-sacrificial in your domestic relationship, perhaps through the illness of a child or partner, or as a result of a partner's need to pursue his or her ambitions; and you are usually willing to become a protective and embracing parent figure, even to a partner.

A new understanding and redefinition of family, roots and foundations in life is required. Neptune may ask that you surrender your family, perhaps through the dissolution of a marriage, or just through a transformation in your heritage of attitudes, beliefs and values as you learn how to stand free in your own light and follow your own path through life. The need for stability, security and roots needs to be expanded, so that reliance on a limited conception is transcended, and Neptune opens out into a wider space for exploration. For those attracted towards the spiritual dimension and the search for universal and eternal roots, the challenge may lie in trusting the goodwill of the universe, having faith in its guidance and moving beyond any dependence on rational thinking and protection of the limited self. This can develop into a determined exploration of the mysteries of life and yourself, moving ever deeper into the inner depths. Failure to accept this challenge or re-evaluation and transformation can create psychosomatic symptoms of ill-health in later years, and static regressive repetition of received patterns from childhood. There can also be a withdrawal from social activity and a preference for isolated privacy, especially if the home life fails to fulfill, and you attempt to retreat into an inner idealistic dream world where life should be as you prefer to imagine it to be.

Neptune in 4th House: Microcosm: Neptune in the 4th reveals that your inner sanctum contains no personal self. Instead, the space usually reserved for privacy is utilized to release you from the pressures of individual living. It is a space of universality, a return home to the essence of all things as One Together. The pitfall lies in a tendency to escape into emotional formlessness, to mistake ego inflation for cosmic reunion. The challenge is to allow everything to penetrate you without your ever losing the ability to function well in real life.

Personal security: Personal security has no pragmatic meaning. You are fascinated by a sense of family that extends far beyond the limited scope of biological bloodlines. Family is universal, and home is anywhere. The pitfall is that openness, translucidity, and idealism may so completely evaporate boundaries that you lose all sense of meaning, disintegrating into a state of permanent insecurity. The challenge is to realize that all mean are indeed brothers, both within and beyond the flesh.

Emotional imprints: Your early conditioning was full of idealism, fantasy, and often illusion, perhaps even lies. Dreams formed the basis of the imprint system, weaving an invisible pattern in your habits. Somewhere in your imprints may be the dark shadow of victim consciousness or drug problems; but even these can be turned toward the positive if you are willing to connect with a universal vision of life. Don't look toward an event-oriented background; what actually happened was of far less importance than what occurred in your fantasies. The sense of selfless spiritual purpose was important from the start, and may have manifested itself in religious training or attitudes.

"Inner-link" parent: There are echoes of both sainthood and martyrdom in your maternal impressions. Your mother may have been seen as a woman of delicacy and compassion, yet she might just as easily have been perceived as foolish dreamer or unwitting victim. In either case, she promoted in your early development a strongly intuitive orientation. Later in adulthood, you could easily be telepathic or psychic without ever thinking about it, since it would seem second nature to you. The pitfall you have with your mother surrounds boundaries. It's difficult for you to tell the difference between what's hers and what's yours. The challenge is to embrace her spirit without succumbing to her melodrama.

Private intuition: Inner guidance is an evanescent presence, floating just beyond the periphery of vision. It is like an echo, a constant "AUM", often felt but seldom seen. Private intuitions are not truly private here; information about life is absorbed from every sector of the environment - within the self, from the world around you, and directly from others. The information may be about anyone, for anyone, not solely your personal self. It is all experienced as relevant, and with this placement we see the first developments of universal mediumship. You are a conduit, a conveyor, a conductor of information you may not fully understand. Hold the information until life asks you for it, and then give it purely. For you, intuition bleeds into every thought, every feeling, every activity.

Neptune in 4th House: People with Neptune in the fourth often find it difficult to establish a home of their own. They may not take seriously the need for a home of their own, or it may take them a lot longer than most people to get around to it. They may live much of their lives with family or friends, or in a room-mate situation, particularly where it means they do not have to pay rent or take much responsibility for upkeep. Even when they do desire to have a place of their own, circumstances of one kind or another may prevent it, or they may spend many years, sometimes even their entire lives, dreaming of an ideal home environment that is way beyond their circumstances.

The early home may have been chaotic in some way, and they may not have had their own space or much real privacy. In any case, privacy is very important to them, and they will put up with a great deal of discomfort to have it. The ideal home environment will be located near trees and water and filled with plants, pets, works of art, and interesting and unusual objects from far-away places.

The father may be an artist of some sort, a sailor, an actor, a doctor, or a fisherman. He may be a humanitarian, highly sensitive, and religious. He may also be an alcoholic, and / or chronically ill. He may not be strongly committed as a parent, or may be gone from the home much of the time - even gone altogether at some point early in life. Whatever the cause, there is often the feeling that they never got the chance to get as close to their father as they would have liked.

See also: Neptune in the 4th House;

Neptune in the 4th House: Al Capone, Carlos Castaneda, Prince Charles, Cher, Robert De Niro, Johnny Depp, Robert Downey, Jr., Thomas Edison, Sigmund Freud, Bill Gates, Robert Hand, J. Krishnamurti, Joni Mitchell, OmNi, Osho, Evelyn Robert de Rothschild, Lynn Forester de Rothschild, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Jesse Ventura, Mark Zuckerberg, Abbe, Arine, BarryKl, JerryGr, Johanna, Leigh, LouG, Marybeth, Molly, Patrice, Phylissa, Prabhuta, SFor, Sky, Sugeet, TonyO

Neptune in the 5th House

Neptune has a depth of receptivity which is quite startling to experience, especially in this modern Western culture where we so often keep others at an emotional distance. The fifth house is also deeply emotional, but this tends to be in an outgoing way. The combination often leads to a definite charisma, an aura of great charm and power and importance. It is one of the stronger indications that a person has acting ability, though this may be used as a teacher or salesperson rather than on the stage.

Neptune and the fifth house share creative abilities, so this is another combination which emphasizes some kind of creative talent. While Neptune in the second is likely to express itself in music, gardening or art, the fifth house tends to indicate a strong need to be noticed and admired for creative abilities and attempts. This Neptunian is more likely to work with video or on stage or in the classroom or in some other area where the applause and respect can be immediate and can also be experienced personally. He needs this; often the unconscious Neptunian focus on the need to transcend this world undermines his self-confidence and self-esteem so that he depends on feedback from others to measure his worth. This can be a deadly dependency because even the highest praise and respect from others can never truly fulfill the yearning he experiences to be loved absolutely. They can only provide a temporary uplift. The individual remains forever vulnerable.

With Neptune in the fifth, a person needs to closely and honestly examine his illusions regarding love, children, creativity and his own self-esteem and ego. This is one of the positions especially susceptible to ego-annihilation, the determination to eradicate the 'sinful' ego. Such people tend to become terribly self-absorbed as they watch themselves for any sign of ego, and end up more egotistical and self-important than if they simply accepted their membership in the human race along with the rest of us.

Some of the illusions associated with a fifth house Neptune include the need to have perfect love relationships, perfect children, and always the perfect artistic creation. Whenever someone expects perfection in the outer world, he is doomed to disappointment, although the process of disillusionment may cause him to rethink his outlook. He may need to realize that he needs to let go of some of his more demanding and destructive dreams and expectations.

With Neptune in the fifth, the individual may expect lovers or love relationships to provide a complete sense of fulfillment. The person with this placement can make a very romantic partner, the type who loves candlelight dinners and mood music, who can surround the object of his love with an atmosphere of pervasive love. However he may expect his girlfriend or lover to sense his wishes and to be willing to meet them. Or he may expect himself to be sensitive, caring and receptive at all times, regardless of his own mood and / or needs. He may look for a girlfriend who is completely open to him and willing to give him absolute, perfect and always harmonious love. He may suffer disappointment and disillusionment as lady after lady fails to live up to his image of the perfect lover, or brings out a side of him he can't reconcile with his expectations of love.

Sometimes all this happens with children - the individual might expect his children to be passive, peaceable, serene and patient. He may expect himself to be this way with his children; and it is a distinct likelihood that he will have trouble dealing with issues of anger and discipline with his children. He may value them so highly that he loses his perspective on what they are really like, or he may need them to be perfect so that he feels important and well-regarded.

Since Neptune represents issues which are frequently unconscious, all these attitudes may operate without the individual's awareness.

If projected, the negative aspects of Neptune tend to become more emphasized. With a lover, the individual might be looking for a lady who is spiritual or magical, inspirational or creative, or someone 'really special' - a princess or goddess he can love,... and yet find himself with women who take too many pills, or who can't seem to get their lives together, women who are constantly sick, who are mentally ill or unbalanced, or who dedicate themselves to strange religions. The more the individual denies Neptune expression in his own life, the more likely it is that he will meet it in exaggerated guises outside of himself.

Projected onto children, it is possible to have artistically talented children, children who are more inclined to follow a spiritual path than the parent, or children who have a marked ability to counsel and inspire others. It is also possible to have children who slide into drugs and alcohol, or who are sickly and weak or mentally unbalanced, children who have a great deal of difficulty distinguishing between reality and their imagination, children who use denial as a defense against the world and so on.

The individual with Neptune in the fifth house really needs to examine closely and honestly his beliefs regarding his creative pursuits and how they reflect on him. He needs to look at his tendency to romanticize girlfriends rather than see them for who they are, and to romanticize love and love affairs in general. He may harbor illusions about all children, or about his own children in particular, illusions which hamper his ability to deal with them realistically and effectively. He may have difficulty developing a strong sense of self-worth, or fancy himself as far more important than others see him. This placement is associated with a great deal of inspired creativity, however, and may, if other chart factors support it, indicate exceptional artistic talent in some field. With humility and self-awareness, an individual with Neptune in the fifth can use his magnetism to uplift those who have lost all confidence. He can balance his tendency to see the best - and perhaps only the best - in others with his natural ability to inspire them to actually develop what he sees, to become the best they can be.

Neptune in 5th House: This position of Neptune is closely concerned with personal creativity, romance, life enjoyment and children.

Romance and love affairs are likely to be very influential in your life; and you may need to be careful in respect of the glamorous and illusory façade that Neptune can cast over others and upon your own perceptive clarity. This façade shimmers and sheens, but all may not be as it appears; where Neptune is concerned, always keep a wary eye open for images of deception. Romance will be colored by idealism and that search for perfection which evokes the presence of anima and animus projections from the unconscious mind, overlaying the actual reality of any partner.

You are probably attracted o people who have an aura of mystery, intrigue and fascination surrounding them; this may be real but equally they could just seem that way to you if your inner projections have been activated. The allure of illicit and secret relationships is strong, as are any which promise glamour in some way, perhaps through association with status-rich people, or a more stylish and fashionable lifestyle. You enjoy situations that include a chance to be in the dramatic spotlight, and can sometimes resort to playing too many games to be fully trusted. Yet beneath that dramatic flair is someone who really wants to be loved and appreciated, although you may often act in ways that prevent this from happening successfully. Much will depend on the nature of aspects made to the natal Neptune.

Romances may not progress smoothly; and it is possible that a succession of failed love affairs can generate additional problems in your life, perhaps through children or unresolved emotions. Children could be a weak spot; and Neptune may demand a sacrifice from you in this area, prior to changes occurring in your life. More clarity is needed in this sphere of life, where in order to achieve your real desires of partnership you need to resist the lures of more glamorous tunes played by siren-like lovers. Try not to place lovers on unrealistic pedestals, or chase those who are not available; these can be just futile endeavors, dramatic perhaps, but strangely unsatisfying, unless you want to become the emotionally tortured artiste!

As with romance, your creativity may also be blocked from fulfillment. Neptune will give you a fertile imagination which can be used in very creative ways, but a way to release this may need to be found before the floodgates open. There may be natural talents in music, drama and art which have an inspirational source from the muses, and you will certainly feel more fulfilled when you are being creative and self-expressive, releasing emotional and imaginative energies into the world. This could be a key to transcending any blockage. Neptune may want you to move to a higher vantage place, so that there is less emphasis on purely personal creativity for more selfish aims and where the new perception is one of service to the greater community. Until you move in that direction, your aims may be frustrated. In offering something of value to others, you may be simultaneously offering a sacrifice to the inner gods, which will be rewarded in their own way - through your transformation and rebirth into a 'walker between worlds'.

Neptune in 5th House: These people are idealistic and romantic to a fault, and are not at all realistic in their choice of lovers. They are inclined to fall in love with someone who is out of reach in some way, or someone who embodies a dream for them, because of what they do or their environment, without allowing themselves to perceive who they really are. They are capable of waiting for years for an impossible romance to materialize.

This position inclines towards sexual extremes: none at all, or too much, or peculiar tastes and attractions. It is a partial testimony to homosexuality. It can also indicate impotence or frigidity. They are capable of great inspiration, but may rely too much on it and not enough on hard work. They are inclined to focus on the wrong aspect of things and not see the forest for the trees. They are prone to emotional instability unless there are strong, good aspects against it. They are also inclined to be psychic; but for this, too, contributory aspects are necessary.

These individuals are magnetic and charismatic but, unless other aspects are good, they may not know how to use this gift and may do more harm than good to those they attract.

This is a good position for artists, writers, or creative workers of any kind, especially those who work alone. They may suffer from a too-intense sensitivity that blocks them from fully appreciating or understanding those around them. They may feel themselves to be misunderstood by others, while it is they who do not understand others. They can be cold and callous to friends and family, tuning them out while focusing all their concern on the one they desire, who is often someone who is totally out of the question. If they do achieve union with the desired one, the romance takes a long time to wear off.

Neptune in 5th House: In the 5th, Neptune wins some and loses some. On the one hand, this position bestows a rich and vivid imagination, creative flair and the natural ability to exteriorize the feelings in a grand and exuberant manner. On the other hand, circumstances they attract into their lives may require that they give and become what others want and need, rather than what they would like to be or do for themselves. But should these coincide - that is, when what they wish to give is what others want and need to receive - then probably nothing else in the chart will equal the joy and fulfillment promised by this placement.

Back to the sandbox. The first problem is whether or not little Neptune is even free to go out and play. 'Poor Mother works so hard at home - I should really stay in and help her.' 'No, don't think of me', poor Mother says. 'It will be good for you to go out with your friends - I really don't mind (sigh).' Guiltily, but excitedly, Neptune floats on air to the playground, bubbling with all the fun he is going to have. But what's this, nobody is there - 'How strange, where could they all be? (pause) I wonder what I am missing?' 'Well I can still play on my own.' He climbs in the sandbox filled with the inspiration of the castles taking shape in his mind, when along comes Mercury. 'Sorry Neptune, your mother sent me - she needs you back home - mind if I borrow your shovel?'

Sometimes the more those with Neptune (or Pisces) in the 5th search for pleasure, the more it eludes them. It's not always this bleak - but they often are called upon to make sacrifices in the area of creativity. Some may give up a career in the arts for the sake of a more stable or routine existence. Some will give up a more stable and routine existence for the sake of a career in the arts. But whether or not a profession in this field is sought, they will benefit from any spare-time creative outlet which offers them a chance to express their feelings, emotions and splendid imagination.

Romantically, they are usually bursting at the seams. Imbuing the beloved with divine qualities, they embark on the romance of all times. Neptune in this house may bring complications in love. One version is falling in love with someone who is unattainable in some way. More positively though, people with Neptune in the 5th possess, through the expansiveness and numinosity of their love, a natural gift for uplifting and healing others.

