The
combination of Saturn and Neptune is the most
mystical combination there is. But it is also subtle
and difficult.
On
the physical level it can seem as if Neptune
desintegrates the wholeness and togetherness of the
ego, which is the reason that illness is a
phenomenon that belongs as one of its expressions to
this combination. COSI (Combination of Stellar
Influences) by Reinhold Ebertin only has negative
things to say about Neptune. He translates it almost
solely as deceit and illness. But that book was
written in between two worldwars and that is almost
a century ago. Collectively there has been evolution
with regard to the content of Saturn and Neptune,
because on the physical level the reverse side was
that Saturn makes an end to disease, so it promotes
health. If we talk about evolution in this sense,
health in reality can also mean psychological health,
where the body may still suffer, but not the Soul.
This suffering is an expression of Neptune as
ruler of the Piscean Age. Neptune is now in Aquarius
however and tries to bring a new sound into the
world. In the future it will no longer be by
suffering and by being crucified to go forward on
the spiritual path, it will be by way of cooperation
between the individual and the group to which one
belongs; in that sense, that we will start to
realize ourselves that fortunately we are not all at
the same time in a downperiod. In that way one can
help the other if and when the need arises, as long
as the group to whom one belongs spiritually is
known. But now we are already talking about a
spiritual viewpoint on this "first physical"
level. That is because it ultimately is the
intention for Spirit to receive form in matter, for
which matter has to ascend.
On
the psychological second level the Saturn/Neptune
combination means: giving away one's responsibility
(in a negative sense) or taking responsibility for
one's dreams and maybe spiritual goals (positively
speaking). Saturn of old has two faces, the one face
turned to matter (the Descent into Matter), and the
other is pointing the path to Eternity . . . If from
a psychological viewpoint we look "upward"
from the viewpoint of ourselves, we confront the
rings of Saturn, which esoterically are the
guardians on the threshold of consciousness (Neptune
ruling consciousness). It is then a test for your
personality whether you can take responsibility
yourself for your life and dreams for otherwise the
rings do not open for Neptune to work in unison with
Saturn instead of as an opposition.
On
the transpersonal level we are on the purely
spiritual level and quite often in this process of
opposition between the two planets of time and
timelessness, of the here and now and eternity,
there is a process of desintegration of the entire
structure of the personality (Neptune working in on
the Saturn-structured matter: the rules, the
structures of our eternal lives) to make a next step
to precisely the integration of the personality with
the Higher Self (Neptune inspired) Pure
Consciousness (Neptune), or the transpersonal life (also
Neptune).
Because
very few people are"whole" within, One
with all that is, most people (even those on
the transpersonal path), will have and still live
the Saturn/Neptune opposition as an opposition. It
means that in this present Saturn and Neptune
timeframe we always see one of the two planets
opposite and outside of ourselves if we choose the
other pole. Some will react more subtly than others
on this opposition. Some will have a sleeping
consciousness and others will have externalized and
awakened some of Neptune's world already. (Neptune
awakened is the Higher Self being lived
consciously).
So
even if you were to identify yourself with the
Higher Self or Pure Consciousness, you will meet
with an opposition of Saturn in the outside world,
where Time is the ruler, being divided into past,
present and future.
If
you are by nature someone who is very Saturnal and
who has little confidence in the Great Spirit, than
you will meet with that quality in various known and
lesser known forms outside of you. Saturn placed
outside is meeting up with karma in the outside
world (which can be good or less so). Neptune placed
outside is meeting God in the outside world (that
you will or will not recognize).
In
Dane Rudhyar's Astrological Mandala (Vintage Books,
NY May '74, ISBN 0-394-71992-2) you will find a more
mystical interpretation of the Sabian Symbols which
originally were written down in San Diego as
clairvoyant astrological symbols of the 360 zodiacal
degrees. With the aid of Rudhyar's insights we
can read the necessary meanings of the Saturn/Neptune
opposition, what they meant, what they still mean,
and what it is going to be potentially, both
individually and collectively, as expression of this
quality "in the skies" in many different
forms on Earth. There is also a form of chronology,
because we are talking about three oppositions,
which of course follow one another, this time in a
period of 11 months.
