There’s a story in this months MindFood magazine about adventurer Jamie Fitzgerald.

Jamie and Kevin Biggar were in this 5000km transatlantic rowing race in 2003 (I know, the “why” question occurred to me too…) when they got caught in a storm.

This was one of those storms with massive waves and head winds, so they had just 2 choices- drop anchor and conserve energy or keep rowing. Given that this was, after all, a rowing race, they decided to keep rowing.

For 42 hours they made painfully slow progress- just half a kilometre. Completely disheartened, once the storm had passed, they called their support team on one of those cool satellite phones- everyone else had dropped anchor and had drifted backwards. Despite covering just 500m, Fitzgerald and Biggar were about 48kms in front.

I have no idea regarding his birth details, and it doesn’t really matter- my point is around retrogrades- Jupiter retrograde in specific…

But what does a rowing race have to do with Jupiter?

Easy- during the retrogrades, we often stop. Forward motion is frustratingly snail paced- very often there is no forward motion. During a Jupiter retrograde, very often what is promised is never delivered- you get close, but don’t quite grab the prize. So we drop anchor until the waters are calmer, the storm has passed and the astro weather conditions are more conducive to success.

The thing is, when we do this, we are behind everyone else once the weather changes and the planet turns direct.

So it is with Jupiter- if you’ve used the last few months wisely, if you’ve kept rowing, you’ll be in the position of being able to move forward with more impetus once Jupiter turns direct. After all- if you’ve been rowing through the storm, you already have more impetus than those who dropped anchor, have to start from a stopped position, and then need to make up lost ground.

I’ve spent the Jupiter retrograde period writing the first draft of a new manuscript and re-writing the original. It’s been a rewarding time, but has also been frustrating- progress, especially in the re-write, has been slow and I’ve doubted myself a lot.

Jupiter is now almost at his station position and will be direct in just a few days.

When Jupiter is at station, the affairs of the house he is transiting are intensified. When Jupiter stations at, or in aspect to, a personal planet or chart point, the affairs of that point are expanded. This is also the case if that station point triggers or sets off a natal aspect. Stationing Jupiter will intensify what is already promised in the natal chart.

As an example, Jupiter at 6 Gemini, forms a square to natal Mercury (at 6 Pisces) in my chart and sets off the Mercury/Mars trine in my chart.

(When looking at this in your own chart, use a super tight orb- no more than a degree…)

The bad news is, if you have difficulties with that aspect, you will find the few days of the station more difficult. If, however, the aspect is an “easy” one, you may find the period of the station to be very fortunate.

Once Jupiter turns direct, it will take another few months for him to re-trace his steps. This is the “shadow” period and it will last until the end of April. So, while things will improve from Wednesday, it’s at this point that the full potential promised in September and October last year will be delivered…if you kept rowing…

Oh, and Fitzgerald and Biggar? They won that race.

Jupiter is currently crawling towards the point at which he’ll station direct.

It’s painfully slow. Painfully. He’s covered only about 40 minutes of orb since hitting the stationing degree- 6 Gemini.

I find all Jupiter retrogrades tough- I’ve written about that one before. But this one has seemed interminable.

It’s also been very much about me.

The retrograde station point at 16 Gemini 22’, was square my Ascendant (16 Pisces 29’).  It happened just as I was coming to terms with going to work for someone else, and my idea that I was compromising all of my creative plans in the process.

It hasn’t worked out like that.

Instead, I’ve learned a lot about things I didn’t know. I’ve widened my acquaintance to include other creative types in the world of design and marketing, I’ve pumped out the first draft of a manuscript, and I’ve earned enough money to get us over the Christmas hump and to even things out financially for us. More importantly, I’ve learned just how badly I want to do what I want to do. That’s the challenge and the potential of the square.

Jupiter is now less that a week from turning direct. The station point 6 Gemini 19’ is just 1 minute of orb from being exactly square my natal Mercury. Yep, to the minute.

My contract ended this week, and from next Wednesday I’m officially back building my business.

This station has been hard though.

