Big Sky Astrology Podcast

This week brings an action-packed sky: a Sun-Uranus trine sparks clarity, Mercury enters Scorpio and squares both Mars and Pluto, Venus stations retrograde for deep relationship and financial repair work, and a Mars-Pluto opposition ignites power struggles between the individual and the collective. A Cancer Last Quarter Moon pushes toward July 2024's New Moon intentions, while a Sun-Saturn opposition demands decisiveness to close out the week. Plus: Pointiness, breaking a bone, and which indulgences to choose?
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:
[1:42] Sun trines Uranus (Mon. Sept. 28, 9:22 am PDT, 5°33' Libra-Gemini). This trine opens a window for Libra to be its authentic self without constantly checking what others are doing. Uranus in Gemini offers a clarifying idea that cuts through Libra's people-pleasing tendencies.
[3:32] Mercury enters Scorpio (Wed. Sept. 30, 4:44 am PDT). The planet of communication steps into a tense T-square with Mars in Leo and Pluto in Aquarius. This is a ruthless, penetrating Mercury with no patience for small talk or diplomacy.
[4:11] Mercury squares Mars (Fri. Oct. 2, 2:14 am PDT). An aspect that speaks its mind and doesn't suffer fools gladly. April explores the Sabian symbols for both planets, including "a woman having her hair bobbed" at Mars's degree — a radical act of independence that echoes Amelia Earhart, who was born with the Sun at this degree.
[6:41] Mercury squares Pluto (Fri. Oct. 2, 1:43 pm PDT). Pluto ups the ante beyond impulsive anger into particularly ugly territory: jealousy, contempt, trolls, and cold collective judgment. On the upside, this aspect sharpens Mercury's ability to see beneath the surface and discover what we've believed about ourselves that is flat-out wrong.
[7:52] Mars trines Neptune (Fri. Oct. 2, 3:18 pm PDT, 2°48' Leo-Aries). After the Mercury squares and before the Pluto opposition, this trine offers a softening moment. Neptune says "I care" and Mars says "I'm going to do something about it" — a helpful day for volunteering, donating, or resetting Mars's strident Leo energy.
[9:07] Venus stations retrograde in Scorpio (Sat. Oct. 3, 12:16 am PDT, 8°29' Scorpio, "dental work"). Venus urges deep repair in relationships, money, and self-worth — even if it hurts. April walks through the full retrograde timeline (back into Libra Oct. 25, stationing direct Nov. 13 at 22°51' Libra, reentering Scorpio Dec. 4) and suggests looking back to October–November 2018 for echoes of this cycle.
[12:55] Mars opposes Pluto (Sat. Oct. 3, 3:39 am PDT, 3°06' Leo-Aquarius). The week's pointiest aspect: the irresistible force meets the immovable object. April traces the Mars-Pluto story from their January 27 conjunction, through the May 25 square, to this opposition — and asks what proud Mars in Leo is trying to accomplish that Pluto in Aquarius doesn't appreciate. Expect power struggles for a few days either side.
[16:07] Moon Report: Cancer Last Quarter Moon (Sat. Oct. 3, 6:25 am PDT, 10°21' Libra-Cancer). This Last Quarter carries the Mars-Pluto opposition, making it a powerful but not gentle push toward Virgo New Moon plans from September 10. April unpacks the Sabian symbols ("a clown making grimaces" vs. "a professor peering over his glasses") and traces the full lunar phase family cycle back to the July 5, 2024 Cancer New Moon; First Quarter (first action point) Apr. 4, 2025; Full Moon (awareness point) Jan. 3, 2026.
[21:50] Void-of-Course Moon periods. Four VOC periods this week: Mon. Sept. 28, 2:50 am PDT (Aries Moon opposing Mercury — indecision vs. impulsiveness); Tue. Sept. 29, 4:36 pm PDT (Taurus Moon squaring Jupiter — overindulgence warnings); Thu. Oct. 1, 7:42 pm PDT (Gemini Moon sextile Jupiter — social fun and happy hours); Sat. Oct. 3, 8:08 am PDT (Cancer Moon squaring Saturn — feelings, boundaries, and emotional security).
