The Wheel of Light
Monthly Newsletter - January 2022
Jupiter takes about a year to transit through a sign. Usually, that is a continuous period. Last year, however, Jupiter entered Pisces on May 13, remaining there until July 28 when it retrograded back into Aquarius. Jupiter re-entered Pisces on December 28 and will remain there until May 10. It will return to Pisces again from October 29-December 20, 2022. That can be either good or bad news, depending on how we act on the potential of Jupiter in Pisces.
Jupiter is the traditional ruling planet of Pisces. It’s been associated with that sign since at least the ancient Greeks began connecting planets with signs. When Neptune was discovered in 1848, it was decided that its energy fit the Piscean archetype, so it was installed as the co-ruling planet of that sign. Astrologers work with planets as energies. The sign a planet resides in filters the energy, The sign provides the framework within which a planet will express itself. When a planet is in its own sign it is quite powerful, because its full potential can be present. Nothing is filtered out.
Jupiter represents the principle of expansion. Attitudinally it is the most positive, joyful, enthusiastic, optimistic and generous of all the planets. If one is off-center, however, Jupiter can simply be excessive. Too much of a good thing. This could lead to exaggeration or idealization of a person, relationship or situation. One reason why ancient astrologers associated Jupiter with Pisces is that this sign reflects the nature of the planet. Pisces can be compassionate, empathetic and generous, but can also fall into the trap of romanticism, idealization and defining reality so that it conforms to their expectations.
The good news about Jupiter in Pisces is that it can promote efforts to house the homeless, feed the hungry and provide the philosophical basis to work toward equality economically and racially. Pisces is a “big picture” sign. It can be aware of and comprehend the existential challenge of global warming and, with concern for all people everywhere, strive to make significant changes to avert the environmental destruction that is imminent. Since Pisces can also pertain to drugs, the transit of Jupiter in Pisces can focus on the opioid crisis and seek to change that picture too. All of these issues integrate the philosophical orientation of Jupiter with the service orientation of Pisces.
The bad news is that Pisces can be disconnected to the material world and the social dynamics that occur therein. It can be prone to magical thinking. Everything is wonderful, so why worry? Or, everything is so horrible why even true to improve things? This can be a boon to the conspiracy theorists who spin webs of deception designed to scare people into believing what is a complete fabrication of reality. A true believer is one who clings to their definition of a situation regardless of the evidence of its truth. Discovering the life can lead to hysteria and panic that could affect everything from financial markets to the reality of the American political scene and the threats to our democracy. From false hope and speculation to the sense of being deceived, unempowered and out of control.
All of the above will be especially true from late March through most of April when Jupiter will conjunct Neptune. The two co-rulers will conjoin in the sign that they rule. The last time that occurred was in 2010.
How can we stay centered in order to take advantage of the positive potentials of this transit? The key is to focus on your inner space. Centering requires that we work simultaneously on material plane responsibilities and productivity while also working toward emotional health, psychological clarity and spiritual growth. The latter is supported in an archetype way by these transits. Thus we can work to integrate a philosophical understanding of the nature of life and ways of accessing truth in the metaphysical sense (Jupiter) with the transcendent consciousness that Neptune provides. This in turn can enhance development of our intuitive mind that will enable us to be clearer about what is happening in the world as well as our potential to transcend it.
These are transits that can help us to dream big. But they are not transits that help us to realize those dreams in concrete ways. This is a time to speculate, to create a picture of the future both individually and collectively that will bring about a sense of universal care and compassion. The strategy to implement that will have to come from different transits at a different time.
Aries (March 21-April 20)
Aries: This is a good time to focus on your future. What are your long range plans? What do you need to accomplish those goals? Finding clarity in early month can set you up to start implementing them in late month and early February.
Taurus (April 21-May 21)
Taurus: Your ruling planet, Venus, will remain retrograde until the 29th. This is a month to review values, social and financial behaviors and needs. Avoid making major decisions about an ongoing relationship or making a major purchase.
Gemini (May 22-June 21)
Gemini: Early month is a time to have an open mind and seek new information. From mid-month on, focus more in depth, analyzing these new concepts in order to understand them on deeper, more meaningful levels.
Cancer (June 22-July 22)
Cancer: This is a month to create balance in your life. From the New Moon on the 2nd until the Full Moon on the 17th, focus on work and accomplishing goals. From the Full Moon on, the emphasis should be more on finding fulfillment each day. The balance between the professional and the personal enables growth for you this month.
Leo (July 23-August 23)
Leo: Early month is a time to be open to new inspiration at work. Learning new skills or working with new tools can prove productive, fulfilling and relatively pleasant and harmonious. There may the need to alter your daily routines in order to fully take advantage of the opportunities that this expansion can bring.
Virgo (August 24-Sept 22)
Virgo: This is a time to explore your creativity. You may do so more seriously than others, so that your expressiveness may have a practical purpose. Creative writing or working with your hands are realistic ways to take advantage of the transits this month.
Libra (Sept 23-Oct 23)
Libra: Continue to focus inwardly this month. This could involve meaningful time alone. It could also mean spending time with family. Doing some research into some type of esthetic changes in the home is supported, but delay acting on those plans until late February or early March.
Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)
Scorpio: This could be an intense period for you. Relationship intimacy is one such area. There could be confrontation that leads to either its ending or to a deepening of the bond. This is also a good time to focus on financial issues. Reallocation of resources or letting go of a previously unsuccessful business are appropriate at this time.
Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21)
Sagittarius: Jupiter, your ruling planet, transiting into Pisces could provide support and stimulation to your spiritual journey. This is a time to focus within. Whether that’s in the form of a meditation or a drive for emotional health and psychological clarity, your inner truths can be revealed during this transit.
Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 20)
Capricorn: Five personal planets Including the New Moon will transit through Capricorn this month. Even though you like to be productive in the world, this is a time to focus more on yourself. Self-awareness, self-development and self-expression are the things you should seek to achieve this month.
Aquarius (Jan 21 to Feb 19)
Aquarius: This is a good time for mental focus and discipline. Seeking deeper understanding of interesting concepts could impel an analytical sharpness that can help you to discover new answers as well as new inspiration.
Pisces (Feb 20-March 20)
Pisces: This is a time to work on dealing with anger. One challenge is just being aware of it. What does anger feel like? Another is to be appropriate in both the way you express it and to whom. Misplaced aggression is not a good substitute for being honest about your feelings with someone. Only by being real and direct can the situation be resolved in a beneficial way for you.
Rio Olesky has been a professional astrologer since 1976. He is the author of A Manual for the Modern Mystic, Astrology and Consciousness and The Astroreader. He offers both private readings as well as classes for both beginning and intermediate students. Call Rio at 707-887-1820. Check out his website: www.starwatcher.com.