Reprint and updating from an article written in 1986 and again Retrograde in Pisces in 2010
by Lynn Koiner
From June 20 through October 17-18, 2021, Jupiter will be Retrograde in the sign of Pisces. When Jupiter is Direct, it is a time to expand outwardly into social, political and professional areas. It is geared toward externals and outer accomplishment. When Jupiter goes Retrograde, the action is reversed and the emphasis is upon inner awareness and inner growth and it is a time to get in touch with personal integrity. When opportunities arise, they are the result of seeds planted in the past, from people met in the past or from connections made in the past.
Jupiter Retrograde is more spiritual and philosophical so it is a time to rediscover a simpler philosophy that you have used once before— something may occur that reminds you of a time when you had a better perspective.
It is a time to complete Jupiterian projects— to go back to school and finish your education, to take a long distance trip that you had postponed, or to make a connection with a long lost friendship. It is a good time to take spiritual or psychological courses in order to gain a better perspective on life. It favors all activities that are altruistic, raising money for a good cause or group.
In my chart interpretation, I use a key phrase for Jupiter Retrograde— that it is the area (the House) wherein you are able to restore to life things or relationships that are considered dead or dying. Jupiter Retrograde in the 2nd, 6th and 8th Houses are excellent for healing. Jupiter Retrograde in the 2nd and 4th Houses favors restoring objects or houses for resale. It might be interpreted that, when Jupiter is transiting Retrograde, it is a good time to restore or revive any project or relationship that is failing. I consider Jupiter to be the relating principle in a chart— how we reach out and connect with others and what we relate to most easily. During the Retrograde Cycle, it is a good time to go back and make a re-connection; it is a time to revive that which is failing.
The philosophical orientation struck home back in 1986 when I found myself doing a lot of soul-searching— about myself, my career and the direction that I needed to take in my relationships with others in my professional activities. I felt that I reflected more than acted, especially because Mars was also Retrograde (as it is in early 2010). I felt the need to see things from a broader perspective (Jupiter) and not my tiny Virgoan vision. To further expand my vision, I had a reading with my dear friend, Elisabeth Fitzhugh. With Jupiter Retrograde, the reading truly gave me a broad perspective about the direction that my energies were taking me. There was a Full Moon at the time, representing illumination. As the Sun casts light upon the dark face of the Moon, so too our Soul and inner self can shine through and show us what was previously hidden.
With Jupiter Retrograde in Pisces, a compassionate, tolerant understanding can manifest. The philosophy and reflection of this Cycle can contain more of an inner vision, a spiritual quality and a greater sense of altruism than when Jupiter is in other signs.
NOTE: Just as Jupiter Direct was entering Pisces in 2010, the crisis in Haiti touched the hearts of many, evoking a humanitarian response around the world.
DEPRESSION & JUPITER RETROGRADE IN PISCES — what happened in 1986:
In the summer of 1986, Jupiter was just retrograding in Pisces when I returned home from an astrological conference in Los Angeles. I experienced depression, feeling uncertain about the new direction in my life, and I did not even know where to begin in making the needed changes. This was a strange and abnormal feeling for one with 3 planets in Gemini— a sign that counteracts depression and boredom with mischievousness, finding little adventures and mental stimulation. Upon talking with friends, I noticed a similar pattern with people who were experiencing the same feelings of uncertainty and despondency. What was happening astrologically? I knew immediately— it was Jupiter Retrograding in Pisces!
As I earlier wrote, Jupiter Retrograde is a time for going inward and examining one’s self from an internal, introspective, spiritual and philosophical perspective. It is one of the best times to make a good evaluation of your psychological state and the growth path that must be taken. However, Jupiter in Pisces is quite different in its perspective than when in other signs. Pisces is vast, cosmic and universal. Now, when we go inside and examine ourselves, we see the vast vision of all that needs to be changed, the long road to be taken and it can make us depressed. In Pisces, its abstract nature does not show us the specifics of what must be done to bring about the changes— the wide angle perspective can be overwhelming.
It would be so easy if one could look inside and see what needs to be changed this week, next week or next month but seeing great stretches of time can be disconcerting. It is like me having an experience at 18 years of age wherein I would see where I am today and what I have accomplished. It would boggle the mind of an 18-year old who would become aware of all of the studying that would have to be undertaken to get here but not knowing exactly where to start. Pisces is a sign that, in its sensitivity, easily becomes depressed and feels sorry for itself.
The friends that seemed to have fared best under Jupiter in Pisces were those who took immediate steps to extrovert their energies. One friend decided to return to college to study courses that interested her the most and energized her mentally. I could feel the positive energy as she described what she was doing. Another friend decided to study flying in order to get a pilot’s license. She enjoyed her selection because of the type of high-energy people with she became involved with during her training. You can see that these are extroverting activities with extroverted personalities involved. This is important! At that time (this was back in 1986), I did not seem to be able to find extroverting mental activities but I did find solutions that helped: 1) I demanded of the cosmos my right to have energy and to feel good; 2) I went to the drugstore and bought a paperback book that engrossed me mentally; 3) I started meditating with a black obsidian crystal to ground my energies.
When embarking upon an introspective mode, shocks and trauma in the life seem to have an even greater negative effect. I feel that emotional traumas experienced while Jupiter is Retrograde, especially in Pisces, can cause tears and stresses upon the etheric web, this web being the outer rim of our etheric body. This, in turn, makes the individual more vulnerable to the negative influences of the astral or emotional plane.
In 2010, there was the Jupiter Uranus conjunction in Pisces and Aries. It was a fantastic year as a documentary was filmed about me and my dad and our farmette in downtown Silver Spring MD (you can find CORNER PLOT with Google). Every time the conjunction hit our charts there would be more publicity, even internationally. The conjunction was in my 7th House of the public.
In 1986, I wrote this article for all who may be experiencing these same moods. If you realize that you are not the only one and that there are astrological influences to justify your feelings, then you may start to feel better.