[26:56] Sun opposes Saturn (Sun. Oct. 4, 5:29 am PDT, 11°18' Libra-Aries). The Sun's yearly opposition to Saturn demands decisive action from a sign that prefers to deliberate. April explains how Saturn in Aries can serve as a necessary shove for Libra's chronic indecisiveness.
[28:51] 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!
[29:32] A tribute to this week’s donors! If you would like to support the show and receive access to April’s 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: A creative boost from a Mercury-Jupiter sextile, the Sun's entry into Libra at the equinox, and a reflective Sun–Neptune opposition paired with an empowering Sun–Pluto trine. The Aries Full Moon carries forward eclipse themes from spring 2025, and Mars begins a long transit through Leo. And a listener question about what it means when a progressed planet turns retrograde for decades. Plus: Chemistry teachers in jail, lonely in a group, and invisibility as a superpower!
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
[1:35] Mercury sextiles Jupiter (Sep. 21, 3:51 pm PDT, 17º55’ Libra/Leo). Creative endeavors get a boost as Mercury and Jupiter meet in Libra and Leo. The Sabian symbols are explored through the lens of Breaking Bad's Walter White and Jesse Pinkman, a story of missed and created opportunities.
[3:40] Sun enters Libra (Sep. 22, 5:05 pm PDT). The Sun enters Libra, marking the autumn equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern. Libra begins on the Sabian symbol "a butterfly made perfect by a dart through it," and consider the tension between enjoying something beautiful and wanting to possess it.
[6:21] Sun opposes Neptune (Sep. 25, 6:36 pm PDT, 2º59’ Libra/Aries). The Sun–Neptune opposition on the symbol "the dawn of a new day" explores change, loss, and finding comfort through collective meaning.
[9:02] Sun trines Pluto (Sep. 25, 10:34 pm PDT, 3º09’ Libra/Aquarius). This short-lived but potent trine promises personal empowerment through getting clear about who you are and what you want as the foundation for authentic relationships.
[10:47] Aries Full Moon (Sep. 26, 9:49 am PDT, 3º37’ Aries/Libra). The Aries Full Moon on the Sabian symbols "Two lovers strolling through a secluded walk" and “A group around a campfire” carries energy from the March 29, 2025 Aries Solar Eclipse. What were you determined to accomplish then, what has slowed you down, and what have you learned since?
[15:02] Void-of-Course Moon periods. Three VOC periods this week: Monday, a VOC Moon in Capricorn from 7:31 am to 10:14 am (get to work), Wednesday in Aquarius from 1:18 am to 8:23 pm (collaborate on solutions), and Saturday in Pisces from 1:32 am to 3:23 am PDT (channel volatile energy into home projects).
[19:30] Mars enters Leo (Sep. 27, 7:49 pm PDT) through May 14, 2027. Mars begins an extended transit through Leo (with a retrograde loop into Virgo early next year). Excellent for creative projects, but watch for impulsiveness and self-absorption as Mars approaches its opposition to Pluto.
[23:20] Listener Question: Listener Maria asks about her progressed Mercury turning retrograde in Scorpio for the next 21 years. Thoughts about how this can deepen a writer's work, reframe feeling "unseen" as a superpower, and invite revisiting unfinished stories.
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!
[28:41] Donor Thanks.  A tribute to this week’s donors! If you would like to support the show and receive access to  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.

