Astrological Intimidation and How to Avoid It

Be an Ambassador for Astrology: Reflections and a Quiz

 

© 2012 by Joyce Mason

All Rights Reserved

If “it takes a village” to raise a child; it takes a village to raise consciousness and our body of knowledge. This applies to every aspect and tool of enlightenment, including astrology. “No man is an island” for this reason.

Putting Our Heads Together

Astrology is both simple and complex, linear and intuitive. Its applications are endless. All the knowledge, skills, and esoteric art it takes to realize astrology’s enormous possibilities cannot possibly fit into one head. (Your head would explode.) It has become increasingly clear to me: we, as speakers of the star language, must put our heads together ongoing to apply astrological knowledge to better living. The wise words of Hermes and his Law of Correspondence have become a motto for describing the heaven-to-earth interface: “As Above, so Below.” This implies that cosmic patterns replicate patterns on the ground and in our lives. It also implies that astrology is meant to come out of the clouds (and our heads) into the most practical aspects of living.

We learn early on, if we’re lucky to have siblings, that sharing is essential part learning and having a happy life. I learn more from astrological community than all the books I have read on the subject put together. The information revolution has opened new doors for connecting in these conversations on blogs, websites, social networking groups, online classes, Skype and more.

Yet I still see a lot of astrological intimidation present in these gatherings. I am no exception to feeling it. It has taken a lot of work to overcome enough of my own Virgo self-doubt to become so public with my work. I know well that I don’t know everything. I am aware of the holes in my astrological education that need filling, but no longer think I have to be sidelined until I fill every one of them. I will likely die still having some cavities.

At some point, I had to recognize that there are many things I do know, some of them well. Often I have a unique perspective. The same is true of you.

I am saddened when I see bright people holding back in astrological conversations what they know for fear of being wrong, looking ignorant, not knowing enough or a whole host of other concerns that deprive us of their gifts—and deprive them of the joy of giving.

How do we create an atmosphere that turns this around?

Ambassadors for Astrology

Becoming an ambassador for astrology is a concept you’ll be hearing more about on these pages in the future. It’s the mission of my local astrological organization—I’m president—and one I take to heart.  

An ambassador is a diplomatic official representing his or her country in foreign lands. In this case, the “country” is the cosmos (astrology).

In most countries, ambassadors from an array of other countries have individual embassies in the host country. You are most likely to encounter an ambassador when you’re traveling and run into trouble. Example: You lose your passport. You’d go to the embassy of the country you come from to see your ambassador. The ambassador—or the ambassador’s representatives—would help you replace your passport or otherwise cut the red tape in any thorny situation in which you find yourself on foreign soil. Performing this role as astrologers is one way we can help those who feel lost in the foreign country of our astrological language and customs. It’s a matter of being welcoming and hospitable. That image of ambassadors and hospitality is reason why there is a worldwide hotel chain called The Embassy Suites.

Some people, in astrological conversations, feel like they’ve lost their passport.

Astrologers are most likely to seem foreign to newbies (and even olderbies) when we talk primarily in astrobabble, especially when we speak it like Erudites from the Planet Brainiac. There’s nothing wrong with being smart. We can use all the brains we can find, applied to our convoluted modern challenges. However, we can’t exempt ourselves from communicating what we know in an effective way that does not alienate others.

Not everyone is a scholar, and not all important astrological information comes from scholarship. Much of it comes from life experience and bright people who put two and two together and help come up with answers “four” us all. There are many routes to learning; not all of them are academic. Various paths accommodate the diversity of humankind.

I believe good astrological communication starts with telling us why we should care about a certain theory or technical issue in astrology, continues with explaining it in simple language, and then invites others to share their feedback and reactions based on their experiences.

Here’s the subtle part. Style and attitude make a difference in whether something is perceived as intimidating. When we know a lot, for some of us, there’s a danger that we may slip into acting patronizing or condescending. It’s important to assume anyone drawn to astrology is an intelligent colleague on an equal footing.

The challenge lies in how to communicate something you know to others who may not know yet.

Astrology is not exempt from the rules of good communication. Good communication requires speaking in terms simple enough that they are easy to understand by everyone in the conversation. It’s important to know your audience and adjust accordingly. If many are beginners to astrology, stop to define terms. Invite questions and take even the most basic ones with enthusiasm and support of the asker.

Sounds simple, doesn’t it? In reality, it often takes hard work to nugget things down to their essence. Yet it’s worth the effort for the rewards.

Astrology: Life-Long Learning

We’re taught in school that we can master a subject. We also hear that the older we get and the more we learn, the more we know we don’t know. You could never know everything there is to know about astrology. This discipline we love, half art and half science, has endless permutations, applications, and new principles being discovered, not to mention new planetary bodies (centaurs, dwarf planets). Astrology is not for the feint of heart when it comes to education. To love astrology is to commit to a life-long learning process in order to understand the continuous, vast gifts it gives for understanding people, life and living it to the fullest.

