by The boundless potential of the human being
The Neptunian vision offers a profound understanding that surpasses the limitations of reflective or analytical frameworks. It encompasses all states of being, transcending human experience and connecting them through a language of symbols. Thus, the individual self participates at least in part in transpersonal and universal knowledge.
The Neptunian experience of attaining peak states is foundational to the emergence of unconscious aspects that give rise to a hitherto unknown psychic condition, spanning from the exaltation generated by the perception of cosmic consciousness to the fear of being lost. Upon returning to Saturn’s sphere, the subsequent events serve as an accurate measure of the experience. In case of disorientation, an individual equipped with a philosophical or religious worldview can incorporate some of the revelations into their spiritual maturation journey.
The primary characteristics of the Neptunian action emphasise the significance of the community over personal identity and facilitate the deconditioning from the conventional and pedagogical setting that envelopes us since birth. When activated, this transformation results in the repudiation of the indoctrination processes that assimilate an individual into a social context of reference through the emotional and intellectual development typical of a specific culture. Sometimes, we ritualise this change, and the mundane experience becomes universal, acquiring an unexpected significance. As a sacred action, the rite signifies compliance with the order established by the gods: it is a numerical organisation of reality that assigns a spiritual plane’s meaning to an otherwise chaotic earthly manifestation.
Being non-self-centred involves a process of depersonalisation which, far from undermining the foundations of being, offers a profound understanding of the universal and collective meanings of human experience, freeing the individual from the conditioning of limited worldly horizons. Thus, the Neptunian journey ends: the disciplined individual, oppressed by rigid social schemes, transcends them and returns to individuality free from preconceptions, free from past constraints, finally capable of understanding the meaning of their acts and committing themselves to the community in complete awareness. It is, of course, an ideal path, which more often than not results in vague and unrealistic action leading to dream addiction or social submission.
Individuals who can withstand its impact often find that the foundation of Neptunian activity represents a long-awaited realisation of their dreams. This utopia, a harbinger of tomorrow’s realisations, is a driving force that propels specific individuals to become visionary leaders. These individuals experience almost “divine” revelations that inspire humanity to pursue new objectives. They live their freedom, do not experience any suffering and do not require a choice of alternatives imposed by the dualistic view because they identify with their destiny.
In pursuing individual fulfilment, the acceptance of dualism must be emphasised instead of denied as a remedy to the misleading Neptunian illusion. The notion of oneness contradicts the supposition that unity requires plurality conceptually. As a result, for the research on integration to be effective, there must be a continuous expansion of consciousness, which perceives the whole as a model. Consequently, the individual transcends the dualistic and separatist view by integrating it into the vast cosmic play of the One, which is at the same time manifold when it reveals itself through spatiotemporal manifestation. This thought is similarly expressed in one of the highest peaks of Indian metaphysical speculation, Advaita Vedanta, which describes the non-conceptual concept of unity in the negative terms of non-duality, neti neti (not this, not that).
Neptune is associated with an oceanic type of consciousness. This consciousness is not restricted to purely contemplative and idealistic inspiration but extends to its application in daily practice. It eliminates the myth of a separation between material and spiritual experience. The synthesis achieved through eidetic consciousness creates a link between seemingly disparate realities. Such consciousness perceives the world of mundane experience as a manifestation of the spirit, while the sensory world is one of its many possible representations. Neptune symbolises the indefinite forms of reality, the dream or ideal not yet realised, and the chimaera that will never become. It serves as a guide to unknown horizons. Only a select few who can lift the veil of the indeterminate can reach the evolutionary plans of our present reality and transform chaos into superior vision, surpassing the egoic barrier that Saturn represents.
