A Change of Luck

On June 25th, 2013, Jupiter changes signs at 9:40 PM EDT.  Jupiter is the planet of Luck.  For the last year Jupiter has been going through the sign Gemini, but now it moves into the sign Cancer, the sign of Jupiter's exaltation.  (An exaltation means the planet is especially capable/blessed/well-functioning in that sign; for example the Sun is exalted in the sign Aries.)

When Jupiter changes signs, "Luck" changes.  If the Gemini transit was doing good things for you, then life will seem to turn less wonderful.  One example of the heights to which one can soar with Jupiter is whistleblower Edward Snowden.

Snowden recently made international news headlines by breaking the story of some US national secrets.  Snowden was employed by a contractor to the National Security Agency and through his work as a computer specialist he became informed about many NSA programs.  For reasons he sees as conscience, he decided to leave the US and reveal these secrets to the world.  But this story intersects the story of Jupiter transiting in late Gemini and this story will change when Jupiter enters Cancer!

Let's look at Snowden's natal chart.  He was born in North Carolina, and his birth time, date and place are from his birth certificate: 21 June 1983, 4:42 AM EDT, Elizabeth City, NC.

Notice that Snowden has Mercury, his chart ruler, Ascendant, Mars, North Node and Sun all in Gemini.  Not only that, but Mars, Node and Sun are at the last degrees of Gemini!  Mars, Node and Sun closely trine a Pluto-Saturn conjunction in Libra and form a Grand Air Trine with Ceres in Aquarius.  Neptune, the planet of deception, makes this a Kite-Grand Air Trine.  Neptune opposes the Mars-Node-Sun Gemini planets, puncturing Snowden's balloon. (This could indicate a reporter or significant contact making promises that did not come true.)  But let's dig deeper before putting this story together.  Mercury, the chart ruler, is perfectly trine Lilith in Aquarius; Lilith is in the sign of public service, Aquarius, and is in the 9th House of foreign countries.  (Snowden sees foreign countries, 9th House, as platforms for him to declare his autonomy and freedom from the oppression he saw in the US NSA establishment.)

One other note about Gemini, Snowden's rising sign, it is the sign of youth.  People with Gemini rising usually peak early in life, before age 30.  If they do right in life, Gemini rising gives them a youthful charm and appearance all their lives.  But Gemini is also prone to lack of moral understanding, its opposite sign, Sagittarius, is the sign of ethics. 

Snowden certainly peaked early.  He left high school, then left a community college program to get his high school diploma, finally testing to get his GED.  It is unclear if he completed any further degrees, but at one point he was enrolled in an on-line Masters degree program.  Snowden bragged that he was making $200,000 a year, and took a pay cut to $130,000 when he went to work as a sub-contractor for NSA.  All this before he turned 30 a few days ago.  Yes, that is peaking early.

But let's talk about Jupiter.  For the last year Jupiter has been transiting Gemini.  In January 2013, when Snowden first contacted a documentary filmmaker regarding a NSA leak, Jupiter was stationary, about to turn direct, at 6-7° Gemini.  This is in Snowden's natal 12th House and closely opposed to Snowden's natal Uranus, the planet of rebellion.  It is also more widely opposed to Snowden's natal Jupiter, and widely conjunct Snowden's Mercury and Ascendant.  So, his mood was one of little patience or tolerance.  He wanted changes and he wanted them to happen right away!

Snowden contacted the press in May, May 16th, when Jupiter was at 20° Gemini.  Then in quick order, Snowden flew to Hong Kong (5/20), the first leak was reported (6/5), and Snowden's identity was revealed on 6/9.  Today, 6/23, Snowden flew to Moscow.  Jupiter is at 29+° Gemini.

Jupiter enlarges things.  In Gemini, Jupiter enlarges ideas.  Snowden thought he was the smartest guy on the scene.  He was "sure of himself," a handy phrase that usually means too much Jupiter is happening. He was "sure he was right," another sign of Jupiter overload.  But Gemini is the sign least able to make moral distinctions.  Snowden is about to find out that the world is more complex than he thought and that his views are not as informed as he thought.  This will happen very soon.  Jupiter enters the sign of Cancer: home, hearth, family and the United States, Tuesday evening, 6/25, EDT. 

Snowden's luck will change. 

Everyone's luck will change.  May Jupiter in Cancer bring you blessings!

Lalia