How Anaretic Neptune is impacting YOU

An urgent call for healing, compassion, and clarity

     On May 3, 2024, Neptune shifted into the anaretic degree of Pisces, marking a major milestone for the outer planet and us. In astrology, the anaretic degree refers to the 29th degree of any sign. This degree holds a unique significance, often regarded as a critical point of transition and culmination within a zodiacal sign. Understanding the anaretic degree requires delving into the broader context of astrological symbolism and the cyclical nature of the zodiac.

     This degree—the 29th degree—has always been a degree of interest to me, as I have one of my personal planets in the degree. It is one of the “fame degrees” but I’ve always attributed a lot of my troubles, lessons, and struggles to this degree. I’ve also realized over the years just how critical this degree is in the good parts of my personality: my drive, urgency, and tenacity to DO SOMETHING. With that in mind, I’d like to dive deeper into the 29th degree in astrology, paying special attention to how it manifests in this ongoing transit of Neptune in Pisces.  

Anaretic Degree Meaning in Astrology

     At its core, the zodiac consists of 12 signs, each representing different archetypal energies and qualities. As the Sun traverses through each sign over the course of a year, it reaches its culmination point at the 29th degree before transitioning into the subsequent sign. This transition embodies a sense of completion, marking the end of one cycle and the beginning of another.

     The term "anaretic" is derived from the Greek word "anareta," meaning "destroyer" or "bringer of necessity." In traditional astrology, the anaretic degree was often associated with challenging circumstances, indicating a sense of urgency or crisis that demanded resolution. However, modern astrologers interpret this degree more broadly, recognizing its potential for pivotal moments of growth and transformation.

     When a planet occupies the anaretic degree in a birth chart or during a transit, it can amplify the sense of urgency and intensity associated with that planet’s energy. For example, if Mars is at the anaretic degree in a natal chart, it may signify a strong drive to initiate change or take decisive action in the areas of life represented by its sign and house placement.

     Similarly, when considering transits or progressions involving the anaretic degree, you want to pay close attention to any planets or points that make significant aspects to that degree. These configurations can indicate key turning points or moments of reckoning, where important decisions need to be made or significant events unfold.

     For instance, if a New Moon occurs at the anaretic degree of a sign, it may signal a powerful opportunity for new beginnings or the culmination of a long-term project or goal. Conversely, if a planet stations retrograde or direct at the anaretic degree, it could suggest a period of intense reflection or a profound shift in direction.

Neptune in the Anaretic Degree

    Neptune is one of the outer planets in astrology and holds profound significance in shaping our collective and individual experiences. Often referred to as the planet of dreams, illusions, and spirituality, Neptune represents the realm of the subconscious, imagination, and transcendence. It influences our perceptions, ideals, and capacity for empathy, blurring the boundaries between reality and illusion.

     Pisces, as the twelfth and final sign of the zodiac, is associated with themes of spirituality, compassion, and transcendence. Symbolized by the Fish, Pisces embodies the collective unconscious and the journey towards spiritual enlightenment and unity with the divine.

     When Neptune is in Pisces, its influence is heightened, as the planet is in its natural ruling sign. This placement accentuates the mystical and ethereal qualities associated with Neptune, amplifying its influence on both a personal and collective level. Neptune in Pisces fosters a heightened sense of spirituality, creativity, and sensitivity, inspiring us to explore deeper realms of consciousness (as well as our collective obsession with idealized beauty standards) and connect with the divine.

Related Readings

Work with Anaretic Neptune with my popular 2024 Birth Chart Reading. Learn how to work with the themes of 2024—along with Neptune in the 29th degree—to enhance your communication, build better relationships, and foster transformative personal growth.

Explore the lessons, opportunities, and karma of YOUR 29 degree placements with a Critical Degree Birth Chart Reading. This reading will illuminate the areas of your chart where urgent transformation is needed and help YOU harness the power of these critical degrees to navigate life's challenges with clarity and confidence.

     The 29th degree of Pisces holds particular significance, as it represents the culmination of Neptune's journey through the sign. At this critical degree, the energy of Neptune is intensified, marking a transitional phase between the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. With Neptune sitting in the anaretic degree of Pisces, we may experience a heightened sense of spiritual awakening, creative inspiration, or emotional sensitivity.

     However, Neptune's influence here can also manifest as illusion, confusion, and escapism, especially when not grounded in reality. Remember: the anaretic degree is a degree of reckoning. And given that Neptune is a generational planet—meaning it is one of four key planets impacting / mirroring the thoughts, drives, ideas, and trends of the collective—we are dealing with this reckoning as a society, as the collective. 

     The word reckoning has loaded associations, which I’d like to explore for a moment. As a noun, reckoning can mean “the action or process of calculating” (as in “working out”) OR “the avenging or punishing of past mistakes or misdeeds” (Oxford Languages). Because this is Neptune, the planet of confusion, and Pisces, an ever-evasive and dualistic sign, I think this transit of Neptune in the anaretic degree of Pisces can and will manifest as both definitions of the word. However, being the optimist that I am, I’m going to focus on the first—and more constructive, less fear-mongering—interpretation, which is working out.  

     From now until Aug 3, 2024, we may collectively need to work out issues related to deception, addiction, or idealism, along with issues regarding compassion, fossil fuel dependence, war and the like. Neptune has already moved into this anaretic degree, which means we are already being called to necessitate discernment and self-awareness to navigate its potential challenges effectively. We are already being invited to explore the depths of our collective subconscious—our addictions, unrealistic ideals and escapist tendencies, where we are deceiving and being deceived, and how all of these addictions, ideals and deceptions impact our collective compassion and healing—and cultivate a deeper connection to the spiritual dimensions of existence.

YOUR Neptune in Pisces Horoscope

  While the lessons and urgency of Neptune in the anaretic degree of Pisces affects us more on  the collective level, it is still affecting YOU on a personal level as well. To find out how and where, you’ll need a copy of your birth chart and the location of Pisces in the houses. (If you’re confused, simply drop me a comment of your Rising Sign and I’ll tell you where Neptune in Pisces is in your chart.) That said, here’s a general overview of what Neptune in the 29th degree of Pisces is doing for each Rising Sign: