The
May 2009 Alignment:
Jupiter's
Role (Part 3)
by Pam Younghans
Continued from Part 2:
May 2009 Alignment: Chiron in Aquarius
 (*Just
a reminder that this article, while containing information that may
be useful for everyone, is written specifically for those who have Pluto
positioned between 25 and 27 degrees of Leo in their birth charts. This
includes those born between Sep. 1954 and
Feb. 1955, between July and Sept. 1955, and between Feb. and Aug.
1956. The
Neptune-Chiron-Jupiter conjunction in May 2009 will be within 2 degrees of
being exactly opposite these people's natal Pluto.)
Jupiter, the third participant in our May 2009
Alignment, is the largest known planet in our solar system. Astrologically, Jupiter's
basic impact in any planetary alignment is in accordance with his size - that
is, he usually serves to amplify whatever he touches.
Jupiter's involvement in the May 2009 alignment with
Neptune and Chiron will at the very least increase our awareness of the
energies and issues being stirred. It means that it will be that much more
difficult for us to ignore the primary directives of the alignment, as already
discussed in the first two parts of this article.
But we can also explore
what Jupiter represents independent of the alignment, what his presence in
Aquarius might indicate and how else this vast planet's involvement might add
to the mix of energies.
Intentions of Hope and Faith
It is easy to grasp Jupiter's larger meanings when we
look at the mythological source of his name. Jupiter, or Jove, was the Roman
equivalent of the Grecian deity Zeus, the king of the gods. In this role,
Jupiter had supreme power and the ability to bestow great gifts - and to mete
out equally great punishments when he felt disrespected. But whatever Jupiter
did, he did in grand style, personifying the impressive size of his planetary
namesake.
When I think of this face of Jupiter, I think of the
Ghost of Christmas Past in Dickens' story A
Christmas Carol - especially as portrayed in the musical movie version with
Albert Finney as Scrooge. The word "ghost" doesn't seem quite appropriate for
this interpretation of the character, so in touch with physical pleasures and
eager to enjoy the feasts of the holiday.
Astrological Jupiter, like this particular Ghost of
Christmas Past, is bigger than life, generous, and hopeful about the future.
The word "jovial" is derived from Jupiter's alternate name, and describes his
influence well.
From this perspective, the addition of Jupiter to our
May 2009 alignment could be very positive. With Jupiter's energetic contribution,
we may expect for our overriding interpretation of whatever occurs at this time
to be hopeful. Jupiter's involvement means that we will be enabled to feel more
optimistic than usual about the potential outcomes.
Adding to this positive perspective on Jupiter is the
fact that, as each planet is associated with at least one zodiac sign, Jupiter
is known as the "ruler" of Sagittarius - easily the most fun-loving, carefree
sign of the zodiac, and yet also known for its need to build a sense of faith
and meaning in life.
Astrologer Clare Martin offers her perspective on this
aspect of Jupiter's astrological profile:
"As the planet of faith, Jupiter describes our belief system,
our philosophy and our sense of what makes life worth living, indicating where
we seek to grow, to expand and find meaning in our lives. Jupiter describes our
sense of abundance and our spiritual wellbeing."
This side of Jupiter's
influence gives us reason to think that if this alignment truly does mark the
beginning of a new direction and purpose - especially for those whose natal
Pluto is involved - then this new mission is likely to be something we can
truly and deeply believe in, feel inspired by, and happily devote significant
attention and energy to.
The "Down" Side
There is, of course, a potential for the negative side
of any energy to manifest, even when it is innately positive. It's hard to
imagine a "bad" Santa Claus, and yet we are all aware of times when too much - even
of a good thing - is just too much. We're all familiar with the queasy-stomach
feeling of having eaten too many sweets or the discomfort with having spoken
too freely.
