A Sea Change with Neptune Retrograde in Aquarius

The vastness of creation can be likened to a mighty ocean, in which each of us is but a drop. While Neptune – planet of divine consciousness – retrogrades through altruistic Aquarius, it’s a useful time to understand whether your spiritual practice is best supported by gathering with others, or done solo.

Neptune, that planet that leads us towards cosmic unity or headlong into a fog, is on the move. Having dipped its toes in its home sign of mystic Pisces, Neptune now retreats from the water and leaps into the airy realm of humanitarian Aquarius. It’s a neat trick, but you can do that when you’re the planet of illusion – especially when you’re traveling backwards (or retrograde), as Neptune currently is.

To recap this planet’s travels: Neptune recently spent thirteen years in Aquarius, and then settled into Pisces for a few months (from April 2011 until now), only to backtrack into Aquarius, so as to help us integrate the many messages and experiences that culminated during that decade-plus transit. The interesting thing about Neptune’s stay in Aquarius is that the modern ruling planet of Aquarius (Uranus) was in Pisces for much of that time. In a sense, Uranus and Neptune swapped homes for several years, in what is known as a mutual reception. Oh the experiences we shared, as social networking became a dominant feature of our daily lives.

Now we are given a period of six months to look back, and to hopefully contextualize events within a spiritual framework. Neptune’s ephemeral energy takes us beyond the mundane limitations of the ego, and reminds us of the larger purpose underlying all of creation. If recent events (say from October 2010 until now) have shaken you and changed life as you know it, you’re not alone. Thankfully, Neptune’s retrograde phase offers us a chance to find the deeper meaning, and mitigates the need to take everything personally.

Now that Neptune is set to finish up its tour of Aquarius (come February 2012), this timeline favours a review of how you relate to the inner dimensions. These can be described as ‘otherworldly,’ whether you believe in alternate realms and timelines, or just appreciate them as fantasy to revel in. We access the interior dimensions largely through imagination and meditation, or through chanting and sacred dance, or through rhythmic music, especially drumming. These are all associated with Neptune’s vibration.

Once you’ve managed to quiet the incessant chatter of the ego mind, through any of the above methods, you can bathe in the cosmic ocean that is Neptune’s realm, and experience your oneness with All. Or you can apply visualization techniques to enhance the manifestation of your most cherished goals. Play free-style with your creativity, or experiment with loosening some of the strictures in your life and see what happens when you simply go with the flow.

In the sign of group- and friendship-oriented Aquarius, Neptune retrograde emphasizes a review of your spiritual supports. The focus is on enhancing your spiritual practice through groups or in social settings. Are you getting everything you need from the people with whom you share a similar philosophical, religious, spiritual or occult mindset? Along those lines, how do you relate to social media – do these encourage and foster your spiritual needs? It’s interesting to note that Aquarius also represents the loner – what Albert Camus would call L’Etranger. Maybe your spiritual devotion is a solitary pursuit. Aquarius energy also favours the exploration and discovery of scientific advancements that resonate with mystic teachings, so if you’re fascinated by quantum physics this is a great time to delve deeper.

Like any planet, there’s a shadow side to Neptune; it is associated not only with mystic revelations but with delusions. If the imagination is a portal to the Divine, one can just as easily get lost down the rabbit hole. Indeed, getting lost is something to watch out for when you’re shimmying along a Neptunian path. No wonder escapism through alcohol and narcotics is a shadow function of Neptune. So is an inability to see past illusions – whether these are conjured up by your mind, or you’re hoodwinked by another’s deception.

With that in mind, keep yourself grounded, for watery Neptune unites with the airy element of Aquarius to create an enchanting mist or a befuddling fog. If you can avoid the pitfalls of this out-of-this-world transit, Neptune in Aquarius’ final boarding call bestows the opportunity to check in with yourself and to make any necessary alterations so that the gift of the vast realms within you can be used for their highest purpose.

Once Neptune departs Aquarius next year, it will not return to this part of the tropical zodiac until the year 2161. Its most hoped for manifestation is that of a unified collective around the world who aim to birth the new era of peace and unity. Sounds like the dawning of the Age of Aquarius. May it happen in our lifetime.