Big Sky Astrology Podcast

This week: A powerful Scorpio New Moon encourages authenticity, determination, and the strength to do what needs doing. Venus sextiles Mars, inviting us to revisit old desires before pursuing new ones, while Mercury and Venus both station direct and begin turning our attention toward the road ahead. A fiery Mars–Jupiter conjunction launches a new two-year cycle of action and opportunity. And a listener question about how to prioritize astrological transits without becoming overwhelmed. Plus: Standing firm and letting go, fairs and festivities, moving parts and background noise!

Read a full transcript of this episode.

Have a question you’d like answered on the show?  Email April or leave it here!

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Timestamps:

[01:23] The Moon Report begins with the Scorpio New Moon on Nov. 8 at 11:02 PM PST PST, at 16°53′ Scorpio; in most other time zones, it falls on Nov. 9. Its Sabian symbol, 17 Scorpio, A woman the father of her own child, speaks to self-reliance and discovering strength through necessity.

[03:54] Set Scorpio New Moon intentions around authenticity and releasing possessions, relationships, or routines that no longer resonate. Scorpio is also associated with prosperity, making this a fitting New Moon for wealth rituals and candle work.

[04:46] This is the New Moon in a Lunar Phase Family cycle, with critical points at the First Quarter Moon on Aug. 8, 2027, 16º24’ Scorpio (action), the Full Moon on May 8, 2028, at 18°44′ Scorpio (awareness), and the Last Quarter Moon on Feb. 5, 2029, at 17°23′ Scorpio (final action).

[06:06] Void-of-Course (VOC) Moon periods: On Nov. 9, the Scorpio Moon squares Jupiter in Leo at 3:25 PM PST, is VOC for 9 hours and 11 minutes, then enters Sagittarius on Nov. 10 at 12:36 AM. Practice setting limits when other people’s enthusiasm or demands disrupt your peace, and be honest about your need for privacy.

[07:17] On Nov. 12, the Sagittarius Moon trines Jupiter in Leo at 3:29 AM PST, is VOC for 8 hours and 58 minutes, then enters Capricorn at 12:27 PM. Enjoy an autumn adventure with friends and cultivate the habit of appreciating good company and nature’s transitions.

[08:23] On Nov. 14, the Capricorn Moon squares Venus in Libra at 10:55 AM PST, beginning a 14-hour, 29-minute void period before entering Aquarius on Nov. 15 at 1:24 AM. A solo project may be more appealing than a social engagement; enjoy productive solitude without feeling obliged to apologize for it.

[09:29] Venus retrograde sextiles Mars on Nov. 9 at 10:47 PM PST, at 23°08′ Libra-Leo. Venus revisits past desires, while Mars supplies the motivation to pursue what excites us. Before charging ahead, make sure you are pursuing something you genuinely want today, not simply something you have always wanted.

[12:30] Mercury and Venus both station direct on Nov. 13: Mercury at 7:54 AM PST, at 5°02′ Scorpio, and Venus at 4:27 PM PST, at 22°51′ Libra. Mercury’s retrograde began October 24 at 20°58′ Scorpio, while Venus’s began October 3 at 8°29′ Scorpio. Reflections on the communication, travel, financial, and relationship themes associated with their overlapping retrogrades.

[14:59] Venus stations direct on the Sabian symbol 23 Libra, A chanticleer, a rooster greeting the dawn. Venus has also entered its morning-star, or Lucifer “light bringer” phase, reinforcing the image of light returning after a dark retrograde period.

[15:51] Mars conjoins Jupiter on Nov. 15 at 10:24 PM PST, at 25°53′ Leo, their first conjunction since August 14, 2024. This begins a new two-year cycle that can fuel creative projects, bold initiatives, and substantial progress, though impatience and tempers may also flare. Look to the house containing late Leo in your birth chart for clues about where this new cycle is unfolding.

[18:29] Listener Georgiana asks which transits are most useful to follow in everyday life without becoming overwhelmed.

[24:53] Got a question? Leave a message of one minute or less at speakpipe.com/ bigskyastrologypodcast or email april (at) bigskyastrology (dot) com; put “Podcast Question” in the subject line.

[25:28] Free ways to support the podcast: subscribe, like, review and share with a friend!  A tribute to this week’s donors! If you would like to support the show and receive access to our special donors-only videos, go to BigSkyAstropod.com and contribute $10 or more. You can make a one-time donation in any amount or become an ongoing monthly contributor.

Episode 369 | Mercury Cazimi: The Spirit of Experimentation!

