Desire to Return: Neptune in the Birth Chart (Pt. 2: Succedent Houses)

Neptune in 2nd/8th House
Neptune in 2nd/8th House Axis: “At the Seaside” by William Merritt Chase (1849-1916)

This is a continuation of a previous post. In the second part of this post, I will address Neptune in Succedent Houses (Neptune in 2nd House, Neptune in 8th House, Neptune in 5th House, Neptune in 11th House):

Neptune in 2nd House / 8th House Axis:

“I have” vs. “the other has” (Possession)

Neptune in 2nd House:

The soul has a yearning to establish herself materially. This can usually manifest either as a facility with accumulating wealth or as fear around not having enough. In either case, the realm of the “matter” holds a fascination for an individual with this placement in the natal chart. As Second House also stands for voice, the individual may have either a “flowy” voice or a lack of concentration while speaking. Alternatively, there can be a fascination with food (as it connects to the mouth and throat), especially seafood or exotic goodies. Food allergies or sensitivity to cosmetics are also probable with this placement in the natal chart.

If Neptune is in a good condition, the individual would usually feel a quiet sense of self-respect that comes from an inner connection with “God” (however this concept may be understood by the individual), as if the symbiotic relationship between the soul and the cosmos reassures the soul of her innate value. Such an individual would normally have a higher-than-average chance of weathering through survival-related difficulties, considering any challenge as a chance for re-connecting with the source.

Challenges of Neptune in 2nd House:

If Neptune is not comfortable in this position, the soul may carry a prenatal memory of an impossibility of fulfillment of basic survival needs, and thus unconscious anxiety around poverty may exist. The individual may simply spend more than what he or she earns, as Neptune can muddle up the concept of money management by making the individual believe in financial “miracles” (such as a lottery windfall). If an individual has this placement and has noticed such a tendency, it would be better for them to let a trusted friend or partner manage their income and expenses (as long as such people do not have a similar Neptune signature themselves!)

Alternatively, childhood environment or the early stages of life could carry any of the possible Neptunian themes (exposure to addiction, loss or grief, or positively, exposure to arts, spirituality, and diversity). On a more mundane level, if Neptune is associated with Mars while being in the Second House, there may exist a fascination with oral gratification (through sex, smoking, eating, or drinking). Alternatively, any form of massage that involves gels and oils may be particularly soothing to the individual. Facial treatments, singing, and drinking herbal tea can also help release anxiety for an individual with this placement in the natal chart.

Neptune in 8th House:

The soul has a yearning to share and get intimately involved with the other. As romantic as this may sound, this placement may indeed hint at a psychological tendency to idealize intimacy too much, to a point of actually attracting partners who would unconsciously feel they cannot “live up” to the standards of the individual. Therefore, for the potential partners of an individual with this placement, there always exists the possibility of not being able to reveal “the whole truth” about themselves, mostly in fear of hurting the individual or losing the highly-adored position they have managed to hold in his or her eyes.

If Neptune is comfortable here, intimacy with the other can translate to intimacy with God. The individual may also be open to what the other brings into the union, including his or her traumas, children from other relationships, or even debts. In this case, it is advised to try to maintain separate bank or credit card accounts and a clear list of each person’s financial contribution, as Neptune in this position may (not always) exacerbate the individual’s financial issues after starting a relationship. If Neptune contacts Mars from this position, the individual may especially benefit from Tantric sex, or may simply enjoy sex in water or while listening to music. Receiving an erotic massage can also be particularly healing for an individual with this placement in the natal chart.

Challenges of Neptune in 8th House:

Someone with a challenged Neptune in this position can happily live with the other, without actually “knowing” the other, as the energy field of such an individual somehow repels the bone-and-flesh reality of the intimacy involved in the Eight House. It is as if there is a yearning in such a soul to become one with the other, and at the same time, the soul cannot “bear” the reality of the other if it is not an uncontested image of perfection. In such a case, the spiritualizing effect of Neptune in the carnal realm of the Eight House may be less than desirable: deception, concealment of one’s sexual nature, and fake orgasms may be displayed by the partner(s) of an individual with this placement if the individual is not conscious of his or her own “anti-intimacy” vibe.

It is, therefore, extremely important for individuals with this placement in their natal chart to go out of their way to make sure that they are encouraging true intimacy, rather than just projecting an aura of desire for intimacy while actually rejecting it. If individuals with a challenged Neptune in this position constantly experience disappointment in relationships, it is vital for them to assume their own share of responsibility in perpetuating such a destiny. The other is not merely a mirror, perfect and pure for us to project upon.

