Jupiter in Aries…Then Retrograde in Pisces and Then Back in Aries Again….!

Apart from the Sun and the Moon (which aren’t really planets), each of the celestial bodies we astrologers observe appears to go through regular retrograde (or backwards) periods of movement. Jupiter is no exception, but between June 2010 and January 2011, its retrograde period seems like a bizarre dance between Pisces and Aries.

Jupiter spends a year in each sign and it enters Aries on June 6th, 2010. However because it turns retrograde on July 23rd at 3° Aries it slips back into Pisces on the 9th of September where it remains until it resumes its Aries transit on January 22nd, 2011. This swapping between signs is a little confusing and this effect is exaggerated because Jupiter is also keeping pace with Uranus.

Jupiter is known traditionally as the ‘Greater Benefic,’ and it is certainly a positive planetary influence for the most part. After all, it is from Jupiter that we derive the word ‘jovial,’ and Jupiter transits to personal planets and sensitive points in our horoscope usually usher in opportunities of all kinds and colors.

Jupiter is ‘at home’ in Pisces as it is the traditional ruler of that sign. It inspires compassion and instinctive attunement to the collective mood and vibration. Pisces is the final sign in the Zodiac and as such is symbolically the culmination of human consciousness. In personal terms our sensitivity is heightened, and we are more sympathetic and empathetic to atmospheric vibrations. We identify with those who are suffering and may be drawn to help out in some way. However, this can be a little overwhelming at times, we may need some distance from reality now and again. This is best achieved through meditation or creativity rather than overindulgence in food and drink.

In contrast to the compassionate and humanitarian side of Pisces, Aries is the newborn baby of the Zodiac and represents the impulse to become an independent individual. The signature of Jupiter moving into Aries is of a ‘superhero’ miraculously escaping from a seemingly impossible situation. It calls for bold and decisive action and single-minded determination to act in one’s own best interests. In this situation, other people are in some ways a distraction unless they can help to further our own aims and objectives.

With Jupiter flipping between these two very different signs, you may find that the next seven or eight months a little confusing to say the least. One minute you may have complete clarity about what you want and how to go about getting it, and then with the flip of a switch, you may find that any kind of ambition or goal seems like a pointless and selfish exercise. This conflicting energy will be at its most extreme when Jupiter is ‘conjunct’ or at the same position as Uranus as will be 3 times during this period. However these conjunctions are also the moments when those tantalizing opportunities will appear ‘out of the blue’!

Jupiter and Uranus are together in Aries on June 8th, 2010 and then January 4th, 2011. These red letter days when, regardless of your star sign, there could be a feeling of magic in the air and a sense that you are being offered the once in a lifetime chance to grow and change in some way. On the 9th of September 2010, the two planets are together in Pisces, and this time, they are both in retrograde motion. This is more complex energy could create uncertainty and a sense that you may not have ready answers to your own questions about your future goals. Uncertainty could create anxiety, and this is the time to be still and listen to your Inner Guide. This planetary combination is marking the end of a long period of turmoil both personally and in the collective consciousness. If you listen to your heart at this time, you may discover your true calling in life!