Confused motivation
Here’s what to do and not do when you have a Neptune Square Mars transit. Below that are some interesting things about this transit.
Avoid During This Transit
- Don’t jump into arguments or fights- tempers and confusion can get out of hand easily.
- Avoid starting big new projects, especially if they need lots of willpower and energy. Motivation can be all over the place right now.
- Don’t make risky investments or gamble- Neptune makes it really easy to overlook details or fall for a scam.
- Avoid pushing yourself too hard physically. You might think you have more energy than you really do, and it’s easy to get hurt.
- Don’t ignore your gut feelings if something feels shady- it probably is. Trust your instincts, not just what people tell you.
- Avoid getting involved in secretive or dishonest situations. Lies and misunderstandings are much more likely now.
- Don’t expect clear results from your actions. This isn’t a good time for things that need focus, drive, or clear planning.
- Avoid acting on impulse or chasing unrealistic dreams. Take your time and double-check the facts before making moves.
- Don’t bottle up your anger or let it come out sideways. Find healthy outlets to vent, like art, exercise, or talking it out.
- Avoid confrontations if you’re feeling drained, spaced out, or unclear about what you want. Take a step back until you’re grounded again.
Do During This Transit
- Let yourself slow down – this isn’t the best time to push too hard or try to force things.
- Get creative! Try art, music, writing, or anything that lets you express your imagination.
- Work on letting go of old anger or resentment. Take up something like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing to chill out.
- Pay close attention to your dreams and intuition. Keep a dream journal or jot down any flashes of insight you notice.
- Help others or volunteer – doing something selfless can be really fulfilling right now.
- Double-check facts before you act, especially if you’re feeling unsure or confused. Clarity can be tough during this transit.
- Keep your boundaries strong. Don’t let other people take advantage of your kindness or energy.
- Explore gentle types of exercise like swimming, tai chi, or walking instead of anything too intense or competitive.
- Give yourself permission to rest when you’re tired. Listen to what your body needs.
- Focus on forgiveness – of yourself and others. This is a powerful time for healing old wounds if you’re gentle with yourself.
What’s Interesting About This Transit
- Mixed motivations and conflicted desires: Alan Leo wrote in The Art of Synthesis (1912) that when Neptune squares natal Mars, a person may experience “a peculiar restlessness, as though every effort for actualization slips away into daydreams,” making it hard to get anything done. He mentions a “sense of fighting with shadows.”
- Difficulty distinguishing courage from foolishness: In Astrological Essays (1943), Charles Carter says, “this square suggests one may mistake panic for prudence or, conversely, misjudge reckless actions as inspired heroism,” warning against confusing intuition with wishful thinking.
- Sensitive to subtle forms of coercion: Sepharial in Transits and Planetary Periods (1909) describes how the contact can make a person more vulnerable to “mysterious undercurrents” at work or in the home, drawing attention to manipulation or gaslighting that would normally go unnoticed.
- Hidden tempers or secret enemies: Ivy Goldstein-Jacobson, in Astrology: Its Techniques and Ethics (1960), wrote that this transit may reveal “anger or rivalry that simmers beneath the surface and may not have been apparent at all before,” often surfacing in confusing or roundabout ways.
- Difficulties with machinery or tools: Grant Lewi’s Astrology for the Millions (1940) mentions that during this transit, “tools may break, mechanisms malfunction, and accidents occur as if by some trick of fate; it’s wise to handle sharp objects and hot motors with extra attention.”
- Prone to confusing sexual or physical impulses: From The Modern Text Book of Astrology (1951), Margaret E. Hone points out, “unexpected urges or desires may emerge- sometimes inappropriate or bewildering- leading to awkward mishaps or misunderstandings.”
- Inclined to wild schemes or quixotic crusades: In Astrological Aspects (1965), C.E.O. Carter notes that Neptune square Mars can stoke “grandiose plans with little substance, leading to wasted effort or even embarrassing defeats.”
- Weakened immune response or strange fatigue: Dane Rudhyar, in The Astrology of Personality (1936), links this transit with “a psychic lowering of defenses, possibly resulting in odd physical complaints or unusual exhaustion that resists explanation.”
Experiencing This Transit
When Neptune squares your natal Mars, you might feel like you’re driving with the windows fogged up. Your energy, actions, and even your anger or ambition feel cloudy, indirect, and hard to control. This can be a bewildering time because Mars wants clear action and direct fights, but Neptune brings fog, uncertainty, dreams, and sometimes deception.
