Hard aspects (conjunction, square or opposition) from the outer planets can trigger depression or enhance an existing predilection for depression. I will make this clear, I'm not a doctor so I will not offer specifics on how to deal with your depression, but I will offer astrological insight on how to work with the energy of the triggering planet. This should not be considered a replacement for medical advice.

I'll devote one post each to Saturn, Neptune and Pluto (the usual suspects). Note that hard aspects from these planets do not always trigger depression.

A reminder of what the aspects mean:

conjunction: fusion, new beginning

square: crisis that prompts action or questions

opposition: ending, result

Let's start with Neptune.

This can be the most challenging one to deal with because it tends to sneak up on you. Even if you look ahead and know when the transit starts, you may not be conscious of the depression until it's full-blown. Neptune depression can manifest as a slow leeching of energy, joy and ambition. The colour gradually starts to fade from your life as confusion or loss of purpose seeps in. Or, you fixate on a dream/romance that's so far removed from reality your life seems dull in comparison.

Neptune dissolves. You work with this energy by releasing what's no longer valid. You need to look at the natal planet or angle that's being aspected and the house that transiting Neptune is moving through.

One of the following might apply:

The Impossible Dream: an attraction (perhaps unrequited) or unhealthy relationship that promises an exalted, impossibly beautiful experience. The other person becomes your deity. When you're with them (or when you think of them/stalk them online) the dream of what might be sustains you. When you can't be with them the comparison to your mundane existence is crushingly dull. The whole experience drains you.

If you live in the promise of what might be you drain the promise from your actual existence. The depression is a sign that something needs to change in your life, and it doesn't involve becoming one with your beloved. There are two things to release here - the illusion that someone else can offer what you're missing and your resistance to providing that for yourself. Take a good look at the person - what's so appealing? That's your clue about what's missing in your life.

When Neptune's energy is used properly, you make the dream happen for yourself, thereby injecting the colour back into your life. This may require a further release - letting go of an existing relationship or lifestyle that is not fulfilling.

The Loss Of Purpose/Happiness/Satisfaction: sometimes there is no external trigger, just a gradual loss of one or all of the above. You no longer care about your job. Nothing seems to make you happy. Things that used to matter... just don't. Again, Neptune is asking you to release something and it's directly represented by the planet being aspected. The loss of ego/purpose (Sun) means a new purpose is called for. The loss of satisfaction/comfort (Moon) means a new source of these things must be found. This is not happening for no reason- something better is meant to take the place of what's fading.

Easier said than done, especially when you're in the grips of the depression and your energy and focus is almost nil. It's tough to care enough to work on this when you just don't care. At this point, you need to look after yourself by seeking support from a professional/friends/family or doing whatever you need to do to cope (in healthy ways). For some it can be tempting to use alcohol or drugs to cope, and this is invariably a mistake during this transit- Neptune rules these substances so you will be extra vulnerable to their influence.

Sometimes you need to float through a period of nothingness before you can muster up the energy to make some changes. But eventually, that's what you'll have to do - let go of what doesn't work anymore.

All transits end eventually so that's something to look forward to. It can help when you have a concrete date. Neptune's transits to one planet can go on for one or two years, but if it's hitting more than one planet that timeframe can be extended. And it's not always feasible to do nothing for two or three or four years, so if you can, start by identifying what you need to let go of. Then, open yourself up to new possibilities, keeping in mind that nothing is structured with Neptune's energy - there will be false starts and dead ends. Confusion is part of the process. Don't force it. If you go with it, at some point you'll stumble on a new purpose/passion/focus, almost by accident. Don't try to follow the linear route.

Most importantly, be gentle with yourself. No matter the scenario, Neptune is slowly taking something away and that's never easy. While Neptune ushers in confusion and loss of ego, it is also the energy of forgiveness. So forgive yourself for dropping the ball or losing interest or whatever and just focus on getting through this.

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