In this set-up, we’re all teachers and learners. There’s no room for I/Thou, if you want to continue to learn and grow. An attitude of inclusion and curiosity about what the “next guy” thinks or knows will enlighten everyone in astrological conversations. It will eradicate astrological intimidation, enhance dialogue, and help us all learn more. I am often pleasantly surprised by how new people to astrology have fresh perspectives or insights that often elude the most seasoned stargazers. Maybe it’s beginner’s mind. In any case, you won’t hear some of these amazing insights without speaking the language in a way that it is understood across many levels of current knowledge.

Be an Assertive Learner

I’ve talked about how an astrologers or astrology students can be intimidating to others. However, in human dynamics, as my malaproppin’ mama used to say, “It takes two to tangle.” It’s also important to make a decision not to be intimidated. Don’t remain lost and let feelings of apprehension creep up and take hold. When you start feeling your brain fogging and your eyes glazing over in an astrological conversation, don’t be afraid to ask questions. I’m not following that. Could you try it another way? If you don’t know a term or concept, be willing to ask. Can you remind me what x means? Or remind me how y works and fits into this. (There are diplomatic ways to ask questions where the asker doesn’t feel small and the asked doesn’t feel “questioned” in a negative way.) Let the question mark be your passport. Willingness to admit you don’t know everything goes for the newest kid on the block to seasoned astrologers. Back to the beginning of this article, we cannot know everything. Astrology is meant to be a dialogue, not a monologue.

If you’re too uncomfortable to do this in the moment at first, stay after the presentation and talk to the speaker or catch the individual one-on-one in some way. (In an online forum, follow up with a private e-mail.) Ask for clarification. You'll be doing him or her a great favor, because the best information on earth will not be useful until it is well communicated to a diverse audience. We gain information in astrology according to how many minds join the party for continued planetary explorations.

Your Report Card – Astrological Ambassador Quiz

How are you doing on creating an atmosphere that’s a welcome mat in your astrological life? Like many things I write, this is meant to be a think piece for self-evaluation.

Here’s a short test on being an astrological ambassador. Grade yourself from A (Excellent) to F (Failed) on each item. Put numbers to the letters to get your total score at the end: A = 5, B = 4, C = 3, D = 2, F = 1.

1. __ I interact regularly with people at various levels of astrological knowledge.

2. __ I welcome the simplest questions about astrology and respond to them with enthusiasm, even when it’s difficult to synthesize what I know into something uncomplicated.

3. __ I let people know with positive feedback when their astrological ideas are unique, well thought, and helpful. (Encourages the practice.)

4. __ I am willing to admit openly that I don’t know everything about astrology.

5. __ I don’t refer to myself as an expert. (Can be very intimidating for dialogue. I prefer “specialist” in a particular topic or area of astrology.)

6. __ I refrain from astrobabble as much as possible, unless I know everyone present speaks astrology at virtually the same level of knowledge as I do.

7. __ I refrain from name-dropping about well-known astrologers. While giving them due respect for their advanced skills, I do not act as if they were gods and goddesses. (Imagine how hard that makes it to approach them. Putting them on a pedestal also rubs off on others.)

8. __ I avoid making assumptions that everyone at the presentation or in the conversation knows the topic as well as I do or the background involved. This is especially true if it involves topics that may be related to astrology, but are not “astrology” per se, such as history, mythology, mathematics, and astronomy. Most people do not have expertise on all these subjects.

9. __ When I speak or help bring in speakers to a group, I avoid using the word lecture in favor of words like presentation. (Who wants to be lectured to? It has a ring of talking down to others.)

10. __ I ask questions when I get lost in an astrological conversation.

11. __ I thank other astrologers who deliver astrological information in presentations or articles with exceptional clarity. (This helps encourage the practice.)

12. __ I am willing to explain astrology to people who don’t know a thing about it, thereby being an ambassador who encourages new people to visit the Country of the Stars.

____ TOTAL

Scoring

48 – 60: Bravo! Keep up the good work!

36-48: Keep these questions handy with a goal toward more 4’s and 5’s in the future.

Under 35: Take this article to heart and consider how you can become a better ambassador for astrology.

