Today is Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011. The Moon shifts from Virgo to Libra today at 2:25 pm EDT, crossing the autumnal equinox point, part of what is called the cardinal axis, mundane axis or Aries Point. Add to this the fact that Jupiter is stationing retrograde today just after 5:00 pm EDT, and it will be hard for you to miss the feeling of crossing an important turning point.
Humans have been telling stories seemingly forever. In every story there are always turning points, places where the energy shifts unexpectedly or moments where multiple story lines converge on a single point or person and everything suddenly becomes still. These are moments of potential clarity, where the meaning and direction of the whole story line both past and future can be defined. It is dramatic because these points usually call on the hero/ine to respond, and the tension of not knowing and waiting for the response is gripping. It captures our attention because the hero/ine is facing an initiation. Will they dig down deep and discover some new power with which to respond? Do they have allies to help them face this test? Are there previous lessons from a mentor figure they can call upon?
These are all questions that are potentially facing you in some area of your life now as Jupiter reaches a critical turning point. You are being called to an initiation. The challenge is to integrate and actualize the Jupiter and/or Taurus archetypes. How can you recognize these archetypes in your life? Jupiter is the Seeker and represents the urge for growth and exploration, often through travel or study. Taurus is about resources, both tangible resources like money and property as well as intangible resources such as confidence and self-esteem. Basically, Jupiter in Taurus stationing retrograde is telling you that you have much more of something than you think you do, but you need to go through an initiation in order to find it. This could involve educating yourself, and/or travel — both literal travel and the metaphorical inner or spiritual type of seeking.
As Len pointed out in his post yesterday, all retrograde motion is an illusion. Basically the Earth is much faster than Jupiter, and is beginning the process of catching and passing the gas giant. Metaphorically, when a planet changes direction in the sky, this means that our consciousness of that archetype is also changing direction. At the retrograde station we stop searching for the archetype outside of ourselves (via projection) and begin searching inside ourselves. In the case of Jupiter, this means we are now seeking for our “inner seeker!”
If you began studying astrology before the explosion of personal computers, the very first thing you had to do was learn to read an ephemeris, which is a book that is a collection of ephemerides — tables that track the ‘ephemeral’, or day-to-day, motion of the planets over the course of a month. In these ephemerides, certain days stand out right away because a planet will have an “R” or a “D” next to it, meaning that the planet is “stationing” or standing still before changing the course of its motion, either to retrograde or direct.
Intuitively, the implications are clear. Planetary stations are very important days, because they stand out. There are only two days in any given year when Jupiter will be stationary. The word planet means “wanderer” or wandering star. It is meant to distinguish the relatively “fixed” stars of the constellations from the ones that are primarily characterized by the quality of movement, the planets. For a planet to be motionless is basically contrary to its nature. It is stripped of its primary tendency, and for a little while it becomes still and more like a fixed star, which is to say eternal rather than ephemeral.
Extrapolating this further, you now have an opportunity to do the same thing. You can strip yourself of addictions, particularly the addiction to movement and/or shallow surface appearances, and get down to the eternal core of something. You may get a fleeting glimpse of this now as Jupiter stations, and over the next four months, while Jupiter is retrograde in Taurus, you are on a quest to dive down, find and integrate the pearls of your inner Seeker, Guru, Philosopher or Teacher. The knowledge you gain will lend a deep sense of self-worth and confidence.
By Gary Caton
Notice and choose: in fresh horoscopes weekly and twice monthly, the current sky speaks through your Sun and rising signs. Eric unfolds the themes in Planet Waves subscriber edition and Planet Waves Light so you can notice your patterns and choose consciously.
Hmmm…I find myself struggling with weight, especially challenging as I have historically always been slender and small, but now keep adding pounds to my middle which I hate. A loved one called this to my attention in a nasty way this past weekend. Taurus is on my fifth so over indulgence in food par for the course?
