Neptune’s Symbolism in Traditional Astrology

Astrology, as a system, draws on multiple frameworks for describing phenomena—one of the most fundamental and essential being the elements.

Consider Water.

The Water element is form-dissolving, not form-giving. It does not create structure; instead, it dilutes, erodes and dissolves definition. When Water is in balance, it nourishes, connects, and sustains life. However, when Water is excessive or unruly, it brings, loss of contrast. Connections become loose and weak. Things that once were firm become movable, things that were sharply defined become blurred.

The concept of earthshaking.

The natural ruler of earthquakes is Mercury, because it’s interpreted as “wind in the earth.” And that’s what an earthquake usually is, right? If you see a picture of an area where an earthquake occurred, it’s cracked, basically, air has entered into the Earth, where once was only Earth. But that’s not the only way the earth can become unstable. The other way is to add water to the earth rather than air. And that’s where Neptune comes in as an apt symbol.

Read Homer. Neptune was not a stable guy. He was very emotional in a rather fiery and intense way. When he expresses his emotions, he takes sides so violently that it destroys structures. This not only points at water but emphasizes that the elements operate in an axis, rather than isolated from its opposite.

Neptune is not about sadness or passive emotion. There is intent, there is sharpness, there is action. Neptune does not hold a handkerchief to dry tears, he holds a trident—a three-pronged sharp object capable of penetrating and disrupting structure in all three astrological modes.

Neptune’s instability.

Think of building castles in the sand on the seaside. As soon as the next wave comes in and the ground beneath becomes saturated, the castle crumbles. That is Neptune’s anger in play. That’s the type of earthshaking Neptune points at. The earthshaking that Neptune produces is not an air or fire phenomenon. It is not though explosions or eruptions. It’s through dissolution of form though excessive water. The earth loses its natural firmness because it’s too wet and movable. That’s a peculiar dimension of this symbol. 

However, I would suggest that we don’t think of Neptune in such a dramatic way as a matter of rule—the word earthshaker is pretty dramatic and poetic. It feels like I’m reading some kind of Greek tragedy or Italian opera—it doesn’t need to shake the earth, it just needs to disrupt the stability of whatever situation you are in—Neptune is a disruptor of stability.

If we understand the essence of the Neptunian instability, then we may be able to apply it to situations where structure may be compromised.

Psychologically, it will do it in an emotional way through blind belief, through emotion superseding and overwhelming the intellect, impeding analysis and learning. Or deceit or delusion—the ultimate dissolution of discrimination. An applying conjunction of the Moon with Neptune in a secondary progression for a native who is seriously ill spells death—the ultimate dissolution of physical form, earthshaking indeed.

Neptune rides a chariot pulled by sea creatures. Any resemblance to chariots being pulled by horses? Does that ring a bell? Horses, sea creatures—emotion. Neptune holds the reins. Will the sea creatures overwhelm him or will he control them? Is he charging toward something or someone he hates? 

Horary vs. Natal.

I think the concept of earthshaking is more prevalent in natal astrology than in horary. While I have seen astrologers speculate and assign this meaning, I have not seen outcomes that substantiate such a dramatic interpretation for Neptune in horary.

Rather than offering an answer, I pose this as an open question—why doesn’t John Frawley include the idea of earthshaking when discussing Neptune in his horary textbook? Maybe there is something there worth our consideration and further investigation.

What I am suggesting is that Neptune may signify a broader range of meanings in natal astrology. Since my focus is on down-to-earth horary astrology, I will outline below what I see Neptune signifies in horary, closely aligned with the interpretation presented by John Frawley in the Horary Textbook. I will also provide examples of how Neptune’s symbolic application can be expanded based on my practice, and how the horary symbolism can be applied to Natal interpretation.

The Horary Pudding.

How does that disruption of stability manifest in everyday life and in common contexts in people’s lives? That is: in practice? Let’s apply the water concept.