Let me know your ideas for making astrological conversations more welcoming, less intimidating, and a positive think tank for everyone involved.

~~~

Photo Credit: © Greg Blomberg Fotolia.com

Postscript: I learned something from my own article! I’d like to encourage readers at any time to e-mail me privately in response to any article on The Radical Virgo. Not everyone feels comfortable posting on the public wall in Comments. In my experience, some of the best ideas often come from those who prefer personal communications. The welcome mat is out! Come on in.

Don't forget the Comment Contest for a Free Mini-Reading or $50 off a Full Reading This Month. E-Book Sale extended thru end of February. See Sidebar.

Back to School: Jupiter and the 9th House, Part 3 of 3

  

© 2011 by Joyce Mason

All Rights Reserved

Jupiter in the Houses

In Part 1, we looked at Jupiter in the Signs. Part 2 is where we visited your 9^th House and any planets in it. Now for the grand finale of our Jupiter Journey, let’s touch on how Jupiter works in the houses, since most of us will have it located somewhere other than the 9^th.

House 1.  You identify with what you know. The first thing you’ll let people see about you is your qualifications, education, and authority on a subject. It may take others awhile to get past your brainy façade onto the real you—brains and a lot more. You may look down on others who don’t make “smart” decisions, since “smarts” are the filter through which you view life. Your personality tends to be big, and people know very quickly that they entitled to your opinion. You’ll go farther if you let out your Jupiter generosity and humor in front of your big opinions, especially if stated in a way that doesn’t hide being judgmental of others’ ideas. You seek educational opportunities that make you look good and degrees you can “wear” like jewelry since learning is so valuable to you. This placement can mark a “real character,” someone whose unique personality is unforgettable.

Jupiter in the 1^st: I like to look smart.

House 2.  Jupiter in the house of values, resources and finances sounds like you can afford a good education and would love the good life enough to manifest money and security or believe you can. (My mother, a great believer, liked to call herself Prosperity Vanderbilt as an abundance affirmation.) Facility at gaining material goods may or may not be your forte, depending on the thinking that permeated your upbringing. (Children of parents who survived the Depression have a special challenge with this issue.) One thing’s certain: You’ll value comforts, nice things, and will consider an excellent education a necessity, not a luxury that will help you get them. You’ll scrimp and save, if necessary, to go to school and you’ll believe that degrees give back in dollars and enjoyment.

Jupiter in the 2^nd: Education buys fortune, comfort, and beauty.

House 3.  You can’t get—or give—enough information. You’re particularly well equipped to be a writer, newscaster, journalist or purveyor of news and learning in nearly any medium. If it involves talking, writing, and educating the public, you’re in. Thus, your ongoing education may be out in the world of commerce, discussions, and current culture. Will you love to go to school? Yes, especially if it helps you be a better teacher and learner in your immediate School of Life. With the 3^rd house connection with short trips, you don’t mind going to a commuter college and working additional degrees into your big communications-juggling act.

Jupiter in the 3^rd: Gotta learn, gotta share, gotta keep talking and writing about what’s happening now.

House 4. You’d rather home school your children and take classes online at home—even better, go to school with your young adult children and make learning a family affair. You’ll insist your kids and grandkids watch a lot of educational television. You’ll enjoy taking the family on educational journeys—especially those with historical significance. You consider education in terms of its benefits to your family. Will it help me to provide more for them? Give them an example of life-long learning? As a writer or learner, you may be good at self-publishing, especially if it involves your clan. Example: Wildly popular author, Janet Evanovich, who writes humorous mysteries, has her entire family involved in her book business. (She has Jupiter in Cancer, similar theme.)

Jupiter in the 4^th: Learning is a treasured member of your family.

Jupiter in the 5^th.  Learning is fun and a creative outlet for you. You’d be particularly good at teaching children, since your own Inner Child is alive and well. There will be a flair for the dramatic in your teaching techniques, and as a learner, you’ll likely get a lot of attention for your pithy comments or humorous responses to questions in class. Education is the game of life to you, and you want to play as much as possible.

Jupiter in the 5^th:  Let’s play school!

Jupiter in the 6^th: Like the 3^rd, the other Mercury-ruled house, Jupiter in the 6^th  can’t know enough. You love learning that translates to service and work in the medical, health, or holistic welness fields. You are particularly organized as a teacher or learner. You’d make a good veterinarian or criminal justice major, since both pets and police are 6^th house concerns. You like to learn specialized topics, and you’re as into on-the-job training as “book learning.” You are a hands-on learner, as the hands are particularly associated with the 6^th house and the sign that rules it, Virgo.

Jupiter in the 6^th: Hand me some learning. I’ll make good work of it.

Jupiter in the 7^th. When I was in college in the 1960s, we used to joke about women who went to school to get their “Mrs. Degree.” This may still be the case for some women with Jupiter in the 7^th—and Jupiter-7^th men aren’t exempt from partner shopping on campus, either. School is about relationships for you. Learning expands your awareness of others and how to cooperate with them. You wouldn’t mind at all living with--or marrying--your honey while still in school and completing your educations together. As a professor, you’re well liked for being fair and listening to all sides of a debate. As a student, you might enjoy that kind of discussion as long as it doesn’t get too nasty and offend your sensibilities, what with Jupiter in this Venus-associated house.

Jupiter in the 7^th: Teach me about people. Find me my most compatible lab and life partner.

Jupiter in the 8^th.  You will research something to the ends of the earth, and since this is Jupiter we’re talking about, you may go there, literally, to do it. Learning is a deep, serious, and even compulsive enterprise for you. You resonate most to the mysteries of life and topics such a life-and-death, sex, psychology, and the criminal element. You’d make a great sex educator or learner on any of these subjects. You have psychic gifts, and when you can use them in your favor, they can shortcut the learning process by giving you the right hunch or hypothesis to begin with, avoiding many time-wasting wild goose chases when you’re writing a paper, thesis, or simply working on a research project. School is deeply satisfying for you, and it brings you a sense of personal power.

Jupiter in the 8^th: Knowledge is power. I get off on learning.

Jupiter in the 9^th: This was covered in the last post on the 9^th House. Revisit it here.

Jupiter in the 9^th: You are beloved teacher and as a student, quite often the class clown.

Jupiter in the 10^th: Teaching is likely to be your profession and/or you're known for your knowledge out in the world. You are often a consultant, if not an educator per se, someone whose executive and administrative powers are sought after—and you’re considered an expert in your field. You have the capacity to become famous and to be known by reputation. When you wear it well, you carry the responsibilities and power of your wisdom in a positive, paternal way—someone who protects, provides for and mentors others.

Jupiter in the 10^th:  Knowing is my job, my fame, and glory.

Jupiter in the 11^th: Learning is the Great Experiment for you, and you have original, inventive ideas about education. Whether as teacher or student, you tend to gravitate toward campus organizations from fraternity or sorority to student council. Group creativity feeds you, and your originality and insights, along with reformist tendencies, allow you to make your mark in the intellectual setting. You tend toward brilliant and may enjoy organizations, such as Mensa that allow you to celebrate your intellectual uniqueness in community with other unicorns. Friends figure highly in your learning needs.

Jupiter in the 11^th: Give me a group of friends at Free Thinkers U., and I’m happy.

Jupiter in the 12^th. Learning is a form of bliss for you, and you like to blend higher states of consciousness with higher education. Metaphysical programs attract you, as well as subjects like psychology, particularly the study of the subconscious and addictions. Aesthetically pleasing environments lure you, as does studying art, music, and mythology. You can seem secretive in your pursuit of knowledge, assuming others already know what you do—hence, no reason to discuss it. You also like, at times, to learn in seclusion. One caution is using school to escape “the real world,” where your visionary and mystical mind is much needed.

Jupiter in the 12^th: Learning retreats are your cup of tea. Your intuition is your path to sorting diffuse educational input into a grand aha.

Putting it All Together—Take Your Notes

Add Jupiter’s house to your notes as covered here in Part 3, using the Robin Williams example in Part 2 as a template. Also, consider any aspects to Jupiter from other planets. However, to keep this from becoming too complicated, simply focus on whether the aspect is flowing (trine, sextile, sometimes a conjunction) or challenging (square, opposition, quincunx, or sometimes a conjunction). That will give you a sense of which planets support your Jupiter or demand satisfaction before you can get the most out of your Jupiter. Take these notes along with some quiet time to contemplate them. They express what you need as a lifelong learner.

Now for the $64,000 Question: Are these needs being met in your current learning situations? Whether it’s an advanced degree, community self-improvement classes, or your astrology meet-ups—do they match your learning style?

If yes, bravo! And a nice confirmation to have. If not, what changes can you make to get to yes?

