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. These 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 him), 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 his qualities out of compensation, to avoid seeing his weaknesses and flaws. As a result, he must be aware of the risk of over identifying with his social mask, which would cause him to neglect his inner self and deep nature.
Mercury is the second dominant in LAURENT's astral chart. In the following paragraph, we shall indicate the significance of this fact:
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 mater 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. If Mercury is " afflicted ", his intellectual velocity may sometimes become mere mental hyperactivity. In any case, his skills are a great resource in the social realm. He communicates easily and effectively, orally or in writing. His ability to unite and transmit would be a good resource in diplomatic or commercial endeavors.
Venus is the third dominant in LAURENT's astral chart. In the following paragraph, we shall indicate the significance of this fact:
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, the individuals under the influence of Venus are struggling with their love instincts. This is why LAURENT cannot conceive of living without a personal emotional relationship to someone else and sometimes fears solitude and the encounter with himself. He is extremely attractive to others, and is a creator and artistic genius who seems to imbue all he touches with beauty and harmony. His artistic skills are obvious to the people around him, and may be applied to career endeavors. Pleasure, outings, seduction, love, and a thriving but sometimes superficial social life are the hallmarks of his life. Nevertheless, one day he will have to learn to give out of the goodness of his heart, and not as a means of seduction.
The Eighth House is an area of the sky which is especially important in LAURENT's theme, because it contains several planets, including the one which rules his Rising Sign. In the following paragraph, we shall explain the general meaning of this fact.
According to tradition, this House is associated with the sign of Scorpio, and thus the themes of death, metamorphosis, and sexuality. It is also related to birth and initiation, and, in more practical terms, inheritances, legacies, and debts. More specifically, the area is related with the idea of partnership resources. It raises such issues as the management of a collective heritage and the administration of assets acquired in association with another person, and the sharing out, psychologically and materially, of these resources in marriage and business partnerships. As a result, three interdependent but fundamental factors inherent to initiating any mutually beneficial partnership are emphasized: trust, management, and responsibility. Obviously, a partnership devoid of trust is dangerous, if not impossible. Only when true trust and mutual confidence are established can a cooperative activity yield profit. The next step is managing the profit (or loss) resulting from the cooperative enterprise: sharing it out equally between the partners, or re-investing it in view of making the enterprise more profitable. The responsibility of the manager (and any participant who is a co-manager) is obviously engaged, because it would be unethical for him to keep any of the wealth generated by the group's activities for his own personal benefit. He must also be responsible enough not to flee in case of difficulty. Sexuality, which is an asset or resource of the couple, can be thought of according to the same dynamic. If sexual problems arise, if they are not due to physiological problems, they are always related either to a loss of mutual confidence, to mismanagement of the physical and psychological exchange, or to an insufficient sense of duty on the part of one of the partners. Due to the significance of this area in LAURENT's astral chart, he may encounter one of these issues. It will be vital for him to become truly conscious of what is at stake in his partnerships. As a result, he will have to evaluate the wealth he acquires as a result of his relationships, and measure the power conferred upon him by his participation in intimate, social, or professional relationships.
The Third House is an area of the sky which is especially important in LAURENT's theme. In the following paragraph, we shall explain the general meaning of this fact.
According to tradition, this area is related to intellectual abilities. It is also associated with the immediate family environment: brothers and sisters, peers and classmates, and people in the social setting we relate to every day, like neighbors, etc. Likewise, study, writing and publication, correspondence and letters, mobility and short-distance travel are also attributed to this house. Another aspect of it concerns bodily movements and exchanges, like the circulation of the blood, breathing, nerve networks, the hands, etc. In essence, this house corresponds to the mental interface between the individual and his environment. Indeed, if intelligence is the ability to adapt to one's environment, it is true that on the other hand, the environment has a basic influence on the formation of character and the way the individual will react to life. If this house is especially significant in LAURENT's chart, it means that he will find positive adaptation to his environment his main challenge in life. It is likely that the presence or absence of brothers and sisters was a major factor in his development, and that one of the main psychological issues he is dealing with is resolving the problems of identity and selfhood which arose in relationships with siblings and peers. Psychologically, communication is his passport to fitting in, to social integration. Regardless of the level at which he functions in society, he will obey an urge to express his ideas and opinions, and communicate with others about himself.