Sacrifices may have to be made regarding children. If difficultly aspected, they may feel martyred by parenthood: 'If it weren't for the kids, I could have done...'. They might idealize a child or turn the child into their source of salvation. 'If the child loves me against all odds, if the child is wonderful or successful, then my life is redeemed'. Obviously, there must be a willingness on the part of a parent with this placement to free the child to live his or her own life. The child may reflect Neptunian or Piscean qualities - in the sense of possessing unusual creative or artistic abilities, or the more challenging manifestations of this planet or sign - mental, physical or emotional disabilities. What is important is the 'spiritual growth' gained through the experience with children. In whatever sphere of life it is placed, Neptune may indicate a kind of suffering which has the effect of softening the individual. Invariably, the parent who loses or is compelled to give up a child will be profoundly affected and altered through what Neptune has to teach. Some people with Neptune in the 5th work well with disabled or troubled children and adolescents.

Obviously, if Neptune is adversely aspected they should be very cautious about gambling and speculation. By nature, Neptune offers no guarantees.

Neptune in 5th House: The 5th house is traditionally associated with children and creativity. But the 'children' of the 5th house are not necessarily biological; and our biological children are represented here not in the context of our capacity for parenting, but as those physical creations upon which we project our inner images of immortality and specialness. The 5th house might more appropriately be called the house of the inner child, for it is the archetypal image of the divine child that stands behind the sense

The 5th house is thus as 'religious' as the 9th, and perhaps more so, since the pursuit of meaning as reflected by the 9th is largely intellectual in nature, while the experience of inner divinity, which we encounter through the 5th, in both our children and our creative efforts, is direct, unmediated, and irrefutable.

The divine child whom we meet when Neptune is in the 5th is the Christ-child, the Mithras-child, the progeny of heaven and the source of our redemption. Creative expression may thus become a means of salvation, for through it we can leave the darkness of the material world and enter into union with the source of life. But in order to pursue this kind of creative spirit we may feel impelled to suffer; for creativity allied to a 5th house Neptune carries with it the poignant vision of the Romantic poets. The artist must suffer for his or her creation, and is redeemed by it; yet the artist is also the mouthpiece for the divine, and carries the role of the redeemer of society. We should not be surprised to encounter Neptune in the 5th in the charts of poets. Total immersion in the imaginary realm constitutes fusion with the deity; re-emerging into ordinary life is an expulsion from Eden, and a kind of death.

The 5th house is also known as the house of love. Love as described by the 5th is, however, a reflection of the Sun as life giver, and not specifically sexual; nor is it a relationship between equals. Solar love is an unbounded radiance which pours out toward people and objects as the Sun itself shines upon the Earth. Our 5th house 'love affairs' are not really concerned with other people as individuals. We embark upon them in order to experience our lovingness towards those who orbit around us as the Earth does around the Sun. Through our recognition of our own capacity to love, we glimpse that which is godlike in ourselves. Neptune in the 5th conjures the love of the troubadours, for whom the beloved is a mirror; and the experience of passion is the gateway to union with the ineffable. The lover himself or herself scarcely matters. Ebertin, in describing Neptune in the 5th, mentions 'a love of beauty and art... wastefulness, self-glorification, misdirected passion, seduction'. It is hardly surprising that Neptune's passion might be 'misdirected', as the other person is merely a mirror in which the individual glimpses the immortality of his or her own soul. With such a profound idealization of love, one is likely to display a certain lack of discrimination in one's choices. Neptune in the 5th may be utterly in love with being in love. Yet love and suffering may live side by side, for it is through the experience of love that we, the suffering ones, are redeemed, and offer redemption to others who suffer. Neptune in the 5th is sometimes linked with deception in love, either as perpetrator or as victim. This is also not surprising, due to the extreme idealization and propensity for disillusionment which Neptune brings to romantic encounters.

Planets in the 5th describe what kinds of things we are most naturally inclined to create; the experience of divinity through a 5th house planet will express itself in the form of the deity we encounter. Neptune's most characteristic creative products are those which link us to the oceanic source of life. A 5th house Neptune may, given sufficient containment, contribute to an artistic talent best expressed through media such as music, poetry, and drama. As our children are also our creations, we may bring Neptune's victim-redeemer mythology into the domain of our progeny. This can create many difficulties, since children are not mere extensions of our solar creative power, but are individuals in their own right, with a Sun and a 5th house in their own natal charts. With Neptune in the 5th, we may idealize our children to such a degree that we cannot discern their independent reality. Then we may truly suffer, since the child will probably resist this obliteration of his or her own identity in one way or another. Many individuals with Neptune in the 5th perceive in their children the light of their own potential divinity, incur the eventual rejection of their children, and feel martyred and victimized as a result. Neptune in the 5th may also perceive parenthood itself as martyrdom - the proof of loving self-sacrifice. Or one may try to play redeemer to a child who is perceived as helpless and vulnerable. Yet the parent with Neptune in the 5th may himself or herself secretly seek redemption through the child's love and dependence.

The Neptunian themes of sacrifice and suffering may take other forms in relation to offspring. Because Neptune's reluctance to define boundaries may bring a quality of deep unconsciousness to love affairs, 'accidental' pregnancy - even in this modern era of readily available contraception - is not uncommon. Neptune in the 5th may sometimes be connected with an unhappy experience of abortion, as a result of this kind of unconsciousness. Sometimes the 'accidental' pregnancy constitutes an intrinsic means of binding a partner whom one is frightened of losing; and a marriage built upon such a foundation may be fraught from the outset with a sense of entrapment, bondage, and victimization on the part of both people. The child who is born of this union may believe, as children usually do, that he or she is responsible for all the parents' subsequent unhappiness and frustration, and may react by becoming the sort of burden guaranteed to make a martyr out of the parent. Or the parents may ultimately separate, and, if the usual acrimonious custody battle ensues, Neptune in the 5th may feel deeply victimized - either by the burden of being a single parent, or by having the child taken away. In these situations, no-one wins. It is inappropriate to seek a culprit in such cases, as Neptune's desperate need to find fusion is not usually recognized by a young person caught in the throes of an apparent grand passion. But it may be helpful to discern, beneath Neptune's inclination to bow to some mysterious 'karma', a pattern built upon unconscious choices and longings which are, ultimately, the individual's own.

Neptune in the 5th may occasionally be linked with unwelcome childlessness, or with a physically or mentally handicapped or ailing child. In these cases one cannot 'blame' Neptune. Such unhappy situations also occur where there is no planet in the 5th, or an apparently benign planet such as Jupiter. The conclusion suggested by astrological evidence is that it is not the burden of an ill or handicapped child which is described by Neptune ;it is the experience of a particular kind of suffering which the parent is predisposed to undergo. Because we are all different, individuals respond in varying ways to this kind of life challenge. Some parents are angry, and some are resigned; some institutionalize the child as quickly as possible, while others keep the child permanently at home even if other, healthier children suffer by the decision.

Because no-one can fully know or judge another's situation, no-one can decide for another which of many options is 'right'. For Neptune, a profound sense of guilt and longing for redemption through suffering may dictate that the 'right' option is the path of martyrdom. Neptune in the 5th, when linked with the challenge of raising a handicapped child, describes the mythic background of sorrow and salvation which the parent, rather than the child, is likely to carry within.

Compassion and the opening of the heart may be the rewards of the experience. So, too, may be a deepened sense of religious or spiritual awareness. And so, too, may be the self-immolating propensities of the martyr, for whom suffering through one's child may one day provide a passport into Paradise. Consciousness of one's feelings is extremely important - not least for the sake of the child. In the case of those who desperately long for children but cannot have them, it is possible that some honest questioning about the desperation might be of value. If Neptune in the 5th perceives children as a vehicle for redemption, then inability to bear them may indeed seem a lifelong sentence of exile from Paradise. It may not be so when the desire for children is linked with less global needs, which could be partially if not completely met by other means. Self-pity may in such cases not be the most constructive expression of Neptune in the 5th. Something more wise within the individual may be seeking to express the redemptive longings of Neptune through some other, noncorporeal kind of child.

When Neptune is in the 5th, creative outlets are essential, for real people such as lovers and offspring cannot carry the mythic idealizations of Neptune without eventually falling off their pedestals. Neptune's compassion and sensitivity may reflect a gift for interacting with children, and not only one's own. But the planet's most benign expression in the natural house of the Sun is ultimately through those creative vehicles which can offer an immediate experience of the mystery which lies embedded within the sense of 'I'. 'Children', 'speculation' and 'love affairs' seem easier - at least initially - because they are instinctive and do not require reflection. Creative work demands the discipline of Saturn and the self-definition of the Sun, which Neptune resists. Yet paradoxically, it is through creative effort that Neptune's redemptive longing can be fulfilled, at least in part, through discovering the divine child within.

Neptune in 5th House: If you have been disappointed in love relationships, take heart, for your creative inspiration can bring you success in many other areas. Even in love, you will learn to discriminate between those who are sincere and those who are not. In time, you will accept people as they are and not try to make them fit your ideal image. Devote more effort to developing your creative potential, for you can derive much satisfaction from your accomplishments. Resist the tendency to waste time daydreaming, when you could be using your talents for useful purposes. Your fear of being rejected will be greatly reduced if you become a true craftsman in using your skills. Getting some formal training should be a major priority if you want to win in the challenging competition of human encounter. Rather than complain about someone's unethical methods of achieving their ambitions, tend to your own affairs and criticize your own lack of persistence and dedication. Though you are a purist at times, you display poor judgment in living by your own rules instead of by society's, as others must.

Your sympathetic compassion for less fortunate people is commendable. You know you have the ability to serve those who cannot serve themselves, and you would be remiss in your social obligations if you did nothing about it. It will take some time to find the best way to apply your creative ideas. You might need the advice of someone you can trust to help you choose the best career. Perhaps your partner or lover could serve in this capacity, especially if your interests are compatible.

Your first priority should be to make an organized plan for achieving your goals. Then you must painstakingly adhere to the responsibilities that this entails. You cannot expect to get anything out of life unless you are willing to put something into it, so you must develop your skills as a commitment to your objectives. You can earn a comfortable income by putting your creative talent to work. it will require some sacrifice, but this is the most important investment you can make. It is your obligation to find out where your talents will be appreciated. Before you can help others, you must develop your own potential and establish your own worth.

The most painful experience you can imagine is never receiving recognition for your efforts. You need feedback from those you have helped to know that your efforts have been worthwhile. But the only satisfaction you should require is knowing that the deed is important and that you are making an effort to pay off your debt to society. Institutional work could be a vehicle for creative self-expression. In any job situation, examine your duties carefully and demand that your responsibilities be spelled out exactly. You tend to volunteer unnecessarily, thereby taxing your physical capacity. If you do volunteer extra duty, don't expect any return other than the satisfaction of giving.

Your early conditioning did not prepare you for the burden of standing on your own. You may have a lingering guilt that you have somehow been disloyal to your family. This is utter nonsense, which you use to justify your refusal to develop your latent potential and acquire the independence to stand alone. If you believe in yourself, the possibilities open to you are beyond your wildest imagination, but only hard work will yield results. You will succeed when you know you can.

Neptune in 5th House: Conscious persona: Your 5th house Neptune indicates a conscious persona marked by an otherworldly, almost mystical presence. The image of self that's created can be magical in its delicacy and compassionate in its soft receptivity. You are no egomaniac, for you're more interested in feeling of togetherness, of oneness between performer and audience. However, there can be 'star' quality here, for an intangibly poetic sense of charisma overcomes many other shortcomings, such as a lack of clear strength in character. Your characterization may be solid and grounded, but the mask itself gives the impression of being almost translucent. The pitfall lies in deception - for the audience and also yourself - while the challenge is to develop a character of universal empathy, one with whom every member of the audience can identify.

Romance, giving love: If Mars is the romantic warrior, Mercury the romantic beauty, then Neptune represents the romantic mystic. You have a translucent, almost religious sense of courtship. A sublime holiness permeates love. You aren't especially physical where love is concerned, operating instead from Olympian heights of spiritual aspiration. There are pitfalls, however. Universal and personal love are confused, and too often romance involves suffering and sacrifice - somebody gets hurt. You're such a sucker for 'true love' that you'll lie to yourself and others to have the experience. The challenge is to successfully merge your translucent longing for spiritual Oneness with the more pragmatic demands of earthly living.

Sexual performance: For you, the sexual act is an interlude of release from worldly cares, more fantasy than reality, more emotional than physical, a dreamlike blend of Hollywood and Heaven. The mundane aspect of sex is smooth and silky, a liquid dance of empathy with your partner, as if your body were melting into the body of your beloved. The pitfall lies in passivity or self-absorption; your boundaries dissolve too easily and you float off to La-La Land, leaving your partner behind to do all the work. The challenge is to let lovemaking provide you with a pathway back to Cosmic Central. Sex should be more inspiration than perspiration; christen yourself in its cool waters - just don't drown.

Personal creativity: Creativity tends to be spiritual rather than material, intangible rather than concrete. Whatever actual directions you choose for your creative drives, the process of creation will be likely to be slightly mysterious, more a drawing down of sublime energies than any literal push to birth something new. You are the master of the divining rod, the rainmaker, the medium in trance who connects to another world. You can also be an illusionist, a prestidigitator, a con man. Just be sure you know the difference.

of specialness associated with the Sun, the natural ruler of the 5th, and the urge to 'play' and spontaneously express our childlike hearts.

Competition: Neptune's symbolism is antithetical to the raw energies of competition. Your skills are based on subtlety. Something in you senses the most natural action to take in any game. But when you win, your ego steps aside. No credit is needed, no applause sought, no winnings pocketed. The concept of rules is only barely understood, however. You may cheat without knowing it, or with a naive assumption that it's part of the fun. But that pitfall can only lead to the eventual public ruin of your good reputation. The challenge is to develop a perfect instinct for the game of life, to play gently and lovingly, without violating anyone, including yourself.

See also: Neptune the 5th House;

Neptune in the 5th House: Wilt Chamberlain, J.Paul Getty, Mick Jagger, Angelina Jolie, Martin Luther King, Jr,. Donovan Leitch, Charles Manson, Meher Baba, Cathy O’Brien, Wilhelm Reich, David Rockefeller, Mitt Romney, Brian Wilson, Elijah, Flickinger, JerryP, Jude, Jyothi, Kyle, LaurieSw, LucSr, Maureen, Merrill, Mikael, Nicole, Q, Roberto, Shakura, Shiloh, Suzanne, TonyC, Victoria

Neptune in the 6th House

In this house, Neptune is, in a sense, in a place which is its polar opposite. That is, the sixth house relates to Virgo, which is the polar opposite of Pisces, the sign associated with Neptune. The polarity, and the fact that it is not actually an opposite but two different sides of the same coin, shows up clearly with Neptune in the sixth. It is a house of detailed work, of productivity, of nose-to-the-grindstone, of doing a good job for the simple sake of doing a good job. Above all, the sixth house is about the world as it is and how to manage that and work with that on a day-to-day basis.

Neptunian energy seems so totally different: it seeps into the path of least resistance, undermines its opposition, yearns for and (it is to be hoped) seeks to be united with and absorbed by God, or by some Cosmic Consciousness which transcends this petty world. How can these two ever find a point of co-operation?

