Jupiter: We Need Your Light
I’ve been dragging my feet to write this post, at least since early June when Jupiter moved into Cancer. My thinking was going a little like this: Who am I to write about the planets and psychology when the world is imploding? Isn’t there better things for me to be spending my energy on? And Jupiter out of all of them, the planet of abundance? In this economy?
And every week there was another tragedy that made me question if this little astrological blog series of mine, or much of my work in general, is even worth continuing. I know that many of you already know what I’m talking about. The grief of our current world weighs heavy most days.
But still, it continued gnawing at me. So I started as simply as I could, by working on the planetary mix which accompanies this blogpost, linked below, really just for the joy of it, just “to see” if it would go anywhere. I’ve now been listening to this completed playlist for three weeks, and somehow it became the encouragement I needed to actually put these words down, as it kept reminding me of what Jupiter really is: a planet of hope, of shared joy, of personal betterment, of self-sovereignty and responsibility, and of collective liberation. All things that I, and we, need most right now.
Maybe talking about Jupiter can be helpful, or hopeful even. So let’s get into it, a little late but probably right on time, because Jupiter always arrives when they mean to.
As I am wont to do, we will begin by looking at the oldest available archetypal story associated with Jupiter, from ancient Mesopotamia, which would be the story of Marduk.
His father Ea (or Enki) was a god of underground waters and was prominent in an older pantheon of gods. He was known both for aiding the creation of humans with the help of a creatrix goddess, and then in protecting those humans when he is instructed to flood the earth to erase this creation but does not wish to. Thankfully Ea is not one for genocide.
In a later Babylonian era, we have a fresh creation story, where there is once again drama around water. The primordial sea goddess Tiamat and her fresh water consort Apsu together create a younger race of gods, but those new young gods get “loud” and Apsu gets annoyed and tries to kill them, for which Ea instead kills him, once again protecting creation. This angers Tiamat who begins to create monsters and fight the other gods in her grief. So Ea’s son Marduk, given the power of wind and storm, is tasked with killing her after other gods failed. He succeeded, and it is from her and her consort’s corpses, i.e. from salt & fresh water, that humans and civilization are created. And for this Marduk is greatly honored, eventually being placed above all other gods as the “King of the Gods” and he is given the Tablets of Destiny which allows him to control fate. Some scholars consider this to be early evidence for the beginnings of monotheism, or the worship of only one god over all others, because Marduk really was worshipped and revered that much.
(Sidenote: It is interesting that potentially, in ancient Sumer or before, the zodiac sign we now know as Cancer would have, due to the progression of the equinoxes, originally been represented by a slightly lower constellations in the sky called the Hydra, who was associated with the goddess Tiamat. So when modern astrology says that Jupiter is in an auspicious or good placement in Cancer, as it will be for roughly a year, we can see this as a mirroring of Marduk taming the primordial waters of Tiamat. I would also argue that this association with Tiamat means Cancer energy should be far less seen as one of nurturing and domestic spaces, but instead represent the need to honor and tend to our own inner primordial waters of fear & anger, and to release our emotional and creative impulses in healthy ways, but that’s probably a topic for another day.)
So through this story we can begin to make out the characteristics of Marduk. Some see him in the same vein of other storm deities, as lightning and thunder were wielded by him, not unsimilar to the later Greek Zeus and Roman Jupiter. This meant he had the power to disrupt and smite, but also to bring rain as needed for agriculture, so staying on his good side was very much required. Marduk was also depicted often with a spade, as he was seen as a god of canals and irrigation, due to his taming of the water gods, and thus was also considered the originator of civilization and agriculture.
These attributes combined with his having the Tablets of Destiny meant that all human life was in one way or another dependent on his benevolence, and in later Babylon he was worshipped as the head of the pantheon of gods and as the head deity of the Babylonian monarchy. The king was often seen as a human representative of Marduk, and thus also the planet Jupiter was then seen to represent the king in their astrological system. If Jupiter was in a good or bad aspect to other celestial bodies, that meant good or bad things for the king.
But the task of Babylonian kingship was not one given lightly by Marduk, and during their yearly spring festival there came a day when the Babylonian king would be required to go into the temple of Marduk and be stripped of all his kingly attire. Thus reduced to his human state, he was then slapped by the head priest, and required to declare he had not neglected or sinned against his citizens or the cities under his care. Once he had gone through this atonement and confession ritual, he was given back his kingly attire but was once again slapped as a final reminder that he was still below Marduk and his kingship was but a god-given gift, and it was a gift that must be used responsibly or it could be revoked at any time. Marduk gave gifts and abundance, but only if one was worthy of the gift and could use this abundance for the benefit of all.
