By Len Wallick
“We’re catching up.”
– Captain Jack Sparrow
Jupiter stations retrograde tomorrow morning shortly after 5:00 am EDT. The course of reversal will take place entirely in Taurus. Direct motion will resume just in time for Christmas. On the whole, planetary retrogrades have bad reputations which are not entirely deserved. This case is no exception. Between now and the end of the year we will best serve ourselves and others if we can remember two things. First, this is a chance for catching up. Finally, that Jupiter in a sign ruled by Venus is an opportunity to make good things happen.
Jupiter was upstaged when it entered Taurus back on June 4. At the time we had just entered a wormhole of sorts. On June 1 and July 1, two partial solar eclipses on two consecutive New Moons literally shadowed the ends of the Earth. In between, a total lunar eclipse kept the Full Moon red for nearly an entire night. In the course of it all, the Sun changed direction and sign, as did a host of planets. For many, the events of our lives followed suit. Many of us changed direction and place during that time and we are still in the process of getting our bearings. Jupiter took it in stride. Now, we will get a symbolic chance to catch up and do the same.
The most fundamental fact of retrogrades is that they are illusions. In reality, we are simply catching up. It’s like being in an automobile on a road parallel to a railroad track. At first your vehicle’s greater speed makes the train seem like it is slowing down to a standstill. Then, as you catch up, the train appears to be moving in reverse. Finally, as you are passing the train, the apparent backwards velocity dissipates.