The Arts of Poetry and Literature

Percy Bysshe Shelley’s Neptune (Figure 8) is at the midpoint of multiple personal points, and on the same axis as Apollon, which of course, can be taken to mean a LOT of Neptune, most of it, other than possibly for the occult or chemistry, very messy—corruption, embezzlements, deception on a large scale. But, Shelley’s primary claim to fame is that of a romantic poet.

 

So, how do we see that in his Neptune axis, which must somehow count for his core being and expression in the world, being as it is on Midheaven/Sun and Mars-Jupiter/Ascendant? To be fair, Shelley’s life expressed quite a few of the negatives, too. He got into trouble from when he was a school boy for expressing atheistic views. His personal life had its ups and downs and the views he expressed that are seen as visionary today, stirred up plenty of controversy in his day. Perhaps, then, the interpretation from “Rules” for Neptune on the midpoint Midheaven/Sun-Venus is fair, to a point: Body and soul are sensitive and strongly react to all influences, even the weak. Slackening, therefore debility and dislike—dislike for everything—and with Venus, grief in love (for he experienced that, too, at times). But, if we include art and spirit in our understanding of Neptune, then we might bring in potentials for this axis like sensitivity to the spiritual, expressing oneself though the arts, and through his art, reaching many, and perhaps even bringing peace to at least some of them for whom his view echoed feelings they agreed with, but kept silent to avoid offending convention.

Maya Angelou (Figure 9), who has also been a dancer and an entertainer, is best known for her writings and poetry. She won a “Best Spoken Word” Grammy in 2003 for her record ing of her book, A Song Flung Up to Heaven, and in 1983 she was named among the One Hundred Most Influential American Women.

 

Maya has Moon and Neptune on the same axis, exactly on the midpoint Saturn/Chiron, and as you can see from the illustration, the midpoint Midheaven/Apollon is also exact on the Neptune axis. We can also say Saturn and Chiron are on Moon/Neptune. The axis also includes Midheaven/Apollon. Anything difficult that could be said about these combinations is probably also true, because she came from a background of hardship, rape and violence. The “Rules” interpretation for Neptune on Midheaven/Apollon speaks of peculiar experiences and to penetrate unknown fields of science. For Moon, it’s psychical experiences. Experiences with women in public. Anthropology.” To see Neptune as also indicative of sensitivity for art and spirituality, brings this axis into a much closer reflection of how Maya has activated this planetary theme in her development. It is also interesting that Chiron, not traditionally a part of Uranian methodology, does fit well here, for Maya has been severely wounded in her early life, but has born her burdens (Saturn) with extraordinary strength as this “wounded healer” grew to become so highly inspirational in offering hope and joy to countless others.