Jupiter's possible "down" side is in not knowing when
enough is enough, either in our energy expenditure or in the enthusiastic explanation
of our beliefs. It may be harder than usual with this alignment to set limits
on the sharing of what we know to be true, not realizing that to emphatically tell
someone who holds conflicting beliefs that we "know" something is true can be the
quickest road to relationship deterioration - and to the dismantling of the
very community we are trying to create.
Because of his association with belief systems and
religions, Jupiter can contribute judgmental attitudes just as easily as
acceptance. This is another way that "too much is too much," and how we'll need
to watch where we're stepping as this alignment strengthens. Another's toes may
easily be right where we are about to tread.
For successful navigation of this alignment, we must
learn to temper our enthusiasm with awareness and respect of another's
perspective. Self confidence is a vital tool when in the position of guiding or
coaching others, but self-observation is equally important to prevent ourselves
from becoming patronizing, boastful, or arrogant.
At the same time, we must
be careful not to become so flexible that we end up standing for nothing.
Balance, awareness, and commitment are key.
Jupiter in Aquarius
Just like Neptune and Chiron, Jupiter will of course be
in the sign of Aquarius at the time of the May 2009 alignment. Jupiter spends
about 12 months in each sign, and last visited Aquarius from January 21, 1997 to
February 4, 1998. This time around, Jupiter will enter Aquarius on January 5,
2009.
(Note: Jupiter
was in Aquarius in 1961, when John Kennedy became U.S. president and Barack
Obama was born. Obama's Jupiter Return is exact on January 9, 2009.)
As we discussed previously, Aquarius is a known for
its humanitarian perspective, and at its best always sees that "the whole is
greater than the sum of its parts." When Jupiter in Aquarius is at work, we see
an increased belief in community and participation, an enthusiasm for reform
and technological advancement, and an inspired vision and faith in the future.
Weaving these qualities of Jupiter in Aquarius into
the tapestry of the Neptune-Chiron alignment indicates that our desire to make
a positive difference in the world will be amplified throughout 2009 - and that
this inspiration will be based in our individual spiritual experience (Neptune
in Aquarius) and focused with the intention of healing the wounds of separation
(Chiron in Aquarius).
While we will certainly benefit from Jupiter's ability
to amplify our ability to conceptualize an ideal, we are cautioned not to get
so caught up in the vision that we neglect to take care of practicalities.
We've all seen people, ourselves included, who have incredible dreams that
never quite manifest. Since Aquarius is an air sign, our ideas may tend to stay
in the mental plane instead of making it to physical form. This lack of
grounding may be one of the more difficult hurdles of this alignment.
It is no doubt fortunate that Saturn will still be in
Virgo, a practical, reality-based earth sign, throughout much of 2009. We'll
all need to draw on Saturn aspects to our charts to help us create the forms
that embody our ideals.
It's time now to explore
the individual components of Jupiter's involvement in the May 2009 alignment. As before, I will include interpretations from other
astrologers of various planetary combinations, in search of insights that might
inform us of the possibilities contained in the alignment.
Transiting Jupiter conjunct Transiting Neptune
Since Jupiter amplifies the energies of other planets,
we can assume that as Jupiter and Neptune conjoin, the spiritual,
transcendental effects of Neptune will be enhanced. Neptune in Aquarius is
dissolving the boundaries between peoples, as well as lifting the veil between
dimensions. Neptune also represents the energy of the high heart, which is the
link of compassion that connects us to one another. It will be intriguing to
see just how far we can take these possibilities, especially under the
expansive influence of Jupiter and the healing directive of Chiron.
Astrologer Robert Hand writes about a natal Neptune-Jupiter
conjunction in his book Planets in Youth:
"Your ideals are very high, and you are a
bit of a dreamer who sees visions of a more pleasant and beautiful world than
this one. Also you are an optimist, believing that somehow everything in your
life will work out just fine. In fact, no matter how often matters go badly, it
does not seem to disturb you. This has the positive value of helping you stay
cheerful in the face of adversity, but it can also result in being blind to the
need for change in your life. You may delude yourself that a situation is
marvelous, when actually it is not.