~~~

Photo Credit: © Norman Pogson - Fotolia.com

Back to School: Jupiter and the 9th House, Part 2 of 3

 House of philosophy, higher education, religion,

spiritual quests, and broadening your horizons.

© 2011 by Joyce Mason

All Rights Reserved

In Part 1, we explored Jupiter by sign. We covered how the flavor of your Planet of Expansion influences your quest for life-long learning. As astrologers and astrology students, knowing how your Jupiter ticks is nearly as important as having chart software. Playing to the needs of your Jupiter will help you learn, grow, and grasp new concepts better, make you a better spiritual adventurer, and give you the broadest view of life.

This second article will explore what’s going on in your 9^th house. You know how Jupiter likes to get bigger. This article series has expanded to three parts. Next time, in the final segment, we’ll explore the house where your Jupiter lives, if like most of us, it’s not in the 9th.

Door Number 9

Although we are mostly focusing on Jupiter’s association with higher education and life-long learning, I’ll add to the keywords under the 9 photo, above: long-distance travel, contact with foreign cultures, cultural trends, history, prophecy and educational institutions. These concepts, too, can have relevance to your best learning environment profile.

If you don’t have any planets in the 9^th House, whatever sign is on the 9^th House cusp will be the prominent influence of your 9^th House. It won’t be quite as strong has having your Jupiter in that sign, but it will nonetheless exert a significant influence on your learning atmosphere. Revisit Jupiter in the Signs in Part 1 to get a sense of how that sign will work on your 9^th House cusp. Jupiter in Aries is a lot like Aries on the 9^th House cusp. Jupiter in Taurus a lot like Taurus on the 9^th, and so on.

Get a feel for what color your 9^th House is painted—a red the color of the planet Mars for Aries, a beautiful earth tone for Taurus, yellow for Gemini, and perhaps an light blue for Cancer, the color of a spring-fed lake. Leo might be gold, Virgo a cool gray-blue, Libra a lush pastel, Scorpio blood red, Sag a fiery orange, Capricorn a business suit gray, Aquarius an electric blue, and Pisces the blue-green of the deep ocean. Visualizing the color brings the energy of your 9^th House to life.

Who Lives There?

