The Neptune archetype represents the idealization of kindness and beauty that is usually beyond our ordinary experience, but which is capable of touching us all, and which we all long for at the bottom of our hearts.

It has an impact on the individual, but it can also be associated with the fate of the masses and general cultural influences.

Neptune stays in the same sign for thirteen to fourteen years, so its position should be interpreted as a generational effect.

Neptune is the least specific and “tangible” archetype. It is the message, reflection, or special echo of another, higher plane, often appearing in the form of dreams (I do not refer to night dreams). It manifests in us in the form of faith, spirituality, idealistic aspirations, visions, inspirations, and desires.

In pure manifestation, Neptune self is free from material, sensual, and power-related aspirations. It is the source of love — a pure love that only wants to give. It functions as the memory of a kind of “primordial interconnectedness,” the ancient trust that works at the bottom of the soul.

It is also called the planet of mysticism, since clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience, and spiritual experiences are often associated with this planet and its prominent position.

It adds an elusive extra to your being. It encourages you to find and follow ideals.

Since it is ultimately an emotional and spiritual force, Neptune might also represent idealism, as well as the idealized search for the perfect partner or relationship—the soulmate.

However, if wishful thinking makes reality look different than it is, it can often lead to disappointment.

Neptunian things are characterized by a kind of vagueness and immature status. When the image is blurred and all you can see is a silhouette, this triggers your fantasies, giving you freedom to fill it up with any content you desire.

You can either transform the idea into a great, noble, uplifting one, like artists and poets who find inspiration in Neptune, or you can create a fantasy world of your own, isolated from reality.

If you have a positive experience in your Neptune self, you are a source of pure love, compassion, helpfulness, selflessness, and self-sacrifice, free of any self-centeredness. It can also inspire mystical belief, a Divine experience, enlightenment, an ocean experience, and a sense of union. At the very least, it arouses spiritual desire in you, an urge to search for these things.

This archetype also manifests as an understanding that transcends words. Through Neptune, you can tune in and recognize the reflection of your divine self in another person. You may find yourself enthralled by a creation, a feeling, music—anything that is captivating and that reminds you that you are more than a specific combination of chemical elements.

Pure Neptune, the “Neptune self” is the experience of all-encompassing, all-embracing love. Blessing.

However, if this pure, ethereal quality is “contaminated” by low-level, instinctive, selfish, calculative aspirations, both the world and the individual are engulfed by chaos, deception, disappointment, lies, and weaknesses—all as the result of abusing something sacred.

Therefore, where Neptune is in a tense position in the birth chart, you often find weakness, evasion, escaping reality, addiction, alcohol, drug abuse, depravity, deception, and hypocrisy.

A negative Neptune may also include a predisposition to mental disorders and a fear of unrealistic experiences, like being imprisoned by the void. It might drain the power of your character and undermine your capacity to act.

Therefore, it is important to be aware of the values and potential downsides of your Neptune.

When a planet comes into an aspect with Neptune in your birth chart, your Neptune self is impacted, and you will express Neptune qualities in response: idealism, the search for ideals, kindness, enchantment...

The planet in a given aspect provokes or supports your inner Neptune personality or puts it in the spotlight. Since we talk about a less specific archetype, it can be difficult to identify its impact.

More practical or rational people typically don’t recognize this impact. Even if they encounter something interesting or unusual, they soon find a reasonable explanation, or simply ignore anything that might challenge their view of the world.

Some people use transits of their Neptune for drafting intricate plans, complicated strategies, and engaging in never-ending combination.

There are also people who are overcome by a special experience, a feeling, a seemingly destined encounter, a heightened inspiration. The transit might manifest as compassion, support, love, creation, kindness, and idealism.

Others might be receive help from the “other side”—spiritual forces offering support.

However, if someone has an expressly troublesome relationship with this archetype, confusion, chaos, and disappointments may manifest, and the consequences of former weaknesses and steps taken towards easier resistance may become apparent.

You should strive for clarity, straightforwardness, and objectivity during an active Neptune transit.