What Neptune Means in Astrology

It takes courage to explore the energy of Neptune and wisdom to be able to tame it in a way that won’t totally absorb you. As Nietzsche said, “If you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.” And this is the same way Neptune works. So, choose to use its energy to explore the right abyss for you —one that will enrich your life and bring you the type of wisdom you need in order to evolve.

This is a fascinating planet, with a complex interpretation. I see it like a portal to the Higher Self, and the energy that guides us to this evolved, spiritual version of ourselves. While it’s not a personal planet, it still influences us individually and collectively in a way that impacts the spiritual course of humanity. I personally think that it takes a good deal of intuition to understand Neptunian energy in a chart and how it guides a soul toward its true potential.

This planet boosts your creative talents, psychic abilities and visionary perspective on life. But at times, it might place your deepest desires over everything else, including what is ethically or morally right. It can tempt you through manipulation, confusion and escapism. Focus on the positive, evolved nature of Neptune and try to not fall in the trap of its cosmic tantrums. Neptune is your soul’s best friend when you know how to focus its energy for good.

Beware Confusion and Illusion

As whimsical, creative, talented and spiritual, as Neptunian energy is, it’s also confusing and idealistic. This planet is moodier than the Moon but on a much bigger scale. Its “waves” of energy are similar to the volatile weaves of the ocean that hide the promise of buried treasure or a great void of darkness. You never find out until you reach the bottom of it. The question is, once you reach the bottom of the dark, cold ocean, driven by the hope that you’ll find treasure, are you able to come back up with it or will you get lost down there?

If poorly aspected by other planets in the chart it can make you experience intense feelings of guilt, deceit, and a strong attraction to various forms of escapism. But remember that it’s always up to you to use this energy in your favor. Use it to get to the next level of your destiny rather than finding ways to escape reality and responsibility, as tempting as it may be in this challenging world…

Neptune’s Symbolism and Mythology

Neptune is the ruler of the water sign of Pisces and its energy represents these natives to a T. It’s magical, creative, ethereal and bewitching. Once you learn about the complex energy of this beautiful planet and its artsy vibe, you’ll fall in love with it.

In Roman mythology, it was the God of the Sea but he also ruled over earthquakes. Similarly, Poseidon the Greek God of the sea, had similar strengths to Neptune. Poseidon was one of the main Gods, as the brother of Zeus (Jupiter) and Hades (Pluto).

Neptune has a trident that became iconic for his role of dominance over the seas. He appears in many images in a chariot pulled by seahorses or mythical creatures that are half horse and half fish. He also rules over horses and horse races as well as the domestication of these amazing animals.

There is a legend that states how this planet created the first horse to impress the beautiful goddess, Ceres. He offered her the horse as a gift and a sample of his creative skills. After this, he became the protector of horses and guided them to obey humans. 

From the Depth of the Sea to the Heights of the Sky

The energy of Neptune is both profound, like the ocean, and idealistic. This magnificent celestial body engulfs our abstract thoughts and feelings and connects our conscious mind with our subconscious nature. This planet can connect our core to the complex energy of the universal ocean of oneness.

Neptune is the higher octave of Venus. While Venus stands for individual love, this planet connects us to universal love. It takes our compassion, empathy, and creativity to a magical level. It makes us receptive to spiritual development and activates our highest psychic abilities.

Neptune in the Natal Chart

The Sign

It takes about 15 years for this planet to explore a zodiac sign, which makes it a generational planet. The sign it’s in in a chart shows how spirituality manifests in your life, but also how creative and idealistic you are. This is common to your generation and directs the collective energy through a normally higher, spiritual level.