"On a higher level, this aspect can
indicate a strong concern with spirituality and religion. You need to believe
in some higher power in the universe that relates to your live and gives it
meaning... this belief can blossom into quite a beautiful trait of being very
loving, generous and compassionate to everyone. Also you may have a strong
mystical streak, a desire to be personally close to God."
While these paragraphs are describing an individual who has a
Neptune-Jupiter conjunction in their natal chart, it gives us a good idea of what
traits the combination of these two planets can emphasize: idealism,
compassion, spirituality - but perhaps not a great deal of grounded realism.
Transiting Jupiter conjunct Transiting Chiron
Jupiter's alignment with Chiron will have a similar
effect of amplification, but this combination means we are likely to be
increasingly aware of both the "gift of connection" and the "gift of aloneness"
that astrologer Martin Lass describes in his interpretation of Chiron in
Aquarius. This conjunction holds the potential for an enhanced understanding of
the wounds that keep us separate from each other - and as we embrace that
understanding, we may also take major steps in healing our separation from
Spirit.
Here in his words are some thoughts about the
possibilities of a Jupiter-Chiron conjunction:
"The healing path [of
Chiron-Jupiter] reawakens us to the innocence and childlike wisdom of the Inner
Child. It takes us back to the joie de vivre that we tend to lose as we grow up. It reminds us that life
is an adventure, full of magic, mystery, and magnificence... Chiron-Jupiter
aspects are extremely powerful in their potential to awaken us to our wounds
and to reveal our wounds' inner wisdom. In this way, Jupiter gives us our first
glimpse of the guiding hand in our lives.
"This aspect represents the potential
marriage of healing and wisdom acquired by delving into our wounds and issues and seeing
the hidden plan that lies behind them... With this aspect, the adventure of our
lives is the journey of healing and evolution of consciousness, whichever form
that adventure may take. That journey will tend to be larger than life and rich
in content, with our gifts on display to the world as an inspiration and
testament to the possibility of healing and evolution of consciousness."
The duality of any Chiron
experience is clear in this interpretation, where we simultaneously "awaken to
our wounds and reveal our wounds' inner wisdom." To have this energy amplified
through Jupiter's influence means that both sides of the equation - the wound
and the healing - are likely to be very apparent. Keeping in mind that the
purpose of all this is "the journey of healing and evolution of consciousness"
will be a helpful means of staying on track.
Astrologer Rob Hand
shares another perspective of how Jupiter-Chiron energies combine:
"This
influence will enable you to reach a deeper understanding of illness and
health, as well as the process of division and becoming whole again. If your
work involves helping others, you will have new opportunities to get a sense of
that which lies behind human suffering. It is important when dealing with
incurable diseases to see them within a wider context, which can help us accept
them and cope with greater dignity. Don't allow chances to slip by which could
deepen your education on these issues.
"That
which applies to the physical also applies to the psychological, where
long-standing pain can continue to influence us, causing us to feel insecure,
fearful, inadequate, ashamed or vulnerable. The deeper purpose underlying such
forms of suffering can be understood only on an individual level. This is a
particularly good time to start a course or begin some kind of training
concerned with such issues, or to undergo an appropriate form of therapy.
"It
is important to understand that you will only be able to help yourself and
others if you can admit that you also need help. Try not to fall into the trap
of feeling superior if others confide in you - even if you are making great
strides in your personal development. It is only by not losing sight of your
own need for help that you will truly be able to help others to understand and
accept themselves."
Astrologer
Melanie Reinhart offers additional insights and cautions:
"With
Jupiter in aspect to Chiron, we could experience quests, journeys, and
pilgrimages that are immensely productive of healing and inner growth. The
crucial factor is our willingness to reflect deeply on our experiences, to
balance our expansion with enough stillness and introversion where some inner
synthesis can be reached. If we let Chiron/Jupiter run away with us, we are in
danger of leaving a trail of unprocessed life-experience behind us, becoming
ungrounded and losing our humanity.
