Aquarium Age

The Aquarium Age: May 17-23

By Ralfee Finn

Jupiter sets the tone as well as the pace of daily life for the next several weeks as it starts to wind down a four-month retrograde phase that began on February 6 and ends on June 9. It holds steady at 13 degrees from May 18 through July 2, and because Jupiter lingers so long on the same degree, lots of folks are sure to confuse Jupiter’s ‘course correction’ with Mercury Retrograde. But Mercury won’t be retrograde again until August 13. Feel free to blame the next several weeks of snafus and interference on Jupiter, but don’t get too out of sorts. Jupiter is a big, fat, happy, expansive planet of good fortune and when it throws its weight around, all sorts of opportunities open up. And because Jupiter is currently in Libra, these openings also include relationships with others, personal as well as professional, which means some of the interference could come in the form of having to take care of others.

Seen as the symbol for wisdom, Jupiter signifies all things related to philosophy, law, religion, and classical traditions of all kinds. And although Uranus is generally thought to indicate computer and online activity, the content of the Internet falls under the auspices of Jupiter, if only because Jupiter represents all wisdom, and cyberspace is the new frontier where knowledge, old and new, individual and collective, can be easily accessed.

Jupiter may be at the heart of our challenging times, for while it’s easy to attribute the social, economic and political turbulence to the waves of change set in motion by Uranus and Pluto, part of the problem many of us are having is how to find our individual places amid the daily deluge of information that bombards us through the Internet. No one can predict what’s going to happen next, and one consequence of the uncertainty of these times, is the inability to parse the true from the false amidst all the available information.

Somewhere along the line (I’m not sure where) we made a collective decision that reality could be determined by the person with the best story, regardless of whether the narrative was true. Daily life slowly but not unnoticeably became a game of “the one with the best spin wins”—advertising being the best example of that attitude. And because the Internet gave birth to never-ending opportunities to upload and then download compelling narratives (narratives that did not have to be based on fact), far too many individual and collective perspectives are now based on opinion, and for some, opinion actually trumps fact. And that is an ever-escalating problem for those who refuse to be swayed by fiction created to serve personal interests at the expense of planetary integrity—climate change, anyone?

There are many theories as to why the lines between fact and fiction blur with increasing intensity. Spin isn’t new but it seems to be more widely embraced as fewer and fewer of our fellow travelers are able to distinguish between propaganda and reality. What’s more, as online life expanded, lots of people simply emptied the content of their heads into cyberspace. And while this opened up incredible vistas of information that could be shared for the greater good, it was also done without regard for boundaries or consequences. Thus, within a matter of moments you can find a recipe for gluten-free coconut cake as well as a recipe for making a bomb. It’s all there. No discrimination. No boundaries. And because you can also be anonymous, there are no consequences. Bullies thrive as do gurus. Racist rants proliferate, as do meditation classes. The Internet is us, conscious and unconscious, filling cyberspace with all of our humanity. It is the vastness of Jupiter made manifest, from the lowest cravings to the highest pursuits.

But there’s a problem with this Jupiterian expanse: Our brains aren’t moving at the speed of fiber optics; and a majority of minds haven’t made the necessary evolutionary leap that can discriminate and discern the true from the false. Many don’t know how to digest and metabolize all the available information and as a result feel lost in space, stranded on oceans of too-much-data, with no way to process, no direction known, and no compass to guide them safely back home. This is especially true for young people who are overexposed to violence, sexism, and racism long before their minds can contextualize what they are viewing. Those seeking to exploit the Internet data-glut and the ensuing confusion know all too well the less said the better. Tweets, code words, and abbreviations may seem like easy navigation tools, but for those brains that have not made the mental leaps necessary to handle the influx of information, it’s simply an overwhelming challenge to make sense of it all. Perhaps the current chaos of daily life is more a reflection of the chaos of cyberspace rather than a reflection of the cycles of celestial space.

As Jupiter determines the playlist for the next couple of weeks, pay attention to what you are listening to and why. We are all in the process of turning the wheel of life in a new direction. Some play out their role on the world stage, but most of us contribute to the outcome through our every thought, word and deed. That’s what makes us co-creators. That’s why the power is always in the present moment.

