Under Pressure: Pisces Full Moon Conjunct Neptune

Dear Friend and Reader:

We're now experiencing a Full Moon conjunct Neptune in Pisces. The aspect is exact Saturday morning at 12:33 am EDT (9:33 pm Friday PDT, 5:33 am Saturday in London, 2:33 pm in Sydney).

This is a complex chart for a number of reasons, most of which include many aspects to Neptune in Pisces, the distant ice giant planet discovered in the age of the telegraph, with an orbit of 164 years.

More than 30 times as far from the Sun as Earth, Neptune -- the windiest and most watery planet -- is the only (major) planet in our solar system not visible to the naked eye and the first predicted by mathematics. In 2011 Neptune completed its first 165-year orbit since its official discovery in 1846. This photograph is from Voyager 2, the only mission to Neptune.

Currently, to sum up, Neptune is taking aspects from the Moon, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. This vast world, named for the Roman god of the sea, rivers and earthquakes, is difficult energy to handle. Imagine trying to manage a huge bladder filled with 50 gallons of water. It would be nearly impossible to move. Only imagine that it cannot even burst, no matter what you do to it.

When pressure builds in the style of Neptune, you may not even notice it while it's building. Then you might discover you're up to your knees in water, or that your house has filled with some odorless gas, or mold has grown under your sink since the last time you fished out the plunger. Or you're driving down a country road at night, and then you suddenly discover you're lost and the whole countryside has fogged over.

Often, Neptune can have that feeling of something bothering you but you don't know what it is, and you can't point to it, and it's hard to describe.

Neptune is just weird, though at times, it's beautiful, and at other times, it's about something that you don't recognize until you figure it out. That usually takes conscious tracking of the data, and before that, caring that the data even exists and might be meaningful.

The story of Neptune's discovery is perfectly representative of its energy. Galileo nearly discovered it in 1612; he even noted its movement within a short time (no star does that). But he did not think to record it as a planet. This went on for more than two more centuries, as Neptune appeared and disappeared, dancing with liminality, and was finally officially recorded in 1846.

The Pisces Full Moon is highlighting and adding to all of the other forms of Neptune pressure/fog that are building. Two in particular are of some concern.

Jupiter in true color as seen from the Juno mission, summer 2017. Image processed by Björn Jónsson, NASA/JPL.

First, we are in a year of a major Neptune aspect, meaning that it's fairly rare (once per 16 years): Jupiter square Neptune. This involves the two rulers of Pisces (traditional and modern) in a square aspect, which is like an exponential effect. That Neptune is in Pisces doubles this effect again.

We are seeing plenty of mass delusion and an absurd level of credulity in society now. The president of the United States making up his own hurricane forecast and claiming he was right is the perfect expression of this energy. Then the Department of Commerce (in charge of weather forecasting) orders its employees not to disagree with him.

The term gaslighting is overused, but this is what it means: someone slowly driving you insane by pulling the ground out from beneath your sanity, or sucking the psychic oxygen out of the room as you suffocate. It would seem that Neptune is involved in crazy-makers and in crazy: harsh aspects to natal Neptune require special care and focus on growth.

The square is exact for the last time on Sept. 21, right before the Libra equinox. (Due to Jupiter retrograde, the other two were Jan. 13 and June 16.) This is making it difficult to be realistic about anything, because the reference points keep moving around.

Second, right now Neptune is under some intense transits from the inner planets, all of which have taken their turn -- and we are now up to Mars opposite Neptune.

That has been the energy of the past few weeks, since the Sun entered Virgo. The Moon, Venus, Mercury, the Sun and now Mars have all opposed Neptune (and squared Jupiter). They are all acting like squishy bladders full of water and rooms full of invisible gas.

Image capturing an active dust storm on Mars. Image credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS.

At the moment, Mars is opposite Neptune and will be to one arc minute at the time of the Full Moon. Mars is a hot, sharp object. If anything can threaten to burst Neptune, it is Mars. And often this burst happens to people, who go off the deep end in some way, binge drink, make bad decisions, deceive someone without considering the consequences, or some such negative manifestation of Neptune.

You can expect this pressure to build to a crest through Friday night and into Saturday. Then suddenly it may release when the Moon enters Aries, and in particular when it makes a conjunction to Chiron overnight Sunday to Monday.