So now that we have the historical myth in the back of our head, let’s also talk briefly about the planet Jupiter itself. Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and the third brightest planet in the night sky, only rivaled by the moon & Venus, thus it was easily observed by historic peoples. It is also the oldest planet in our system and has the strongest magnetic field, which is possibly responsible for keeping the other planets in their respective orbits and what allowed Earth to form as it did in the first place.
Jupiter rotates faster than any other planet, having a day that’s less than 10 hours, yet it orbits around the sun in a 12 year cycle, and thus moves through each zodiac symbol for roughly a year. The reason we even have 12 zodiac signs in the West, or why the Chinese zodiac has twelve animals, could be specifically due to Jupiter’s consistent orbital pattern. And it is a planet of massive gaseous cloud storms, with the largest storm, “The Great Read Spot,” being a permanent feature on the planet and larger than Earth itself. This is a powerful planet that ancient people were right to honor as the king above all other gods and planets.
Now equipped with both myth & science, I believe we are ready to discuss what Jupiter might mean to us as an archetypal symbol all its own.
Firstly, we can begin to see Jupiter as a source of life and all that is abundant within that.
In modern day astrology, Jupiter is often discussed in such simplistic terms as “the planet of money” or “the planet of good fortune,” and I’ve seen numerous astrologers suggest that the key to financial abundance or business success all depends on your Jupiter placement. But making Jupiter into a piggy bank does us a disservice, as it feeds into the idea that we can receive abundance for nothing or kingship without responsibility. This is both spiritually and psychologically untrue.
True abundance is mirrored well within the natural world, as abundance comes only through a thriving and rich ecosystem. If one season too many trees grow, or too many predators populate, we can have disruption and a breakdown of all interconnected systems, as too many trees mean less light to the undergrowth or a higher chance of forest fires, and too many predators mean an imbalance in other animal populations, which also can disrupt pollination or habitat maintenance, and so on and so on. Abundance then is when all have what they need and no more, and all can thus enjoy their life fully without harming others.
So too, Jupiter promises us abundance within these parameters. Yes of course we all can receive what we need or desire for an enjoyable life, but only if we are helping to maintain our side of the communal bargain. How does my work provide a benefit to those around me? How can my own abundance and enjoyment of life be shared with others? How would my success require me to become even more responsible to others and this planet?
For just as the Babylonian kings were reminded each year, our lives and abundances are but gifts we are stewarding. I had no part in many of the things that keep me alive - the delicate balance of the solar system, the thriving of the earth, the generations of lives that led to mine - and it is a total blessing that I am here, breathing and eating and living, at all. Many of these mysteries of existence are beyond me, or exist somewhere in the primordial waters from which we all came, but what is within my power is how I choose to live my life and the choices I make every day while I’m here.
This is thus why Jupiter is also a planet of self-sovereignty and personal growth. We are ultimately each our own king, our own sovereign being with the ability to affect much of the world around us through our daily actions. Some of us need to reawaken to this fact, as the powers that be, over many centuries and through many means, have repeatedly tried to strip us of this personal empowerment so we stayed good slaves & good servants, good workers & good consumers. When we are made to feel small, inconsequential, a pawn in someone else’s game, we are ultimately told that we do not have a place within the ecosystems we inhabit or the communities we are a part of - and this is also fundamentally not true.
We are all the children of the gods, and are all thus equally worthy of care, of honor, and of the responsibilities that come with being the royal heirs to this planet.
But to take our place among gods & kings means also having the courage that’s required to claim our birthright. Marduk had to fight a battle others had already died trying to do, yet he did so anyway - because if not him, who else could have? We too might see the world around us, at all the beautiful martyrs who have already given their lives to try and better the world, and feel discouragement and despair. But you have gifts no one else has, for battles no one else can fight, and collectively we are hoping for your awakening so we all can benefit.
This is a theme in Human Design actually, that as long as you are out of alignment, not living your joy and not being your true self, we all suffer for it. And yet when you do step into your alignment, even in the smallest of ways, we all are better for it. Jupiter also radiates this message, that we need sovereign individuals to do their work, to get into their most aligned selves and way of being, and thus the collective is liberated and can share in the abundance together. Your joy, beauty, and wellbeing is intrinsically linked to our collective joy, beauty and wellbeing. Your awakening is our awakening.
This is also why Jupiter energy directly opposes the ideas of fascism, repression, and conformity. To deny another their gifts, their light, or their lives is to destroy our very chance of collective abundance and survival. The consort Apsu got mad when the younger gods’ lives and activities disrupted his status quo, and for this he began a cycle of killing and fascist ideology that Tiamat continued out of fear and rage, all until Marduk stopped the cycle and made space for everyone. Removing what you do not understand is not a solution to a problem, it is instead a sign that you are not in your own truth or power. A bright light can not be dimmed by another bright light. Only one who lives in darkness would complain about another’s glow.
