In astrology, addiction is often associated with Neptune and the 12th house.
Perhaps that is due to the mystique this archetype is associated with: the fog, the escape, the longing, the outside world.
But in practice, things are not so black and white: they are much blurrier (a Neptunian pun, in fact).
If we look at the graphs, the odds that people fight addiction have a prominent influence of Neptune or the 12th house They are no higher than those with any other location.
I wish it were that simple! But it is not, because if there were a clear “addiction formula” in astrology, we would know exactly where to look for it… and then, theoretically, we would know how to look for it. cure it too, right?
Addiction: a symptom of the longing for transcendence
In fact, Neptune can amplify addictive tendencies or the longing to escapebut not for the reasons we might expect.
It’s not that Neptune causes addiction. Instead, Addiction is a symptom, a sign of something deeper. – something that Neptune In fact means.
According to Carl Jung – aAnd by the way, did you know that Alcoholics Anonymous and many recovery programs were inspired by Jung’s ideas? – addiction is a misguided search for transcendence.
People who succumb to addiction have a strong longing for connect with the divine – but they don’t know how to get there – so the addiction becomes a shortcut to transcendence – a way to momentarily touch infinity.
It is no coincidence that we use the same word for spirit (as in spirituality) and spirit (as in alcohol).
In our “Addictions” program, Neptune is one of the top 3 addictive roads – 3 symbolic routes that the psyche takes in its search for transcendence.
Neptune is not the only one. The other 2 paths are Uranus and Pluto. Together, these 3 outer planets represent the 3 core addictive patterns – what in neuroscience is often described as the tops, bottoms and exteriors.
Addiction – The outer planets
Why do the outer planets correspond to addiction?
Unlike the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter or Saturn, the outer planets are invisible to the naked eye. They are a perfect metaphor for the unconscious forces that drive us: powerful, invisible and not directly accessible.
The outer planets symbolize what lies beyond our sight: forces that we cannot easily identify with, but that still shape us, just as those distant planets, though invisible to the eye, continue their silent orbit around the Sun.
The outer planets symbolize the Need to transcend the ordinary world in 3D. – the realm symbolized by the planets visible up to Saturn – and reach something beyond the limits of the known.
When the outer planets touch our personal planets, that lead towards transcendence It’s awake, but we don’t always know how to consciously access it.
For example, if someone has a natal Sun-Uranus either Moon-Pluto In this aspect, there is a pull towards transformation or greater awareness. However, the influence of the outer planet can be too intense, too distant or too abstract so that the personal planet is fully integrated.
It is like feeling a deep longing for something that you can feel but cannot reach, because the basic psychological processes represented by the personal planet are not yet mature or rooted enough to meet the intensity of the call of the outer planet.
And this is often when addiction intervenes – like shortcut or a quick “fix” that temporarily lets us glimpse the transcendence.
We all do this to some extent. While just around 10% of people develop clinical addiction.we all have addictive tendenciesbecause we all carry a spiritual hunger that today’s world – and our own psychological defenses – make it difficult to be satisfied in a healthy way.
And this is where things get really interesting and where astrology can help us the most: when we begin to understand What addictive path draws us?and what that reveals about our own psyche and desire for transcendence.
Addiction: stimulants, depressants and external
In our model, Uranus represents the upper path to transcendence. in addictive neurochemistry, this corresponds to the dopamine reward pathway – these are the addictive substances or behaviors that stimulate us, excite us and keep us “on”.
Pluto represents the descending paththat aligns with the opioid route – the trip to Soothe, release and immerse.
and our friend Neptune represents the outer path – he escapist form of transcendence. The dissolution, drift, or blurring of boundaries that can arise through fantasy, substances, or avoidance. One of the 3, but far from the only one.
While each of us has a primary addictive tendency, at different times in our lives and under different circumstances, one path may become more pronounced than the others.
URANUS: When we feel bored or uninspired, the tendency is to seek stimulation, to “go out.” In this state, we could follow the uranian pathwhich can range from the innocent morning coffee that “wakes us up” to more intense expressions such as gambling or sex addiction.
Anything I can energize us, make us feel alive, or remind us that we still have agency.
PLUTO: If, on the other hand, we feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or inauthentic (living a life that deep down we know is not really “us”), then the plutonic path becomes the approach to follow.
Pluto’s descending modus operandi (think alcohol, sleeping pills, or emotional isolation) is Isolate external noise. so we can turn inward and reconnect with what really matters.
Pluto’s path is opposite to that of Uranus: both can become addictive, but for diametrically opposite reasons.
NEPTUNE:And if we feel the weight of lifeoverworked or emotionally exhausted, then the Neptunian path of escapism often takes over. Neptune’s attraction aims to soften reality, numb the sharp edges of existence.
This can take many forms, from Netflix attracting fantasy or romantic love – You would be surprised (or maybe not) how often people “fall in love” just when they are facing something they don’t want to face.
But what’s really interesting about our addictive tendencies is what they point out.
Addiction is not just a “problem that needs to be solved.” Even when we “cure” the addiction through abstinence or sobriety, a new addiction often takes its place, because the drive for transcendence, spiritual hungerit’s still there.
So the goal is not to “fix” the addiction without first understanding where does it come from and what is it pointing towards.
Because addiction is much more than a “bad habit”: it is our Higher self calling through the distortion.saying: You want something beyond the ordinary. You want something more authentic, more aligned with your true path.
Addiction and transform your life with astrology
Addiction It is the first course of our Transform your life with astrology program. We believe we should start here – even when our addictive tendencies are mild – because they contain essential clues about who we are and the direction of our path.
The other 3 courses “Shadow”, “Purpose” and “Service” – represent the later stages of the individuation process.
You can now sign up for the “Addictions” course, which starts on November 10, or sign up for the complete program Transform your life with astrology in 20% discount.
More details in the following link:
“Addiction” and “Transform your life with astrology”