When we can see things clearly, they are sharp and well defined in our vision, or in our hearing, or in our taste, or in our conceptualization of our reality. Things are clear and in focus. If too much water is inserted into our thinking, it loses focus, connections becomes loose or we fail to make connections altogether. Belief supplants reasoning. The passiveness of coldness is more comfortable than the effort of heat. Laziness. In human relations in general, when people lie and hide things from one another, when things are obscured and cannot be delineated and cannot be seen clearly, that is the Neptunian water—blurriness, lack of definition, obfuscation and obscurity. 

Neptune does not inherently signify deceit, deception, or anything shady; rather, its essence lies in the fact that things remain undefined, foggy or simply unseen—or undermined. It indicates a lack of light, blindness, uncertainty, doubt, and the absence of clear information or a solid ground. This symbolism can be applied to any context we encounter.

Natal examples.

I’ve seen Neptune’s in meaningful places in birth charts. For example, in one chart Neptune is on the cusp of House 4, and the house 6 ruler forms a trine to this cusp. The native has a congenital disorder that defies medical diagnosis—its cause remains unknown given our present medical knowledge and technology. All diagnoses for this native are presented as: there is nothing wrong with you—when reality say the contrary. That’s Neptune.

On the birth chart of an astrologer I know, the native has Neptune on the 12th cusp. Here, the native struggles to perceive or accept matters related to psychological fear and self-undoing, highlighting Neptune’s tendency to obscure or render things invisible. This could be further explored with the native to uncover potential emotional connections to this obscurity. Connections with desire and the ability or inability to let go of desires or to fulfill them, or deal with their un-fulfillment, and the associated bondage that may place the native in.

This native tells me: I have no idea what Neptune on my 12th cusp means. Exactly. There could not be a more eloquent sentence about Neptune itself. Unless you study and intentionally uncover it, you will likely never know what this placement means. Neither Neptune nor house 12 have any intentions of showing themselves voluntarily. Neptune here is a gift to the Lord of the Geniture, or a curse, in its absense or dormancy.

Neptune and the Sun.

One parallel between Neptune and the inner planets is the phenomenon of combustion. A planet that’s combust cannot see, nor can it be seen. Similarly, a planet near Neptune can exhibit these same qualities—unable to see and unable to be seen. The context and the astrologer’s functioning brain will determine which meaning applies.

Of course, the Sun’s overwhelming power dominates the combust planet, which carries its own set of implications. That doesn’t happen with Neptune. There is no connotation of power—Neptune is not an inner planet, and therefore doesn’t dominate in the way the Sun does.

In combustion you need two planets, otherwise there’s no such a thing as combustion. When considering a fixed star or an outer planet like Neptune, their influence is a single testimony, introducing a theme rather than a power dynamic. No receptions are involved, thus the question of power is absent.

Another obvious correlation with the inability to see or something hidden is antiscia. This should be self-explanatory, so I’m not going to elaborate here.

Most applications of Neptune in Horary are simple and straightforward.

When Neptune is on the 7th cusp as you’re seeking to hire a doctor, it indicates that the doctor cannot see clearly. Without clear perception, proper diagnosis becomes impossible, and without a diagnosis, effective treatment cannot occur. Here we have an ineffective or potentially even harmful doctor. This holds true regardless of the doctor’s essential dignity or their receptions with the querent. Even if the doctor is highly skilled or well intentioned, if Neptune is on their cusp, grab your wallet and move away.

You’re considering entering a relationship with someone you’ve just met, and Neptune is on the 7th cusp. That alone should raise at least one eyebrow. There are facets of their identity or personal life that they’re not disclosing yet or never will, possibly because they themselves lack the self-awareness. With Neptune you are forewarned. In essence, anything signified by House 7 under Neptune’s influence is likely to come cloaked in mystery of some kind. And once these hidden factors come to light, they are more often than not unpleasant for the querent given the context.

I did a relationship Horary where the Moon opposed Neptune. About three months later, the querent discovered that the man signified by House 7 was a potentially violent narcissist, and fortunately for her, they broke up before anything bad happened. Initially, she was emotionally blinded and unable to see his true nature when we first cast the chart—classic Neptune symbolism at play.

