Jupiter Enters Retrograde On September 4th—Here’s How To Prepare
Very soon, our solar system's giant, Jupiter, will be entering a retrograde that will last a few months. That word has a tendency to scare people, but rest assured that it's nothing to be afraid of. It might actually be a welcome repose in your life.
To understand Jupiter's retrograde period, we'll first have to discuss both what a retrograde is and how it'll affect the astrological forces Jupiter holds. After that, you can learn how to best prepare for the upcoming season.
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Planets In Reverse
If you know anything about Mercury retrogrades, you're probably aware of the widespread bad rep they get every time one rolls around. People start blaming everything on Mercury retrogrades, from relationship breakdowns to struggles at work. This isn't inherently true, of course, because while Mercury retrogrades can cause communication issues, that doesn't absolve anyone of all blame.
Due to terrible connotations associated with Mercury retrogrades, people tend to treat news of any retrograde as a bad thing, and this upcoming Jupiter retrograde is no different. Let's work to dispel those myths and discuss how you can best prepare for Jupiter's switch-up.
What is A Planetary Retrograde?
First, let's discuss what a retrograde actually is.
A planet entering retrograde is not only an astrological event but an astronomical one as well. In astronomy, the phenomenon is called "apparent retrograde motion," which describes how the planet in question appears to be moving in the reverse of its standard rotational orbit. It's not actually moving backward; it just looks that way from our view on Earth due to some light-bending space properties. A planet's retrograde period can last anywhere between a few weeks to a few months.
In astrology, when a planet enters retrograde, it adopts a different perspective on its usual properties, sometimes denoting the exact opposite of what it would normally represent.
And What Does Jupiter Represent?
Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, is a planet that carries wonderful associations.
In astrology, it represents things like growth, prosperity, healing, luck, abundance, fortune, joy, and the like. It also places great importance on knowledge and learning, then using that knowledge to amplify the earlier traits. It's a planet that pushes us to always be seeking more, to find what makes us happy and dive into it, and to live as lavishly as we can (within our means, of course).
It's an amplifier of sorts, able to boost the influence of other planets or signs it's currently interacting with.
Hitting The Brakes
Now, that's not to say that Jupiter in retrograde means we're all going to be down on our luck, living on our barest means and struggling for the few months that Jupiter is in retrograde. It's not that black and white.
Instead, its retrograde focuses more on the 'amplification' aspect of Jupiter's powers. Instead of urging you to take leaps and bounds toward your desires, it will tell you to be cautious, be gentle in your approach, and to maybe halt your work altogether.
Scale It Down
Above all else, a Jupiter retrograde will ask you to slow down and look at the bigger picture.
When Jupiter is in its usual transits, it will sometimes cause people to overburden themselves with how much it keeps pushing. Some people will burn out or bite off more than they can chew. Its retrograde seeks to prevent this, and help those who have crashed get back on their feet.
A Jupiter retrograde involves a lot of reassessing and meditation on past events. It wants you to learn what went wrong in the past so you can avoid it in the future and reassess your priorities so you know what to work towards next.
Jupiter Retrograde In Taurus
This particular Jupiter retrograde, happening between September 4th and December 30th, will be taking place in the sign Taurus.
So, we've already established that Jupiter retrograde will cause us to be scaling back and looking at areas of our lives we seek to improve or learn from. What areas are those likely to be? With Venus as Taurus' ruling planet, it's very possible we'll be examining our relationships, our financial situation, and our connection to art or creativity.
Here are a few ways you can prepare for this retrograde and make sure it doesn't become too overwhelming.
1. Focus On Self-Reflection
Taurus is a very grounded sign that always strives to be realistic in its approach to things. It moves slowly by choice, preferring to take its time and make sure things are perfect rather than rushing them just to get them done. Jupiter's retrograde works well in this sign because it encourages slowing down and thinking things through.
Rather than making any big moves while Jupiter is in retrograde, keep your focus inwards. Notice your habits, see where you're lacking, where you want to do more, and what your heart truly desires. This time spent with yourself will help you feel rested and rejuvenated once the retrograde ends, meaning you can jump right back into the planet's usual encouragements.
2. Nourish Your Inner Self
Since we'll be spending so much time looking inwards and reflecting on our truest selves, now's the perfect time to nourish and nurture the more secret, private version of ourselves we carry inside.
We don't need external things to bring us joy, and we don't need to hit expectations made by other people in order to feel pride. Spend these next few months working with yourself to discern what you truly need and want at this stage in your life. Feed your soul what it craves, treat yourself gently, and allow more of this true self to be adopted into your outward presentation. People will appreciate the honesty.
3. Think About Where You Push Your Boundaries
As mentioned, Jupiter (when in its standard transit motion) is a planet that urges you to keep pushing yourself beyond your limits so you can experience new things. While that exact experience might be on pause during the retrograde, that doesn't mean you can't keep it in mind.
Now's the perfect time to explore what areas you'd like to see yourself grow in. Maybe there's a hobby you really want to improve at or a promotion you're gunning for at work. Sit with whatever you choose and think up plans, approaches, or even loose ideas on how to expand in that space.
Taking It Easy
While Mercury retrogrades tend to be fast and intense, which is partially why they're so notorious, Jupiter retrogrades are much more gradual. We'll be sitting in this transit for a few months, so it has plenty of time to make things come to fruition or make any real big changes in your life. You might not notice it all right away, or it may work more in the background of your life, but that doesn't mean it isn't there.
Jupiter retrogrades are a wonderful time for reflection, pause, and planning. Enjoy the slow times while they're here because you'll miss them when they're gone. Jupiter retrograde begins on September 4th and ends December 30th.
By learning more about not only the zodiac, but the planetary transits, you can see what lies in store for your love life, your career, your family, and more. Diving deep into your birth chart can open the world up before your very eyes.
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