The
first opposition took place after a period of
enormous draught over here in Western Europe (the
Sun and Saturn with Neptune not in material form) on August 31, 2006.
August itself became the wettest month of all,
breaking all weather records (Neptune pours down and
took over). I predicted this successfully on the
Dutch pages of my website early 2006, which was not
so difficult. I merely thought of what happened over
here in 1953 when Saturn and Neptune together
brought about a true deluge in one of our provinces
(called "Sea-land"/ Neptune-Saturn). In a
timeframe where our inner and outer dykes (the
Delta-works) where not in order. During the
next Saturn/Neptune conjunction in 1988 the Delta
Works were completed and its technology exported to
Pakistan, because it was over there in 1988 that a
true 'deluge' was happening then. Evolutionary
speaking during those past Saturn/Neptune meetings
we were still weak within and without, as healing
from the previous worldwars was still necessary.
Neptune was not functioning properly on the
spiritual level yet.
August
31 2006 Saturn was on the 18th degree of Leo. The
Sabian symbol speaks of a chemist conducting a
laboratory experiment. An enquiry is going on.
Neptune was in opposition and the 18th degree of
Aquarius says: secret motives are being published,
behaviour from the past becomes public knowledge.
These two meanings were of course closely connected:
due to experiments and enquiry certain hidden
factors from the past came out into the open. Maybe
you performed your own experimental enquiries with
astrology and came to face the present-day results?
Reversing
it and taking Neptune as the starting point linked
up to Higher Universal Truths: it was the past which
led to new experiments of enquiry. This can have
taken place on the physical level (healing), on the
psychological level (inner work), or on the
transpersonal level, and then it directly zoomed in
on your spiritual path. It is also possible,
(and even likely) that you have lived both sides of
the opposition, depending on changing circumstances.
Maybe this abstraction gives you an idea as to what
happened in 2006?
The
2nd opposition was part of the process, it took
place very recently in February, but in fact it is
possible to move step by step in reading up the
Mandala degrees between the 18th and 21st degrees.
The 2nd opposition took place on the 21st degree of
Leo for Saturn on February 28,2007, and on the 21st
degree of Aquarius for Neptune.
Neptune
really played out its role as planet of
disillusionment looking at the Sabian symbol:
"A disappointed and desillusioned woman
courageously faces a seemingly empty life". The
disillusionment can have occurred vis-a-vis people
represented by the house Neptune is transitting in
in your own chart. Saturn was opposite it and busied
itself with negative spiritual experiences (according
to the Mandala). Now, all things which happened to
us in this respect, if any, are karmic visitations
and need to be faced courageously, as a test on
one's strength of character.
What
will the last Saturn/Neptune opposition mean on June
25th (15.55 GMT) at 21.47 Aquarius (Neptune) and Leo
(Saturn)?
"Man
is never left without assistance when eagerly
seeking to grow emotionally and spiritually. Even if
he does not consciously realize the intent and value
of what sustains his self development and cushions
the shocks which life provides, still the assistance
is there. He may think: No one understands me. But
the understanding is there if he does not
egotistically take for granted that life and society
owe him everything."
Saturn
opposes it and may this time be the carrier of the
understanding, its symbol being: "a carrier
pigeon fulfilling its mission". Spirituality,
in terms of training for service to mankind, i.e.
the goal is to be a world-server.
Now,
it is entirely possible that we need to serve the
world and get training via the circumstances of the
house where Saturn is transitting in our own charts.
And it is highly likely that the desillusionment
which will turn into an inner confirmation of being
understood after all (on whatever intuitive
Neptunian level) takes place in the house where
Neptune is currently transitting.
Neptune
is such a subtle planet and often takes so long
sojourning a house, that we can hardly become aware
of its function if it were not for an opposition of
Saturn taking place!