1/26 | Neptune Enters Aries: Confused Motives & Uncertain Action

What happens when Neptune—the planet of illusion, dreams, and dissolution—enters Aries, the Mars-ruled sign of impulsive action and inspired motivation? Well…let’s just say the path forward might get a little foggy.

On January 26, 2026, Neptune entered Aries, where she will remain for approximately 13 years. This is a major, once-in-a-lifetime outer-planet transit—Neptune takes roughly 165 years to orbit the zodiac—and it brings sweeping, though often subtle, changes to certain areas of your life.

We all had a preview of Neptune in Aries last year, from about March to October, so you may already have some sense of how this transit is showing up for you. Nonetheless, let’s first explore the symbolism of Neptune in Aries more generally. After that, I’ll offer rising-sign horoscopes to shed light on what this transit indicates for your life and how it may unfold.

Neptune: The Misty, Mystery Mistress (say that three times fast!)

Neptune is elusive by nature. When I intuitively tune into her energy, she feels difficult to pinpoint or fully understand—how Neptunian. She brings confusion, conflation, and escapism, covering everything she touches in a nearly opaque mist. Feeling lost is part of the Neptune journey, only to be found by its end.

She is subtler than the other outer planets, reorganizing parts of your life in ways that may only become clear in hindsight. She is watery—sometimes quite literally—bringing rain and floods, ocean-related issues, tears, edema, and emotion. (However, in Aries, she will take on a less watery expression than she did in Pisces, where she spent the past 13 years.) If you’re looking for direct, clear energy, look elsewhere in the sky.

Neptune moves through the houses of your chart (that is, areas of life), motivated to return solid matter to wave form—pure potential—to be reorganized and refreshed by the time she leaves. She accomplishes this by making things confusing and difficult to define, forcing us to slow down, reconsider our actions or beliefs, and daydream or idealize outcomes. If taken too far, this can lead to escapism, belief in false realities, or falling in with the wrong crowds. At times, she works more forcefully, freeing you from taxing, outdated emotional energy and severing attachments to old trauma. Imagine rough waves scraping barnacles from the hull of a ship.

There is no point in trying to outrun the waves or dispel the mist; leaving breadcrumbs, identifying signposts, or attempting to “figure it out” is futile. Neptune is who she is, and she is where she is, until she is not.

And so, it begs the question: how do we navigate a Neptune transit? We consider and imagine how we might improve the areas of life she moves through—if only we could. We set intentions for preferred outcomes, then practice patience and trust, knowing that whatever hardships arise are temporary, hopefully minimal, and will reveal gifts…eventually. Acceptance is the way through, and when all is said and done, you’ll emerge renewed, purified, and changed for the better.

Aries: The Spring Warrior

To understand Aries, we honor the tiny tendril—the shoot emerging from a seed beneath the ground, pushing its way toward bloom. It must burst through rocks and sediment, any obstacle in its path, to reach the promise of sunlight just above the surface. This journey from shoot to plant requires fortitude, bravery, confidence, and enthusiasm. There is unwavering motivation to get where it is going, and a drive to be first in order to ensure survival.

In this metaphor, we notice many traits commonly associated with Aries: a youthful spirit, spring beginnings, eagerness to reach goals (often without assessing the quality of those goals or the consequences to others), motivation, determination, competitiveness, and an exaltation of the Sun.

Being Mars-ruled, Aries takes on traditionally masculine qualities—it is action-oriented, forward-moving, initiating, and inspiring. It will challenge any attempt to slow it down or correct its course, even when doing so would be for its own benefit.

We love Aries for its bright-eyed enthusiasm, fearlessness, and seemingly endless energy; we struggle with Aries when it fails to consider the consequences of its actions, takes control without sufficient information, or prioritizes only its own needs.

Neptune in Aries: Dispersing the Spring Warrior

When we combine the significations of Neptune with Aries, we see a diffusion of motivation, a dispersing of forward-moving energy, and confusion around goals. We may suddenly—or gradually—lose interest in what we once believed was important. We may question our decisions, feel uncertain about what action to take, or make changes that initially make little sense.

Collectively, this transit may correspond with inflammation or water retention in the body; the proliferation of armies or warriors across vast spaces; and impulses to act without adequate planning or organization.

Rising-Sign Horoscopes: What Neptune in Aries Will Bring to Your Life

Please note that the following horoscopes are best read with a to-the-minute birth time for greatest accuracy. These themes may also be influenced by any natal planets or nodes you have in Aries, and secondarily in Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn (the cardinal signs).

Additionally, the natal placement of Mars in your chart will shape how this transit expresses itself for you. For example, a Cancer rising with Mars in Leo may experience this energy quite differently than a Cancer rising with Mars in Cancer. For a more personalized understanding of how Neptune in Aries will show up in your life, you may wish to book a reading.

