This year, Jupiter enters into a square with Neptune, which lasts about 9 months and spans 14º to 18º of Mutable signs, affecting those with Sun in Sagittarius, Pisces, Gemini and Virgo everywhere. Neptune is the planet of dreams and visions while Jupiter rules expansion growth and optimism. A square is a stressful connection, like an argument. What could this event mean? The script below describes one way it could go, but first, how will you know if this even matters to you?
Does this transit affect you?
If you were born within the following dates, you will feel this transit strongly:
December 5 through 10 of any year
March 4 through 9 of any year
June 4 through 9 of any year
September 6 through 11 of any year
This post is for you if. . .
- You’re ready for a massive spiritual expansion
- You’re so chronically disappointed that you’ve forgotten how to hope and to dream
- Your life is stable and solid and you’re capable of staying anchored even if you were to have an experience that opens you up so far that you might never close again
How Jupiter square Neptune works
(this part is technical, but brief)
If your birthday falls on January 13, June 16 or September 21, then Neptune and Jupiter will have powerful lessons expressly for you in this birthday year, because those are the days this year when these two powerhouses connect precisely.
Jupiter will square Neptune 3 times this year. The first pass happens on January 13, 2019, while Jupiter is direct at 14º Sagittarius and Neptune (also direct) is at 14º Pisces. If you have anything in 14º of a Mutable sign (Sagittarius, Pisces, Gemini or Virgo), such as your Sun, Moon or Ascendant—you will feel this (see diagram for pass 1).
The second pass happens on June 16, 2019, while Jupiter is retrograde and Neptune continues direct (moving forward) and both are at 18º of their signs. If you have anything in 18º of Sagittarius, Pisces, Gemini or Virgo, you will feel this (see diagram for pass 2).
The third pass is where this transit ends, on September 21, 2019 with Jupiter direct at 16º Sagittarius while Neptune is still retrograde in 16º Pisces. This will affect you if you have anything in 16º of Sagittarius, Pisces, Gemini or Virgo (see diagram for pass 3).
What could this stressful planetary aspect mean? The following story illustrates one way it could go. . .
You have arrived on set at the filming of a movie. A staff member hurries up to you. . .
Staff: Oh, you’ve arrived for the casting call!
You: Yes, I’m ready for the amazingly mind-expanding and soul-expanding experience that only Jupiter and Neptune can give.
Staff (leading you around the studio to the set you’ll be on): Wonderful! Let’s get you familiar with the studio and how it works. As you know, Jupiter and Neptune promise you will dream big during the filming of this movie. Jupiter has funded the movie and contributed a lot of big promises. He’ll also handle the marketing of the film after you’ve lived it. Neptune will be directing the film and she’ll be drawing on our state-of-the-art special effects department to make your dreams come true. With these two in charge, there are no limits—anything is possible!
You: That’s exactly what I heard—no limits!
Staff: And how could that be bad?
You: It couldn’t possibly be bad, right?
Staff: Right. Ok, here we go.
Neptune in Pisces is sitting in the director’s chair, wearing a psychedelic-colored beret and iridescent sunglasses, even though she is indoors. She is using a megaphone to amplify her otherwise quiet voice. Jupiter in Sagittarius is dressed in an executive’s suit, which barely covers his Fat Cat belly, and he is smoking a foreign cigar. A potential cast member is just now leaving the set.
Neptune: Next!
The Staff Member shows you to a seat in a waiting area off to the side, then swiftly ushers the unsuitable (and also annoyed) candidate away through a small door.
Jupiter: What was wrong with that one?
Neptune: Not nearly, starry-eyed enough! He wasn’t willing to spend 4 bucks on a lottery ticket, he doesn’t believe in ghosts, and his favorite movies are period films which are based on actual events and depicted accurately. How are we supposed to work with that??
Jupiter: Good point! So what should I look out for next? (He consults a clipboard with a list on it.) You were saying…stars in the eyes…?
Neptune: Yes, and a rosy tint in their glasses.
Jupiter: Got it. I’ll be back in a minute.
Neptune: Not holding my breath. I’ve learned to lower my expectations when you make big promises you have no idea how to deliver on.
But Jupiter has already left the room.
Neptune: Typical.
At this point, you attempt to get the Staff Member’s attention, but she waves a “no” at you, so you decide to go on watching and waiting. After all, if Neptune and Jupiter really can deliver big, this will be worth it. Neptune sips on a cocktail and is all the way through it and well into another when Jupiter returns, bringing a group of new candidates for the film.
Neptune (sitting up alertly): This crop has much more potential than the last one.
Jupiter settles back in his chair while the Staff Member get the first candidate on set. He steps up wearing a lab coat and pocket protector.
Neptune: What do you do for a living, sir? (aside, to Jupiter:) I’m not so sure about this one.
First Candidate: I’m a college science professor.
Neptune recoils a bit and leans over to whisper in Jupiter’s ear: I don’t like the looks of this guy.
Jupiter: Give him a chance!
Neptune: He seems very firmly rooted in ‘reality,’ whatever that is.
Jupiter: Oh, that’s ‘science.’ Mercury’s department, actually. This guy does wholeheartedly believe in material reality, but he’s also a sci-fi enthusiast with an active fantasy life.
Neptune tosses Jupiter a skeptical look and rolls her eyes.
