On Sunday December 7, 2014 Jupiter began to move backwards, or retrograde. This creates a stop and review energy that can help you slow down and process the past few months.
Any retrograde begins with a station, in which a planet is like a train stopped at a station, that is, not moving. The station can last a day or two (typical for fast moving Mercury) or a few weeks (more likely for a slower moving planet like Jupiter or Saturn). Jupiter will remain at the same degree, technically known as the 23rd degree of Leo, until December 28, 2014.
Jupiter entered Leo back in mid July and since then has powering through almost two thirds of that sign, from 0 – 22′ 37′ Leo. This part of your chart or life (the house that holds this space, or any planets that fall there) has been expanded, energised and awakened since July. With Jupiter now retracing his steps, you too get a chance to go back over some of the exciting developments or larger-than-life events of recent weeks.
I don’t know about you, but personally I welcome this. In my life, as I have noted in many others, the past few months have been turbo charged. Jupiter moved out of water sign Cancer, which by its nature is more hesitant and cautious, and into bold, brassy Leo. In Leo Jupiter is literally the king or queen, a dynamic figure willing to take risks on behalf of adventure, learning and truth + purpose. (Check out this post on Leo Moon + leaders if you need inspiration!)
I am curious if you too noticed a shift in energy and experience since mid year. Has your life moved more quickly, has it been more full? Have you had more travel, study, teaching or general learning opportunities? Has philosophy, faith, meaning or purpose mattered more?
Jupiter in Leo by the Signs
The most direct way to apply the energy and possibilities of Jupiter in Leo to your own life is to connect this cycle to a particular house in your 
chart. That house will describe topics, themes and areas of life that are now ripe for growth, like moving to the next stage, or may reveal a theme that’s become dominant.
Jupiter will stay in Leo until mid August 2015, so if you can work this out, you’ll also know one of your key topics of focus heading into 2015.
Jupiter in Leo, a sign ruled by the Sun, was the inspiration behind the 2015 edition of the WellBeing Astrology Guide.
If you are an Aries, or have Aries rising Jupiter in Leo will trigger your 5th House. This evokes topics like love, romance, creativity, pleasure, having fun and children.
If you are a Taurus, or have Taurus rising Jupiter in Leo will trigger your 4th House. This evokes topics like home, family and your living set up, and whether you want to stay put, move or renovate.
If you are a Gemini, or have Gemini rising Jupiter in Leo will trigger your 3rd House. This evokes topics like self expression, communication, writing, intro type teaching or study and anything to do with siblings.
If you are a Cancer, or have Cancer rising Jupiter in Leo will trigger your 2nd House. This evokes topics like money, income, savings and anything to do with stuff you own or would like to own growth and how to pay for such stuff.
If you are a Leo, or have a Leo rising Jupiter in Leo will trigger your 1st House and Ascendant. This evokes topics like personal growth, life dreams, appearance, happiness and generally putting your desires front and centre.
If you are a Virgo, or have Virgo rising Jupiter in Leo will trigger your 12th House. This evokes topics like rest, escape or retreat, like a sabbatical, working behind the scenes or in private and taking time out to prioritise wellbeing.
If you are a Libra, or have Libra rising Jupiter in Leo will trigger your 11th House. This evokes topics friendships, networking, social media, making a stellar impression in large groups, community causes or projects that benefit the collective.
If you are a Scorpio, or have Scorpio rising Jupiter in Leo will trigger your 10th House. This evokes topics like career, reputation, teaching or presenting especially at work, professional leadership, work related study or training, writing, publishing and travel.
If you are a Sagittarius, or have Sagittarius rising Jupiter in Leo will trigger your 9th House. This evokes some of your favourite topics like travel and adventure, as well as truth, purpose and meaning. New locations and a fresh philosophy abound.
If you are a Capricorn, or have Capricorn rising Jupiter in Leo will trigger your 8th House. This evokes topics like money, especially to do with shared money, like couple or family finances, as well as taxes, debt, long term investments, mortgages and inheritance issues.
If you are an Aquarius, or have Aquarius rising Jupiter in Leo will trigger your 7th House. This evokes topics like love and partnership and will highlight all your important one on one relationships.
If you are a Pisces, or have Pisces rising Jupiter in Leo will trigger your 6th House. This evokes topics like work and wellbeing routines, and how to better balance daily life. Life can be OTT busy or abundant so be clear on what you want – and what you don’t.