Sun Bursts: If you know your Ascendant and/or your Moon Sign, read that too.

Aries March 21-April 19
Since September 2016 Jupiter has been transiting your Solar House of relationships, inviting you to enliven your existing partnerships as you simultaneously expand into new interactions with significant others. Part of the lesson of Jupiter’s presence is learning how to rely on other people to deliver the goods. Notice whether you’ve made any shifts related to trust.

Taurus April 20-May 20
Jupiter turns around in your Solar House of service, work and health, emphasizing all those areas. This does not mean that you are in danger. Jupiter’s transit provides the potential for improved self-care, whether that manifests as a new exercise program, a weekly massage, or time taken to care for your needs even as you increase the time you spend taking care of others.

Gemini May 21-June 21
Jupiter has been transiting your Solar House of self-expression since September 2016, urging you to delve into projects for the pure joy of exploring your creativity, regardless of whether or not those activities would be profitable or marketable. Allow Jupiter to continue nurturing your spirit through a wide variety of pathways, and remember, the true value is in the process, not the product.

Cancer June 22-July 22
Jupiter has been in your Solar House of the home for nearly nine months, and its presence there is certain to have stimulated a desire for a greater sense of belonging. Sometimes it’s hard to pin down what makes us feel at home, and other times it’s easy. Use these next several weeks to identify what it is you need to feel secure in both your internal and external abodes.

Leo July 23-August 22
Since September 2016 Jupiter has been transiting your Solar House of communication, stimulating the need to not just be heard, but also to listen to others at a much more expansive level. As the next several weeks unfold, listen closely to conversations with friends and family as well as strangers because lots of information will be delivered through both casual and serious dialogues.

Virgo August 23-September 22
Since September 2016 Jupiter has made it a little difficult to find the appropriate balance, particularly when it comes to finances. Part of the problem has been discerning the difference between generosity and extravagance. Continue to contemplate Jupiter’s lessons but be sure to include the notion that this entire process is about gaining greater financial stability.

Libra September 23-October 22
Jupiter’s transit through your Solar House of individuation has provided lots of lessons on how to assert yourself without taking care of others first. As Jupiter continues to focus on self-assertion, contemplate how you can continue to refine taking care of yourself. This isn’t about ignoring those you love—it’s about finding a way to express your love without denying yourself.  

Scorpio October 23-November 21
Since September 2016 Jupiter’s been transiting your Solar House of introspection, which means you may be spending too much time brooding over all the things in life you wish were different. And to remedy your dissatisfaction you may have self-medicated just a little too much. Now’s the time to find a true balance between what you can improve and what you need to accept.

Sagittarius November 22-December 21
Jupiter’s journey through your Solar House of community is stimulating ideas about how you can share your gifts with the world. I’m not suggesting you stop everything and join the Peace Corps—although if that’s a true calling, you might consider it. I’m simply pointing out that there’s a tremendous need in this world for people who care about their fellow travelers and want to make difference—all you have to do is pick the one idea that brings you joy.

Capricorn December 22-January 19
Since September 2016 Jupiter has been transiting your Solar House of career and recognition, urging you to be more participatory on your own behalf, even if you are part of a team. The trick is finding a balance between highlighting your gifts and talents without denying or overshadowing the contributions of others. This doesn’t have to be difficult, and it won’t be if you remember to be kind.

Aquarius January 20-February 18
Jupiter’s transit through your Solar House of belief systems has the potential to stretch your mind both far and wide into ideas you’ve never actually spent a lot of time thinking about. Good—it’s always healthy to consider new ideas. You don’t have to accept them all, but every once in a while, one of those new perspectives can actually be life-changing.

Pisces February 19-March 20
Since September 2016 Jupiter has been transiting your Solar House of transformation, stimulating a lot of changes—maybe even a few shifts too many. Take a moment to consider just how much you’ve learned about yourself over the last many months as well as how much you’ve learned about the process of change itself. It may have been tough, but it also may have been worth it.

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This article was originally published on May 18, 2017.