The Neptunian ideal is for perfect union, communion, ecstasy of never having to leave mother's care or father's protection. The family ideal is for a seamless blending of personalities into an organic whole which breaths and sighs as one. (The Uranians are now horrified, thinking, "I can't breath!")

The god Neptune ruled ocean and it is an oceanic oneness that Neptunians crave. They secretly desire an umbilical attachment that transcends all rituals of coming of age. No matter how old children get in a Neptunian family, they are expected to return home for holidays, take close care of aging parents, observe all hallowed family traditions, raise their children in time honored sacred ways and marry someone who is willing to morph into and be absorbed by this entropic amorphous constellation of pulsating sensors and feelers.

The rooms and hallways of Neptunian family home ring with angel chorus, “We’re so close.” “We do everything together.” “I married my brother’s best friend.” “My mother and I write to each other every day but we don’t open them. That way when one of us dies, we can always be in touch.” Family members in Neptunian homes make sacrifices for each other that could make a saint blush. After all, to live your own life would be selfish.

Every once in awhile a Neptunian child gets into a Uranian family in order to elevate their sense of feeling connection, or a Uranian child gets into a Neptunian one to introduce fresh new ingredients into “soup” so to speak. These children arrive when families have reached critical mass and help them make leaps in evolution. Families evolve just like people do.

Neptunian family members touch, cuddle and snuggle all their lives. Perhaps you have seen them, like family that sat in front of me at Pavarotti concert who got up at break and went to bathroom together like those crack-the-whip lines we used to form on ice skating rink. Some cultures are prone to Neptunian dynamics. I suspect that Third World countries incline that way because of interdependency needs that are accentuated in conditions of limited resources. Hardly anyone can stand alone in poverty. There are many coming of age movies today where a second generation, being raised in United States or England, tries to come to terms with marrying outside Neptunian family’s expectations and moving brazenly outside family circle. “Bend it Like Beckham” is an example of a film with this theme.

Are you beginning to form an idea of which planet your family comes from? Here are checklists to assist you.

RATE YOUR FAMILY

Checklist for Uranian families:

ON THE UPSIDE

•independence is valued

•ability to think for yourself

•contribute to community

•stay busy outside home

•egalitarian family structure (everyone is their own authority)

•high energy creative self expression

•much enjoyment talking about things

ON THE DOWNSIDE

•every man/woman for herself

•frequent rifts and separations

•lacking emotional connections

•few family traditions

•contests of will

•conflict over pecking order

•eccentric

•someone in family is forced to be dramatically and passionately at odds with rest, who are cool-headed

•if there are any skeletons in closet they are probably “outed” and involve someone who went against law

Checklist for Neptunian families.

ON THE UPSIDE

•close knit

•communicate without talking

•physical closeness and depth of feelings

•protective; no one has to leave nest

•strong worth ethic; take care of your own

•us against world

ON THE DOWNSIDE

•codependent

•no one has any privacy

•emotionality runs rampant over logic and practicality

•individual members are never encouraged to "make it on their own"

•difficulty rising "above your station" in life

•emotional manipulation and control

•dark undertones

•being independent is considered being selfish

•family "secrets" such as abortions, illegitimate children (more important in former generations), mysterious or early deaths, fanatical religious beliefs, financial failures or ill-gotten gain

Did you find out which planet your family comes from?

The important thing is that no matter what your family is like, it's family! More and more adopted people today are looking up their birth parents. If this proves impossible, did you know you can still do it through your astrology chart? An astrologer can give you a good description of your earliest days here on planet. We can even tell you about your prenatal experience of womb.

Many astrologers today are specializing in family dynamic readings. For your reading, you will be asked to provide birth dates, places and times, if available, of all members of your immediate family. This includes, parents and grandparents on both sides, important aunts and uncles, also children, grandchildren and important steps.

A family dynamics reading is a fascinating and healing experience. Today’s astrologer is a positive professional, reading for personal growth and empowerment. Issues are presented in terms of choice and evolutionary intention. You'll learn reasons you incarnated with people in your family karmically; whether you have been with them in other lifetimes and in what relationship, constellated issues and challenges and areas of potential growth and healing.

Know yourself as never before. Know yourself in context of your family. If you would like to learn more, read Erin Sullivan’s book, The Astrology of Family Dynamics” or schedule an appointment with a professional astrologer who does family dynamic readings.

Please don’t take these descriptions as critical. The qualities of Taurus and Pisces are invaluable in their proper spheres of influence. Astrology is not a critical tool. It is a tool of enlightenment. Something you read here and become conscious about may save your life.

Duke continues, “Capricornians [sic], who came last on list, [are] typically described as patient and careful.”

No argument with that from professional astrologer. It’s no surprise Caps are safest behind wheel. They’re safest at everything! Their patience and sense of responsibility are legendary. Imagine thrill I felt in passenger seat when I divorced my Gemini husband and began dating a Capricorn.

The great middle ground of this survey is held by sun signs in this order:

4 Virgo

5. Cancer

6. Aquarius

7. Aries

8. Leo

9. Libra

10. Sagittarius

11. Scorpio [and Capricorn in last position as best drivers]

Is this what you would have expected? There is something else fascinating about this list.

The folks at SunCorp would have no way of knowing it but, Capricorn to side, signs in last two positions and first two positions are exact opposite. This tells us a great deal about polarities, doesn’t it? Scorpio is opposite Taurus and Sagittarius is opposite Gemini.

Sagittarians may stay safe in their cars same way they do in life, by having superbly developed higher minds (Ninth House). Another name for this mind is intuition. The highly developed sense of flow and good timing characteristic of Sagittarians is what makes them lucky sign. Furthermore, their minds are right at home dealing with traffic patterns, flow and spatial relations.

Scorpios, on other hand, may stay safe because they are intimately involved with inner lives of others in same way their opposite sign Taurus is defended against this information. Scorpios are sensitive to energy – whether it is a foot away or thousands of miles away -- and can feel someone “coming up from behind” at many different levels. Scorpios know if you’ve had a fight with your wife night before or if you’re thinking about embezzling or having an affair with your best friend’s husband. That’s why we always feel like they can see right through us. They can.

Scorpios would be drivers who would instinctively “wake up” in time to let a cocaine addict pass them at 95 or give a wide berth to a passive aggressive soccer mom hassling two kids in back seat and a phone conversation with her husband all at same time.

Where does your sign fall in this survey? Whatever your sun sign, let’s all learn from this survey and be safe on road.