This week: Venus retrograde sextiles Jupiter for the second of three meetings, echoing events from August and offering a chance to resolve ongoing financial or relationship matters. Mercury makes a brilliant cazimi conjunction with the Sun in Scorpio on a Sabian symbol about invention — look for breakthroughs. A walk through the week's Void-of-Course Moon periods, and a listener question about the astrology of death. Plus: Getting off the camel, going backward to move forward, and no spoilers, please!

Read a full transcript of this episode.

Have a question you’d like answered on the show?  Email April or leave it here!

Subscribe to April’s mailing list and get a free lunar workbook at each New Moon!

Love the show? Make a donation!

Timestamps

[01:24] Venus retrograde sextiles Jupiter, the second of three sextiles, connecting back to August's eclipse aftermath.

[03:10] Sabian symbols: 25 Libra, An autumn leaf (cycles completing) and 25 Leo, A large camel crossing the desert (endurance through difficulty).

[05:11] Reflection: what has ended in your life since August? And the final sextile in this series is at the end of November.

[05:59] Mercury cazimi conjunction with the Sun on November 4th at 12°10’ Scorpio, on the Sabian symbol 13 Scorpio, An inventor experimenting. The spirit of experimentation: trying without knowing the outcome, and how the best ideas often arrive through unexpected connections.  Look for an aha moment during this cazimi period, which is when Mercury is within 17’ of orb of its exact conjunction with the Sun (between 3:27 am-9:24 am PST)

[08:34] Mercury retrograde is a time when going backward is exactly what's needed to ultimately move forward, as we revisit old ideas with new information. Breakthroughs may come from looking beneath the surface, and the question you've been asking might be the wrong one

[12:04] Moon Report! There is no major lunation this week; the Scorpio New Moon arrives next Monday. So this week, just the Void-of-Course Moon periods.

[12:35] Void-of-Course Moon (Mon. Nov. 2): the Moon in Leo sextiles Venus in Libra at 4:10 pm PST, is Void-of-Course for eight hours and 18 minutes, then enters Virgo on Tues. Nov 3 at 12:28 am. An excellent time to get creative in the kitchen and share something sweet with loved ones

[13:47] Void-of-Course Moon (Tue. Nov. 3): the Moon in Virgo sextiles Mercury in Scorpio at 10:57 pm PST, is Void-of-Course for one day, seven hours and 41 minutes, then enters Libra on Thurs. Nov 5 at 6:38 am. Clear your mind while organizing your physical space

[14:50] Void-of-Course Moon (Sat. Nov. 7): the Moon in Libra sextiles Jupiter in Leo at 5:20 am PST, is Void-of-Course for nine hours and 20 minutes, then enters Scorpio at 2:40 pm. Rejuvenate with old friends, creative projects, or simple self-care.

[16:30] Question from Listener Chandler: thoughts prompted by Richard Houck’s The Astrology of Death (currently out of print). How clients approach the topic in readings, and April's preference for speaking from deep research rather than convention. Discussion of this topic and the book on the Astrology Podcast.

[21:42] Personal philosophy on not knowing the date of one's death, and how sudden loss has redirected her life plans.

[23:08] Got a question? Leave a message of one minute or less at speakpipe.com/ bigskyastrologypodcast or email april (at) bigskyastrology (dot) com; put “Podcast Question” in the subject line.

[24:05] Free ways to support the podcast: subscribe, like, review and share with a friend!  A tribute to this week’s donors! If you would like to support the show and receive access to our special donors-only videos, go to BigSkyAstropod.com and contribute $10 or more. You can make a one-time donation in any amount or become an ongoing monthly contributor.

This week, the Sun squares Pluto to reveal where it's time to clear out parts of your personality that no longer fit, Mercury squares Mars and asks us to review where we may have been overly blunt, and the Leo Last Quarter Moon invites us to soften our approach in relationships. And a listener question about which house system to trust when interpreting transits. Plus: Tactical errors, chemical processes, and Leo’s quiet side!

Read a full transcript of this episode.

Have a question you’d like answered on the show?  Email April or leave it here!

Subscribe to April’s mailing list and get a free lunar workbook at each New Moon!

Love the show? Make a donation!

[1:32] Sun squares Pluto on Oct. 26 at 5:11 AM at 3°05′ Scorpio-Aquarius, with the Sun on Sabian symbol 4 Scorpio, A youth holding a lighted candle. This transit reveals which parts of you are authentic and which are merely habits adopted to make life easier. It's an opportunity to clean out the closets of your personality.

[4:41] Mercury squares Mars on Oct. 30 at 10:20 AM Pacific at 17°58′ Scorpio-Leo. This revisits a square from Oct. 2 and returns once more on Dec. 9. With Mercury retrograde, it's a chance to review where we might have been too blunt and consider choosing our words more carefully. Sabian symbols: Mercury at 18 Scorpio, A woods rich in autumn coloring, and Mars at 18 Scorpio, A teacher of chemistry. 

