Neptune is a planet full of ancient, mythological roots. As the eighth planet, it is a powerful ally to have in your magickal work. Neptune is the only planet that cannot be seen from Earth with the naked eye. For this reason, it has become the ruler of illusion and the subconscious. Its mysterious position within the solar system reminds us of the unseen. Things we cannot see must be intuited as part of our dreams, spirit, and connection to ourselves.
As the coldest planet, Neptune is composed of ice and rocks. This gives it an icy blue color. This vivid blue mimics the blue of Earth’s oceans, which is where the planet gets its name: Neptune, the ancient Roman god of the waters and deep blue sea, controlled the winds and storms. Just as the god Neptune ruled the sea, the planet Neptune rules bodies of water. It governs mist, rain, dew, ice, and fog, along with rivers, lakes, streams, and oceans. Even the symbol for Neptune reflects the stylized trident of the god. These 3 prongs on the glyph symbolize the unconscious mind, the everyday awareness of the conscious mind, and the cosmic consciousness. The curve or arc is that of spirit, and the cross is that of matter.
Neptune provides one with high sensitivity as it opens the doors to realms that lie beyond. It helps with reaching transcendency by allowing the river of life to flow around us, enveloping our spirit, and allowing us to be constantly modified by experience. This icy blue planet hidden from our view encompasses mysticism, religiosity, and deep spirituality.
With an orbit around the Sun of 165 years, Neptune spends approximately 14 years in each zodiac sign. For this reason, it is a generational planet. Together with its neighbors, Uranus and Pluto, they are referred to as the modern planets or Trans-Saturnians. These slower-moving planets tend to influence not just individuals but generations. And as the planet was only recently discovered in 1846, there has not been enough time to see the full influence of its power. This is because we have not yet been able to see it travel through all 12 zodiac signs.
As the planet of inspiration, Neptune brings beauty to a spiritual level. It influences our dreams, subconscious, illusions, and fantasies, as this planet rules all things magickal and enchanting. Also called the Planet of Mist, Neptune makes us want to escape our mundane world for that of a heavenly state. It is the planet that spurs our dreams of fleeing the everyday, rejecting our limitations, and pushing past constraining boundaries.
And while Neptune spurs us to the sacred, it also intensifies intuition and compassion. It teaches us to make a sacrifice for the greater good or the love we feel for others, whether they be in our immediate circle or outside.
But Neptune does more than deepen our desires and connections with the magickal spheres. It also refines, purifies, and cleanses. Working with this planet will make one feel pure and removes the coarseness or roughness of everyday life. By removing these bumps, Neptune connects with the subtle smoothness of life and helps increase our artistic natures. Because it brings out the creative side of one’s personality, it is often linked to visual communication, such as dance, film, music, painting, and poetry.
However, Neptune can also complicate issues by making it harder to decipher facts, as it can alter our reality. There are times when our perceptions are hazy and our judgment is clouded. This can cause us to be easily deceived either by ourselves or others. And it is this complication that often leads to misunderstandings. It is always important to keep in mind that Neptune inspires, as it rules all that is sparkling and glamorous; however, these visions and dreams are not always real. It is Saturn’s job to bring us back to the cold hard truth of our lives.
Neptune is fantastic at breaking down barriers that divide us from others. It is a planet of metamorphosis, as it reminds us that all transformations and evolutions are possible and that we each have untapped potential residing inside of us that, with a little inspiration, can burst forth and cross the threshold into existence. The compassion that Neptune evokes is that of sharing, empathy, and fusion. The love radiating from Neptune is not carnal. Instead, it is an unconditional love that goes beyond rewards and judgment. It is the love that motivates an idea, propels a cause forward, helps us hold onto faith, and influences our sense of self within society.
While a drawback of Neptune is its propensity toward deception, illusion, and false appearances, the planet can be used for spiritual as well as artistic and scientific growth, as it is a restlessness within the soul that propels us to yearn for understanding, especially through ever-higher levels of knowledge. It feeds the curiosity of the unknown and the different.
And for all of this, Neptune is the gatekeeper of the subconscious boundary. It influences the ability to be in tune with the higher self and tap into subconscious thoughts and emotions. Working with Neptune is perfect for healing the soul and digging into the unknown, both on an individual and spiritual level. It is also ideal for any work involving water, particularly large bodies of water. While other planets often have a specific day that is best to work with them, there isn’t a particular day associated with Neptune. You can work with this planet any time you need!
Some great ways to use Neptune in your practice are through healing spells, honoring the element water, and working with any divination tools. Neptune is excellent for providing guidance, connecting with the divine, or establishing a connection either in a physical or spiritual capacity. It is also the perfect companion to any cleansing rituals or spells, as it washes away what is no longer needed and provides inspiration for the future.
