Jupiter
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Astronomy
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system. The diameter at its equator is 142,984 km. This makes it eleven times the size of the Earth. Its average distance from the Sun is 778.4 million km. It takes Jupiter roughly twelve years to make one orbit around the Sun. The maximum daily movement is 12.76 minutes, the average being 5 minutes.
Mythology
Zeus (Latin for Jupiter) was the king of the gods and ruler of Mount Olympus. He is also known as the "god of thunder" or "father of the gods and humanity". He and his brothers Poseidon (Latin for Neptune), god of the sea, and Hades (Latin for Pluto), god of the underworld, were the rulers of the universe. Zeus was the son of Rhea and Cronos (Latin for Saturn). The latter achieved world domination by emasculating his father Uranus. Out of fear that the same fate could befall him he devoured his newly-born children. Rhea managed to save Zeus from this fate by giving Cronos a stone wrapped in a blanket in his place. She smuggled the newly-born to Crete where the Nymphs hid and raised him. On reaching maturity, he set of to free his siblings and overthrow his father. He was aided by the nymph Metis who gave Cronos a potion which made him vomit all his children, together with the stone Rhea had given him. The battle against Cronos, who put up great resistance to losing his power, lasted ten years. When it was over, the younger generation of gods in the figure of Zeus had finally managed to overthrow the older one.
Next to his wife Hera, who among other things was the goddess of marriage (Juno), Zeus took innumerable lovers - both willing and unwilling. When Zeus desired a woman he knew no refrain. He used force or cunning to fulfil his desires. For this reason he also had innumerable offspring. His marriage with Hera was characterised by continuous quarrels. Hera ruthlessly pursued the her husband's lovers and the children they bore him. Zeus tried to protect the women and children whenever possible and punished Hera for her callousness. There were many attempts to overthrow Zeus but he always managed to overcome them. And during those times in which he felt secure in his position, he was an unbiased, generous father of the gods who guided events both in Heaven and on Earth with dignity. The ancients held him in great esteem.
Physical Body
Jupiter is associated with the liver, one of the largest and most important organs and the largest gland in the body.
Interpretation
Jupiter and Saturn are considered to be the two social planets. Their longer orbital periods indicate longer developmental processes which connect whole groups of people from one or several years as opposed to the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars which are the more [[personal planets]]. Jupiter's orbital period of roughly one year per sign means that all individuals born within this time will have the planet in the same sign of the zodiac. Like Saturn, Jupiter symbolises powers which go beyond what is necessary for strictly personal development and touch on wider themes relevant to the wider society. With Jupiter these include justice in the light of a higher order, morality in the sense of an ethical order and religion in the sense of divine order. These are qualities which enable the coexistence of different individuals within a community or society.
Jupiter stands for the principle of expansion. Its house position and zodiac sign reveal how in which area of life an individual will attempt to expand his or her horizons - whether by travelling to distant lands and experiencing foreign cultures or by observing and pondering themes of a philosophical, ideological or religious nature. The house position of Jupiter indicates the area of life in which an individual strives towards higher ideals, meaning and growth in the broadest sense.
Jupiter is concerned with holistic understanding, as opposed to Mercury with its attention to detail and ability to make connections between various individual factors.
When Jupiter aspects an axis or another planet it emphasises the qualities of expansion and meaning in the horoscope factor involved. With harmonious aspects this process is likely to run smoothly even if there can sometimes be a tendency to be too relaxed and therefore idle. With difficult aspects an individual may tend to crave too much and overshoot the mark.
The themes are similar when transiting Jupiter forms an aspect to planets or an axis in the natal chart. However, Jupiter transits should not be overestimated because of their fairly short duration and therefore limited effects, with the possible exception of threefold transits which can occur when Jupiter turns retrograde and direct again.
In classical astrology Jupiter was thought to be the planet of great fortune, in contrast to Venus which was thought to bring mild fortune.
Jupiter is the ruler of Sagittarius and in detriment in Gemini. It is exalted in Cancer and in fall in Capricorn. Before the discovery of Neptune, Jupiter was also considered to be the ruler of Pisces and in detriment in Virgo.
