A Blessing in Disguise: Jupiter Retrograde in Sagittarius 2019

On April 10, 2019, Jupiter will station retrograde at 24'21 degrees of Sagittarius, it's ruling sign. The retrograde period will last for four months until August 11 when it will station direct at 14'30 degrees.

What does it mean for Jupiter to be in retrograde?

A retrograde planet is a planet that appears to be moving backwards. All planets go retrograde at some point, save for the Sun and the Moon. From an astrological perspective, this means that the energies the planet represents are directed backward or inward.

As I wrote here, retrograde periods are known to be riddled with delays and disruption, but they don't necessarily have to be. These periods are not so much a time for action as they are for reflection. These periods are often loaded with synchronicity and karma. So, they can also be periods of magic and manifestation if you just focus on within rather than without. Things from the past will return to us. This could be people from our past, including from our past lives, situations or memories that we thought we had forgotten about, or maybe just lessons that we're getting a second chance at learning after having failed the first time around.

You may have already heard of Mercury in Retrograde, when communication goes haywire, or maybe even Venus in Retrograde, when our relationships are put into question, but what does it mean for Jupiter to be in retrograde?

For starters, Jupiter goes retrograde only once a year, but its retrograde period is longer, lasting for about four months. As with all of the larger, generational planets, the length of time causes it to go unnoticed by some. Traditionally known as the great benefic, some astrologers consider Jupiter's retrograde period to be "less negative," than the other planet's, but that doesn't mean it's without its challenges.

Jupiter brings blessings to whatever area of the chart it's located in. But when Jupiter goes retrograde, you may find out that blessing isn't what you thought it was, or isn't yours at all. It's as if the Universe gifted you with most magical thing you could possibly imagine only to snatch it away from you just like that. Why? You may wonder. Well, think of it as a test. A test to see whether or not you're really prepared for the gifts Jupiter is about to bring your way. In order to receive what you want, you have to learn how to be happy without it. You can't depend on an external source for your happiness. True happiness comes from within. Think of this as a period of learning how to be happy on your own. Once Jupiter goes direct, you may find you don't even want it anymore. It may come back, or you may be blessed with something even better. Perhaps what you thought you wanted wasn't really what you wanted, anyway. Either way, you'll find that the knowledge you gained during this retrograde period paid off. Whatever difficulty you went through, it was really just a blessing in disguise.

To give you a good example about how Jupiter in retrograde can play out, last year, when Jupiter was in Scorpio, my friend thought she had met the man of her dreams. It's worth noting that Jupiter ruled both of their seventh houses. They seemed to have a telepathic connection, their meeting seemed fated, and he seemed to feel the same way about her too. It seemed magical, he was everything she wished for, it seemed too good to be true, and it was. On the exact day that Jupiter went Retrograde, he called her to say it wouldn't work out. For personal reasons, he wasn't ready for a new relationship just yet, and wouldn't be ready for a few months. Being a bit of an astrology fanatic herself, she took note of the date, thinking he’d be back by July 10, when Jupiter went direct. Four months. Perhaps, he'd be ready then. She dated other people, a wide variety of other people, and tried to cultivate happiness from within, but she couldn't let go, until by the end of Jupiter's retrograde period, when she was starting to gain more and more confidence in herself, she met someone else. A new boyfriend. Someone unexpected, someone even better. That man she thought she liked never did come back, but by then, she stopped caring because she already had all that she wanted. Of course it could play out in many different ways!

More than anything, Jupiter retrograde is a time for philosophical reflection and spiritual introspection. It helps us to become aware of whatever is hindering our spiritual development so we can move forward and grow.

Jupiter Rx in Sagittarius

As the planet of religion/philosophy, higher education and travel, Jupiter is naturally at home in the sign of Sagittarius. Traditionally known as the “Great Benefic,” Jupiter is also the planet of luck, faith and expansion. It’s no wonder then that it holds rulership over the adventurous and optimistic sign of Sagittarius. Represented by the centaur or the archer, Sagittarius is the seeker of the zodiac. Half-animal (horse), half-human, with a little bit of something higher altogether, Sagittarius is always trying to evolve, always seeking to move forward and expand its horizons.

While Jupiter in Scorpio was all about facing our shadow, Sagittarius is all about facing the light at the end of the tunnel. But what happens when Jupiter in Sagittarius goes retrograde? Well, we may find that the light at the end of the tunnel wasn’t what we expected, or perhaps, we’re not ready for it yet. Our eyes have grown so used to the darkness that we may even feel like we prefer it. It’s so bright that it may even hurt to look at. It’s not that the light is bad, but our eyes still need time to adjust. We still need time to get used to it. Now is that time.

Aspects

Jupiter makes quite a few aspects on the day it stations retrograde. This also has an effect on how Jupiter’s retrograde journey through Sagittarius will affect us.

