A rare celestial event is happening on Tuesday, April 12, at exactly 9:43 a.m. ET. Jupiter and Neptune will meet in Pisces for the first time since March 17, 1856. Translation: These distant celestial bodies will appear at the same exact point in the sky — in this case, at 23º and 59 minutes of Pisces. You see, in astrology, the sky is divided into an invisible band containing 12 equal parts — the zodiac signs — which every planet will, at some point, pass through. In this case, both Jupiter and Neptune will meet at the same place.
In fact, many astrologers (present company included) believe that the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction may result in a cultural reset — a vibe shift, if you will.
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First, meet Jupiter
The fifth planet from the sun, Jupiter is named after the Roman god of the sky (Zeus in Greek mythology) and referred to as the “Great Benefic” by traditional astrologers for the luck, fortune, and blessings it bestows. Think shameless optimism sans moderation.
Jupiter takes 12 years to travel through all 12 astrological houses in the sky, which means it stays in a zodiac sign for approximately one year. Currently, Jupiter is in Pisces — the sign associated with dreams, illusion, and creativity — where it will remain through May 10 before gliding into Aries.
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Now, onto Neptune
While a cool 2.865 billion miles from planet Earth, Neptune was actually one of the first celestial bodies discovered by telescope in 1846. Interestingly, there is some evidence to suggest that Galileo himself was able to observe Neptune in the early 1600s despite it being invisible to the naked eye. Galileo noted that, on two special days in December 1612 and January 1613, Jupiter seemed to shine just a bit brighter. Although Galileo attributed the illumination to a star, it was later determined that he had witnessed — you guessed it — the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction. Hell yeah.
Neptune is named after the god of the sea (Poseidon in Greek mythology) and, accordingly, is associated with the magical, mysterious vastness of the spiritual unknown. From an astrological perspective, Neptune governs the subconscious, dreams, art, entertainment, and psychic powers.
Neptune has an extremely long orbit; it takes 165 years to move through the entire zodiac, with 14-year journeys across each of the 12 signs. In 2011, Neptune entered Pisces, where it will continue drifting until 2026.
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So what’s this about a conjunction?
Although these two planets link up approximately every 12 years (the duration of Jupiter’s orbit), they only meet in Pisces (the dreamy, enchanted water sign that is so very important to both of these celestial bodies) every 165 years.
So what should you expect? Well, since no one can offer an eyewitness account of the last Jupiter-Neptune in Pisces conjunction in 1856, we don’t totally know. Add it to the list of unprecedented events we’re living through. However, understanding the symbolism of these planets moving through Pisces, it’s highly likely that the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction will launch a mystical-slash-creative renaissance on both micro (personal) and macro (societal) levels. Matters relating to beliefs, perception, spirituality, and artistic exploration of the psyche will be amplified. Likewise, this is an excellent time to explore your own relationship with spirituality. How does your soul express itself on a daily basis? Is it through art? Music? Journaling? Or simply sitting with your thoughts in a quiet and peaceful environment in order to better process the extraordinary amount of extrasensory data that inundates your subconscious every waking moment? What does it mean to connect with your intuition? How does your imagination inform your creative practices? This is an excellent opportunity to set intentions, start that meditation practice, or, I don’t know, eat edibles and go to the planetarium.
Oh, a quick word of advice: The primary difference between these two planets is that Jupiter expands, while Neptune dissolves. Jupiter offers abundance, while Neptune encourages us to think beyond the physical constraints, inviting us to let down our guard and become one with the universe through spirituality, creativity, and — of course — magic. Accordingly, I highly recommend practicing extreme discretion on and around the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction. Under this sky, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Exaggerations and straight-up lies will be circulating, so proceed with caution (i.e., stay off Twitter). The best way to combat Jupiter-Neptune delusion is through the fine art of saying no. Don’t be afraid to set some limits. There’s nothing wrong with establishing parameters. When in doubt, consider taking a few days before making any huge decisions. In the end, there’s no better stabilizer than time itself.