Originally published in the Saptarishi Magazine
Jupiter is regarded as the planet of expansion, wisdom, and higher knowledge. Its exaltation occurs in Cancer, where it is believed to exhibit its most positive qualities. However, when Jupiter is retrograde while being exalted, it also behaves as if it’s debilitated.
As with many astrological configurations, there are differing opinions about this phenomenon.
While exalted and retrograde may simply mean stronger, as retrograde planets are stronger according to Parashara’s ‘six strengths’, it is quite clear from case studies that there is more to the story. It’s not straight forward. How could it be? It’s retrograde!
Let’s explore this intriguing phenomenon in the context of notable personalities with Scorpio ascendant, placing an exalted Jupiter in the 9th house. By focusing on this specific ascendant, and thus, Jupiter’s rulership of the same houses for each (2nd and 5th), it should shed some light on how this configuration manifests using these similar themes.
In all case studies given below, I’ve noted that Jupiter’s exalted and retrograde position has expressed themes of debilitation.
If you have a debilitated planet in your birth chart without any mitigating influences and enter its dashaa, you will likely desire a better situation. However, a debilitated planet may not be effective at achieving the desired outcome. The debilitated planet looks to its exalted sign with a longing for improvement.
Conversely, if you have an exalted planet, the desire for its opposite, its sign of debilitation, can indicate a need to ground the high ideals of the exalted position. This often means facing a harsh reality when one’s lofty ideals don’t pan out the way you wanted.
I have seen many charts where individuals with exalted planets are dissatisfied with their lives to know this to be true.
The retrograde exalted planet's expressions may conflict with one's social standing, one’s exalted position. This is borne out in all the case studies I’ve given below, all of which would place the exalted 9th house dignity in a compromised position in the 3rd house if we were to imagine Jupiter in the opposite position.
This adds further complications to Jupiter, as the 3rd house is seen as its marana karaka sthana position, a ‘death-like place’ for the planet of righteousness and religion.
The 3rd house of sex, fighting, and selfishness does not suit the exalted ideals of Jupiter.
As with many astrological configurations, there are differing opinions about this phenomenon.
While exalted and retrograde may simply mean stronger, as retrograde planets are stronger according to Parashara’s ‘six strengths’, it is quite clear from case studies that there is more to the story. It’s not straight forward. How could it be? It’s retrograde!
Let’s explore this intriguing phenomenon in the context of notable personalities with Scorpio ascendant, placing an exalted Jupiter in the 9th house. By focusing on this specific ascendant, and thus, Jupiter’s rulership of the same houses for each (2nd and 5th), it should shed some light on how this configuration manifests using these similar themes.
In all case studies given below, I’ve noted that Jupiter’s exalted and retrograde position has expressed themes of debilitation.
If you have a debilitated planet in your birth chart without any mitigating influences and enter its dashaa, you will likely desire a better situation. However, a debilitated planet may not be effective at achieving the desired outcome. The debilitated planet looks to its exalted sign with a longing for improvement.
Conversely, if you have an exalted planet, the desire for its opposite, its sign of debilitation, can indicate a need to ground the high ideals of the exalted position. This often means facing a harsh reality when one’s lofty ideals don’t pan out the way you wanted.
I have seen many charts where individuals with exalted planets are dissatisfied with their lives to know this to be true.
The retrograde exalted planet's expressions may conflict with one's social standing, one’s exalted position. This is borne out in all the case studies I’ve given below, all of which would place the exalted 9th house dignity in a compromised position in the 3rd house if we were to imagine Jupiter in the opposite position.
This adds further complications to Jupiter, as the 3rd house is seen as its marana karaka sthana position, a ‘death-like place’ for the planet of righteousness and religion.
The 3rd house of sex, fighting, and selfishness does not suit the exalted ideals of Jupiter.
case study 1: Joe biden
Born Nov 20, 1942 at 08.30 (A Rated) in Scranton, PA, USA
The most obvious recent example of Jupiter’s apparent debilitation is expressed through Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, who has been involved in criminal activities, highlighting the challenging influence of Jupiter as the 5th lord. He lost another son, Beau Biden, to cancer in 2025, also during his Jupiter mahaa dashaa, the end of which he became president. This clearly demonstrates the ups and downs of an exalted, retrograde Jupiter.
