Astrology: Transits & Repeating History

Jupiter changes signs every year. As I write Jupiter is now in Virgo where he will remain until September 2016. An interesting thing to note here is that Jupiter itself does not return to any single sign for 12 years at a time. This can be a helpful point to remember because as the planets make their “returns” as the wheel turns we can see repetitious trends make themselves manifest as lifestyles, events, themes, and undertakings. These lessons present themselves as second chances, opportunities to do over any unfinished or mis-stepped business from the past. 
This is actually a very important truth to note when considering the energies of all the planets in astrology, however Jupiter is perhaps the most balanced and consistent planet to observe in regards to our personal lives as the cycle is just long enough to reference our personal history with this energy (that and the lunar nodes, North & South). 
    Some placements of Jupiter will of course be more noticeable and profound in our daily lives. These placements obviously would be transits where Jupiter makes contact with other significant influences in our personal chart (in particular, the Sun, Ascendant, and other personal points and planets). Sometimes Jupiter will move through an area of our chart that has an abundance of planets occupying it (as an example, Jupiter in Virgo is moving through my 11th house where my Sun, Mars, and Mercury make themselves at home). This is a key turning point in any 
individual’s growth. 

So Where (or When) is this Jupiter Transit Taking Us in 2015/2016??

This Jupiter year , August 2015 - September 2016, will bring us all back to 2003. What was going on in your chart then? If you do not know, that is fine. See if you can recall any major themes, beginnings, and endings during that year. Was it a good year? What were the dominant foci ? Was it a year of great love and romance? Maybe it was the year you made a lot of money at work or started a brand new career? Where and who were you 12 years ago? Sometimes Jupiter does not need to transit a planet to have a profound effect on our charts as it will most certainly be making key interactions. Perhaps Jupiter did not go into full effect until a few months in to its move, making only 6 of that 12 months what they were, but this is still a very important consideration to make. Like the Nodal Return (which happens every 19 years), the Jupiter transits can alert us to how repeat lessons will always be there for us to take our cosmic make up exam. If you can remember what and where you were 12 years ago, this will make a profound difference to how you navigate the next year or so. 

What Other Major Bodies are Making Their Mark on These Patterns?

Saturn will be in Sagittarius from December 2014 - December 2017, and the North Node in Virgo (with Jupiter) from the end of 2015. The North Node is very irregular but typically spends 12 - 15 months in a sign, whereas Saturn is much slower. However we can also see trends through these moves. The last time Saturn was in Sagittarius was November 1985 and stayed until November 1988, and the North Node was in Virgo 1997/98 (did I mention the nodal points go backwards? No? Well they do). So here again we can see opportunities for repeat patterns. 


So What Can We Expect to Happen With the Global Community?
Well... a lot. Saturn's move through Sagittarius is already shaking up the division between "upper" and "lower" echelons of society. This is a major breakthrough opportunity. I predict we will be seeing much scandal in he political, and yes, even spiritual spheres. I feel this coming election year from the United States will have one candidate abandoned by their backers POST primary elections this winter. There will also be many more strides in how the global community agrees to handle issues regarding foreign intelligence & investigation. On the spiritual front, I would not be surprised if a few well known figures in the religions AND the metaphysical communities fall from grace. Well, maybe not fall, they may already be falling. Let's say, hit the pavement. Remember in 1987 David Koresh and his cult of Davidian prophecy began to make headlines and grew in infamy throughout the late 1980s culminating in a massacre in 1993. Luckily, the planetary alignments this year show the leader, not the pack, losing power before such a tragic end.
Jupiter's move through Virgo will mirror the latter half of 2003 and into 2004. A big shift here will manifest through a chance to stop repeated mistakes. Let's not forget that in 2003 the invasion of Iraq occurred due to falsified expectations & evidence(to say the least). However, this time Jupiter is in a strong trine  to Pluto in Capricorn (once in 2015, twice in 2016) and there would be no such opportunity to repeat this effort. In spite of all the tragic occurrences in and about the region, this next conflict will be handled with stealth and technology, not infantry. 
The North Node in Virgo promises more strides in science but more-so through medicine and exploration and less in the interest of commercial convenience. Of course there will always be a new phone and a new blue ray player, but the major events of the North Node will share a great resonance with the 1997-1998 years. In 1997 , if you recall, scientists cloned Dolly the sheep. I predict this year longevity treatment on a medical level will break new ground. Space exploration and astronomy will also regain socio/political weight as well just as it had in '97 when the Mars Pathfinder made its landing (on mars....).

So what was going on in 1985-1988, 1997/98, and 2003/2004? What were the major themes of those years for you and your family? 

    Lessons and themes in the months ahead that will “take you back”, only this time with the advantage of knowing the answers to the test ahead of time. Or perhaps it’s a good thing that is worth repeating? That’s also a possibility. No matter what the theme or energies were, there is never a need for apprehension when you have a cheat sheet. I look back and think about those times in my life and I can remember clearly the stories that unfolded. In 1987 and 1988, Saturn had moved into my third house. My parents (who were divorced at the time) both remarried. In 1998, the North Node was in my eleventh house. I began my practice of the spiritual/pagan path and in the same year came out as a gay man. In 2003/2004, Jupiter was in my eleventh house. I completed my two year associates degree in college at the same time I graduated from high school. I also fell in love for the first time (albeit unrequited so I’ll need to make a note of that). It’s a fascinating concept to consider. I look forward to seeing these energies unfold as the cycle progresses this next year.