Jupiter has been retrograde since November 11th of last year. During this time, Saturn was also retrograde (since July 12th). The backward motion of these heavyweight planets manifested as delays, complications and frustrations—even as Jupiter attempted to begin to give the results of his new (and short-lived) exaltation, which lasted from 10/18-12/05, with the portion from 11/11-12/05 being considerably weakened by his retrograde status.

The delays and complications that result from the retrograde motion of the slow moving planets Saturn and Jupiter are much more substantial and widely felt than those of the faster moving planets: Mercury, Mars, Venus.

Jupiter moves one sign per year, and Saturn takes about 2.5 years to traverse a sign. In contrast, the faster planets can move through a sign in 1-2 months or less. When a planet remains for a longer period of time in a sign, it has more opportunity to create substantial change there (for better or worse), and to impact natal planets that it might come into contact with. This is why the transits of Jupiter, Saturn and the nodes (which move every 1.5 years, but are always retrograde) are considered more significant than those of the other planets, which are in and out of a sign rather quickly.

When these same slower-moving planets turn backwards, from our perspective here on earth, it is a signal that they are re-arranging something substantial, which in life can look like frustrating complications, delays, doubts and directional changes in places where it really matters. While Mercury retrograde may create technical or communication related issues, a retrograde Saturn can bring a project to a complete standstill.

There can be more subtle, internal effects as well. Jupiter, for example, governs decision-making and the pre-frontal cortex. He is in charge of meaning-making and storytelling, and helps us learn and generate wisdom from our personal experiences. It is this wisdom that we then lean on to guide our future and make choices informed by our experience and which are in line with our values.

The retrograde motion of Jupiter made decision-making more complex, and can have the specific effect of clouding or slowing one’s thinking. Making plans or considering the future may have felt difficult or heavy during Jupiter’s retrograde. The integration and digestion of information may have also been impaired, as well as the ability to give and receive advice or guidance. It can also call into question one’s path and purpose in a way that generates an inordinate amount of doubt.

Jupiter is the planet governing dharma or purpose, morality, and goodness all around. The backward motion generated a fixation on ethics and integrity, even as it simultaneously created some visible retrogression in those areas on the global scale.

Now, Jupiter officially begins the forward motion which will soon (June 1) take him into his exaltation in Cancer for one year. He has officially changed direction and is wrapping up his work in Gemini which began in May of 2025 (more on this to come).

With his forward motion, decision-making should feel easier, clarity of thought more accessible, and sense of purpose and personal values should feel less complicated. You may also notice it is easier to give and receive guidance, without second-guessing or being pulled into enormous philosophical or moral questions.

You may notice projects, themes, or relationships wrapping up (or advancing to a new stage) which began in May of last year. Your spiritual life can also feel easier and nourishing.

Anyone who is ruled by Jupiter (Sagittarius and Pisces ascendants) will notice less inertia and drag in their lives, and simple solutions to what have been (for the past several months) complex problems.

There are some post-eclipse combinations still creating tension in the zodiac, so some of the relief that Jupiter’s change in direction can bring may be missed in the battles that are still being fought in Aquarius. Some of this tension will be relieved the first week of April, but there will be other intense energies at that time which might not resolve until May. Keep an eye out for more details on this in the April missive

.