theforensicastrologer

Neptune can often be an important marker in the forensic chart. However, as with all planets it is only important if it is a player; ie, in the foreground, angular, disposer of an angular planet or aspected to a ruling planet. It has many connotations in traditional Astrology that make it applicable in a forensic chart. Neptune rules mysteries and secrets and what is more a mystery than a missing person and what more secret than murder? Neptune also has dominion over drugs and alcohol, elements that are often factors in these cases. Neptune also defines other areas that can come into play in this sort of analysis. Consider that it rules photography and that many people are taken for porn; it co rules the underground (with Pluto) and many times these people are smuggled or are in an area illegally; it also describes shady family ties such as in the case of adoptions, both legal and illegal, and in cases of doubtful paternity. Crooks, creeps, sadists, perverts, drug dealers.. the underbelly of society often falls under the umbrella of Neptune. So this planet has tremendous value in both reading the secrets that are hidden in these charts but also defining the creeps who do these horrible things. But, as always, keep in mind that Neptune must be a player and the chart must be viable for any of this to matter.

Now, let’s assume that Neptune is angular and powerful in the chart, saying, for instance, that it rules the first house and is placed in the twelfth. This is accidental dignity because Neptune rules the twelfth, however, since Neptune is in Aquarius and is in fall, then the strength of it’s power is lessened. You should always consider all influences on a planet before making assumptions. But the placement still makes Neptune a player in the chart and it’s influences are telling. Just the placement of the first house ruler in the twelfth house alone will tell you that the subject is either hiding or being hidden. Look to other planets like Saturn or Mars to see if she or he is being held against their will. Because Neptune is so slow moving the number of aspects or placements it can create are limited. For instance, for the past decade Neptune has been in Capricorn or Aquarius. It cannot, for instance, rule the first house and be placed in any other house than the twelfth, first or second. But no matter. If Neptune rules the first it does so for a reason and it’s limitations are to be adhered to. Now, if Neptune rules the fourth house and is placed, for instance, in the fifth, then this might be read as children in the home, playing games or having a party in a home, visiting a home to purchase drugs or drink alcohol, etc… You must always work hard to blend the influences of each and every planet and house in order to get the story. Those of you who have also worked with Tarot cards know already how to do this. Astrologers who have not would do well to learn that system just to learn how to blend archetypes.

Another example would be Neptune ruling the seventh house and placed in the seventh. This would make it doubly powerful and strongly descriptive of the companion or abductor in the matter. In this case, I would tend to beleive that there was something either secretive or shady about this person or that they were involved in illegal activities. Look to see what aspects Neptune gives or takes to decide what overall effect it has. And also remember that trines and sextiles, while always positive influences in traditional astrology, can be facilitators of any event in forensic charts and often make bad things happen easily, without impedance. A trine can often mean that the killer had no trouble committing this murder and got away with it scot free. In the same regard, squares and oppositions can mean that the killer ran up against roadblocks, had a hard time of it or will eventually be caught. So always look closely at every aspect.

Taking a final example of Neptune ruling the tenth house, for instance, and being placed in the eleventh house, perhaps there is something shady or secretive going on with the subjects’ parents.. in particular the father. Perhaps the father is not the father and the true paternity belongs to a family friend? Or perhaps a friend plays the role of the father and this relationship is not healthy? Or again, it could be that the father used a friend to pull of a shady scam involving the subject; such as selling the child off or employing the child to make movies or otherwise have sex for money. With the arrangement of Neptune in the eleventh in a chart like this, it is often the case that someone outside of the family has information they have not come forth with or that this person is directly involved in the crime.

This covers the bases of angular Neptune and the limits of the planetary placements are obvious. Neptune ruling the angles is limited in the houses it can occupy but it can be placed in angular houses regardless of which other house it might rule. In that case, Neptune in the first, fourth, tenth or seventh houses takes on power regardless of the sign and rulership. In these houses, it has much the same reading as if it ruled the cusps. Look, also, to the dispositions of Neptune and whether there is a relationship between Neptune and the dispositor. Over the past decade or so, Neptune has been in Aquarius while Uranus has been in Pisces. This has both planets disposing of the other and also in mutual reception at the same time. This configuration takes on great power in all of the current missing persons cases when either planet, Neptune or Uranus, either rules an angle or is placed in an angular house. So when you see either Pisces or Aquarius on an angular cusp, the planets Neptune and Uranus will be nearby. And when they are on the angles they have a great deal to say about the hidden factors in any forensic chart. So treat them with the respect they deserve and keep them in mind in every case you confront.