Now let’s take a look at the planets that reside in your 9^th House, if any, and what they might do in this astrological “building” akin to a college campus, library, revival meeting, or a ship sailing ‘round the world.

Sun.  You “are” the 9^th House, a teacher and/or learner in some form, traditional or more informal, depending on the sign involved. Your creative self-expression is likely to run toward publishing, law, or spirituality. You shine in 9^th House enterprises, and if you aren’t doing something that’s 9^th-oriented, you are likely to loose your luster and feel depressed. Especially if you’re a fire Sun, you’re likely to be as much an entertainer as teacher. Regular travel is air to you. Without it, you can barely breathe.

Sun in the 9^th: To feel whole, you must get out and experience other people and places on a regular basis.

Moon.  Feelings are your guru. You feel your way through life and quite possibly have prophetic dreams and whispers that send you on the next leg of your journey to learn more. If you aren’t expanding and growing, you are in acute discomfort. The dark night of the soul is when so much is going on for you emotionally; you can’t sense your connection to Spirit and the All Knowing.  Spirituality and the quest for knowledge are supreme for you. Like Sun in the 9^th, Moon in the 9^th is often a teacher as well as a life-long learner.

Moon in the 9^th: Let the Moon lead you, and let travel feed you. Your best vacation is often a spiritual retreat.

Mercury.  You love logic and analysis in learning and the interaction of an educational community. Your many clever ideas find a home in any multiple of classes, formal or informal, and thrive at the pace of the Internet, a speed in keeping with Mercury, the Quicksilver God. You are also the press agent for the 9^th House, gathering articles and references that you share widely, if you aren’t writing them yourself. You love news, writing, facts, and practical education. You are the Professor of Gismos and will help your friends know just which electronic toys to buy to make sure they can Google on the remotest island.

Mercury in the 9^th: Nothing could be scarier to you than not having knowledge at your fingertips! Always bring the charger for your Smartphone.

Venus. Mix the planet of love and beauty with life-long learning. Envision a campus with rolling hills, autumn leaves turning, and a student fed by those surroundings, inspired to learn and grow. Ninth House Venus is likely to go to school or community classes as much to meet others as to learn the course content. There’s nothing wrong with that, inasmuch as relationships are the biggest university in the School of Life. For this person, friendships and beauty must be part of the learning equation—and teachers who are considerate, fair, and balanced in their approach to sharing knowledge.

Venus in the 9^th: You love to learn with and through others in a comfortable, peaceful, happy atmosphere.

Mars.  You are action-oriented when it comes to learning, and you’re likely to take a pioneering educational cruise—or to sign up for other such learning ventures on impulse. Years-long degree courses are hard for you to tolerate for their slow pace. You’re much happier with certificate courses that let you get in, get what you need, get out and get on with it. You love the competitive aspects of school, and if you feel you need a degree to get what you want, the “sport” aspect of school will keep you going—and probably the actual sports themselves. University sports are an important part of the spirit that keeps students stoked through the educational process.

Mars in the 9^th. You’re likely to be drawn to subjects with adventure potential like archeology. Surely Indiana Jones must have had Mars in the 9^th.

Jupiter. Lucky you, if you have Jupiter in its “own” house! Professor, minister, and spiritual teacher are all possible professions. You are the biggest “lifer” of all the life-long learners, and your quest to know truth will lead you to all kinds of adventures, both in the classroom and out in the world of multicultural influences. Your positive attitude and enthusiasm attracts students, fellow learners, and truth-seekers with your magnetic personality.

Jupiter in the 9^th: Think Santa Claus gone back to school with all his generosity, jolliness, warmth and goodwill. You are a beloved teacher and as a student, quite often the class clown.

Saturn. You don’t mind the discipline and structure that’s needed to get a higher educational degree or the most complex of astrological certifications. You are willing to deal with the structure, self-sacrifice and nose-to-grindstone needed to get a diploma and probably a few other special awards along the way. You’re wise and grounded, and you make a nice complement to some of the other Jupiter signs among your peers who need your rooted responsibility to make the organization work, whether it’s the university, the denomination if you’re a minister, or your local astrological organization.

Jupiter in Saturn: You provide the bones in educational organizations and endeavors and the framework necessary to make them lasting. As both a student and teacher, you are hard working and a dependable, often cherished authority figure.

Uranus.  You’re the Dean of the Experimental College and the University without Walls! The more untraditional the learning environment, the more you fit in. If you must be in a more conservative setting, you’re a reformer. You turn the powers-that-be on their collective ear with your innovations and bold objectives. As an astrologer, you are in hog heaven, as it’s the kind of learning system that appeals to you, especially because each chart is as unique as a fingerprint. As a social, friendly professor or student, you love the group learning process. You prefer it, even though you’re independent and have plenty of brainstorms solo that you bring back to your colleagues or students.

Uranus in the 9^th: You want to unleash the power and brilliance of the individual to innovate education, learning, and truth seeking. These great minds brought together constitute a think-tank that can change the world—or at least your corner of it.

