What is a retrograde?
When a planet goes retrograde, it appears to be moving backward in its orbit (from the perspective of Earth.) This happens because of the differences in orbital speed between the Earth and the other planet. It is important to note that the planet is not actually moving backward, but rather it is an optical illusion caused by the relative motion of the Earth and the planet.
What does Jupiter represent?
Jupiter is the planet that governs confidence, truth & expansion.
How often does it happen?
Jupiter Retrograde happens roughly every 13 months.
How long does it last?
Jupiter goes Retrograde for around 4 months each year.
How does it effect people?
One of the most common ways that Jupiter Retrograde affects people is that during this time they may lack confidence and find it difficult to believe in themselves, causing them to seek a lot of reassurance and external validation and also avoid taking necessary or beneficial risks. People tend to feel more self doubt than usual during Jupiter retrograde, sometimes this is a generic feeling but oftentimes it can affect particular parts of the psyche, for example, some may feel a lack of confidence in their intuition, or their physical appearance, or their ability to progress in their personal or work lives. It will usually affect either the areas you generally tend to struggle with in terms of your confidence or, wherever the planet Jupiter is in your birth chart, or soul plan reading.
Another thing people are frequently affected by when Jupiter is retrograde is honesty! For a lot of people it becomes difficult accepting the truth about particular aspects of your life, especially if they require a certain level of growth from you that you aren’t necessarily ready to make, however for others, the difficulty doesn’t lie in accepting the truth, but dealing with the realisation. It could trigger a low self esteem, harsh personal criticism and even depression as you acknowledge how you have been standing in your own way. Another thing you may find during this retrograde is that truths do come to light that often cause you pain or a shocking reality check, those around you may get caught in a lie, come clean about some dishonesty or in some other way you get clarity on something you have been in the dark about.. this may cause you to analyse your morals compass and reevaluate how you will navigate this news and/or relationship based on the information you receive.
Finally, some people during Jupiter retrograde struggle with feelings of stagnation. Whether literal or perceived it can cause feelings of restlessness and discontent. It might cause people to become impulsive and act without forward thinking or planning which could work out to be challenging in the long run. For most people who struggle with this it’s because they are consciously or subconsciously comparing themselves to other people and their journeys, making them feel inadequate, or less than and needing to prove themselves.
What to avoid?
Avoid self judgement, harsh criticisms and most importantly comparing yourself to others! Understand that we each have a unique journey that isn’t meant to be the same for each of us. Take time to acknowledge your strengths and get proactive about making an attainable plan to achieve your goals whilst still giving yourself compassion and grace! Also avoid internalising other people’s criticisms of you, identify what can help you become the best version of yourself and make a plan (if it resonates with you) to put it into practice!
Avoid comforting yourself in “well dressed lies”. You may be encouraged to step out of your comfort zone where everything is perfect and you have no personal work to do to improve but avoid stepping straight into the alley of doom where you become a failure in your own eyes! There is a middle ground between knowing you have work to do on yourself, and having compassion and grace for where you are on your journey and it’s important during Jupiter retrograde to find that balance to help you remain focused and dedicated to your growth.
Avoid procrastinating! You may feel inclined to procrastinate due to a lack of self belief, overwhelm, or a lack of understanding, but the key is to first identify “why” you’re procrastinating in the first place, so you know how to overcome it. You may need to affirm yourself, or make an action plan or seek out some guidance or support from another person but whatever you need to do to get started, do it! Remember that the opposite of procrastinating is NOT impulsivity! Get clear about not only what you want to achieve but why and how and take each individual step at a time.
What should you do?
During Jupiter retrograde, I would advise you to seriously focus on working on yourself. Identify the areas of your life where there is room for development or growth and make a plan of how you will actualise it. The retrograde will cause some to feel stuck, others to feel lazy and others to bury their heads in the rose tinted sands.. avoid being one of those people if you can help it by taking accountability for your personal growth and choosing to show up for you! IF however you are really struggling with this, give yourself some compassion and instead of trying to actualise goals during these next four months, make the necessary plans for when Jupiter stations direct and be sure to get serious once these energies balance themselves out. The worst thing you can do is fight against yourself and build inner tension and resentment. Listen to your body!
Affirm Yourself
Beauty Magic
Shadow Work
Plan for Growth
Practice Self Compassion
Seek Support
Journal
Create a Vision Board
Learn Something New
What will provide support?
Crystals:
Citrine - Success
Labradorite - Inner Knowledge
Green Aventurine - Growth
Moonstone - New Beginnings
Clear Quartz - Amplifies
Herbs:
Sage - Energy Clearing
Vanilla - Restores Energy
Motherwort - Confidence
Cinnamon - Passion
Yerba Santa - Growth
Yoga:
Warrior III - Core Strength
Chair Pose - Confidence
Half Moon - Self Belief
Crescent Moon - Expansion
Child’s Pose - Comfort
Affirmations:
I am constantly growing. Even when I don’t notice it.
The only thing that can motivate or slow me down is me.
I believe in my ability to create the life I desire.
I know exactly who I am and accept all parts of myself.
The only person I need to be better than is the older versions of myself.
Shadow prompts:
Where do I need to be more confident in my life?
How am I comparing myself to others?
What does growth look like for me and have I been standing in the way of it (if yes, how?)
Which area of my life do I feel stagnated in and what is the root cause of this lack of progress?
What personal truths have I found it hard to digest and what do they say about me if I accept them?
What is the lesson?
How Retrogrades affect you depends on how you are currently navigating your life, Issues during Rx are just highlights of the areas we need to address. Some people may experience more positive experiences during Rx due to the fact that the planet was Rx at their time of birth, whilst other may have a more intense time. Some people will have no untoward experiences at all, sometimes because they are unaware of the effects, or because they are in alignment and there is nothing for them to learn at this time. The important thing is, not to go looking for problems, being aware of how the energy can show up can allow you to prepare for it and ground yourself through it. Use this survival guide as an empowerment tool rather that a reason to worry. Overall, trust yourself and the universe enough to surrender, relinquish control!
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