Neptune in Aries
I have 3 Youtube videos on Neptune moving into Aries. Something that hasn’t happened in 165 years. He arrived March 30th but will retrograde back to Pisces then arrive in Aries for good in 2026. Here are the exact dates:
30 march 2025 – 22 October 2025 Aries
22 October – 26 January 2026 Pisces
26 January 2026 – May 21 2038 in Aries
May 21st – 21 October 2038 in Taurus
21 October 2038 – March 23 2039 in Aries
March 2039 in Taurus
But first Neptune wraps up in Pisces, where he was at home as the modern ruler of this sign. Neptune was in full force here, master of illusion and the unreal. But also spirituality, idealism and the visionary. The video ‘The End of The Influencer?’ looks at this.
What is Neptune?
Neptune takes 165 years to orbit the Sun. So none of us will ever experience Neptune through all the signs in our lifetime. This also means that transit Neptune makes specific aspects to our natal Neptune at 28, 42, 55 and 84.
Neptune’s job is to show us that all reality is illusion. After Saturn and reality on the physical plane comes Uranus that shakes that all up and rebels against the limitations of Saturn. Then we get to Neptune which completely dissolve those limitations and tells us that everything we think is real is actually just our perception of reality, our illusion.
It’s no wonder Neptune is associated with substances and substance abuse, the idea of altering reality or slipping into other realities as a form of escapism. But it is also exploring those other realities through meditation, tarot, prayer or trance states. It’s what is not tangible, but we feel anyway and know it’s there.
I like to call Neptune The Big Blur. It’s the planet associated with dreams states, fantasy, imagination, creativity and intuition. It rules motion pictures and all water and other liquids. Think of how unclear something underwater is. You look at it and it seems to be moving, distorted.
The downside of Neptune is confusion, lack of clarity or not seeing things clearly. It can be illusion and deception. We can feel disoriented. Even if we try to work with Neptunian energy, getting creative inspiration, visions or intuition, it is hard for us be there for too long. It’s jarring to come back.
Neptune can have us wearing rose-colored glasses. On the positive side, this ‘all as one’ energy elevates our spirituality. We see others as same rather than different. It makes us compassionate and helpful and idealistic. It dissolves the ego which, for most of us, is hard. And it will be harder in Aries, a sign that needs to forge an identity.
Wherever Neptune is in your chart these coming years will bring blur and confusion. The feeling that things are fleeting in and out. Or slipping through your fingers like water. It can also create more compassion. The need to help others, but we have to guard against going overboard and depleting ourselves.
What is Aries?
Aries is a cardinal fire sign. Aries is the first sign of the chart. The signs open to the collective as we go around the wheel. Aries is the first stage: self focused, individual, ‘me’. There is no bigger shift between 2 signs than from Aries to Pisces. We go from the collective to the individual. The cycle begins again!
Aries is ruled by warrior Mars, or Ares in Greek mythology. Cardinal signs initiate, begin. Fire signs want to explore their identity and are action oriented. So Aries, as cardinal fire, is pure energy.
Aries does not worry too much what others are doing or thinking. In fact, he doesn’t even notice them. Aries does not want to follow, won’t be part of a group because it’s too slow and too limiting. Aries is courageous, energetic and physical. This sign wants to do something. But Aries is also forging that self identity.
This sign can’t be other than self because this need to define an identity and express it is too strong. Aries is not deceitful, or other than self. That’s good, but is also irritates others!
Neptune is not going to be as comfortable as he was in home sign Pisces. In fact Neptune is misplaced in Aries which is an energy that’s very individualistic and focused.
Neptune in Aries
Neptune is Aries is going to have the idealism of Neptune expressing at the individual level. This is great in that compassion and idealism can be part of all our make up. We want to explore these themes. And as the first house is self and appearance we can be showing that more. But the potential for clash is imminent. We are all idealistic, but whose ideals? What exactly is true? Are we going down a path that’s illusion? Or more likely we’ll think others are doing that. And we are all like this in our own, self-defined, self-contained way.
Aries operates on a self level. Neptune brings about a state that doesn’t see the individual self. It’s a misfit. Aries wants to define but Neptune is moving the goal posts. This can also cause confusion and be disorientation for us.
At the same time is can bring the initiating creating energy of Aries to be inspired by Neptune. The energy of the visionary getting amazing otherworldly ideas. This is true creation: bringing forth something never before seen. It is a time of transformation because this is Aries energy. The initial creation. The start. These ideas can seem farfetched because they are beyond the boundaries of the known.
Clash of Ideals: Looking Back to 1860
The video ‘Clash of Ideals” looks back 165 years to the last Neptune in Aries transit. The last time Neptune was in Aries was April 13th 1861 to April 7th 1875. What happened then? In astrology we always look back to the zeitgeist of the time to know what to expect. Things may not play out exactly, but we know where and how the energy is manifesting.
In 1860 Abraham Lincoln becomes the 16th American President. He was elected on an abolitionist platform. The abolitionists strongly believed in this ideal, one that is very Neptunian based in compassion and the dissolution of seeing other as different as separate. In Neptune we see sameness, all as one. But there were also those with opposing ideals.
On either side, people identified with their ideals, it became who they were: abolitionist or not. It becomes the mission to implement these ideals. So strongly were people divided on this question that Lincoln famously said at the time: ‘A house divided against itself cannot stand.’ By house he meant the Unites States. Lincoln was in fact paraphrasing the bible: ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.’ (Matthew 12:25)
I do not expect the Union to be dissolved. I do not expect the house to fall; but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other. (study.com)
In Aries, ruled by Mars, there can be confrontation, stand-offs and wars. the U.S. entered Civil War in 1861 Lincoln was assassinated in 1865 and . Aries is impulsive and driven. Aries self identity is based on these ideals. Neptune moved into Aries the day after the start of the civil war.
In Europe there were the Franco-Prussian wars. Napoleon was at war with several countries. Here is the idea of strong leadership, driven persona, unafraid to fight. This period also saw the unification of Germany and Italy. One country under one identity.
Sextile to Pluto Since 1947: Beware the False Prophets
Pluto and Neptune, because of their extremely slow orbits, have been in a more or less close sextile since 1947. Pluto is power and control, what isn’t working, badly wielded power and transmutation. Neptune is the ideals, the vision.
The good manifestation is an idealistic leader (Neptune in Aries) who has the power of the people behind them (Pluto in Aquarius). But beware the power players, the false leaders who pretend to be one of the people but who serve self or their masters. I explain this in my video that also goes through the sign by sign for Neptune in Aries.
The Big Shifts
This is another big shift coming at us in 2025 and 2026, with the energy moving for earth and water signs to fire and air. Things are changing and picking up. Despite the inevitable growing pains, I am hopeful this is a time of great transformation for all of us as individuals and as a collective. And don’t forget the May Astrology for all signs is up. Be well.
Image: Image: Yvette De Wit on Unsplash