Post by Sparky TruesdaleTrying to test out a theory on good days to apply for jobs, and unsure
how to deal with orbs and applying aspects. If Jupiter is the planet
of luck and expansion, but it's soon to be in retrograde, how does it
aspect the other planets since it's travelling backwards? For
instance, lets say I was looking for a good day that Jupiter aspects
my pluto, which is at 9 degrees 21 Virgo. Obviously, I've just missed
the conjunction, but with the retrograde motion Jupiter s going to
slide back to that 9 21 degree point in the middle of march. Getting
the conjunction down to a tight 1 degree orb, would the best time be
when jupiter is at 10 degrees, moving closer to the 9 21 i was born
with, or would it be best to wait til jupiter is at 8 degrees and
moving towards the natal degree? I'm not sure I'm being clear... how
do you handle applying aspects when a planet is moving backwards?
If retrograde Jupiter is at 10 degrees is it applying to my pluto at
9 21 degrees?
Or is it applying when it's 8 degrees 56, despite that it's in
retrograde motion? When is jupiter considered separating the
pluto/jupiter conjunction?
The application phase of the aspect occurs when one or both of the two planets
involved are moving toward the exact aspect, such that the orb of the aspect is
getting smaller. It doesn't matter whether the planet which is applying to the
exact aspect is direct or retrograde.
The separation phase of the aspect occurs when one or both of the two planets
involved are moving away from the exact aspect, such that the orb of the aspect
is getting larger. Again, it doesn't matter whether the planet which is
separating from the exact aspect is direct or retrograde.
If your natal Pluto is at 9:21 Virgo, then the application and separation
phases of transiting Jupiter's conjunction to your Pluto are as follows
(assuming a 1-degree orb, and based on positions at midnight GMT):
Oct 06, 2003 -- t. Jupiter enters 1-degree orb -- applying
Oct 11, 2003 -- t. Jupiter conjunct n. Pluto -- app/sep
Oct 16, 2003 -- t. Jupiter leaves 1-degree orb -- separating
Apr 04, 2004 -- t. Jupiter Rx enters 1-degree orb -- applying
Apr 18, 2004 -- t. Jupiter Rx conjunct n. Pluto -- app/sep
May 05, 2004 -- t. Jupiter SD within 1-degree orb -- sep/app
May 22, 2004 -- t. Jupiter conjunct n. Pluto -- app/sep
Jun 05, 2004 -- t. Jupiter leaves 1-degree orb -- separating
On the dates when the aspect is exact, I've written "app/sep" to show that the
aspect is applying up until the aspect is exact, then separating after the
aspect is exact. This will always be the case on the date when an aspect is
exact.
Transiting Jupiter will turn stationary direct while the conjunction is within
a 1-degree orb, so on that date I have written "sep/app" to show that the
aspect is separating up until transiting Jupiter's station occurs, then
applying after transiting Jupiter's station. This will not necessarily be the
case when a planetary station occurs, because it will depend on whether the
planet turns stationary while the aspect is still applying, or while the aspect
has already started separating. Therefore, it could be "app/sep" or "sep/app"
on the date of the planet's station. However, it will also depend on whether
the planet which is turning stationary is the one that is doing the applying
and separating (which it will be in this case, as we are talking about a
transiting planet aspecting a natal planet).
In general, the applying or separating planet is the one which is moving
faster, regardless of whether that planet is usually the faster or slower
planet. For example, if Mars and Jupiter are in aspect with each other--
natal-to-natal, progressed-to-progressed, or transiting-to-transiting-- and
Jupiter happens to be moving faster than Mars, due to Mars being close to one
of its stations (whether SR or SD), then Jupiter will be the planet which is
doing the applying or separating in the aspect. When Mars has sped up to match
and then surpass Jupiter's apparent rate of motion, Mars will become the planet
which is doing the applying or separating in the aspect.
For example, I was born with Mars at 17:44 Taurus and Jupiter at 24:20 Scorpio,
and at first glance it appears that Mars must be applying to the opposition
with Jupiter. However, Mars had just turned stationary direct some weeks
before my birth, and was moving at a slower apparent rate than Jupiter, so
Jupiter was actually separating from the opposition! But some days after my
birth, Mars again became faster than Jupiter, so Mars began to apply to the
opposition at that time. The application and separation phases were therefore
as follows:
Jul 07, 1958 -- Mars enters 1-degree orb -- Mars applying
Jul 09, 1958 -- Mars opposite Jupiter -- Mars app/sep
Jul 11, 1958 -- Mars leaves 1-degree orb -- Mars separating
Dec 01, 1958 -- Mars Rx enters 1-degree orb -- Mar/Jup applying
Dec 03, 1958 -- Mars Rx opposite Jupiter -- Mar/Jup app/sep
Dec 06, 1958 -- Mars Rx leaves 1-degree orb -- Mar/Jup separating
Dec 20, 1958 -- Mars SD within 7-degree orb -- Mar/Jup sep / Jup sep
Jan 04, 1959 -- Mar's motion = Jup's motion -- Jup sep / Mar app
Feb 07, 1959 -- Mars enters 1-degree orb -- Mars applying
Feb 10, 1959 -- Mars opposite Jupiter -- Mars app/sep
Feb 13, 1959 -- Mars leaves 1-degree orb -- Mars separating
The exact Mars-Jupiter opposition occurred a total of three times during this
particular Mars-Jupiter cycle. During the first occurrence (July, 1958), both
planets were direct, and Mars was faster than Jupiter, so Mars was the planet
that was applying and separating.
