Transits – Neptune conjunct the Moon

Neptune, the beautiful, ethereal, blue planet seeks to merge. This archetype represents our ultimate connection to the universe. As ruler of the oceans, Neptune reminds us that we all come from the same source of life and that there is no separation between us. Neptune’s function is to dissolve structures that prevent us from experiencing that sense of oneness. The Moon is your emotions, your childhood, your Mother, your habits, your home. It shows how you feel, what moves you and how you instinctively respond. The Moon is where we are receptive and impressionable so Neptune’s transit to the Moon tends to be more pronounced. Think of how the Moon rules the ocean’s tides and you start to understand how these two bodies interact with each other. When Neptune conjuncts the Moon, our boundaries are low and our emotions are high and all areas of life that the Moon oversees can be affected. You may feel tossed on a stormy sea or like you are drifting far out in the ocean, unsure of where you are. Feelings of being lost and confused tend to characterise this transit. Neptune transits seem to ebb in and ebb out which means we don’t always see them coming. It’s like waking up after a long sleep and finding yourself deposited on some distant shore, recognising nothing. Things can feel unreal, unstable or like they are coming undone. You may feel like life has lost its meaning or you just don’t understand. Everything feels vague and foggy. Both the Moon and Neptune are bodies associated with sensitivity. You may feel vulnerable, easily hurt or take everything very personally. Sometimes this transit may manifest as an emotional (Moon) loss (Neptune). You may feel unable to care for yourself and need help. Neptune rules ‘the victim’ so you could feel at the mercy of others or circumstance. Sometimes (if the natal chart and other transits indicate), there can be stomach problems as the Moon rules digestion or you may find you become very sensitive or intolerant to foods that caused no issue before. Women may experience menstrual irregularities. You may also become more sensitive to certain medications, both western and alternative. As with other strong Neptune transits to personal planets, alcohol and recreational drugs may have a stronger than intended effect. Caution is strongly advised. Neptune rules peace and this is ultimately what we are searching for. As water gradually erodes the shoreline so too our ego is eroded until we are naked like the day we were born – emotionally speaking. Neptune conjunct the Moon can be a womb like experience where sounds from the outside world are dulled and we float silently in the umbilical sac of life. The urge to ‘check out’ or escape can feel overwhelming. Sometimes there’s a strong urge to lose yourself in films and fantasy, to hide away from the harsh realities of life. Maybe you find yourself fascinated with something – or someone. Idealism is a classic manifestation of Neptune. If you find yourself ‘checking out’ too often, consider what feelings you may be trying to numb or escape from. It can be helpful during this time to practice meditation, listen to beautiful music, paint your feelings, look to what makes you feel spiritually connected. Allow some time each day to check in with your inner self. Show yourself some tenderness. Bearing in mind that the Moon rules one of the eyes in astrology (the Sun the other), Neptune conjunct the Moon is rather like wearing rose-coloured glasses. We see what we want to see. Everything can seem just perfect, even magical…until Neptune moves out of orb of the Moon and reality reappears. It is important during this time to stay grounded. Romantic relationships can certainly feel wonderful but strive to see your partner as a living breathing, fallible human, not a God or a saviour. It’s all too easy to become lost in illusions and delusions but the spell may wear off once Neptune has moved along. For this reason, it can be prudent to avoid making life changing commitments during this time. Sometimes. the close proximity of Neptune to your Moon can bring up feelings of not knowing what you need. You feel like something is missing but you don’t know what it is or you don’t know what will fill that gap. Neptune brings up an a sense of longing. Neptune is the archetype of both victim and saviour and we can generally fall into one category or the other when this transit occurs. You either need help or you want to save the world. You may feel moved by great compassion and drawn to do what you can for others. This can be a beautiful trait and great acts of kindness can be undertaken during this period but again, it is important to be sure of the difference between help and rescue. Whether it’s a lost cause or a lost kitten, everything tugs at the heart strings and you want to make it better. I remember one friend saying she felt like she picked up no end of waifs and strays during her Neptune conjunct Moon transit – both of the animal and human variety! As the Moon also symbolises the home, you may find your ‘ideal’ home under this influence only for problems to be revealed later down the line. Always get a survey done and make sure you take another pair of objective eyes with you when you view a property. For some, problems appear in the current home – a burst water main, plumbing issues, damp. Issues in the home may be reflective of your own emotional state. Psychic sensitivity is heightened. Whilst the ‘real’ world out there may feel shrouded and indistinct, Neptune opens the inner eye. Dreams may become vivid or you may find your intuition is spot on as you tune in to cosmic subtle signals. You may simply feel more aware of how others feel and notice synchronicity more than usual. You could be moved to explore your spirituality, to find a connection to a deity or faith. Some may find a new spiritual path during this transit due to a powerful feeling of ‘coming home’. Because Neptune rules the unconscious, deep material that has laid at the bottom of this vast inner sea is now floating up to the surface. The difficulty is that both the unconscious and the universe tends to speak in symbolic language. It may be hard to understand the feelings that arise – you sense them but they make no sense. The beauty of this transit is that it can lead you on an extraordinary path of spiritual development as you search for meaning in your life. By the time the transit is over, you may find that you feel more spirituality nourished, less empty, more aware, more compassionate. You have to feel your way through. Under this transit you can learn much about those things that are normally unseen whether it is unconscious material or psychic impressions. The key is to take what you have learned and apply it in the ‘real’ world. Neptune spiritualises what it touches so your spiritual needs take precedence over earthly needs during this transit. The difficulty is that often we try to fill the spiritual gap through worldly means. Neptune asks, what do you really hunger for? Look to the natal houses of Neptune and the Moon and the houses ruled by these planets for further information as to how this transit may manifest for you. Below is my experience of Neptune conjunct the Moon. You will see certain factors that are very typical of this transit but as always, I will caution that my experience will not necessarily be your experience. Our charts and lives are all different. Note that in my own chart, Neptune is the only planet in a water sign so my distinct lack of water can mean that highly emotional situations are very difficult for me to navigate.