The other is only human, with all the vulgarity of a mortal, yet special, lovely, and beautiful in his or her readiness to share with us what is sublimely human. If the soul cannot invite the mutual sweat of bodies uniting in the flawed yet fantastic bosom of Earth, then possibly a metaphoric marriage to the Spirit would be a wise option for an individual with this placement in the natal chart: electing a monastic life and dedicating oneself to the pleasures of the spiritual (or artistic) realm may create less anxiety in case the individual cannot (or is unwilling to) transform his or her projective nature with regard to intimacy.

Neptune in 5th House / 11th House Axis:

“I love myself” vs. “I love others” (Philanthropy)

Neptune in 5th House:

The soul has a yearning for joy and seeks refuge in creativity. Joie de vivre is found in the act of playing, be it a game, a musical instrument, or on stage. The soul reconnects to God through participating in the process of birthing something new, and simultaneously, she harbors a childlike quality that allows spontaneity and freedom. There is usually an innate knowledge of the spiritual mechanism of the universe, and the soul can play with a wide range of topics, as there is a natural love of diversity in individuals with this placement (unless Saturn is very strong in the chart). There is an innocence around the notion of love and the soul believes in the capacity of love to redeem and purify all that has gone wrong, with oneself, or with the other.

If Neptune is comfortable in this House, a deeper understanding of children may exist, and one’s creative work can lead to divine elation. In general, the realms of arts, spirituality, and water can bring pleasure to individuals with this placement, so it is important to have at least one Neptunian hobby in this case.

Challenges of Neptune in 5th House:

If Neptune is challenged, an over-dependence on love may exist, which can push the individual to put up with almost everything just to keep the romantic playmate participating in the game. As the individual may unconsciously equate being in love with a return to the lost Eden, an addictive tendency may also develop with regard to one’s romantic interests, to the point that the individual may have no purpose in life if not in love.

Alternatively, one may become over-dependent on one’s children, or seek salvation in parenting. As Neptune tends to dissolve boundaries, one may see one’s offspring as an extension of oneself instead of an independent entity. Consequently, the child of such a parent may register that he or she is a surrogate lover to that parent, rather than just a child.

The same confusing pattern may exist with regard to the individual himself/herself, especially if Neptune is associated with Sun/Mars (the masculine principle) or Moon/Venus (the feminine principle) in the chart: the individual may have felt like a surrogate lover to a parent, carrying the gender symbolized by Neptune’s contacts (Neptune in contact with Sun or Mars = a male lover / Neptune in contact with Moon or Venus = a female lover), usually, because the actual lover has not been there, either physically dead or absent, psychologically detached, or simply because the parent decided to marry someone other than the person he or she actually loved.

Individuals with a challenged Neptune in this sense should be conscious of how they may have carried the “surrogate lover” role with a parent, in order not to produce a reversed version of such a misplacement: to expect to be “parented” by a lover, as they have not received proper parenting themselves. For such an individual, choosing creative outlets and putting God in the position of the “perfect parent” is usually the best way of allowing this energy to regulate itself over time.

Expecting prospective partners to play the role of a parent is not usually a healthy option in that it would disturb the natural balance of power existing in a relationship. Furthermore, it is important to understand that no “lover” can be a “parent” to an individual unless the individual chooses to be in the position of a “child.” In this sense, the individual cannot expect an equal relationship if he or she has already assumed the position of an inferior.

Neptune in 11th House:

The soul has a yearning for living in a Utopian society, seeking refuge in the crowd. One is devoted to what connects us all to the collective. As the polarity point of the Fifth House, the Eleventh House may point to a loss of personal joy, loss of the urge to please oneself, and a loss of self-caring. Therefore, Neptune in this position may point to a rather devoted attitude towards one’s peers and whatever stands outside of oneself. One may have an unconscious tendency to prioritize the joy of others above one’s own, to take into consideration what is collective rather than what is personal.

The psychological threshold for tolerating pain seems to be relatively high with this placement, as there seems to exist an unconscious idealization of trauma. The soul takes pleasure in sacrificing the glories of the ego in favor of a cause, be it spiritual, societal, artistic, or humanitarian.

If Neptune connects to the Sun or Moon from this position, or if there are other indicators of creativity in the chart, the individual’s creative work may become collectively recognized. The legendary Mexican couple, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, both had this placement in their natal charts and their artwork is nothing less than iconic today. Neptune in the Eleventh House marries the notion of the lost Eden to the bare bosom of humanity and as such, it usually brings some form of collective registration of what the individual may produce in life, for better or for worse.

