Jupiter Rx by Erik Roth

On April 10^th, the largest planet in our solar system stations in retrograde motion in the sign of Sagittarius and the tail-stinger of the Scorpion constellation.  At this point in Jupiter’s apparent motion across the sky is when Earth is “catching up” to Jupiter in its orbit.   This retrograde motion reaches an apex on June 10^th when Jupiter rises as the Sun sets, also creating its brightest point in the night sky at -2.6 in magnitude.  Jupiter stays retrograde for about four months, ending by stationing in “direct motion” on August 11^th.

Magnitude: the lower the number, the brighter it is . . .

In addition, Jupiter has a regular pattern in its annual procession across the sky.   This pattern is seen with a broader brush-stroke of nearly a century of time.  While it takes Jupiter about a year’s time to travel through a sign (and on average a whole zodiacal constellation) and 12 years to go through all 12 signs and constellations, 83 years have to go by before Jupiter returns back to the same place in the sky.  That 83-year period is called a synodic cycle.  But within the 83-year period there is a deeper level of the pattern that is noticeable, creating 7 distinct points (unchanging) per sign in which the gas giant stations retrograde.

Astronomy aside, when Jupiter (or really any planet) stations retrograde at a given point, it creates a focal point for several weeks on that space in the sky.  In this case, Jupiter in the sign of Sagittarius and the current constellation the sign overlays, the Scorpion, is the focal point.  It is the sixth of seven focal points in Sagittarius/Scorpion.  In the Shamanic Astrology Paradigm™, the stars and constellations assist in informing the expression of the seasonal signs.  What does the Scorpion share with the sign of Sagittarius?  What does it mean that Jupiter is at a standstill in that area?  What do the seven points of pattern convey?

Retrograde Point of Jupiter

Despite the bad press from some astrologers and mainstream outlets, when a planet “goes” retrograde, it is not a bad thing in its essence.  In Shamanic Astrology, the deeper meaning of retrograde does depend upon what planet we are talking about.  However, in its essence, there is a focal point emphasized when a planet stations retrograde or direct motion.  The meaning of WHAT is emphasized is dependent upon what sign (and the degree), constellation and nearby stars and any other planets (or Sun, Moon) it may be aspecting (i.e. conjunction with the Moon). 

This year’s Jupiter retrograde point is at the 24-degree mark in the sign of Sagittarius for the first time since 1936 or 83 years. 

This point in the sky, as shown in the graphic representation, is above the tail and stinger of the Scorpion.  Jupiter will also be below the stars of Ophiuchus, the snake-bearer/healer.  This area is highly potent when it comes to creating one’s medicine from the process of working with poisons/toxins.  This is a transmission point for Jupiter to the collective in expanding our frontiers (Sagittarius) with a deepening knowledge of working with our primal selves.  This includes facing the pain of our own personal truth and acknowledging the medicines we need to live our emerging truth and identity.

The stars Shaula and Lasath make up the tip of the Scorpion’s tail and stinger.  This part of the constellation of the Scorpion is about the release of the poisons and injection of our medicine.  It is a high-energy stellar point and for a planet to be at a standstill (retrograde or direct), makes this area of the sky of vital importance. 

If a person has personal planets or points within 5 degrees of this part of the sky where Jupiter will be for several weeks, this becomes doubly important and part of an overall personal Jupiter initiation they are experiencing.

Jupiter itself (through the lens of Shamanic Astrology) is both an expansive planet and one that represents our vision quest path or path of spirituality (on our natal charts).  In a transit initiation, it is expanding all that it “touches”, creating an opportunity for a greater window into the issue, challenge or excitement at hand.

The Seven Jupiter Retrograde Points (in Sagittarius)

After seven full orbits, Jupiter comes back to the same part of the sky which covers 83 years of transiting the sky.  That means, in each sign Jupiter has seven points in which it goes retrograde and direct.  With an overlap of one (begin and end on the same point), it counts up to 83 times.  Covering a 400-year period, Jupiter stations retrograde at these seven points/degrees:

In the sign of Sagittarius

1959 – 2 degrees (stars of the head and claws: Acrab and Dscubba)

1971 – 6 degrees (between the head and heart, within 4 degrees of Antares)

1983 – 11 degrees (near the star Antares, heart of the Scorpion and Alniyat, part of the body)

1995 – 15 degrees (the star Larawag, Xmidimura, Pipirima all in the body of the Scorpion)

2007 – 20 degrees (the body of the Scorpion and Ophiuchus stars of Sabik and Rasalhague which are somewhat closer to this retrograde point than the 24-degree retrograde point of Jupiter)

