Monday, August 21, 2017

Jupiter adrift on the River Styx: October's Scorpio ingress






In October, Jupiter will shed his Cosmic Judge robes (for hanging out in cerebral, justice-minded Libra) and will take on his sexy Black Knight garb...

...a strapping new look that will set hearts aflutter as he steps firmly into the Mars- and Pluto-ruled domain of Scorpio. This brooding, intuitive and potentially ruthless realm will be mildly uncomfortable for the Optimist King, but will definitely suit Game of Thrones fans.

Bear with me here, however—to understand what this new passage for Jupiter will mean for public affairs, the economy and today’s geopolitical tensions, it’s not enough to simply interpret the keyword phrases that will apply; we need to appreciate the broader cosmic context as well. Even so, the keyword phrases are compelling: 

Growth by any means, and the ends justify the means; Extreme defensive measures; Expansive manipulations and power plays; Expanding one’s reach to avoid taxation (overseas bank accounts?); The growth of Plutonian, “survival of the fittest” ideologies and power dynamics; Expanded policies/actions intended to purge “impurities” (however those are defined); Cynical use of growth ambitions to achieve power; Expanded death tolls; Expanded covert and clandestine investigations.

And more...
Growth in undercover police forces; Growth/Manipulation of hidden power dynamics; Exploitation of mined resources; Potentially deadly natural disasters; Ruthless, bullying tactics for achieving success; Growth in organized crime (money laundering, sex trafficking, etc.) and thuggery; Powerful opportunities for transforming systems of power….etc.


This is a dreary, albeit partial collection of possibilities for the coming year (Jupiter enters home sign Sagittarius in November, 2018), and we need to remember that there’s a light at the other side of Scorpio’s River Styx. Finance-minded constituencies love this transit--and Jupiter loves them back, until he doesn't, so take nothing for granted.

Unfortunately, getting to the light side of Scorpio often demands that we surrender to an intense process of confrontation, breakdown and clearing. It’s a character-building passage, and heaven knows, as a nation, we need to examine our character and come to grips with its darker, moldier corners these days. 

It’s no coincidence that this Scorpio passage transpires in our national 11th and 12th houses (Sibly): I would argue that this will be the beginning of an important gestation process. The “baby” we give birth to when Jupiter reaches the Sibly Asc will be either a reaffirmed commitment to our positive ideals as a nation, or a sad accommodation with the dark ideals we saw on display in Charlottesville, sold to us in the name of growth or security. These are the usual pretexts for sealing a Faustian bargain. 

In so far as possible, we need to make this passage a conscious one, as Jupiter transits between this Scorpio horizon in D.C. and the Sibly 12°+Sagittarius horizon in January, 2019. That’s asking for a lot from an 11th-12th house transit, but between these two horizons, we have urgent soul-regeneration work to do, a process that includes purging our collective mythos of its accumulated toxins before Jupiter’s homecoming in fiery Sagittarius. Moving Confederate statues to museums instead of celebrating them in town squares would be a good start, but it’s just a start. 
 
To purge effectively, of course, those toxins must gurgle to the surface for all to see. Charlottesville and Trump’s response to it tells me that we’re already engaged in this tearing down process. It’s all been an international humiliation, but I am heartened by the outpouring of counter-protesters in Boston this past weekend. 


The last go-round

The issues underlying Charlottesville demand priority, but Scorpio’s toxin-clearing process will dig up other kinds of collective dirt, as well. The last time Jupiter ingressed Scorpio was in October, 2005, and the finance industry was fully committed to Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan’s so-called “easy money” policies—Scorpio and billionaires are like Forrest Gump’s “peas and carrots.” 

By unleashing “quants” to design ever more convoluted, algorithm-powered ways to extract profit from thin air (a considerable feat of Scorpionic manipulation), this Jupiter inspired excessive risk-taking on Wall Street and laid the groundwork for what Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan labeled the “irrational exuberance” of the market. This characterization certainly fit Jupiter’s move into Sagittarius in November, 2006.


In 2005 and 2006, even before Jupiter entered Sagittarius, risky, toxic investments (Scorpio/Pluto) in subprime mortgage loans mounted, expanding the housing bubble (Jupiter), and it was simply a matter of time before the bubble would burst, devastating thousands of home owners whose mortgages became “under water.” What better reflection of water sign Scorpio and its relationship to debt? An “under water” mortgage is one in which the mortgage amount is more than the market value of the house.

It’s worth pointing out that the 1999 Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, passed under the Clinton administration, rolled back key financial regulations contained in the Glass-Steagall Act (1933) that prevented that destructive subprime mortgage lending, among other prudent restrictions. The chart for the 1999 act features a strong Aries Jupiter disposing Sagittarius Pluto, within 3° of the Sibly Asc

I’m sure there’s no need to recount the stormy period that followed from there, as this Pluto tightened its conjunction and opposed Gemini Saturn across the Sibly horizon on September 11, 2001. Yes, Jupiter and Pluto (and their ruling signs, by extension) have been constant players on Wall Street and in regards to our national security and wellbeing.  