Neptune.  Learning inspires you, and it’s just another way of getting to the truth of our Oneness. You learn by intuition and through many right-brain media: dreams, music, myth, spirituality and mysticism. With this placement, you may have difficulty at times grasping and grounding what you’re learning. You may have a tendency to escape "the real world" by becoming a professional student. School is bliss, but it can’t get you to Universal Love without being shared. As a teacher, you are intuitively inspired and often beloved.

Neptune in the 9^th: You’re an ecstatic learner or fantastic teacher, challenged to bring your visions of truth down to earth in a way that others can grasp what you’re seeing.

Pluto. Ninth House Pluto has deep and life-changing experiences around higher education, religion and philosophy. He or she is often the embodiment of current cultural happenings. Teachers change this person’s life. Sometimes there are deep relationships involved, even sexual. This individual can also be affected to the core by a guru or fellow student. Education might be this person’s “ticket out” of a difficult life and make a huge difference in the trend of where s/he was headed.

Pluto in the 9^th: You’re a zealous student and a powerful teacher.

North Node: With North Node of the Moon or the Dragon’s Head in the 9^th, your life purpose is deeply connected with learning. Fortune, prestige, and connections are likely to come in educational and/or spiritual settings. Stay true to your values and you will realize your dreams and visions.

North Node in the 9^th: Your path is the path of learning. Realizing your potential depends on keeping both feet on the path at all times.

South Node:  If South Node or the Dragon’s Tail is in the 9^th, you are likely to have teachers or professors in the family as a legacy—even a past life as a scholar or learned elder. You come from “brains” and wisdom. You may have the ability to draw on these roots as unconscious talents. For you, it’s not so much about learning as remembering.

South Node in the 9^th: Tune into what you know from your genetic or past-life memories—and don’t being afraid to trust your instincts.

Modifications/Taking Notes. Of course, all of the above will be tempered by the sign in which each of the planets expresses. It will also be further modified by having more than one planet in the 9^th. In one article series, even a three-parter, these permutations too large to tackle.  But here’s what I call some homeplay (as opposed to homework) that will help you better understand your Jupiter and 9^th House signature:

Start some notes from Part 1: Lift key words from the description of your Jupiter sign that really fit you. In this Part 2, jot down the key words from planets in the 9^th that stand out to you the most. Once that’s done, add key words for the planets in the signs from memory or your favorite reference, those that are most “you”. In Part 3, you’ll add the House placement of Jupiter, if it’s not in the 9^th. By the end of the three articles, you’ll have the most important nuggets of how Jupiter works for you.

9^th House Quotes by Robin Williams

Comedy is acting out optimism.

I'm sorry, if you were right, I'd agree with you.

No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.

Example from the chart of Robin Williams, who teaches and entertains us by way of comedy:

Click to englarge

Jupiter in Aries (5^th) – Creative beyond most human boundaries, quick witted, fires one joke after another with machine gun speed, usually with profound punch lines. Loaded 9^th: Uranus, Mars, Sun in Cancer followed by Pluto and Mercury in Leo. Innovative, quick, intuitive, transformative, life-and-death and sexual issues. With Mercury right on the MC in Leo, he’s a look-at-me messenger of cultural angst and wisdom. Note Scorpio Rising and Pluto as chart ruler conjunct Mercury. His profession of stand-up comic seems to meet all his life-long learning needs and fits many of his other chart factors to a T, like Uranus trine Moon. (He’s so far out; we originally met him as Mork from Ork.)