Neptune and the sixth house do share some common points, however. Both pertain to health, and to an attitude of service, of somehow doing something to help one's fellow human beings.

When Neptune and the sixth house themes are integrated, the individual can dream the dream of Neptune and also use the practical sixth house skills to plan and organize the details which will make the dream a reality some day. Without such plans, the dream is just that: a potential, an inspired idea with no basis in reality. The sixth house can direct and focus the Neptune ability to envision something better, something prettier, something more creative and inspiring. Without the dreams of Neptune, the sixth house is merely a housekeeping unit - a drive to organize and plan and weed out the inefficiencies, but for what purpose? Neptune supplies the purpose and the sixth house supplies the know-how and practical skills.

Neptune in the sixth often relates to some kind of artistic creative work. The sixth house and tenth house both relate to work, but the tenth indicates more ambition and more interest in an important career than the sixth, especially one where some kind of power can be wielded. The sixth is concerned with somewhat more mundane jobs. Neptune in the sixth tends to find expression as commercial artists, hairdressers, beauty make-over consultants, make-up artists, practical nurses and so on. These people are certainly expressing Neptunian themes in their work.

When Neptune is at odds with the sixth house energies, there can be quite a struggle between the need to dream, to let matters flow and ebb, and the need to be realistic and practical. The individual may feel a strong need to busy herself with details and to make everything and every process as efficient as possible, including tidying up or at least criticizing people. Co-workers are especially likely targets. The Neptunian need for flowing harmony and ease and grace gets trodden underfoot. Or she may use the Neptune need for perfection in her assessment of her work - does she do it perfectly, with harmony and beauty and ease? She may expect far too much of herself, or never be able to say 'no' when more work is piled on her.

Another expression of an out-of-balance Neptune in the sixth is when the individual cannot keep work situations and environments straight. She may forget, be habitually untidy and disorganized, feel tired and drained of energy, get sick a lot, or feel vaguely unfulfilled. She may have sought her job for its glamorous aspects, only to get swamped by the details and drudgery. She may have been very unrealistic about what the job was going to provide in terms of wages, attention or emotional satisfaction. She may spend great deal of her time and energy 'rescuing' others: taking on extra work, listening to co-workers and getting behind in her work, shielding a poorly performing co-worker because she feels sorry for her and so on.

Sometimes this is projected, in which case employees or co-workers can display any or all of the range of Neptunian behaviors. If an individual who has Neptune in the sixth constantly ends up with coworkers who have all the artistic talent, or who are 'rescuers', who are overly sensitive, who can't focus on the important issues, who are frequently late, or careless, or forgetful, or in poor health, it is definitely time to get in touch with Neptune and to learn to express it personally and positively. Sometimes an out-of-touch Neptune is associated with peculiar events such as floods, which is a physical expression of Neptune and a signal that it is time to come to terms with this aspect of human nature and to integrate it into the personality.

A person with Neptune in the sixth needs to challenge her beliefs about work, coworkers, service to others, and possibly the need to straighten and correct everything or everyone she encounters. She needs to check out her illusions regarding all of these issues for she may have some unrealistic expectations which lead to a great deal of dissatisfaction. Or she may be projecting Neptune and find it turns up in her coworkers. This position carries the potential, however, for integration of a polarity, for bringing two seemingly opposite sides of life into co¬operative harmony. If the Neptune side can come to value the reliability and productivity of the sixth house, and if the sixth house side can learn to appreciate the visions of Neptune, then both can unite to produce realistic dreams of practical health care, or both.

Neptune in 6th House: The influence of Neptune in this natal house is concerned with the themes of work, service and health; and there are several personal adjustments that are likely to be required before you are able to experience the positive dimension of Neptune.

The nature of any aspects made to natal Neptune will be important indicators of how your Neptune will feel in this position because this is the point of detriment and so can be uncomfortable and struggling to express the planetary nature through you.

Work will be a challenging sphere, and it is probably essential for you to try and discover a satisfying type of employment; otherwise, it can prove to be an area of inner conflict, especially if the aspects are squares and oppositions. You may find that you do not enjoy your work, that its repetitive nature irritates and bores you, that your potential is not released but only constantly repressed, and that it is only continued because there seem to be few other options to take. Neptune will intensify your natural sensitivity; and you will find that you are attuned to the atmosphere of fellow-workers and the work environment, which may not enable you to enjoy work any better because invariably in most employments people would prefer to be elsewhere and there is a constant current of underlying tensions and pressures in the air.

It may be that you fail to reap the rewards at work that you believe are due to you, and because you have invested so much time and effort feel almost betrayed when promotion is offered to 'young high flyers', leaving you feeling disgruntled and wondering if it was all worth it. You may be vulnerable to being the 'fall guy' when things go wrong at work, others blaming you for their inefficiency - the victim aspect of Neptune. You may be made redundant, and struggle through a period of unemployment with the stresses that it brings to finances and domestic life. Certainly the sphere of work will be a key one in your experience, personally important to your development, and one which is liable to have periodic disruptions caused by a blocked Neptune.

If Neptune has favorable aspects, then you are more likely to find suitable employment, which offers reasonably interesting work and decent relationships with co-workers. The types of work that can appeal and would fulfill this Neptune energy include creative ones, and work which involves service and aid to others.

If your experience of work is unsatisfying, then Neptune will be confronting you with the issue of change. How can you become free of an imprisoning situation? What type of work do you really want to do? Are you capable of doing it? Do you need extra study and qualifications? What are your essential family obligations? Can you take steps to reach your dreams? What resources do you have that can be used? What personal talents can be exploited? How can you earn a living in a more fulfilling way that is beneficial to others too? You may need to consider such questions prior to making changes in your life; there are always alternatives; yet we are often conditioned to believe that there are none, and so persist in imprisoning ourselves unnecessarily.

There is a more humanitarian, altruistic and service-orientated side to the Neptunian work ethic of this house, and in several ways it helps to express that energy more fully. This involves a devotion to community development, the healing of the individual and society, and will appeal more to those touched by the New Age vision. This can include a more karma yoga attitude, where the spiritual life is fully integrated into the everyday world and all life experience is perceived as an ongoing 'Mystery School', all work being seen as an offering to the Divine and part of the anchoring of the biblical Kingdom of God. Communities such as Findhorn embody such an attitude.

The power of a spiritual vision on earth is indicated in Gandhi's expression of Satyagraha, his philosophy of non-violence, the application of the power and force of Truth, and the social changes that this can stimulate. Acting from a spiritual perspective, work becomes transformed, and so possesses a deeper meaning and importance to the individual.

It is possible that if you succeed in releasing the Neptune energy you may discover a natural healing ability which can be offered as a means of service and livelihood. Alternative therapies may fascinate; and the philosophy of the body as a living temple of God will open up a new dimension of life for you to explore. You will become aware of the influence of inner states on the health of the body, and will investigate the psychosomatic effects of separatists and nonintegrated attitudes, beliefs and emotions, and attempt to develop a working concept of the whole-man therapy.

You could approach alternative healthy concepts through personal illness, where they offer a more satisfactory way to self-healing; and Neptune may take this route to lead you towards a personal transformation. You may realize that suppressed emotions are causing corresponding physical ailments, and that inner work can be therapeutic in allowing a cathartic release to happen, so liberating blocked energies.

It is a delicate balance that needs to be established to gain the best out of Neptune in the 6th house, because there are innate conflicting tendencies operating. Neptune prefers to expand and move beyond barriers; and the Virgoan 6th house prefers to define, impose boundaries and order. Connecting to a spiritual attitude and transforming your own life and work in the context of social change could be the ideal answer to aim towards.

Neptune in 6th House: There are some basic conflicts between the principles of Neptune (Pisces) and those of the 6th house. Neptune yearns for wholeness, infinity and unboundedness, while the 6th house (the natural domain of Virgo) divides everything into its component parts, examines one thing at a time, and clarifies what something is by contrasting it to something else. While Neptune keeps falling apart in order to be put back together again in a new and better way, the 6th house likes everything labeled and neatly stored in its proper place. Obviously, we can't always have it both ways, and one or the other principle is going to have to bend. Sometimes the 6th house need for order and efficient functioning will suppress the Neptunian urges to relax, let go and just float freely. At other times, the dissolving effect of Neptune will undermine the structure and organization of everyday life and the body itself. Ultimately, the challenge for those with Neptune in the 6th is how to function within defined limits and boundaries and yet not lose sight of their connection to everything else around them.

Neptune in the 6th indicates a sensitive and delicate nervous system, what some writers call a weak etheric boundary or 'leaky aura'. As a result, those with this placement are prone to invasion from outside forces or are more susceptible to germs and illnesses in the atmosphere. They would be well advised to take up an exercise or technique which strengthens the nervous system, and they should be cautious to discover which foods do or don't agree with their system. They need to find that balance between indiscriminate indulgence (no boundaries) and over-preciousness in diet and life (too many boundaries). Usually they are sensitive to drugs and alcohol and may need much smaller quantities to feel the effects.

Illnesses are often emotional in origin and difficult to diagnose clearly. In some cases I have seen, they have been diagnosed incorrectly, given a wrong prescription, and treated for something they didn't have. Some will benefit by seeking treatment from the alternative or complementary medicines such as homoeopathy, naturopathy, acupuncture, etc. - which approach prevention and cure on a more subtle level than allopathic medicine in general.

Conversely, those with Neptune in the 6th may have healing abilities and sometimes choose work which gives expression to these gifts. Some will be deeply aware of the body as a vessel of the spirit. As with many other 6th house placements, illness can be understood as a message that something in life is not right and needs adjusting. The person's faith and attitudes will play a large part in the course of recovery. Sometimes, the psychological or spiritual awakening and understanding which comes as a result of illness will profoundly alter their whole slant on existence.

See also: Neptune in the 6th House;

Neptune in the 6th House: Johnny Cash, Ty Cobb, Milton William Cooper, James Dean, Mahatma Gandhi, Melanie Griffith, Alex Jones, Michael Jordan, Helen Keller, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Robert Redford, Bertrand Russell, Suzanne Somers, Jon Voight, AndySc, Dipesh, DJenkins, Fergus, Gina, Ju, Mick, Nancee, Ralph, Silas, Yarrow

Neptune in the 7th House

This position of Neptune inclined toward self-dramatization. These people see themselves as heroes of fiction, living through dramatic events. It is very hard for them to see themselves clearly, to perceive what it is they mean to others. They continually strive to be heroic and play their roles to the hilt but, until they have a clear idea of what their roles should be, they often fail and then suffer terribly from their own sense of failure.

The ordinary roles of child, student, mate, parent, and worker are dull to them.. They seek to spice them up with other considerations and, as a result, can make their lives, and the lives of their friends, families and co-workers, chaotic. They are frequently attracted to those who inspire their romantic fantasies. They are never practical about relationships, always preferring romance and excitement to practical concerns.

As they seek to play a heroic role in a partnership, they may find themselves giving far more than they are getting. If Neptune is in a fixed sign, they may continue this role to the finish. If it is in a cardinal or mutable sign, they will probably tire of it at some point and seek a more balanced relationship. Their romantic cravings can get them involved in some very peculiar emotional and / or sexual situations, from which they may find it very hard to extricate themselves. They tend to think of themselves as heroically independent, one who gives and doesn't need, but they desperately need clear-sighted, inner-directed people to work with and for, to keep them in balance and aimed at a goal, or else they lose momentum and lose sight of priorities.

They will throw themselves into projects, get tired when things don't work out and just let them lie, then go back to them when their enthusiasm returns. This off-again on-again approach means that their plans take a long time to develop (if ever they do). They are inspirational to others and can be of use by cheering them on, encouraging others to do right and develop themselves; but they themselves often set a poor example by their fluctuating energies and enthusiasms. They can do very well if tied in with an individual or group that is practical and down-to-earth and can keep them moving forward. Their great contribution to any enterprise is their innate optimism and ability to inspire others.

Neptune in 7th or 8th House: This is another of those 'loaded' positions, because these (the seventh and eighth) are the most likely houses from which to project planetary energies, and Neptune, a transpersonal planet, is not easily welcomed into one's personal repertoire, thus making it an excellent candidate for projection. The result is that Neptune in either the seventh or the eighth house is most often not expressed personally but must be dealt with, at least initially, as if it comes from someone else. The usual and most likely someone else is the spouse, that special person whom we promise to love for better and for worse. The 'worse' definitely includes the special agony of projection when we are married to some of our least comfortable traits.

On the positive side, Neptune in the seventh is another of the artistic combinations.

This one may lean particularly toward graphic arts, but any revenue of artistic expression is possible. It is especially positive if spouses can both be artistic, and particularly if they can share this without letting competitiveness spoil it. However, it is most important for the person with Neptune in the seventh to find an artistic outlet for otherwise it is easy to project and expect the spouse to be wonderfully artistic and creative, whether she wishes to be so or not.

Neptune in the seventh or eighth house is an excellent combination for counseling potential. Neptune in the seventh or eighth can be attuned to others on a deep emotional level which may even be psychic. There is an inherent talent for psychological studies and for the ability to share innermost thoughts and feelings.

It is often quite natural for a person with this placement to be at ease with emotional intimacy, with closeness and with a feeling of connectedness. In many cases, Neptune in the seventh or eighth expresses itself as a naturally strong valuation on close, warm relationships, and the individual will feel motivated to create and sustain such relationships. Again, if only one spouse wishes to pursue this, it is most important that it be the one with Neptune in these houses. It is his need; it is up to him to fulfill it. The partner will, however, need to acknowledge that this is a vitally important part of the individual's life, and will need to share at least some part of it with him.

Another positive expression of Neptune in the seventh or eighth is when spouses share a spiritual quest. They may read and study together, meditate together or support each other in exploration of occult concepts or in deep inner seeking. At any time, one may be more heavily involved, but the other is willing to give sincere support and to share and perhaps to contribute to discoveries. This is one case where a single spouse is not likely to be able to do it all. As one learns and grows and changes, the dynamics of the relationship will change. The partner who is not involved in the growth will be terribly threatened by this and usually seeks to stop the changes, which means undermining or blocking the growth. This rarely works, however, since most people, having once seen a richer way to live, cannot go back. Unless both partners have some say in how the dynamics change, or both agree to keep it the same, the relationship usually grinds to a halt.

Being so prone to projection, the negative possibilities for Neptune in the seventh or eighth are legion. Most obvious is the expectation that one will have a perfect mate, or a perfect marriage, or that one is perfect in the marriage. With Neptune in these houses the individual tends to really buy into the Walt Disney stories of the princess and the handsome, rescuing prince, and the way they supposedly lived 'happily ever after'. Neptune loves a good fantasy. This can simply work out as a very romantic streak, with a deep and abiding trust in the partner, but it may develop into a full-fledged expectation that the mate will fulfill all the individual's deepest needs, will provide unconditional love and support under all circumstances, and will be charming and lovely at all times. This is not exaggerated. One well-known psychologist has written about the shock and utter disappointment he experienced the first time he saw his new bride blow her nose.!

Such blind faith in the ability of the partner to be the embodiment of all that is beautiful and delightful is an illusion. It is an invitation to frustration for both partners. The one with the expectations, unwritten of course, will feel betrayed when the mate starts to look distressingly human and capable of obnoxious behavior. The mate will feel the burden of the partner's expectations and feels responsible for letting down the partner. Yet this feels unfair because usually the behavior which has disappointed the partner so much was something minor. The strange truth is that Neptunian partners are often amazingly noble and forgiving over the major incidents which break up many marriages, yet are unable to tolerate day-to-day differences and disappointments with any degree of grace.

