Jupiter is the biggest planet in our natural solar system, and it radiates more energy than any other planet except for the Sun. Mythological Jupiter was the King of the Gods. With these bigger than life qualities, Jupiter’s role is to expand our sense of what is possible in our ordinary lives by removing fears and limitations and instilling faith and trust in the Universe. Jupiter is associated with the mental constructs that we develop which give our life a sense of meaning, such as religious or political philosophies, and it is generally seen as a “lucky” planet that brings opportunities and greater confidence. Jupiter was King of the Gods in Roman mythology, so there is an aspect of kings and rulers where Jupiter is involved. 

Jupiter takes about twelve months to travel through a sign, and Jupiter will soon leave the emotional sign of Cancer for fiery Leo. The transition from Cancer to Leo takes us from a quiet expression of life to a more buoyant and almost explosive interest in experiences that will allow us to expand and grow in our sense of enjoyment of life. Leo at its core is represented by the archetype of the Divine Child – the innocence and beauty of the Ego in its pure and unadulterated form. Many of our spiritual philosophies and religions denigrate the Ego as something to be rejected (a Pisces/Neptune concept), but a healthy human experience requires that we develop and maintain a strong sense of Self that is not self-centered or self-ish, but self-aware and self-protective. This is the realm of Leo.

Leo is a fire sign, but it is one of the “fixed” signs – the signs that can be somewhat inflexible but tend to be more powerful in nature. Leo is ruled by the Sun and its realm is the creative expression of the Self. Individuality is a key concept under Leo, and Jupiter’s travels through Leo will bring more focus on the individual enjoyment of life through romance and opening the heart, but also through finding heart connections to all of life. The Sun is the ruler of the physical heart, and Leo is the Sun’s sign to this expansion and opening (Jupiter) of the heart in all ways is an important element of Jupiter’s journey through Leo.

Fun is another important aspect of the Leo archetype – learning to open the heart to enjoyment and pleasure despite the difficulties and negativities that can easily distract us. Jupiter’s passage through Leo can help us to find more zest and gusto and gratification if we only open our eyes to see.

Everything in this physical world has both a dark side and a light side. Jupiter is expansive and brings confidence and good fortune, but it also can lead to complacency and laziness as well as self-indulgence and a tendency to excess. In mundane astrology Jupiter rules Kings and government leaders, as does Leo, so we are likely to see the rise of new flamboyant leaders seeking great power.

In our personal lives we can use this transit of Jupiter through Leo to enhance our creativity and find ways to set ourselves free from the restrictions that limit us from finding joy. While Jupiter transits through the sign of Leo this time around, it will harmonize with Saturn in Aries, Uranus in Gemini, Neptune in Aries – these are helpful alliances with powerful planets to facilitate expansion. But first it will face off against Pluto in Aquarius in early July, and with both Pluto and Jupiter in fixed signs that could bring some fireworks. Jupiter is the planet of kings, and Pluto the planet of power, so conflict between them can be intense. The last time these two came together in these signs, with Jupiter in Aquarius and Pluto in Leo, there were significant global political events including the invasion of South Korea by North Korea, the annexation of Tibet by China, and a fiery speech by Joseph McCarthy to Congress about the threat of communism that set off the Red Scare. 

History doesn’t repeat but it does rhyme, as they say, and we are in a period of great change. With the U.S. no longer dominating the global power structure, new alliances could create a new kind of stability around the world. This could be a good thing and create greater equality in new ways. Over the next year, Jupiter interactions with other planets give me a great deal of hope: 

  • Jupiter square Chiron July 1st will bring up old wounds to be healed. 
  • Jupiter trine Neptune July 20th will bring more emphasis on compassion and kindness.
  • Jupiter opposite Pluto July 20th will create or reveal power imbalances but also
  • Jupiter sextile Uranus July 21st will activate innovation and awaken new ideas. 
  • Jupiter trine Saturn August 31st will align for greater balance and the establishment of new structures within which these changes can flourish.
  • Jupiter trine Chiron in December can open doorways of perception and universal healing. 

In times of change like this it’s easy to be fearful since change is often uncomfortable and rarely predictable. But everything works out in the end, and as my friend Palden Jenkins says, if it doesn’t, something else will. 😃

 

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