It’s great to remember that laughter is both teacher and healer!

~~~

Next: Jupiter in the Houses for the majority of us who don’t have Jupiter in the 9^th—and the conclusion and synthesis of the series.

Photo Credit:  © Martina Berg - Fotolia.com

Back to School: Jupiter and the 9th House, Part 1 of 3

Knowledge is power! Your learning

needs and style shape your life.

© 2011 by Joyce Mason

All Rights Reserved

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here are two things that mark fall for me, even when summer lingers and there’s no change in weather: listening to my husband hoot and holler while he’s watching football and seeing kids in the neighborhood go back to school. I feel cool breezes, and I see breathtaking rust and yellow leaves, even if it’s 99 in the shade in Sacramento.

 Football + School = Autumn. (And I thought I wasn’t good at math!)

I love school. When I was a child, I’d rather crawl out of bed with a temperature of 103 than miss a day. My idea of heaven would be a big sprawling college campus with a smorgasbord of classes. The best part would be having all the time, not in the world, to take them.

Astrologers and astrology students have to be life-long learners.

There’s so much to discover about the earth-to-sky interface. The nuances and applications of astrology are endless, and the sky is always changing. We’re constant explorers, learning more about the cosmic landscape and how it influences us here Below.

I’ll Show You My Jupiter and 9^th If You’ll Show Me Yours

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eelings. I approach 9^th House issues feelings first because that’s the place where my Capricorn Moon lives. My Jupiter is in Scorpio in the 7^th House trine Mars in Cancer on the IC.

What does this say about how I learn? First, if I don’t feel comfortable (Moon), my 9^th House experiences won’t be very pleasant. College was a C- for me, overall, even though my grades were better than that and I went to an amazing school. I had no idea I was such a mama’s girl and so attached to my parents’ apron strings. I was miserable away from home the first time, a fish out of water on a huge University campus. Many times since, I have wished I could have had a do-over when I was more emotionally mature. I would have gotten so much more out of it. I feel cheated. This might be one of reasons I’m considering a graduate degree at my rather advanced age.

Bringing Jupiter in Scorpio into the mix, there has to be depth psychology and the mysteries of life involved or I’m bored. If there aren’t great friends (7^th house) who are like an active family to me (trine Mars on the IC), I am not interested. Jupiter trine Mars is why I am the president of my local NCGR chapter. I have found my star tribe. NCGR is an organization for astrological education. And, of course, there has to be fun! See our video, below to see what I mean.

Now Show Me Yours

As we round Labor Day weekend, think about your Jupiter and 9^th House and what you need for your ongoing education to rock. I needed emotional maturity (I think I finally got it!) and a fun family of friends to learn and play with in the process. Your needs might be completely different. Here are some tools to help you sort it out. Please Comment and share any insights!

A Self-Taught Class on Jupiter

 

During this three-part post, we’ll consider Jupiter, the house Jupiter is located, and any aspects it makes to other planets. We’ll also look at the 9^th House because of its relationship to higher education.  Let’s focus simply on the facet of Jupiter we share as astrologers and astrology students, life-long learning.

Let’s start with Jupiter by sign. Each Jupiter sign begins with keywords for its expression.

Jupiter in Aries - Self-starter, hurried, competitive, and assertive. Would likely excel in online classes that are self-paced. Pace is fast! Would be happier with many short classes rather than fewer classes over longer periods of time. If classes are taken in person, this student is likely to have his hand up a lot, waving it wildly. (Remember Hermione in Harry Potter?) Will enjoy the game of getting the top grade or in astrology class, getting the meaning first.

Jupiter in Taurus – Persistent, determined, steady, productive, practical and opinionated. This individual probably likes to study outside in the garden or sprawled under a campus oak tree. Long classes? No problem. Loves the physical aspects of learning—touching books, papers, and studying with his or her main squeeze. Will pursue those things most that bring material rewards. (Free advice: Study business astrology!) Needs regular coffee and snack breaks.

Jupiter in Gemini – Communicative, versatile, changeable, and inquisitive. How can Jupiter in Gem pare those classes down to something the Twins can manage? They can juggle twice as much as most of us. Still, they live in a body. This Jupiter sign need classes with lots of discussion, and when it comes to astrology classes, the mental stimulation might keep them up at night. A sensitive nervous system can accompany this Jupiter sign, so no coffee after noon. May need an advisor or counselor to help them determine a focus. In college, could change majors frequently. In astrology classes, might flit from specialty to specialty, tripping through Vedic, Uranian, an interest in Fixed Stars and astro-mapping, and never quite settle on a point of view. Can create great eclectic mixes of philosophies, if they can find the thread that sews them together.

Jupiter in Cancer – Sensitive, nostalgic, family-oriented, emotional, cautious, and protective. This Jupiter sign feels its way to knowing and needs a container that can hold its lunar approach to learning so all that water doesn’t spill onto his or her homework. Loves e-classes because s/he can take them from home. Likes going back to school with the kids. Needs a tight-knit campus or astrology group with a family feeling to feel safe and secure. Is likely to bring treats to class and make sure others feel comfortable there, too. In astrology classes, nurtures others through their Saturn or Pluto transits and passes the tissues, tea and sympathy.

Jupiter in Leo – Self-expressive, playful, childlike, authoritative, self-centered, dramatic, humorous. Would rather be teaching the class than going to it, but if learn he must, Jup in Leo is likely to want a big stage and a chance to be on it. Naturally, he loves drama and Astrodrama. Will spice up a dull lecture with playful repartee and look-at-me moments. In astrology class, wants the instructor and students to look at his chart and seems to think they work for him. Lady Leos are likely to wear gaudy, sparkly astro t-shirts and earrings that look like chandeliers of the Sun, Moon, and Stars. Still, they sure punch it up, and watching Jupiter in Leo flirt with the instructor is kind of a kick.