One other thought. Mercury and Venus are making a conjunction in this chart. The conjunction occurs in the last degree of Virgo. This looks like a revelation of some kind, though there is an additional Neptune factor: both are square the centaur Pholus. This is an exact aspect measured in arc minutes (a few sixtieths of a degree) -- similar to how Mars is opposite Neptune to 1/60th of a degree. If Neptune represents a gas, this kind of Mars can also represent a spark.

Amidst all of this slippery, slimy, foggy, ambiguous, bubbly energy, the chart is saying that precision matters and matters a lot.

Do not estimate. Do not guess. Put on your glasses. Note when your intuition whispers, "This may be self-destructive" or "this may be dangerous."

If you're going to drink or use any mind-altering substance, please stay home, and let this lunation pass before you make any decisions. If you run the tub, don't let it overflow; if you boil water, turn the pot handle inward on the stove. This will all work psychologically and emotionally as well. Then a day later, the Moon conjunct Chiron should bring a revelation or two.

Your horoscope below was written by Victoria Emory.

Note, I have a new reading for you. It's a good one, and if you think you need some insight, I promise you will find some here.

With love,
Take a Deep Breath and Float By Amanda Painter

In the western Ural Mountains of Russia, deep in the Kungar River, is the Orda Cave: a five-kilometer (three-plus miles) underwater cavern system. According to local myth, a "Lady of the Orda Cave" is said to live deep within.

In 2013, journalist and underwater photographer Victor Lyagushkin and former freediving champion Natalia Avseenko undertook a photography collaboration to illustrate the legend. Braving above-the-water air temperatures of -23 Celsius (-9 Fahrenheit), Lyagushkin, Avseenko and their team took underwater photos over a two-day period -- with Avseenko wearing her drysuit under a costume and wig, and holding her breath for several minutes at a time. You can watch videos about the project here and here.

Since the Moon is said to be a 'feminine' influence in astrology, and with Pisces the 'not of this world', deep-water final sign of the zodiac, a photo of an ethereal woman hovering in an underwater cave seems about right. Luckily, you don't need to hold your breath until tomorrow night's Pisces Full Moon (exact at 12:33 am EDT Saturday) peaks and passes. That said, some guided meditation imagery of floating might help if life is feeling at all edgy or emotionally soggy.

I am planning a new edition of Planet Waves FM for Sunday evening. Look for a new Planet Waves TV in your inbox on Friday.

Monthly Horoscopes and Publishing Schedule Notes

Your extended monthly horoscope for September was published on Thursday, Aug. 29 We published your extended monthly horoscope for August on Thursday, July 25. Please note: we normally publish the extended monthly horoscope after the Sun has entered a new sign.

