MERCURY-CONJUNCT-ISIS OPPOSED NEPTUNE RX-CONJUNCT-SIVA (7-8 Virgo-Pisces, 12-13 August 2015)

Blessings to All. Mercury opposes Neptune along the Virgo-Pisces axis, challenging us to be articulate, precise, analytical and pragmatic in our approach to the amorphous realms of transcendental spirituality. It’s a face-off between two energies which are so vital to the work that so many of us do as Spiritual Facilitators, Seekers, and Beings. Whilst Virgo is seeking definition, boundary and embodiment (to serve better), Pisces is seeking to dissolve, to remain unseen and unknown – and to connect with Mystery that is Spirit in undefinable ways. Neither is superior to the other.

Mercury is conjunct asteroid Isis (7 Virgo), representing the nurturing qualities of the Goddess Isis, and equally, the physical steps and tasks she must perform in order to provide that nurture. Neptune is conjunct asteroid Siva (8 Pisces), representing the formless, compassionate energy of Lord Shiva himself. The presence of these two asteroids deepens the archetypal nature of the astrological opposition. Here we see the Practical, Earthy Priestess face-to-face with the Boundless, Formless, Compassionate Masculine.

In a productive sense, the opposition between Virgo and Pisces and encourage us to find a balanced understanding of spiritual matters – in ways that integrate the Spirit, Mind, Body, Heart – everything. That would of course be, the ideal. But at times, the opposition becomes and unnecessary contest of strength and enforces false binaries.

For me, this manifested quite directly as transiting Mercury in Virgo is in my 3rd house whereas transiting Neptune in Pisces is in my 9th house. I ended up talking about a detailed plan of action for my dear brother (sibling – Mercury, 3rd house) who is like me, a spiritualist, albeit of a different kind. We used a combination of astrology (9th house) and, really, just listening to one another, to cover a lot of ground discussing issues quite vital to the Virgo-Pisces dynamic as we charted out some practical ideas to help him follow his Path with Spirit. It turned out to be quite a nurturing (Virgo) and spiritually rejuvenating (Pisces) conversation. Yay for us!

However, that’s a productive manifestation of this energy. It can manifest in different ways though, as the opposition forces two imbalanced expressions of Mercury-Neptune Retrograde or Virgo-Pisces to swing wildly to different extremes, and back.

Mercury in Virgo – in excess – may manifest as an overly harsh, critical, or nitpicky approach to the discussion of Service. Boundaries may appear to be set in stone, at least in the eyes of those who uphold them. Any alternative ways of viewing the same situation may then be criticized for not being ‘good enough’ or ‘spiritual enough’. In daily life, this would focus upon the daily rituals, routines and habits which we use as the building blocks of material existence. Issues surrounding health, wellness and daily work patterns can come to the fore. In the spiritual domain, the emphasis may be upon charting out the details, realizing the material requirements it takes to Serve Spirit in the way we are guided to. Mercury brings the focus of this energy to your thoughts, ideas, and ways you express them – probably a good day to postpone discussions on such topics with most people – unless you can bring in the Neptune-Siva archetype that can accept everything, even the feeling of being judged or misunderstood.

Neptune Retrograde in Pisces – in excess – can in itself, veer wildly between an indiscriminating acceptance of anyone and anything as being ‘spiritual’ – or – to a hard-edged rejection of anything that seems amorphous, indescribable or that requires one to ‘open up’ to Spirit. The middle path here is a willingness to experience Spirit, but with the knowledge that the Ego and its compulsions can make things appear differently from what they claim to be. Just try to avoid any spiritual extremes today – be it of what you might see as openness, or closed-mindedness. Take things you hear – and your reactions to them – with a grain of salt. Bear in mind that Neptune is famous for projections and distortions – if you feel insulted, chances are you’ve read something quite innocent in a way that triggers your own wounds. Though if someone is truly being a jerk to you, bring in Isis-Virgo and draw that line. Also bear in mind that Neptune is famous for its escapist tendencies, whenever it feels stressed or pressured in some way.