Jupiter in Virgo – Analytical, practical, specialized, intelligent, orderly and particular. “Jupergo” likes to get to the point with sharp pencils and a sharpened wit. This is one serious student, and if the instructor does not meet her high standards, Jupiter in Virgo is likely to be a harsh critic of the professor on the student grapevine, not to mention the end-of-term evaluation. In astrology class, she will stick with an interpretation till she gets it right, which can sometimes feel like Chinese water torture to the rest of the class, which has now become sick of this person’s Moon quincunx Venus—or whatever. Luckily, Jupergo applies Jupiter’s generosity and Virgo’s healing touch and is bound to nurse the headaches she has created by retreating to shyness, once realizing that she has inflicted them.

Jupiter in Libra – Relationship-oriented, fair, impartial, sociable, detached, peaceful, and charming. Needs a beautiful campus or venue for astrology meetings. Will not abide a teacher who’s rude or an unfair grader. Likes taking classes with a partner, be it friend or lover—or classes with available singles, if solo—for now. Seeks kindred astrological spirits and needs to establish some sort of personal relationship with his teacher or mentor. That relationship is as important—if not more—than the teachings s/he has to offer.

Jupiter in Scorpio – Passionate, forceful, secretive, psychic, sexual, jealous, compulsive. This student dives into the deep waters of learning with the passion of a deep-sea diver and doesn’t come back up until she’s found a gold doubloon or other learning treasures. You’ll find few people more focused on a research project, and this Jupiter sign is often drawn into sexual relationships with teachers or mentors. No matter if it’s generally a bad idea; this Jupiter sign can keep the secret and learn things she might not have otherwise because the lure of sexuality is too strong to resist. She will bring out the Scorpio stinger if anyone steals her idea, and this Jupiter sign is the King or Queen of the Hypothesis. Hypotheses are just intuitive hunches that you then prove with left-brained research. “Jupio” is often spot on, but it may take awhile to back up what she knows, intuitively, to be true. When studying astrology, this person is likely to be passionate about the outer planets because anything else is too lightweight to mean as much to her.

Jupiter in Sagittarius – Enthusiastic, optimistic, farsighted, friendly, travel-oriented, straightforward, and philosophical. Lucky you if you have Jupiter “in its own sign.” This is likely to be everyone’s favorite professor, and if you’re on the student side of the equation, learning is so much fun for you; it’s near sport. You’ll learn as much through travel as sitting at a desk in a university, sometimes more. You have the capacity to see the big picture of how life works by seeing how nationalities vary the “window dressing.” Learning ventures on cruise ships or overseas are perfect for you. In astrology class, you’re likely to want to bring laughter to the heady discussions that many astrologers slip into. You’re generous in helping others with their homework, starry or otherwise. You ask many pointed questions. What’s an arrow for?

Jupiter in Capricorn – Organized, ambitious, hard-working, disciplined, down-to-earth, practical, responsible, wise, and cautious. I suspect many educational executives—deans and headmasters—have this Jupiter placement. A good one for the head of an astrology school, too. These are the educational executives, but naturally, that’s something one rises to, climbing Learning Mountain a step at a time, starting out as an ambitious student. Learning is grounding to these individuals, and they see it in terms of dollars and sense. Their equation is work in, reward out—and if they choose their profession well, they will be taken care of by pensions and/or by being regarded as an authority or sage. Like Taurus, this is a great placement for business astrology and the mark of someone who knows how to turn astrology into a thriving business. As astrology students, these folks tend to like traditional, tried-and-true methods.

Jupiter in Aquarius ­– Innovative, original, intuitive, unique, independent, experimental, tolerant, liberal, reformist and visionary. This individual does well with the most unusual curriculum and educational environment he can find. If it’s at the cutting edge of education, “Juparius” is in. Does not do well in stuffy, traditional educational institutions. Takes to astrology like a duck to Water Bearer, as this sign is so often connected to all things astrological. As an astrology student, he’s like likely to understand things quickly and intuitively and to like some of the more unusual branches of astrology. May have his or her own take on astrological interpretation but welcomes the conversation and camaraderie of discussing differences. Has brilliant astro-insights, but you’ll never know when. Expect the unexpected. Jup-Aquarius lighting and thunderbolts of brilliance strike out of nowhere.

Jupiter in Pisces – Imaginative, sympathetic, aesthetic, subconscious, intuitive, escapist, psychological, and psychic. Jupiter in Pisces learns by drinking in information and feeling her way to truth. Masters of story and song, the music scene on campus and listening to songs that fit astrological concepts are as important as books to this Jupiter sign. There’s a lot of right-brain in this person’s learning style, and storytelling is crucial. She’ll see the music in the math of astrology, making it more accessible in a language she understands. She’ll know intuitively the important lessons in the myths behind the signs. Excellent at connecting the dots between parts of an individual’s chart, this person learns astrology from compassion and reading between the lines of the client’s concerns and the cosmic Mandala. She’ll take all the time in the world with you and leave you wanting more.

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Next: A look at your 9^th House and its role in life-long learning.

Photo Credit: © Inacio Pires - Fotolia.com

Postscript: A Report Card on Chiron 101 Summer School

While we’re on the subject of school and learning: In case you’ve been wondering how it went, my six-week online class on Chiron was wonderful. I learned as much as I taught, and I am still buzzing with new insights about Chiron that will find its way onto these pages and into the book I’ll be writing over the next two years. Thanks to the adventurers who went with me on this maiden voyage with Chiron into cyberspace. I will be unlikely to teach this class again before fall 2012, maybe later. However, I’m taking names for those who are interested in the next “semester.” Level of interest—and other priorities—will figure into how soon I may do this again. E-mail me, if interested. To the first Chiron 101 Class, many thanks for your excellent work and open sharing. You made it happen!