During the second occurrence (December, 1958), Mars was retrograde and Jupiter
was direct, which means that *both* planets were applying or separating at the
same time, because both planets were moving toward or moving away from the
exact aspect at the same time. When this happens, the aspect is
"doubly-applying" or "doubly-separating."
On December 20, 1958, Mars went stationary direct while the opposition was
still within an acceptable orb for a natal opposition. Up until that time,
both Mars Rx and Jupiter D were separating from the opposition. But once Mars
became direct again, it began applying toward the exact opposition again,
although Jupiter was still separating from the aspect faster than Mars was
applying to it, hence the aspect as a whole was still separating, and Jupiter
was doing the separating.
On January 4, 1959, the apparent motion of Mars became equal to the apparent
motion of Jupiter, at which point the aspect changed from separating to
applying, with Jupiter separating and then Mars applying.
During the third and final occurrence (February, 1959), both planets were
direct, and Mars was faster than Jupiter, so Mars was the planet that was
applying and separating.
I hope I didn't confuse you with this digression, but I wanted to use your
question as an opportunity to explain these sorts of situations.
Getting back to your question, the situation from April 4, 2004 through June 5,
2004 is interesting, because transiting Jupiter will turn stationary direct
while the conjunction to your natal Pluto is still within orb. In general, if
a transiting planet turns stationary retrograde or stationary direct while
within orb of an aspect to a natal planet, it suggests that there will be some
kind of "turning point" in the events or situations which have been manifesting
during the transiting aspect (because a planetary station is literally a
"turning point" in that planet's cycle of apparent motion). Therefore, if you
are currently seeking employment, and if this particular transiting aspect has
any bearing on the situation, it could be that some kind of "turning point"
will occur on about May 5, 2004. Jupiter will be turning direct, so the
symbolism suggests that you may feel as though you've been "losing ground" in
your situation, or as if things have been "moving backward" rather than "moving
forward"-- but after Jupiter begins to move forward again, you may find that
you are making progress again.
This does *not* mean that you should *not* apply for jobs now, or while Jupiter
is retrograde, because it usually takes time for a company to review the
applications and resumes of the people who are applying for the job, interview
the applicants, and decide which one(s) will be hired. If you wait until
Jupiter has turned direct again before you start applying for jobs, then you
may be too late. On the other hand, if you apply for jobs while Jupiter is
retrograde, it is possible that you might not be called in for interviews until
after Jupiter has turned direct, or that you might not hear back about your
applications until after Jupiter has turned direct.
As far as whether it's better to time your actions for the applying or
separating phases of a transiting aspect, I would say that the applying phase
might be better for actions which are initiating something, while the
separating phase might be better for actions which are concluding something.
However, it's not always good to go by those sorts of generalizations. If the
aspect you're interested in has a duration of several days, or even several
weeks, then I would look for dates and times within that period when the Sun,
Moon, or the faster planets are making "favorable" aspects as well. For
example, at the end of April, 2004, the transiting Sun will trine transiting
Jupiter and your natal Pluto, so that looks like a good time-- although
transiting Mercury will be retrograde at that time, so you would need to be
careful with paperwork and communications, to avoid any possible mistakes or
omissions or misunderstandings. Note that the transiting Moon will conjoin
transiting Jupiter and your natal Pluto, and will trine the transiting Sun, on
April 30, 2004, so that might be a good day, or a good several hours (while the
Moon's aspects are within orb) to work on your situation.
Also, transiting Saturn will be sextile your natal Pluto during the end of
April, 2004, and most of May, 2004, so that will be good-- especially with
Saturn being direct again. Shortly after the middle of May, 2004, transiting
Mars will also be sextile your natal Pluto, and will conjoin transiting Saturn,
and will sextile transiting Jupiter. Furthermore, at about that same time,
transiting Mercury (which will be direct again) will trine your natal Pluto and
transiting Jupiter, and will sextile transiting Mars and transiting Saturn. So
it looks like things may start to pick up for you in May, if they haven't
already started doing so before May.
I wish you the best of luck in your job search!
Michael Rideout