Neptune Retrograde: Dreams, Illusions and Deep Soul Work

Neptune retrograde is one of the most fascinating and spiritual times for us all. Within the apparent dreamy fog of this psychic planet, there are some amazing wonders waiting to unfold in our lives. This period opens an inner portal to our deepest beliefs and desires.

I like to think of this planet as a sort of magic wand that can convert the average into the wondrous. Neptune plays a cosmic tune all of its own and dictates a spiritual rhythm that can set each one of us on a brand new and improved path.

Neptune’s Astrological Profile

Neptune rules the water sign of Pisces and represents the archetype of the psychic, with its dreamy and artistic energy. It’s also the higher octave of Venus meaning that it takes our desires and emotions to a higher spiritual level. The eighth planet from the Sun got its name from the Roman God of the Sea and uses the trident symbol to represent its power, just like its ancient Greek equivalent, Poseidon, God of the sea.

This beautiful blue celestial body governs the depth of our unlimited, subconscious minds. It rules over the unseen corners of our human psyche. Neptune has a deeply mysterious vibe and an incredible capacity to contour illusions and project fantasies. It wants us to explore and express our inner world in great depth and without fear.

Neptune brings spiritual growth, emotional intelligence, empathy, and compassion, as long as we embrace its energy. As Neptune knows no limits, it can make us feel invincible. An exalted Neptune in Sagittarius for instance, can fuel our highest dreams and give us just the right amount of confidence in our spiritual strength to achieve what might seem impossible to others.

There is a downside to Neptune, though, especially if it’s in Virgo where its energy is debilitated or it forms challenging aspects like squares or oppositions. In such placements, Neptune can create illusion and deception and bring a manipulative energy. Whether we are the victims of such an energy or we initiate it ourselves.

Your natal Neptune shows you the areas of your life in which you may seek spiritual growth and enlightenment. I look at Neptune’s placement as the direction of one’s spiritual path. It tells me what the mission of the soul is in this particular incarnation and what energy we invest in that mission.

What Happens During Neptune Retrograde?

Like all retrogrades, Neptune retrograde is the phenomenon that makes us perceive the planet moving backward in the heavens. Neptune’s trajectory doesn’t change, of course. It just looks like its moving backwards in the sky from Earth.

This retrograde happens every year and lasts around five months. The energy of Neptune during a retrograde focuses on our inner world. It’s all about our beliefs and how much we’re in touch with our fantasies. Unlike a direct Neptune, the retrograde period brings a clear perspective on our lives, unstained by deceptive illusions. 

Neptune is a generational planet that profoundly influences our collective energy. We can see global energy shifts toward new beliefs and practices but we can also start questioning the present spiritual level of humanity.

This time helps us to gain clarity on matters that may have been clouded or were deceitful. We become more aware of our psychic nature and can reach a new level of understanding of our inner selves.

Embrace the Energy of Neptune’s Retrograde

Working with the energy of Neptune retrograde can be tricky but also very rewarding. This is a great opportunity for personal growth and healing. Think about the limitless energy of this planet and how you can manifest it into your inner world! This retrograde is all about you, your relationships and your personal development which needs to start from within.

Embrace Neptunian Clarity

This is your opportunity to use Neptunian clarity that isn’t present during its direct motion. Neptune retrograde switches from being confusing to bringing light into your inner world and subconscious mind.

Neptune further opens the door to your psychic mind and beliefs, helping you to understand them better and incorporate them more effectively into your life. Think of these months as a gift from this planet. Because you will no longer be trapped in the confusing dance of illusions and you will feel divine guidance to become the best version of your spiritual self.

During this time, you might realize that your beliefs no longer represent your true vibration so you might feel like changing them. Be prepared for a very transparent energy that makes you face your spiritual authenticity and potential.

Your subconscious mind might feel clouded and distracted when Neptune is direct, but in retro, you’ll get more in touch with this side of yourself. And it’s very important to welcome rather than resist the healing and spiritual growth which may happen during this time. Allow it to align your energy with your higher purpose and place you on a path of higher evolution.

Align Your Inner Energy With That of the Collective

Keep in mind that Neptune affects us on a global scale as it’s a generational planet. Its retrograde motion is an opportunity to reassess our collective perception of reality. Since we’re all connected on an energetic level, many of us find healing and spiritual evolution through our relationships with each other.

So, paradoxically, Neptune retrograde wants us to look inward but also be aware of our collective vibration and the way each one of us contributes to it. During this retrograde there will be awakened people who decide to embrace a more spiritual path but also those who remain in their old belief system, which is fine because each Soul is on it’s own unique path.

Neptune Retrograde Dos and Don’ts

Dos

Meditate

The energy of all retrogrades invites meditation and mindfulness. But this retrograde takes things even further and asks you to meditate on your spiritual identity. Take the time to embrace your energy in a way that allows you to accept your strengths and weaknesses.

