Jupiter in Retrograde Meaning: A Time to Actively Upgrade Your Life

Jupiter, the planet of good fortune, the Great Benefic of the zodiac, occasionally goes retrograde. This sounds like a paradox because think of retrogrades as less-than-fortunate astrological phases, however, Jupiter brings the very opposite of that thanks to its intensely positive nature.

Jupiter’s Astrological Profile

Jupiter is the astrological equivalent of the Greek God, Zeus and is also known as the Hand of God in our charts because it offers the divine fortune we need to expand our lives. Zeus’ symbol is the thunderbolt and he’s in charge of the Sky and all the other gods. Jupiter rules the fire sign of Sagittarius and is traditionally, a co-ruler to the water sign of Pisces, along with Neptune. But this planet influences us according to its placement in the natal chart.

The planet of good fortune also brings expansion with it. It leads us towards our greatest potential by putting opportunities in our lives and supporting us in our growth process. Our expansion also comes with a lot of joy, wisdom and knowledge that helps us better our lives.

This gas giant wants us to believe in ourselves and understand that we can do whatever we set our sights on. It’s the largest planet in our solar system which increases the potential of its energy.

Having said that, its blessings are not a given. You need to play your part in its cosmic narrative to achieve the best outcome. But if you’re working on your goals, determined to better your personal and professional life, and maintain an optimistic outlook generally, this planet has space to work its magic.

The house and sign of Jupiter in your natal chart

These show in what area of your life you’re meant to experience growth and new opportunities that you should take advantage of. But I also put a lot of importance on the planets that Jupiter touches through various astrological aspects. For instance, Jupiter in conjunction with Venus will expand your finances and relationships while Jupiter conjunct with Mercury will expand your wisdom and knowledge through your mental energy.

What is Jupiter’s Retrograde Like?

Jupiter goes retrograde roughly every 13 months for about four months. During these months, Jupiter appears to move backwards in the sky, which creates the illusion of retrograde movement but this is just the impression we get from Earth because the trajectory of the planet remains unchanged.

While Jupiter Direct is focuses on your growth and expansion in certain areas of your life, its retrograde works with your inner world. This giant planet is still focused on expansion but expansion that is related to your personal development and self-awareness.

Astrologically speaking, I love the slow motion of this retrograde because, unlike Mercury retrograde, its changes are less dramatic. I think Jupiter takes its time to alter your inner reality and improve your perspective on life, unlike faster moving planets like Mercury. And even if it hits some sore spots in your mind or heart, it’ll do it gently, giving you time to adjust.

This is one of my favorite retrogrades because it brings forth more positive influences than any other planet in retrograde. It infuses our minds and soul with an incredible desire to grow and as they say, where there’s a will, there’s a way! So, during this time, I think we will most likely find the best ways to get our energy back on track and get closer to achieving our dreams!

Embrace the Energy

The first thing to do during this retrograde is pause. Slow down and look at yourself, and the way you think, act, and feel in various situations. Put your energy under a microscope and understand the cosmic molecules that make your beautiful, divine self. Here are the main things to focus on to fully embrace the energy of Jupiter’s retrograde.

Self-awareness and Life Evaluation

Take a good, long look at yourself and where you stand in life. I know this might be easier said than done but going through a few months of introspection can really take you a long way if you do it right. And doing it right only means one thing: be honest with yourself! This is the golden rule of knowing who you are and understanding your authentic energy. Because once you do that, you’ll become unstoppable!

The more we get used to adulthood, the more we start to know ourselves. However, this type of self-awareness is more about observing our thoughts, desires, and reactions in relation to our environment and the people in it. Jupiter retrograde wants us to see who we are without any external influences. What are our divine gifts and what parts do we need to work on? This type of self-awareness requires only one actor in the entire play: you! 

How are you when everyone leaves and you’re entirely alone, in your home, doing what you love most, or simply relaxing? Once you understand your energy on this profound level, you’ll be able to shape it into one that aligns even more with your divine purpose.

Do You Know What You Want?

This is the perfect time to re-evaluate your long-term goals. Many times we get swept away by social expectations and do what others expect from us. But Jupiter retrograde reminds you to realign your life path to match what your heart desires!

Use the energy of this planet to cast your focus over your deepest and most authentic desires. If you have a dream but no one supports you in it, this retrograde reminds you that the universe has a path for you and all you need to do is walk it with confidence and determination.

See What Your Relationships Bring to Your Life

While Jupiter retrograde focuses mostly on you and your inner universe, it also sheds light on the most important, beloved relationships in your life. Take an objective look at your friends, partner, and even family members and see how they alter your authentic energy, if they do that at all. Some people will add to your energy while others will subtract from it or stain it with envy and other negative frequencies.

Identifying the healthy relationships in your life and eliminating the toxic ones is no easy job. But it is something you have to do if you’re to become the best version of yourself. What’s even more important during this retrograde is to learn the lessons you were presented with through your relationships. Remember that people don’t meet by coincidence. We all have karma that influences our interactions, among other aspects of our lives, and every important person in our life is put there to teach us something valuable.

Are You Genuinely Happy?