Aries (March 20-April 19) -- Yours is a tribe of action; the courageous pursuit of personal fulfillment. This involves risk and requires passion. Your journey has surely led down many paths, each with gifts of wisdom for those who seek it. This year's long-running square between Jupiter and Neptune has opened doors to deeper spiritual awareness, and planted seeds of wisdom worth cultivating. You're carving out a new path, with more of yourself to bring to it. We're heading into a super-charged Full Moon right now and you'll need to tune in deliberately, to ascertain which paths to follow and what action is wise. It's a Slippery-When-Wet few days, when risky action of any kind is unadvisable. Frustration, confusion, discouragement or self-doubt are all possible under these conditions. But a karmic wave of sorts is breaking, and profoundly transformative insights are just as likely. Pay extra attention to dreams this weekend. Inner focus now will help you take advantage of a major shift coming up, one that clears the tracks for forward motion in worldly pursuits. Taurus (April 19-May 20) -- To believe is to create. That's Metaphysics 101: the causative power of concentrated thought. The stronger the emotion attached to a belief, the more intense the momentum. This works both ways, of course. Doubt -- in your right to experience what you desire, or in its possibility -- inhibits that creative force. The trick is to be on the same page with yourself; to get out of your own way. You can't get what you want ‘till you know what you want, as the song goes. Distilling that into its essential core will help you navigate the deep waters rising over this Full Moon weekend. Long-term goals are in the spotlight, and you've got more resources than you might realize with which to actualize them. You don't have to figure out details about the ‘how' of it right now. It's more important to clarify your actual intentions, and note where fears or doubts crop up. This is a gentle, feel-your-way process. Be patient with yourself, and those you wish to travel with into the future. Gemini (May 20-June 21) -- Your need for private, inward focus -- for healing and deep emotional processing -- may have been waylaid more than it should. Your public role and relational environment have demanded time and attention, and this weekend's Full Moon brings much of that pressure to a head. Give yourself permission to actually feel what you feel, but recognize the difference between you and your emotions. This is no time to push yourself, get too down on yourself, or have that extra drink, especially if you're 'operating heavy machinery'. The good news is the palpable shift immediately after that wave crests; as the weekend concludes you should start to feel a little lighter. Assembly-line mentality dominates our culture, but to stay sane you've got to take time for yourself and have some fun. As much as you possibly can, carve out space for some R and R next week. An important opportunity to stock up on good vibes is closer than you think. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- You might have had a bit too much to think. Between demands on the job, a packed schedule and overwhelming mental busy-ness, you could be running on fumes yet unable to stop. As one especially sensitive to lunar cycles, do yourself a favor and slow down. Don't try to figure anything out right now. A potential for frustrating, confusing or dispiriting exchanges -- or interior dialogue -- is possible over this Full Moon weekend. Heightened emotional reactivity is familiar territory, but no running with scissors for a few days, OK? Let emotion flow without turning a mood into a manifesto. A reality-check and encouraging word from a solid companion can make a huge difference now, so don't feel you need to go it alone. The less pressure you place on yourself, the more you'll be able to tap your psychic reservoir for inner guidance that's trying to get through. You need time on the proverbial mountain. Your inner world will look considerably brighter as soon as you come down. Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) -- The dramatic Full Moon clicking into gear illuminates your innermost psychic depths. The last several weeks have emphasized security issues -- what you need to feel safe, and practical methods for strengthening material and emotional resources. You're also in a cycle of expansive creativity and self-expression, and with it increased confidence in shining your true light out into the world. What's coming to a head this weekend may feel like a confusing dilemma: risk versus safety, optimism versus worry, art versus paying the bills. Your fears may well be exaggerated, but you're wise to take real time this weekend to turn within and let yourself feel what's calling for attention. What have you avoided? The more honest you are with yourself, the more you value and invest in the process, the greater the potential for meaningful revelation. An element of healing weaves in here. Mentors, or renewed commitment to healthy routines, can provide much needed stability. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) -- The Sun entered your sign this year with a powerful message of rebirth. This is an ongoing process of integration, of making-whole, and of emergence into a fundamentally more empowered sense of self. This weekend's Full Moon asks you to feel into what part of your soul you've handed over to others, and the role anger plays in healing what might feel lost. You may have been striving for inner security in terms of an idealized relationship. Or seeking to reconcile the past with a series of confusing impressions that have ricocheted without satisfying resolution or clarity. Letting yourself explore this in some tangible, creative form can be profoundly helpful right now. If you're in the early stages of a romantic relationship, it may be possible to move through challenging territory for the sake of creating a more solid, honest encounter. Ultimately, however, this is about your relationship with yourself. You're on the verge of turning an important corner. The enhanced self-esteem that awaits is just the beginning. It has called forth all of my knowledge, experience and wisdom to do this work. I have proceeded in the spirit of therapy, knowing that most people do not or will not go. That spirit first involves seeking refuge, becoming aware of your situation, ordering your priorities, and then making choices. But the single most important factor of therapy -- and of old school spiritual mentorship -- is not giving answers, but helping the client find them for themselves. What I have to offer you are 12 readings of approximately one hour each, which use astrology to address the matter: the one about how to orient yourself to make the most of the difficult and challenging times we are in.

