Jupiter, the ruler of the ancient gods, is a giant self-illuminating planet, the centre of a mini-solar system of his own (Jupiter has over 60 known moons). A massive force, he radiates more energy than he receives, in keeping with his role as lord and teacher of the gods. Ju-piter (“Father Iu”) as he was known by the Romans was called Zeus by the ancient Greeks. Zeus also became deus (God) in Latin, but the origins of the name are from Sanskrit, the elder tongue of the migrating Indo-European peoples who eventually populated both Europe and India. Jupiter was Dyaus-pitar (“Sky Father”), the original creator.

Traditionally described as the “Greater Fortune” (or “Greater Benefic”, Venus being the “Lesser Benefic”), Jupiter governs joy, luck and wellbeing. When well-aspected, he provides superb opportunities for expansion and success. Poorly aspected, he generates over-confidence and foolhardy actions with little care for the consequences—so we always need to look very carefully at his gifts. Planetary lord of Sagittarius and Pisces, Jupiter is masculine, disciplined, co-operative and priestly. He rules our potential for growth and expansion on many levels: physical, intellectual, spiritual and cultural, along with the accumulation of material assets, power and status. Exalted in Cancer, healing Jupiter describes our optimism and aspirations, but he also rules cultural pursuits, religion, powerful males, government and matters of state.

Jupiter also governs our interests in faraway places, travel, foreigners, academic and artistic types, cultural endeavours such as publishing, higher education, structured personal development, healing, government and religion. Jupiter is a risk-taker, so also rules gambling and speculation, adventure—and moving into unknown territory.

This massive planet spends about a year in each sign, taking twelve years to complete the journey through all twelve signs. He turns retrograde once a year for 120 days, being stationary for some 10 days. Jupiter’s transits set the stag.