Neptune on Pisces 12 and Pisces 13: Exams And Sword Swallowing Writ Large

It’s very interesting to note the placement of Neptune in Pisces at the moment, especially in the lead up to the presidential election in the States. Of course, this Symbol will be reflected all over the world in many, many ways.

Here’s my text of this Symbol from my book The Sabian Oracle: 360 Degrees Of Wisdom: 

Commentary: ‘An Examination of Initiates in the Sanctuary of an Occult Brotherhood’ pictures students, ‘Initiates’, doing their ‘Examinations’, and being judged or evaluated by their elders. They are ‘In the Sanctuary of an Occult Brotherhood’ which suggests that they are somehow “cloistered” or closed off from the prying eyes of the external world. This may have been through their own choice or it could have been forced on them by society.

Oracle: You may find that those above or around you are judging or testing you. It is difficult to know just what their qualifications to judge you are, but this is often the nature of progression through the ranks. Sometimes we need to let others make their own practical assessments of our individual worth and ‘Examinations’ of any kind can show others the stuff we’re made of. If you feel that you, or someone else, are being tested and examined, remember that if you perform at your best that is really the best that can be done. People being critical of one another can lead to better behavior, better performances or the like, or it can lead to feeling judged, violated and intruded upon. There might be a desire to pull someone down, particularly someone who seems to be getting “too big for their boots”. Sometimes it seems that our lives are like lessons, and we are periodically ‘Examined’ to see how we are doing on our “path”. Does everyone want to stay on the same track or are some of them wondering what they’re doing or where they’re going?

Keywords: The ordeal that comes to any initiate for entrance into higher realms of being. Hermits. Tests, examinations, having to prove oneself. Being judged or being judgmental. Being cross-examined. Rarefied atmospheres that demand personal sacrifice. Initiations. Proving courage and purity. Trials. The attainment of knowledge. Apprenticeships. Being a candidate. Finding out how and where one fits in. One-eyed dedication. Trial by media. Cults. Rituals.

The Caution: Refusing advice. Arrogance. People saying “I told you so”. Invading other’s private space. Hiding away because of fear or social ridicule. Severe trials and tests that strip the joy of life. People assuming they know the truth about others. Fear of failure. Not living up to other’s expectations. Narrow mindedness. Harsh treatment. Going without.

It is also interesting to note that, at the beginning of June, Neptune will move onto Pisces 13: A SWORD, USED IN MANY BATTLES, IS NOW IN A MUSEUM

Commentary: ‘A Sword’ that has been ‘Used in Many Battles’ is ‘Now in a Museum’. It has most likely seen many struggles, battles and conflicts. It may have had to defend the honor of someone or something, and now it is placed in a ‘Museum’ where people can come and look at it and wonder at its history. The ‘Sword’ is such a masculine image, strong, heroic, metallic, sharp, hard and forbidding. The ‘Sword’ has done its job and now needs to be put away somewhere where it won’t need to fight or defend. That it is in ‘A Museum’ points to the fact that it is a reminder of the battles of days gone by.

Oracle: When reminded of the ‘Battles’ of the past, hopefully we are influenced towards peace, but we are also uplifted by the memory of the strength of the participants, their bravery and valor. You may be faced with the choice of fighting for something or reasoning with the intellect. This can be confusing if you lack training or experience in the ways of doing ‘Battle’. The obvious message is that it’s time to lay down one’s ‘Sword’, not in order to necessarily surrender, but to stop “the warring”. Perhaps this pictures someone who doesn’t know when to give up taking others on and fighting. This Symbol shows it’s time to give up ‘Battling’, to aim now for more peaceful solutions. There may have been a lot learnt in the ‘Battles’ you’ve experienced, but the thing that’s best learnt is that continuing to fight may lead to a bitter end, with no one being a true winner. Now’s the time to lay down the ‘Sword’ and accept love and peace back into your life. Putting the ‘Sword’ away in a ‘Museum’ can allow others to benefit from the struggles that have been undertaken, without worrying about how this weapon will be used in the future. How long can one go on battling, fighting and defending?

Keywords: Willpower. Martial arts. Putting aside thoughts of vengeance and revenge. Hanging up or laying down one’s ‘Sword’. Trophies of conquest that remind us of the past. History. Aging and maturing. Retirement. Remnants of battles. Souvenirs of the past. “Words as swords”. The Spear of Destiny. The Sword Excalibur. Disarming weapons. The search for truth and justice. Suits of armor. Peace at last. Sexual impotence.

The Caution: A lack of sensitivity. A pretense of one’s abilities. Giving up and “falling on one’s sword” from defeat. Grudges. Wanting to go into ‘Battle’ at the slightest excuse. Selfish agendas. Weapons of mass destruction or weapons of mass distraction? Pre-emptive strikes. Defensive behavior. Domestic violence.