I’m working on the re-write for my first chick lit manuscript- which is going to be published this year (Universe- I’m sending the message out…). I’d set myself a self imposed deadline, and it’s been going well. On the whole, I agree with all of my editors suggestions, and am incorporating them into the re-write. It’s definitely working better. He’s picked up on the details that I’ve overlooked.

I’ve kept at the forefront of my mind advice from a fellow writer that she’s seen many come unstuck because they haven’t listened to their editors and have doggedly kept in storylines that don’t work.

I’ve had an element of that too. I’ve written in scenes that at the time I was pretty chuffed with, only for him to say that it reads well, but does nothing to move the story ahead. On reflection, he was right.

One of the messages of Jupiter square Mercury is to examine ideas closely and see just how well they do hold up to an argument- this is the best time to change a stubbornly held viewpoint…if it needs to be changed.

It’s like the Universe, with this station point, is asking me whether I’m really sure that I’ve done that.

Like when Mr T went round and round a roundabout in Yorkshire. I’d given him the direction to go left, but as everyone else was going right, he was giving me the opportunity to change my mind. I stuck with left- and I was right.

The thing about retrogrades is that we aren’t going backwards, we’re just being asked to look at a situation differently. We’re being asked to put a new spin on a situation, look at details that might otherwise be overlooked, change your perspective- if it needs changing.

That occurred to me the other day as well.

My two words for the year are up  and yes.

I already say yes to a lot- way too much. I say yes to things I don’t want to do. This year though, I want others to say yes to me. The lightbulb moment? For people to say yes to you, you have to ask them first…and I rarely ask anyone for anything- I’m too afraid of hearing no.

My 12^th house natally retrograde Pisces Mercury (the 2^nd worst Mercury in history- my mates is worse cos he’s got Saturn conjunct retrograde Mercury in Pisces in the 12^th house) operates inwardly rather than outwardly. This is a perfect placement for a writer, but not so good for a writer that wants to be published. The thing is, no one is going to come and tap me on the shoulder and say they’ve heard how amazing I am- if I don’t tell them.

This retrograde has been all about the realisation that I have to get out there, I have to get out of the 12^th house, and I have to risk rejection- over and over and over again. I have to risk a no to get a yes.

My natal Jupiter is in the 5^th house (trine Neptune)- if anyone knows about odds and is happy to take a risk, it should be me. And the odds of getting a yes will be improved with every person I ask.

Jupiter is stationary and will be retrograde by late Thursday (Sydney time) until the end of January 2013. Heavy sighs from this fishie.

Jupiter is generally so optimistic, exuberant and dream/ ideal/ future driven. Nobody can keep up this pace forever, so when he turns retrograde, he does so for a few months at a time. And when Jupiter turns retrograde, the expansion… stops. Just like that.

When I say expansion stops, that’s actually not strictly correct…it turns inward. Given that Jupiters natural direction is to push out, the retrograde is not at all comfortable.

Good if you are planning a diet but not so great if you are in the middle of a project. Things that seemed to be sure may just stop. Physical energy may just dry up- especially if, like me, Jupiter rules your first house. Optimism and faith may falter. It can be like having a great big Jupiter 12^th house transit…and for more on that one, check out Watch Me Come Undone.

This is especially true if Jupiter is strong in your chart- as it is in mine. Not only does Jupiter rule my Ascendant (ie Chart Ruler), he also rules my 10^th house (career zone) and touches pretty well every other planet in my chart.

Generally speaking, in my case, my wings tend to be clipped and if I am going to feel less than exuberant (in mood or in health), now is the time.

This particular retrograde coincides with me going back to work (part time) for someone else after nearly a year of relative corporate freedom. Whilst my personal career goals are having the brakes applied (at least for now), boundaries are being put back in place, which for me isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I’ve put on a shitload of weight over the last 9 months so some external structure is absolutely necessary. I’m also starting to have a few doubts.

