Neptune Astrology: The Ultimate Planet Guide

Brrrrrr! Icy Neptune is the last of the gas giants in our solar system. In astrology, Neptune rules all that lies below the surface—and the watery flow of creativity.

What Neptune means in astrology

At nearly 2.8 billion miles away from the Sun, we need a telescope just to get a glimpse of Neptune. Like its neighbors Uranus and Pluto, it governs invisible aspects of the personality—particularly the subconscious mind: dreams, fantasies and even delusions.

In Roman lore, Neptune is the god of the seas. The esoteric and spiritual realms are also Neptune’s domain. Here, we must have faith in that which could be dubbed as fantasy. Any time you make a vision board or use The Law Of Attraction (“what you focus on expands”), you are working those Neptunian vibes. There’s a lot of magic to play with here!  

Neptune may rule the invisible realm, but it’s a powerful force to be reckoned with.

The ruler of dreamy, sensitive Pisces, Neptune has the second strongest gravity in the solar system after Jupiter. No wonder Piscean people have such a magnetic pull!

With its perpetual storms and active climate, Neptune is known for whipping up drama and confusion. It can have a disorienting effect, making it hard to stay in touch with what’s “real.” Neptune personalities are not exactly known for their stellar logical. But compassion? Absolutely! People with a strongly placed Neptune in their chart make great therapists, shamans and healers. 

To find out your Neptune sign, run a free chart here: www.astrostyle.com/birthchart

Does Neptune rule a generation?

Because of its distance from the Sun, Neptune has a huge orbit to make—it takes 165 years to circle el Sol. Thus, Neptune will linger in a single sign for an average of fifteen years, shaping generations. Divinely inspired creativity comes from Neptune (with some help from Venus). Here is where we tap into the right brain, releasing logic and letting pure creative impulse flow through us.

Looking at the music of a generation can also be a fun way to track this celestial influence. From 1998-2012 Neptune toured Aquarius, the sign that governs electricity. During this phase, we saw a rise in EDM (Electronic Dance Music) and deejay culture. Early music sharing websites like Napster were also born while sites like MySpace gave independent artists a forum to share their tracks without requiring a record deal.

Neptune is also the planet the dissolves boundaries. Not surprisingly, the free love movement of the 1960s erupted while Neptune was in sexy Scorpio from 1956-70. Like a cosmic acid trip, Neptune brings a sense of oneness consciousness, blurring the lines between “me” and “we.”

Compassion runs deep with Neptune—but it can also turn into codependence and martyrdom if we aren’t careful. People born with Neptune in ambitious Capricorn (1984-1998) work longer and harder than any recent generation. There’s no 9-to-5 for this bunch, who are easily lured into staying after hours with so-called “perks” of an office beer tap or pool table.

What does it mean to be born with Neptune in your chart?

Neptune’s placement in your birth chart can even show a propensity toward addiction. How we relate to mind-altering substances is determined by Neptune. Neptune can dissolve the ego—but this loss of “self” can also provoke a crisis. Hospitals and institutions fall under Neptune’s watch—little surprise since following Neptune’s compass without paying heed to other planets like sensible Saturn or the self-focused Sun might just get one strapped to the gurney. Like the other outer planets, Neptune goes retrograde annually, for about five months. These periods can be deeply introspective times—but ones that require extra reality checks!

Bottom line: Neptune may rule the invisible realm, but it’s a powerful force to be reckoned with. Getting in tune with Neptune in your natal chart can be the short code to avoiding crazy-making. Neptune can show where you need to release attachments—but also where you need to bring more grounded logic into your decision making.

When it’s time to make our final passage from the Earth plane to the spiritual one, it’s Neptune who helps us release from the waking dream and fly free into the eternal.

What does my Neptune sign say about me?

The zodiac sign and house of Neptune at your time of birth will reveal where your imagination reigns supreme. You’re likely to be more unstructured, spiritual and free-flowing in this part of life—but you might also have moments that you feel gripped by inexplicable fear. Since Neptune is associated with therapy and healing, the house it falls in can give clues about your inner work, as well as the ways you’ll give back to the world through charitable giving.

Through sometimes painful experiences, Neptune teaches you how to set boundaries. But first, it dissolves them, creating lessons in self-compassion and codependency alike. Does it all sound like a head trip? Yep, that’s fantasy-agent Neptune. Try to enjoy the pretty colors while you spin this cosmic kaleidoscope.

As the planet of unconditional love (and unconditional everything!), your Neptune sign shows where you may suspend logic. Here’s where you can dream as if anything were possible. Sometimes the visions are pure bliss; other times, they descend into nightmares. Limitlessness is the name of Neptune’s game. If romance requires a level of illusion, Neptune is the rose-tinted, soft-filter lens that lets us view the world in this way. 