[8:51] Moon Report: The Leo Last Quarter Moon arrives November 1 at 12:28 PM Pacific at 9°26′ Leo and Scorpio. It's a checkpoint for the October 10 Libra New Moon, inviting warmth and naturalness in relationships—less performance, more genuine connection. Lunar Phase Family Cycle:  New Moon:  Aug. 4, 2024; First Quarter (first action point):  May 4, 2025; Last Quarter (final action point):  Nov. 1, 2026.

[14:24] Void-of-Course (VOC) Moon: Oct. 27, Moon in Taurus squares Jupiter at 7:51 AM Pacific, is VOC for 10 hours and 11 minutes, then enters Gemini at 6:02 PM. Keep a low, warm profile rather than calling attention to yourself.

[15:39] Oct. 29, Moon in Gemini trines Venus at 2:43 PM Pacific, is VOC for 4 hours and 22 minutes, then enters Cancer at 7:05 PM. Enjoy listening to others and asking natural follow-up questions.

[17:18] Oct. 31, Moon in Cancer squares Venus at 2:59 PM Pacific, is VOC for 6 hours 19 minutes, then enters Leo at 9:18 PM. Halloween brings tension between sociability (Venus in Libra) and staying home (Moon in Cancer); balance both with a small at-home gathering.

[18:39] Listener question from Quinn: Which house system to trust for transits—Placidus or Whole Sign?

[24:16] Got a question? Leave a message of one minute or less at speakpipe.com/ bigskyastrologypodcast or email april (at) bigskyastrology (dot) com; put “Podcast Question” in the subject line.

[25:09] Free ways to support the podcast: subscribe, like, review and share with a friend!

[25:45] A tribute to this week’s donors! If you would like to support the show and receive access to our special donors-only videos, go to BigSkyAstropod.com and contribute $10 or more. You can make a one-time donation in any amount or become an ongoing monthly contributor.

This week, relationships, desires, and money are put to the test as Venus squares Pluto and then meets the Sun in a cazimi at the dawn of Scorpio season. Venus retrograde retreats back into Libra just ahead of a Venus-ruled Taurus Full Moon, while Mercury stations for its final retrograde of the year. And a listener question about the progressed Sun versus the progressed Moon. Plus: Guitars and takeout, the last 10%, and old friends make a cameo.

Read a full transcript of this episode.

Have a question you’d like answered on the show?  Email April or leave it here!

Subscribe to April’s mailing list and get a free lunar workbook at each New Moon!

Love the show? Make a donation!

Timestamps:

[1:31] Venus squares Pluto (Oct. 19, 11:56 PM Pacific) at 3°04′ Scorpio–Aquarius, revisiting themes from their previous square on September 15: digging deep into relationship and financial challenges. The last square in the series comes December 9.

[4:43] Sun enters Scorpio (Oct. 23, 2:38 AM Pacific). In Scorpio’s season, themes of mortality and transformation contrast with life's joys.

[6:57] Venus-Sun cazimi (Oct. 23, 8:44 PM Pacific) at 0°45′ Scorpio, is Venus "in the heart of the Sun." It’s a moment of incandescent pleasure and celebration amid the intensity of Scorpio season.

[9:35] Mercury stations retrograde (Oct. 24, 12:13 AM Pacific) at 20°58′ Scorpio, and here is permission to neglect the fussy stuff. Use the retrograde for "re-" activities (review, research, redo). Mercury stations direct November 13 at 5°02′ Scorpio; shadow period began Oct. 4 and ends November 29.

[12:42] Venus retrograde reenters Libra (Oct. 25, 2:10 AM Pacific) at 29°59′ Libra. People from the past may resurface; a time for reflection on old relationships and patterns. Venus stations direct November 13 at 22°51′ Libra and returns to Scorpio December 4.

[15:07] Moon Report: Taurus Full Moon (Oct. 25, 9:12 PM Pacific) at 2°45′ Taurus. Sun and Moon both square Pluto, highlighting the beauty and the shadow of being in a body. The Sabian symbol for the Full Moon is 3 Taurus, "Steps up to a lawn blooming with clover."

[17:17] Lunar Phase Family Cycle (began with the New Moon at 7°46′ Taurus on April 27, 2025. First Quarter in the cycle: January 25, 2026, Full Moon: Oct. 25, 2026, Last Quarter Moon: July 26, 2027.

[19:25] Void-of-Course Moon periods for the week:

Oct 21 (Wed): Moon in Aquarius trine Sun, 1:42 AM Pacific, VOC 3 hrs 53 min, enters Pisces at 5:35 AM. Good for group activities and networking.

