The Planets this Week: May 8 - 14, 2016

Aired Monday, 9 May 2016, 9:00 PM ET

How will this week’s planetary influences be affecting you? The much anticipated astrological news of the week is Jupiter turning direct in Virgo after a four month retrograde period.

Virgo is all about the detail; Jupiter is all about going further than anyone else. Combine these two energies, and you have a recipe for fundamentalism of all kinds and more so these past few months since Jupiter has been retrograde.

This could be a pivotal time for religious extremism around the world, but it’s not only religious fervor which can be stirred up by Jupiter in Virgo – all kinds of beliefs, standards and practices may be taken to extremes.

However, this influence can also have some hugely positive effects. Virgo is the sign most concerned with health and sanitation, and the energies of Jupiter in Virgo can be a catalyst for great improvements in public health around the world, perhaps with new vaccines and infrastructure being provided to some of the poorest parts of the globe.

Jupiter has a definite spiritual tinge to his energies, but Virgo is a very down-to-earth sign. A struggle to blend the material concerns of Virgo with the ethereal aims of Jupiter will ensue, but one way round this is to focus on holistic wellness. During this period, take care of your whole body and mind, perhaps engaging in a spiritual-physical practice such as yoga.

Ultimately, Jupiter’s transit of Virgo has a lot to offer if we can reign in the extremist viewpoints which could otherwise blight this year. Unfortunately, however, the Virgo tendency to get bogged down in the detail could prevent politicians from seeing the bigger picture until it’s very difficult – or too late – to do much about it.

Find out how this planetary influence will be affecting you and your sign. Join Kelli Fox, host of The Astrology Show, Monday’s at 9pm ET.