Some Neptunian partners manage to maintain the illusion of the perfect partner, often in the face of an astounding amount of evidence to the contrary. They will overlook ignorant behavior, make excuses for immaturity, protect a weak mate, and generally do whatever is necessary to protect their image of their mate. This may be motivated by a need to have a perfect mate, no matter what the cost, or it may be the result of the Neptunian ability to see the best in others. Often both dynamics are at work. The individual with Neptune in the seventh or eighth who is protecting such an illusion will not give it up until ready to do so on her own. Usually the mate's behavior has to clash violently with some other cherished value before the Neptunian partner begins to see the problem.

It is worth mentioning that the Neptunian who faces the cracking pieces of this illusion suffers a particularly terrible inner pain. It can be survived, if the Neptunian can acknowledge that he built the illusion personally. Otherwise he is likely to feel forever betrayed and become bitter, hopeless and miserable. If the illusion can be seen as a personally constructed fib-to-the-self, the Neptunian can grieve for the lost dream, can rage at the unfairness of it all and at his own foolishness, and can then let go of it. After a time, peace will settle and the Neptunian can begin to get to know the person he married and to reconstruct a relationship, this time based on honesty.

One constructive choice for the individual who simply cannot give up on the need for a perfect partner, perfect devotion, perfect union and so on, is devotion to the ultimate partner: God. This can be achieved through the ministry, priesthood or sisterhood, or through missionary service. It is a choice which needs to be carefully considered, however, for it is all too easy for Neptune to be overwhelmingly drawn to such a life without consideration for the individual's more worldly needs. On the other hand, some people find that with the devotion to a life of service, pressure is taken off their need for a perfect mate and they can approach relationships with more compassion and acceptance of the human condition. Then again, some simply become more committed to otherworldly perfection and are less able to accept human foibles and differences in needs.

With Neptune in the seventh or eighth, there are all sorts of possibilities for the victim / savior game to be played. The Neptunian with a strong chart will usually try the savior role, which means a victim is required. This is a semiconscious procedure; few people deliberately saddle themselves with a frustrating burden. The savior usually simply falls in love with someone who seems so deliciously vulnerable and needy, someone who just needs a little propping up here and there in order to be perfect. Only when the illusion begins to crack does the savior see that the struggling actress wrecks her chances for success with her addiction to drugs; that the talented singer blows his auditions by refusing to co-operate with managers; that the inspired writer won't stick to deadlines; that the sweet, vulnerable creature who is too gentle and loving to hurt anyone is a walking time bomb of repressed anger just waiting to get into another accident; that the charming, childlike waif is determined to remain helpless and actually manages to avoid a great deal of unpleasant responsibility.

Eventually, under the burden of relationships with such victims, the potential savior often becomes a martyr. Many a sickly, bedridden spouse has outlived her caretaker mate!

The Neptunian with a less strong chart will often choose the victim role. Again, the choice is unconscious. Usually the chosen role looks romantic or spiritually worthwhile to the Neptunian, who only wants to create a loving and perfect world.

The pitfalls are not apparent ahead of time. The choice which looks like one of sweetness and Christian generosity of spirit may lead to dangerous repression of personal needs and the resultant illnesses, lack of energy, or accidents. The repressed energy is bottled up and the god or goddess is angered - the energy turns inward. The choice which looks like one of loving sacrifice for a troubled partner may well lead to an abusive relationship. The choice which looks like dedication to an ideal may well turn out to be an evasion of worldly responsibilities which is motivated by fear.

The victim/ savior relationship is not always unhealthy. In counseling relationships, it is to be hoped that the counselor has enough training, experience and mental stability to gradually empower the client to grow out of the victim role. In marriage, this is extremely difficult to accomplish, although it can be done. It requires that at least one partner be psychologically and spiritually very aware, very patient and very, very strong. Each partner must be willing to take responsibility for his / her own behavior, attitudes and beliefs, be able and willing to grow and to interpret pain as a measure of change which is needed, not a measure of the partner's failure. This very difficult path can only succeed when the roles are alternated to some degree - in other words, each partner takes a turn as savior and a turn as victim, until both can leave these roles behind.

In short, it is an extremely difficult path and it is not recommended. People who need help usually benefit most from a helping relationship with a professional, or at least with someone with whom they are not in love. The helper inevitably becomes the target of the 'victim's' anger and frustration at some point, which is extremely destructive in mate relationships. Few mates, especially Neptunian ones, can understand why they get continually punished, verbally attacked and emotionally blackmailed when all they offered was loving help. They expect loving gratitude but generally end up with a rare fury directed at them, as the 'victims' lash out in fear and agony at the people who are 'forcing' them to change.

When an individual has Neptune in the seventh or eighth houses, he will need to become conscious of his illusions regarding marriage, his partner, his own role and the satisfactions which are possible from a marriage. He will almost certainly tend to expect too much, and may place unrealistic burdens upon his mate. He will need to be alert for the appearance of savior / victim games in his close relationships, games which can lead to abuse and an unimaginable kind of hell. He will need to take responsibility for his own spiritual and creative needs, and to take steps to express them for himself, rather than wishing the mate would provide the experience. He will also need to take responsibility for the strength and importance of his need to have a mate who can share or at least value and honor his needs for spiritual growth, artistic expression, psychological exploration or all of the above.

The individual with Neptune in the seventh or eighth house possesses a rare talent for intimacy, perception and insight into others - including the ability to fathom their pain, and the ability to inspire the partner to develop spiritually. With acceptance of personal responsibility for emotional, artistic or spiritual fulfillment, all of these can be shared with a mate to create a truly special relationship with rich rewards for both partners.

See also: Neptune in the 7th House;

Neptune in the 7th House: Alan Arkin, Fred Astaire, Helena Blavatsky, Charlie Chaplin, Deepak Chopra, Queen Elizabeth II, Lady Gaga, Ken Kesey, Maharaj Ji, Groucho Marx, Vaslav Nijinsky, Ramana Maharshi, Ronald Reagan, Susanna Arundhati Roy, Albert Schweitzer, Mother Teresa, Swami Vivekananda, Paramahansa Yogananda, DavMcC, Flossie, GaryCl, J, Olof, PaulS, ScottS

Neptune in the 8th House

The issue of sexual identity and activity is one which Neptune will confront you with in this position; and this is probably related to that impulse to transcend separatist boundaries of self and body that connects to the realm of the mystic and occultist which is also highlighted here.

If Neptune has challenging planetary aspects, squares or oppositions, and perhaps the conjunction to some degree, then there may be a fear of losing control in sexual intimacy, a blockage prohibiting any abandonment of self to passion and physical sexual activity. Because of an inner inhibition, there can be disappointments in this form of adult sexual behavior, where the social fascination and emphasis on sex creates an expectation that is rarely fulfilled. Or there may be some confusion related to your own sexual nature, a lack of confidence or experience, a lack of knowing and understanding your own sexual preferences and choices, or of integrating that powerful aspect of your nature into your self-image.

Many individuals keep their sexuality at arm's length, only allowing it to be present in restrictedly allowable circumstances, and not openly acknowledging that dimension of their being; this often occurs when heavy psychological conditioning has influenced their earlier development, such as religious or moral teachings, or feelings that 'sex is dirty and animal-like'. Neptune certainly does not make a definition of sexual feelings and attractions easier to make; it is too fluid and changeable, capable of a variety of different expressions and adaptations; and how one is with one partner can be entirely different with another. Intimacy touches in different 'inner spots', evoking quite varied reactions, often to the surprise of the participants. Part of the challenge facing anyone with this position is to begin to understand what it is they really want from sexual relationships.

This can be further complicated by the activation of Neptunian imagination in themes of sexuality, death, occult mysteries or mystic devotions that can add deep undercurrents to sexual intimacy. A search for peak experiences and total intensity (if they are allowed) can lead to a lack of contentment, as you believe that there are always greater experiences waiting if only the right partner could be found. This can create sexual promiscuity or the impulse to be sexually sacrificial and giving in an unrestrained manner, which can also merge with the need to lose the self in an ecstatic moment, and in so doing to forget the mundane limitations of everyday life.

Human sexuality is a complex theme reflecting a variety of possible psychological patterns; where Neptune is involved, it is virtually impossible to accurately predict the particular way in which it will manifest itself; also patterns can be transformed over time, shifting from one being dominant to another being so, depending on what is evoked by any sexual partner. Desires of being possessed and absorbed in self-abandonment may persist or the desire to possess and control another may be dominant. That overshadowing by a 'greater force' and overlaying of a mystical dimension may be the operative fascination, where sex is perceived in terms of a mystical quest for union, as in the Tantric traditions, or in aspects of the Western Grail and Arthurian Mysteries. Another extreme could be conscious renunciation of sexual activity, as in celibacy or monastic attitudes, where personal sexual intimacy is offered as a sacrifice to an ideal, given for the reward of purification and redemption to be received as a transformation. Certainly a degree of understanding and integration of Neptune in this house is essential for personal well-being and psychological health.

Occult interests are likely to be attractive to you; there is probably a powerful psychic nature that you can access, and you may receive information from inner guidance. You may be very psychically open, and this can cause certain problems of absorption of energies and impressions from your environment, but these can be filtered out by means of psychic protective actions. Loss of separative boundaries may occur as the individual consciousness merges with the universal one, especially if you are following a path of conscious development through meditation and occult experimentation. At least, glimpses of something other than and beyond the material world will become common, although you may have to be wary of occult glamours and illusions leading you into a fool's paradise and inflated sense of ego. Discrimination is vital in such inner enquiry, as is a sense of humor which is deflating and a lack of pomposity and tendencies towards self-aggrandizement!

Death may exert a peculiar fascination, as can the more taboo areas of life; and there can be self-destructive tendencies too, although these are often common in the strange inner worlds of mystics and occultists as part of the impulse to transcend and live intensely through the rush to experience 'as many lifetimes' worth of experience into one life as possible'. The taboo attraction can be summed up as 'if anyone tells me not to look at something, then I'll be first in the queue, and will not leave until I have satiated my thirst for the forbidden'.

Money and legacies may also be reflected by this position of natal Neptune; and there may be distortions, contentious issues, deceptions associated with this, or simply an inability to become clear as to your own personal values regarding money and the material level of existence. Greater clarity may be required; and care must be taken to maintain good family relationships if inheritances become a disputed issue.

Neptune in 8th House: Neptune in the eighth house is more deeply unconscious than Neptune in the seventh. Again this is a water planet in a water house. With water comes the strong possibility of strange behaviors designed to help the individual cope with needs so uncomfortable they cannot be permitted to become conscious. In the eighth house, planetary urges often have the feel of being 'taboo' in some way which is deeply buried. That is, the individual feels the behavior is forbidden, feels guilty for considering it, and usually pushes it away from conscious awareness, yet when questioned cannot say why. It is not that the answers, when uncovered, are really all that dreadful, but that they feel dreadful to the individual, and therefore avoidance and evasion seem to be the only safe ways to cope.

The individual with Neptune in the eighth house will need to carefully explore her attitudes towards sexuality, shared money and shared possessions, and emotional power. Carefully, because in the eighth house issues are nearly always buried in layers, and many of the layers are 'red herrings', false hints designed to lead the explorer away from tender areas. It may take professional help to dig into some of the issues, because an objective outsider can often ask important questions which the explorer's mind prefers to hide from. She may discover she expects too much from eighth house issues, or that she gives too much away. She may avoid them due to feeling overwhelmed, an indication that far too much value is placed there. She will need to learn how to continually bring into consciousness her inner values in order to gain freedom from their domination.

Neptune in 8th House: These people are often good with money, capable of gaining it through gambling, investing in the stock market, or luck or intuition, though they are usually better at making it than keeping it, being inclined to lose it through neglect, ignorance, or being taken advantage of, rather than through overspending. They are inclined to be very tight with money, and then lose it through peculiar circumstances. This position can promise inheritance, but aspects must be very good for it to come through. The money may be less than expected, or take so long to materialize that it isn't worth it in the long run.

Early loss of a loved one or a brush with death can cause them to develop a sober philosophy of life. Sometimes this Neptune position indicates an early death, or an unusual death, or both; through, again, there must be other factors that reinforce this for it to be a serious consideration. It is dangerous for these people to drink or take drugs, as it could prove fatal.

The father often has a heavy influence on the life. Either he dies young or leaves the home, or he may be an embarrassment in some way. Sometimes he is too much of a hero, making it difficult to follow in his footsteps or, for those seeking a male partner, to find someone who can live up to his standard.

There is generally a fascination with politics or religion. Politics is not usually fruitful unless other political aspects are very good. It is hard for them to muster sufficient support to create a solid political base. If it is there for a while, it may fluctuate or erode. There is a shyness, an inability to reveal the true self here that makes the self-exposure of politics difficult.

Religion interests them, but they generally have their own personal philosophy and find it hard to join a group. Although they would like to do so for the social aspect, doctrinal differences get in the way. There is a loneliness to this position. There is a craving for community and family life, things that unfortunately often elude them. There is an element of self-sacrifice here as well. They may give up money for love, or love for money. Somewhere along the line, painful sacrifice will be required.

Dreams are real to them. They get important messages through dreams. They may see ghosts, see things on the astral plane, or experience ESP in some way.

Neptune in 8th House: If Neptune can't be at home in the 12th, his next favorite house is that of his close brother Pluto, the 8th. Neptune's main thrust is the loss of boundaries and separateness: what better place to do this than in the house of sex, sharing and intimacy. And as a means of alleviating Neptune's perennial divine homesickness, the 8th house's association with death does the job quite well.

Freud made us aware that many seemingly innocent things can be symbolic of our sexual drive and interests. For instance, if you dream of smoking a cigar, is that really a cigar you are thinking of? However, it is also the case that sex itself may be symbolic. With Neptune in the 8th, sex, rather than just simply being enjoyed for its own sake, is often the means to alleviate other very pressing psychological concerns.

For those with Neptune in this house, sex is s a way of merging with other people, and hence transcending the limits of the isolated self. Either through losing their own boundaries or through engulfing those of another, they relieve much more than just a physiological tension. Reminiscent of the rites of Dionysus, in the throes of physical love, they satisfy the need to abandon and forget themselves. Sex is also a way of loosening the reins of personal control and responsibility for the self. They are captured and captivated by another; they are carried away by a force more powerful than themselves. It is a form of worship and reverence, a kind of divine seduction, which brings home to them that something exists which is even bigger and greater than they are.

With Neptune in the 8th, physical intimacy is also a respite from loneliness; and much of the promiscuity and indiscretion associated with this placement may stem from this motive. Some may also feel that giving themselves sexually is a way of serving, pleasing or even healing others. It can also be a very convenient way of escaping from problems in other areas of the life. I have seen many cases of people with this placement who are confused about their sexual identities. Neptune is so diffuse, so adaptable, so fluid and so shaped by its container, that they have difficulty knowing exactly what it is they do want. Conversely, problematical aspects to Neptune (from Saturn, for instance) also suggest a fear of letting go - a tension between holding on to boundaries and losing them. Some may even feel the need to transcend their libidinal desires altogether for the sake of channeling these energies in other directions. For others, sex may seem like a disappointment, and not quite as wonderful as it looks in the movies or what they read in books or hear from friends about it. And still others may feel their way of purification and redemption is through sacrificing a sexual relationship with someone to whom they are strongly attracted. In some instances I have seen, they seemed to always desire and fantasize about people they were not involved with, rather than the person with whom they were engaged in a relationship. Neptune is never that content with what he already has. Besides, if we know a person too well, his or her alien magnetism eventually wears thin.