The interaction between the two can be quite interesting as Mercury and Neptune are in signs that they ‘rule’, so their influence will be a lot stronger. In my case, I found two of my sessions needed rescheduling due to mysterious (Neptune) electronic (Mercury) issues – which then meant I had time and head-space to have that unexpected conversation with my brother.

To sum it all up, we’re all balancing two different principles, or flows of energy in this opposition:

Surrender, Trust, Faith – Going with the Flow (so you can flow to wherever it is you need to Serve)
Integrity, Boundary, Holding your Ground – Manifesting the Form of Service (so you can channel the flow)

You can also read these ideas as they are woven into our discussions on the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine, or Yin/Yang Dynamics, i.e. the Priestess Rising and the ‘New’ Compassionate Masculine.

They’re not mutually exclusive categories or ideas, just different sides of the same coin. Don’t be afraid to do both, or be both 🙂

In closing,

The waters of Pisces now look across to the fertile soil of Virgo. Together, they have the chance to sustain life. They need to come together in balance and respect for one another, lest all that remains is muddy water and barren soil.

How do you choose to embody that balance?

Where are you ‘too open’?
Where could you use a little more discretion and forethought in your spiritual experience?
Where do you need a boundary to better Serve?

What do you hold onto too tightly?
Where are you too closed?
Where do you need to open up to better Experience Spirit and Dance with its Mystery?

Whatever you choose will be right for where you need to be right now, but that doesn’t mean that will be your final, or absolute answer 🙂

Blessings to All,

Bairavee Balasubramaniam

The Sky Priestess

ENERGY UPDATE: 17th June 2015 (Neptune Rx in Pisces, Saturn Rx in Scorpio, New Moon + Mars in Gemini, Vesta conjunct South Node / opposing North Node

3 major shifts / events recently: Neptune’s Retrograde in Pisces (June 11), Saturn’s regress into Scorpio (June 14) and the Gemini New Moon (June 16) – give or take a day depending on where you are on the planet. Neptune’s Retrograde gives us the ability to pierce through, or dissolve the veil of illusion that surrounds our relationship with transcendental Mystery. Saturn’s regress into Scorpio gives us the chance to revisit and re-shore up the foundations of our relationship with authenticity, power, alchemy and intimacy.

The Gemini New Moon (25 Gemini), between now and the next 2 days, gives us the opportunity to plant seeds which can ultimately transform our perceptions and re-pattern deeply entrenched forms of early childhood conditioning. It’s also a good time to reconnect with and replenish relationships with siblings and one’s early childhood environment/years/constructs. With Mars so close by (24 Gemini), we’ll also be revisiting the ways in which we understand our ability to assert ourselves, and the ways in which we co-construct perceptions of masculinity.

You will the reap the seeds sown now during the Gemini Full Moon, on 25/26 November 2015.

It’s a fairly intense time, with such big shifts happening, and many are experiencing it through sudden crises, illnesses, outbursts (though some will sail right through it).

What I’m also excited about is the upcoming North Node-Vesta opposition – Vesta-South Node conjunction (June 24 @ 5 Libra-Aries). That’s going to be BIG for Priestesses, Shaman/kas, and other Facilitators. The emphasis of work ‘down below’, i.e. in the psychic and spiritual Underworld is likely to be highlighted, as is clearing ancestral lines. The Priest/ess is then called to stand in the fires of ‘I AM Consciousness’, no longer needing to approach the healing experience as a form of battle.

Those of you seeking greater insight into your own paths as Facilitators/Priestesses, you might want to consider getting a Vesta Special Reading done at this time as Vesta (the Goddess Asteroid of Priestessing) is lighting up the skies, and charging it with her Sacred Flame! Hooray!

Many Blessings and Much Love,

Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam PhD  ( @theskypriestess on Twitter ) ; www.fb.com/theskypriestess ( Astrology with Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam PhD FB Page )

Text and Image (Kolam at Kapaaleshwarar Mylapore Temple, 2015) © Bairavee Balasubramaniam, 2015. All rights reserved.

Remember that my Vesta specials are still ongoing!