In another horary, the querent asked about child abuse involving someone else. The chart clearly indicated the abuse, the partner’s involvement with the child, and all the troubling events that were occurring. Yet, the querent’s planet was conjunct Neptune. No matter how thoroughly I demonstrated and explained the chart’s message, the querent refused to accept it. She kept insisting, “This cannot be possible. This cannot be true.” She simply could not or would not see the reality reflected in the chart—classic self-delusion. Neptune.

Neptune: the astrologer’s advisor.

Sometimes Horary cannot explain a situation because it is either entirely different from what the querent imagines or is too complex to be shown through the usual testimonies. In those cases Neptune can signal that the question is unanswerable—a unique trait that other testimonies cannot replicate. When a question cannot be answered, the ascendant ruler, the Moon, or the ascendant itself will typically be conjunct Neptune.

Some horary questions arise from an incorrect or incomplete premise or perspective. In these cases, the querent is not approaching the situation in a way that allows them to receive the answer they seek. Even a minor aspect with Neptune frequently indicates that there is something the querent is not seeing or understanding about the situation.

In these situations, Neptune may also serve as a warning to the astrologer, indicating that you may meet resistance from the querent when delivering your answer. This resembles the scenario of the querent being combust.

The third option.

Although the human mind is beautifully capable and full of potential, it’s more common than not that our thinking process is reduced to a dualistic approach to life, especially if influenced by emotional factors. We see only two options. Pain or pleasure. Should I stay or should I go? Is this place a better one or that place a better one? Is this a good relationship or should get out of the relationship? It’s all about two options.

Yet the universe is often wiser and more flexible and offers more possibilities available to the querent. However, if the querent does not consider a third option, they naturally won’t ask about it. When a third path exists, the chart will use Neptune to prompt the astrologer to recognize and explore this alternative within the chart.

Here’s an example:

A querent once approached me, feeling emotionally desperate and financially stuck. He asked if he should: Option 1) return to his home country, or Option 2) stay where he lives and get a job.

Upon reading the chart, it became clear that neither option was a solution. Instead, a third path was shown. The querent’s Moon was conjunct Neptune, and other testimonies in the chart showed that he would remain where he is and work as a contractor, rather than getting a job. This was the answer shown in the chart and which, by the way, proved to be the outcome.

There’s a common misconception that Horary must answer a question exactly as it is asked. In reality, Horary is far wiser than we are. If Horary needs to show us that we are blind to the truth, it may do so by placing our planet on Neptune. With insight, an experienced astrologer can recognize when the solution to the querent’s dilemma is a third option, apparent within the chart itself.

Other meanings.

Other meanings of Neptune are quite straightforward. If you’re asking, “Is this person hiding something from me?” and the significator is on Neptune, the answer is yes. If this person honest? Planet near Neptune—no. If you want to know, “Is this person being deceived by someone else?” and the significator is on Neptune, the answer is yes. When Neptune is on the 5th cusp in a medical question, it suggests there is something about the person’s liver or heart that is hidden or undetectable—prompting a visit to the doctor for further testing.

In essence, Neptune signifies inability to see clearly or obscurity, in most contexts. Always pay attention to Neptune on house cusps, even if that particular house does not appear relevant at first. Analyze the chart fully to determine if the house is actually significant, as it often turns out to be.

For example, someone might ask a question about a romantic relationship, but Neptune appears on the 3rd cusp. The superficial astrologer would disregard that completely. After further discussion with the querent, it becomes clear that a neighbor is involved in the situation and requires attention in the interpretation. Fully explore the chart with the querent, examine all possibilities, and then discard what is not useful.

The gift of Horary.

The scope of the context is shaped by the astrologer, informed by their worldview, analytical skills, and engagement with the querent. A horary consultation is not like the reading of a book or applying fixed rules; it is a dynamic conversation, where the astrologer interacts with the querent, the symbols, and the intelligence that orchestrated the reading who, ironically, hides from most of us. Ah, Neptune…