"With
Chiron/Jupiter, we have an astonishing ability to bounce back from illnesses,
personal tragedies and crises of faith. We tend to overdo things and to
experience the extraordinary. We are very alive to the archetypal level of life
in these areas, but sometimes also prone to excess, fanaticism and messianism...
"Our intuition is
strong, and we may have intimations of the future but also have difficulty
bringing these possibilities or lofty ideas into form... Through acknowledging
our deep need for an inner source of wisdom and guidance for ourselves, we can
perhaps eventually relinquish these extremes and find the Inner Teacher
speaking quietly within."
It is clear that with Jupiter and Chiron aligned, there are tremendous
opportunities for us both to develop our healing gifts and to make significant
progress on our personal spiritual path - but along the way, we must also take
care of our own wounds and fears as they arise, and not allow the hubris of
Jupiter or the illusory influence of Neptune to inhibit our efforts.
Transiting Jupiter opposite Natal Pluto
Now we turn to the aspect
that pertains specifically to those whose birthdates are listed at the
beginning of this article, who have Pluto positioned between 25 and
27 degrees of Leo in their birth charts. This includes most of those born in
the two-year period from late summer 1954 to late summer 1956.
Because Jupiter repeats
transits every 12 years, we can review times when Jupiter already opposed our
natal Pluto, to find events that are similarly a part of the Jupiter cycle in
our charts. For those of us in this group, those oppositions occurred in the
springs of 1997, 1985, 1973 and 1961.
In theory, Jupiter opposite
Pluto would amplify, through our experiences with others, our current level of
empowerment and moral maturity, as well as how comfortable or uncomfortable we
are with the role of leader. In your own memories of these dates, see where and
how you made changes in how you pursued your goals and dreams, and how those
changes then contributed to the ongoing expansion of your personal power and
understanding of your life mission.
One more quote from Rob Hand,
this time describing transiting Jupiter opposite natal Pluto:
"This transit can
represent the culmination of a long drive for success or power. However, it is
very important that you proceed with caution, because the forces opposing you
are likely to be strong, unless you make a special effort to placate them. This
can be a time when you get a promotion in your work or gain power in some other
way to change and affect the lives of those around you. But it can also be a
time when all your efforts come to nothing, and you find yourself losing out in
a perpetual war with people in power.
"Sometimes this transit
can stimulate a rather ruthless desire to get ahead. Most of us are tempted to
cut corners, but that can have very unfortunate consequences. In fact you
should do as little as possible to arouse the authorities against you, because
this transit is so likely to create just that problem.
"Another problem can be
obsessive or fanatical behavior, feeling that you alone are right about some
matter to the point that you are unwilling to hear any other point of view.
Avoid becoming totally convinced of your own righteousness, and do not try to
force your own views upon others. Your ideas may in fact be quite good, but
your problem comes from the style you would be likely to use. You must try to
be open to other points of view and be able to compromise.
"You can avoid the negative side of this
transit if you have built up your affairs carefully and enlisted the aid of
others in your efforts, making them understand that you are also working for
their interest. And even if you are encountering the negative effects, it is
not too late to enlist other people's aid. You may have to enlarge your
personal goals to encompass a group's goals, but it can be done."
Conclusion
My inspiration for these articles began as I was
reviewing my personal transits for 2009 and saw the grouping of Neptune, Chiron
and Jupiter at a time when their influence was already strong (being close to
their retrograde dates), and when all three were opposing my natal Pluto. I
started to ponder the fact that there would be a sizable group of those who
would be experiencing this influence at the same time, since we have Pluto at
just about the same degree of Leo in our birth charts. The potential impact
seemed worth exploring, especially in light of the energetic shifts occurring
on the planet, which are already pushing us to expand our awareness and fulfill
our higher purpose.