Astrology with Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam PhD​

THE SUN / VENUS TRINE NEPTUNE RETROGRADE – PORTALS TO TRANSCENDENCE

Blessings. Current astrological aspects in the sky are intensifying our experience of the spiritual and otherworldly realms, represented by the energy of Neptune Retrograde at 4 Pisces. We are collectively being asked to awaken to and transcend whatever illusory preconceptions we may have to do with our spiritual journeys and ourconnection with Spirit. We are asked to expand into spaces of Love wherein labels, boundaries and forms struggle to exist as independent entities in the Cosmic Ocean of One-ness. This can be a fantastic, transcendental experience for those seeking dissolution for spiritual purposes, but it can equally manifest as the ‘loss’ of key identities or parts of the self, particularly through the violation of boundaries. How it manifests for you depends upon how you work with Neptune’s energy, particularly in Retrograde – rather than creating a beautiful illusion – it takes no prisoners and smashes down old structures of perception that are no longer in alignment with your evolving spiritual consciousness. I liken this energy to that of a tsunami, powerfully crashing down onto the ground and tearing apart anything not strong enough to withstand its might. (It’s not quite like Pluto – but it can be just as powerful, albeit in different ways).

Artists, visionaries, spiritualists, lovers of life – anyone – who can harness the energy of Neptune Retrograde may find their creative works illuminated with the vibration of Truth, that can only come from Source. You may be amazed at what you are able to channel and create at this time (but remember to stay grounded as best you can). So let’s get to the trine itself:

Venus represents many things – femininity, the anima (female aspect of psyche in all beings), our material value systems, our structures of evaluation/judgement, our sense of balance, aesthetics, our love of sensuality and embodiment, romance, relationships, and so on. In Scorpio, at her best, Venus allows us to find regeneration, healing and transformation through relationships and partnerships, particularly those that involve intimacy and/or the merger of resources (be it in personal and/or professional life) – to paraphrase Gargatholil. It’s also a time were our value systems are likely to be dominated by the presence of ‘power’ – so we need to pay attention to how we respond to situations wherein we perceive an imbalance of power between ourselves and others. Will domination be your response? Power sharing? submission? all of the above? Or something else?

The Sun represents our vital engine, so to speak. Some call it the ‘Soul’ of a person, but it might be more accurate to think of it as the most prominent aspect of a soul’s consciousness as it engages in this present incarnation. Think of it as the magnifying lens that can focus the Sun’s Rays from millions of light years away onto a single piece of paper, making it burn. In the same way, the Sun’s position focuses and magnifies the influence of whatever sign it is in. In Scorpio, our active energies are focused upon matters of depth, penetration, intimacy, power, emotional security, control, ‘getting to the heart of things’, and so on. Scorpio is a complex sign, and for those who want an overview of its energy, visit – http://wp.me/p4OUNS-8Z .

So with The Sun and Venus trine Neptune Rx, what we get is effectively a powerful energetic portal connection two deep Water Signs, Scorpio and Pisces. These open portals to your personal and the collective unconscious respectively. You will be greatly facilitated on your spiritual journeys and paths at this time – but it’s going to happen differently for everyone. Some people are going to enjoy the ride and learn to transcend their own egos and allow themselves to see What Truly Is, whereas, others may be at risk of focusing upon the less wanted kind of ‘dissolution’ – in the form of self-destruction rather than self-transcendence.

Neptune is also associated with the less desirable ‘loss of self’ through substance abuse, addictions, dysfunctional relationship patterns (codependency) – even suicide. If you have these tendencies, it’s best to surround yourself with supportive people who can be there for you at this time.

With Venus involved, it’s very likely that the vehicle of the flow of this powerful spiritual energy will be through your sense of femininity/acknowledgement of the Feminine principle, through the vehicle of a significant relationship. Those who are in partnerships on established ground may find this energy beautiful, uplifting and truly inspirational – a way to let the boundary of Self and Other come down as you find spiritual and sacred union with one another.

Those in less stable dynamics may play out the victim-abuser roles, codependent behaviors, controlling dynamics (through the facade of martyrdom), etc. Be wary of this – as the desire to ‘merge’ and ‘dissolve’ into another may be there, but for reasons to do with escapism and denial of your own needs/self/authenticity – as opposed to going further on your path.