If Neptune is comfortable in this position, the individual may become the “hand of God” in creating what is collectively appreciated. Michelangelo would be a great example of such a placement in the natal chart.

Challenges of Neptune in 11th House:

If Neptune is challenged here, grief and strife would usually be part of the price to pay for such a recognition, as is best illustrated by the life of Amadeus Mozart who had such a Neptune placement in his natal chart. A challenged Neptune in the Eleventh House may, therefore, symbolize an unconscious need for redeeming oneself through suffering, as if the soul is carrying a doubt regarding her own capacity to be loved. The sense of ego can be malformed as well (which at times may manifest as “ego inflation” or narcissistic behavior).

There may exist a psychological yearning for being acknowledged by a parental figure or a lover who is acting as a surrogate parent. The parental figure may have overlooked the individual’s “specialness” as a child in favor of preparing him or her for collective recognition, or alternatively, they may have simply used the child’s talents as an ego boost for themselves; therefore, the individual may unconsciously long for being simply loved without having to successfully perform.

It is vital for Individuals as such to be conscious of their own possible psychological vulnerability regarding the notion of love, as they may tend to stretch themselves too much to please others, feeling that they never quite “deserve” the admiration and love that come their way. Simple acts of self-love can be very healing for such individuals: creating something for the sheer joy of it without being worried about the outcome, or without considering if others would like it or not, would be the ultimate healing gesture in this case.

In the next post, I will address Neptune in Cadent Houses (3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th).

If you are interested in understanding Neptune in your own birth chart or if you have specific questions regarding your chart, you can book a consultation or take a class.

18 Replies to “Desire to Return: Neptune in the Birth Chart (Pt. 2: Succedent Houses)”

  1. Hi dear healer,
    thx for ur efforts in writing here.
    I have a question and Im really stunned how to find the answer!
    Some natal chart calculator sites do me 3 planets in 7th house and 3 others in tge 8th.
    Some websites do a 3 planets into 7th and 3 others in the end of 7th like having 6 ones into 8th house.
    and some do me 5 planets into 7th house and mercury in 8th, lol.
    could you help me out telling how to find the most accurate chart calculation and how to really understand uth and 8th house and planets into them?! Stuff on the net are kinda not understandable! And even worst is me having 5 planets on this very spot in Capricorn sign! Wish sb save me from going nuts and Thank you a lot dear Sir/Madam.

    1. Hi Amir, that’s a very common situation with lots of people who try to draw their natal charts using different websites 🙂 This is why, to save yourself headache and confusion, it is always a great idea to hire a professional astrologer who can help you understand your chart better. To give a short answer to your question: the reason that different websites give you different “houses” is because there are many “house systems” used in drawing charts. Each “house system” can be valid, and each astrologer has his or her own preferences (based on observation and experience) for a particular type of “house system”. I personally use “Porphyry” house system for evolutionary readings, “Placidus” for psychological readings, “Regiomontanus” for horary readings, and “whole signs” for general life trends’ analysis. For you, I recommend “Porphyry” house system if you are reading my articles, as they are mostly evolutionary interpretations. Also, in general, when you are in doubt, just use the “whole signs” system to simplify things. This means, if you have Cancer Ascendant (cusp of 1st house), for example, all your Capricorn planets will fall into 7th house (because Capricorn is the 7th sign after Cancer). Hope this helps!

  2. im so happy i found you these days…fascinating to me! Neptune is in my 5th squaring Uranus in 2nd Leo and everything you wrote suited me in such a insightful way…thanks. Helped me to heal traumas and frustrations ,…thanks again

    1. Aw, that is so sweet Rosana! I am happy that you could connect to what I have written, and that it was helpful to you. Thank you for joining my readers 🙂

  3. Really spot on. This is the most insightful information I’ve read on Neptune in the houses.

  4. This is very interesting. I have it in the 8th and found it very insightful. Interestingly, both my kids have it in the 2nd so I think there may be something to that that I need to contemplate some more.

    1. I’m happy you found this post insightful, Sandy 🙂 It might be a cosmic call to “balance” your Neptune by interacting with your children who have it in the opposite House… just a guess.

  5. Wow, what a lovely article! I have Neptune in my 11th house and I found what you wrote under that placement fascinating and completely on target. I appreciate the imagery in your writing, as well. Your post gave me lots of stuff to chew on and has provided great topics for personal reflection. I am looking forward to reading your other articles. Thank you for posting such quality astrology information!

    1. Thank you so much, Kacee, for your sweet feedback… it means a lot to me 🙂 I am happy that you found my post thought-provoking, and am looking forward to hearing your feedback on my other posts as well 🙂

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