The Jupiter Archetype: The Functions of its Life Cycle
Note: In astrology, the combined unique functions of the
seven visible planets, Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn,
create a fourfold life cycle. This cycle is comprised of nourishment,
production, distribution, and rest. Each of these planets expresses each of
these four stages in its respective cycle, setting up a fractal-like pattern
reflected in the whole (nature's life cycle) and each part (the life cycle of
each planet).
Of the seven visible planets,
there are three pairs that have antithetical functions to one another: Sun and
Saturn, Venus and Mercury, and Mars and Jupiter. (The Moon has a unique
function that is not antithetical to any other planet, but is an extremely
important planet in astrology as it is the archetype of the manifest universe.)
Jupiter's functions include pleasantness and
wealth. Its functions are antithetical to Mars'. While Mars is lean and mean,
Jupiter is fat and easy going. Mars is progressive, Jupiter is conservative. Mars
is about survival, while Jupiter allows one to enjoy life with it comforts.
Without Jupiter, we would never enjoy the results of our hard work or get any
downtime.
Jupiter becomes
manifest at 5 degrees of Cancer (commonly known as Jupiter's exaltation degree)
when summer is just starting out. This is also the opposing sign of Mars'
manifestation and the reason why these planets are antithetical to one another.
The season a planet is born in determines
how that planet is nurtured. Summer nurtures Jupiter at its birth with an
environment of pleasantness, abundance, and productivity. This season of
comfort and plenty imbibes Jupiter with pleasantness, products, and
wealth. It provides Jupiter with the qualities we use to enjoy the fruits
of our labors during the fall harvest.
By the time Jupiter comes of age in the fall, the range
from 5 degrees of Libra to 5 degrees of Capricorn, the planet gives the day, year, and human life what they
need to relax and enjoy themselves during the first half of the non-productive
cycle. The non-productive part of the day begins; the annual harvest is brought
in; and an adult has made his/her contributions to society, is ready to
supervise others, and go into retirement. In this quarter, Jupiter
is geared toward non-productivity with its functions of pleasantness,
comfort, and wealth. Jupiter fattens life up in order that life may be enjoyed
and sustained until another productive season can begin. Jupiter sustains Mars’
past innovations and efforts. Without Jupiter, life would always meager and
harsh. There would be no resting on one's laurels or stopping to smell the
roses. Life would also be unforgiving, with a lack of reserves and support.
Jupiter is essential for enjoyment, sustainability, and comfort.
In winter, Jupiter has completed production and is ready to bestow and distribute its
harvest, or results, of its productive season through its functions
of pleasantness, comfort, and wealth throughout nature. At this time,
the sleep period of a day, year and life will come to fruition. This quarter for which Jupiter gives its results runs from 5 degrees of Capricorn to 5 degrees of
Aries. A huge chunk of this quarter in the grand life cycle is the peak of
non-productivity for a workday, annual growing season, and adult period of a
human. This is when humans sleep, fields lay barren, and humans die.
In the spring, when Jupiter reaches its anti-climax point
of death at 5 degrees of Aries, it has completed its life cycle and is ready to
rest and recuperate until it will rise again. This quarter spans from 5 degrees
of Aries to 5 degrees of Cancer. It is a time when Mars inspires people to
innovate. People are ready to wake up and start another productive day at
school or work. This is the
time of year when a new growing season is kicked off. In the
human lifetime, we are nourished and supported by our parents in order that we
may be productive in our adult years. Jupiter rests while Mars reestablishes innovation
and purpose.
Where Mars wakes and sleeps early, Jupiter
is the late riser and late sleeper. Where Mars’ efforts create nature’s wealth,
Jupiter gathers those fruits and uses them to sustain us through nature’s
non-productive periods. Mars is harsh and revolutionary, while Jupiter gives
comfort and cushion and keeps things conservative. After Jupiter is nourished
in the summer and productive in the fall, it distributes its results of
pleasantness, comfort, and sustainability through the winter, so nature can make
it through the non-productive cycle of life and be ready for a new fertile
season. When Jupiter rests in the spring, life is invigorated and inspired to produce
again. Summer then has Jupiter rising
to be nourished for sustainability, pleasantness, and conservation in the peak
of life’s abundance.
Image description and source: Bronze bust of Jupiter, Roman copy (2nd century AD) after Greek original (2nd half of the 4th century BCE. khm.at
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