At 2:53 am, 28th October 2014 (GMT + 8), Venus in Scorpio will trine Neptune Retrograde (4 Pis ’55). Later in the day, at 5:42 pm, The Sun will also trine Neptune Rx (4 Pis ’54). Both Venus and The Sun are sextiled Mars, which has just entered the sign of Capricorn (6:27 pm, Oct 26). Mars, in turn, sextiles Neptune Retrograde.

Those with astrological placements at or near 0-4 degrees Gemini will experience this as a POWERFUL yod connecting the Masculine, the Feminine and The Awakened aspect of the Soul (The Sun), and whatever point it will apex towards. (Exciting times!)

Another significant shift occurring around this time is that of Ceres into Sagittarius at 9:31 am (Oct 28) – more on that (and Mars) in another post.

Blessings and Love to All. I hope this information will guide you through a time of great intensity and awakening.

Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam, PhD
www.bairaveebalasubramaniam.com

Image Information: Textured Sea. (c) Bairavee Balasubramaniam, 2014 [Digital Art]

FINDING YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF IN DOMESTIC DYNAMICS – YOD: CHIRON RETROGRADE – PLUTO DIRECT – LEO MOON APEX [October 17, 2014 2:07 pm – October 18, 2014 1:02 am (GMT + 8)]

Blessings to all, it’s been an intense day with the full effects of Sun/Mercury Rx/Spica/Rhadamantus opposed Eris ( http://wp.me/p4OUNS-9G ), Neptune Retrograde square Vesta in the air and the 5-body stellium in Libra ( http://wp.me/p4OUNS-9C ). We are also currently in the final hours of a powerful Yod or Finger of Fate/Karma involving Pluto (11 Cap), Chiron Rx (13 Pis) and the Leo Moon (9-15 Leo), loosely conjunct Jupiter (18 Leo) (and earlier on, loosely conjunct Juno (3 Leo).

Yods are energies that bring situations to a swift point of crisis or culmination. They represent key decision points in the path, direction and intensity of our Soul’s Growth, and the Journey it takes.

Chiron Rx and Pluto are sextiled in this yod. This indicates a potential for blending the energies of wounding-transcending-healing-teaching (Chiron) and transformation-through crisis (Pluto). The Chirotic Wound represents the Soul’s Wound or the subjective point of one’s deepest vulnerabilities. In Pisces, it references our spiritual path, level of awareness, understanding of formlessness/boundlessness in the Cosmic Ocean of Energy we are all a part of. With Neptune squared Vesta ( http://wp.me/p4OUNS-9J ) lighting up Pisces (and Sagittarius) now, the tension you may feel in your designated path at this time may trigger some old spiritual, deeply karmic wound. Some may experience this as a situation where one’s faith is tested, and the limits of one’s ability to love, to be compassionate, to empathize to be found (or transcended).

Pluto can represent the intimate partner, authority figure (as it is in Capricorn), business partner or any person who wields an inordinate amount of power in your life, or some relationship dynamic. You may feel ‘bulldozed’ over by this person unless you have developed an authentic relationship to your own power and inner authority. The crisis that is triggered by this dynamic can lead to more profound lessons to do with one’s purpose in life, the legacy one leaves behind, institutions of power and governance and ways we understand the term ‘success’ and ‘accomplishment’.

The Leo Moon, particularly due to its proximity with Jupiter, amplifies our emotional or intuitive perceptions/reactions to situations involving creative pursuits, romance, children or the ‘inner child’ construct. The person playing the role of the Moon in this dynamic – most likely a family member (mother or child is most likely) may want to be able to assert their authentic expressions of self – outside of the role or persona that the family unit expects/assumes them to play. This can of course disrupt family dynamics in circumstances where denial and silence are routinely and collectively used mechanisms to mask deeply hidden wounds. Your personal emotional state may also seek this release through expression of some kind at this time. Catalyzed by the volcanic power of Pluto and the potentially painful lessons of Chiron – this emotional outburst is likely to be a fiery one.

