Jupiter conjunct Castor – Expressing a positive opinion.

This connection is active now and lasts until 2nd December 2013. It occurs at 20:26 degrees Cancer.

Jupiter is going to be spending a long time sitting conjunct to the star Castor in the constellation of Gemini as Jupiter is now slowing down to a halt before turning retrograde on 7th November. Castor is one of the stars in the constellation of the twins, Gemini. As you will know the two twins of Gemini were called Castor and Pollux and they were very much seen as opposite types of characters. Castor was a horseman in Greek mythology and representative of the bright morning star and Pollux was a boxer connected to the evening star and those thieves and people of the night who lived in the shadows. As you can see with these two stars we have a polarity of good versus evil, light versus dark, of moving forward and of holding back.

Castor as you can tell is the lighter of these two, the more optimistic influence in the constellation of Gemini. This constellation is very tied to communication and to the use of words and language and very often writers have a link between the star Castor (or Pollux) and one of their natal planets. I myself have Castor conjunct to my natal Mercury, and quite appropriately I love telling stories and sharing my ideas and thoughts through the written word. Indeed expressing ideas and exploring the meanings of things through research without resorting to looking into the darker side of life is a very appropriate way to explain the effect that this star has.

Now with Jupiter sitting here for an extended period, it's influence of optimism, expansion, speculation, of learning and teaching, of faith and its need for justice are combined with Castor. So how will this connection play out? I think that this is a great time for any kind of research that you wish to do, especially if it means that you learn something new and valuable not only about a specific subject but also about yourself too. This is a time for expressing what you believe in and telling others about it, this is a wonderful connection for writers and bloggers of all kinds. Certainly I think in my own case that I am going to be very busy in Astrological terms on my own blog here as well as on my my Facebook page.

Maybe this connection is good for taking a risk in expression an opinion and for spreading information, although there is a danger of legal ramifications if you say something too controversial. I wonder if any notable libel cases will start now? Maybe you can work out how to bring two separate entities together under the same roof under Jupiter conjunct Castor and in the world look out for countries, nations or leaders who have very differing philosophical views uniting under a common banner, idea or cause.

In the same regard, this is a time of negotiation and working out the middle ground between people, situations and things and maybe you will find the inspiration to sort out an intractable problem under this influence, especially once Jupiter stations and turns retrograde allowing you to go back over and review what has been done or said? If you are bold and believe in the risks that you are taking now then you can come out ultimately successful and richer in the way that you know yourself and relate to other people once this connection is completed.

Jupiter conjunct Sirius – A time of success and confidence

This aspect is active from 27th August through until 7th September 2013 – It occurs at 14:16 degrees Cancer

This is a lovely connection that is about to occur. Sirius sitting in Canis Major, the constellation of the great dog as I have mentioned before is the brightest of all the stars in our universe in relation to the earth and is known quite rightly as the shining one or the Scorcher. This star brings a link between one's small acts or deeds that you may carry out in relation to the greater scheme of a project. It can also see you rise to prominence for a short time, the 15 minutes of fame one always talks about. Now if you add in the beneficial and expansive influence of Jupiter, that 15 minutes of fame can extend into something much longer and bigger. Here we have a star of success meeting the planet of opportunity, a fortunate combination in my eyes.

Now we do have to bear in mind that Jupiter can always over extend things and in any project or idea that you have to do now or in any deed you do or action you carry out, this feeling of nothing can go wrong can lead one to be over-confident or just plain complacent. As such, it is important now that you do keep your feet very firmly on terra firma, and if you do then you can achieve some significant achievements during the week and a half that this planet and star are in direct contact. Look to where 14 Cancer is in your own natal chart and here is the key to expansion and where you can find opportunities, unlock some previously closed doors and generally do very well. There is a feel good factor at work, one that you have a chance to engage with and harness for yourself.

Around the world you may see confidence on the up as a result of this connection. Stock markets may rise, international cooperation may happen and the doom and gloom of the financial downturn that the world has been suffering may be relieved for a short while. Expect good news to come out somewhere and I don’t often say this here on Solaris Astrology, so savour it while it lasts.

Death toll rises in Santiago de Compostela train crash

This is an awful crash that occurred last evening in the northern Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela by all reports at 20.41 hrs. A train 247 people derailed going around a bend and all the coaches came off the tracks. The latest reports say that the train may have been travelling too fast for that section of the track and as a result of the crash a shocking 77 people have been killed and many more injured, some severely. The astrology of this incident when you look at it is particularly nasty.