• In Aries: You feel determined to follow your dreams and intuition because their energy is very present in your life. You invest your pioneering nature into your dreams and ideals. However, it’s important to avoid taking uncalculated risks. You might be very bold in pursuing your creative side and even manifest some amazing talents that bring you mass recognition.
• In Taurus: You can create an energetic bridge between your material world and Spirit. You develop a sense of art and beauty that unlocks your spiritual nature. This placement makes you especially creative and you want to be surrounded by a comfortable, or perhaps even, luxurious, environment. You might also feel very connected to nature and have very sensitive sensory experiences.
• In Gemini: You’re good at communicating, how you feel, what you intuit, dreams, and any spiritual beliefs you have. You enjoy indulging in and any creative skills that allow you to express your inner light. You might feel a bit confused at times, though. There are so many ideas floating around in your head that you’re never quite sure what’s truly doable versus what comes from your inner fantasy world.
• In Cancer: You’re remarkably empathetic and connected to your loved ones. You want to use the creative energy of Neptune to make your home a more secure and comfortable place. This placement boosts your intuition and you might receive important revelations through your dreams. Make sure you don’t fall into the trap of idealism and keep a grounded mind in everything you do.
• In Leo: your artistic sense is your greatest asset. You like to be creative, dramatic and express your highest desires, often in unique and or bold ways. This placement calls for you to shine as bright as the Sun and chase your dreams knowing that you have what it takes to reach them. You can inspire and lead others through the magical energy of Neptune that gives you a unique charm and charisma.
• In Virgo: You might be a very perfectionist individual. You hold yourself to high standards and might criticize others just as much. This planet wants you to reach your divine potential but remember that perfection is a trap that can hold you back more than push you forward. Focus your energy on practical spirituality and invest your energy in projects that help others.
• In Libra: A Libra Neptune will always give you an idealistic image of your relationships. You seem to be looking for the perfect soulmate who you can be your authentic self with, and you can just charm each other over and over. As fascinating as this sounds, make sure you don’t overlook any red flags for the sake of maintaining your relationships.
• In Scorpio: This placement activates your intuition and gives you a certain fascination with the great mysteries of life. This placement boosts your psychic abilities. But a Neptune Scorpio also makes you very secretive and most likely you will not allow many to enter your inner, spiritual life. You have a unique power to heal yourself and overcome even the most profound traumas in a way that makes you stronger.
• In Sagittarius: You’re always looking to boost your knowledge through profound, philosophical truths. This planet gives you the freedom to think without limits and explore even the most complex spiritual and philosophical topics. You want to reach a greater understanding of the world than anyone else and might travel a lot in your pursuit and personal growth journey. Allow yourself to explore spirituality at its highest levels and incorporate what you learn into your life!
• In Capricorn: this placement gives you the perfect combination of practicality and dreamy nature of Neptune. You have high ideals but you want to reach them through discipline, strategic planning, and hard work. From all the placings of Neptune in in the chart, it’s at its most realistic and down-to-earth in Capricorn. It’s important to find the right rapport between your ambitions and your idealistic nature.
• In Aquarius: Your dreams and the way you pursue them is unique. You find original ways that lead you to your greatest potential and always have the benefit of everyone else in mind. Your visionary mind can truly transform the world and make it a better place. And Neptune helps you attract the right support to implement your highest objectives.
• In Pisces: Your intuition is very strong and you have a highly empathetic nature. Your compassion makes you a great friend and family member so everyone comes to you for advice. Also, this planet shines over your artistic side, giving you great ideas to manifest your talents. Spiritual enlightenment comes naturally to you and you always want to evolve and broaden your understanding of your religion or spirituality.

The House

The house placement shows you where in your life the energy of this planet is most likely to manifest. This life sector can bring idealistic expectations, great dreams, and visionary ideas but also deception and or disappointment depending on how you work with it.

In the 1st House of Self

You have a very idealistic sense of self. You think of yourself in an elusive sort of way and might often feel misunderstood. But the true reason why you struggle to find people who understand you could be that you don’t truly understand yourself. Try to see yourself objectively and realistically and use the Neptunian energy to project your divine potential.

