Neptune is the planet of dreams, imagination, and Divine inspiration. It is also the planet of delusions, betrayal, addiction, and deep, forlorn yearning for the unattainable. When the Neptunian longing for transcendence and bliss fuse with unmet needs for love, belonging, safety, or self-worth, we can get lost in an emotional fog. We end up chasing illusions and sacrificing our real life for a fantasy. As painful as it is, disillusionment is the key to waking up from Neptunian confusion. We have to let go of what isn’t real to be able to build on solid ground.
We have a page about Neptune if you want to learn more. I also recommend Liz Greene’s book The Astrological Neptune and the Quest for Redemption and The Book of Neptune by Steven Forrest.
Neptune in Scorpio in the Natal Chart
Overview
Neptune was in Scorpio from 1956–1970, a period of significant social and cultural upheaval. Scorpio is a fixed water sign co-ruled by Pluto and Mars, embodying intensity, transformation, power, and psychological depth. This “sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll” counterculture reflects Scorpio’s probing nature combined with Neptune’s desire for transcendence. This placement brings a penetrating vision that seeks truth beyond appearances, often through confronting taboo, power dynamics, sexuality, and the hidden aspects of the psyche.
Gifts
- penetrating insight into the depths of the human psyche
- personal regeneration
- psychic sensitivity
- intense and soulful connections
- natural inclination for introspection
- mystical experiences of sexual union
- ability to support others navigating periods of intense change
- ability to perceive beyond the superficial layers of situations
Challenges
- fear of vulnerability
- difficulty relinquishing control
- power struggles
- being drawn to intensity at the expense of peace
- secrecy and mistrust
- periods of emotional overwhelm and escapism
- fear of betrayal or loss
- vulnerability to manipulation or self-deception
- jealousy or possessiveness
- paranoia
Lessons
- integrating the shadow self
- transforming fear into empowerment
- becoming emotionally honest
- allowing for genuine intimacy and connection
- learning to trust and surrender control
- encountering the sacred in the shadows
- trusting the process of transformation
- releasing attachments to outcomes or possessions
- trusting intuition to navigate the unknown
- transforming pain into growth through forgiveness
Potential
- become a powerful catalyst for social and cultural change and collective healing
- guiding others through crises or deep healing
- expressing raw emotion and shadow themes through art
- forging intimate bonds that transcend the physical
- inspiring others through raw authenticity and wisdom
The Neptune Growth Journey
Neptune shows us where we are attached, clinging to illusions, trying to escape our existence, or hiding from reality. When the illusions dissolve, we are left with what is real and what actually matters. We are left with the raw truth, and our real self. And that is where the real magic is found.
Faced with the truth we were trying to avoid, we finally have to take responsibility for meeting our own needs. We take off the rose-colored glasses and come to terms with life as it is.
As we make peace with reality, we find that it is where we can actually meet our needs. We can, step by step, find real fulfillment in the real world, which feels far more solid and satisfying than our fantasy.
Once we know how to meet our needs in a more Saturnian way, we can then access the imaginative and dreamy side of Neptune without getting lost in the fog.
The desire for transcendence doesn't go away, but we are able to direct our feelings of existential longing toward what is truly boundless: spiritual practice, creativity, and communion with nature. We become channels for grace, Divine inspiration, and the feeling of Oneness we wanted all along. We’ve finally become a vessel who can receive Neptune’s magic without dissolving or drowning.