Another aspect of Jupiter’s rulership of Biden’s 2nd and 5th houses represents his communication, something of a challenge for someone who once had a stutter. Yet Jupiter’s exaltation does also reflect his overcoming his speech impediments. Yet still, in recent years, his lack of clarity in speech has been an issue due to his ‘cognitive decline’.
Another, perhaps more controversial, theme to examine regarding the 3rd house is of war. Joe Biden is president of a country supplying Ukraine and Israel with arms for battle. This is perhaps a reflection of Jupiter’s retrograde conjunct Pluto, representing hidden things and ‘proxy wars’.
Case study 2: Elizabeth taylor
Born Feb 27, 1932 at 02.30 (AA Rated) in London, UK
Elizabeth Taylor is known for her tumultuous love life, marrying 11 times to 10 different people. The influence of Jupiter, though exalted, can be seen in her married life. We could certainly apply the term 'hopeless romantic'.
Jupiter is not only the planet of hope, it is the glue that binds relationships, including for the sake of the children, a Jupiter signification.
Venus and Raahu’s position in Jupiter’s sign Pisces further intensifies her need for romantic love, which would not have suited someone staying married through thick and thin. Instead, if we imagine Jupiter debilitated, we can see her excessive longing for exciting sexual encounters, a 3rd house signification.
Where we see Jupiter’s strength is in her relationship with her children. Generally, Scorpio ascendants are blessed with their children, and Elizabeth Taylor was not an exception. According to Taylor's lawyer Barbara Berkowitz, Taylor was a “big family person." Berkowitz once stated in a People Magazine interview, “In the 20-plus years that I worked with her, she always had her family there for holidays. It was very important to her to be the glue that kept all of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren together.”
One reason for this, apart from Jupiter’s exaltation, is Saturn’s strength in Capricorn. If we imagine Jupiter in Capricorn due to its retrograde in Cancer, it would place it with Saturn, and mitigate any weakness of Jupiter in Capricorn.
case study 3: Sinead O'Connor
Born Dec 8, 1966 at 07.37 (C Rated) in Dublin, Ireland
Sinéad O’Connor was an outspoken Irish singer who died in 2023, not long after her son (5th house) ended his own life. This again highlights the weakness of Jupiter despite its exaltation, as ruler of the 5th house of children.
O’Connor’s life was marked by many dramatic events but the biggest turning point was when she tore up a picture of the Pope onstage in 1992, during her Jupiter mahaa dashaa.
This is a clear indication of Jupiter’s retrograde position in her 9th house and her complicated relationship with religion. She was not only spoke out against the Catholic Church as the ‘real enemy’ but also became a priest, something unheard of for women at the time in Ireland. She converted to Islam before her death.
A few months after the death of her son, she died of “natural causes”, which have been reported to include lung diseases she had been struggling with for some years. The lungs are said where we store grief according to holistic practitioners. Saturn’s position in her 4th house would have shown this weakness from the start.
Jupiter’s retrograde and apparent weakness in relation to her 3rd house (12th from the 4th) would have further challenged her faith and happiness after such tragedy.
case study 4: Leo Varadkar
Born Jan 18, 1989 at 05.30 (A Rated) in Dublin, Ireland
Leo Varadkar was the first openly gay Irish Prime Minister in Ireland. This highlights Jupiter’s more ‘unusual’ role in his birth chart. Again, if we imagine Jupiter retrograde ‘moving over’ to his 3rd house of sexuality, Jupiter in Saturn’s sign highlights other types of sexuality apart from the typical, traditional relationships.
Saturn is seen as a ‘eunuch planet’ in traditional Jyotisha, which is something he shares with Sinéad O’Connor, who was herself ‘fluid’ in her sexuality, having spoken openly about having relationships with men and women.
Varadkar became embroiled in controversy when he was caught on camera kissing someone other than his partner in public. This occurred just before taking up office for the second time in Ireland, which just so happened to be in Jupiter’s mahaa dashaa. This again highlights the complexities of an exalted retrograde Jupiter.
The fact that he sought out such an engagement publicly just before taking the highest office in politics highlights the fact that no matter how high an exalted planet may be, the desire for what is opposite must also play out in some way.
Conclusion
The influence of an exalted retrograde Jupiter, as with any exalted and retrograde planet, can bring about significant challenges. These exalted and retrograde planets embody the principle that planets desire what is opposite to their natural inclinations, leading to behaviours and events that appear contrary to their exalted state.
Understanding this dual nature is crucial for astrologers and enthusiasts in interpreting natal charts and predicting life events.
Om Tat Sat