Many of the same processes apply to the exchange of values between people. Often they hope to gain many material benefits from a partner, but ultimately what is acquired is usually of a much less tangible nature. Strange complications and deceptive circumstances can affect the whole area of the partner's money and joint finances. At times they may be too influenced or even deceived by other people's values, or envious about what others own which they don't. In the end, their greatest satisfaction will come not from accruing other people's possessions but rather by helping another person to develop his or her own values and resources.

It is advisable that they are as straightforward as possible in business dealings; and care should be taken in the selection of business partners. Neptune often brings confusion; and when signing contracts, the two parties should clarify exactly what the agreement is. Economic losses and gains will have an important psychological impact, and ultimately could impel them to find their security and salvation inwardly in values other than the material. In any case, they are well-advised to seek advice before making financial investments and in all issues concerning inheritance and taxation.)

When Neptune is in any of the Water houses, the person is extremely sensitive to and influenced by undercurrents and feelings in the atmosphere. Depending on the aspects to Neptune, the experience of intangible and non-material forces can operate constructively or destructively. In positive cases, the person will receive guidance and inspiration as if out of nowhere or may be open to valuable instruction through dreams. It is as if they tap into an invisible realm where expanded vision and understanding becomes available just at the times when such broadened awareness is most necessary. For this reason, they can also serve as sources of comfort and inspiration for others who are experiencing crises. However, the psychic openness of this position can manifest in less desirable ways. In a few instances, they may feel 'possessed' - as if they have been taken over by something powerful outside themselves. Sometimes they may receive deceptive or misleading guidance from some other dimension.

Neptune in 7th or 8th House: This is another of those 'loaded' positions, because these (the seventh and eighth) are the most likely houses from which to project planetary energies, and Neptune, a transpersonal planet, is not easily welcomed into one's personal repertoire, thus making it an excellent candidate for projection. The result is that Neptune in either the seventh or the eighth house is most often not expressed personally but must be dealt with, at least initially, as if it comes from someone else. The usual and most likely someone else is the spouse, that special person whom we promise to love for better and for worse. The 'worse' definitely includes the special agony of projection when we are married to some of our least comfortable traits.

On the positive side, Neptune in the seventh is another of the artistic combinations.

This one may lean particularly toward graphic arts, but any revenue of artistic expression is possible. It is especially positive if spouses can both be artistic, and particularly if they can share this without letting competitiveness spoil it. However, it is most important for the person with Neptune in the seventh to find an artistic outlet for otherwise it is easy to project and expect the spouse to be wonderfully artistic and creative, whether she wishes to be so or not.

Neptune in the seventh or eighth house is an excellent combination for counseling potential. Neptune in the seventh or eighth can be attuned to others on a deep emotional level which may even be psychic. There is an inherent talent for psychological studies and for the ability to share innermost thoughts and feelings.

It is often quite natural for a person with this placement to be at ease with emotional intimacy, with closeness and with a feeling of connectedness. In many cases, Neptune in the seventh or eighth expresses itself as a naturally strong valuation on close, warm relationships, and the individual will feel motivated to create and sustain such relationships. Again, if only one spouse wishes to pursue this, it is most important that it be the one with Neptune in these houses. It is his need; it is up to him to fulfill it. The partner will, however, need to acknowledge that this is a vitally important part of the individual's life, and will need to share at least some part of it with him.

Another positive expression of Neptune in the seventh or eighth is when spouses share a spiritual quest. They may read and study together, meditate together or support each other in exploration of occult concepts or in deep inner seeking. At any time, one may be more heavily involved, but the other is willing to give sincere support and to share and perhaps to contribute to discoveries. This is one case where a single spouse is not likely to be able to do it all. As one learns and grows and changes, the dynamics of the relationship will change. The partner who is not involved in the growth will be terribly threatened by this and usually seeks to stop the changes, which means undermining or blocking the growth. This rarely works, however, since most people, having once seen a richer way to live, cannot go back. Unless both partners have some say in how the dynamics change, or both agree to keep it the same, the relationship usually grinds to a halt.

Being so prone to projection, the negative possibilities for Neptune in the seventh or eighth are legion. Most obvious is the expectation that one will have a perfect mate, or a perfect marriage, or that one is perfect in the marriage. With Neptune in these houses the individual tends to really buy into the Walt Disney stories of the princess and the handsome, rescuing prince, and the way they supposedly lived 'happily ever after'. Neptune loves a good fantasy. This can simply work out as a very romantic streak, with a deep and abiding trust in the partner, but it may develop into a full-fledged expectation that the mate will fulfill all the individual's deepest needs, will provide unconditional love and support under all circumstances, and will be charming and lovely at all times. This is not exaggerated. One well-known psychologist has written about the shock and utter disappointment he experienced the first time he saw his new bride blow her nose.!

Such blind faith in the ability of the partner to be the embodiment of all that is beautiful and delightful is an illusion. It is an invitation to frustration for both partners. The one with the expectations, unwritten of course, will feel betrayed when the mate starts to look distressingly human and capable of obnoxious behavior. The mate will feel the burden of the partner's expectations and feels responsible for letting down the partner. Yet this feels unfair because usually the behavior which has disappointed the partner so much was something minor. The strange truth is that Neptunian partners are often amazingly noble and forgiving over the major incidents which break up many marriages, yet are unable to tolerate day-to-day differences and disappointments with any degree of grace.

Some Neptunian partners manage to maintain the illusion of the perfect partner, often in the face of an astounding amount of evidence to the contrary. They will overlook ignorant behavior, make excuses for immaturity, protect a weak mate, and generally do whatever is necessary to protect their image of their mate. This may be motivated by a need to have a perfect mate, no matter what the cost, or it may be the result of the Neptunian ability to see the best in others. Often both dynamics are at work. The individual with Neptune in the seventh or eighth who is protecting such an illusion will not give it up until ready to do so on her own. Usually the mate's behavior has to clash violently with some other cherished value before the Neptunian partner begins to see the problem.

It is worth mentioning that the Neptunian who faces the cracking pieces of this illusion suffers a particularly terrible inner pain. It can be survived, if the Neptunian can acknowledge that he built the illusion personally. Otherwise he is likely to feel forever betrayed and become bitter, hopeless and miserable. If the illusion can be seen as a personally constructed fib-to-the-self, the Neptunian can grieve for the lost dream, can rage at the unfairness of it all and at his own foolishness, and can then let go of it. After a time, peace will settle and the Neptunian can begin to get to know the person he married and to reconstruct a relationship, this time based on honesty.

One constructive choice for the individual who simply cannot give up on the need for a perfect partner, perfect devotion, perfect union and so on, is devotion to the ultimate partner: God. This can be achieved through the ministry, priesthood or sisterhood, or through missionary service. It is a choice which needs to be carefully considered, however, for it is all too easy for Neptune to be overwhelmingly drawn to such a life without consideration for the individual's more worldly needs. On the other hand, some people find that with the devotion to a life of service, pressure is taken off their need for a perfect mate and they can approach relationships with more compassion and acceptance of the human condition. Then again, some simply become more committed to otherworldly perfection and are less able to accept human foibles and differences in needs.

With Neptune in the seventh or eighth, there are all sorts of possibilities for the victim / savior game to be played. The Neptunian with a strong chart will usually try the savior role, which means a victim is required. This is a semiconscious procedure; few people deliberately saddle themselves with a frustrating burden. The savior usually simply falls in love with someone who seems so deliciously vulnerable and needy, someone who just needs a little propping up here and there in order to be perfect. Only when the illusion begins to crack does the savior see that the struggling actress wrecks her chances for success with her addiction to drugs; that the talented singer blows his auditions by refusing to co-operate with managers; that the inspired writer won't stick to deadlines; that the sweet, vulnerable creature who is too gentle and loving to hurt anyone is a walking time bomb of repressed anger just waiting to get into another accident; that the charming, childlike waif is determined to remain helpless and actually manages to avoid a great deal of unpleasant responsibility.

Eventually, under the burden of relationships with such victims, the potential savior often becomes a martyr. Many a sickly, bedridden spouse has outlived her caretaker mate!

The Neptunian with a less strong chart will often choose the victim role. Again, the choice is unconscious. Usually the chosen role looks romantic or spiritually worthwhile to the Neptunian, who only wants to create a loving and perfect world.

The pitfalls are not apparent ahead of time. The choice which looks like one of sweetness and Christian generosity of spirit may lead to dangerous repression of personal needs and the resultant illnesses, lack of energy, or accidents. The repressed energy is bottled up and the god or goddess is angered - the energy turns inward. The choice which looks like one of loving sacrifice for a troubled partner may well lead to an abusive relationship. The choice which looks like dedication to an ideal may well turn out to be an evasion of worldly responsibilities which is motivated by fear.

The victim / savior relationship is not always unhealthy. In counseling relationships, it is to be hoped that the counselor has enough training, experience and mental stability to gradually empower the client to grow out of the victim role. In marriage, this is extremely difficult to accomplish, although it can be done. It requires that at least one partner be psychologically and spiritually very aware, very patient and very, very strong. Each partner must be willing to take responsibility for his / her own behavior, attitudes and beliefs, be able and willing to grow and to interpret pain as a measure of change which is needed, not a measure of the partner's failure. This very difficult path can only succeed when the roles are alternated to some degree - in other words, each partner takes a turn as savior and a turn as victim, until both can leave these roles behind.

In short, it is an extremely difficult path and it is not recommended. People who need help usually benefit most from a helping relationship with a professional, or at least with someone with whom they are not in love. The helper inevitably becomes the target of the 'victim's' anger and frustration at some point, which is extremely destructive in mate relationships. Few mates, especially Neptunian ones, can understand why they get continually punished, verbally attacked and emotionally blackmailed when all they offered was loving help. They expect loving gratitude but generally end up with a rare fury directed at them, as the 'victims' lash out in fear and agony at the people who are 'forcing' them to change.

When an individual has Neptune in the seventh or eighth houses, he will need to become conscious of his illusions regarding marriage, his partner, his own role and the satisfactions which are possible from a marriage. He will almost certainly tend to expect too much, and may place unrealistic burdens upon his mate. He will need to be alert for the appearance of savior / victim games in his close relationships, games which can lead to abuse and an unimaginable kind of hell. He will need to take responsibility for his own spiritual and creative needs, and to take steps to express them for himself, rather than wishing the mate would provide the experience. He will also need to take responsibility for the strength and importance of his need to have a mate who can share or at least value and honor his needs for spiritual growth, artistic expression, psychological exploration or all of the above.

The individual with Neptune in the seventh or eighth house possesses a rare talent for intimacy, perception and insight into others - including the ability to fathom their pain, and the ability to inspire the partner to develop spiritually. With acceptance of personal responsibility for emotional, artistic or spiritual fulfillment, all of these can be shared with a mate to create a truly special relationship with rich rewards for both partners.

See also: Neptune in the 8th House;

Neptune in the 8th House: George Clooney, Sean Connery, Bette Davis, John Dee, Jane Fonda, Georges Gurdjieff, Adolf Hitler, Dustin Hoffman, L.Ron Hubbard, Michael Jackson, Paul Newman, Robert Anton Wilson, Joanne Woodward, Malcolm X, AbbieJ, Antonio, Bram, DonW, Duane, Dunja, Erin, JT, Judin, Marcy, Marie, Mark, Medwick, Michael, RoyO, Samp, Tara

Neptune in the 9th House

Neptune is the planet of ultimate emotional, unconscious values; and the ninth house is one of the keys to our belief systems, and our partly conscious values. Both relate to issues and ideas that we accept as extremely important, perhaps vitally so, in our lives, often without awareness or examination. Sometimes even when we known what is an ultimate value for ourselves, we don't see the implications of that value, the way it affects our perceptions, judgments and decisions. Ultimate values can dominate our lives without our ever questioning their veracity. This tendency is doubled when Neptune is in the ninth house, which is associated with a strong tendency to jump to conclusions and to assume that the conclusions are correct.

With both Neptune and the ninth house tendencies to need the right answer, there is a strong possibility here of an enduring search for Truth. Both planet and house are mutable, leading to restlessness. Both are considered expansive; they tend to enlarge whatever they are associate with. In combination this means there might be no accepted limits - everything can continue to expand (ninth house) into infinity (Neptune). Both are connected to faith, and beliefs. Both are drawn to ever more comprehensive and idealistic viewpoints. Both are drawn to and haunted by the need for perfection, by their often fantastic expectations. Neither is noted for its common sense, nor its ability to do anything by half-measures.

Ninth house issues such as higher education, organized religion, philosophy, and a lifelong search for bigger and better truth could all become ultimate values with Neptune in this position. Often, with a chart otherwise leaning toward physical energy, athletics will become a driving force in the individual's life. The important point is that with Neptune in the ninth, the person will have a strong tendency to greatly overemphasize whatever area or issues are valued. What is valued is strongly valued, defended and expected to be right.

On the natural wheel, Pisces (Neptune) and Sagittarius (ninth house) are square each other, indicating some fundamental differences which must be consciously worked upon in order to integrate these disparate energies. Neptune in the ninth house mixes a water planet with a fire house, a combination that is associated with a particularly high degree of emotional intensity. The receptive, inward-drawing and sensitive, overprotective nature of Neptune can definitely clash with the persuasive, outward-reaching, spirited and adventurous nature of the ninth house.

Neptune operates on emotional and spiritual planes. The person who expresses Neptune wants to follow his instincts, his psychic impulses, the dictates of his heart. He feels what is best. The ninth house relates to these but often stays on intellectual, rational-thought levels, at least on the surface. A person who expresses the ninth house may partially bury feelings so that he is free to follow the most logical idea; and in the process he will come up with some convincing rationalizations. He will also frequently react with self-righteous anger if it is pointed out that he has merely found logical reasons for doing what he feels is right, but that the feeling came before the logic.

The person who follows the dictates of the ninth house will often tell the truth regardless of who gets hurt. The person who flows with Neptune will prefer to protect others' feelings and may choose to lie out of kindheartedness, misdirected or otherwise. The person who has Neptune in the ninth may be pulled in both directions and will need to find either a middle ground to satisfy the need for truth and the need for mercy, or a place for each. He will need to be alert to situations where he is pulled between what he wants to do - feelings - and between what he ought or should do - thoughts. The dictates of the head and the heart can both be questioned. Out of the challenge may come some clear insights about the best course of action.

When a water/ fire combination occurs, there is always the possibility that the Water element will dampen or drown the fire. Water represents the unconscious, therefore it also can represent the tendency toward repression. When it is fire that is repressed, there is a build-up of emotional pressure. Unless the pressure is released, sooner or later there will be an explosion. The person can feel shattered by such an occurrence, which often seems 'out of character'. Yet when seen as the release of energy which has been held in for months or years, the blow-up only makes sense. To prevent such events, the individual needs to make all possible efforts to get in touch with inner drives and needs which are being ignored or held in. Then those needs are to be directed into some constructive outlet. Few drives in life are truly 'bad'; they usually only look that way because they seem to run counter to the dictates of the dominant value system. Once a person becomes conscious of his dominant values, he can choose when it is appropriate to act according to different values; in other words, he will allow contradictory sides of his nature all to have room for expression.

