Aries seems to be the star of the show this year, and it’s not done yet. Neptune began its retrograde in Aries on July 7th and will stay there until December 12th. The dreamy planet of Neptune is where we turn when we want to live with our heads in the clouds.
In retrograde, however, it’s asking you to question whether your dreams are being used as a distraction from your everyday life. If so, what’s happening in your life right now that makes you want to escape inside your head? Everything you believed to be your “truth” is being questioned right now.
Neptune In Astrology
In astrology, Neptune is looked at as the planet of inspiration, dreams, psychic receptivity, illusion, and confusion. Neptune rules spirituality and all things subtle. Sounds fun, right? Well, like everything in astrology, there’s a bit of a downside. Those with heavy Neptune placements in their chart may be more prone to deception, trickery, deceit, guilt, and addiction.
Astrologers refer to Neptune as a generational planet because Neptune moves slowly through the zodiac, taking about 165 years to orbit the sun and spending approximately 14 years in each sign. As a result, it influences entire generations of people born within the same era, shaping their collective dreams, ideals, and artistic sensibilities. This mystical planet represents what enchants and inspires us. It’s no surprise that Neptune usually plays a role when it comes to historical revolutions.
Breaking Through The Ice
Right now, we’ve been dealing with Mercury in retrograde in Cancer. Where Mercury in retrograde asks us to slow down and take inventory, Neptune in retrograde is asking us to reclaim our imaginations. That can be hard to do with the various distractions available to us, and living in a capitalistic world doesn’t make it any easier. While Neptune is retrograde, we’re being asked to consume less and notice what keeps us in the fog.
The giant “ice planet” is also considered the planet of spirituality. While it’s in retrograde, you might start questioning your own, or begin exploring others. This can be a challenge to those who may have grown up in religious households, or to those who never quite got into religion at all. No one’s telling you to convert! Neptune is just increasing your curiosity about ideas that you never pondered before. Aries will make you trust your gut.
What Happens In This Retrograde
Every planet that transits in Aries is ready to lead us on a journey of rebirth. Change is uncomfortable, but it fuels a new sense of identity, purpose, and direction. In Aries, Neptune inspires us to pursue new dreams and to dream courageously. This retrograde wants us to allow our seemingly impossible dreams to lead us toward new paths. Aries is the king of doing things they’ve never done before.
Is it an illusion? Is this dream something that you really want, or something that you’ve been told to want? These are the questions to ask yourself during Neptune in retrograde. Over these next few months, you’re going to feel a shift. Expect eureka moments in the shower where you realize you were right about something, or that the life you’ve been living no longer resonates with your authentic self. Maybe it did a year or two ago, but that’s simply not who you are anymore.
Unfortunately, the word “manifestation” has become a buzzword on social media, but I’m here to tell you that sometimes manifesting isn’t enough. While Neptune is retrograde in Aries, take the time to notice the fog…then cut through it. Any dream you have could totally be possible! Especially if you add a little structure. The challenge with this transit is to keep your feet on the ground (and I mean toes clutching to the grass) while La La Land Neptune wants your head in the clouds.