Mars and Jupiter conjunct Murzims - Having the courage and desire to speak out

This aspect is active now (with Mars) and continues with Jupiter until 2nd August

We have both Mars and Jupiter now conjunct the fixed star Murzims which sits in the constellation of Canis Major, the large dog. This star is nicknamed "the Announcer, as it rises before the great star Sirius, the brightest star in the skies and is connected with carrying a message or having something important that others should hear or read. Ptolemy mentioned that this star gave good qualities, charity and a faithful heart, but violent and dangerous passions.

Mars as you will know is a determined and action based influence and this this is a message that is loud and clear. Here is the truth and the news being proclaimed loud and clear and what is said now may anger people or cause them to be irritated and upset. Indeed in the next three days while this aspect is active you may be more inclined to speak what is on your mind very forthrightly.

Jupiter is more connected with knowledge and wisdom so after the initial outburst we may find ourselves becoming more melancholy, philosophical and wise after the event and this burst of energy. Here we are encouraged to look for connections to religion and faith in the way we are communicating, or to find a more conciliatory manner of putting our message across. This is a time or recording events and putting them down for posterity, for publishing our ideas too. Jupiter of course is the sign of the young Prince and the announcement of the name of the newest member of the British Royal family will go down in the history books for ever more.

For you now, any announcement you can may make, be it shouted from the rooftops, broadcasted or written (maybe in the form of an advertisement) well be worth while, especially as this connection is also linked to the Grand Water Trine in the skies over us connecting to Saturn and Neptune. What we say to the world now can help us to achieve and to solidify our dreams and ambitions.

Grand Water Trine of 2013 – Time to get things moving at last.

If you hadn't noticed, Mars today moved into watery Cancer and now is moving closer to a conjunction with Jupiter and thus joining the Grand Water trine which so many Astrologers around the world (myself included) have been going on about. This finally as I am about explain will bring some much needed energy to a planetary formation that is sitting there above us with so much potential to help us all.

Jupiter conjunct Polaris – Setting off on a new journey

This conjunction is valid from today until 24th June 2013

Jupiter is now moving closer to the pole star Polaris which sits high in the night sky in the constellation of Ursa Minor, the little bear. Polaris has always been used by explorers as a star by which they find their way and this is exactly the effect it has on any planet, in finding a route or setting a path. The path set here is one of expansion, of embracing different cultures, new faiths and ideas and of learning, of going on a journey and not worrying about the consequences of the challenge and the quest as reaching your goal outweighs the potential pitfalls that may lie along the way.

Jupiter is the planet of law and maybe new agreements and statutes agreed under this aspect will pioneer a new direction and attitudes. In a way this is an entrepreneurial aspect, representative of the businessman who wants to start up a new enterprise, the man who is full of innovation and has optimism and hope on his side.

I think you might see a slightly bolder and brave attitude within leaders and their handling of difficult and troubling problems around the world. The G8 summit in Northern Ireland starting on Monday may see the world’s leaders in a bullish mood willing to tackle issues together that normally would lead to inertia and fudge.

With you and your life, if you have plan for your future or you want to achieve something big, see if you can start putting some ideas together now as Jupiter conjunct Polaris sets a marker point down to go on a journey and to follow that distant star. The conjunction will start to initiate the grand trine in the night skies above us with Neptune and Saturn, so this aspect really can expand your life in the next month or so and finally long held ambitions can be seized and acted upon. I would wait until Saturn moves direct from 8th July before really moving forward and putting ideas into action though.

All in all, this is a lovely positive position for Jupiter, a signpost on the way ahead as he heads for the sign of Cancer and the start of a spectacular Astrological summer to come.

Jupiter conjunct Capella – Encountering new experiences and being bold

This aspect is active now and is valid until 26th May 2013

There will be a feeling of adventure and boldness that accompanies this aspect as it starts to close in over the next few days. Capella is the main star in the constellation of Auriga, the charioteer. This is a star is very much associated with two Greek goddesses, firstly Artemis who was the goddess of the hunt and Diana who was the goddess of the Moon, birthing and the woodland animals and creatures. This is a star of freedom and of movement and of the love of the chase. This is not an aggressive star and it promotes independence and the right to do as one wishes.

Jupiter making contact with this star brings expansion, a feeling of experimentation, a need for justice and also a devil may care attitude. If you have been feeling that you want to break free and try something new, then under this influence you can do just that. Even more importantly, this aspect is almost at the time of the Uranus Pluto square being exact too and within this Uranus is the planet moving forward so rebellion and a fresh way of looking at situations and the potential to moving things forward is very strong.