Whatever is put on a pedestal, it is likely, in the ninth house, to be overdone, to be allowed to dominate the life; and many other issues will take second or third place. This can be hard on jobs, relationships and other ambitions. With Neptune in the ninth house, the individual will need to take a look at his illusions about the ability of education, knowledge or the endless search to provide the ultimate satisfaction in life.

There will be an important need to examine personal values, to see how much unquestioning faith has unconsciously been placed in the creation of some sort of perfect ethereal beauty, in service to others without regard to self, in psychic or psychological insights, or in spiritual or mystical growth. There are also the negative possibilities, that abiding and deep trust has been placed in evasion, denial, pretence, confusion, drugs, alcohol or illness to protect the individual from whatever he does not wish to deal with consciously.

Balance is an important lesson for someone who has Neptune in the ninth. The temptation will nearly always be to go overboard on the latest exciting idea. The challenge is to learn to act on those ideas where it is practical and possible without dangerous disruption to other meaningful aspects of life. It is possible to chase one's dreams without immediately resigning from the job that one has worked toward for fifteen years, for example, or without selling all of one's possessions and giving the proceeds to a wonderful new religious organization.

Honesty is another important lesson for someone with this placement. Neptune is the stuff of which dreams are made, and the ninth house is always looking for a better idea, the bigger the better. Both are therefore very susceptible to wild tales and con games. More to the point, both have strong tendencies toward self-delusion over the importance and veracity of the most newly discovered 'truth' or viewpoint. Philosophies easily become religions, and challenging questions soon become sins, yet even this process can be rationalized and, strangely enough, denied. If, however, the person with Neptune in the ninth can exploit his Earth planets to keep in touch with what is realistic, and his Air planets to keep some objectivity, he can become a genuinely spiritual student, a dedicated and ardent seeker of the truth, with ever more important understandings that he can share with others.

With Neptune in the ninth, it is particularly important for the individual to examine his personal beliefs, conscious and unconscious. He needs to clarify his expectations about truth, philosophy and the meaning of life. He needs to confront his values and his illusions, to be rigorously alert to righteous justification of ideas and to ensure that he is honest in his musings. With humility, this individual can be the most enthusiastic proponent of positive philosophies, an inspirational force with unflagging energy and a person who always balances the need for truth with the need for compassion.

Neptune in 9th House: In this position, Neptune is active on the level of mind, especially in the realms of philosophy, religion, morals, ethics and spiritual teachings. Belief systems are important to you, and you need to feel secure in the one that you have adopted as a guideline in life; or alternatively, you are searching for one that you can believe holds satisfying answers to those burning inner questions.

It is likely that you will feel a need to rely on some form of external teaching, and this can draw you towards involvement with specific religious groups, or mystical cults and guru-figures. As your mind is quite open and impressionable, and influenced by the Neptunian imagination, your clarity regarding such groups may be distorted by a desire to achieve redemptive salvation through association with a belief structure that promises universal answers.

This can result in a negative form of surrender, where your fantasies, clouded judgments and desires encourage you to submit to an external authority or acquiesce in an imposed belief system, creating a situation where you feel absolved of any need to think for yourself, as all the answers have been given to you. This is an abrogation of real responsibility; and no genuine teacher should demand absolute adherence to his or her teaching, or inveigh against any who disagree or choose to leave the self-selected élite. The type of dangers involved in such a course include spiritual inflation and self-delusions, guru imitation, and obsessive beliefs in being 'right' in your opinions and world view.

Neptune can lead you into such a philosophical minefield as a consequence of your own confusion and lack of direction, and by the need for some type of spiritual search for a higher unifying knowledge. The underlying intent may be to confront you with a collapse into disillusionment with that external search for answers, forcing you to turn within and to discover that what you are really looking for is hidden within your own nature.

The types of philosophy, religion or belief structure that will appeal most to you will often include themes of sacrifice, redemption, purification, martyrdom and self-transcendence: the themes of Neptune. You will need to express incisive discrimination in walking this path, as you are liable to reflect these Neptunian patterns quite unconsciously in your choices. Distinguishing the real from the false can be extremely difficult, and nonintegrated natural tendencies will attract you towards the mysterious and glamorous; but as you should recognize, all that glitters is not the alchemist's gold.

Spiritual aspirations will be powerful, and you are likely to possess refined, mystically orientated emotions aching to achieve a transcendent and embracing unity state of existence. Psychedelic drugs may appeal for similar reasons, as a means of opening doors to alternative realities; but great care needs to be taken where Neptune is involved; and mixing these with spiritual development techniques is unwise. Meditation, contemplation, yoga and psychic enfoldment are likely routes which will interest you, or those more intellectual occult systems like the Cabala and the Seven Rays, which offer considerable scope for mental fascination. Whilst you have a tendency towards daydreaming and fantasies, such an inward turning can make you more receptive to inner guidance and intuition; and in some instances this can develop into you serving as a channel for inspirational teachings to be transmitted to the world. Today, there are many of these, and a broad mixture of quality too, reflecting the mediumistic and mediatorship nature of Neptune, with both high and spiritual visions and lower astral and illusory ones being presented to an avid public.

Part of your own challenge will lie in unfolding your own path, relying on your own insight and understanding to light the way, and in being able to clarify your own direction and exploit that latent mind potential. Creativity through artistic expression could be useful, especially the sort which attempts to reflect spiritual values and vision into everyday life. The real spiritual path is never one of escapism from life, even though you may feel tempted to do that through travel, through pilgrimages and by surrendering to a high temporal authority as a guru figure. Neptune in this house can lead you towards the highest flights of consciousness, or restrict you within self-chosen realms of delusion; it can be a narrow line separating the two, but ensuring that your feet are firmly fixed on the ground is an important aim to maintain.

Neptune in 9th House: A ninth-house Neptune brings great dreams of glory in youth. These people may dream of a career as a performer, politician, Show Biz personality, or the like; but other aspects are needed to make it happen. There is a great yearning to rise high, to make an impression on their community, audience, or constituency; but rarely do they succeed to the extent that they'd like. If they go into politics they tend to get stuck on the losing side. There is more likelihood of success as a performer, especially a singer. This position usually gives a good voice, both for speaking and for singing.

Those that are withheld from action will feel great frustration; the inability to take a brave stand or to do bold deeds can contribute to emotional problems and, if other factors indicate, there can be drinking, suicide attempts, or violent outbursts of one kind or another. With supportive aspects, they eventually learn to accept life's disappointments, and become philosophical about their own limitations.

They like the wide-open spaces, the sun, the great out-of-doors. This is an excellent position for anyone working in films or show business, for merchant mariners, workers in the oil industry, salesmen, or others who have to travel long distances in the course of business. They are inclined to fall in love with another country and to desire to live there. If they can't live there, they will vacation there as often as possible and, while at home, try to live in the style of the desired culture.

See also: Neptune in the 9th House;

Neptune in the 9th House: Sri Aurobindo, Kim Basinger, Shirley Temple Black, Marlon Brando, Warren Buffett, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Elton John, Timothy Leary, Mickey Mantle, Barack Obama, Elvis Presley, Edouard de Rothschild, Frank Sinatra, Patti Smith, Ted Turner, Vincent van Gogh, Gore Vidal, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., AlexP, Andrea, Ashira, Cesar, David, Erika, Jane, Nirvesh, Steve, Tom

Neptune in the 10th House

This connects the issues of father - or conditional love parent - and career with the ultimate values. Both are going to be extremely important in the individual's life, whether positively or negatively.

Positively, the person with Neptune in the tenth can be drawn into a deeply spiritual or very creative career, or a career having something to do with counseling, or with the sea, or with chemicals, gases, liquids and so on. She would be likely to be inclined to dedicate a great deal of her time and energy to her chosen career because it would provide such a tremendous sense of fulfillment, something she couldn't match in other areas of life. For this person, the rest of her life would have to revolve around her vocation. As long as she is aware of her choice, and as long as she makes the effort to cultivate some personal relationships and some outside interests, she will stay balanced. She would tend to be happiest when working, and would not even consider it 'work', at least not in the sense of 'toil'. For her work would equal satisfaction of the highest kind, yet there would be other satisfactions available to her.

It is possible, with Neptune in the tenth, to have a quiet sense of timelessness with regard to one's career. That is, the individual may feel that she has a responsibility to contribute something meaningful to the world, whether that is in terms of helping others or of creativity. This will be important to her yet she will at the same time feel that her contribution is just that, a contribution. She will have a sense that her work is necessary, that it has a place in the grand scheme of things, yet she will not harbor illusions about the special importance of her particular efforts. This individual is most likely to keep her career in balance with the rest of the variety of life experiences.

For many, Neptune in the tenth is expressed as an unconscious value placed on a life career. A person living at this level will simply be a great deal happier when she has a job, but she will also need to feel she is doing something to create improvements. She will be ambitious, whether or not she is aware of it. She will have an eye open for the possibility of promotion, for the tenth house relates not only to career but to success as defined in worldly terms. That usually means she will have an unconscious need to gain more and more, in position, status and salary. If this remains unconscious, there is the possibility of career ambition and expectations taking over her life.

This position holds the danger of illusions surrounding career and the satisfactions it can provide. Neptune seeks the ultimate satisfaction, the ultimate high, but the tenth house focus is in a limited and limiting area. Few people can find a lifetime of satisfaction in their career unless it is spiritual, educational or artistic/ creative. The problem is that with Neptune in the tenth, the individual unconsciously or half-consciously expects the tenth house activities to provide this ultimate sense of fulfillment. Heaven is a job. Somehow the job is going to make the individual perfectly happy. This leads her to pour her energy into her job, as she happily assumes her whole life will be rosy and flow smoothly as long as she does so. It is an assumption she may never question.

Naturally her personal relationships suffer, yet she may simply turn more energy into her career, as it seems to offer the happiness she seeks.

The negative extreme is the person who cannot find any satisfaction or enjoyment in life or in any activity except those directly related to her job. Such a person lives for her job, and expects it to provide for all her needs, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. She may expect the job itself to be perfect in terms of salary, employees, working conditions or boss, and be miserable when it is not.

Sooner or later retirement looms, and the person with Neptune in the tenth may be unprepared. She may tend to wish away the idea of eventual retirement, refusing to deal with it realistically.

Productivity, so important with Neptune in the tenth, has become a 'god'. She cannot envision life without a job for her life has been unbalanced for so long. As retirement advances upon her, she faces a choice: rebalance or continue to feed the illusion. She may feed the illusion by switching allegiance - volunteer work may beckon; at least this choice will keep her physically healthy and happy. She may feed the illusion by simple refusal to rebalance, to foster interests in other pursuits, yet be unable to replace one job with another. In this case she is likely to live in misery, either wallowing in memories or retreating into illness and opting out of any life but the one she has vested with such value.

Another negative expression is that of continual confusion and indecision regarding a career. The individual may be unable to commit to any direction whatever. She wants to do something big and important, something perfect, something more wonderfully artistic or inspirational or of more help to humanity than anything anyone else has ever come up with. Yet she often wants to accomplish this without any training or effort. While she can't find the way to magically make it happen, she may be unwilling to settle for the ordinary.

With Neptune, we tend to either dissolve the trappings of the world or to invest them with imaginary importance. The tenth house relates to the use of worldly power. Neptune in the tenth is a statement that the individual could tend to cloud this issue in unconsciousness or fantasy. It is a statement of the need to get clear about the role and use of power, on a personal level and on worldly levels.

Father would have provided an early example of some possible Neptunian behaviors and attitudes. Positively, he could have been a person who was very spiritual, loving and visionary. He could have had artistic or musical talent and been able to discipline it and direct it, he could have been a caring, giving person who had a talent for helping others in practical ways, or he might have been simply gentle and peaceful and sweet-natured, yet able to make a satisfying life for himself. If he provided a positive model of how to express Neptune in the tenth, he would have been able to integrate his values and beliefs with the real world. The individual could think the world of her father, and wish to be like him.

Negatively, she may have expected father to be perfect. If she still thinks he is/ was, she may have put him on a pedestal and cannot tolerate any inference that he is less than wonderful. She may copy his attitudes and ideas without question because she has to keep alive the illusion that he is / was everything she needed.

If father disappointed her, she may have felt bitterly hurt and disillusioned. She may have come to terms with reality and forgiven him or she may have clung to her belief that he should have been perfect.

Father may be a strange and perhaps mysterious figure. He may be very withdrawn, either through inability to cope with the world or through a desire to simply be left to his own inner workings. He may have gone missing altogether, and the individual is left with only a fantasy figure, a father who exists only in his or her mind. The temptation is then to build up this fantasy father, to see him as bigger and better than anyone else. The individual may even have entertained notions about one day being rescued by him.

Father could also have manifested all that is unhappiest about Neptune: alcoholism, drug-addiction, chronic mental or physical illness, fatally weak character, or all of the above.

The flowing nature of Neptune can actually benefit greatly from the discipline and form offered by the tenth house. If the individual can accept these skills, Neptune's gifts are more easily translated into forms the world can understand and appreciate.

With Neptune in the tenth, the individual will profit greatly if she consciously examines her beliefs about the importance of her father in her life and about the nature of the world and reality. She may have fairy-tale attitudes about these, or a tendency to evade or avoid dealing with any of the issues. The same is true of career: she may expect far too much or deny its importance. With acceptance of the benefits of discipline, this individual could bring insight, compassion and inspiration into her chosen career. She will be able to thoughtfully direct Neptunian creativity into productive areas, to accept and meet deadlines, and to channel Neptunian spirituality into practical expression.

Neptune in 10th House: The themes which are indicated by this position include social status and influence, careers and leadership. How Neptune will operate through you in terms of your public or community life can vary, and may be reflected by the nature of planetary aspects made to natal Neptune.

The more negative aspects include a lack of achievement, acknowledgement and status. This can be due to an inability to clarify the direction that you should travel, Neptunian confusion and indecisiveness, and the work environment failing to satisfy for some reason. Perhaps through a lack of defined ambition or persistence in achieving aims, a lack of expressed talent or interest, your career life may be frustrated. You may lack practicality or just be erratic and unreliable in application, shifting with those fluctuating inner tides of Neptune and failing to be consistent at work or even in your relationships with professional colleagues. Attempts at manipulation or deceit may work against you, a transparent self-centeredness may restrict opportunities coming to you, or scandals and whiffs of impropriety may circulate, tainting you by association or involvement.

Positive aspects can include a career of community service, where you become respected and appreciated for your efforts and social contribution, and this is an expression of a Neptunian social conscience seeking for that ideal utopian vision. You may become devoted to a cause, some type of idealistic social movement, and dedicate your time to its development. This can serve as a sacrifice to an inspiring ideal, where you offer yourself to be a channel for that 'something greater' which lies beyond the separate self. In this way, you may become a spokesperson for a visionary perception; spiritual, ecological, humanistic and altruistic in content. For some this occurs through embodying such concerns within artistic creations, artistic, musical, or literary, and so communicating them to others as an inspirational channel. The struggle may lie in finding the appropriate form which fits the message and the need for right livelihood, and discovering this can involve you in a transformatory path of its own.

Having social power and influence can be a challenging role to perform; and you may need to understand the dynamics of such a position and the concepts of personal empowerment to ensure that you do not abuse any influence that you may achieve. Remember that Neptune's influence can lead to distorted perceptions, and always keep that sword of discrimination ready to use.