Aries Rising - 1st House

With Neptune transiting your 1st house, expect Neptunian changes to your body, identity, and overall life trajectory. During this time, you may feel your goals and aspirations shifting—and for a period, you may be unsure of what you truly want for yourself. This is a time of deciding which future best aligns with your most authentic self. For example, you might feel drawn to change how you present yourself, step away from an identity that once defined you, or question a path you thought you were meant to take.

You are used to moving quickly through the world, so this slowing down may feel burdensome or frustrating. Have no fear: you will be able to move forward again. When you do, you’ll be crystal clear about what you’re moving toward and why.

Taurus Rising - 12th House

With Neptune transiting your 12th house, she does her work quietly and behind the scenes—even more than usual—addressing issues related to anger, motivation, or a perceived lack of agency. Her aim is to calm the inner fire: anger that stems from a felt sense of helplessness or “imprisonment.”

Practically speaking, you may struggle to feel personal freedom or the ability to act as you please. You may notice this showing up as exhaustion around pushing forward, a loss of interest in fighting old battles, or a growing awareness of where resentment has been quietly stored. Neptune is setting a new internal course, helping you navigate these difficult emotions in a more sustainable way forward. This is an excellent time to explore meditation or therapeutic practices that address and release trapped anger.

On the other side of this transit, Neptune reveals where and how you do have agency—and how you can act in alignment with your own needs, desires, and goals.

Gemini Rising - 11th House

With Neptune transiting your 11th house, you may experience confusion around your place in society and within your social circles. You may question your ties to friends and close allies, your participation in groups or organizations, or your involvement in collective causes—especially those related to activism or social ideals. For example, it may become clear that a group you once identified with no longer reflects your values.

You may feel frustration with existing friendships, sensing they’re no longer reciprocal and leading to distrust. Suddenly questioning whether certain friendships are truly aligned with who you are becoming can be unsettling. However, take heart: by the end of this transit, you will feel clear about which connections meet your evolving expectations, who you can trust, and where your allegiances belong. You will know who your tribe is, and you will take your place among them.

Cancer Rising - 10th House

With Neptune transiting your 10th house, you may experience a sense of fog or confusion around career, visibility, and long-term goals. Progress on projects, partnerships, or professional endeavors that were recently in motion may begin to slow. This can feel disorienting, especially if you’re used to clear momentum and direction. You might find yourself questioning a role you once worked hard to attain, or feeling uncertain about how you want to be known or recognized.

This transit asks you to reassess how you want to show up in the world vocationally. It relates to output, creation, and contribution—and for a time, you may not know how to move forward. That’s okay. Allow yourself to pause. Ask what ideas and inspiration you truly want to put into the world, and why. As frustrating as uncertainty may feel, any detours, setbacks, or unexpected successes are guiding you toward greater clarity about how you want to serve and be seen.

Leo Rising - 9th House

With Neptune moving through your 9th house, you may begin questioning your belief systems and the way you understand the world. Ideas, philosophies, or teachings you once accepted as truth may no longer resonate. For example, a belief you once defended may quietly fall away, or a new philosophy may intrigue you without fully taking shape yet. You may feel drawn toward new perspectives through study, mentorship, or travel—especially experiences that show you different ways of living or thinking.

This period can feel disorienting, as familiar frameworks dissolve and certainty gives way to curiosity. Still, trust the process. By the end of this transit, you’ll gain a clearer sense of what you believe and why. Your worldview will realign in a way that feels more authentic, offering insight that helps guide how—and toward what—you move forward.

Virgo Rising - 8th House

With Neptune transiting your 8th house, you may experience confusion around shared resources and boundaries—what is yours versus what belongs to others. This can involve money, time, responsibilities, property, children, business entanglements, or even emotional labor and obligation. For example, you may find yourself negotiating roles within a marriage, working through inheritance with a sibling, or clarifying terms of co-parenting—at times without immediate resolution.

When lines of ownership and responsibility blur, tension can arise. You may find yourself in conflict or stalemate, with all parties advocating for their own needs. While this can be challenging in the moment, this transit invites you to loosen your grip—learning where compromise is possible, which battles truly matter, and what pain may be fueling your demands. Over time, you’ll gain clarity about where responsibility truly lies and how to navigate shared arrangements more effectively. By the end of this cycle, you’ll move forward with greater confidence and less need for self-advocacy, argument, or aggressive negotiation.

Libra Rising - 7th House

With Neptune transiting your 7th house, this transit affects your closest partnerships—romantic, marital, business, or long-term relational bonds. The energy may show up more strongly in your partner’s life than your own, or it may influence how you relate to the role of “partner” itself.