Hello, Invisible Friend, April here – and the date today is September 14, 2026. And I’m sorry to say there will not be a new podcast this week! Between the conference I went to, and getting the Podathon episodes finished, I just plain ran out of time. Rest assured, though, that I’ll be back next Monday with a new episode!
Now, today is officially the last day of Podathon, meaning that if you’d like to be entered in my drawing to win an eclipse report or a reading, you need to make your donation of $25 or more by MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, Pacific time! I’ll be doing the drawing tomorrow, and winners will be notified by email. Best of luck!
Let me just say how much I enjoyed bringing those Podathon interviews to you, and thanks to all of you who have sent kind words about them! If you haven’t had a chance to listen to all of them yet, you can catch up with them at bigskyastropod.com – just click on the orange “View All” button at the end of the page to see the full list.
I’m putting up a column so you can catch up with the major aspects of the week. And as I said, I’ll return with a new podcast episode next Monday, Sep. 21. I hope you have a wonderful week. And keep your feet on the ground, and your eyes on the stars!

It’s the final day of the 7th Annual Big Sky Astrology Podathon, and we’re wrapping up five days of special fundraising episodes with an in-depth conversation with relationship astrology expert Dorothy Oja! Dorothy shares her approach to understanding relationships through the birth chart — covering the three stages of relationship astrology (natal capacity, synastry, and combined charts), the importance of Saturn as the "glue" that holds relationships together, why Venus and Jupiter are the "liking" planets, and how Mars provides the spark. Plus, April covers the week's planetary news (Mercury trine Pluto, opposite Neptune, and trine Uranus) and makes her annual fundraising appeal - with a chance to win prizes including eclipse reports and personal readings!
0:00 — Podathon week intro & welcome
0:28 — Host introduction — April Elliott Kent
0:56 — What is Podathon? Five daily episodes & fundraising
1:22 — Thank you to listeners and supporters
2:16 — Why April keeps the show ad-free
2:42 — How to donate & prize drawings ($25+)
4:15 — $10 donor bonus: private Zoom calls & videos
5:13 — Free ways to support the show
6:08 — Today's episode overview
6:40 — Planetary news: Mercury trine Pluto, opposite Neptune, trine Uranus
8:22 — Interview intro: Dorothy Oja on relationships in the birth chart
9:25 — Dorothy's background & credentials
10:35 — Interview begins
11:48 — Starting with the natal chart: your capacity for relationship
13:18 — The Moon: emotional responsiveness in relationships
14:30 — Three stages of relationship astrology
15:12 — Synastry: comparing two charts planet by planet
16:05 — Composite & Davison charts explained
18:13 — The Davison chart's power and midpoint resonance
18:41 — Why challenging aspects aren't always bad
20:31 — Saturn's role: the glue, trust, and commitment
23:08 — Venus & Jupiter: the "liking" aspects that bring harmony
23:58 — When to use composite vs. Davison charts
25:00 — Oppositions in relationship charts & finding balance
27:13 — Difficult natal aspects and how partners trigger them
29:37 — Readiness, inner work, and the "marriage myth" (Sun & Moon)
31:58 — Mars: the unsung relationship planet
33:14 — The Moon's daily emotional rhythm & compatibility
34:37 — Teamwork, choosing well, and when to walk away
36:27 — Dorothy's upcoming Kepler College course & where to find her
38:33 — Podathon wrap-up, donor thanks, and final fundraising appeal
Links mentioned:
Donate: bigskyastropod.com
Dorothy Oja on Substack: dorothyoja.substack.com
Dorothy's Kepler College course: Illuminating Relationships: Natal Promise and Synastry (begins Sept 24)
 

On Day 4 of the 7th Annual Big Sky Astrology Podathon, we cover a packed day of planetary news - with Venus entering Scorpio, Mercury entering Libra, Uranus turning retrograde, and the Virgo New Moon! And we welcome astrologer and author Donna Stellhorn for an in-depth conversation about money in the birth chart. Donna breaks down the four "money houses” and shares sign-by-sign patterns, as well as timing techniques for job searches and major purchases, how to tell whether someone is better suited as an employee or entrepreneur, practical strategies for leaning into your chart's strengths when finances are tight, and the often-overlooked Part of Fortune.
Also: How to donate to the Podathon and be entered in a drawing to win prizes; and a preview of Podathon Day 5 with Dorothy Oja on Relationships.
Timestamps
[0:00] Podathon week announcement
[0:36] April's welcome and Podathon fundraising appeal
[2:50] Donation prizes: eclipse reports, personal readings, and donor-only Zoom calls
[4:09] Free ways to support the show (subscribe, rate, review, recommend)
[6:24] Today's topic preview: money in the birth chart with Donna Stellhorn
[6:51] Venus enters Scorpio and upcoming retrograde preview
[7:18] Mercury enters Libra
[8:01] Uranus turns retrograde (through Feb 2027)
[10:09] Virgo New Moon] service, home repairs, and family
[12:13] April introduces guest Donna Stellhorn
[14:01] Interview begins: reading the 2nd house for money
[16:28] Why Donna prefers Placidus for money questions
[18:00] Signs on the 2nd house: Sagittarius, Capricorn, Scorpio/Pluto, Cancer/Moon
[21:24] The four money houses: 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 11th
[23:05] Employee vs. entrepreneur] reading the chart for career direction
[25:10] Timing money decisions with transits and the progressed Moon
[27:24] Outer planet transits over the Midheaven and industry shifts
[29:19] Practical advice by sign: leaning into your 2nd house ruler
[33:18] Venus in the 2nd house and the Part of Fortune
[35:18] Using downtime productively instead of worrying
[36:02] Where to find Donna (YouTube) and interview wrap-up
[38:51] Support the Podathon: Donate at bigskyastropod.com. Donations of $10+ get access to private Zoom calls and videos. Donations of $25+ are entered for a chance to win: A Followed by a Moonshadow Eclipse Report ($35 value), a 60-minute personal astrology reading with April ($195 value), a 90-minute grand prize reading with April ($245 value).
Deadline: Midnight Pacific Time, Monday, September 14th. Drawing held September 15th.
Coming Up Tomorrow: Dorothy Oja on relationships in your birth chart, and the 7th Annual Podathon wraps up!

