Who is Neptune?

Neptune, known to the Romans as Neptunus, was an ancient Roman god of water, who specifically governed the morning dew and springs (the places where water comes up from the earth). His name is, in fact, believed to have originally been a title, ‘Neptuni’, indicating his function and meaning ‘the springiness of Neptune’, such as in the gushing forth of a fountain. The droplets of morning dew and the entry of water from the underworld up into the upperworld were seen as manifestations of his masculine, fertile presence (his semen). All earthbound water sprang forth from his reservoir deep in the earth.

He was one of three gods (Mars, Apollo and Neptune) that were exclusively honoured with the sacrifice of a bull. Neptune was honoured in this way for his important role of bringing moisture to the land and soil. He was often honoured at fresh water sources and springs, where offerings were made, and he was considered the protector of aqueducts.

He was also considered one of the Di Consentes, the deities that were considered to be the principal deities of ancient Rome and was sometimes associated with two different female companions, Salacia and Venilia. However, he may also have had an earlier connection with Furrinalia, a goddess of springs.

He had a temple dedicated to him in the 3^rd century BCE, located in the Circus Flaminius, a large open public area near the river Tiber that was used for gatherings and markets, as well as games and parades. He had another temple in the Campus Martius, the field of Mars, a military training ground outside the sacred city boundary that was prone to flooding, but gradually built upon throughout the Roman era.

He was later identified with the Greek god Poseidon, and from then on was also regarded as a god of the sea and horses (Horses had previously been governed by the Roman god Consus) and acquired much of Poseidon’s mythology.  

Neptune was honoured on his feast day, December 1st and during his festival, Neptunalia, on July 23^rd.

Neptunalia

Neptune’s festival of Neptunalia honoured him as the god of water sources during drought and heat. At the height of summer, when the water levels were at their lowest, it was important to honour and gain the favour of Neptune, who could give or withdraw water at his pleasure. With this in mind, offerings were made during his festival: on behalf of the state, a bull would be sacrificed by the priests of Neptune, and personal offerings made by the people of Rome that may have included wine, flowers, milk, oil or libations of water. During this time, the infrastructures that were connected to water, such as fountains, water basins and drains, were also cleaned and cleansed, some with great ceremony and ritual.

Why connect to Neptune:

• He is connected to the fertility and health of the earth and, on a human physical level, is also connected to our lymphatic system (the seat of our immunity) and keeping it healthy and in flow (antidote to dryness and stagnation). One of his most powerful healing themes is rejuvenation. Work with him to heal and refresh a dehydrated body, heart, mind and soul.
• Involve him in working with cleansing, clearing and healing your roots, which may include working with ancestral water bodies and bringing the waters of the earth through your systems to clear any woundings, regrets, misunderstandings or blockages around identity and belonging.
• He is an ally for those who are working as water advocates and a sponsor for those who work with water (e.g. plumbers, lifeguards, aquarium/sea life centre staff, hydrologists, divers, fishermen). You may even want to ask for his blessing upon your own water at home or your local water source, in union with the local spirits!   

How to connect to, and work with, Neptune:

• Collecting morning dew (from grass or flowers) and using it in ancestral or personal work. For example, you may want to use it as a face or hand wash in the morning or walk barefoot in the morning dew to ground and recharge.
• Consume the best water for your body, such as spring or mineral water, to nourish and nurture your lymphatic system and every cell of your body! If you can’t access spring water, recharge or mineralise your tap water and for extra magic, ask Neptune to bless it. Likewise, make sure you are getting enough hydration and electrolytes daily. To support your lymphatic system, you may want to sip warm water throughout the day and avoid cold, iced drinks, move your body and make sure you are sweating daily. You also might want to consider lymphatic drainage massage and salt baths as actions to honour the sacred water of your body (and in doing so honouring the Neptune within).  
• Affirm your sense of belonging, home and identity by connecting to your local water sources (springs, rivers, lakes, etc.). Discover them and open a relationship with them, and then find ways to honour and respectfully commune with them. Neptune particularly encourages us to get our feet in the water to reconnect, cleanse and empower the roots of Self. Once you have found your local water sources, start a conversation by placing your feet in the water if it is safe to do so.
• Dark blue was considered to be his colour, and Sextus Pompeius, a 1^st century BCE Roman navy admiral, a worshipper of Neptune, was famously known to wear a dark blue cloak to demonstrate his divine patronage. Likewise, you may want to bring the colour dark blue into the ways that you honour and connect with Neptune, such as a blue altar cloth, candle or clothing.
• You may want to connect to one of his sacred animals. These animals symbolise and personify particular aspects of Neptune that you may want to explore or heal within yourself, or empower and embody as part of your spiritual or personal development. Work with dolphins for a journey of any kind or for embracing freedom, play and joy, the toad or frog and frogspawn for growth, metamorphosis and resilience and fish for the tenacious pursuit of peace, harmony, emotional healing and liberation.

I hope that you have enjoyed this introduction to Neptune and that it inspires you to create a point of connection with him!

You can find out more about the gods and goddesses of ancient Rome and explore ways to integrate them into your personal practices through reading my book, Pantheon. The Romans’.

For more details: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/authors/rachel-walker