Thanks to the spiritual clarity of this phase, you’ll probably find it a lot easier to get into a deep state of meditation and use it to find the answers you could have been looking for. Guidance comes when your mind is silent and calm, and Neptune helps you reach this psychological realm.

Become Familiar with Your True Vibrational frequency

Focus on the vibration of your Soul and calibrate it to a frequency that you are comfortable with. This is, of course, easier said than done but it essentially means that you should take this opportunity to understand who you really are, and perhaps who you’d really like to become as well.

If you’ve felt low on faith lately, this is the time to find your spiritual tribe. Neptune brings people into your life who can help guide you and support you along your journey. All you have to do is stay open and confident in your abilities. But if you don’t know your core energy, you might not recognize those people.

Try New Spiritual Practices

Of course, I’m not saying to completely change your beliefs or faith suddenly. But if you feel like something doesn’t quite sit well with your spiritual beliefs, this is the time to improve it or eliminate it.

Maybe you always felt like you’d love to learn astrology but you were got the time. Or maybe you wanted to try a new type of yoga or mindfulness practice. Well, this is the perfect time to get started. This time will offer you the objective clarity to verify if that particular calling is written in the stars for you or not.

Be With Yourself

Being with yourself is not just about loneliness. In your moments of solitude, try to be aware of your thoughts and feelings. Neptune supports self-awareness and sheds light on the less-than-positive thoughts swirling around in your mind. You want to focus on accepting yourself in full and striving to reach your true potential.

Vulnerability is one of your great strengths during this time. Don’t refrain from acknowledging your emotions and weaknesses. Instead, embrace them as part of yourself.

Grow Through Your Relationships

This is a time that can empower healthy relationships but also end poor ones. So, observe your friendships and intimate relationships and evaluate their recent evolution. Surround yourself with people that vibrate at the same frequency as you.

Connect With Nature

Remember that Neptune is a planet that works with the energy of nature—water in particular. If you have the chance to relax by the sea, ocean, or even a lake, you will absorb even more of this incredible energy. Spending time in nature helps you process your thoughts and feelings, and really chill out. So, this could be a great time to take a vacation!

Don’ts

Don’t Indulge in Escapism

Neptune can tempt you with escapism. Although this temptation is stronger when Neptune is direct, you can still feel it during retrograde. If you open past traumas to heal them, the emotional energy might be too intense. This is the moment when you want to use meditation and mindfulness as your valuable tools. They will help you reach clarity and envision the best version of yourself as you are healing your past.

Don’t Be Too Self Focused

Neptune retrograde is not the time to be selfish, even if you have to focus all that Neptunian energy inward. There is a fine line here but you have what it takes to follow it if you allow the God of the Sea to guide you. If you fall into the trap of selfishness, you will get on the hedonistic side of Neptune, which forgets about its moral compass.

Work with your compassionate side as you focus on giving to others from an inner place of abundance. You want to grow at a spiritual level to better your life but also to improve the world around you.

Don’t Give Into a Victim Mentality

Feeling like a victim probably won’t help you during this time. Sensibly and cautiously dealing with any issues you have and past mistakes is much better than bathing in their negativity. Remember that this planet is here to bring you solutions and help you convert negative situations into opportunities for growth and spiritual evolution.

Guiding Your Spirit Through Neptune’s Fog

To manage the energy of Neptune retrograde in a way that steers  you towards a better version of yourself is not complicated but it doe takes practice. Your main goal is to include spiritual practices into your self-care routine and polish yourself during these five months.

Reflect on your life and attain a higher understanding of your energy through meditation and introspection. You don’t have to analyze and overthink everything. But, do be aware of the energy you carry and how it impacts your existence. Neptune wants you to manifest your highest desires, but to do that, you will need to work on clearing your vibrational frequency of as much clutter as possible during this retrograde and whenever else you feel it’s appropriate.

Keep a dream journal as Neptune might manifest your subconscious energy through your dreams. You could even have premonitions or receive warnings from your guides while you’re asleep. Writing down your dreams can help you understand and receive their messages better and you always have a way to go back to them.

Explore your creative energy during this time as it’s a great time for discovering new talents and hobbies. You’ll feel inspired to follow your skills and have the confidence to display your creativity.

Use this period to find the spiritual guidance you need to support your personal development. It could be a spiritual role model, a parent, a priest, or any other figure that inspires you to follow your spiritual ideas.

Focus on healing emotionally from everything that required closure in your past. You might not have gotten that closure from your previous partners and even family members, but you have the power to create it by yourself. Neptune can give you the wisdom to forgive and move on, allowing you to grow and evolve into your divine potential.

This content, like all content on Stars & Paths Astrology, is entirely human-made.

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