The Wheel of Light
Monthly Newsletter - May 2021
The ancient Greek astrologers referred to the planet Jupiter as “the great benefic”. They perceived that the energy of this planet offered the most positive, beneficial influence of all the heavenly bodies in our solar system. They maintained that wherever traveled, through whatever sign, opportunities for success, prosperity and joy followed. Of the five outer planets, Jupiter moves much faster than the others, taking approximately one year to transit through a sign. Keeping track of Jupiter transits can provide a clue about where potential benefits exist for us at any time. This month it will enter a new sign, but stay there for about ten weeks before retrograding back into the previous sign.
On May 13 Jupiter will enter Pisces. It will retrograde back to Aquarius on July 28. It will again enter Pisces on December 28 and remain there until May 2022. Jupiter is one of the planets that rules Pisces, so on May 13 Jupiter will be home. Like most of us, a planet is happiest and most productive when home. Considering that the other planet that co-rules Pisces, Neptune, is already in Pisces, this promises to be quite an interesting transit.
Qualities expressed by Jupiter, Neptune and Pisces promote activities that can enhance our spiritual growth and consciousness development. Such activities as a daily meditation practice, a spiritual retreat or ceremony or volunteer service can all provide access to a direct, personal connection to the Transcendent Oneness. They can also provide motivation and energy for inner work that focuses on emotional health, psychological clarity and dream analysis. Any or all of these activities can help us to develop our intuition, providing further insights into our own inner process as well as the way we perceive others. Clarity of our personal place in the universal scheme of things can ensue from becoming more connected to the mystery of life.
The arts are another feature enhanced by these influences. Tuning in to our “inner muse” can lead to delightful experiences by tapping in to our potential to be limitlessly creative.
Using this transit in these ways assumes that we are centered in our expression of their energies. If we are off-center, other qualities could manifest. On the personal level, these influences tend to be extremely idealistic. We may project an idealized expectation on to a person or situation and relate as such, leading to being deceived and taken advantage of. We may also to be excessively optimistic, fail to take realistic limitations into consideration and be drained by our illusions and good intentions. Fantasy, self-deception, self-destruction and escapism through substances of any kind, legal or not (drugs, alcohol, food), can also be an off-center expression of these transits.
Collectively drugs could become a primary feature of these transits. This could manifest as expansion of Big Pharma in terms of profits or proliferation of substances that might be more illusory than effective. It could also imply further increase in the opioid epidemic.
Whether we use this transit to express compassion by helping the homeless or volunteering at the local Food Bank or allowing ourselves to be lead adrift by excessive optimism, exuberance and illusion depends on our priorities. The highest option is to realize that this combination of energetic influences can support the awareness of ourselves as spiritual beings who are involved in a temporary earth plane experience. As such, we can collectively work to shift and expand the collective psyche. If not, we could become enamored of our own projected fantasies, good or bad, and find ourselves in states of confusion, paranoia and even patterns of self-destruction. As the most positive, optimistic and joyful planet, let’s use this Jupiter transit to access the higher qualities of consciousness that are part of our birthright as human beings.
Aries (March 21-April 20)
Aries: Home and family life are high priorities for you this month. Tapping into available creative inspiration can lead to fun projects. Feelings of compassion can lead to expressions of nurturing those to whom you feel close.
Taurus (April 21-May 21)
Taurus: Personal insights in early month can lead to positive changes of routines. Mid-month energy could lead to excessive expectations and disappointment. Late month could bring stability to plan or begin to execute long range plans.
Gemini (May 22-June 21)
Gemini: Practicality vs. idealism is a challenge for you this month. Growth can come from working to integrate the left brain logic with right brained intuition. Healthy skepticism can keep you on the productive path and help to avoid naivety and confusion.
Cancer (June 22-July 22)
Cancer: The New Moon in Taurus on the 11th could bring powerful motivation to be helpful to your community. The Full Moon on the 26th shifts the focus to work or health related issues.
Leo (July 23-August 23)
Leo: Push-pull influences this month provide challenges, especially at work or in your primary relationship. Growth for you comes from learning from the situation and being open to changing opinions and behaviors. Stubborn adherence to old patterns exacerbates the issues.
Virgo (August 24-Sept 22)
Virgo: Professional situations are priority for you this month. This could be a very productive period for you but you must avoid both the expectation of ideal results as well as extreme self-criticism when you realize you haven’t achieved these (unrealistic) goals.
Libra (Sept 23-Oct 23)
Libra: The key for you this month is to balance joyful enthusiasm with practical productivity. This is a good time to travel or to initiate a new learning situation. This is especially true if the focus is philosophical or metaphysical.
Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)
Scorpio: This could be a month of harmoniously flowing energy. This is particularly true in any activity that involves learning or sharing your knowledge through writing or teaching. Deep analytical research combined with tapping in to intuitive perceptions can bring clarity both to you and to others.
Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21)
Sagittarius: Jupiter is the ruler of Sagittarius, so it’s transit into Pisces is significant for you. Hopefully it will help to expand your consciousness by impelling you to dive deeply into the inner self and access your higher spiritual self. Profound feelings of joy can ensue.
Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 20)
Capricorn: In a year when things may seem to take unexpected turns, this is a time to focus on fun and pleasure. No big projects or goals, just spend some time doing things you enjoy. Have fun, have picnics, entertain friends. Relaxation could lead to clear strategies for the future.
Aquarius (Jan 21 to Feb 19)
Aquarius: Creativity and aesthetics could be draws for you this month. Growth can come from applying these enjoyable activities to practical, productive ones.
Pisces (Feb 20-March 20)
Pisces: This month is a preview of next year for you. The potentials for exalted spiritual growth as well as for humbling self-deception are clearly present. Spending quality time alone can help keep you on track.
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.