Confusion alert! You may find that your Neptune-ruled area of life is never fully defined—and maybe you prefer it that way. The rest of the world might have another opinion, however. At some point you may have to put more boundaries into this part of your world to keep relationships intact—or to avoid plunging into self-destructive habits or chasing after an illusion.

All about Neptune sign or natal Neptune

Whatever zodiac sign and house Neptune was orbiting through at your time of birth determines your “natal Neptune” or “Neptune sign.” More specifically, this will guide you in the following ways:

  • Dreams: What do you fantasize about and what dreams inspire you daily?
  • Healing: How you’ll process ancestral and childhood trauma
  • Subconscious: From music to meditation, what moves you on a subconscious level? 
  • Boundaries: Where you’re fluid with boundaries—or where you feel hemmed in and stuck
  • Illusion: Where you are gullible and naive or unable to see things for what they are
  • Addiction: Where you struggle to say no or set limits, spiraling into self-destruction
  • Sacrifice: Where you’ll give up too much for others and play the victim
  • Glamor: Where you’ll create a magical spin that enchants the world
  • Arts: What forms of creativity are you capable of?
  • Compassion: Who you’re here to help and champion

Neptune is one of the outer planets, housed between Jupiter and Pluto. Because of its distance from the Sun, Neptune has a huge orbit to make. It takes 165 years to circle the Sun, spending an average of 15 years in each one of the zodiac signs. Every Neptune cycle shapes a generation, directing the music that moves us, the spiritual ideologies that resonate with mass culture and the way we live out our dreams.

How do I find my Neptune sign?

Use our cosmic calculator to discover what zodiac sign and house Neptune was in when you were born. To accurately determine the house, you will need to know your birth time.

What if the zodiac sign and house are different?

This is common! Read both the sign and house description below. Do these interpretations pull you in two different directions? That’s not unusual. We human beings have range. Astrology is an interpretive dance, a tool which provides a fascinating layer of self-discovery. Do some “astro mixology.” Reflect on how you can work with both energies to enhance your life.

Find your Neptune sign

Calculate Yours!


Neptune astrology facts

Planetary Stats: Neptune

  • Changes Zodiac Signs: Every 13-15 years
  • Zodiac Sign It Rules: Pisces

What does Neptune govern?

  • The psyche and subconscious
  • Spiritualtiy, esoteric realms
  • Institutions, hospitals
  • Fantasy and illusion
  • Boundaries
  • Imagination
  • Mind-altering substances
  • Addictions

What zodiac sign does Neptune rule?

Pisces


What are the special positions of Neptune?

Retrograde

Neptune turns retrograde for five months of every year, so it’s not unusual to be born with this planet in reverse. You may have to work harder to muscle through its lessons, but once you nail this planet’s energy, your additional effort may actually lead to a rock-solid mastery of working with Neptune in your life. 

Domicile: Pisces 

The planet’s home base, an easy flow if placed here in the chart

Detriment: Virgo 

Opposite sign of home base, may need to work harder to integrate the planet’s energy if placed here in the chart

Exalted: Cancer or Leo 

The planet’s most powerful position; indicates ease and added fortune with using the planet’s energy if placed here in the chart

Fall: Capricorn or Aquarius 

Opposite sign to the exalted position, can indicate struggles with utilizing the planet’s energy if placed here in the chart

What does Neptune represent in the houses?

The meaning of the placement of Neptune in a birth chart, for each of the 12 houses

Neptune in Aries or the 1st House 

Hello shape shifter. With Neptune in Aries or your 1st house of identity, you’re enchanting and enigmatic. You may change your look frequently, enjoying the art of being a chameleon. This theatrical Neptune placement can make every day feel like a costume party—and you probably have the wigs and sequined get-ups to prove it. Performance art may be your passion, either as a hobby or career. At times, you may choose to keep a low profile, playing the role of the selfless supporter. You can be powerfully attentive with people—and your presence alone can be healing since you have a gift for reflecting people back to themselves.

Read more about Neptune in Aries

Neptune in Taurus or the 2nd House 

When flowy, dreamy Neptune lands in the practical, structured sign of Taurus or the 2nd house, things get weird. This cosmic “conflict of interest” can make it hard to anchor in any sort of daily schedule. The key lies in turning your routines into rituals. Sure, you may have to wake up an hour (or three) earlier so you can meditate, journal, pull angel cards and sip loose leaf tea before heading in to work. But at least you’ll be in the zone!

With the glamorous planet in this beauty-loving position, grooming and primping might also require extra time. (And woe betide anyone who tries to hurry you out of the shower or tub!) Many people with this Neptune placement do best working as freelancers, so you can flow through your days without the stress of coworkers breathing down your neck.  

Read more about Neptune in Taurus

Neptune in Gemini or the 3rd House 

You’re a compassionate communicator who exudes genuine charm. People love talking to you! Gemini and the 3rd house are associated with reading, writing and our mental processes. Neuroscience and human psychology fascinate you, which could lead you to a healing profession that involves talk therapy, interactive coaching, or leading mindset-shifting workshops that teach people to change their lives simply by shifting the way they think about their circumstances. Participating in these modalities is also essential to your inner growth.  