This is one of the most complex questions to ask yourself, because what is happiness? We all have our understanding and definition of this emotional state and you need to answer the question according to your happiness standards. Jupiter wants you to be happy and lead a harmonious life. But to help you reach it, you need to know what true happiness is and how close you are to it.

Do you feel complete within your relationship, at peace in your home, and successful in your career? Is your physical and mental health where it needs to be in order for you to thrive? You won’t not be able to answer this question without a real grasp of self-awareness and an analysis your life in detail. But once you do that, Jupiter will know what type of guidance you need to improve your life and boost your potential by leaps and bounds.

Jupiter Retrograde Dos and Don’ts

What Should I Do When Jupiter is in Retrograde?

Gain Wisdom

This retrograde invites you to broaden your wisdom. You can do this by focusing on your studies, starting a new class on something you’re interested in, or going on an exciting trip. Travelling is highly supported by Jupiter and while other retrogrades might not encourage it, this one is a bit different.

You can learn a lot about yourself by traveling to places you’ve never visited before and taking from them some elements that will improve your life. Read new books, go to interesting movies, and don’t stop learning new things. Jupiter helps you absorb the right information from everything and upgrade your potential and energy according to your level of wisdom!

Look at Your Past Projects

Use this retrograde to take a deeper look at your past projects and everything of importance that you started but didn’t get to bring to an end. Jupiter may reignite your inspiration, especially for creative projects, finally helping you to complete them.

Remember that Jupiter brings expansion and during retrograde, it expands your inner resources, like your thirst for learning new things, your creativity and imagination. All you need to do is explore those resources and use them to complete the projects you’ve always wanted to finish!

Trust Your Intuition

More than anything else, Jupiter retrograde wants you to be in touch with your intuition. When in doubt, your gut feeling knows best —if you listen to it! Your intuition can bring valuable answers to complicated situations and take you out of some complex dilemmas. If you go through the self-awareness process I mentioned above, you’ll likely find it easier to identify the voice of your intuition.

Here’s a hint: pay attention to how certain choices make you feel before you set them in stone. Your body will react according to how well it vibrates with a decision or not. Learn to understand these signals, and translate them into better actions, and ultimately, better choices.

Re-evaluate Your Longterm Objectives

Take a closer look at your life goals and re-evaluate them. If you don’t identify with your objectives anymore, this is the time to change them. There is nothing worse than walking on the wrong path out of fear. When it comes to your life and destiny, there’s not much room for compromise. Try to stay focused on what truly matters to you and don’t invest your energy in projects that won’t contribute much to your future.

Take Time for Self-Care

Jupiter wants you to thrive and you can’t do that if you’re always focused on your work or relationships. Remember that this retrograde is also about the relationship you have with yourself. At the end of this period, you should be more in touch with your energy and aware of your potential.

Self-care is an important aspect of this process. Pamper yourself occasionally and treat yourself after the completion of each goal! This is not only very motivational but also a great way to maintain a healthy mind and body!

What Should I Avoid When Jupiter is in Retrograde?

Don’t make Drastic Changes

This is not the time to make drastic changes that can completely alter the course of your life. Jupiter retrograde wants you to adjust your life but not turn it upside down all of a sudden. So, think long and hard about what you need to change and consider the long-term implications of your decisions.

If you question your relationship, make a pros and cons list before you decide whether you make it better or break things off. Chances are many things could use some improvement and you’ll become more aware of those things during this time but don’t push improvement to dramatic highs.

Steer Clear of Rash Descisions

This is not the time to be impulsive. Whether you’re thinking about a financial investment or a new renovation project, think twice and act once. Take into account the valuable advice of those people you look up to, do your diligent research and fully agree with the decision you’re thinking of making. I’m not saying this is a bad time to try your luck, but it might not be the best time to rely solely on it. 

Don’t Take Good Luck for Granted

This isn’t the time to gamble in general but it’s more important than ever to have a plan B just in case your luck is on vacation for a while. This period adds to your skills and abilities which helps you achieve what you want through your natural talents rather than by chance. And this is ultimately how we develop as individuals; by knowing our limits and doing our best to overcome them by evolving and reaching our true potential!

Don’t Underestimate Yourself

Trust yourself! Jupiter retrograde wants you to uncover your inner power and own it through everything you do. Let your core energy shine and inspire others just as much as it inspires your own actions. This isn’t the time to think less of yourself as such a mindset will not help you to reach your true potential.

Tips for Navigating This Period

Jupiter retrograde is a magical time for you as long as you focus on yourself and recalibrate your energy to match your highest aspirations. Remember that Jupiter wants to fulfill your dreams as long as those dreams represent your core energy and align with your higher self. “Be careful what you wish for” is the central theme of this season, and it involves a lot of self-awareness and personal growth in order to manifest your desires effectively.

Don’t worry about others’ expectations as long as you’re at peace with your authentic self and remain true to your values. This doesn’t mean that you should be stuck in your ways and not willing to give an inch, but rather to be aware and wise enough to identify the right changes you need to make to improve your life.

Remember that personal development will manifest in all aspects of your life. When you grow as an individual, you make better decisions and gather the right people in your circle to support your evolution. It all starts with you and this is the biggest lesson of Jupiter retrograde: be the change you want to see in the world!