The Kiss of Not Good Enough
“There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in.”- Leonard Cohen
I recently got into gardening (again) and the daily tending to these plants I started thinking about Neptune, the phenomenon of inspiration and the process of mindfully seeding inspiration as a way of cultivating a life in line with our values. Plants can’t exist without the earth below us and the sun above us and humans are no different. But then the question is, how do humans sow seeds and who is the gardener that decides which seeds to be planted and where do these seeds come from? I am certain that no two people will give one and the same answer to this question. Personally, I see us as the main gardener who sows seeds and reaps these crops.
Humans, while being connected to the earth, at the very same time, are tapped into the cosmic energy. Many of the yogic practices of meditation, breathwork and physical exercises are created with the end goal to move this energy from the root to the top of our head and the other way around - from the top of our heads down to the base of our spine. The idea is to get the seeds from the divine, the cosmic and draw them into our beings and from there, with our thoughts and actions, bring them to life. This is such a fascinating topic for me and one I enjoy looking from an astrological perspective.
The placement of Neptune in our birth chart is where our signal to the divine is the strongest. Neptune is the furthest planet of the solar system and the only planet that was discovered by using math. The astronomers observed changes in the atmosphere of Uranus which they could only explain by the existence of another planetary body in its proximity. So they worked the math until they uncovered the planet itself. In the world of astrology we sometimes look at the circumstances under which a planet was discovered to gain insight into how that planet works with us on earth. Being the furthest planet in our solar system that cannot be seen with the naked eye, associates Neptune with the limitless, the divine and everything that it beyond the perception of all that exists on earth. The fact that is was discovered through processing of inferred data, tells us that the process by which we bring the divine into form on this earth is not by using the five senses but a different kind of cognitive awareness. Basically, our intuition.
‘I saw the angel in the marble, and carved until I set him free’. - Michelangelo
Any modern astrologer will tell you that the location of Neptune in your chart, is an area of life where you will have a hard time being “realistic”. I could argue here that as humans we ought to have an unrealistic side to us that we nurture and honor. To me, a realistic person is essentially the opposite of an artist. Yet, the point I am trying to make here is that every human being is in fact an artist, a creative force creating reality on earth. We create, build, envision every day. What we see in our imagination often starts directing our actions in our lives and this is what brings about our life in manifestation. Neptune is where we see, feel or just know something can be a certain way, we can imagine it, see it, feel it and even though it does not exist in form yet we know it deep inside our being that it’s how it needs to be. The actions that are the results of that knowing is what turns that slab of marble into The Madonna della Pietà. Perhaps not so coincidentally, Michelangelo has Neptune in the 12th house of his chart, the house linked with the unseen, etheric realm, the place of dreams, visions and the subconscious mind. This house is said to be the home, or domicile of Neptune.
We are here on this planet to do something, live this life at least in part with some kind of ideal, something that is not there but we work towards, something we move towards with our daily lives. Where Neptune lives in our charts, we experience the feeling of insatiable longing. This is the very same place where we are blind to what is and thus we follow a vision of something greater, something deeper. This is the place where we feel alienated from humanity and brought to our knees where with our eyes closed, hearts open. The distance from something that is not good enough to the good enough version of it, is the distance we are willing to walk and follow blindly in service of humanity. A belief that we somehow idealize and through the holding of that belief and the actions we take as the result of that belief, we help bring down the energy of the divine in our lives.
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.— Albert Einstein
There is an ongoing conversation in the astrology community about whether Neptune is a malefic or benefic planet. The ancient astrologers labeled two of the seven traditional planets malefic: Mars and Saturn and two benefic: Venus and Jupiter. This is depending whether they help bring out more negative or positive outcomes for us on earth. I believe the planets beyond the vision of the naked eye invite us to a different kind of reality, a reality that rejects the black and white thinking and revise the schema we use in our 3D world. They invite us to approach a higher realm that promises a better perspective and thus a better future in our lives and on our planet.
The outer planets that are invisible to the naked eye, are an invitation for us to practice this access to a different plane of thinking. Their placement in our chart is the arena where this process plays out the most.
Curious about where Neptune is in your natal chart and how that might relate to your experiences? I offer one on one sessions where I walk you through your natal chart and offer insights that just might be the perspective that you need. You can find out more about my approach here.
And last but not least, the fun and entertaining part: the meaning of Neptune in the houses of the natal chart, the famous people quotes edition. Enjoy!
Neptune and the 1st house: ideal self, ideal persona.
“Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it.”- Salvador Dali, Neptune in the 1st house.
Neptune and the 2nd house: ideals of self worthiness and values.
“It costs a lot of money to look this cheap” - Dolly Parton, Neptune in the 2nd house.
Neptune and the 3rd house: ideals of communication and mental clarity.
“We have no right to express an opinion until we know all of the answers.” - Kurt Cobain, Neptune in the 3rd house.
Neptune and the 4th house: ideals of belonging and home.
“As a kid I just felt like an outsider” - Marilyn Manson, Neptune in the 4th house.
Neptune and the 5th house: ideals in creation, playfulness and games.
“Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game” - Michael Jordan, Neptune in the 5th house.
Neptune and the 6th house: ideals in health and maintaining healthy habits.
“I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy. I started with the breasts, as my risk of breast cancer is higher than my risk of ovarian cancer, and the surgery is more complex.” - Angelina Jolie, Neptune in the 6th house.
Neptune and the 7th house: ideals in relationship matters.
“In a relationship, when does the art of compromise become compromising?” - Sarah Jessica Parker, Neptune in the 7th house.
Neptune and the 8th house: ideals in shared resources and values.
“When the reviews are bad I tell my staff that they can join me as I cry all the way to the bank.” ― Liberace, Neptune in the 8th house.
Neptune and the 9th house: ideals in higher truth, knowledge and distant places.
“The truth is of course is that there is no journey. We are arriving and departing all at the same time.” - David Bowie, Neptune in the 9th house.
Neptune and the 10th house: ideals in career life.
“My job is not to represent Washington to you, but to represent you to Washington. - Barack Obama, Neptune in the 10th.
Neptune and the 11th house: ideals in groups, friends and society.
“All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded the individual.” - Albert Einstein, Neptune in the 11th.
Neptune and the 12th house: ideals in psychic, spiritual, and mysterious matters.
"Nothing brings me more happiness than trying to help the most vulnerable people in society. It is a goal and an essential part of my life - a kind of destiny. Whoever is in distress can call on me. I will come running wherever they are.” ― Princess Diana, Neptune in the 12th.
Which one resonates with you? Feel free to comment below and if you know your placement, mention it and I will comment back with more.