The issue of one’s freedom against one’s existing personal commitments is a theme that may well be very large in many of you reading this post. To solve this dilemma, you can get things really moving now and impetus is here in huge amounts so that you can push ahead in a new direction, if you have the desire and the will to make it happen. Be brave, be bold and grab the opportunity while it exists in the skies above us…

Jupiter conjunct Aldebaran - Honours are bestowed

This aspect is active from today until the 26th March 2013.

This is the third and final hit from Jupiter to the royal star Aldebaran, the star in the eye of the bull in Taurus. This star is the known as the "Watcher of the East" and confers honour and glory on anyone who has a planet or angle connected to it, so long as you keep your integrity and you are honest and true. This star is judgmental and if you fall from those high standards, then you will lose everything and more.

The first hit to Aldebaran occurred in mid summer of last year coinciding with the Olympic Games in London, and medals and glory were given to the athletes who competed the best. The second hit was in December when Jupiter was retrograde between the 6th and the 20th and this saw the darker side of Jupiter and this star as it coincided with the mass shooting at Sandy Hook in Connecticut. The astrologer Robson says that this star when connected to Jupiter it does favour high ecclesiastical honour, and so appropriately, this last hit will see the crowning of a new Pope.

Let's hope that whoever they choose, he has a clear conscience and no skeletons in the cupboard, as he will have this star conjunct to Jupiter when the new pontiff is announced. If any skeletons do exist, then this influence will seek them out and eventually destroy him.

Jupiter square Chiron - Learning about our inadequacies and offering a chance to correct them.

This aspect is now well under way and will be in close aspect into February as Jupiter turns and moves direct. I rather think there is very much a synastry between Chiron and Jupiter, because Chiron in mythology was a Centaur and Jupiter's sign Sagittarius also represents a Centaur. Chiron was also a teacher and a knowledgeable one too and of course Jupiter rules knowledge and wisdom. Chiron in the old stories suffered a potentially fatal wound by being hit by an arrow from Hercules, but was granted immortality by the Gods, so in effect he became a healer who could not heal himself. Chiron rules wounding and healing, and some people think because of his erratic orbit around the Sun that Chiron is also a bit of a maverick influence.

Now interpreting Jupiter square Chiron is tricky, because of the myriad of possibilities we have here. Will Chiron cause a wound because of Jupiter need to explore and experience new things. Jupiter tends to take chances and here you open yourself out to harming yourself. Jupiter also encourages expansion, and maybe any wound will come because you are over extending yourself. On the other side of the coin, Chiron can heal you by curbing your excesses. Go on a diet for example or give up smoking or drinking too much. Maybe Chiron will force you in to healing your financial situation by encouraging you to cut your cloth accordingly? It all depends where in your chart this mutable square is activating.

As this is a mutable influence, this change will slightly easier to achieve than if it were a fixed square for example; fixed ones often need a really painful break in your behaviour before you learn to change your ways. In a mutable square you can change your direction by simply adjusting your manner of doing things, not to say this is still going to easy to achieve.

With both these bodies promoting wisdom and knowledge, this could be an excellent time to do some studying so that you might learn something very valuable for the future. Maybe someone of knowledge and experience will come along now, enter your life and give you a helping hand?

In this aspect, we still may have to face painful truths about ourselves and about where we are going wrong in out lives. This aspect does give us a chance to do something about them before it is too late. Especially as this square is still active after Jupiter turns direct on 31st January, you can use Jupiter's forward motion to start to open out and to learn some of the lessons from the past. It's time for some redemption in our lives, a chance to correct some of the mistakes we have made, and to become wiser and stronger in preparation for the next stage of our development...

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Venus in Libra trine Jupiter in Gemini - Spread the love around

This aspect is now active until around 10th November.

In the middle of all the stressful eclipse aspects coming up, Mercury retrograde which can cause disruption and Venus' recent connection with the Uranus Pluto square which would have stirred up problems in relationships, now Venus in it's home sign starts to connect in a lovely trine to Jupiter.

This is lazy, easy going, flirtatious and fun; just about what we need right now, especially for those of you in the US who have endured Super Storm Sandy and the barrage of TV ads, phone calls and emails all in the aid of your Presidential Election. This is the ultimate de-stress aspect and a chance to have fun with and be generous to the one you love or to find a new friend to hook up with. Go out, meet people, socialize and enjoy, for more stress lies in wait for us all as November progresses.

Mars opposite Jupiter - Trying to make the most of your opportunities...

This aspect is now closing in making an exact aspect on 28th October 2012.

Mars is rapidly approaching an opposition with expansive Jupiter. This aspect is one of those pioneering ones where you can make significant progress in your life, if you chose the right option that is.