Jupiter Rx in Taurus: Sowing the Seeds

Paul

Then a ploughman said, "Speak to us of Work."And he answered, saying: You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth.For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons, and to step out of life's procession, that marches in majesty and proud submission towards the infinite.When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music.Which of you would be a reed, dumb and silent, when all else sings together in unison?Always you have been told that work is a curse and labour a misfortune. But I say to you that when you work you fulfill a part of earth's furthest dream, assigned to you when that dream was born, And in keeping yourself with labour you are in truth loving life, And to love life through labour is to be intimate with life's inmost secret.
- Khalil Gibran -- The Prophet

With Jupiter still dancing backwards in the sign of Taurus from our vantage point, we are checking the seeds of what brings us true security and making sure they are healthy. When Jupiter turns direct on December 25th  we'll begin to place the seeds ever so gently back in the soil, trusting that what we grow will be more healthy and authentic, having rooted out those things which we've come to realize aren't going to sprout and giving more thought and reflection to those things we truly want to develop. Alright, enough with the garden metaphor ... 

As with any retrograde planet, the energy internalizes and quiets down a bit. It's not so much about outward expression as it is about cultivating the values of that particular planet for us on a personal level.  Check where Jupiter is in your chart and what sign the planet is in your natal chart. This will give you some clues about what's up for review  as well what's up for harvest when the planet turns direct. Jupiter implies luck, growth and opportunity; it has been compared to that jolly, good uncle that spoils his nieces. The character of that uncle is indicated by Jupiter's sign and house position in your chart. Of course, it doesn't mean that we can misbehave or go missing when avuncular Jupiter tries to show up for us, but the planet will do his best to shower us with abundance and tell us how (sign) and where (house) to share our gifts, one day growing into that generous, larger-than-life character ourselves. 

So...with our collective Jupiter in Taurus right now and retrograde it's like we are being given a homework assignment to sift through what is working for us on a financial level as well as on the level of our values which perpetuate these patterns of earning and our level of abundance. Jupiter retrograde asks us to believe in our value even if externals aren't tossing us gold coins just yet or meeting societal expectations of how the larger world should reward us. And if it is, than acknowledge that great blessing.  A key word for this transit is authenticity; we want to get in tune with our earthy needs, financial and sensual. Taurus is about being in flow with our own nature and the more we feel that connection to ourselves on an inner level, the more the outer world to rises to meet our expectations and give us everything we need to grow and have the sort of abundance that feels just right.

I imagine the current position of Jupiter in Taurus with its trine to Pluto in Capricorn forming a slingshot and slinging out the seeds with the most potent potential for growth in areas that matter to us personally. So do your homework and remind yourself of the essentials. If you set down a foundation, what would it include? What grounds you? What is it that you wish for financially and materially that would make you feel more of who are and more of who you truly want to become? Validate any successes you are already experiencing in those areas and if you already feel really good about your place in the world and what you are contributing, just smile and keep going. It will only get better.