The Planet Neptune is often called the planet of illusion, confusion, delusion, lies and deception. When transiting Neptune makes contact with a planet in the chart of an individual or entity (countries have charts, as well as companies, cities, and all legal entities) situations often occur that involve very peculiar experiences and the collective or individual is often not prone to seeing things in a realistic manner. Deception is the key word, either self imposed or imposed by circumstances designed whereby the individual or collective fails to see clearly what is really happening.
The most commonly used chart for the USA is the Sibly chart, and in this chart, the USA has a 12 degree Sagittarius ascendant and a 27 degree moon in Aquarius that falls in the third house of communication, expression, and debate. In the USA Natal chart the moon represents the common people and their mood.
An Aquarius moon in the chart of a country represents a collective of people who are emotional Aquarians. Aquarius is ruled by both Uranus and Saturn. Uranus is the planet associated with rebels, rebellions, individuality, and revolutions. One of the best known rebellions in the Western World was called the Boston Tea Party. The founders of America had a revolutionary spirit, without which America would still be a British colony.
It is totally fitting America has an Aquarius moon and it describes the common feeling of the people. Aquarius is known as being open minded, fair and impartial, detached and on the cutting edge, as well as ahead of their own time. An Aquarius moon often portrays an interest in philosophy, and finding or creating an ideal world. Aquarius is often about the isms (ideals) of the world- capitalism, socialism, feminism, nationalism, Catholicism, militarism, or whatever the ism or idea of the time may be.
The moon is a changeable luminary, especially placed in the third house. This shows a population of people changeable in their moods and opinions, always seeking that which is ideal. Aquarian moons value friendship and impartial judgment, and are considered to have a ‘world view.’
Transiting Neptune has been conjunct or within a few degrees of the Moon in America’s natal chart since summer of 2008. Neptune conjunct Moon in the natal chart of a country would indicate a population that is depressed, confused, and unaware of events that are be taking place. Incorrect or incomplete ideas are likely to occur, as well as confusion over values, ideas and situations. The moon represents the most primitive of emotions and it is the core of the emotional being. At its worst the transit shows a population that is being duped by the powers that be, and left holding the bag. Not only is the population being duped by the individuals in charge, individuals contribute to their own demise by burying their heads in the sand, and failing to grasp the consequences of their own apathy, disinterest, fear, and willingness to go along with the status quo or move past fear, and seek viable solutions. As Neptune moves away from the moon, clarity will start to come into focus for American’s and situations will be revealed for what they are. At its highest this transit can represent spiritual enlightenment, usually through hardship and sacrifice.
When a planet contacts the moon it will be tempered with the emotionality and influence of the planet involved. Neptune creates a feeling of idealness that may seem very real at the time; Neptune in Aquarius conjunct the Moon of the USA has seemingly called individuals who easily respond to the radical nature of Aquarius to idealize certain political parties, religious views, and other ideas that embrace the ism’s (ideals) or religious-political idealism they perceive as ideal at the time.
This is Neptune in Aquarius in motion, always searching for the universal ideal. Neptune is the most misunderstood of planets due to its dual nature. Neptune rules spirituality, callings of the highest order, religion and all things spiritual and metaphysical. The other side of Neptune is the dark side of lies, deception, betrayals, misunderstanding, and the potential fleecing of those under its influence due to miscommunication, misunderstanding, or absolute mistruths. It is a nebulous, watery, planet and those afflicted with hard transits are prone to finding out they were wrong about things held most true. It takes a pure heart and unblemished soul to withstand the test of Neptune and not fall under its delusionary spell and live to regret it, or otherwise see the matters in a different light once the transiting planets start to separate. Neptune transits always call for sacrifice in some form, and the desire to merge with something greater than self, whether it be ideas, individuals, or ultimately, even death in some cases. Neptune transits are dissolving in nature, and prone to involve elements of untruths and misconceptions.
Neptune came within orb of America’s moon during summer of 2008 and over four years has enamored American society with the ideals and isms Aquarius is fond of. American’s have heeded the call of Neptune: individuals have chosen to merge themselves with political/religious ideology-whichever side of the isle fits the individual picture of a perfect world. In true Uranian style some of the parties and ideas have been revolutionary and promote an agenda that is totally different from the old. The problem with Neptune idealism is that no matter how real or perfect the ideal may seem, there are often hidden factors involved, lies and deceit, or weak strategies based on unrealistic expectations.
Thus, American’s have promoted what they perceive to be their political parties’ stance on social and financial issues, ignoring facts and focusing on the ism or ideal rather than the problem itself: supporting political leaders and would be leaders who capitalize on mass confusion, promoting an alleged ideal. Thus, it becomes easier for the powers that be-banks, insurance companies, Wall Street, big business and other national and international factions to manipulate and control the masses. An individual under the influence of Neptune-Moon is often duped by others, and he/she often contributes to their problems by failing to face the facts, becoming their own worst enemy by default.
