🔭
I just got a notification from a stargazing app: Jupiter is in opposition. In astronomy, this is the "best time for viewing." Jupiter is at its closest point to Earth and is fully illuminated by the Sun. It’s at its peak brightness. But in our actual lives? This week probably feels like the exact opposite of clear and beautifully illuminated.
If you’re feeling heavy, discouraged, or just plain over it—you aren't alone. Maybe it has something to do with all this New Year reflection we’ve all been doing (a theory presented by my counselor this morning- shout out to Courtney). But also? We are hitting a massive celestial 'opposition season.'
Right now, Jupiter—the planet of hope and big visions—is being stared down by the Sun, Venus, and Mars. They are all currently sitting in gritty, realistic, 'un-fun' Capricorn, and they are demanding a receipt for every dream we've ever had.
The Internal Breakdown
Instead of feeling lucky, it feels like three different parts of our psyche are ganging up on our sense of optimism:
The Sovereign (The Sun/Identity): Is asking, "Am I even the kind of person who can achieve this? Or have I been kidding myself?"
The Evaluator (Venus/Values): Is whispering, "Is it even worth the effort? Does anyone else even see the vision?"
The Executor (Mars/Drive): Is exhausted, saying, "I could work 100 hours a week and still not be close enough. Why am I even trying?"
When the planets of identity, value, and action all face off against the planet of luck, it can feel like the universe has pulled the rug out from under your dreams. It’s the "I might as well just give up now" moment where the gap between who we are and who we want to be feels like a dead end.
The Symbolic Shift
We usually think of an opposition as a conflict—a "me vs. them" situation. But look at the science: Jupiter is only this bright because it is opposite the Sun. If you’re feeling like your dreams are out of reach or that even a lifetime of your hardest working could never get you there, try looking through the telescope:
The Exposure: Your big dreams aren't far away—they are just exposed. When Jupiter is this bright, we see the cracks. We see the storms. We see the actual work it’s going to take.
The Proximity: You feel the weight because you are actually closer to the vision than you’ve been all year. The closer you get to a mountain, the more intimidating it looks.
The Capricorn Reality: Our Identity, Values, and Drive are in Capricorn right now. Capricorn doesn't do luck. It does labor. This week is the moment where our optimism meets our actual capacity.
Don't Give Up
When you feel like giving up this week, remember the astronomy of it all. The planet isn't moving away from you; it’s just standing right in front of you, fully lit, where you can finally see it for what it really is.
This week isn't saying the dream is dead. It’s not a "no" from the universe. It’s a "look closer." It’s okay if the vision feels intimidating. And it’s okay if the optimism has been replaced by a reality check. That just means you’re close enough to start the real work.
Self-Inquiry for the Stargazers:
The View: If I stop looking at this "distance" as a failure, and start looking at it as a "clearer view," what am I seeing about my dream that I missed before?
The Work: Am I actually not good enough, or am I just realizing that a Jupiter-sized dream requires a Capricorn-sized commitment?
The Light: What if the heaviness I’m feeling is actually just the intensity of finally seeing the truth of what I want?
P.S. Look Up! 🔭
Since the universe is literally putting on a show, you might as well see it for yourself. Here is how to catch Jupiter while it’s at its peak:
When: Any night this week! Because it’s in opposition, it rises in the East just as the Sun sets in the West, stays up all night, and sets at sunrise.
Where to look: Look for the brightest "star" in the sky. It doesn’t twinkle like a star—it glows with a steady, creamy light. By midnight, it will be high overhead.
Pro Tip: You don't need a fancy telescope. Even a basic pair of binoculars will let you see Jupiter as a tiny white disk, and you might even spot its four largest moons (the Galilean moons) sitting like little pinpricks of light around it.
