Neptune's Realm & the Extracellular Matrix
Neptune, with his famous trident, governs the oceans and co-governs Pisces, the sign of the internal ocean. This internal sea is called the “Extracellular Matrix” (ECM). It is composed of the fluids that lie between our capillary walls and our cellular walls. Fluids enter and return to this ocean much in the same way that rains depart and return to the sea, in a continuous fluid-delivery cycle. Nutrients and hormones are dumped into the internal ocean and then taken up by the cells. The cells, in turn, then dump their metabolic waste back into the matrix - to be taken up by the lymphatic vessels heading toward the lymph nodes and finally, to the heart. Eventually, the fluid travels to the kidneys for further sifting, balancing, excretion, or recycling.
Neptune, Pisces, & the Inner Ocean
Let’s consider this internal ocean as “Neptune’s realm.” In fact, the composition of our internal seas is similar to seawater! Keeping one’s internal ocean clean is imperative to good health!
Pisces is said to govern the lymphatic vessels. The ECM itself escaped astrological assignment because not much was known about it until quite recently. However, this watery matrix functions in part as a mysterious whole body communication system, working as a unified field.
I have assigned the ECM to Pisces because it is a perfect fit. Pisces governs the concept of universal “oneness”, holistic processes, effusion, and loss of boundaries. Pisces communicates through feeling, not the mind. Piscean people evidence these traits too! To discover the physical correlations of a sign, we study its “natives”. For example, Pisces is famous for psychically receptive people who grok universal feeling. Perhaps the world’s two best-known Western psychic-prophets were born in this sign: Rudolf Steiner and Edgar Cayce.
The Pisces-Lymphatic Connection: Holistic Communication
Our present culture and medical system habitually target specific organs or antigens, while ignoring the ECM. Perhaps this is why the matrix remains a mystery. Curiously, Neptune and Pisces both govern veils and concealment. It is interesting how little notice clinical physicians afford the Pisces-ruled lymphatic channels in their assessment of toxicity symptoms such as fatigue, depression, bloating, aching feet, etc. We are addressing this educational “gap” in the current system by including Astrological Rulerships in our Human Anatomy 101: for Astrologers and Practitioners certificate course.
We can envision our bodies as being rather like a soggy sponge composed of mostly fluid. Current medical paradigms focus on the sponge but sometimes overlook the state of the fluids themselves. An amusingly accurate depiction of our true anatomy is the beloved undersea cartoon character SpongeBob! Conceiving yourself as a miniature ocean interspersed with denser matter offers a useful reverse paradigm to that commonly perceived by Western Medicine. As previously mentioned, it’s useful to remember that the fluid composition of the ECM is similar to that of seawater.
In a manner below our conscious awareness, a ripple in the fluids of your toe is communicated everywhere else at once! This holistic process is the essence of oceanic Pisces and its co-overlord, the “psychic” Neptune. You can learn more about this in my book The Twelve Zodiac Sign Syndromes of Medical Astrology.
Current Transits & Lymphatic Emphasis
This month, the lymphatic planet Venus enters Pisces on Feb 9th-10th. Venus delights in Pisces, her christened seat of traditional “exaltation”. Jupiter is already in fellow lymphatic sign Cancer, also “exalted”, plus Sol enters Neptune’s watery realm on February 18th. Mars joins Venus and Sol in Pisces on March 2nd. We foresee an outstanding influence on all lymphatic processes increasing from February 9th through March 20th and hanging on through April 9th.
This period suggests an ideal time to cleanse the internal ocean that has suffered from the stagnating presence of Saturn for months! (Saturn exits Pisces and moves into Aries on February 13th - we will discuss this celestial change in the coming months.)
Disclaimer: All astrological information is to be considered hypothetical and does not therefore constitute medical opinion, fact, or directive. Please consult your physician if you are experiencing health concerns. Herbs should not be used without your physician’s consent.