In world astrology Neptune represents deception and confusion, as well as social movements. The Occupy Wall street movement was born during the last half of 2011, on the final swing of Neptune conjunct America’s Moon, and prior to that the Tea Party Movement. Neptune rules high ideals, but also confusion and lack of focused expression or goals. Their appeal of both groups to the public is on an emotional level, against those perceived as taking advantage of the masses. The Occupy protestors are nebulous individuals who defy definition. Not a bad thing, totally Neptunian in nature. Neptune is formless, foggy and structure free and absolute focus is usually lacking. Before the Occupy Movement, March of 2009 saw the rise of the Tea Party. After its initial rise promoters (there were no leaders, by design) began to be seen as off the wall or too radical, which watered down the appeal. Members were against the government and government programs and some of their tactics and speakers bordered ideas of anarchy. Eventually, they were linked to the Washington insiders the Koch Brothers, and the rest is history-the Tea Party became relegated by the mainstream to right wing extremists, hypocrites, and kooks. Such is the way of Neptune-deceit, lies, lack of clarity and dissolution.
The moon rules women, and Neptune conjunct America’s moon has produced several Moon-Neptune female Presidential candidates over the past four years. First was Sarah Palin, a 22 degree Aquarian herself, with a 6 degree Aquarian moon. She talked about the fact she would not play be the rules, and left her Governorship in Alaska amid allegations of abusing her office, although she was officially cleared of misconduct.
During the first time Neptune was conjunct Palin’s Sun she was touted as the next Vice President of the USA, joining Senator McCain’s campaign for President August 29, 2008. But, the campaign was lost to freshman Senator Barrack Obama. In true Neptunian fashion Sarah, who was once considered a savior by conservative, evangelical Republicans became known as one of the lunatic fringe over the next three years. As the Tea party sank, so did her star and she become host of a TV show. In Sarah, we can see the Neptunian process at its most typical. It begins as a process or event that seems very real. Sarah garnered the limelight for a time, and anticipated a bright political future, as did her supporters. As soon as she announced her candidacy touting conservative values, her teen age daughter announced an unplanned pregnancy with her on again off again boyfriend. From the start she was surrounded by scandals and mysteries. She was not up to the intellectual standard American’s expect, her ideas were radical and excluded all but the most conservative, evangelicals, mainly white. She left a State Governorship under a cloud of suspicion, her political star fizzled, and she became a commentator and Reality TV Star. By the time Republican candidates were chosen in 2011 she was considered unelectable and considered a kook by the majority.
Another woman who became prominent during this transit was Michelle Bachmann, born 04-6-56 with a 24 degree Aquarius moon. Her rise as a Presidential candidate came quickly in late summer 2011, when she won the Ames straw poll. Like Sarah Palin, she lit a fire under conservative, evangelical voters, for a time. While Sarah remained in the limelight for a few years, Michelle lasted only a few months. Her campaign never developed a solid message. One trait she shared with Sarah was a basic lack of facts when it came to American history, and a very public bungling of the facts. Michelle’s campaign seemed to focus on primarily two subjects-God and gays, and she took heat from the American Pediatrics association over her comment the HPV vaccine causes mental retardation, with no evidence to back it up. Again, she embodied the lack of clarity Neptune personifies.
Along with the ill informed HPV vaccine attack, her husband’s concept of ‘praying away the gay’ at his clinics during a time when many American’s support gay marriage, a reassessment of her electability occurred among voters. Rick Perry’s entrance into the race spelled the death knoll for her campaign for President, and she dropped out early 2012. Michelle’s campaign was Neptune at its best-smoke and mirrors with no real structure or solid core, surrounded by mysterious and questionable associations or circumstances.
The biggest event in America during the Neptune-Moon period began with the Bank Bailouts of 2008. During this time, Neptune was within a few degrees of America’s moon. TARP funding was signed into law by George Bush October 3, 2008 in response to the subprime mortgage crisis and authorized the Secretary of the Treasury to spend up to 700 billion to purchase failing bank assets both US and foreign. (The moon also rules housing and home, and the real estate market crashed at this time) Rules concerning the funding were unclear, the public did not have access to information, and would soon find out foreign banks were being bailed out with US taxpayer money, as well.
Some of the money did not go where it was intended. By January 2009, the first TARP fraud case was filed against Nashville based Gordon Grigg and Protrust Management. In January 2010, 86 fraud cases had been opened. The Special Inspector General told lawmakers, "Inadequate oversight and insufficient information about what companies are doing with the money leaves the program open to fraud, including conflicts of interest facing fund managers, collusion between participants and vulnerabilities to money laundering.”
In January, 2012 as Neptune in Aquarius makes its last pass over America’s moon. The US Government Accountability Office stated, “The U.S. Treasury Department has highlighted projected gains while omitting estimated losses in press releases about federal bailouts over the past two years.” Additionally, they stated expected costs were omitted that could render TAARP investments unprofitable. The program remains shrouded in secrecy.
The above are but a few of the most obvious examples of the influence of Neptune conjunct America’s Moon. It does not address the housing and job crisis, the BP oil disaster, the oil crisis, the wars and causalities that have exhausted American’s hearts and tax reserves. It does not address the hopes the Presidential election of 2008 promised, then disappointed. It does it address the mass confusion many American’s feel over the loss of what was once the American Dream: perhaps the biggest loss of all.
The collective mind in America has been uneasy, burdened with fear and forebodings. As Neptune moves away from America’s moon, the collective, or all of us, will begin to see the world in a new and different light. Perhaps a new American Dream will be born. When lessons are learned Neptune-Moon aspects can bring about personal and spiritual illuminations and awakenings and connection with all that is infinite. As Neptune moves into Pisces in February it will move into the most spiritual sign of all, and perhaps we can begin the long process of healing wounds, lives, people, and the United States of America.
Next: Neptune is Pisces-the Twelfth House/ End of a Cycle
Comments