Neptune: ecstasy, charm and charisma
A further Neptune’s symbolism is associated with the concept of ecstasy, which refers to the attempt to attain a state of unity by temporarily dissolving the ego’s barriers. The term ‘ecstasy’ is derived from the Greek word ἐξίστημι (ekstasis), meaning ‘being outside oneself.’ This mystical inspiration transcends the distinctions among beings, resulting in a state of oneness. However, Neptune’s openness can result in inconsistent experiences. If we disregard the need for dualistic polarisation in vital expression, we may only experience the Neptunian dream, leading to temporary surrender through drugs, intoxicating drinks, and pseudo-liberating experiments. Nonetheless, dualistic experience is essential to refine and elevate the individual to the highest level of awareness. At this juncture, one is free to transcend the limits expressed by Saturn and access increasingly universal realities in full consciousness.
Now, let’s focus on the charm attribute associated with Neptunian qualities. The term has its roots in the Latin fascinum, which initially meant “evil influence”. Still, it has since come to signify the power of attraction and seduction that specific individuals or circumstances possess. What links sex and fascination – or love more broadly – is an undeniable magnetism that can overcome rational defences and directly access the individual’s heart, rendering them subservient or enthralled. This process is transformed into compassionate love in those of pure heart, while others experience it as a fleeting desire for the seductive. From this perspective, one may conclude that charm, in its original “malevolent” sense, bears no relation to the peak states of ecstatic rapture that Neptune can elicit. Instead, it represents a return to the realm of centripetal attraction, a diabolical act of “separation” – from the Greek word διαβάλλω (diabállō) – from the whole.
The Neptunian personality type is often linked to charismatic individuals whose words are believed to possess transformative power. The term “charisma,” derived from the Greek word χάρις (kharis), meaning grace or favour, denotes that such individuals possess supernatural knowledge and can transmit it spontaneously for the benefit of the community. They function as a channel that inspires others’ values and emotions, capable of broadening individual awareness through images and enlivening the great myths of humanity via their eidetic knowledge that penetrates the essence of things.
At this point, it is essential to address some commonly held misconceptions regarding the astrological significance of Neptune. In the astrological context, Neptune is frequently associated with a state of latency of consciousness. Its imagery pertains to the mystical, collective aspects of individual experience or imaginary psychic and mental conditions. Essentially, it is an extension of dream perception carried over into the waking condition. However, this interpretation is only valid in the absence of “eidetic” consciousness, which is a model of consciousness based on direct knowledge of things where “seeing” and “knowing” coincide (the term derives from the Greek root εἰδ (eid), ‘to see’).
Charismatic charm is a discernible trait that can guide lost individuals looking for direction when it is not a pose aimed at deceiving oneself and others. This trait can also help draw the masses out of confusion. In doing so, the charismatic individual becomes a guide for those who lack direction and are daydreaming or expressing themselves formlessly. The planet Neptune manifests this trait in two ways. Firstly, as the principle of indeterminacy, it represents a cosmic matrix waiting to be defined. Its diurnal domicile in Pisces highlights this. Secondly, Neptune can be a charismatic guide who can produce meaning from an otherwise chaotic dream reality. This is represented by Neptune in its nocturnal domicile in Sagittarius, as the upper octave of Jupiter.
Neptune and the Industrial Revolution
The discovery of Neptune coincided with the onset of the Industrial Revolution, resulting in the emergence of a new social class known as wage slaves. This transformation saw Neptune acting as a great equaliser that subdued, if not eliminated, differences by suppressing individual expressions, enabling a select few to gain control over a pliable mass of workers. Nonetheless, the communist ideology arose almost simultaneously, aiming to rekindle the Neptunian dream through worker awareness, seen as an active and conscious contributor to producing goods. This two-pronged process is playing out on a large scale today through globalisation, which, far from leading to a democratic society, seems to be even more an instrument of domination. This approach contrasts with the attempt to decondition individuals through utopian, religious, new-age, and magical thinking. However, all dreams remain unattainable without catharsis or a process leading to universal brotherhood. Perhaps Pluto’s simultaneous action can expedite the process as long as it does not result in extreme authoritarianism.
Bibliography
- Dane Rudhyar – The Galactic Dimension of Astrology – New York 1975
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