On June 25, 2021 Neptune began moving backwards in the zodiac at 23º11' Pisces. On Dec 1, Neptune finally came to a complete stop at 20º24’ Pisces and stationed direct after 159 days in retrograde motion. This shift made all things related to Neptune shift as well.

WHAT DOES NEPTUNE REPRESENT?

Neptune is the planet of consciousness. It signifies subjects related to the imagination, creativity, music, inspiration, spirituality, dreams, illusions, and magic. It’s a planet that dissolves, blurs, projects, and also manipulates. It’s associated with longing, idealism, idolatry, sacrifice, and martyrdom. It rules psychedelics, meditation, anything “otherworldly”, and creates a feeling of being one with the universe. It has a lack of boundaries and merges things together. Neptune influences the subconscious realm so it directly affects perception. It can confuse, deceive, and create disillusionment. It creates false impressions, mirages, smoke and mirrors, rose-colored glasses, and high-strangeness. It is not only the planet of conspiracies and addiction, but also represents delusions, scammers, and gaslighting. Neptune represents people like supermodels, drag queens, and cult leaders. This planet is equally fantastical as it is terrifying.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

When a planet goes through a process of stationing retrograde and direct, it is going through a stage of development. Retrograde periods are when a planet moves back over some degrees of the zodiac that it had just passed. It is revisiting or “taking a second look” at those degrees. Retrogrades are times to revise, reconsider, and review all things related to that specific planet. Neptune moves very slowly through the zodiac and stations retrograde once a year for about five months. This reflects how as humans we are constantly dealing with our unconscious programming and trying to figure out what is “real” and what is imaginary. There are so many emotions that get lost in our subconscious and it takes a lot of time to recognize them even if we are paying close attention to our spiritual health. It also means there are certain times of the year that are better for spiritual advancement (Neptune direct) as opposed to spiritual healing (Neptune retrograde).

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT ME?

Check your birth chart to see which house holds 20º-23º Pisces in order to pinpoint which area of life has been influenced by this shift. Which part of your life has been experiencing a lack of clarity? In what ways can you begin to move forward in your spiritual development?

The first time Neptune passed over 20º24’-23º11’ Pisces was from March 4, 2021 to the day it retrograded on June 25, 2021. Think back to what was happening during that time in your life and try to figure out what Neptunian influences from that period have been needing spiritual healing. 

Although Neptune is now direct, it will take a week for it to gain speed and start moving forward again. Neptune will begin to advance on the morning of Dec 8. Until then, take this time to do some shadow work and figure out what part of you needs attention spiritually. The Moon will pass over Neptune the night of December 10, which will be a good time to start addressing these issues directly. From now until March 21, 2022, Neptune will be taking its third and final pass over 20º24’-23º11’ Pisces. Until then, focus on tying up the loose ends and ironing out any residual confusion or “slippery” elements related to your spiritual healing. Once Neptune begins to advance past the range of degrees that were involved in this retrograde period, we will have about three months to explore new spiritual development before the next retrograde period. The next Neptune retrograde cycle will begin on the day of the New Moon in Cancer on June 28, 2022.