Jupiter has a habit of removing those things from your life that you think you need, but actually are doing you no good at all. But with Jupiter, there is no maliciousness- anything you lose now, or anything that stops or falters now is simply not necessary to your growth and will usually be for the best.

In my case, whilst I love the freedom I’ve had over the last 9 months, it’s not doing me a whole lot of good- I haven’t used it as wisely as I perhaps should’ve.

And that’s how we should look at Jupiter retrograde. It’s a chance to slow down, a chance to renew your faith, a chance to make sure that things are right before they’re pushed out into the world. Once Jupiter turns direct you will need to take a leap into the unknown, so faith is important.

For me, this has come at the right time. My book is now ready to send out into the world, or at least to go in search of a publisher- this was the goal that I had to reach before going back to paid work.

The retrograde though, is asking me to look carefully at it- is it as polished as it can be? Do I need to develop a marketing plan for potential publishers? How can I present it as professionally as I need to?

Jupiter also represents integrity and honesty, so the retrograde period is a great time to look objectively and realistically at what you are doing. Are you really investing enough of yourself in what is important? What do you do out of fear or because it is expected of you? How do these actions impinge on your real life goals and where you are meant to be? Have you stopped believing? Are you dwelling too much on coulda woulda shoulda?

This retrograde will have Jupiter back-tracking 10 degrees back to 6 Gemini. The key points of this transit are at the station points ie 16 Gemini and 6 Gemini, so if you have planets or chart points here, check out what else may be raised as the station will magnify the impact of any natal patterns already in you chart. The affairs of the house Jupiter is transiting and, in particular stationing, is exaggerated.

Look also at the houses that Jupiter rules in your chart- those houses with either Sagittarius or Pisces on the cusp- these areas of your life will feel the Jupiter influence the most.

For me this retrograde will cross back across the 4^th house cusp and into the 3^rd. Getting the house and the words in order sounds about right for me. I have some painting and DIY patching planned. I also have some extensive editing to do.

Oh, and another warning. During the retrograde period, everything should come with a “don’t count your chickens before they hatch” proviso- what is promised during this period may never actually happen. So that sure thing may not be quite as sure as you think it is. Depending on what it is, that can be good or bad!

So, what to do? Look inward and be honest with yourself. Now is not the time to embark on any activity that requires material expansion- unless it is a new charity or spiritual retreat or something that is of a higher purpose, so to speak. Whatever you do this Jupiter retrograde- don’t stop thinking about tomorrow…it’ll soon be here and it will be better than before, so don’t you look back!

If you wake up and don’t want to smile,
If it takes just a little while,
Open your eyes and look at the day,
You’ll see things in a different way.

Don’t stop, thinking about tomorrow,
Don’t stop, it’ll soon be here,
It’ll be, better than before,
Yesterday’s gone, yesterday’s gone.

Don’t you look back,
Don’t you look back.

Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow, by Fleetwood Mac

Check out Dare to Dream for general information regarding Jupiter transits.

Tomorrow Jupiter moves out of Taurus and into Gemini.

For those of us who are heavily influenced by the moods of Jupiter (take the test on Donna Cunningham’s site- links are here) this may be an opportunity to broaden the mind rather than the hips…yes, that did come out loud.

I have struggled with motivation and mojo over this last 12 months or so. It has seemed easy to wait and see what happens than go out and fight for it. That’s very Taurus for me.

Thinking about it, and after looking through all the other Jupiter posts (check out the Jupiter tab at the top of the page) my busiest years, most productive years, and best diet years have been when Jupiter has been transiting the 4^th and 10^th houses. Why? Because he has been squaring all (well virtually all) of my personal planets. I am challenged. It’s like the Universe has been to Bali and brought me back one of those t-shirts that says “Go to Bunnings, buy some cement and harden the fuck up!”

Jupiter is very well integrated in my natal chart. At 24 Cancer, in the 5^th house, he trines my Ascendant, Sun, Moon and Neptune. Jupiter is easy on me. He trines (by sign) Mars and Mercury, and sextiles Uranus and Pluto.

The only challenging aspect is the relationship with Venus (an over-indulging square). With everything else so easy, the over-indulging also is easily justified.

