The Mythology of Neptune
Holder of Earth
Neptune, God of the Sea
In Greek mythology, Neptune (Greek equivalent: Poseidon) is given dominion of the sea by Zeus. Similar to water — both a giver and a taker of life — Neptune possesses little sense of justice, often embroiled in territorial conflicts and embittered acts of revenge, punishing humanity with floods, storms or droughts. His long beard, flowing hair, and intimidating posture, complemented by his forceful grip on his trident, give Neptune an air of menace. Neptune married several times and frequently seduced mortal women, nymphs, and other goddesses. Many of these unions arose through deception and his ability to shape-shift: when his sister, the fertility goddess Demeter, turned herself into a mare to resist him, he took the form of a stallion — a form in which he also seduced Medusa, a union which resulted in the winged horse Pegasus. Beyond his status as a God on Mount Olympus, Neptune’s influence is evident in the more capricious and ungovernable behaviour of our mighty oceans.
Neptune’s ability to shape-shift and shuffle roles, tricking his victims through make-believe, serves as a reminder that creative, fanciful strategies may sometimes help to take the prize. Deception also makes for vivid storytelling that appeals to our imagination, reminding us that things are often not what they seem and that we must remain critical and discerning. Neptune’s flexible relationship with and manipulation of reality thus aligns with the astrological interpretation of the planet Neptune — identity is transferable, doors to invisible realms exist, spiritual awareness can grow, and imaginative creation is possible. Neptune’s association with the sea, a locus of extremes — terrifying waves swell up capriciously from obscure depths, transforming the most peaceful beach into a raging nightmare — reminds us that that which strikes us as beautiful and enchanting may indeed be the source of danger, tragedy and fear. It is our task to see beyond the allure, navigating the ungovernable behaviour of Neptunian cosmic waters to access divine creation.
What does Neptune’s Symbol Mean?
The glyph given to Neptune after its discovery in 1846 combines an upward-turned semi-circle, symbolically directing the soul towards heaven, with the cross of matter, rooting it in the ground and thus in the material realm. The semi-circle is intercepted by a small prong. This is visually reminiscent of the trident held by Poseidon, God of the Sea, and the planet Neptune’s mythological representative. Used as a weapon, a spear for fishing, a symbol of power and a wand producing magic, the trident’s three-pronged structure is said to reflect the three properties of water: liquidity, fecundity and drinkability.
Neptune’s Higher Wisdom
As the ‘higher octave’ of Venus, Neptune has an affinity with glamour. Where Venus symbolises beauty, attractiveness, charm and decadence, Neptune enriches mere physical beauty with beauty of spirit, or distorts through hypnotic allure, romanticisation, and enchanting deception. Neptune thus encompasses both the positive and the negative aspect of glamour — the limitless stimulation of our imagination that guides our longing for divine bliss, and the chaos, confusion and disarray as we are dazzled and captivated by the veils of our own illusions. Its fluidity and flexibility in relation to reality also reminds us that at times, our habits and usual strategies must be upgraded by drawing on our visions of something greater. Shape-shifting allows us to get a first taste of the new reality we could be creating, and fantasy eases the visual and conceptual transition between our current reality and its new potential shape.
