Neptune is one of the outer planets, invisible to the naked eye. It was not discovered until 1846. It is quite slow, taking 165 years to orbit the sun and complete the Zodiac. That means it stays approximately 14 years in each sign, so a whole generation shares almost the same Neptune position in their horoscope.
     In astrology, Neptune represents fantasy, dreams, and imagination. It is the planet of the unreal, which still affects us to a large extent. Our subconscious and our fantasies are quite real inside of us. Also, such things tend to influence our choices and actions greatly.
     Because of its dreamlike nature, Neptune is the only planet that blooms in the 12th House, which is the House of what is not lived out, what we have to sacrifice in order for the rest of our characteristics and talents to manifest themselves. What is not acted out is kept inside, and that's the natural realm of Neptune.

Keywords
Here are the twelve Zodiac signs, and keywords for the character they give to Neptune, i.e. your fantasy and dreams:
    Aries   violent
    Taurus   monotonous
    Gemini   jolly
    Cancer   emotional
    Leo   magnificent
    Virgo   conventional
    Libra   orderly
    Scorpio   bizarre
    Sagittarius   vague
    Capricorn   concrete
    Aquarius   eccentric
    Pisces   confusing

Ruler
Neptune rules over Pisces, the sign of belief, which means that it tends to be the most obvious and enforced in this sign. It exalts in Scorpio, the sign of the subconscious. It fits the best in water signs, which stand for emotions. It is significantly less stimulated in earth signs, and to a lesser extent in fire signs. It is at its least in Taurus.


The god Neptune calming a tempest. Painting by Rubens, 1635.

Planet age
Each of the heavenly bodies represents a period in your life of about seven years. In the case of Neptune it is the period of retirement, when we have no more obligations and can sink into memories and dreams. That would be approximately from your mid 60's and on to the last years of your life. It is a time when you're allowed to be absorbed by introspection.


© Stefan Stenudd, 2008