At a more powerful level, you might also realize some degree of finality in a home-bound/domestic situation. This realization may help you deal with the crisis-wrench that Pluto throws in the works, or the spiritual pain that Chiron may ask you to deal with. A deeper level of authenticity is within your reach at this time, just as it is for some key member of your family, involved in this dynamic. It takes work to be able to see it in that way – and if you can, kudos.

Those with bodies at or near 11-13 Aquarius will activate this yod powerfully. At the end of the day, no matter what kinds of drama emerges – remember, that this is a powerful lesson in which you get to choose your response, and in so doing, realize which values, dynamics and paradigms are truly authentic to your understanding of self at this time.

If this situation of learning/opportunity of growth occurred for you earlier in the day, it may also shed some light upon the way in which you access and work with the ‘sacred flow of the Feminine’ (a.k.a. The Vibration of the Goddess). Awakenings later in the day have more to do with the role of Jupiter as the Guru or Teacher. You may find that your choices and responses to this situation prepare you to learn key lessons in the authenticity of self-expression and the truest meaning of leadership (Leo) – and sometimes that means giving another person the space to be themselves, whilst maintaining your inner authority over yourself and your responses to that.

The importance of this Yod in your degree and pace of Awakening (linked to Uranus) is indicated by the Moon’s trine to Uranus Retrograde, and of course the Uranus Rx-Pluto square. Uranus Retrograde is also noviled (an indication of how seeds bear fruit, a culminating point) Neptune Retrograde (potential disillusionment as an authentic spiritual path reveals itself through a ‘loss’ of illusion).

So choose your responses to this yod as wisely and as authentically as you can

Blessings and Love to All,
Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam, PhD
www.bairaveebalasubramaniam.com

TRANSCENDING THE BINARY: SPIRIT/MATTER, FORM/ENERGY, MALE/FEMALE – VENUS IN VIRGO OPPOSES NEPTUNE RETROGRADE IN PISCES, 6:46 PM, 10TH SEPTEMBER 2014, GMT + 8

Blessings to all, another wake-up call from the Universe. Today’s challenge features Venus and Neptune Rx doing the now-familiar Virgo-Pisces Tango. I’ll start with Venus.

Venus takes its energy of attraction-manifestation (in its Taurus’ mode) and the energy of discernment-evaluation-balance (in its Libra’ mode) and places it in Virgo – The sign of the Virgin, the Independent / Self-sufficient Being, the Priest/ess facilitating the Birth of Spirit into Form. The one who Self-Nurtures, and Nurtures Others.

Venus (in any sign) will ask you to think/re-think:

(1) The way you perceive, evaluate or judge things – your material value system, in other words. What do you consider good/bad/beautiful/ugly/worthy/worthless, etc.?
(2) The way you relate to yourself, people, material objects
(3) The way you value, exhibit or view femininity in relationships
(4) The way you understand and express your anima (female aspect of the psyche), and respond to the same in others

In Virgo, all these questions ask you think about your sense of being able to stand on your own two feet, of feeling the need to mask your power through a facade of subservience, of not being able to see just how you can be your own savior? – And through that process of self-acknowledgement – to recognize how you can help others/the planet at the same time.

Some of the questions that may be especially worth asking now are:

Do I have a realistic idea of my own beauty or my own worth/capacity? Am I being too harsh? Too critical? Too lax? Do I adopt standards that are my own, or imposed by others? Are these empowering me or to they tear me down – if so, why do I hold onto them?

Is my job, path, or mode of service to others one that enhances my femininity, or do I use it to hide myself from the Goddess Within?

Am I applying the right kinds of standards in my business? Have I taken into account the need to ‘give back’, preserve the environment? Am I just ‘taking’, or am also creating opportunities of abundance for others?

Do I weave my work with my fertile imagination? With my Sacred connection with the Feminine? How do I create this bridge or connection?

Am I taking care of Me? Or do I spend all of my nurturing and Creative energy on Others? How do I bring things back into balance?

Are my ideas of binaries: Good/Bad, Black/White, Higher/Lower keeping me from seeing the World through the eyes of Spirit? (this is heading into the Neptune side of things)

To understand the energy of Virgo – you might like to have a read of this article on ‘Reclaiming The Virgin’. She’s not the frigid, neurotic woman she’s often typecast as – and she has so much of beauty, service and nurture to offer (within yourself and to others, in balance) –http://wp.me/p4OUNS-5i

So that’s a brief description of the challenges in one half of this dynamic – that of Venus in Virgo.

