Dear Shaun,

I know I’m a Pisces, and we’re supposed to be the dreamiest of the zodiac, but that’s not me. I wish I was, but I’m wondering if there’s something in my chart that holds me back from doing so. I’ve been called a pessimist by friends and family, and they’re not entirely wrong, but I feel like there’s some sort of reason as to why I always have to mix logic with reality. – Dreaming of dreaming in Brooklyn

Dear Dreaming of dreaming,

You’re right, Pisces (and an Aquarius, I must add) are usually seen as the dreamers of the zodiac. However, when it comes to astrology, it’s important to look at your whole chart for answers instead of just focusing on your Sun sign like most of us tend to do. You’ve come to the right place! Looking at your personal chart, Neptune plays a role in why you feel a mixture of dreamy and seriousness.

Capricorn in Neptune

This, my dear, is why you like to have a FAQ section when it comes to dreaming. Someone with Neptune in Capricorn (you have a Capricorn stellium, by the way) as you do in your birth chart tends to dream in practical terms. Rather than being drawn to fantasy for its own sake, they often want their ideals to have structure, purpose, and real-world results. If the ROI on the dream isn’t high enough, you just don’t see the point in wasting the brain power.

Neptune represents dreams, spirituality, imagination, compassion, and illusions, while Capricorn is associated with discipline, ambition, responsibility, and long-term achievement. Together, these energies create a personality that seeks to turn visions into something tangible. We’re currently experiencing a retrograde within Neptune, and the fire sign of Aries is taking the wheel on this one.

For you personally, this retrograde may have you recognizing patterns of self-sacrifice or avoidance that have been operating beneath the surface. So maybe you’re not exactly pessimistic, you’re just taking inventory of the things, people, and ideas (dreams) that really matter to you.

Sextile Between the Sun & Neptune

A sextile in astrology is an aspect formed when two planets are approximately 60 degrees apart in the zodiac. It is generally considered a harmonious and supportive aspect that encourages cooperation, opportunity, and growth. Unlike the effortless flow associated with a trine, a sextile often represents potential that becomes more rewarding when a person takes initiative. It symbolizes doors opening, talents developing, and positive circumstances that can be cultivated through action.

Sextiles frequently occur between signs of compatible elements, such as fire with air or, in your case, Earth with water. These elemental relationships allow different qualities to dance with one another rather than compete. As a result, sextiles often indicate areas of life where individuals can develop strengths with relatively little resistance, as long as you’re willing to engage and work with the natural magic given to you by the stars above us.

In your birth chart, there’s a sextile between your Sun and Neptune, and it’s a comforting aspect in your chart. You are a realist, but you’re a compassionate realist. Pisces (your Sun) is empathetic, imaginative, and emotionally attuned. Capricorn (which rests in Neptune in your chart) brings discipline, patience, and long-term thinking.

Dream On

I think the circle around you is using the wrong “P” word when it comes to you. Try switching out “pessimist” for practical or planner. Because that’s simply what you like to do. It’s not that you aren’t capable of dreaming big; you just don’t let your head hang too long in the clouds. The Earth sign of Capricorn that rests in Neptune in your chart wants you to be able to feel the land at your feet, while your Sun sign in Pisces leads you through the clouds.