Ateyaba,

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.

According to Greek myth, Mercury (or Hermes, whose name derives etymologically from the piles of rocks which marked trails and guided travelers) was the messenger of the gods. He carried orders from Olympus to the mortals on Earth. The child of the illegitimate union of Zeus with Maia, Mercury was born “unknown to the immortal gods” and had to win his place among them by trickery, cleverness, and cunning. This is why he became the vagabond deity of travelers and wanderers. He is the instinctive foe of the settled who see him as an outcast roaming on the outskirts of society: a pariah, a thief, and a swindler. As ruler of the sign of Gemini, the Twins, he symbolizes the brother—the alter-ego who teaches us as much as we teach him and is associated with adolescence, a period of intense intellectual discovery. Mercury thus symbolizes lively, sparkling wit, mobility in any form, mental exchange, and interaction. As a result, a person strongly ruled by Mercury is quite likely to be clever and skillful.

Ateyaba stares at the Mars Symbol on the astrology chart. She has always been fascinated by its power. She remembers the time when she was younger and her brother would get into fights with other kids. He would always be so aggressive and unyielding. It was as if he were possessed by Mars. She can still see the fire in his eyes as he fought. It was as if he was fighting for his life.

Now she stands in front of the symbol, feeling the power it holds. She knows that it is still there, waiting to be tapped into. She knows that it is waiting to help her achieve her goals. She knows that it is waiting to help her fight for what she believes in. She knows that it is waiting to help her overcome her enemies.

And she knows that she will use it to achieve her goals.

Ateyaba reads the paper in silence, her brow furrowed in concentration. After a while, she speaks up, her voice low and thoughtful. “The tenth house is an area of the sky which is especially important in your theme. This is significant because…?”

Ateyaba watched the North Node pass in front of the constellation Virgo, symbolizing the elevation of the individual in society. She thought about the significance of this area on the sky chart and how it related to her aspiration for social power. She was sure to derive some power from her social eminence, such as money, prestige, or privilege, but she also had duties to fulfill. When this area was the site of significant activity, it did not mean that she would automatically have a high social eminence. It meant that she would invest a great deal of energy in acquiring a form of social power. Because the energy was somewhat vague, she would have to become aware of the various desires, needs, and ideals which were motivating and inspiring her. As a result, she would probably become conscious of how closely her social destiny was linked to her family’s reputation. Indeed, all she could give society was what she had managed to make of herself from the raw material she received from her background.

Ateyaba looks up at the first house in the sky and understands the general meaning of it.