Jupiter is the fifth planet by distance from the sun and the sixth by movement speed, making it the second slowest among the visible planets. Despite its vast distance from the earth, the fact that it is the largest planet in our solar system means that it does have some direct physical influence on our lives. For example, it’s most famous influence is that of a cosmic shield, which partially defends us from the asteroids and comets getting trapped in its gravitational field.
While its role as a defender doesn’t get much fanfare in our daily lives, most ancient cultures gave it far more importance and even considered it the embodiment of great deities such as Zeus and Thor. And while the true reason for such admiration has become lost in history, its critical role in guarding us from extinction definitely adds to its importance.
The great reverence towards Jupiter was also paralleled in its astrological symbolism. In western astrology, Jupiter represents luck and hope, growth and prosperity, wealth and generosity, happiness and abundance. This symbolism can also be found in vedic astrology, where it also represents the husband instead of Mars. It also represents marriage, children, wisdom and education, faith and religion, and anatomically the liver and body fat.
So how come he is the one representing happiness and luck?
Jupiter became the main significator of growth and abundance as the result of simply being the largest of the planets. With growth and abundance being viewed very positively, especially in ancient societies that were subject to scarcity and famine, its association with happiness and luck became almost automatic. Other examples of increase which were universally seen as a blessing, such as financial success and childbirth, also helped to cement this association.
Inversely, luck and growth are seen as positive forces in their own right, and the ones bringing about the aforementioned growth and prosperity. As an example, career growth requires the presence of opportunities that would allow it to happen, and marriage is directly dependent on the luck a person has when it comes to finding an appropriate match. Even pregnancy, despite the huge advances in modern science, is still largely a draw of the luck, and requires quite a bit of it to occur at a time when it is actually wanted and to progress without any major issues.
So to be lucky one has to be religious?
At its most basic, the connection between Jupiter and religion stems from his association with some of the most important deities in most cultures. But in reality, the connection stems from the expansion of belief required for its existence. In addition, when we pray to a higher power it is an expression of hope, and the prayer itself contains a request for improvement and prosperity.
The connection of Jupiter to education and wisdom also stems from association with expansion, as education requires the growth and expansion of knowledge while wisdom requires the growth and expansion of experience. Both of these are also considered a blessing in their own right, as the expansion of education often brings about financial improvement through better jobs, while wisdom allows one to advance more easily in life by avoiding pitfalls.
And how is all of this connected to a husband?
Traditionally, it was the role of the husband to provide food, shelter and other necessities for his wife, hence the connection to Jupiter who represents abundance, and in many families this role is maintained even today.
The connection of Jupiter to marriage however stems from it originally being a religious ceremony, performed by the local representatives of the faith. In addition, in the majority of cultures it is the husband’s role to propose the marriage. Another important connection to Jupiter is the fact that the purpose of marriage is the expansion of the family, both through the addition of the spouse and through the later addition of children.
It should however be noted that while the marriage itself is represented by Jupiter, the relationship between the partners both before and after marriage remains the domain of Venus.
I always said that one can spot a married man by his beer belly, but why the liver?
As mentioned before, Jupiter is the largest of the planets and represents expansion, hence its connection to fat is quite self explanatory. But the true reason why Jupiter ia connected to fat lies in the fact that fat deposits are only formed by the body when it receives a surplus of nutrition. Such a surplus is only possible when the person has access to an abundance of food, and as previously mentioned Jupiter represents abundance and plenty.
The connection between Jupiter and the liver also stems from its size, as the liver is thr largest and heaviest of the internal organs just as Jupiter us the largest and heaviest of the planets. It is also the organ responsible for absorbing, storing and distribution of the nutritious elements extracted by the digestive system, giving him the role of provider. It is also responsible for storing vitamins and minerals, hence the connection to prosperity and abundance, as well as for the processing of fats into energy for the body.