Neptune Retrograde in Pisces, which Venus in Virgo opposes is a whole other kettle of fish. Where Virgo nurtures through creation, Pisces inspires through destruction. (they can reverse roles too, but this the way they’re playing out now). We’ve all been facing the intensity of Pisces energy as part of the Supermoon so I won’t go too deeply into it here – you know what you’ve had to let go or, surrender, or sacrifice in order to find ‘the way through’.

The Virgo-Neptune Rx opposition echoes what we’ve already experienced with the Sun-Neptune Rx opposition on 29 August 2014. This was close to the time of the Virgo New Moon (25th August). You may find themes from this period, and insights replaying themselves in a different form. I refer you to my article from them for a good summary of the challenge we face now – http://wp.me/p4OUNS-5G – and I quote:

“Whilst we so often elevate the dissolution of boundaries in spiritual discourse – we often forget that certain boundaries are required – at the very least whilst we’re still learning in this Form. Be it sexual, spiritual, etheric, psychic, or other forms of boundaries – we are continually learning that these are important – healthy even. This is where the energy of Virgo comes in. She teaches us how to set realistic boundaries, but ones which Honor your Spirit and your connection with Source. That would be the balancing point between the two polarities, so to speak.”

In practical terms – it’s not the best day to begin a new relationship, or go into a business venture blindly! Have two feet on the ground, eyes wide open, before you attempt to build a castle in the clouds. If you’ve got the Venus-Neptune, Virgo-Pisces balance down, then go for it!

Venus desires enjoyment and is not averse to shutting herself from the energies of detachment and the challenges of living from Spirit. Neptune is not averse to casting illusions or escaping from the material reality that Venus both perceives and manifests. Piscean vulnerability/sensitivity is heightened now with the energies of the Supermoon still in sky (and Chiron Rx’s placement in Pisces).

Try now to take an extreme ‘either/or’ position on anything. Resist the temptation to be overly judgmental or to minimize uncertainty through the ‘blocking’ or spiritual insight that challenges you at this time. Try to stay as grounded and as connected as you can to ‘life’ if your head has been up in the heavens for too long. Remember that you incarnated here, as Spirit-in-Flesh, for a reason

Those of you who have faced this Moon and made the shift you need to will also find this energy of Venus-opposing-Neptune Rx to be a great reality check.

Those of you who are experiencing this energy as a powerful-wake up call – and who don’t know what to do with their emotions may want to ‘turn Spirit into Matter’. Channel what you feel into Creation. Write, perform, play with clay, draw, sing, talk to people, move them, move yourself – do whatever it is that you need to to

Both Spirit, and Matter, Matter
Both Self and Other deserve Nurture
Only you can do it for yourself
And if your cup runneth full,
Remember to share it a deserving Other.
You always have the right to choose.
To discern where your energy goes
How, Why, Where and To Whom
That’s just how it goes x

Blessings to All,
Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam, PhD
www.bairaveebalasubramaniam.com

Image: Machhapuchre Board 6993 81 [Pokhara], Bairavee Balasubramaniam, 2014. All rights reserved.

SUN OPPOSES NEPTUNE RETROGRADE – 29 August 2014, 10:18 pm (GMT+ 8)

Blessings all,

The Sun in Virgo focuses our attention upon our Path of Service. For this reason, Virgo, and the 6th house is linked to the job that we do on a day-to-day basis. Service comes in so many forms, and very often its though routines and rituals we do, as ‘small’ as they are, over a long period of time that make the greatest difference. The day to day stuff, taking care of the little details that keep life running smoothly, using the ability to discern in order to see what’s what and whether its in line with your value system. These are the little things that life is made of. Sometimes the people who touch us the most in our lives, leave their mark through these day-to-day gestures of love and kindness. And there is strength in that ability and willingness to Give.

If I had to summarize the energy of Virgo, I could call it — the material anchoring, the healing and fortification of the Vessel of Service. In other words, the Nurturing of You as you go into the world to also Nurture Others. Some might prefer the less emotional term of ‘Maintenance’ or ‘Preservation’.