You might want to get a lot done or defend something you care about, but it seems like every move you make just slips out of your fingers or the results aren’t what you expected. Sometimes, you’re just tired, or your motivation keeps melting away. This isn’t a “get up and go” time- it’s more like navigating a swamp, where nothing is solid for long.
Challenges during this transit
- Lack of Motivation: You can wake up full of plans, but by lunchtime, you might feel like, “Why bother?” Things feel pointless or you just don’t have the energy you usually have.
- Misdirected Anger: It’s easy to get angry at the wrong people, or find yourself lashing out at random things- then feeling guilty or weird about it afterward.
- Confusion in Actions: You might start something, then wonder why you did it, or forget your goals halfway through.
- Attracting Tricky Situations: Old texts warned this transit can pull in people who aren’t totally honest, or get you tangled in situations where the rules keep changing- like that co-worker who says one thing then does another.
- Physical Drain: Your body could feel unusually tired, or you might pick up weird, vague health issues that doctors can’t explain easily. Sometimes, this can show up as clumsiness, accidents, or just feeling “off.”
- Escapism Temptations: If you’re not careful, you might just want to escape all this confusion- spending hours online, binging shows, or getting lost in things that numb you out (like alcohol or other substances).
Opportunities during this transit
- Creative Surges: If you do art, music, writing, or anything creative, this is prime time for letting your inner weirdness loose. You can make amazing stuff by channeling your tangled feelings into artistic projects.
- Spiritual Discovery: Meditation, yoga, or anything “mystical” can be easier to tap into right now. You might have dreams that actually mean something, or find yourself tuning in to signs and feelings that usually pass you by.
- Learning Humility: This transit teaches you that sometimes you just don’t have all the answers, and that’s okay. Admitting vulnerability or uncertainty can actually draw the right kind of help and support to you.
- Busting Illusions: You have a real chance to see where you’ve been kidding yourself- about other people, your goals, or even what you want. Neptune squares dissolve what isn’t real, so after the fog clears, you end up with a way more honest picture of your life.
- Finding New Goals: If you let go of the old, dried-up ambitions that aren’t working, you might stumble into brand-new dreams and directions you never thought of before.
- Compassion in Action: If you use your energy to help others- volunteering, supporting someone struggling, or just being kind when you don’t feel like it- you’ll find that your own confusion gets a little easier to handle.
How the Sign of Transiting Neptune Modifies This Transit Square to Natal Mars
Read the one for the current sign of transiting Neptune.
- Transiting Neptune in Aries: You might feel restless and impatient for dreams to turn real, but your energy could get scattered by confusion or impulsivity. Beware of chasing mirages or jumping into things without a clear plan.
- Transiting Neptune in Taurus: Your motivation could slow down, and you might feel like your efforts get lost in a fog. It’s easy to get stuck in comfort zones or, on the flip side, feel dissatisfied with what you have.
- Transiting Neptune in Gemini: Decision-making gets trickier. Mixed messages, gossip, or distraction can zap your enthusiasm. Creative ideas flow, but taking action feels hard because it’s tough to tell what’s real.
- Transiting Neptune in Cancer: Your drive might be clouded by emotions and nostalgia. You could chase old dreams or get protective in confusing ways, and what motivates you might shift from personal to family concerns.
- Transiting Neptune in Leo: Confidence could wobble- one minute you’re inspired, the next you doubt yourself. You’re prone to dramatic visions and chasing praise, but you might forget your true goals.
- Transiting Neptune in Virgo: Motivation might get lost in details, routines, or anxiety. You may feel like you’re not doing enough, or waste energy trying to make everything perfect when clarity is hard to find.
- Transiting Neptune in Libra: You might struggle to assert yourself in relationships or team efforts. Compromise and indecision can cloud your drive, making it tough to fight for what you want.
- Transiting Neptune in Scorpio: Intensity rises, but motives can be murky. You could get tangled up in power struggles or hidden agendas, and passionate pursuits might turn into emotional confusion.
- Transiting Neptune in Sagittarius: Big dreams and bold plans might lead you astray if you’re not careful. It’s easy to get swept up in visions, wanderlust, or philosophies without enough grounding.
- Transiting Neptune in Capricorn: Ambition can dissolve into uncertainty. You may question your career goals or authority, and pushing ahead gets tricky if you’re not sure what you’re aiming for.
- Transiting Neptune in Aquarius: You could feel drawn to new ideals or causes, but lack clarity about your role. Friend groups or social movements might inspire you- and also confuse your sense of direction.
- Transiting Neptune in Pisces: Boundaries are super thin, making action feel slippery or elusive. Your motivation might come and go like the tides, and your dreams could overpower your drive to act.