Adrianne Curry looks at the astrological chart and shudders. Mars is the god of war, and that’s exactly what she feels like these days. The last few months have been a nightmare, full of conflict, opposition, and confrontation. It seems like everything in her life is coming to a head at the same time. It’s not just her job. There’s also the relationship she’s been trying to rebuild with her ex-boyfriend. And then there’s her family. They’ve been so distant lately, and she can’t shake the feeling that there’s something wrong.

She turns her attention to the other planets in the chart, trying to find some comfort. Mercury is in retrograde, which means that communication is going to be difficult, but she’s not about to give up. Venus is in the sign of Cancer, which means that she’s nurturing and supportive, but she may also be a little bit over-indulgent. Jupiter is in the sign of Virgo, which means that she’s intelligent, organized, and detail-oriented, but she may also be a little bit anal. And finally, Saturn is in the sign of Capricorn, which means that she’s patient, disciplined, and achievement-oriented, but she may also be a little bit overbearing.

She takes a deep breath and tries to relax. There’s no way around it. She’s going to have to face Mars head on. She’s got to find a way to get through this conflict and move on.

In traditional astrology, Jupiter has always been considered as the Great Benefactor, the planet of luck and success such as personal fortune, social prominence, professional prestige, high political position. The Jupiterian bounty is peerless! In psychological terms, this planet has a much vaster significance.

As the biggest planet in the solar system, it does preside over the process of personal expansion, interpreted to be fitting into society better and finding an appropriate match between one’s individual ambitions and the aspirations of the group. This growth is accompanied by a feeling of self-confidence, which, in turn, buoys up an even greater externalization and expansion of the ego – hence the planet’s flattering reputation. But this snowball effect (Jupiter smiles and the world smiles with you), in which social skills magnify confidence and boldness reaps many rewards, betrays the negative side of Jupiter: extreme and excess. Although grandeur was the characteristic of the “king of the gods,” errors of judgment, poor taste, and sometimes selfishness and pride are also likely to be part of the Jupiterian package.

It is important to note that the extension of the ego may be a form of escape; it is tempting to hide behind one’s popularity and social success, which are fairly easy to obtain, rather than be really demanding with oneself. The Jupiterian has a tendency to amplify qualities out of compensation, to avoid seeing weaknesses and flaws. As a result, you must be aware of the risk of over-identifying with your social mask, which would cause you to neglect your inner self and deep nature.

In traditional astrology, Venus (or Aphrodite, her Greek name) is the planet of love. A source of universal attraction, this planet corresponds to the original urge which bonds two human beings together in love. Venus is thus both the magnetism which brings human beings together (not lust, which is symbolized by Mars, but the object which attracts lust) and the gift of love. This ambiguity is interpreted astrologically by the fact that Venus rules two houses of the zodiac. In Taurus, Venus symbolizes the awakening to bodily lust, and in Libra, the bond of marriage. As a result, Venus may take on very different aspects depending on the individual’s degree of awareness. Likewise, this ambiguity explains Aphrodite’s equivocal conduct in Greek myth and her innumerable couplings and motherhood. Depending on the legend, she may embody brutal, passionate love (with Anteros), the wisdom of the heart which rescues from passion (Harmonia); she also becomes tenderness and purity (with Adonis), pure sexuality (with Eros), a transforming energy (with Vulcan), etc. Mistress of the Arts, she represents beauty, understanding, and peace. Psychologically, individuals under the influence of Venus are struggling with their love instincts. This is why you cannot conceive of living without a personal emotional relationship to someone else and sometimes fears solitude and the encounter with yourself. You are extremely attractive to others and are a creator and artistic genius who seems to imbue all you touch with beauty and harmony. Your artistic skills are obvious to the people around you and may be applied to career endeavors. Pleasure, outings, seduction, love, and a thriving but sometimes superficial social life are the hallmarks of your life.

Adrianne Curry reads the interpretation of the ninth house in the astrology book. “According to this book, the ninth house is the area of the sky which is especially important in your theme, because it contains several planets, including the one which rules your rising sign.”

According to traditional astrology, this area is ruled by Sagittarius, the ninth sign of the zodiac. Its chief attributes are moral and political judgment (laws, ethics, and politics as a means of improving society), dreams, distant journeys, studies such as religion, philosophy, priesthood, spiritual guidance, and wisdom. More specifically, the individual in this area is likely to feel a strong desire for personal expansion. They may seek out experiences which reveal knowledge and meaning to them and give them a better indication of their purpose in life. The difficulties that this person is likely to face come from their desire for personal expansion. These difficulties may arise from their ambition and desire for personal development being a source of strength. However, these difficulties can be turned into powerful tools if they are used in the right way. If the individual identifies too strongly with the flattering self-image that the community reflects, they may gradually begin to neglect their personal essence. Because of this, they may lose themselves completely. A state of expansion could be expressed as a psychic inflation or as a partial loss of oneself due to over identification with their personal mask.

Adrianne Curry reads the paper while sitting on the bench in front of the house.