Jupiter will make an exact opposition to the Moon in Gemini. This exaggerates our emotional responses and can also have us moving out of our comfort zones. Jupiter and the Moon are also making a T-square to Mercury, Gemini’s ruling planet, at 22 degrees Pisces, making communication difficult. Perhaps you’ll find whatever changes that are happening (including, maybe even especially, positive changes!!!) so emotionally overwhelming that you can’t think straight, or explain yourself correctly.

Jupiter also makes an opposition to the asteroid Juno at 25 degrees Gemini. While I don't normally include the asteroids in my readings/interpretations, in this case, Juno holds a special significance, as according to Roman mythology, Juno is Jupiter's wife. Corresponding with the Greek God Zeus and his wife Hera, goddess of women, marriage and childbirth, and overall queens of the goddesses. Zeus/Jupiter was of course known for his numerous lovers, and Hera/Juno, though often vengeful or jealous, stayed loyal to him anyway. With the opposition here, I see Jupiter’s retrograde testing that loyalty (or complacency, whatever you want to call it), with women (especially married women) standing up to the men who use, abuse and cheat on them. The vengeful side to Juno/Hera is highlighted at this place and time.

There will also be a trine to the Sun at 20 degrees of Aries, bringing us the joy and confidence to make the changes we want. This aspect makes 2019’s Jupiter retrograde period a lot easier than other Jupiter retrograde even.

While not making any aspects to Jupiter, it's also worth noting that the North & South Node will be making a trine and sextile to Mercury, and a t-square to the Sun, making whatever happens during this Jupiter Retrograde period karmic and necessary for spiritual growth.

Meanwhile, Venus will be exactly conjunct Neptune at 17 degrees Pisces, the sign of Venus's exaltation. Neptune rules Pisces and is said to be the “higher octave” of Venus. Not only does this mean Jupiter Retrograde 2019 will place a high emphasis on our relationships, but this aspect places the important on love and beauty of a higher, deeper, even more spiritual kind. It will help us to discover the meaning of true love and true beauty, the kind that is more than just desire, the kind that is more than just skin deep.

Horoscopes

Now it's time to see how it will affect your sign. I suggest reading the horoscope for your ascendant or rising sign, in addition to or instead of your sun, as these horoscopes are based on the houses. If you don't know your rising sign, click here to generate a birth chart. Yes, you will need your birth time for this. If you don't have your birth time, Sun sign horoscopes are fine.

Aries

Jupiter in its home sign in its home house, the ninth house. You’re really going to feel this one, Aries. I can see this playing out in a few different ways. Perhaps, you got into your dream school, or perhaps, you’ll be going on your dream vacation or living your dream of traveling overseas. But when Jupiter goes retrograde, you could be questioning whether this was something you’re really ready for. You could be having a bit of imposter syndrome. If in a new country or environment, you could be having a hard time adjusting to the norms of a culture you’re not used to. It may be even more of a culture shock than you expected. Just believe in yourself and I think everything will turn out right for you, Aries. The other way I can see this playing out is you could find a new belief system or philosophy that seems to explain it all only to become disillusioned when you discover it’s full of holes.

Taurus

Jupiter's retrograde journey through your eighth house can play out in a number of different ways. It could help you get in touch with your life's purpose and help you move past your fear of death, or it could bring a greater and deeper sense of intimacy to your relationships. Those are only two examples. Either way, the main thing is that you stop being so stubborn and move past your real fear, your fear of change. As a Taurus, you feel safe and secure in the known world, the world of the five senses, but once you learn to let go of that, once you learn to step into the unknown and welcome that endless abyss with open arms, then, you'll enjoy rewards greater than you can possibly imagine. That's when your true spiritual journey begins.

Gemini

Jupiter is in your seventh house, your house of partnerships, helping you find the love of your life, but now that Jupiter’s gone retrograde, Gemini, you may be finding out your dream partner wasn’t who you thought they were. Perhaps you met your dream partner, only to find out they were already in an established relationship with someone else. Perhaps you get rejected by who you thought could be the love of your life, like my friend did, in which case now is the time to learn how to fall in love with yourself, or perhaps, you’re the one who rejects the love of your life out of fear, or that feeling of being not ready, in which case you’re going to have to face your fears and learn that relationships are something that you CAN do. Either way, now is a good time for introspection. It’s a good time for reflecting on what you really want in a partner, and if your relationship(s) haven’t been working out, it’s a good time to reflect on why. What could have you done differently? How will you take whatever failed relationship experiences you’ve had to help you learn and grow? Jupiter Retrograde could also bring you a second chance with someone if you want it to.

Cancer

Make sure to take care of yourself, Cancer! Jupiter is retrograde in your sixth house which is not only the house of health but also the house of your day to day life. Jupiter, there, has helped you discover that there's joy and beauty to be found in menial and everyday things. But with Jupiter retrograde, it's important you be careful not to blow things out of proportion either. Jupiter in the sixth helps you to find joy in the work that you do, but overworking yourself is never good. Everything is about balance and a truly healthy lifestyle involves time for rest and play as well.