2019 – 24 degrees (Tail and Stinger of the Scorpion – Shaula, Lasath and Sargas plus only 3 degrees from Galactic Center; one can also bring in the stars of Ophiuchus such as Sabik, the leg of the Serpent-Bearer and Rasalhague, the head of the Serpent-Bearer)

2031 – 29 degrees (Galactic Center at 27 degrees plus the December Solstice point at Zero Capricorn – one could include the stars of the stinger at those are only 5 degrees away.  In addition, two stars of the Archer Constellation are near – Alnasl, the tip of the arrow and Polis, the top of the Archer’s bow)

Jupiter progresses forward numerically in the sign from 2 degrees all the way to 29 degrees and back to 2 degrees 83 years later.  I’ve provided an illustration of the points shown over the period of 1710-2114.  One will notice that the points gradually move from left to right (from the 1700s to the 2100s).  This is due to nothing being static. 

The Earth has several forces acting upon it and this creates what is known as a wobble (like a spinning top) over a 26,000-year period.  The seasonal points “slide” across the sky and eventually overlay different constellations or points in the sky.  This is estimated at 1 degree every 72 years.   Over a 400-year period, this is roughly 5 ½ degrees of space.

When looking at the graphic, one can see the entire constellation covered in a 400-year period of time at the Jupiter retrograde points.  Over the centuries, the sign of Sagittarius will begin to overlay the Scales constellation as the seasonal points “precess.”

But over the 83-year period if taken beginning (of the 7 points of this current Jupiter Sagittarius cyclical period) in 1959 when Jupiter was at 2 degrees when it turned retrograde, the stars of the head and claws were activated.  In 1971, Jupiter stationed retrograde between the head and heart of the Scorpion and then in 1983, at 11 degrees Sagittarius, within 2 degrees of Antares, the heart of the Scorpion. 

At the 15-degree mark, the stars of the Scorpion’s body are activated (as it was in 1995), then the 20-degree mark in 2007 with a combination of Scorpion and Serpent-Bearer (Ophiuchus).

NOTE: Ophiuchus is not part of the traditional zodiacal constellations.  It also doesn’t represent any so-called, “13^th-Sign”, as the signs are seasonal and not based on the constellations.  Shamanic Astrology uses the tropical zodiac.

The 24-degree mark of the Jupiter retrograde is, as outlined above, noted for its tight conjunction with the stinger (or releasers) of the Scorpion and Ophiuchus stars of Sabik and Rasalhague (to learn more about the mythology of Rasalhague and Ophiuchus, read this powerful experience from Cayelin Castell).  The retrograde point also sits only 3 degrees from Galactic Center where the black hole at the center of the Milky Way resides.  Jupiter sits at about 24 degrees from March 26^th to April 26^th.  Jupiter returns to the 24-degree area in November and crosses the Galactic Center only once, also in November.

The emphasis of this 24-degree mark where Jupiter spends an entire month is a time where the raw and primal energies of creation are catalyzed and stirred up.  Jupiter, as an agent of expansion, will be opening up vistas that penetrate into the thin veneer of the rational and into the chaos of creation.  At the same time, the truth of our being is revealed as we long for enlightenment upon our life’s journey.  The intuition takes precedence over the rational mind in this transit.

Jupiter ends its transit through the sign of Sagittarius on December 2^nd and doesn’t return to this sign until October of 2030.  Several months later (in 2031), the planet stations retrograde at the 29-degree mark of Sagittarius.  That will be the first time since 1948 and will be closer to the Galactic Center position and the December Solstice or solar standstill (or Winter Solstice point in the Northern Hemisphere) point of zero degrees Capricorn. 

Out under the skies

As I write this, Jupiter is becoming more and more prominent in the early morning sky and slowly trending toward seeing the big planet in the late evening sky.  We are entering a special time to see Jupiter, especially in rural or more ideal dark conditions.  Jupiter is close to the Galactic Center and the second brightest planet at this time and gaining in brightness.

For those experiencing Jupiter in their lives in the form or initiations (planetary transits), this month is a perfect time to connect with the expansive planet.  For most of human history, the sky, stars, planets, Moon and Sun were part of how we experienced our lives and never separated as most of western culture (except in a scientific or cursory way).  Many are living most of their lives indoors day and night.  There is a general detachment from the sky, except when the weather acts up. 

We can re-establish our relationship with the sky and all that goes with it starting with not just stargazing but by understanding the what makes our relationship with the skies special.  The Earth and sky are intimately connected and when we step outside, especially away from the city, we can breathe it into our being.  We are part of the fabric that makes the planets and stars.  Astrology is about helping us understand our place in our journey and our journey on a broader cosmic level.  Tuning into Jupiter this year is one sliver of that understanding as we “stand under” the stars.