Neptune and the Tide of Light and Darkness

In this blog I would like to make some comments on the planet Neptune. Often in older astrology books the planet the key words are dreams, ideals, illusion’s, mystery, spiritual, psychic, escapism, addiction, mysticism, and the list goes on with the polarity of the illumination and darkness that is possible with Neptune.
Neptune is first and foremost a water sign, the reference to the sea, which is saltwater by the way, which we always remember as the cradle of life. The symbol of the sign of Pisces, ruler of the twelve house is that of two fish, one pointed up the other deeper down and the two are held by a long almost embryological cord.
It is my contention that the student need only meditate on this symbol to gain great insight to the planet’s meaning. First while the symbol of fish live in the sea, we must also remember that the sea is nature’s solvent. Most things are dissolved by salt water and yet this is the cosmic soup of live of all kinds. It is also the source of the evolution of the survival of the fittest. From the smallest forms of life to the shark, the sea is where it started and still and a whole world of creatures l live.
Fresh water is another story of evolution, but the very origin of fresh water comes from the evaporation of seawater into the air where clouds bring fresh water purified of the salt. This is why Aquarius the water giver. He takes water from the sea to create fresh water and lightening.
The ocean is thus very easily conceptualized as Jung’s unconsciousness –it first and foremost a place of light and darkness, a place where vision can be difficult or clear almost and sometimes to transcendence. It is a place where archetypes flourish. It is a place of dolphins and sharks,
The first thing a scuba diver asks is what is the visibility today. Sometimes the waters are bright with the sun, other time the sea is dark and limited ability to see makes entering the deep dangerous and confusing, it easy to lose one’s way. And we must remember in all this there is a chain of being, a hierarchy in which only the strong survive. Yet the scuba diver will see both the joy of fish embracing the light, of fearing the night where an abundance of creatures can attack. It is also a place where rust can eat away at his gear if not well taken care of. All metals are destroyed over time in the sea, even great battleships. Seawater brings changes.
Depth leans to the darkness, it is the time when the predators can dive deep to hunt with gifts of perception that use evolved ways of seeing in the dark with electromagnet awareness. Sharks can perceive through their own electro awareness. Others use sound. All this can be built on understanding the glyph of Pisces. This higher fish is in the light the other fuller down is in the dark. In the light is the consciousness the darkener the unconsciousness. In short as Jung said, a dangerous place.
Thus we immediately see the immediate few key words: solvent, source of light and darkness, well spring of all life, both predator and vegan. Vision of perception that over whelms, vision of darkness and danger. Ancient sailors were sure of large dangerous creatures that could destroy a ship and gobble sailors. In the light is visual navigation, in the dark deeper instincts dominate.
Lets look at my favorite word for Neptune: solvent and fluidity which brings changes. Neptune is the challenger of boundaries. Things will not remain the same. Visions may sharpen or become darker. One can be sucked into darkness or swim in the light.
This essay is not to present a list or a long group of “key words.” It is hopefully a spark for discussion of symbolism from which meanings can be perceived in relation to the planets and the elements in the zodiac. Neptune is the mystery of light and darkness, of change and boundary’s that will change. Nothing can resist this flow of the sea. Darkness can lead to destructive events, or one can go from darkness to light. Similarly light can go to darkness. One can thrive or drown. Even Saturn struggles with Neptune’s ability to erode structure. As ruler of the 12th house, it is truly a matter of the splendors of illumination or the darkness of death.