February 26/27: The Solar Eclipse conjunct Neptune and parallel to star cluster M50 reinforces our idealism and tests it on the practical plane

     Very few solar eclipses occur in conjunction with Neptune, and even less when this planet is in its own zodiacal sign: Pisces. The solar eclipse of February 26, 2017 falls in the 8th degree of Pisces, with, say, the owner of the house just beside: Neptune is at 11° of Pisces, in a close conjunction, irremediably implicated into the event's story. Seen in another way, it is as if Neptune was the host of the cosmic event that is the eclipse, as it "receives" it in its own home, Pisces. What does the Solar Eclipse / Neptune / Pisces combination mean?

     Let 's analyze the host of this meeting: we know by astrological experience that Neptune depicts an idealist, with a need to transcend the material plane that can also cause some confusion and dispersion, or even evasion and victimization. But its best intention is to transcend the gross temporality of the material plane, particularly through altruistic actions, since it is an empathic creature. If the eclipse happens in the house of such a personality, it is expected that these Neptunian themes are of great relevance in the coming months, and in the collective and individual, it will be necessary to work on them. Both the creative, imaginative, idealistic, inspiring part of Neptune, as well as its disappointing, chaotic, escapist and victimizing side will manifest intensely during the following  6 months. This represents a good opportunity, collective and individual, to correct the confusing side and to take advantage of the creative side of this situation.

     It is clear that humanity needs to develop a more empathic consciousness if it wishes to survive: the aggression of humans, to each other and to the planet where they live is caused by an illusion of "otherness", in which the other is an enemy with which it is necessary to compete. "We are all one" may sound idealistic, but from the immensity of the Cosmos, humanity is one and there does not seem to be a great difference between its multiple members. From a distance, things look different from how we see them in front of our noses. Neptune, the farthest gaseous giant planet, gives us that perspective simply because it is far enough from the Sun to make us contemplate things that way. The eclipse will only emphasize this reality, which is as true as our daily life, just placed on another dimension, less conscious, of our existence. On the other hand, where negative Neptunian conditions are likely to arise, frauds will be exposed, scandals will blast the news, humanitarian crises will intensify, religious and political extremism will rule...

        Nothing new under Neptune's Sun, but the Sun is eclipsed by the Moon... ¿Sounds familiar?

     That's as far as concerns the host Neptune. But what does his guest, the Annular Eclipse of the Sun, bring to the meeting? The eclipse happens in parallel to M50, a star cluster  in the constellation Monoceros (the Unicorn) and whose symbolism suggests a strong impulse to materialize ideas. M 50 has a majority of type-B stars, of high temperature, which represent the intellectual plane. However, it has a lone, very prominent red giant star that stands out against the white-blue backdrop of its type B companions. Of considerably lower temperature, type-M stars represent the material plane and the physical body rather than abstract thoughts. Hence, the particular combination of B and M stars of M50 suggests the meaning of materializing ideas, or giving a concrete value to them, to make them grounded.

     The fact that the Solar -but sooo Neptunian- Eclipse occurs in a powerful parallel to M50 reveals the need to materialize the good plans, ideas, projects and strategies that have been in mind for a long time, or perhaps just a little. In this context, M50 symbolizes the practical part that Neptune sometimes misses, dreaming a lot but sometimes finding it difficult to make the practical effort to make dreams come true... In this way, the eclipse signals the start of a good semester to work hard in the materialization of our plans. We can have excellent results!

      And it is precisely the practical implementation of plans that can make us see if our Neptunian ideals, with all their creativity, are viable or disconnected from reality. Plans that cannot easily materialize may need a change of focus, and we must let go of ego attachments to concepts or ideas that just block advancement. What a better teacher than practice itself! For those who want to learn, the semester has already begun...

Carlos Duarte
Research Astrologer

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