Oct 22 (Thu): Moon in Pisces trine Mercury, 8:31 PM, VOC 16 hrs 23 min, enters Aries Oct 23 at 12:54 PM. Ideal for intuitive work, readings, and tarot.

Oct 25 (Sun): Moon in Aries opposes Venus, 3:59 PM, VOC 36 min, enters Taurus at 4:35 PM. Passions may run high on the anaretic degrees; choose your battles wisely.

[16:50] A Question from Listener Wade: Progressed Sun vs. Progressed Moon — which is more useful for understanding what's happening now?

[28:17] Got a question? Leave a message of one minute or less at speakpipe.com/ bigskyastrologypodcast or email april (at) bigskyastrology (dot) com; put “Podcast Question” in the subject line. Free ways to support the podcast: subscribe, like, review and share with a friend!

[29:31] A tribute to this week’s donors! If you would like to support the show and receive access to our special donors-only videos, go to BigSkyAstropod.com and contribute $10 or more. You can make a one-time donation in any amount or become an ongoing monthly contributor.

This week, Pluto stations direct to reveal what you've discovered about yourself over the past five months, and the Sun’s sextile to Jupiter offers an invitation to show the world what you’re made of. A Mars-Saturn trine helps you guide your passion to get things done, a driven Capricorn First Quarter Moon demands ambition, and a listener asks about ordering a special piece of jewelry while Venus is retrograde. Plus: Generation, regeneration, and degeneration; a brouhaha; and dogged determination (and possibly blood).

Read a full transcript of this episode.

Have a question you’d like answered on the show?  Email April or leave it here!

Subscribe to April’s mailing list and get a free lunar workbook at each New Moon!

Love the show? Make a donation!

Timestamps

[1:19] — The Sun sextiles Jupiter on Thu. Oct. 15 at 1:22 AM Pacific Time (22°00′ Libra–Leo); the Sun in Libra gets a bold push from Jupiter in Leo to ask for what it wants and show the world what it has.

[3:04] — Pluto stations direct on Thu. Oct. 15 at 7:40 PM Pacific Time (3°04′ Aquarius), ending a retrograde that began May 6; what you've been working on internally about power, control, and personal agency now surfaces for all to see.

[4:56] — Mars trines Saturn on Fri. Oct. 16 at 1:32 AM Pacific Time (10°22′ Leo–Aries); the two malefics cooperate in fiery signs, channeling enthusiasm and discipline into getting something done with focused, constructive energy.

[8:03] — Moon Report: Capricorn First Quarter Moon on Sun. Oct. 18 at 9:13 AM Pacific Time (25°18′ Capricorn–Libra), the first action point in Oct. 10 Libra New Moon Cycle.  Expect to feel completely absorbed in something you love to do with a keen ambition to do it the very best you can.

[10:00] Lunar phase family cycle (LPFC). This is the First Quarter in the LPFC that began with the New Moon on Jan. 18, 2026 (28°43′ Capricorn), with a Full Moon revelation point on July 18, 2027 (25°48′ Capricorn) and a final action point, Last Quarter Moon, on April 16, 2028 (27°12′ Capricorn).

[12:50] — Void-of-Course Moon (VOC) periods: Tue. Oct. 13, Moon in Scorpio squares Jupiter in Leo at 1:46 AM Pacific Time. It’s VOC for 16h 13m and enters Sagittarius at 5:59 PM. Practice being authentic and honest with yourself when new opportunities come knocking.

[14:19] —Thu. Oct. 15, Moon in Sagittarius sextiles the Sun at 2:55 PM Pacific Time. It’s VOC for 15h 2m and enters Capricorn Fri. Oct. 16 at 5:57 AM. Cut loose, enjoy life, and spend time with people who make you laugh.

[15:36] — Sun. Oct. 18, Moon in Capricorn squares the Sun at 9:12 AM Pacific Time. It’s VOC for 9h 28m and enters Aquarius at 6:40 PM. Balance pursuing your goals with consideration for how your actions affect others.

[16:50] — Listener Beverly asks about ordering a new medical ID bracelet during Venus retrograde.

[22:39] Got a question? Leave a message of one minute or less at speakpipe.com/ bigskyastrologypodcast or email april (at) bigskyastrology (dot) com; put “Podcast Question” in the subject line. Free ways to support the podcast: subscribe, like, review and share with a friend!

[23:57] A tribute to this week’s donors! If you would like to support the show and receive access to our special donors-only videos, go to BigSkyAstropod.com and contribute $10 or more. You can make a one-time donation in any amount or become an ongoing monthly contributor.