Spectacle/Narrative
Everything directly lived has receded into a representation.
I think it’s probably a good time to think about the collapse of the current narrative structure we’ve been operating under for the last decade or so, especially in light of this week’s inauguration shenanigans. On March 30th Neptune will move into the spicy sign of Aries for the first time since the 1860s, bringing a drastic plot change to the overarching narrative we’ve been operating under for the last 14 years.
Neptune
On the autumnal equinox of 1846, anticipation filled the air at the Berlin Observatory. While Uranus had been discovered 65 years earlier, unexplained irregularities in its orbit suggested the presence of another, more distant planet. Unlike Uranus, Neptune is too dim to be seen with the naked eye. Its discovery required mathematical predictions to guide telescopic observation. In the early hours of September 24, 1846, Johann Gottfried Galle became the first person to observe this hypothetical planet and recognize it as such. His work was guided by the calculations of French mathematician Urbain Le Verrier. Together, they confirmed the existence of Neptune, the 8th and outermost planet in our solar system.
When Galle laid eyes on Neptune the night of its discovery, the planet was conjunct Saturn at 25° of Aquarius in the bounds of Saturn.
Interestingly, Neptune was observed at several earlier points in history but was never recognized as a planet. While attempting to observe Jupiter on a cold winter night on December 28, 1612, Galileo Galilei spied another star in the viewfinder of his telescope. On that night Neptune was within 12’ of an exact conjunct with Jupiter at 26° of Virgo. Neptune had just stationed retrograde that day and appeared stationary over the next few nights, leading Galileo to record it as a fixed star.
Like Uranus, Neptune falls into the subclass of planets called ice giants. Winds of over 1200 mph and a surface temperature of -353 Fahrenheit make Neptune an especially inhospitable planet (to us, anyway). Because of the immense pressures and chemical makeup of Neptune, it is hypothesized that diamonds form in the atmosphere and rain from the sky forming diamond-burgs.1
Astrology
Back on earth, diamonds hold a high position of importance, going back to at least 500 BCE. During the Roman Empire, diamond jewelry was a symbol of wealth and power2. Not much has changed since then.
Diamonds are a useful analogy for the astrological action of Neptune. Like the glittering stone, Neptune speaks to us of beauty, glamor, mystery, fashion, and appearances. Neptune transmits, refracts, and reflects the light, transmuting the grand narrative waveforms into cultural particles of individual meaning. It is not what the thing is, but what it appears to be.
Thus, the Spectacle3 belongs to Neptune.
We live in the Spectacle, and so the outline of our lives are easily defined by it. French philosopher and Situationist Guy Debord describes the Spectacle as the idea that “all that once was directly lived has become mere representation.” The dark alchemical transformation of “the decline of being into having, and having into merely appearing” is particularly Neptunian in nature. Neptune is not the thing in the Saturnian material sense, but the image of the thing abstracted and separated from its objective reality.
The Spectacle then, being divorced from any rational objectivity takes on an ephemeral nature, defining the zeitgeist. It is no surprise that Neptune takes about 14 years to move from one zodiac sign to another and that popular fads of spirituality, fashion, social movements, music, and art last roughly as long.
Neptune in Pisces reflected a Spectacle that was defined largely by ideas of compassion, understanding, saviorism, and empathy. While much work was sincerely undertaken to bring Piscean virtues of equality and inclusion to society, much emphasis was also put on the appearance of being seen to do this work. Performative acts done for the Spectacle are part and parcel of Neptunian energetic expression. Pronoun buttons, Black Lives Matter t-shirts, and celebrity fundraisers all fall into this category4.
The Neptunian narrative in Aries will not be focused on empathy, inclusion, or justice. Piscean notions of the highest good will starkly contrast with the Martian energy of burn and conquer. We can already start to see the edges of that phase shift coming into focus.
To look back in history to the last time Neptune was in Aries we must look to April of 1861 when Neptune brought war with it as it ingressed into Aries hours after the first shots were fired on Fort Sumter. This was the opening act of the American Civil War. Neptune entering Aries was not the precipitating factor for war but reflected the enthusiasm to undertake war as a society. The appeal of bloody heroism and acts of violence for (perceived) honor and glory starkly contrasts with the previous Piscean narrative paradigm. Glorification of war and violence, hero worship and veneration of Martian themes are all aspects of Neptune in Aries narratives.
The Spectacle centers your attention on a given narrative and its action is seductive. There are elements of peer pressure, enforcement of societal norms, and often government coercion that serve to enforce your attention and adherence to the narrative. Narratives often have motives and agendas that seek to mold you into the perfect believer, consumer, soldier, or factory worker.
Praxis
How do we escape the narrative wheel of samsara that is the society of the Spectacle? Do what thou wilt isn’t usually very compatible with overt coercion by societal pressures, and rarely aligns with the quest to know yourself on a higher level.
The first order of importance is to be aware of the planetary reality tunnel that’s changing, what it’s been doing, and what it’s going to be doing. Planets are always changing signs, mundane events are always happening and life goes on so this isn’t a one-off task. As magical folk, it’s our work to navigate through the terrain without succumbing to outside impulses, so that we can know our actions are coming from within and not from outside coercion. It may be helpful to ask yourself the following questions on a daily basis:
Who benefits from this narrative? Social media and news are manipulation platforms owned by billionaires. They are not acting in your best interest.
Who is behind this idea? See the point above.
What do I invest my energy into? Divination helps here. Your energy is finite, don’t waste it on ragebait manipulation events and social engineering attempts.
Why do I like/dislike this person/movement/idea? Again, who benefits from this?
When is it best to keep silent?
It’s easier than ever for popular culture to be manipulated through various means, especially with the advent of AI that is being used for evil. You will need to guard yourself more than ever from falling into whatever flavor of the day distraction pops up, so you can be vigilant for times when it truly is important to act decisively. Divination, sigil work, and hexagram rituals5 will help in guarding yourself against the influence of the prevailing energies. Be safe out there.
Further Study
Prometheus Rising by Robert Anton Wilson (pdf)
The Society of the Spectacle explained by Tom Nicholas (video)
Hello reader, thank you for ending up on my newsletter. I truly appreciate you! Since you made it this far and must have some passing interest in all things odd, I want to introduce you to a new podcast called Dispatches from Post-Reality. I am creating the art for the show episode covers and social media posts. It touches on some of the same esoteric subject matter you’ve come to love from this newsletter but with a decidedly funnier and much more casual tone.
The latest episode explores 13-month lunar calendars, the Galactic tones, and the quest for extra holidays.
https://www.americanscientist.org/article/on-neptune-its-raining-diamonds
https://yalebooks.yale.edu/2018/04/20/diamonds-love-and-history/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectacle_(critical_theory)#:~:text=Debord%20uses%20the%20word%20%22Spectacle,from%20every%20aspect%20of%20life.
I am not making a value statement on these expressions, but simply noting them as reflecting a Neptune in Pisces-flavored spectacle.
The Golden Dawn and Thelemic Lesser and Greater Banishing Ritual of the Hexagram works to banish the planetary and zodiacal energies present so the aspirant can be free from outside astrological influences. See here for more information.