With the Sun in Virgo, this is what your energy will be focused on, whether you channel through an emphasis on health, daily routines, taking care of the small things, a combination, something different, etc. depends entirely upon you.

So we’ve got this beautiful energy opposed Neptune Retrograde in Pisces. Pisces is seeking Serve, but in a different way. Whilst Virgo still requires a form through which it performs its duties, Pisces desires no form, no label, no construct. It is the terminal point, the energy of ending and of transcendence. This isn’t to say it is superior – in fact – one of the greatest imbalances or stereotypes I notice in many spiritual writings is the de-valuing of form, in favour of essence. Let me put it to you this way – if Form had no purpose, no part to play – then we simply wouldn’t have one (from a non-nihilistic spiritual perspective). As with all things in life — Balance is essential.

Neptune is at home in Pisces, and so its influence is strongly felt. It is that energy that simply dissolves boundaries, turning them into dust. It allows us, if just with the tips of our fingers, to touch something truly Transcendental. In retrograde, the loft, spiritually heady energies of Neptune powerfully guide us to the Land Beyond Maya (Illusion – its most common meaning) – if we are willing to truly see things for what they are.

It is associated with sacrifice, surrender, secrets, things which you just can’t put your finger on, things you can’t capture with words or concepts. The closest you get is often through the medium of art, dance, or some other form of inspired expression. The vibrations of otherworldly realms comes through the boundary dissolving energy of Neptune.

Whilst we so often elevate the dissolution of boundaries in spiritual discourse – we often forget that certain boundaries are required – at the very least whilst we’re still learning in this Form. Be it sexual, spiritual, etheric, psychic, or other forms of boundaries – we are continually learning that these are important – healthy even. This is where the energy of Virgo comes in. She teaches us how to set realistic boundaries, but ones which Honor your Spirit and your connection with Source. That would be the balancing point between the two polarities, so to speak.

For those interested – I also speak about the nature of Virgo, and allude to its relationship with Pisces in my video on the Virgo New Moon here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNClk43WzZ0

The excess of Virgo can manifest as an attitude of being overly-critical, overly sharp-edged and expecting all things to manifest as per the self’s understanding of purity, integrity or some understanding of ‘proper service’. The excess of Neptune can lead to self-destructive (which is a lower manifestation of the drive to Transcend Form) behaviors – this include different forms of substance abuse, and attempts at self harm, even suicide (astrologers studying the chart of Robin Williams would notice the connection). These responses often come through an extreme sensitivity, rendering them unable to cope. To be clear, not everyone with a strong reaction to Pisces is going to abuse themselves, or attempt self harm. These are just examples from a broad spectrum of reactions. One might simply feel a little more ungrounded than usual, and have their heads in cloud nine.

There are other possibilities – so don’t feel the need to over-identify with these – these are just the biggest ‘red flags’ so to speak. Being so ‘closed’ as to shut everyone off, and being to ‘open’ that you simply just want to Be One With All – often losing (as opposed to transcending) yourself in the process.

So it’s not all black, or white – but as always, a call for Balance.

This opposition is part of a larger Grand Sextile Configuration, but its energies are powerfully felt through one part of it – a Wedge – involving Sun-Neptune and Ceres. I’ve written about that here for those interested

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=552883294815670&set=pb.100002820140717.-2207520000.1409322113.&type=3&theater

Blessings,

Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam, PhD
www.bairaveebalasubramaniam.com

 

Images: “The Sun by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly of NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory – 20100819” by NASA/SDO (AIA) –http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/assets/img/browse/2010/08/19/20100819_003221_4096_0304.jpg. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons –http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Sun_by_the_Atmospheric_Imaging_Assembly_of_NASA%27s_Solar_Dynamics_Observatory_-_20100819.jpg#mediaviewer/File:The_Sun_by_the_Atmospheric_Imaging_Assembly_of_NASA%27s_Solar_Dynamics_Observatory_-_20100819.jpg
“Neptune” by NASA/JPL – http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00046. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons –http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Neptune.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Neptune.jpg