Neptune Sextile Pluto: A Spiritual Undertone Shared by Generations

Neptune and Pluto have held a sextile for decades, the longing for ideals and deep transformation supporting each other, and nearly everyone born since the middle of the twentieth century has it. This page starts from what Neptune governs (ideals, imagination and dissolving boundaries) and what Pluto governs (deep power, crisis and rebirth), then looks at how the sextile makes the two interact, how it tends to show up in everyday life, its strengths and blind spots, and some advice for it.

Neptune Sextile Pluto at a glance

Percentages are our own calculation from 8,401 charts of people born in Taipei between 1960 and 2005 with random birth times, using the same orbs as our chart calculator.

The core meaning of Neptune Sextile Pluto

Neptune rules dreams, faith, compassion, and the dissolving of boundaries. Pluto rules deep transformation, turning up what is hidden underneath and putting it in order again. These are the slowest of the planets, and because Pluto’s orbit is unusual, there is a long stretch when it advances at about the same speed as Neptune, so their sextile has held for many decades. Nearly everyone born since the middle of the twentieth century has this aspect. It reaches wider than an ordinary generational aspect and is a backdrop shared by several generations.

A sextile speaks of compatibility and opportunity. These generations live in a time when exploring the inner and spiritual life is more accepted: psychology has entered daily life, people have begun to talk about inner wounds and personal growth, and different faiths and cultures are easier to encounter. The opportunity counts only when someone uses it. Since almost everyone has it, it cannot tell you apart from anyone else. What matters is whether Neptune or Pluto aspects your Sun, Moon, or Ascendant, and whether a third, personal planet links into the sextile.

How it feels inside

Inwardly, these generations broadly hold a basic belief that people can change. In a low period many will read, find someone to talk to, or try meditation and other ways of sorting out their feelings, which was not common in earlier times. This is soil the era provides, and it is hard to notice day to day. If Neptune or Pluto sits close to your Sun or Moon, you feel your inner world more deeply than your age-mates, are easily moved by a dream, a piece of music, or a line that strikes home, and are more willing to face the parts of yourself that are not so pretty.

In love and relationships

In love and friendship, these generations care more and more about a meeting of souls. They hope a partner will understand their inner life, and simply fulfilling one’s duties is no longer enough. Friends, too, find it easier to talk about vulnerability and grief. On a personal level, if the sextile involves your Venus or Moon, you have a gift for empathy and acceptance in relationships and are willing to stay beside someone through change. The active part is really taking the conversation deeper and asking what has been on the other person’s mind lately; the benefit of this aspect appears in talks like that.

At work and in getting things done

At work, these generations have watched helping, healing, creative, and other inner-life professions gradually become recognized career choices, and whether a job has meaning is now something many people weigh when changing jobs. If the sextile connects to your Sun, Ascendant, or Midheaven, you suit work that uses imagination and insight together, such as counseling, art, research, or leading groups. It will not hand you success directly. It is more like a road that stays open, and those willing to keep exploring their inner life alongside their profession travel further on it.

Strengths

• Belief that people can grow: You hold a basic confidence in change. In hard times you look for methods and help, and you do not assume a character or a situation must stay as it is.
• A foundation of empathy: You pick up on feelings others cannot put into words and accept that everyone has a fragile side, which makes you more generous with people.
• Rich inner resources: Your era offers many paths for inner exploration. Books, courses, creative work, and faith are all close at hand whenever you want them.

Blind spots

• Easy to overlook: Because everyone has it, the opportunity seems ordinary. Many people never make particular use of it in a lifetime, and it stays in the background.
• Exploring on the surface: With so many methods and so much scattered information, you try a little of this and a little of that and never stay on one path long enough.
• Ideals as an escape hatch: Faced with a practical difficulty, you may turn to spiritual language to comfort yourself while the problem itself goes unhandled.

Advice for Neptune Sextile Pluto

Almost everyone has this sextile, so the point is to use it. First see whether Neptune or Pluto connects to your Sun, Moon, or Ascendant; that will be the doorway where you feel it most. Then choose one way of tending your inner life, whether writing, meditation, creative work, or regular deep talks with someone you trust, and keep at it for a good long while. The opportunity this aspect gives is quiet, and its weight shows only through long practice.

What to keep in mind when reading this aspect

1. The tighter the orb, the more it matters. In our calculations, only 13.6% of all major aspects are within 1° of exact, and 41.2% are within 3°. If your Neptune sextile Pluto is tight, the traits on this page will be more noticeable; if it is close to the 5° limit, they will be much fainter.

2. Applying and separating. An aspect is applying when the two planets are moving toward the exact angle and separating once they have passed it. Tradition holds that an applying aspect is still taking shape and acts more strongly. Our chart calculator marks which one you have.

3. Watch for out-of-sign aspects. Two planets in sextile are usually two signs apart, in compatible elements (fire with air, earth with water), but an aspect is measured by actual distance. In our calculations, 9.5% of sextiles do not match the usual sign relationship (one planet late in a sign, the other early in another). The nature of the aspect is still there; it just shows up in a less typical way.

4. This aspect is shared by a whole group of people. Neptune and Pluto both move slowly, so everyone born around the same time has Neptune sextile Pluto; it describes the common backdrop of that period. How strongly it shows in you depends on which houses the two planets occupy (see Planets in the Houses) and whether they aspect your Sun, Moon or Ascendant.

5. Then look at each planet’s own placement. The signs Neptune and Pluto are in decide how each one expresses itself; see Planets in the Signs. If either planet has other aspects, read them together. For a complete reading, use the In-Depth Chart Reading.

Other aspects between Neptune and Pluto

Conjunction (none in modern times) · Sextile · Square (none in modern times) · Trine (none in modern times) · Opposition (none in modern times)

The sextile with other planets

Neptune: Sun sextile Neptune, Moon sextile Neptune, Mercury sextile Neptune, Venus sextile Neptune, Mars sextile Neptune, Jupiter sextile Neptune, Saturn sextile Neptune, Uranus sextile Neptune.

Pluto: Sun sextile Pluto, Moon sextile Pluto, Mercury sextile Pluto, Venus sextile Pluto, Mars sextile Pluto, Jupiter sextile Pluto, Saturn sextile Pluto, Uranus sextile Pluto.

All Neptune aspects · All Pluto aspects · Planet aspects overview