There comes a point in midlife when you start to confront that dream of what your life was supposed to look like. Welcome to Neptune Square Neptune.
“The dream” took shape through many different influences. It could’ve been your grandfather pressuring you to take on the family business. It could have been that promise of a blank passport and a hope to have all the stamps of the world by the time you were 40. It could have been the dream of the white picket fence you had idolized and the framed diplomas in the home office.
At some point we take spiritual inventory not only to wonder how did I get here, but where did I get these ideas of where I should be and are these ideas and all the “shoulds” worth claiming as mine? If they aren’t, then it’s time to clean house.
This transit is a really an internal one, but you see it manifest in outward ways. People start either reconnecting to family or distancing themselves. They start going back to church or exploring spiritual rituals. People start thinking of how to align their life with their values. The topics hit are highlighted by the areas of their birth charts that are affected.
When people aren’t liking what they are seeing and don’t know what to do with this energy, you find the lower manifestation of Neptune. It comes about through distraction or procrastination. What can I escape into so I can avoid the real emotional work? Social media? Binge watching shows? Alcohol? Shopping? Workaholic tendencies?
My Natal Neptune hangs out in my 3rd house of elementary education, communication, neighborhoods, and social community. That square lit up those house topics like a Christmas tree! We had an awful time trying to figure out if we should keep him in the neighborhood school or try for the charter STEM school. I was worried about finding friends for both him and our family. I was worried about his learning style. And I was replaying the old tapes I had growing up when my family went back and forth between public and private education. We finally decided to put our name into the ring and turn to something very off the beaten path of Feng Shui, as a spiritual practice (it was squaring my 12th house), to give ourselves the best chance, but let it go into the hands of the Universe. Long story short, he was accepted, and I opened my boundaries back up to astromagick, manifesting, and the power of intention.
When Neptune squares are done well you can see an integration with that person. They resolve the shoulds with what their souls desire. You can expect your Neptune Square to occur around 40-42 and it will last about 2 years. Let me know if I can help you find when and where your Neptune square will be occurring in your chart.
For part one of my Midlife Transit Series, Go to Pluto Square Pluto.
I can’t figure out how to calculate my Neptune square!
Hannah, I emailed you. Let me know if you have any other questions. :). Ali
I also am having trouble finding out when my Neptune square Neptune transit is happening (I think now??)
Hannah, email me and we can walk you through your transit timing. ali@ascentastrology.com
I’m in a Neptune square between my first (natally) and fourth (by transit). I’ve been trying to figure out future plans for grad school and have been fleshing out a vanlife solution once my kids are old enough to leave the house in 5 years or so.
What feels most notable about this transit is the irrepressible urge to escape, or the feeling of confinement. I love my kids, we get along and enjoy each other even though I’m the only parent at home. But man if I don’t feel the itch to just cut tail and hit the road.
I am quite saturnian by nature and Saturn is currently Rx conjunct my natal Sun, so I know enough not to make any ultra-solid plans. Saturn has been insistent that any vanlife ideas I come up with must be feasible and practical, and with it Rx right now, I know I don’t even have all the pieces for that yet.
But in 5 years’ time, right after my Uranus opposition, the time will be more right. Just that itch, man. Neptune really lays it on thick.
That Neptune square will for certain push those escape hatch buttons! If you have any aspect between the Moon and Jupiter, wanderlust can be quite tempting too. Thank you for sharing! xoxoxo, Ali
Hi! I’d love help figuring out how long this transit will last for me, I’m struggling big time
Currently experiencing my Neptune square transit with my Natal Neptune in Sagittarius (4th house) squaring Neptune in Pisces (7th) house. I am trying to remain grateful for my job and home, also wanting to move elsewhere and be happy but feeling stuck. My hometown feels ice cold, even my family…so I’m hoping to put down roots elsewhere.
Sarah, Often with Neptune squares it can feel like the grass is always greener on the other side. This makes sense!