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The year I experienced Neptune conjunct the Moon, I lost both my beloved dog and cat. My dog passed away in the March of that year, my cat in the September. Chiron (wounding/pain) had also just moved into my 6th house which is associated with illness and pets. Don’t get me wrong, I adored my cat but my dog, Luka, was like my other half. When I lost her, I lost a huge piece of myself. My Moon is in the 7th house (partnerships/relationships) and rules the 12th (the unconscious/spirituality/self-undoing). My Neptune is in the 4th house (end of the matter) and rules the 8th (death/transformation). This was a year of endings. Reality was washed away. I was utterly lost at sea and thought I would never stop crying. I cried every day that year. The silence in the house was unbearable. Whilst time of course does heal, Luka was the light in my life who I forever miss. I had intense spiritual experiences during my time of grief. Like the prayer ‘footprints in the sand’, I was ‘carried’ through this time as I was too weak to be able to carry myself. I was sick to my soul. I began frequenting a forum full of other pet owners who were grieving and over time found I used the board less for my own emotional support and more for reaching out to those who were grieving. The sheer weight of loss put me in touch with other losses that had occurred (the Moon rules memory, history, childhood). I began bereavement therapy. My dreams were filled with powerful visions and spirit contact, Gods and Goddesses. I regularly had spirit visitations from both of my four-footed friends. This was when I first strongly experienced angelic contact which thoroughly surprised me as a Pagan. Whilst consciously I felt that angelic beings belong to no religion, unconsciously the association with Christianity was still there and that for me was a problem as I had quite strong views about Christianity at the time. The angelic experiences I had lead me to question my own spiritual path (12th house/Neptune) and to gently challenge the views I held. I learned more about what I truly felt connected to at a deep emotional level (the Moon ruling the 12th). I was confused initially (Neptune) but it shifted my practice considerably and ultimately made me feel far more connected once the Neptune transit was over.

Painting – Detail from ‘The Return of Neptune’ by John Singleton Copley