This is totally out of my realm of comfort…addiction to carbs, mindless snacking on unhealthy foods. I have such an aversion to this body image I am tempted to indulge in other addictions to get the weight off but “know better”. Then again, do I care?
Using a healthy approach to weight loss will take energy not readily available as this point. I see a very packed agenda (full plate?) before me for at least six more weeks before it seems I’ll have space to focus on my health with any concerted effort.
Any suggestions?
typos in the caption fixed — sorry about that! and i’ve added nicole’s link — do check out her photo stream.
what can i say? it was late and i was distracted by an editing debate and, well, i’m not fully convinced mercury is actually direct. 🙂
michele: i think i am going to consider adding those cusses to my repertoire.
no news from a mentor that i’ve noticed so far today, but i did have some interesting dreams…
OK. I laughed. How can I help it? Even in the throes of shit, Jupiter makes me laugh.
Funny. I watched a full season os Spartacus this weekend (I confess) with a dear brother. Most commonly used swear words: Jupiter’s cock and Juno’s cunt. I snorted and fell off the sofa each time.
We need more of that, I say.
LOVED that list.
thanks everybody.
after writing this, i got a call yesterday afternoon from my first astrology teacher. he publishes (jupiter) one of the best technical reference books available for astrologers (chock full of data -including “exotic” stuff like mid-points and declinations) and has just finished next years annual edition.
http://tomjeromeroma.net/
he also dabbles in commodities (taurus), and fyi, in the course of the convo he told me he thinks gold will continue to go up -way up
the most important thing he told me was not astrological but human. he said “never lose your sense of humor.”
then, in my e-mail this morning i get a message from another mentor figure, Stephen Poplin who is an astrologer/hypnotherapist in Europe. What was the great wisdom he imparted? -a list of jokes! in the spirit of honoring the jovial side of Jupiter, here they are:
Thotz 4 those who are more than ripe
1. Sometimes I’ll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you’re wrong.
3. I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.
4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.
5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
6. The first testicular guard, the “Cup,” was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.
7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
8. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
9. How many times is it appropriate to say “What?” before you just nod and smile because you still didn’t hear or understand a word they said?
10. Bad decisions make good stories.
11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren’t going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
Into the abyss! When a true initiation comes into play, I cannot think of anything as exciting and liberating. Hearing a confirming, reliable external voice offering reassurance is perfect and appreciated. Thank you Gary!
Medellin, ColOmbia (it’s a pet peeve…especially after you’ve been and gotten to know this special place.)
Hmmm. Interesting. That’s all happening square my natal Jupiter/Ascendent, all grinding over my North Node. I would say initiation is in order. No shit.
This was especially poignant to me: Are there previous lessons from a mentor figure they can call upon?
There was a woman, a university prof, who has been on my mind lately. She died just as I was moving up to the north 13 years ago. She was incredibly direct in her comments to me, keeping in mind I was a little star in university. She wasn’t having any of my charm. Or my intellectual bullshit. She brought my charming brain right down to reality. We became friends in the last months. I miss her and wish I still had her in my life. Kay was magic with her brain. So fucking real. (Excuse my language.)
Perhaps I will dream of her.
Thanks for this. Much needed.
Gary,
Thank you. This piece has a sense of peace and beauty like a poem from a dream. A gosh darn heroic effort.
It’s Tuesday, August 30. 2011. I think. Then again, time is moving faster. Maybe it still is Monday. Or it could be Wednesday. Doesn’t matter.
Addiction to movement…
Things learned while at the Hesychia School at the Desert Renewal Center in Cortaro AZ from Tom Santa and Pat Hawk Roshi : Embrace the silence. Turn off the car radio. Turn off the television that is just so much audio wallpaper. Listen to the silence (which really isn’t silent). I am a human being, not a human doing. Be still. Be.
Thank you for the reminder, Gary, to recall lessons learned but not always practiced.
JannKinz