A partner may feel unsure about how to move forward in the world, experiencing a slowdown in motivation or energy. At times, this may come across as irritability or reactivity, often rooted in an inner sense of helplessness or feeling stuck. You can help by holding space—patiently and gently allowing them to slow down and simply be. Encouraging small, grounding moments together, such as taking a quiet walk, reading, or playing a game, can be supportive. This is a reminder that worth is not synonymous with productivity, and enjoyment does not need to be earned.

In your own life, you may find yourself relating to partnership—either a specific relationship or the concept of partnership more broadly—in new ways. If you are single, you may reflect on past relationship choices and consider what kind of partnership best aligns with who you are now. If you are partnered, you may feel uncertain about the status of the relationship or how to best engage with your partner. Trust that, in time, Neptune will bring renewed clarity about how to move forward and which connections are aligned.

Scorpio Rising - 6th House

With Neptune transiting your 6th house, you may experience confusion around work, daily routines, or health matters. Professionally, you may realize that you’re no longer motivated to work in the ways you once were. Effort may slow, and you may come to see that previous actions did not produce the results you expected. This is a time to pause, rest, and reassess your goals. Ask yourself whether they still align with who you are now and what will truly support your well-being moving forward.

If health concerns arise, you may struggle to find clear diagnoses or immediate solutions. This is a gradual process of learning about your body and what it needs to function optimally. This requires trial and error, practicing new habits, and gentle experimentation. Self-compassion is essential here—self-judgment will only interfere with progress.

By the time Neptune moves on, you’ll have clearer, more aligned goals and a renewed sense of confidence about how to move forward.

Sagittarius Rising - 5th House

My Sag friends, you will experience Neptunian changes to your 5th house. Expect confusion around your creative output or children. Perhaps you will be forced to rethink how you relate to a hobby, creative pursuit, or enjoyable activity. You may find new activities or new ways of continuing to enjoy a current pastime. Know that change, even if unwanted, can bring even better results than you originally envisioned. Take some time to imagine an even better outcome in support of doing the things you love.

When it comes to children, they may experience difficulty with motivation, enjoyment, or goal-setting. This is not a time to add pressure, but rather a time to help release the pressure valve—reassuring them that periods of uncertainty will come and go in life. They are coming into a space of finding themselves and what truly brings them joy—this is a journey, not a sprint.

This is an opportunity to practice, with patience, living in the gray, enduring the unknown, and trusting that all will be well. We, as parents, cannot expect perfection—just practice. These skills are difficult enough for us adults, right? Model trusting the universe, finding enjoyment in small pleasures, noticing wins, recognizing the “truth” of who they are (“I see you loving X, Y, and Z—I saw how it lit you up! Did you notice that?”), and applying compassion (“It’s okay and understandable”) as much as is needed, until Neptune moves on.

Capricorn Rising - 4th House

Capricorn risings, you may experience confusion related to home and family during this transit. This could be as simple as wanting to move forward with buying a new house or renovating an existing one, but not knowing how to proceed—do I want to paint the house white, or brown? You may also struggle to find energy for family activities or home projects that once felt easy or motivating. Be mindful not to judge yourself for this shift. You are in a period of reassessing what’s important, what deserves your energy, and how you want your home life to feel and function.

Alternatively, this energy may show up through your parent(s). They may experience confusion, reduced motivation, or uncertainty about what they want from this stage of life. In some cases, a diagnosis or health issue may introduce limitations, slow things down, and require uncomfortable or frustrating lifestyle changes. Offer patience where you can, and boundaries where needed. Living with uncertainty and change is never easy.

Aquarius Rising - 3rd House

With Neptune transiting your 3rd house, Aquarius risings may notice confusion affecting siblings, extended family, family-like friends, school, or the local community. You may see a sibling, relative, or close acquaintance experiencing a slowdown in motivation or uncertainty around what drives them. This is a time for them to reassess who they are, what truly matters, and what is worth fighting for.

Offer patience and compassion where appropriate, and boundaries when necessary. Remember that you are still allowed to enjoy your life, even if someone close to you is struggling.

This energy may also show up through school, community involvement, or even driving. You may lose interest or motivation to participate in certain community or school-based activities and later find new ways of engaging. With driving, there may be issues related to water, increased road rage (from you or others), or difficulty with navigation. Odd, but possible.

Pisces Rising - 2nd House

Pisces risings, you may experience changes related to how you earn or spend money, and how you define what is truly valuable to you at this stage of life. You may find that things you once spent money on no longer feel worth the investment.

Also, try not to panic if you feel less motivated to make money during this time. You are reassessing alignment, not losing capability. This can also be a helpful period for slowing down impulsive spending. Give yourself time to reflect on what actually matters to you and how your resources can best support that moving forward.

You may also notice shifts in self-worth. Qualities you once valued in yourself may feel less relevant, making space for overlooked aspects of your personality to emerge. By the end of this transit, you may have a deeper appreciation for parts of yourself that were always there, quietly waiting to be seen.