Hyperactive Jupiter Syndrome

I'm a fan of the great, big-name astrologers whose teachings leave a lasting mark on the field. I go through phases of rereading specific authors, which impacts the approach I'll take when reading charts, and I tend to cycle through them. I guess that's a fun fact about me. So today's a twofer because I would like to build on what someone else has said.

Donna Cunningham is underrated, in my opinion. She died a decade ago, but her blog is still up and running (so you can go visit it and get a lot of free knowledge, if you're so inclined), and she self-published more books than you'll find on Amazon (her "my books" link is busted, though). She has a pretty simplified "this means this" approach, which is helpful for beginners, but she also has a shit ton of experience as an astrologer and a social worker, and provides tangible examples of how different energy combinations manifest.

Anyway, she coined this term: hyperactive Jupiter syndrome. She explains it pretty well on her blog, which I just linked to, but she points out that Jupiter, which is known as a GOOD planet, has a dark side, which most people don't register. In the planetary pantheon, Jupiter and Venus are the "good" ones, but as I've said many times, you see either or both coming at you and start rubbing your hands together expecting a windfall when really someone just hands you some gum, and maybe also a certificate recognizing you received the gum.

As Cunningham says, a strong, hyperactive Jupiter can turn people into insufferable know-it-alls, "experts," overconfident bigots, religious zealots, etc. A regular-active Jupiter can make you openminded and generous, so I'm not here to tell you "Jupiter bad!" because it isn't. Jupiter-often-overhyped, but Jupiter-not-bad-unless-hyperactive*. Apparently I am a caveman.

I would, however, like to add one element to hyperactive Jupiter syndrome that Cunningham does not talk about: the pervasive feeling that the rules do not apply to them and the occasional dismay when they find out that oh wait, they do. Perspective is everything: Jupiter can make you feel that people are basically good, that they have positive intentions most of the time (or, at least, not everything should be interpreted as a personal affront), and that things mostly work out for the best. I had a friend years ago who told me that her basic assumption walking into any exchange with strangers was that said strangers liked her. I definitely don't think that way, but I respect those who do. The friend in question consistently got favors and good customer service, so there's something to that.

Where we begin to see problems is when heavily Jupiterian/Sagittarian people encounter rules *they didn't make* that they don't agree with. Things like speed limits or requests from others not to discuss a certain subject (or maybe even not removing classified files from government facilities) and those get reinterpreted by the hyperactive Jupiterian as suggestions, not real limits.

The Saturnians among us pound our angry little fists onto tables, going "there are rules!" and Jupiterians flout them. That's just a thing that happens. The hyperactive Jupterians think the rule-flouting won't catch up to them. The problem is when it does catch up to them in big ways, and then it's the Jupiterian's turn to pound their angry little fists against the wall that suddenly sprouted up in front of them. "A limit!" they think. "We hate those!" (And the Saturnians rub our hands together and think "someone finally put this asshole in their place.")

Jupiter expands stuff. Saturn contracts it. These two don't get along, obviously, but without Jupiter (and fire) we have no optimism and without Saturn (and earth) things grow out of control without being checked. Three places you'll find a lot of Jupiterians: education, religion, and (believe it or not) law. Jupiterians like to make and argue about what the law SHOULD be based on their belief systems, though they're mainly talkers and not good listeners (and uh, sometimes they don't plan to follow the rules they're making, just in case you've ever noticed a legislative hypocrite). Saturnians like to *enforce* said laws. So, rule-makers vs. rule-followers.

I don't think I need to tell you that Saturnians are the people with sticks up their butts, do I? But the point here is that anything that's unchecked and out of control is negative, even if it's Jupiter. There's this pervasive rumor that everything having to do with Jupiter is good. It's usually good. It's not always good.

*If Jupiter's making an aspect to a bad energy configuration in your chart, you won't enjoy it much. It just expands what's already there and usually won't help you much.