Prepare to float in a cloud of fantasy all week! On Friday, July 4th at 2:34 p.m. PST, Neptune - the Planet of Dreams, Magic, and Illusion - initiates its five-month retrograde. Energetically speaking, this is a big deal due to the recent entrance of Neptune in the fiery sign of Aries, a planet-sign combination we’re still getting used to. Since March 30th, Neptune has been energizing our sense of spirituality and awakening our creativity as well as imagination. Since Neptune is starting a fourteen-year cycle, this rare move has also pushed us to explore different ideas and all kinds of new paths.
During the time Neptune is retrograde, between July 4th and December 10th, we will become aware of certain truths concerning these new ideas, paths, and ways of seeing ourselves. While the realizations might begin in a subtle manner, their deeper meaning is profound, allowing us to break through the fog of confusion. Are our emerging inspirations aligned with our true essence? Are we being too fiery or too pushy in the pursuit of our new goals? After all, Neptune Retrograde is all about opening our eyes to the truth.
We’ve created a ritual for you to guide you in breaking through illusions, for which you’ll need the High Priestess Major Arcana Candle, the Third Eye Opener Anointing Oil, a small bowl of water, and matches.
Neptune Retrograde Ritual
CHOOSE a place where you can lie down on the ground, bringing in the earth element as your grounding force.
LIGHT the candle as you ask the archetype of the High Priestess for her support.
DIP your two left index fingers in the bowl and, with the water, cleanse your third eye chakra, which is in the middle of your forehead, as you repeat the mantra “to purify” three times.
HOLD the Third Eye Opener Anointing Oil with both of your hands as you say, “That Retrograde Neptune and the High Priestess show me what I need to see about myself, my path, and my choices.”
DROP some of the oil into the candle and sit down to meditate as you visualize yourself breaking through the veil of illusions for a total of five times in five different scenarios, representing the upcoming months: July, August, September, and October.
END the ritual by snuffing out the candle, and repeat it every time doubt creeps in along your spiritual path.
