Curtis,
I know you've touched on the issue of cookbook astrology, but I think the issue here is of relying too much on universal or general significators.
I have trouble with the idea of using Jupiter as a universal or general significator to sufficiently cover the issue of the chart native and his/her application of ethics and morality. There's a lot that goes into making a person moral or ethical. For example, wouldn't the Sun serve to indicate whether the person has the will, and even courage, to act ethically or morally? Also, the Sun has traditional astrological associations with the intellect. It sheds light on matters and brings things to awareness. A chart with a strong, healthy Sun would seem to point to enlightened awareness.
Mercury is a big factor in showing how to rationally pick something apart, analyze it, and see where things stand strong or come up short. Mercury takes a look at the issues, with Jupiter providing the
measure and
standard of strong or weak ethics and morals, the awareness of them. It seems to me that Mercury is valuable in order to bring awareness of the issue to consciousness ? ?
to see the correct path out of any morally ambiguous situation?, as you put it. You wrote:
I am not saying everyone born at night is immoral or unethical, but what it potentially does is place one in circumstances where it becomes very difficult to see the correct path out of any morally ambiguous situation because planets contrary to the sect tend to behave against the native's best interests.
I say that Mercury provides the ability or lack thereof to see the situation, with Jupiter providing the awareness that such standards even exist
Rather than rely too much, or much at all, on Jupiter regarding whether the chart native clearly perceives or cares about matters of ethics and morals, I would want to see what is indicated by the general temperament of the person, the ASC and its lord, Mercury, Sun, and even the Moon. Venus, even. Venus in Aries is probably going to focus on self and self's desires, whereas Venus in Aquarius is going to have a more socially conscious outlook. To me, nocturnal Venus in Aries as ruler of the ASC in a diurnal chart would say more about the possible lack of ethics and morality than would a relatively unimportant and obscure Jupiter in that same diurnal chart.
The sect condition of Jupiter would appear to be, according to my still astrologically confused mind [
sigh], of a considerably reduced importance than you appear to give it regarding a suffering sense of ethics and morals. The same with the other planets and their significations.