Yet it is true that some might at first shine brightly and be rewarded, only then to become tyrants and despots once their own bank accounts are full. I’m sure we all can think of a few individuals who have deserved to have their adornments removed and to receive a righteously condemning slap. But if you are waiting for a god or hero to come save us, you are missing the message. We are the ones who must require kings to kneel down and serve their citizens well. We are the ones who must keep power in check and deprive the fascists and capitalists their platforms and resources. Jupiter asks us to own our sovereignty to such a degree that we will not let others control or harm ourselves or our communities.
But before you get overwhelmed by these responsibilities, know that you are not alone in this fight. The well repeated phrase “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice” is something Jupiter knows about well. For remember Marduk controls the Tablets of Destiny, and thus the larger concepts of fate, justice, and retribution are Jupiter’s to manage. We can not always see from our personal viewpoints how things could possibly turn out decades from now, but we are still called to live our lives and do our part to move the needle further toward justice while we are here. And even so, there are many ills of the past finally coming to light, finally being addressed, and maybe that is because we are the first of many who can finally handle these past pains and offer the required healing and reparations, and I do so hope we are. Many a past abolitionist, union organizer, activist, and martyr are glad you are having the conversations you are having and doing the work you are doing. Justice comes, please do believe that, and may we be those who in every way possible welcome it in sooner.
Jupiter also rules collective cycles and change, as seen in its association with the tarot card known as the Wheel of Fortune. This card depicts a central disc that represents the turning of time, with some being raised up to the top, having their time in the light, and others being taken down under the wheel, for a time of review, atonement, and preparing. It is a card that reminds us of various universal truths, like “the only constant is change,” and “the last shall become first,” and “luck is when preparation meets opportunity.” And it is a card that says, “everything happens in its right time.”
We can see this reflected as well in Jupiter’s own planetary movements, as its rotation is fast while its orbital cycle is consistent and slow, moving through each zodiac symbol for a full year, in equal measure. Divine timing can be both sudden or methodical, but it’s always right on time.
Nothing is fixed. No king has ruled for ever, no empire has escaped collapse, and time will continue on long after all of us are gone. The only question remains then, what will we do with the time that we have, with this quick rotation of our lives. Will we fear the wheel, the turning of time, and those who bring change, or will we embrace the turning, allow ourselves to change and grow too, and become better and more abundant for it? Only you can decide.
Jupiter is the bringer of luck and abundance, expansion and change, but for those with pure hearts and bright inner lights. If you harbor ill will to your fellow man, expect to find yourself taken under that wheel of justice in due time. But for those willing to answer the call of the collective, become your best self for us all please, we beg of you.
Now the most important part, what this means for your own life. Jupiter calls us to many things and many truths, as of course a big, powerful planet would.
Find the prompt below that gives you a buzz or charge, or makes you tense up a tiny bit, and work with that one first.
You are deserving of care and abundance.
How does knowing you are inherently worthy of love and care make you physically feel? Because you are, but does your body and nervous system know that yet? How would you like your body to feel?
What does living an abundant life mean to you? Make a list of what your most abundant life would look like. (Hint: It’s not all about money, my friends.)
How can you show yourself, both physically and energetically, that you are loved and abundant every day?
You are powerful, sovereign, and desired.
If you were to imagine your most powerful, strong, boss bitch self, how would they act? How would they look? What are they doing every day with all that power?
What gifts are you eager to share with the world? What would change if you knew we were all waiting for you to start offering them?
What’s one thing you can do each day to remind yourself of your own power?
You are a liberator and beloved community member of pure heart.
What’s one cause you already care deeply about? Allow your mind to wander and see how your gifts could align to supporting this specific cause, even if a bit unconventional. What would it take to offer your gifts in this way?
What type of world would you like to be living in? What type of world would you like future generations to live in? And what’s one thing you can do to start making that world more of a reality now?
Think of one person who needs a good, atoning slap. Imagine slapping them. Feel good. Repeat as needed.
You are always growing, expanding, and changing.
What’s the next thing you know you need to do to have a more aligned life?
What are three things that already bring you joy? What would increase your enjoyment of these things even more? How can you start increasing your joy for these things every day?
Imagine it’s ten years from now, you’re having a great life, and you have the chance to tell your current self a few bits of wisdom. What do you come back to say? And now, what should current you change or do in light of that wisdom?
Okay friends, there’s my rant on a planet and all the psychological ramifications therein. As you can see, my earlier hang-ups around this post are rendered pretty silly in light of Jupiter, as I’m sure is exactly what I was supposed to learn in this delayed writing process. We all need our individual talents and joys to be expressed, fully and without reservation, so collectively we can have a more just and abundant society. So please go be big, bright, and beautiful, because we all need your light.
Still, may Jupiter bless all of you that read this much. And as promised, the associated planetary mix is linked below, to remind you of all these truths in a more fun and subtle way. Plus, making mixes just brings me joy.
Collectively yours,
l.
or listen to the mix on youtube here <3