In the 2nd House of Material Wealth

Perhaps you strive to reach spiritual enlightenment through material wealth. You think highly of yourself when surrounded by luxury and comfort and take poverty as a personal failure. While finances are important and you need to have a practical approach towards them, it may be best to not involve the elusive energy of this planet in the way you make an income. It might lead you to create material wealth through means that are not sustainable.

In the 3rd House of Communication and Intellect

When posited in the third house, it touches your communication style including the way you speak your mind. Here, it can bring you intense authenticity and original ideas that can help you in your life and career as a writer or anything involving writing and self-expression. However, it can also bring confusion and moments when you struggle to distinguish what is true and what is imaginary.

In the 4th House of Home

This placement brings places focus on your family’s spirituality. You feel very connected with your family members and might develop a fascination for your roots and ancestors. You might feel connected with your ancestors in a way that they act like spiritual guides in this life and protect your energy. But this placement can also bring confusion or illusions regarding your domestic life.

In the 5th House of Creativity and Joy

Here, your creativity is highlighted and your sense of art takes over your practical nature. You look for joy in everything you do and try your best to view life through a romantic lens. But you need to find the right balance between your creative side and your practical side. Otherwise, you could miss out on important opportunities in life.

In the 6th House of Work and Health

You tend to idealize your daily routine and use it to serve a higher purpose. You like to be of service to others and you connect that with your goals. However, this placement asks you to balance work with self-care to avoid burnout and workaholism. You might be tempted to use work as a way to escape other aspects of your life.

In 7th House of Relationships

Your idealism is tightly connected to your relationships. You tend to see only the positive side in your partners and intentionally or unintentionally ignore significant red flags. It’s important to keep a realistic outlook on your relationships and partnerships.

In 8th House of Transformation

This placement connects your imagination, dreams, and intuition with the great dilemmas of the universe and human nature. You aim to understand the energies that create this dimension and the connection with other dimensions of existence. This placement boosts your understanding of life and death but also your intuition regarding other people.

In 9th House of Travel and Philosophy

You’re attracted to philosophies and concepts. You might make it your purpose to understand such mysteries and discover the universal truth by exploring other cultures. Make sure you don’t dedicate your life to unrealistic purposes and establish practical objectives. This placement might make you struggle with escapism and overindulgence in temptations.

In the 10th House of Career

This placement highlights the spiritual potential of your career. Your public image might be one of a very wise or spiritually enlightened individual, guiding others through their spiritual exploration. You need to find the right causes to invest your energy in and try to not confuse your private life with your public role.

In the 11th House Aspirations and Social Life

In the 11th house, this planet brings attention to your aspirations and social interactions. It would help if you found a tribe that understands your ideals as you thrive in connections with people who share your visionary ideas. Keep a realistic perspective on your social life and see your connections for what they are, not what you want them to be.

In in the 12th House of Spirituality

This planet is very comfortable here as this is where it can express its spiritual energy with greatest ease. You’re in touch with your subconscious and have an excellent understanding of your inner world. But try to avoid isolating yourself because there others may benefit from your wisdom. It’s important to stay away from addictive things, like junk food, and maintain a clear perspective on your life as much as possible.

THE Astrological Aspects

• Conjunctions: bring a spiritual intensity to the other planet involved in the aspect. They can increase creativity, and abstract understanding but also idealism and confusion.
• Sextiles: Its energy highlights the highest possibilities and gives you the strength to aim for them. These aspects can be very supportive and empowering, regardless of their placement in the chart.
• Trines: the energies of both planets support each other in a very unconditional way. You find a way to explain the power of the other planet involved in the trine through the spiritual and mystical veil of Neptune.
• Squares: tension and inner conflicts. You might need to go through intense inner work and self-awareness to reach a balance that allows you to grow in life.
• Oppositions: challenges the energy of this planet through the energy of the other celestial body involved. It takes inner work to integrate the Neptunian energy into your life healthily and harmoniously.