Leo

Now is your time to shine, Leo. Jupiter is in your fifth house, the house of creativity and self-expression, but with Jupiter in retrograde, you could find yourself struggling with some artists block. Jupiter is known to expand whatever it touches and sometimes, this leads to overdoing things. Additionally, Jupiter is more about philosophy and ideas than action or hard work. This leads me to think that Jupiter's retrograde period will have your mind overflowing with so many ideas that you don't know where to direct them. You could get bored with the project you're working on and start a new one before you're even half way finished only to abandon that one as well. You can use this energy to your advantage by writing down a list of ideas (for potential creative projects) to expand upon in the future, after you've made, you know, at least a little more progress with the one that you're working on.

Virgo

Jupiter is in your fourth house of home, and now, you may finally feel you’re exactly where you need to be. You’ve found your family, you’ve found your perfect dwelling place and finally, you’re feeling comfortable... Until it becomes too comfortable. Virgos are stereotypically prone to being nit picky and critical, this may not always be true but I think for all of us, humanity in general, the grass is greener on the other side and once something becomes too comfortable, we begin to take it for granted. Once something becomes too routine, we want to run away. Once we're too used to something, we begin to notice it’s flaws, we notice more and more flaws, until it’s all that we see. Remember Virgo that no matter where you run too, or who you one from, you can never run away from yourself.

Libra

Libra, you are quite the social butterfly, but now that Jupiter’s gone retrograde, in your third house of communication, you could find yourself being more social than you can handle. So many people, so many plans, you can’t keep up! Now is a good time to reorganize your schedule, what you choose to do with your time and who to make time for. Remember, it’s okay to make time for yourself too, Libra. You don’t need to be everything to everyone. There could also be issues relating to travel, education and learning.

Scorpio

Looks like you’re going to be making a lot of money, Scorpio! Any debts owed to you will be paid back, and you’re being offered more and more opportunities to increase that cash flow. But as Jupiter goes backwards, you may find yourself stuck, having to reorganize your budget. Jupiter can sometimes lead to us over-doing things. It’s possible that the increase in cash has been having you spending more than you can afford, causing you to rethink what you do with your money. You could also be reevaluating your aesthetic, your values and your personal style.

Sagittarius

Your already high self-esteem has been given a boost and lately, you’ve been feeling more confident than ever, but now, ever philosophical Sagittarius that you are, you may find yourself wondering who you *really* are. What is your life’s purpose? What is it that makes you YOU? Now’s the time to find out! Right now; you’re reevaluating your purpose. If you find yourself down in the dumps, taking a trip to a new location or studying a new subject could help you re-discover your life’s meaning, a new thing to be proud about, a new thing to teach others.

Capricorn

Jupiter in your 12th house has helped bring you in touch with your spirituality, but when Jupiter goes retrograde, something could happen to make you start doubting again. Don't fear, Capricorn. This is called a dark night of the soul, defined as "a period of desolation suffered by the mystic in which all sense of consolation has been removed." All spiritual seekers experience this at some point in their lives and once it's over, become spiritually, even more stronger. On a lighter note, it may just be an even more advanced time for the spiritual contemplation you experienced while Jupiter was in your 12th house direct.

Aquarius

Your social circle is expanding and being a naturally social Aquarius, with Jupiter in the 11th house of friends, you feel very much at home. But when Jupiter goes retrograde, you could find that not all these friends are what you thought they were. Some of them could fail to live up to your expectations. Either that, or like Libra, you’re overwhelmed with so many friends, so many invitations, so many *expectations* on the part of others, that you can’t keep up. Try not to lose your faith in humanity just because there are a few bad apples in the bunch. You’ll find your right tribe eventually and remember, your true friends always have your back. You may learn to appreciate them more now more than ever.

Pisces

It looks like you just found your dream job, Pisces! With Jupiter in the tenth house, it looks like you’re finally tasting the success that you’ve been working so hard for. But it could be that success isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Success often comes with a price and you may find yourself being piled with more demands that you can live up to. It’s a good time to assess whether or not this dream of yours is really worth it. It’s a good time to get in touch with what your goals really are. Is this it, or is this simply something you thought you wanted to live up to other people’s expectations? There is no wrong answer. This could be something you really wanted, and these hurdles are just simply things that you have to get over to accomplish what you really want, but it could also be that your true dream is really something else, something immaterial, less career-driven and more experiential.

Conclusion

Jupiter's retrograde journey through the sign of Sagittarius is really a wonderful thing. Even things that seem to be getting in the way of your luck at the time are really just blessings in disguise. Try not to lose hope or become disillusioned if the things you thought you wanted fail to live up to your expectations. This is the Universe testing to see if you're really ready for it. When down in the dumps for too long, happiness becomes hard to adjust to. We may not even feel like we deserve it; that's how used we are to our misery. Just keep calm and roll with the punches, have faith that yes you deserve this, and know that even if things turn out not to be the way you expect them to be, something even better is coming.