About Jupiter

Jupiter is the planet of growth, abundance, and higher learning. Jupiter spends about a year in each sign of the zodiac. It retrogrades about every 13 months for 4 months. It is the first of two social/societal planets (the other being Saturn) that are between the personal and transpersonal planets. It is the largest planet in the solar system, about 11 times the diameter of Earth.

Jupiter rules Sagittarius and is associated with the 9th house, and together these form the archetype of the Seeker. On a continual quest to understand the meaning of everything, the Seeker is an optimistic adventurer and explorer who always believes the answer is just over the next hill. Jupiter is also the traditional ruler of Pisces.

Jupiter in our natal chart represents:

• our capacity for growth and expansion
• our belief systems and personal philosophy
• how we seek meaning and truth in life
• our sense of optimism and faith
• our approach to higher education and long-distance travel
• how we experience abundance and luck
• our ability to see the big picture and long-term perspectives
• how we connect with different cultures and broaden our horizons

The flavor of the above will be determined by your Jupiter sign, house, and aspecting planets (see below).

Jupiterian people. People with Jupiter strongly placed in their chart (for example, conjunct their Sun or Moon, or on the Ascendant), or who have a lot of Sagittarius placements, tend to be optimistic, adventurous, and philosophical. They often have a natural enthusiasm for life and a need to make sense of everything they encounter. It's like they are carrying a Map of Everything in their head and they need to fit everything into it and know What It All Means. The collect a lot of wisdom which they love to share, and are naturally confident in themselves and their beliefs.

Mythology. Jupiter is the Roman name for the Greek Zeus, king of the gods on Mount Olympus. He was the god of lightning, thunder, law, and order. His association with expansion comes from his being a god of the sky, and his association with philosophy and justice comes from his being the ruler of the Olympian pantheon (after he and his siblings overthrew his father Cronus and the rest of the Titans). He is known for fathering a lot of offspring with gods and mortals alike, punishing Prometheus for stealing fire for humans, and punishing humans by creating Pandora whose infamous box unleashed all the miserable things humans now have to deal with.

Jupiter challenges

Jupiter is the "greater benefic" of the astrological system, and it's almost universally seen as a positive planet. There are still downsides to Jupiter however, and the negative expression of Jupiter can include excess, overindulgence, and a tendency to exaggerate or promise more than one can deliver. Jupiter's expansive nature, when unchecked, can lead to overconfidence, recklessness, or a disregard for practical limitations. There can also be a tendency towards self-righteousness and dogmatism.

Jupiter retrograde in the Natal chart. Jupiter being retrograde when you were born will internalize Jupiter’s qualities, creating a stronger inner faith and a more serious, less expressive personality. There is more introspection and less adventuring, more refining of one’s goals and beliefs, and less of Jupiter’s natural optimism and luck. It might take you longer to develop it, but the end result is a uniquely personal belief system and perspective on life.

Saturn and Jupiter aspects. Saturn in hard aspect to your Jupiter creates a tension between expansion and limitation, between optimism and realism. You may go through periods of losing your faith due to conditions in your life, get taken in by "too good to be true" offers, and experience extremes of blind optimism and despair. For more on how to work with Saturn in your chart, see our Saturn Lessons report.