This position can also indicate an inner resonance with the Mother figure, your own or as an archetypal image. Associated with this are the typical Neptune themes of sacrifice, victim and martyr; and it is possible that your mother had to relinquish many of her own personal desires in order to raise her family. Many adults are unconscious of the sacrifices and demands of parenthood until they become parents themselves, then the realizations begin to dawn, and a greater understanding and appreciation of their own parents is born. Some adjustment of this mother image and ideal is probably needed, especially in order to realize your own nurturing and protective instincts, and to harmonize your emotions more effectively. It can reflect a need to give birth (mother) to a new self that can emerge from within you, a self that is intimately connected with the well-being of a wider society and one which is connected to the impulse of the Aquarian Age which is now emerging.

Neptune in 10th House: This is the ultimate Neptune location for politicians and performers. It is also excellent for ministers, counselors, doctors, nurses, political scientists, philosophers, artists, and entrepreneurs of all sorts. It gives great powers of charm and charisma, though rarely as intense as they'd like - though, in certain cases, more than they can handle. They usually have good instincts for what will sell. As performers and politicians, they are usually very attractive and so tend to age gracefully, keeping their powers strong and maintaining a hearty image until late in life. As writers or artists, they generally leave behind a considerable body of work. As scientists, they tackle immense ideas.

They like language and enjoy using it, sometimes getting very salty or slangy. Women with this can be very sharp-tongued and pointed in their speech. These people don't usually like to stay in one place for long. They are not stay-at-homes. Frequently, they will have ties in two or more places quite a distance from each other, which necessitates constant travelling back and forth. They usually enjoy boats and fishing as a sport for relaxation.

Instinctive healers, they have a strong inner knowledge of what will help another to health, happiness, and fulfillment. They are often willing to give a great deal of time to causes or individuals they believe in.

Neptune in 10th House: Neptune has many different faces in the 10th house of career and standing before the public. One manifestation of Neptune here is in those who find themselves idealized and worshipped by the public in general. In some way, they capture the collective imagination or come to represent a movement or force sweeping through society.

Tenth house Neptunes may embody various other principles, anything from representing what is beautiful, stylish and glamorous to that of the outcast and public scandal. Besides politics and cinema, other Neptunian careers include social work, art, fashion, photography, music, dance, religious work and healing.

However, foggy Neptune in the 10th can indicate vagueness or confusion about which career to pursue. Some will be dissatisfied with the work if it is not felt as all-absorbing and inspirational. A few I have seen have worked very hard and devotedly in return for less recognition or remuneration than they deserved. One man with this placement worked for a large company which did many shady and corrupt deals, and yet he was the only one to be arrested and imprisoned for it. Some will feel that their salvation depends on finding the right work or serving the needs of others. In certain cases, they may be forced to give up their careers because of a greater influence over which they have no control. Again, Neptune nudges us along the path of spiritual growth and expansion in this way, as if we are redeemed and purified by having to let go and sacrifice what we are overly attached to.

If we take the 10th house to represent the mother, then she will probably carry the Neptunian projection. She might have been seen as a martyr or victim, someone who gave up her own identity for the same of raising the family. In some cases I observed, the mother had artistic or creative potentials which were cut short for these reasons. The child nay be guilty about feeling happy if the mother is so frustrated, unfulfilled and miserable, or he / she could blame him- / herself for the mother's condition. Or the mother may be so over-sensitive and delicate that the child ends up having to mother the mother.

See also: Neptune in the 10th House;

Neptune in the 10th House: Aleister Crowley, Princess Diana, Walt Disney, Clint Eastwood, Ernest Hemingway, John F. Kennedy, Bruce Lee, Bob Marley, Karl Marx, Jack Nicklaus, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, George Orwell, Pablo Picasso, Robert Plant, Gloria Steinem, Ludwig van Beethoven, Oprah Winfrey, Andrew, Jamie, JRosh, Lance, MFor, Michelle, Pankaj, Sarik

Neptune in the 11th House

For you, such sensitivity and spiritual striving find a focal point in your friendships, ideals, and group situations. Communes and workshops are, or have been, common on your agenda. Such friends or groups could make or break you, for they could be the typical bad lot that leads you astray, or the band of kindred spirits which lights your way.

Whatever group or social movement you find yourself in the midst of, what you get out of it always depends upon how honest you're being with those associates and upon how able you are to distinguish your own identity and social values from those of that peer group as a whole. There is a double-edged situation here that on the one side inspires you through a feeling of being borne on a wave towards the common goals of Humanity, and on the other, leaves you tossed upon the whims and fancies of the crowd merely dreaming of a better world and not actually doing anything about it.

Where your imagination is concerned, it is best used socially in the sense that you can inspire others with your fine sense of togetherness. Any artistic talents are well employed to this same end, rather than solely for your own amusement.

Neptune in the 11th House: Take great care not to attract "friends" who do nothing but take advantage of you or drain you emotionally. Wherever Neptune goes in the horoscope, we can fall into a "savior-savee" situation. Frequently, this means you are always trying to "save" your friends. Sometimes, it can mean that you want them to "save" you. Neptune can work it either way. Of course, this is the negative manifestation. On the positive side, all this may do is to attract artistic, sensitive friends. Hopes and wishes can really tend to be nothing more than daydreams with this placement. Take off the rose colored glasses and get to work.

See also: Neptune in the 11th House; Neptune in the 11th House

Neptune in the 11th House: Hillary Rodham Clinton, Albert Einstein, George Harrison, William Randolph Hearst, Hugh Hefner, Alfred Hitchcock, Howard Hughes, Terence McKenna, Arnold Palmer, Ayn Rand, Joseph Ratzinger, John D. Rockefeller, Will Rogers, Elizabeth Taylor, Al, Arrow, Bobbie, ChrisC, Farmer, Jean, JerryH, JJ, JonathanG, Kay, Lori, Paulo, Prabhukar, River, Supr, Suji, Zeno

Neptune in the 12th House

Neptune is associated with both Pisces and the twelfth house, which means when it is positioned in the twelfth house it can be a double dose of either comfort or dissatisfaction. Both house and planet are Water, so there is much here that goes on below conscious awareness. It doesn't have to stay that way, but it certainly tends to, unless deliberate work is done to bring unconscious values, beliefs and faith into consciousness.

The most difficult part of this placement is that very lack of consciousness about itself and how it operates. What works from unconscious levels has far more power - and more freedom - to affect us than those drives of which we are conscious. When we know about particular tendencies, we can make allowances for them, work around them, if we so choose.

For example, if an individual understands that she has a great deal of ambition in her career, she can realize that perhaps her ambition tends to unbalance her lifestyle. Perhaps her automatic tendency is to put job requirements before her husband's needs. If she realizes this, however, she is in a position to make well-thought-out choices, rather than automatic ones. No longer will she simply assume that her career always has to come first. She will see that sometimes her husband may be more important. It will depend on the circumstances - the important point is, because she is aware of her tendencies, she isn't ruled by them. She is free to respond in different ways, free to make conscious choices which will bring her results she wants and will enjoy.

With Neptune in the twelfth house, it is often very difficult to take any notice at all that ultimate, unquestioned values determine how we interpret the world around us in addition to how we interpret our own behavior and attitudes. The values are so unquestioned as to be beyond challenge. The person with Neptune in the twelfth will tend to have a great deal of difficulty just digesting the concept of how values affect perceptions and therefore attitudes and behavior. Her values simply are what they are, and they tend to resist categorization or definition. She is so surrounded and absorbed by her values that she cannot properly separate herself or her experiences from them. They become absolute in her life; and to challenge them is to challenge her deepest needs.

This Neptunian's deepest need is to discover and live her spiritual heritage. She is closer to it than any, yet less able to translate it into terms the world can understand. This does not especially bother her, but any barrier to her goal can feel terribly painful and unfair, although often she simply comes to view it as part of the unreal world she thinks she can ignore.

With Neptune here the individual is less connected to the world than others, more in tune with the world of spirit, of the healing, harmonizing energy of absolute love which flows through and around all of us, if we are but aware of it. She could well have psychic abilities. She never fully embraces the world and its version of reality because she is aware, if only on a dim level, that the universe encompasses so much more than our own minds can handle.

The danger is that the person will come fully to this insight before she has developed some ego strength. With ego strength, she will honor herself as well as her vision, and can relate positively to the vastness she sees. Without it, she will tend to be overwhelmed and easily terrified. Then she will find Neptune's negative choices are an irresistible temptation. She will think she has found a way out of the nameless terror, and never see the trap yawning ahead of her.

With Neptune in the twelfth house, the individual will need to take a long look at her tendency to idealize peace, universal love, sacrifice and service, art and music, fantasy, and the spiritual path. She will tend to have many illusions about spiritual development and the role it plays in life. She will expect it to be easy, yet she will be willing to suffer rather than give up her dream. There will be a strong need to overlook or deny any flaws in those issues she considers vital in her life. the positive choices are for those who integrate the yearnings of Neptune into a holistic lifestyle, or for those few individuals whose whole chart points in a single direction. Neptune in the twelfth is not a problem by itself, if there are no contraindications or clashes. If nothing is repressed or ignored, if all part and drives and needs are honored and given some attention, all the gods and goddesses will be content. The main problem with Neptune in the twelfth is the aforementioned lack of awareness of what the ultimate values are and how they affect the quality of the person's life.

When the person with Neptune in the twelfth has a deep, underlying faith that everything is already perfect, it amazingly seems to be. This person has not ignored or evaded awareness; rather she has seen through surface appearances to the underlying meaning, to the consequences of whatever is going on at present. She senses a flow to life, a purpose which is usually greater and more important than the temporary setbacks which so upset the average person. She sees events in a different light entirely. Where someone with less awareness might interpret the death of a friend as untimely and unfair, the Neptunian might know on some deep inner level that the friend needed to go on to other experiences in order to take his next step of growth. The Neptunian would grieve for herself and her own sense of loss, but she would feel that everything had occurred for a good reason. From her inner core of steadfast faith would come strength enough to look past the surface for a larger, more encompassing pattern to the flow of life.

This Neptunian can do what every Neptunian yearns to do; she can live in conscious touch with both the world of physical reality and the world of spiritual reality. Each enhances the other.

Neptune in 12th House: The 12th house is considered to be Neptune's own house, and so both the positive and negative qualities are found in this natal position. The influence of the unconscious mind is especially strong, and the effects of this type may be dependent on the rest of the chart and the type of aspects made to Neptune.

For those who are relatively unintegrated individuals, or who lack an effective self-development or spiritual path, Neptune can stimulate considerable unease from this sphere. There are disquieting undercurrents, irrational fears, phobias, compulsions, and obsessions which can arise. Imagination is extremely active, and the feeling-emotional nature is highly stimulated and prone to impressionable influences and changes of moods. Memories of the past can still carry blocked energies or contain 'unfinished business' that affects the present; a generally negative, insecure and unstable outlook on life may dominate. Confusion and vagueness may afflict decision-making; and passivity and feelings of lack of control restrict any full experience of life.

More positive integration of Neptune into the psyche, which is aided by favorable aspects, displays the positive dimension of this sphere, where forms of channeling of hidden wisdom and insight may be achieved. Psychic sensitivity can destroy a life just as it can enrich it; much depends on the individual reaction to its influence, and the degree to which balance and integration can be made. Intuitive accessing of inner stores of knowledge is becoming more popular again, and can often be highly inspirational, although great care must be made in opening inner channels because the energy and experiences that can be unleashed are extremely powerful and transformative, and many become victims of their own repressed unconscious mind which, like a dam bursting, floods the separate personality, dissolving protective barriers.

There are likely to be distinct mystical and religious attractions through this position of Neptune, possibly a monastic type of impulse, where the idea of retreat from the world or relative seclusion is most appealing. Periodic withdrawal can be beneficial, especially when it is done as a form of inner cleansing and designed to re-empower the self. Compassion will be a motivating tendency; and some with this position become dedicated to a life of service and care for those who are disadvantaged in life, those who are ill or are social rejects. Some type of service to the world is probably the most effective way to release this energy and cleanse any unconscious patterns which otherwise may affect the conscious life; selfless service can be highly purifying, offering meaning and purpose in life; and for someone with this natal position of Neptune it may prove to be the best direction. Certainly learning to accept life with its good and bad, its light and darkness, and coming to terms with inner conflicts and disillusionment in the world are crucial steps to take because these help to restore balance and clearer perception. Remaining in anguish because the world fails to match your expectations is a waste of time and energy, and is a futile task. Discovering how to use your gifts to help the world to move towards your vision could be your most worthwhile contribution.

Neptune in 12th House: These people are generally shy and reserved and don't seek the limelight, though they are poised and graceful when they must step forward in order to accomplish goals. Tender and understanding of human sorrow and frailty, they have a deep desire to help. With difficult aspects, their childhood home may have been unstable in some way, although there may have been a lot of love.

This is an excellent position for an artist, songwriter, playwright, or anyone who lives by capturing the needs and trends of their time. It gives a good sense of rhythm and timing.

Generally, twelfth-house Neptune gives charisma with an appearance of pride and a head held high. These people tend to be naturally modest, but keenly feel their own worth, and as such, feel superior to the common herd. However, they remain deeply vulnerable to loneliness and are sometimes hard put to find a way out of it, as they cannot be content with just anyone as a companion. Though they are generally warm and loving, they may hide it behind a cool, reserved exterior, or tough guy pose.

They are not inclined to be go-getters unless other aspects promise it. They are more likely to let others come to them, which they generally do, though it may take time. They are inclined to have but one relationship at a time, and are not into playing the field, even in youth. This position is a partial testimony to homosexuality, if only for the need for one strong relationship, and the tendency to accept what comes rather than to seek it out.

Usually, they are deeply religious, with a philosophy based on humanistic values. They are inclined to be somewhat passive and fatalistic. Often, there is an awareness of other levels of life, of life after death, or an ability to see beyond the veil. Also, there is an ability to see life in greater perspective than most, the grand panoply in which each has a part to play.

Neptune in 12th House: Neptune is strong in its own house, where the very best or the very worst qualities of this planet may manifest. Those with this placement will be highly sensitive to undercurrents, movements and unseen forces in the atmosphere. Sometimes they are more aware of these levels than what is actually happening on the surface level of life. At times, their uncanny vision can be confusing: they see or are told one thing and yet feel or sense something quite different occurring.

Some may be victimized by their own unconscious - that is, periodically swamped or overwhelmed by emotions and feelings which others have n easier time keeping at bay. A few people I know with this placement have reported experiences in which they felt their ego-boundaries dissolving and their ordinary 'sensing' of life go out of focus. For some, this was welcomed as a mystical or peak experience; but for others the experience was accompanied by disarming and frightening sensations of chaos and invasion.

If Neptune is not too adversely aspected, the unconscious mind can serve as a source of guidance and inspiration, allowing access to the 'inner, wise person'. There is an openness to the archaic memory of earlier forms of evolution and they can draw on this reserve of stored information with startling effect - as if they have wisdom and insight into experiences of which they have had no first-hand knowledge. There may be an interest in the philosophy of karma and reincarnation and possibly the belief that they are in touch with some of their previous lives. Understood properly, this could help them in more meaningfully meeting the present life. However, for some with this placement, dwelling on past lives could be a way of avoiding facing what is in front of them right now. Fantasizing about when they were Cleopatra or Joan of Arc might also add a bit of glamour to an otherwise dull existence, but it remains to be seen to what constructive use they put such beliefs.