Jupiter in Leo means those topics or areas of life may be triggered in such a way where you want better quality, like luxury if it triggers your home, or more leadership opportunities if it triggers your work. Quality, prestige and visibility or high profile are all classic Jupiter-in-Leo things.
It’s hard to be more specific without looking at a chart but hopefully this gives you a few tips for those keen on some DIY astrology. Failing that, organise a chart consult and I will be happy to do the hard work for you!
Revise, Review, Reimagine
But for now, with Jupiter in reverse – retrograde – between December 7, 2014 – April 7, 2015, you get the chance to review your big picture dream, revise your focus or reimagine your most important hopes and beliefs. If life has been over the top full and your schedule abundant of late this can bring a chance to slow down, get centred and recharge for the next phase of growth (starting once the retrograde is over in mid April 2015.)
Personally as a Pisces rising, Jupiter is in my 6th House of Daily Duties and everyday has been full, especially with Jupiter things like teaching and 
travel, mostly work related.
What this meant for me workwise is there were two major astro conferences within a month, I lectured at both and gave the keynote address at one. I co-taught my first 6 week program at the esteemed Kepler College, on my favourite predictive topics, and then flew out to Australia for a month long work/family visit, which included lecturing at an online conference, and reconnecting with my oldest students from when I first started teaching back in Sydney as a bright eyed 20-something.
Summing it up with Mr Scorpio I realised out of the past 12 weeks, I was only home for 5, and on the road for work stuff. Jupiter OTT indeed!
Jupiter, Planes and Turning Around
I couldn’t help but think of Jupiter station earlier this week when I attempted to fly from Australia back to Canada. I arrived at Sydney Airport on Monday around lunchtime, the requisite 3 hours before my Qantas flight to Dallas (the longest commercial flight in the world!). A delay with boarding (I believe they said something about having to switch planes originally?) meant we boarded about 40mins late.
Once onboard, a further issue (no idea what this one was about!) meant we sat on the tarmac for nearly an hour. Finally almost two hours late we took off. After about 3 hours flying it was quite apparent things were not going well – the in flight entertainment system had stopped working and apparently there were issues with some of the loos. I’d had the best airplane dinner ever though!
Alas the flight did end up turning around and we returned to Sydney about 11pm, just before the curfew, almost 12 hours after first getting to the airport. (Incidentally, Jupiter rules travel and would be associated with planes – literally Jupiter retro!)
Having had this happen once before (flying back from our Maui wedding in 2013) I was familiar with the massive queues that would follow, as ground staff worked to organise hotel vouchers and cab coupons for everyone on the plane. While I find the A380 to be a superior flying experience all around, the idea of lining up with 480 of my nearest and dearest travellers was not how I wanted to spend what remained of the evening!
Thankfully, there was a fast option offered to travellers who were based in Sydney, ie that didn’t need a hotel voucher, just cab charge vouchers. Within 20 mins of collecting my bags I was speeding back to Mum and Dad’s. One plus of being on the roads at 12am – no traffic! A cheeky four hour sleep, shower and return cab trip the following morning meant I was all set for round two and one of the first in the check in line at 7.30am Tuesday.
Things were much more positive that day – we boarded early and of course with the dramas of the day before we were treated very well by the crew. The rest of the trip was uneventful and I am a convert to the SYD – DFW route. If you are heading to the east coast of the US or Canada (New York, Toronto) and apparently judging by where lots of other travellers on the trip were going, any place in Mexico, it’s a faster option than going through LAX for sure.
White Christmas
If I had any doubts about where I was after such a topsy turvy start to the week, I only have to look out the window. Well I should say attempt to look out the window – the bottom third is covered in snow as our first major storm of the season arrived over night. Definitely back in Canada and now on track for a white Christmas!
So this has been a classic Jupiter story (perhaps a little on the long side – also Jupiter!), but the point is this flight experience was for me an manifestation of the station ideal of stopping, which is the precursor to the retrograde itself, in which all the ‘re’ words emerge.
I knew coming back on this flight I would be home for a few months, and after the busyness of the last little while I welcome that, and am actually excited about the idea of a routine again. Jupiter station will give me a chance to get caught up on some back end admin-y type stuff and take a moment to set some intentions and dreams for 2015.
Have you been touched by Jupiter of late? Can you see how to make the station and subsequent retrograde work for you?