So when Jupiter is in Gemini or Sagittarius he is actually forming tough aspects to each of these planets. It pushes me out of my comfort zone. And with a chart full of easy aspects, that is actually a very good thing.

Anyway, in a way it feels a little like the last splurge before the diet. And with the Moon in Pisces, that may be very well what you are feeling like doing.

I’ve been on a bit of a slow cooking adventure over the weekend following a visit to the local Farmers Market on Saturday morning. The weather here has been perfect for it with the rain bucketing down here in Sydney. If you want to check out one of the recipes, head on over to the and anyways page.

The other day I posted a quick comment about Jupiter’s impending ingress into Gemini on the Facebook page for this blog.

(Ingress is just a fancy pantsy technical name us astrologers use when we want to impress people- that essentially means a planet is changing signs).

Jupiter spends around 12 months or so (depending on retrograde- another fancy pantsy technical word- periods) in each sign, so travels around the entire zodiac every 12 years. For some reason this past 12 months or so in Taurus has seemed longer than the previous 12 months or so in Aries.

For all those people who have taken the more is more and abundance is wonderful attitude of Jupiter in Taurus, and translated that literally into weight gain (yep, my hand is in the air), Jupiter in Gemini is generally a “skinnier” transit. And yes, if you are heavily influenced by Jupiter, this does make a difference (although given that is a chapter in the book I am writing, I won’t give the ending away here…).

Anyways, the other day in the comment I posted on the FB page, I mentioned that Jupiter in Gemini is traditionally in the sign of its detriment. Immediately readers who have Jupiter in Gemini were quick to jump on and say that they disagreed with the whole “detriment” thing.

Personally I don’t like the word “detriment” (when a planet is in the sign opposite to that it rules) or “fall” (when a planet is in a sign opposite to where it is exalted). Both words imply something bad or weak. In a horary chart it is an extremely important distinction, but in a natal chart?

To me, the term “detriment” when used in a natal chart, indicates that the planet is operating in a different mode to that it specialises in, or is comfortable in.  Not bad, but different.

Having said that, when a planet in a horary chart is in detriment of fall and it signifies what you are asking about, it usually is absolutely not good… It also makes a heap of difference in regards to financial astrology, but we’re not going there right now.

In the case of Jupiter, the planet of faith, expansion and opportunity is moving into a sign that is all about thinking, curiosity, and communication. Too much thinking, too much curiosity and too much exchange of ideas messes with optimism and faith…but that is not necessarily a bad thing.

When you have Jupiter in Gemini you seek to expand your own horizons through learning…about everything, by talking…to everyone, and by thinking…about all possibilities.

With Jupiter in Gemini, optimism is not blind, it is proven by detail, the meaning of life is coloured by your wide ranging interests, and your faith is in rationality and logic.

In his book Exploring Jupiter, Stephen Arroyo illustrates the point against the detriment argument by using the examples of Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle, Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell. In the case of each, details were seamlessly melded together to create a larger work. Jupiter in Sagittarius or Pisces(the signs he rules) can’t be faffed with details- it’s the big picture or the horizon that counts.

Another side of Jupiter in Gemini is how people with this placement can usually find a reason not to believe in something- that is until it has been proven with supporting discussions. Jupiter in Virgo (also in its detriment) is the same…In contrast, in the signs that Jupiter rules, Sagittarius and Pisces, belief and hope is usually unquestioning- and that isn’t necessarily a good thing either.

With Jupiter in Gemini, you will most likely have the gift of the gab, a completely open mind and a bottomless well of curiosity. Why accept something purporting itself to be a fact when you can ask “why”…or a series of “whys”?

Jupiter in Sagittarius can be so caught up in a belief system that they close their minds to other possibilities. Jupiter in Gemini is exactly the opposite- willing to not only listen to, but actively consider different viewpoints. This is the key to their self expansion/ self improvement.

Jupiter in Sagittarius can preach. Jupiter in Gemini listens and chats. Get the idea?