Neptune & Neptune in Synastry

A beautiful, dreamlike fantasy.

For the last 12 years or so, we have collectively experienced a once-in-a-lifetime transit: the planet Neptune moving through its own sign of Pisces. Recently, it went retrograde, as it does every year, in the latter degrees of this sign. In 2025, it will finally make its way permanently into Aries, where it will stay for another ~15 or so years. But for now, as we enjoy the last moments of this complex, difficult, yet beautiful transit - I thought there's no better time to discuss this strange outer planet, especially as it functions in synastry.

(scroll down for synastry interpretations)

So what is Neptune?

Many astrologers are quick to say that Neptune represents "spirituality" and leave it at that. Or you may also hear them say it represents "addiction" or maybe "lies and delusion", which is a shame, because Neptune encompasses a great deal more than these reductive terms. To quote Liz Greene,

"Any attempt to understand Neptune necessitates traveling down indirect waterways . . . In astrological texts Neptune is rarely presented as wholly benefic; deception, illusion and addiction are usually mentioned, as are the themes of karmic obligation and renunciation. But these terms are insufficient . . . a deep and unacknowledged thirst for the spirit can disguise itself as addiction or hopeless retreat from reality. The perennially self-sacrificing parent, lover or counselor can reveal himself to be a devouring octopus, just as the. . . thief, prostitute, or addict may know more of true human compassion than an army of doctors, psychologists, and politicians who loudly proclaim their love for humanity through their collectively approved words and deeds." (Neptune and the Quest for Redemption, 1996)

Perhaps this is part of Neptune's illusory nature.

Put simply, Neptune can be described as the "longing for spirit" - a longing for spiritual ecstasy, for transcendence, for peace and spiritual redemption; a longing to merge with everything, the way a water droplet merges into the ocean. This tendency will be more pronounced in natal charts and synastries with very pronounced or afflicted Neptune, but it is also my belief that everyone has a call to the numinous side of life. Really, the fascination and call towards the numinous is part of what makes us human. And it's pure Neptune. While Neptune may indeed rule addiction, confusion, hysteria, mental illness, infection (its transit through its domicile Pisces also marked the pandemic of Covid-19) it also rules religious ecstasy, spiritual fulfillment, glamour, and self-sacrificing love. In many ways, Christ Crucified is a perfect representation of Neptune in action.

So how does this heavy-hitting outer planet function in Synastry? When well aspected to a personal planet or angle, Neptune can add a touch of "magic dust" to any relationship, romantic or not. Both natives may feel fated to know one another, and conversations may spiral into the esoteric or highly personal very quickly. There will be a lot of mutual fascination and idealization. Here are my takes on some of the main aspects Neptune can make to personal planets and luminaries.

🌞 Sun/Neptune:

Uplifting and inspiring for both people. Soft aspects (trine, sextile) are more subtle than the conjunction, but all three create a rosy glow around the Sun person - at the very least, interactions between the two will be softened, the Neptune person will be tolerant of the Sun person in ways they may not tolerate others. At the most, Neptune may idealize the Sun person and place them on a pedestal. Harsh aspects besides the conjunction (square, opposition) may create feelings of distrust and suspicion; the opposition may engender feelings of obsession on both sides of the axis.

🌙 Moon/Neptune:

SUPER super romantic. Let me just say that Rudy Valentino, one of the most romantic film idols of all time, had the trine in his natal chart. In synastry, these two water planets have the potential to play very well together, or to create total chaos. Since the moon is, essentially, dreams and the subconscious, and Neptune is essentially fantasy, you can see how such a connection can play out. Nevertheless, when Neptune and the Moon meet, there will be an incredible amount of tenderness between the two. The conjunction will engender feelings of trust on both sides, with the Moon person seeing the Neptune person as someone with only good intentions, and the Neptune person may see the Moon person as someone without any flaws and full of virtue. Sextile and Trine will have a similar effect, but more subtle - again, there will be an almost boundless willingness to forgive the other person and extend compassion to them. Harsh aspects like the square and opposition will lead more towards a tendency of one to use the exposed weaknesses of the other to exploit or deceive. Again, trust will be an issue.

💝 Venus/Neptune:

Another SUPER ROMANTIC one, but not without its pitfalls. Here is where all of Neptune's romantic fantasies of longing and fulfillment are cranked up to 11, since Neptune is the higher octave of Venus, and both of these planets have a tendency to overexaggerate the value and worth of that which captures their desire. The conjunction between these two feels incredibly natural - and both people will feel a great deal of warmth for each other (And an inability to criticize one another, possibly ignoring red flags). Easy aspects (trine and conjunction) will also help both people to have these rosy perceptions of one another with a lack of self-serving interest - they will simply love being around one another and appreciating each other. Here, the square and opposition are the troublesome ones - the square creates the fantasies that are impossible for either party to live up to, and the crushing disappointment when they don't. The square may actually make it difficult for either party to consummate the sex act, since Neptune prefers to idealize Venus rather than experience the physical body of the Venus native. Also, the opposition doesn't have the magnetic effect most opps usually do. Instead, it will remove the barriers to other attraction-generating aspects, and its influence will be felt that way.

🔥 Mars/Neptune:

Can be very problematic but also very good, depending on the aspects. These two are very opposite energies and as such have a natural magnetism towards one another, which can be great, but also full of kinetic energy that can easily explode. This connection will have a tendency to bring out either aggression or self-sacrifice. Mars conjunct Neptune will feel a deep subconscious longing for physical connection, which Neptune will feel and respond to. The Square and the Opposition will feel distracting obsession and sexual desire. The sextile and trine will remain mostly in the realm of fantasy, but these softer aspects can add a nice dose of magic dust to any romantic relationship.

So there you have it. Neptune, beautiful and strange, is a force to be reckoned with in any chart - especially in Synastry. I highly recommend reading Liz Greene's book, Neptune and the Quest for Redemption, if you're interested in more, and of course EW Neville's Planets in Synastry and Stephen Arroyo's Chart Interpretation Handbook.