I have this placement as well. Sagittarius in 4th, Pisces in 7th. I am trying to navigate it but don’t know how. I have always had unreliable people around me, feeling it now more than ever. I’m not sure how to manage this. Any suggestions would be great
When it is hitting your 7th and 4th, there can be a friction between the home life that I’ve created versus the home life that I’ve inherited. There can be a reshuffling of belief systems between you and your marriage partner as well. This is about where your unrealistic expectations of others and how much you can realistically give start to realign. The good news is both Sag and Pisces are ruled by Jupiter, so lean into where that planet is in your chart for some enlightenment. Does that help?
I too have this transit happening and it’s going retrograde as well so it will be a long one..
My natal is in Sagittarius 5th transiting is in 9th.
I want to enjoy life but circumstances say no.
Hi, I would like to know how I can calculate dates for my Neptune square. I am currently in it, but for curiosities sake, I’d like to know.
Pull up your birth chart on Astro-seek, then choose the transit chart. I know that Astro.com ist? preferred by many, but the other page is easier to handle for beginners.
Hi, I was told I have the Neptune square going on at the moment, but I’m 51 years old. Neptune is one degree from my natal sun in pisces at the moment. My natal Neptune is at 5 degrees Sagittarius. So I’m a bit confused, is this neptune square return or something? I feel way it way more now , than when I was 42 or so.
Traditional astrologers count sign by sign aspects as well. From that perspective you still have the square going on.
I would not use the sign aspect here, though. Your Neptune square must have been around 2013.
I suspect what you’re feeling is the Neptun Sun conjunction. Neptune Sun transits can blur the lines of your personality and goals. They can drain your energy and the direction you are heading towards.
Hi! I´d also love to find out dates for Neptune Square. I´ve been in such a terrible confused way this year so coming across this makes me think I´m in this!
Anna, I will email you to see what I can do to help! :). Ali
Hello,
Can neptune square natal neptune cause fatigue and anxiety/panic attacks?
Yes! Neptune transits and Uranus transits can manifest as more of an anxious response. Kathy Rose did a wonderful presentation on this at the ISAR conference in 2022. Neptune sensitizes the nervous system, overwhelms the senses, and can cause more of a sense of fear. This is more pronounced when there is a challenging Neptune transit to a personal planet, it is on the angle, or is unaspected. Does that help? To help ease a Neptune transit lean into music, nature, aromatherapy, meditation or yoga. Getting in tune with those triggers can be really helpful.
Thank you so much for reply. I was wondering what is causing my anxiety and brain fog. Along with dizzness and drs are confused. Along with neptune square natal neptune Im also having uranus opposition transits to a few planets. You are a life saver thank you.
Wow for this article. I do have a question if i may ask what is the chances of vertigo regards to Neptune Transit?
Vertigo could be a Neptune transit, but it could also be a Mercury one.
How do you assess the areas of life that the Neptune square Neptune may be having the biggest impact on you? My natal is in sag. 6th and transiting is Pisces 10th (or 6th and 9th if I do whole sign)…is the house that’s being transited most affected or the natal house? Like, how do they interact? Thanks in advance for any help/guidance!
Hey there Caitlin, with all aspects both of the houses will have an impact. So for example, using whole sign house system, your 6th and 9th houses will be affected the most. The keyword for squares is “adjustment” – it’s a lot like having two people pull into a 4 way stop at the same time and everyone pauses to remember who gets the right of way. It could be that you are figuring out how to balance ideals with every day living, implement your life philosophy into the nitty gritty of the routine, or trying to find a unifying theory that will click things into place. This is all 6th/9th house stuff. Does that help? Ali
This is such a helpful blog, thank you! I’ve honestly felt as though I’ve been losing my mind over the last year and more – anxiety/depression/panic attacks, loss of purpose, loss of my sense of self, etc etc etc. So this information comes as something of a relief to at least know I’m not going crazy. I have natal Neptune in the 9th at 24° Sag, and transiting Neptune in the 12th. Transiting Neptune is also in conjunction with my Ascendant at 28° Pisces, and I’m wondering how that could affect this transit? Any insights would be greatly appreciated, and thank you 🙂
Thank you so much for the feedback! That means so much to me. Neptune transits to the angles or your luminaries can be doozies. Neptune crossing your ascendant can definitely feel like you’ve lost your sense of self, your grounding, and sense of control. It can be a good opportunity to redefine yourself, adjust your ego boundaries, and tap into what you want to create. It can be disorienting for certain.