All 12 signs are currently $111. I am keeping that price low to encourage having access to all of the work. Individual readings are $44 for the first and $22 for each additional.
Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) -- Transiting Jupiter in your chart has sought to re-wire limiting thought patterns, and inspire a more expansive view of the future. You have something to say. Yet certain projects, perhaps related to writing or education, could be hovering in limbo. Demands on your time, your job, or maybe health issues have kept intentions on hold. The real culprit seems related to self-esteem, however. A build-up of psychic pressure just beneath the conscious threshold may register as vague anxieties: fears or frustrations that haven't been fully processed. This should start dissipating just after the Full Moon. Forward motion on several fronts is set to commence, so to ride the currents to best advantage, tend to 'where you live'. This includes your actual home, family history, and old baggage you've put up with that's weighing you down. Your new solar year approaches, and it's time to clear the ground for rebuilding foundations, literally and figuratively. Every step in this direction will help kick-start new beginnings, sooner than you think. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) -- Creative instinct flows from the well of fantasy. The imagination plays with the object it loves, to borrow from Carl Jung. The light of this weekend's Full Moon illuminates your inventive gifts, and aspirations you may have harbored for projects rich with potential. The challenge is bringing that dream into tangible form. Recent focus on future goals might have bounced with dizzying speed between an idealized concept or romantic vision, and grounded, rational analysis. Professional or creative allies factor in here, which has presented its own challenges. If you encounter what feels like unduly harsh criticism, don't be discouraged. Emotions are especially heightened right now, and you may tune into your muse more effectively without others around anyway. Communicate with those involved with as little judgment as possible, and/or get some of that inspiration down in written form, to mid-wife your dream. Note: exercise caution this weekend regarding recreational substances. This is not a good time to take chances. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) -- Constraints are essential to genuine creativity. Courageous encounter with a problem sparks an alchemical process, setting conscious and unconscious forces in motion to form something new. Jupiter traveling through your sign this year has surely expanded your world in gratifying ways. Yet that quest for freedom and self-discovery has rubbed against slippery emotional history involving your past, your home, and your innermost private world. To the extent that you've established some personal sanctuary, a sacred space where you can retreat and commune, you're in good shape. If you've felt undermined, or pressured to sacrifice your needs for family, look to what you honestly value. Denial or escape from what's buried keeps you stuck. Recent intense activity related to your public role has likely brought this tension into sharp relief. This Full Moon brings it to a boil. You may have worldly commitments, but your power lies in quiet, meditative reflection now. Your inner being has wisdom to deliver. Note: Stay in or stay sober this weekend. Or both. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) -- Sift the sands of your past for the lessons of value. They are your precious jewels and gifts of power. It's gritty work, but archeology of the soul is your highest calling at this moment. Saturn, your ruling planet, hovers stationary in your sign, to resume forward motion next week. This weekend's Full Moon is a prelude to a pivotal act in the drama of your life, and on the world stage. You're well positioned to rise to the challenge. It requires honest examination of what may be unearthed, and the courage to feel, process and release what keeps you shackled to a self that you've outgrown. Dynamics in your chart right now speak of creative tension between conscious belief and intuitive wisdom. Your transformational journey has tested you to the limit, but you've developed strength you might not have thought possible. Most importantly, you seem to be asking the right questions, and are capable of opening to answers that feel true in your gut. That's the metric to trust. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- What's most important to you? That's what describes your 'values'. What deserves your attention, time and care, and occupies the highest place on your priority list? Friction between your own personal values (and security) and those of your community has been a theme this year. Your tribe has a reputation for independence, a certain 'rebel' cachet, but that requires a commitment to your personal truth that's hard won. On a mundane level, the question has been how to reconcile idealistic aspirations for the future with available resources. Recently, that conversation has deepened to include those values and resources you may hold in common with partners, and reaches into highly sensitive psychic territory. This weekend's Full Moon brings this tension to a head. You'll navigate potentially contentious waters best by stepping back and taking as gentle and intuitive an approach as possible. Table financial decisions for a few days. Honest conversations about what may have been unacknowledged, fears or unexpressed needs, might be in order. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Dreaming-awake is a high art. It requires training yourself to become aware that you're asleep; to realize consciously that you are dreaming. Then you can direct the dream with volition, and create a new reality in the physical, waking world. We're heading into a positively oceanic Full Moon in your sign, a deep dive into Neptune's realm. One over-arching theme conveyed is the need to retrieve essential aspects of your psyche that you've invested in relationships. You have a mission in this life, and you need all of yourself in the game. Your tribe is so acutely sensitive, and navigating this world can scathe your fine-tuned instrument to the point of shutting down. But you've 'grown sick of shadows', and have no desire to float down-river like the tragic Lady of Shalott. It's time to come home. This emotional high tide is an opportunity to re-set, to heal old wounds in order to move forward. Honor this process. Your dharma calls you to bring forth your gifts to the world.