What stands out to me as I consider this alignment,
and its influence on our natal Pluto, is the imperative for those with
awareness both to attend to their own healing and to develop their healing
abilities, allowing them to be known to others. The potential exists for a
major spiritual shift to occur during 2009 - and for those of us with natal
Pluto from 24 to 28 degrees Leo, there is the added pressure on us to claim or
expand our life's mission. The directive seems to be that it is time to become
the empowered healers we are meant to be - for ourselves, for others and for
the planet.
In astrological prediction, the actual experience is usually
similar to, but also different from the anticipated, especially when the outer
planets are involved. The intention of the transpersonal planets (Uranus,
Neptune and Pluto) is always to expand our awareness and to move us beyond what
we have already known - so by definition we cannot know for sure what their
influence will bring.
The essence of the lesson and potential growth is
where we focus most successfully, and we gain that knowledge through exploring
the meanings of the signs and planets involved. It will no doubt be helpful to
keep in mind that since the alignment we've been discussing is in Aquarius -
the sign associated with cutting-edge philosophies and mind-expanding
experiences - we will need to be flexible and openminded as we head into the energies
of this planetary combination.
As always, there will be a broad range of responses to
the energetic vortex created through this alignment. Some will utilize the
influence well, others will flounder and be confused, still others will
seemingly not be affected. The individual's choice is foremost and not to be
judged, and no one's future is written in stone.
We also need to keep in mind that this alignment is
not the only important influence in 2009. All of us will be affected at the
same time by the Saturn-Uranus opposition (exact five times: November 4, 2008; February 5 and September 15, 2009;
and April 26 and July 26, 2010). Depending on the placement of planets in our
individual charts, this alternate influence may change our experience and
redirect our attention, and even seem to negate the influence of the alignment
we've been discussing. Or, we may be affected by a transit from Pluto as he
treks through the first degrees of Capricorn - again depending on where our
natal planets are located.
Variations on the themes considered in these articles
will also depend on where Pluto is by house in our individual birth charts. For
instance, if Pluto is in the natal tenth house, we would expect more visible,
career-oriented effects; if Pluto is in the natal seventh house, the effect
might be felt most tangibly within committed relationships such as marriage;
and so on. (Please see the "Houses" page on my Web site for an explanation of
house meanings.)
As we look forward and move into the energies of this
alignment, it is most important that we realize that with each day, we are
becoming more than we were the day before. Time is moving more quickly, and we
are packing incredible growth into every minute. However the energies manifest,
we will have the skills and insights to utilize them to their best effect.
We are poised for important spiritual and social advancements
through this alignment of Neptune, Chiron and Jupiter - and those of us with
natal Pluto affected have even greater responsibility to use these energies consciously
and wisely.
Pam
Younghans, September
2008
References:
Robert Hand, Astrodienst
Web Site (www.astro.com).
Robert Hand, Planets
in Transit (Para Research, Inc., 1976).
Robert Hand, Planets
in Youth (Para Research, Inc., 1977).
Martin Lass, Chiron:
Healing Body & Soul (Llewellyn Publications, 2005).
Clare Martin, Mapping
the Psyche (CPA Press, London, 2005). Quoted on the Astrodienst Web site
(www.astro.com).
Melanie Reinhart, Chiron
and the Healing Journey: An Astrological and Psychological Perspective (Arkana
Penguin Books USA Inc., 1976).
Recommended book:
Stepping Into the New Reality
by Karen Bishop.
Info/Order this book.
 About the Author
Pam Younghans lives near Seattle, Washington with her husband and their
two dogs. She has been interpreting charts professionally for over 20
years. If you have comments or questions about this Journal or are
interested in an astrology reading, visit Pam's Web site at http://www.northpointastrology.com. or call 425-445-3775.
Pam is the author of the weekly astrology journal in InnerSelf.
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