So, yes, for our Jupiter-ruled nation (Sagittarius rising, Sibly chart) there could be some dicey times ahead, as Jupiter launches its boat across Pluto’s River Styx. Let’s examine the ingress chart alone, set for Washington, D.C.


Chart #1: Jupiter enters Scorpio, October 10, 2017, 8:25:23 a.m. DST, Washington, D.C. Tropical Equal Houses, True Node.

Jupiter rises at the ASC (Scorpio), opposite Uranus (Aries). This Jupiter rises like a grand, but ominous-feeling apparition on the horizon. We can imagine a scene from the indigenous history of the Americas, as Cortez’s ships came into view for the first time. Some peoples had no vocabulary to express what was approaching, and so they didn’t really “see” the ships for what they were. 

Make no mistake, Jupiter has intense plans for this voyage—opposite Uranus, they may even be shocking and revolutionary. Considering that Jupiter’s exact opposition would have happened before this ingress, there may be shocking/revolutionary developments already in progress that Jupiter’s move into Scorpio will help us to begin processing from a deeper perspective. Remember—this is happening in the Sibly 11th and 12th, so the nation’s unconscious impulses are likely to surface.



We can’t help but be blown away by the synchronicity here: Jupiter rises in the chart of its Scorpio passage, not just anywhere, but in the seat of our government, Washington, D.C.!  Should we take the post-Charlottesville statements by the alt-right that they’ve “declared war” on D.C. seriously? Is their movement (which smacks of Scorpio’s dark side, to be sure) about to enjoy a massive growth spurt that tears the country apart (opposition to Uranus)? 

Or, will Jupiter’s aim of purging our national toxins be co-opted by the distracting forces suggested by co-disposing planets, Virgo Mars, Capricorn Pluto and others? Here’s where we need to consider more closely how this chart works with the Sibly. 




Biwheel #1: (inner wheel) USA – Sibly chart, July 4, 1776, 5:10 p.m. LMT, Philadelphia, PA; (outer wheel) Jupiter enters Scorpio, October 10, 2017, 8:25:23 a.m. DST, Washington, D.C. Tropical Equal Houses, True Node

Interchart Mutable Grand Square: Ingress Mars-Venus (Virgo) conjoins Sibly Neptune (Virgo) and opposes Ingress Chiron (Pisces); this axis squares Sibly Mars (Gemini) opposed Ingress Saturn (Sagittarius). The sabers are rattling with the Mars and Saturn activity we see here, and considering how tightly these points tie into Trump’s natal Full Moon configuration (chart not shown), it’s fair to be concerned that his trigger finger will be quite itchy by this time (if it isn’t already). The chaotic atmosphere we’ve come to expect from his White House is on full display here, and we might expect some of his military advisors to be in the spotlight. 

This doubling down of Mars activity is also concerning because Mars co-disposes Ingress Jupiter with Capricorn Pluto. We’ve talked a lot about Pluto’s ongoing transit into its return position in the Sibly 2nd house, but here we’re starting to see that it’s not just talk—it’s actually getting close enough to start counting orbs. Ingress Mars-Venus are trine both Plutos, and Mars pretty exactly trines the Pluto/Pluto midpoint! 

So, the corporate military establishment (Virgo-Capricorn) appears well-funded and poised for action here, and this is doubly significant since Sibly Neptune (Virgo) is also involved—Mars transiting Neptune speaks to delusion-based actions, and in the context of the mutable grand square, we can expect these to be carried out in a chaotic, over-stressed manner.  

The oppositions and squares to Ingress Chiron speak for themselves: all these chaotic misadventures take a toll on the nation as a “home” for its people (4th house). Infrastructure bill? Never heard of it!  
The complex aspects that Ingress Venus is caught up in here—including her cozy trine relationship with the Capricorn Plutos—evokes an interesting connection from Sumerian mythology known as “Inanna’s descent into the Netherworld” that’s worth a longer explanation:


“In the poem, the goddess, Inanna descends into the Underworld, apparently seeking to extend her powers there. Ereshkigal is described as being Inanna's older sister. When Neti, the gatekeeper of the Underworld, informs Ereshkigal that Inanna is at the gates of the Underworld, demanding to be let in, Ereshkigal responds by ordering Neti to bolt the seven gates of the Underworld and to open each gate separately, but only after Inanna has removed one article of clothing. Inanna proceeds through each gate, removing one article of clothing at each gate. Finally, once she has gone through all seven gates she finds herself naked and powerless, standing before the throne of Ereshkigal. The seven judges of the Netherworld judge Inanna and declare her to be guilty. Inanna is struck dead and her dead corpse is hung on a hook in the Underworld for everyone to see.” 

