This planet is the quintessential symbol of individual receptivity and the fundamental reactions of the unconscious, including the collective unconscious. Opposed to Saturn, which is the principle of form, structure, and limitation, Neptune is a principle of dissolution. It concerns any effort to encompass the greatest variety of factors, any tendency to surround and blend all the narrow, individual points of view into a single, universal sea. Psychologically, the Neptunian effect is expressed as an exceptional psychic flexibility and extreme pliancy. You thus display considerable receptivity and availability. You feel a need for unity, a need to be related. You are also deeply aware of the importance of dreaming, and, negatively, may be prone to delusions. At certain times, you are overwhelmed by a feeling of subtle confusion related to a need for “something else.” When your well-being is disturbed this way, you either yield to a sort of passive, apathetic dissatisfaction, or lose yourself in the search for an imaginary world, perhaps to escape or plunge into bliss. You are sometimes captivated by a need for illusion; you would like to experience change through the intermediary of events which are vaster than consciousness and would take you far from routine and daily banality. Nevertheless, usually these fantastic dreams only make you all the more painfully aware of the realities of everyday life. Your spirit and emotions emerge confused, and your will is sometimes weakened.

BillieBear looked up at the sky, admiring the fiery red orb as it slowly moved across the sky. She thought about the meaning of astrology and the symbolism behind the different planets. She was fascinated by the way that different planets could symbolize different aspects of life.

Mars was the god of war, and as BillieBear studied the astrology charts, she noticed that this planet always seemed to be associated with conflict and confrontation. She thought about the various fights she had been in throughout her life, and she realized that they had all been influenced by Mars. She was either very direct and straightforward, or she was ragingly angry. In either case, she seemed to be completely focused on the task at hand.