Readers of this weblog will know that Neptune stationed and turned retrograde on Monday this week (20th). One thing that happened in the socio-political arena that nicely expressed a Neptunian perspective of life was David Cameron's GWM - General Well-Being.

In a speech he made on the very day of Neptune's station, David Cameron said:

"It's time we admitted that there's more to life than money, and it's time we focused not just on GDP, but on GWB - general wellbeing. "Wellbeing can't be measured by money or traded in markets. It's about the beauty of our surroundings, the quality of our culture, and above all the strength of our relationships."

Of course, he doesn't mean it - he's a career politician, after all, so it's another Neptunian illusion. But Neptune's voice can still be heard in these words, and whilst we should see Mr Cameron's statement for the PR distraction that it is, there is a good reason why we should heed the message itself. Here's why.

The UK's Venus (materiality, money, relationships, beauty, happiness) is at 16 degrees 32 minutes of Aquarius. Neptune (immateriality, ultimate fulfilment, satisfaction, beauty, relationships) stationed at 19 degrees 49 minutes of Aquarius, just over 3 degrees away. This transit happens only once every 168 years, so it represents the potential for tremendous sea-change in the collective life of the nation.

This transit symbolises a challenge to the people of the UK to loosen their obsession with material achievement and attune to sources of happiness that are not within the daily grind. It suggests that there is an unmet need in the country, and that it is high time that the sense of something missing is addressed. The country has an opportunity to do this only once every 168 years, but so far the occasion has been only partially risen to. This station of Neptune, expressed by David Cameron, is a chance to pause long enough to hear the clock ticking.

More Neptune-Venus quotes from Cameron's speech on Monday, with the Neptune-Venus words and phrases highlighted:

"All these companies and more besides are expressing a profound dissatisfaction with rootless, rampaging globalisation and a passionate desire for capitalism with commitment, for work that has meaning and for relationships that are about more than just money and markets." Much of modern consumer culture "ultimately seems unsatisfactory" because it fails to meet the deep human need for commitment and belonging, said Mr Cameron.

"Advocacy is not a wishy-washy cop-out, as some would argue. It strikes the right balance and avoids the pitfalls of over-prescriptive government intervention. Some will say that simply talking about changing culture is nebulous. But let's be honest - who has done more for school food: countless government initiatives, or Jamie Oliver?"

Source of quotes: Guardian newspaper

The criticism that David Cameron's comments received also focused on Neptunian negatives:

"It is yet another example of posturing without substance. Once again, vague positioning has taken precedence over spelling out concrete policies." ~ Vincent Cable, Liberal Democrat treasury spokesman

"He is wrong to think that simply asking employers to be nicer will produce a change in every workplace. It takes unions to campaign for change and the law to ensure minimum standards, otherwise we will end up with an even bigger divide between the work-life balance haves and have-nots." ~ A spokesman for the TUC

So why did David Cameron give a voice to this Neptune transit? Because Neptune is square to his Neptune. The UK's Venus is square to his Neptune. It is therefore his 'planetary vocation', if you like, to address these issues. Throughout the summer and Autumn it's quite likely he'll return to his theme, and after Neptune stations and turns direct in October he might start to come up with some proposals to 'go forward' with making his vision real.

For in-depth coverage of Neptune's transit to the UK's Venus, see these articles:
http://www.astrology21.co.uk/c1ukneptunevenusabb.html (shorter version)
http://www.astrology21.co.uk/c1ukneptunevenus.html (fuller version)

For information about David Cameron's birth chart, see these articles:
http://www.astrology21.co.uk/c1davidcameron.html
http://www.astrology21.co.uk/c1davidcamerona.html