The story doesn’t end there, however: Inanna has powerful allies who succeed in arguing for her life and safe passage home, but they are countered by a “horde of angry demons” who demand that she be replaced by someone else. The story ends on a sorry note for one:

“When Inanna discovers that her husband, Dumuzid, has not mourned her death, she becomes ireful towards him and orders the demons to take Dumuzid as her replacement.[6]

Venus and Mars (Dumuzid?) conjoin in this Ingress chart like husband and wife, but Mars (not at his best in Virgo) may suffer greatly for his heartlessness. There are no military solutions to today’s geopolitical quandaries, and if we pursue military options simply to expand our “power” as Inanna sought to do (there are corporate profits and mineral rights at stake, after all - Ingress Venus-Mars trines Plutos), we are inviting the stripping away of our honor, integrity and reputation in the world. The “Queen of the Underworld” (Ereshkigal/Pluto) will bring us low.


Final thoughts

In Scorpio, Jupiter in our national chart will spring trap doors open as it tempts our darker impulses: at what point is More and Bigger, for the sake of More and Bigger (a Jupiterian pitfall) simply not better?  Perhaps when it's more off-shore oil drilling, more coal mines...more recklessness with the environment.

Faustian bargains like these will likely taunt our politics, but Trump himself may begin feeling that he’s losing his “edge.” From just before last year’s election, Jupiter has been softening other, harsher transits to his chart by its presence near Trump’s natal Jupiter (Libra), and it’s now moving out of orb quickly, leaving Saturn to conjoin his Moon and oppose his Gemini Sun-Uranus-Node from Sagittarius. 

In good times, Trump is difficult to deal with; how will he be in these tougher times coming up?

Jupiter will be traversing his 3rd house while it transits our Sibly 11th and 12th, so he is likely to become more protective and secretive about his immediate environment and about his viewpoints on issues. If this is even possible, he’s likely to become more intensely focused on the economic dimension of his job (and on his own businesses, which have never stopped concerning him). In regards to the country, this focus makes sense as the national budget and debt ceiling become the big issues this fall (Jupiter trines Sibly Venus-Jupiter in Cancer). 

As Jupiter edges deeper into Scorpio, it will also trine Trump’s natal Mercury (8°+ Cancer) and square his Pluto (10°+Leo), so he will probably seek out experiences that make him feel energized and validated. We can expect more campaign-style rallies and even more attempts to control his media coverage, especially if the Mueller investigation reaches a critical point (likely around the time of that Scorpio-Leo square). 

But these are the easily predictable possibilities. With Jupiter traversing his 3rd house of communication and mental resources, there are likely to be less obvious dynamics in play, as well. For starters, Scorpio co-rulers Mars and Pluto will continue to steel his resolve, so those wondering when he’ll be gone are going to have to be patient. 

These same co-rulers will provide him with the possible distraction of wars to wage (hot and cold, “trade” wars): we’ll see what his “big announcement” regarding Afghanistan is later today. Interesting timing for such an announcement, on “eclipse day!” 

Finally, in regards to all the talk of Trump’s possible mental health issues, that perhaps he’s in the early stages of dementia, etc.—time will tell. About a month after Jupiter enters Scorpio, it moves into trine position with transiting Neptune, creating a grand water trine with his Mercury. 

  

Trines are not necessarily a positive when it comes to mental issues—they tend to unleash whatever repressed material is lurking in the mind, and in Trump’s case, this will unleash his mouth  (as if he’s been that restrained already). Of course, that will further feed the speculation about his mental health. Toxic tweet-storm are likely to persist.

Trump’s natal Mercury square Neptune (Cancer-Libra), with Mercury disposing his Sun-Uranus conjunction (Gemini) could certainly account for all the speculation: he is naturally an erratic, delusional thinker, who likes to craft his own “realities” as he goes. But these placements also explain why some say he’s “crazy like a fox.” Let’s just say for now that the Cosmos will be testing his mettle, mental and otherwise. 

It will also be testing our mettle, as a nation—and that may be a good thing, ultimately. Happy Eclipse Day!!







Raye Robertson is a practicing astrologer, writer and former educator. A graduate of the Faculty of Astrological Studies (U.K.), Raye focuses on mundane, collective-oriented astrology, with a particular interest in current affairs, culture and media, the astrology of generations, and public concerns such as education and health. Several of her articles on these topics have been featured in The Mountain Astrologer and other publications over the years.

She is also available to read individual charts—contact her at: robertsonraye@gmail.com.

© Raye Robertson 2017. All rights reserved.