Neptune in the 12th can denote very strong escapist tendencies: daydreams or fantasies can swallow them whole, and they might retreat from life by creating their own little worlds in which to live. For most people with this placement, times of seclusion and withdrawal will be necessary in order to re-centre and cleanse themselves of the 'psychic smog' which has been absorbed and accumulated from interaction with others.

One extreme of Neptune in the 12th may be those who feel that they have no control whatsoever over what happens to them (what some psychologists call an 'external locus of control'). While Neptune asks that we acknowledge a greater authority than ourselves, a total denial of personal power and responsibility is not a healthy situation, and is best kept in check wherever this planet is placed. Studies have linked depression and various other forms of psychopathology with people who feel that they have lost the influence to direct their lives.

Similar to Venus in the 12th, those with Neptune here suffer because the world doesn't always live up to their expectations of what it could be. While they are hurt by the lack of beauty in the world, it is also possible that their sensitivity to beauty can be a means of their own self-healing. Beauty has a regenerative effect on the psyche. If they can make time in their lives to dwell on a sunset, linger by the sea on a night when the stars are visible, meditate in a chapel while the light shines through a stained glass window, or go to a gallery to view their favorite painting, they can often revitalize their own world-weary psyches. As Piero Ferruci writes in 'What we may be', in those moments a victory occurs 'over discouragement, a positive affirmation against resigning ourselves to the process of crystallization and death'. In other words, those people with Neptune in the 12th do have a choice: whether to see beauty or not.

Beauty also has a self-transcending and revelatory power - opening Neptune in the 12th to new worlds and possibilities which others may not be able to glimpse. Taking responsibility to look for beauty in life will not miraculously erase all their problems, but it can lighten their load and balance out a tendency to err on the side of dissatisfaction.

Performing service is another way of freeing the self from pain and unhappiness, and giving meaning to life. Again, some common sense is required: some with this placement may throw themselves totally into other people's lives as a way of avoiding their own. Nonetheless, Neptune in the 12th could do very effective work within hospitals or institutions. Others may be found employed in museums, libraries and art galleries which protect and preserve the wisdom, beauty and riches of past and present.

Those with Neptune in the 12th might meditate on Jung's idea that certain problems in life can 'never be solved, but only outgrown'. Some new interest or vision arises; and through this widening of view the insoluble problem loses its urgency. On one level we are caught in a storm; but viewing it from a different level shifts our perspective - like being on a mountain-top viewing the storm in the valley. The thunderstorm is still there and still has relevance, but we are now above it. Those with Neptune in the 12th will have to learn to accept the good with the bad, the perfect with the imperfect, and the beautiful with the ugly. It helps if they can remember and reflect on what is known as Wittgenstein's dictum: 'The solution to the problem of life is seen in the vanishing of the problem'.

Neptune in 12th House: In the 12th house, Neptune comes home. In the waters of its own temple, we may observe it uncontaminated by the outer world and the things and people in it. The 12th house, like the 6th and the 8th, has had a hard press. It is also, like Neptune, difficult to define. Traditionally known as the house of imprisonment, confinement and self-undoing, it is a source of anxiety to astrological students who discover natal planets placed there and, having availed themselves of older textbooks, draw dire conclusions.

Because the 12th describes the individual's personal experience of the source, it is concerned with inheritance. But it is not parental inheritance as described by the 4th and 10th. Our 12th house legacy takes us much further back, into the realm of what the Chinese call the ancestors. Here lie our deepest roots, in terms of race, religion, national origins, and the culture out of which the family line has sprung. Even if we repudiate this longer past, and identify only with the present and the life we have carved for ourselves in the world, the 12th house is always there to remind us that we are the inheritors of images, myths, traditions, feelings, and dreams which belong not only to our parents but to our grandparents, great-grandparents, and the 'stock' from which we have sprung. From the 12th, the ghosts of the distant past come back to haunt us - the family 'skeletons in the closet', the forgotten religious orthodoxy of a great-grandfather, the long-suppressed story of the great-aunt's suicide and the great-great-grandmother's 'second sight', the poverty of the immigrant, and the religious persecution of two hundred years before. The daemons of forgotten places inhabit the 12th as well - the country left behind long ago, the folk tunes, the ancestral totems of the tribe. And further back even than this lie the primordial myths of human origins and human development. To all this, planets placed in the natal 12th house are attuned. It is not surprising that, uneducated as we are about the reality and power of the unconscious collective psyche, the 12th house gives us so much trouble.

Neptune in the 12th is a transmitter of the richness, darkness, and light of that which came before us. The 12th is the house of pre-birth, and therefore also describes the period of the mother's pregnancy, when we were contained within the uterine waters. As a medium for the archetypal themes of the ancestral collective, Neptune in the 12th is particularly attuned to feelings and images of suffering and redemption. Religious issues which belong to the family inheritance are likely to prove particularly powerful, and it is important for the individual to learn something about his or her spiritual heritage; if these themes are dominant in the family psyche, they will not leave the individual with Neptune in the 12th alone. If unconscious, Neptune in the 12th may prove compulsive and overwhelming, threatening to engulf the ego with the power of its yearning, which is really the power of many long-dead individuals each contributing his or her own longing to an ever-increasing psychic imperative. The power of the imagination, and the capacity to express images in creative form, may also be an urgent theme of the family inheritance; and artistic vehicles may need to be found for fantasies which are older and larger than those of the individual. It is not surprising that this house is called the house of self-undoing; if we are unconscious of this vast ancestral longing to go home, we may ensure that we are dragged home in spite of ourselves.

Ebertine mentions 'mysticism, reverie and artistic pursuit... the inner or psychic life is open to external influence... a craving for drugs and narcotics. An inclination toward retreat, reverie and mysticism is what we might expect when the individual experiences the primal longing unadulterated by any surrogate. The gift of receptivity to such powerful redemptive images is also the gift of the artist. Commitment to a religious or spiritual path may offer consolation to Neptune's melancholy and world-weariness, and may provide a means of redeeming not only one's own loneliness but the victims of the past. Neptune in the 12th may shoulder the burden of redeeming family sin and unhappiness, and is particularly prone to identification with the suffering savior. For this reason, the individual with Neptune in the 12th, if conscious and unformed, may become the scapegoat or vessel for family conflicts which go back over many generations. Certain forms of mental and physical disintegration, which embody an accrued family background of misery and difficulty, may be connected to Neptune in the 12th if the individual cannot contain his or her inner experiences. It is in this context that we may link drug addiction to this placement of the planet.

The collective unconscious, with its endless fertile stream of archetypal dreams and fantasies, may also become the symbol of redemption for Neptune in the 12th. One may become addicted to the creative powers of the psyche, retreating from relationships with the outer world in order to partake of the universal waters of the source. The individual may see himself or herself as a Christ-figure, come to save the suffering world. This is not the ideology of the 11th, with its vision of a perfect society, but rather, absolute emotional identification with life's victims. Because politics can sometimes provide an arena through which religious feeling may be expressed, Neptune in the 12th may contribute to a political philosophy which champions the underdog, because the family inheritance has unconsciously compelled the individual to redeem a hidden past.

The line between Neptune in the 12th as visionary, artist, and healer, and Neptune in the 12th as addict, invalid or psychotic, is very fluid. Neptune placed in this house teaches us a good deal about our extremely limited and sometimes downright stupid definitions of sanity. The mystical or 'oceanic' peak experience is not uncommon with Neptune in the 12th, and it can be redemptive and life-enhancing. Yet the individual may also be so overwhelmed that he or she identifies utterly with being God's mouthpiece. This may, in certain contexts, be appropriate; Neptune in the 12th is more likely than most to recognize the essential divinity in the whole of life. It is only when primary narcissism dominates the stage, and no-one else is granted the same status, that we may begin to worry. Neptune's apparent madness may be eminently sane, although attuned to the inner rather than the outer world. But there are some individuals with Neptune in the 12th, particularly if it forms stressful aspects with important personal planets, who are unable to maintain their boundaries against the flooding of the collective psyche. They may act out the traditional meaning of the 12th house, and spend their lives permanently or intermittently confined.

The individual with Neptune in the 12th may not consider himself or herself in need of help, and may in fact not need it at all, unless he or she is as danger to others, or is the victim of compulsions beyond personal control. Neptune's eternal enemy is also Neptune's eternal friend; and a little Saturnian realism can go a long way in assisting a 12th house Neptune floundering in deep waters - although too much Saturn may provoke the very flood the individual is seeking to avoid. Perhaps equally important is the function of Mercury, the natural ruler of the 6th house. It was Jung's belief that, when working with those inundated by archetypal images and compulsions, an understanding of the symbolic nature of the material could prove remarkably healing in assisting the individual to navigate the currents. Even if a breakdown occurs, the person's capacity to use the experience constructively may depend in part on comprehending what happened in clear psychological terms. Understanding is especially important for those with Neptune in the 12th and a chart in which Air or Earth is emphasized, because, as the fairy tale of Rumplestiltskin tells us, knowing the name of something demystifies it and renders it approachable. Mercury, in his mythic role as guide of souls, can offer a system of support for Neptune in the 12th which, although intellectual in nature, provides a very useful form of ark.

The challenge lies in containing and working with Neptune's strength in its own house in ways which allow life to proceed rather than disintegrate. Definitions of normality and sanity need to be carefully questioned in relation to this most receptive and imaginative of Neptune's house placements. Sometimes periods of withdrawal, or even a kind of dissolution, may necessarily alternate with periods of active involvement with the outer world. Only the individual can decide what balance inappropriate. But Neptune in the 12th, because it reflects an ancestral inheritance much greater than the individual, will not tolerate suppression. The Neptunian longing for redemption and return to the source of life has probably been suppressed or denied for many generations; and, as Harry Truman once said, for the person with Neptune in the 12th, 'the buck stops here'.

Neptune in 12th House: Although you are sensitive to the social conditions around you, you feel powerless to make a contribution to alleviating them. You know that a serious need exists, but you may subconsciously reject the idea that you can do anything about it. The fact that social conditions bother you should tell you that you can help. Your compassion for human suffering should alert you to find a way to help relieve it. Your early parental conditioning made you aware that you should become more self-reliant; but first you must establish your own foundation and be secure in your own being. Instead of moaning about the problems, admit that you might be able to find a solution, and then apply yourself to the task. By serving the needs of those around you, you will come to see that you are indeed useful and important to those you serve. It is easy to have excellent intentions, but you may lack the courage to carry them out.

In your career, you often accept responsibilities that others reject. You want to make a good impression on your superiors and thereby get the opportunity to prove that you can handle even greater burdens. You are deeply aware of the enormous responsibility of a career in serving the public, and you want to live up to their expectations. To better accomplish this objective, you should adopt a plan that will allow you to derive the benefits you deserve while making a valuable contribution to society.

Your first priority should be to get the very best education and training you can afford. This will lessen the danger of being intimidated by others who are well-qualified. With self-discipline, you can gain the credentials you need to advance in your career. Try not to indulge in non-productive activity, for you tend to wander about aimlessly, with little to show for the time. If you pass up formal training, you might have to be content with an unfulfilling life because you contributed so little to it. With training, however, your skills will gain the attention of the public, and you will be recognized for your accomplishments.

Consider a career that deals with people's problems, such as medicine, social services, institutional work or spiritual enterprises. The field you choose should involve relieving people’s suffering or improving the conditions that restrict their development. You can stimulate people to seek a more productive life with more highs than lows. You may have to make sacrifices while developing your creative potentials, but your love for those close to you may motivate you to endure these temporary limitations.

Occasionally you feel sorry for yourself, believing that your efforts are futile; but if just one person appreciates your efforts, your optimism returns, and you realize that you are necessary to the world. Your low-key manner may obscure the high quality of your effort. Though you may find it necessary to serve others first, be assured that in doing so you also serve your own needs. By involving yourself in other people's problems, you will find yourself. Don't allow others to persecute you with their demands, for when this happens, your physical health will signal that you've exceeded your limits.

Neptune in 12th House: Imagination: Your fantasies involve pure surrender, giving up ego identity to become one with larger universes within and beyond the ordinary self. When you dream - waking or sleeping - you dissolve into a realm where control and will have no meaning. Your fantasies run the gamut, from visions of the Second Coming to winning the state lottery. The pitfalls are reminiscent of Venus, but subtler. You might 'overeat' on religion, stuffing yourself full of 'junk-food spirituality'. Also, 'visualization' is no substitute for hard work. If you want something, work with the Earth, not against it. The challenge is to allow dreams to inspire you, so that ordinary events acquire the radiant aura of divine presence.

Unfocused intuition: Everything you see, hear, taste, touch, and smell has an intuitive dimension. In fact, all your sensory receptors work at multiple levels. They pick up both tangible and ethereal levels simultaneously. So the most basic ways you experience anything blend the actual and the magical. This gives you the advantage of being able to work constantly with your intuition, since it is woven into your natural vision of life. It also saddles you with the burden of having no essential distinctions surrounding intuition. You may not even realize it's happening, since it's ubiquitous. You tend not to receive specific information, but instead to absorb fundamental meanings. The challenge is to see the signature of higher meaning in everything you experience, to bask in the magic of life.

Withdrawal or isolation: Your withdrawals are more psychic than physical. You need not be alone to vanish; you simply leave your body and float out into the cosmos. Paradoxically, it is ordinary life that feels isolated. When you withdraw, you merge with everything beyond the self, so that even in invisibility you are one with the universe. The pitfall is that you may prefer withdrawal to real life. You could become a full-time escapist, whisking yourself away from the demands of living into a formless realm of non-being: more pleasant, no doubt, but illusory at best.

Selfless giving: Selfless giving is a lifestyle rather than an event. Your gifts tend to be spiritual rather than physical, intangible rather than concrete. They may also be romantic or idealistic in tone. When you transcend the ego, your sense of personal boundaries evaporates. This can be frightening if you believe your essence is dissolving. Or you could achieve reunion with everything, grass and sky and earth. The pitfall is giving without really offering anything, being open-hearted but ineffective, well-intentioned but naive. The challenge is to make your gifts tangible enough that the spiritual bounty can be shared.

'Past lives': In past lives, you explored the boundaries between what's real and what's not. You were a magician performing sleight of hand or a yogi stopping his heartbeat, a minister promoting salvation or a charlatan selling snake oil, a true mystic reaching for divine union or a deluded schizophrenic locked in an insane asylum. Your relationships were characterized by compassion and sincere giving, or delusion and heartbreak. One thing is common: things were never quite what they seemed. Now it's time to move out of the shadows and into the light. Every time you lean backward into your karmic past, life dissolves into confusion. Accept life's dreamlike quality without succumbing to it, knowing that there is reality behind every illusion, and illusion behind every reality.

See also: Neptune in the 12th House;

Neptune in the 12th House: Ammachi, Warren Beatty, Ingrid Bergman, George Bush, Sr., Salvadore Dali, John Dillinger, Sally Field, Uri Geller, Tenzin Gyatso, Aldous Huxley, Shirley McLaine, George Patton, Brad Pitt, Ramakrishna, Karl Renz, Babe Ruth, Peter Sellers, Nikola Tesla, Robin Williams, BPoe, Cheri, ChrisTr, Cynthia, Dheeraj, Donny, Gabriela, Geoff, Ivy, Joze, Miriam, Virginia