Follow the Sun
Becoming Our Potential Genius
by Jef Bartow
In our last article, it was fairly easy to see how Uranus affects us, both as a personality and later a spiritualizing Self. The best metaphor for Uranus is a lightning strike. Neptune on the other hand, may seem to be the opposite in nature. An early manifestation of our Neptune nature is as an urge to lose oneself in a larger whole. This whole may be an organization, association, ideal or society in general. This is how Neptune is a characteristic of the drug culture, idealistic fads and what became the "New Age" movement in the 1970s and 1980s. A better representation of Neptune within our materialistic life is our urge to escape, whether from the bounds of our Saturnian society or just the pressures and anxieties of day-to-day existence.Until we make direct contact with our internal Neptune, it tends to bring a sense of confusion, illusion or oceanic feeling to the area of life where it resides natally. Mythologically, Neptune is the God of the Seas. There is no definite sense of boundaries with Neptune. Additionally, at a lower level it does tend to bring us psychic powers of one sort or another based on the sign and house it’s placed in our birth chart.The real Neptune is a fundamental part of our spiritualized nature or spiritual Self. It represents our spiritual place of knowing or gnosis. Conditioning our inspirational nature, it becomes a source of illumination, inspiration, realization and revelation. It brings us the power of faith. By doing so, it becomes our boundary-dissolver, our idealistic one-pointedness and a catalyst in resolving our rigid sense of individuality.Our articles are available for reproduction for all members. Please give credit to the author.
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When we internalize our Neptune and therefore have conscious use of its powers, we attain inspirational wisdom beyond reason. Our creative ability becomes recognized as genius. What was once compassion for others, becomes compassion for all life. As Neptune transits our birth chart, it dissolves the antiquated complexes, forms and consciousness of our Personality. Along with Pisces, it is the power to liberate us and release us from Matter.Since Neptune is slow-moving, most of you reading this article will have Neptune either residing in Virgo, Libra, Scorpio or Sagittarius in your birth chart. Today it is on the verge of leaving Aquarius for an extended time in its natural sign of Pisces. Most baby boomers, like myself, will have it natally in Libra or Scorpio. The difference in these two placements of Neptune key upon the element in which it resides, since the element (earth, water, air, fire) provides its natural tendencies. Those with Neptune in Libra will personally tend to get lost in the air of thoughtful detachment, aspiring versatility and over flexibility. Then again, those with Neptune in Scorpio will tend to get lost to the oceans of emotions through an overly sensitivity, fluidity and vulnerability. Their heightened sense of nurturing and empathy can put them in situations that are difficult to disconnect from.Images provided by NASA
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Let's say we put a natal Neptune in Libra in the first house. On the surface, this individual's self-image and basic approach to life will be characterized by the tendencies of air described above. They will have more difficulty than most in creating a grounded sense of identity. And when times get tough, fortitude and integrity in standing up for who they are may be missing.What this individual needs is to develop the qualities of Libra. Since Libra is a Cardinal sign, this means to become active, dynamic, energetic, initiating and progressive in developing their self-image and identity (first house areas of life). On the other hand, if Neptune resides in Scorpio in the first house, this individual needs to be stable, determined, reserved, consistent and methodical (all fixed qualities) in developing and maintaining a true sense of identity and self-image.As we've done before, another powerful factor in actualizing our higher compassionate nature and inspirational wisdom comes from where Pisces (Neptune’s home sign) resides in the birth chart. Since Pisces is a mutable sign, fulfilling its needs in the areas of life where it resides natally necessitates us to become adaptable, versatile, responsive, observing, flexible and sociable (mutable qualities) in these activities in life. In our example with Neptune in Libra, this will most probably mean in the six house activities of day-to-day routine, service to others, work and the ability to make self-adjustments in resolving our karma.
I believe most individuals would say that they do not have any inspirational wisdom or creative genius within them. They're just struggling to use the abilities they have in the best way they can. I grew up with the natural tendency to resist and avoid writing in all forms. It was difficult, I didn't like it and I wasn't good at it. I've not taken any writing classes and certainly not just magically become a good writer.
What I did was make a life-changing commitment to spiritual growth. I then followed through in a highly persistent, determined, detailed, consistent and methodical (my Sun sign’s Taurus qualities) manner in transforming my personality nature and individualizing my spiritual nature. Fulfilling the cardinal needs of Capricorn on my third house cusp of writing and communication in conjunction with my Neptune spiritual nature have brought me to a place where I can easily document and communicate the inspirational wisdom that comes to me. As a past business consultant, there were numerous times in which my clients used the term genius to complement me on my day-to-day work with them.
For most of you reading this article, another place to get help in actualizing your Neptunian spiritual nature will come through Chiron, Venus, Pluto or Jupiter (rulers of Virgo to Sagittarius). In our example with Neptune in Libra, this is Venus. Let's say Venus is in the seventh house, which would most likely put it in Aries natally. Fulfilling the needs of Venus in Aries in the seventh house will contribute in connecting with and actualizing this individual’s higher Neptune. Since Aries is also a Cardinal sign, this means being active, dynamic, energetic, initiating and progressive in one's one-on-one relationships and/or marriage. By doing this with others, this individual will better connect with their own internal inspirational wisdom and creative genius. With Neptune in Scorpio, this would mean developing the qualities related to the sign and house that Pluto resides in natally.