Read more about Neptune in Gemini

Neptune in Cancer or the 4th House 

Bless this nest! With dreamy Neptune in this domestic position, you can turn any space into a sacred oasis. And you’ll do it with the flair of a Broadway set designer: lights, backdrops, music, visuals! (And feng shui!) Living near water soothes you: #islandlife. For some, however, foggy Neptune in Cancer of the 4th house, makes you unaware of how cluttered your environment is—especially since every object is sentimental to you! Working with a professional organizer can be life changing. 

Read more about Neptune in Cancer

Neptune in Leo or the 5th House 

Lights, camera, glamor! With fantasy-weaver Neptune in this theatrical position, the spotlight loves you. Neptune’s last tour through Leo from 1914 to 1929 brought us the Golden Age of Hollywood and the first movie stars. Although the icy blue planet won’t orbit back to Leo until 2078, Neptune positioned in the 5th house can have a similar effect. You are a master of illusion who can captivate through performance, fashion and even a radically shifting look, like RuPaul who has Neptune in the 5th house.  

Read more about Neptune in Leo

Neptune in Virgo or the 6th House 

With soothsayer Neptune in this helpful position, the spirit of humble service is in your DNA. You’ll drop everything to help a friend or rescue an animal and have a gift for working with underserved communities. Volunteering may evolve into a full-time job in the nonprofit sector, or you may be drawn to social work, coaching or physical therapy. Neptune’s “woo” could guide you to holistic modalities. You could work with plant medicine, Chinese herbs—or heal the Earth through environmental work.  

Read more about Neptune in Virgo

Neptune in Libra or the 7th House 

With fantasy agent Neptune in this partnership port, you’re hopelessly devoted to love. No matter how many times your heart breaks or your expectations get crushed, you won’t stop believing that your soulmate (or twin flame!) is out there, waiting to be discovered. Relationships ARE the path to healing for you. At the same time, romance addiction can throw you off your game. Be careful WHO you wish for! 

Read more about Neptune in Libra

Neptune in Scorpio or the 8th House 

Optimist or pessimist? With deep-diving Neptune in this introspective position, you may swing between extremes. At times, you are guided by spirit, an alchemist who shatters illusions as you strive to find the highest potential in any situation. In other moments, you can plunge into deep despair, carrying the pain for all your loved ones and losing sight of any possibility or hope. Balancing these extremes (and the accompanying dark moods) is part of your healing journey. 

Read more about Neptune in Scorpio

Neptune in Sagittarius or the 9th House 

Have Airstream, will travel! With nomadic Neptune in this sojourning sign (or house), you may struggle to stay in one place for too long. Traveling frees your soul and unleashes your imagination. Whether you’re backpacking through Asia, spending a year as a surf instructor, or just going on a long drive, getting away from it all is how you clear your head.  

Neptune in Capricorn or the 10th House 

Soulful, creative Neptune isn’t naturally at home in this driven, ambitious placement. But once you learn to combine these dissonant forces, you can strike quite the powerful chord! Much of Neptune’s influence may be channeled toward your career. You may feel called to do something meaningful that heals the world in a large-scale or public way. Changing the system from within is not an impossible dream for you. Many people born with Neptune in Capricorn are radically altering corporate culture as we speak, creating office environments that are purposeful, nimble and humane.  

Read more about Neptune in Capricorn

Neptune in Aquarius or the 11th House 

Welcome to virtual reality! With Neptune in this sci-fi sign and house, you are wired for life in the digital age. No surprise, the Neptune in Aquarius crowd (born between January 28, 1998 and February 3, 2011) is the first generation that never lived without the Internet, video games, or mobile phones. This transportive technology allows one to escape into imagination with an electronic device and high-speed Internet connection, which are ruled by Aquarius and the 11th house. Creating online content, developing apps, filming YouTube videos: These are all forms of creative expression and escape for you. Many born with this Neptune placement are gifted coders, who can use tech for art and spirit. 

Read more about Neptune in Aquarius

Neptune in Pisces or the 12th House 

Is this real life or is this just fantasy? Or maybe it’s all just a bohemian rhapsody for those born with numinous Neptune in its native sign of Pisces or its home base of the 12th house. This fluid formation gives you an otherworldly, old soul quality that emanated from you since childhood. You were definitely wise from a young age, and your parents and teachers may have commented on that.  

Read more about Neptune in Pisces

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The AstroTwins

Identical twin sisters Ophira and Tali Edut, known as The AstroTwins, are the founders of Astrostyle.com and the authors of multiple bestselling astrology books. Their horoscopes reach millions here and through their resident astrologer column at ELLE Magazine.