Jupiter: He believes that the world of Star Trek will be real someday.
Neptune: Huh.
She regards the professor again, now with a more appraising eye, and scribbles something in her notes.
Neptune: Ok, I think I can work with this. Let’s write in a scene where he gets into a scary car accident and loses consciousness for a second or two. Then he has a near-death experience, which renews his curiosity in the mysteries of this universe and will lead him to explore other avenues of understanding reality outside of the scientific method. Ultimately he’ll try to open the minds of his colleagues and they will ignore him and suppress his ideas and refuse to publish his papers.
Jupiter: Oh, a grandiose narcissistic complex? I love it!
Neptune: Yeah, and I think we could work in a martyr theme there too. (She scribbles some notes.)
Jupiter: Perfect. (turning to speak to the professor) We will give you a call back—you’ve made it to the second round. Ok…now who’s next?”
The Staff Member pushes forward a Wall Street financier, who has a wad of cash held with a money clip peeking out of his pocket.
Neptune: How did you get where you are today?
Financier: Completely on my own! My trust fund and debt-free private education had nothing to do with my success today.
Neptune and Jupiter begin whispering excitedly.
Jupiter: I like this one, Neptune! He’s got a huge ego that will be easy for me to blow up bigger!
Neptune (nodding vigorously in agreement) Yes, and you know what? His Neptune Square Neptune life cycle transit is coming up quite soon—this is a great time for a period of utter confusion. How about you blow up his ego while I confuse and disorient his realistic thinking at work?
Neptune is scribbling notes furiously. As she does so, rainbow-colored pixie dust flies up from her notepad. Jupiter takes a breath and blows the magic dust all over the Financier on a draft of hot air.
Financier: (who suddenly looks several sizes larger) I don’t need to go to the office every day because I’m already a superstar trader! My ideas and presence are enough to get by! This will undoubtedly be my most successful year yet! What could possibly go wrong?
Neptune and Jupiter look at each other and smile conspiratorially. The Staff Member leads the Financier out to another set, talking to him in the soothing tones usually reserved for small children.
Staff Member: Yes, that’s right! You made it to call-backs. You’ll get everything you ever dreamed of and more. Nothing could possibly go wrong. It will all be better than you can even imagine. And you won’t have to do a thing! Here, let me show you where you can relax while we make all your dreams come true, larger-than-life and twice as real.
Neptune: Next!
The next guy to step up is wearing an “I love ‘Merica! (No matter what!)” T-shirt, and his eyes are darting around the room suspiciously.
Jupiter: Where do you read your news?
T-Shirt Guy: I don’t read the news—that’s what THEY want you to do. I listen to podcasts broadcasted by a former disc jockey.
Neptune: Does this disc jockey have a degree in journalism?
T-Shirt Guy: Hell, no! And he says that the so-called politicians who want to legislate more money for education are actually Lizard People and we shouldn’t trust them! Neptune glances over at Jupiter.
Neptune: I sense impressionability in this one! It should be easy to make him believe in whatever conspiracy theory we want.
Jupiter: Oh yeah!
Staff Member quickly ushers T-Shirt Guy to another set.
Staff Member: Wait till we give you access to our secret information. You’ll find it’s of the highest caliber. Absolutely true and also fact-tree!
T-Shirt Guy: You wouldn’t be talking about any of that ‘fake news,’ would you?
Staff Member: Of course not! We’ve got a lock on truthiness.
Jupiter: Let’s check out the next person.
Next to step up is a middle-aged woman who is wearing clothes that are too tight and way too much makeup.
Neptune (with a sly smile): What is the dream of your life and how can we help?
Woman: I moved to Los Angeles 30 years ago to become a runway model and I’m determined to succeed. This is going to be my big break. What could possibly go wrong?
Jupiter and Neptune dissolve into giggles together, falling over each other.
Neptune: Oh god, Jupiter. This is almost getting to be too easy…!
At this point you get up and attempt to leave the room, but the Staff Member stops you.
You: This is not an experience I want! To have my illusions fanned into grandiose flames by those two? (you point at Jupiter and Neptune who have the gall to look aggrieved at your accusation) No thank you!
Staff Member: Hey Jupiter, this one’s trying to get away!
Jupiter blows a gust of hot air in your direction and Neptune manages to toss some pixie dust into it before it hits you. When it does, suddenly anything becomes possible. Anything.
You (feeling dazed): I’m going to go back to college and finish that degree! Then I’ll get a Nobel Peace prize for my secret invention. Oh, and that Great American Novel I’ve always planned on writing—I’ll toss that off after dinner. Then I’m going to join a cult. No, no—I’ll LEAD a cult because I just saw God. Maybe I’ll start with that part and do all of it, but backwards.
You wander off while Neptune and Jupiter continue giggling.
Jupiter: It’s going to be a hell of a year.
Neptune: You bet!
Jupiter: Where anything is possible.
Neptune: With no limits.
Jupiter: What could possibly go wrong?
If you are feeling this transit
and want to understand its meaning in your life,
an astrology reading will clarify this and much, much more.
How to find out more
You can read more about Jupiter’s activity this year here.
You can read more about Neptune’s activity this year here.
Also check out Are You Currently In Transition?
And to get oriented to the many transits going on this year, check out Transits This Year.