On Day 3 of the 7th Annual Podathon, April sits down with naturopath, nutritionist, herbalist, and medical astrologer Kira Sutherland to explore how medical astrology can help us understand and support our physical health. They cover the key houses, planets, and transits that matter most when looking at health in the birth chart, and how to work with them practically rather than fearfully. Plus, today’s planetary news and Podathon fundraiser details! To be entered in a drawing for a chance to win an eclipse report or a reading, make your donation by midnight PDT on Sep. 14, at bigskyastropod.com. And tune in tomorrow for Day 4’s interview with Donna Stellhorn! (Find Kira Sutherland at astrologyofhealth.com and on Instagram @astrologyofhealth.)
Make your donation to the Podathon today!
Timestamps:
[0:00] Podathon intro & donation info
[6:58] Today's planetary news: Moon in Leo void-of-course, Moon enters Virgo
[10:15] Interview begins: Kira's background in naturopathy and medical astrology
[13:11] The Ascendant & First House as the foundation of physical health
[15:35] The 6th House (acute illness & preventative health) and 8th House (genetics, surgery)
[19:42] The 12th House: chronic illness, hospitals, and why ignoring the 6th lands you there
[22:00] Working with outer planet transits (Pluto, Neptune) over the Ascendant
[29:34] Menopause in the chart: Mars, Saturn, Chiron return & the Progressed Moon
[37:10] The art of convalescence: rest as medicine, especially during the Balsamic Moon phase
[40:13] Jupiter in medical astrology: the benefits and the risks of excess
[44:23] Using your natal Mars to find the right movement and exercise
[46:22] The mutable signs (Virgo, Gemini, Sagittarius, Pisces) and nervous/immune system connections
[48:21] Where to find Kira, upcoming projects & wrap-up
Mentioned in This Episode:
Caroline Myss on finding meaning in illness
Dana Gerhardt on lunar phases
Kira's upcoming book and her monthly deep-dive course on each sign's ruling planet and house
Kira at UAC (United Astrology Conference) in September
Support the Podathon! Donate at bigskyastropod.com. Donations of $10+ get access to private Zoom calls and videos. Donations of $25+ are entered for a chance to win a Followed by a Moonshadow Eclipse Report ($35 value), a 60-minute personal astrology reading with April ($195 value), or a 90-minute grand prize reading with April ($245 value)! Deadline to enter: Midnight Pacific Time, Monday, September 14th. Drawing held September 15th.

Day 2 of the 7th Annual Podathon! April welcomes astrologer Samuel Reynolds to discuss how astrology guides career decisions one of the most common client questions. Sam shares his approach to vocation vs. job, key chart factors, and timing tools for career transitions. Plus, planetary news and Podathon fundraiser details! To be entered in a drawing for a chance to win an eclipse report or a reading, make your donation by midnight PDT on Sep. 14, at https://www.bigskyastropod.com ! And tune in tomorrow for Day 3’s interview with Kira Sutherland!
Show Notes
[0:00] Podathon week intro & fundraiser announcement
[2:47] How to donate & prize giveaways (eclipse reports, readings)
[4:04] $10 donor bonus videos & free ways to support the show
[6:33] Planetary news: Moon in Leo, trine Saturn (8:04 AM PT), conjunct Jupiter (11:36 AM PT)
[7:44] Guest intro: Samuel Reynolds
[10:34] Where to start in a career reading: purpose before job title
[12:15] Vocation vs. job: vocare = calling; the Big Mama analogy
[14:51] Start with the Sun what lights up your life
[15:36] Whole sign houses & the floating Midheaven (vocation vs. 10th house career)
[18:27] Part of Spirit (intention) vs. Lot of Fortune (things in your orbit)
[19:15] Chart example: Jeffrey Dahmer missed medical career potential
[24:53] Idealism vs. career fit; "follow your talent, not just your bliss"
[26:37] Chart example: Bill Clinton eastern hemisphere, self-directed, character
[29:52] Western hemisphere emphasis & why AI can't replace workplace relationships
[32:42] Character development over karma; Sam's book Consider Your Movement
[34:44] Sam's top 3 timing tools: Profections, Solar Returns, Progressions
[37:34] Client example: tech to insurance shift during a balsamic phase
[40:27] Advice for young people: experiment and be reflective
[41:10] Where to find Sam; UAC conference in Chicago
[43:08] Donation reminder & prize recap
[44:07] Tomorrow: Kira Sutherland on health & the birth chart

Welcome to Episode 358 of the Big Sky Astrology Podcast, and the first day of our Seventh Annual Big Sky Astrology Podathon! In this week's special daily episodes, April will cover the day's major astrological news and an interview with an astrologer about topics dear to the hearts of clients! Today: Labor Day in the United States brings a brief Void-of-Course Moon in Cancer. And an interview with Linea Van Horn about what to look for in your chart if you’re hoping to change address! And all the Podathon news, including how to make your donation, receive special gifts, and be enrolled in a drawing for one of six fabulous prizes! Plus: An itinerant world, a prisoner of rent control, and things you never knew about the man you married!
Make your donation at BigSkyAstropod.com, and tune in tomorrow for Day Two of the Podathon! 
Timestamps
[0:47] It’s the 7th Annual Big Sky Astrology Podathon, with five daily episodes, all the week’s planetary news, some special podathon segments, and a chance to win prizes!
[3:00] Donate $25 or more to be entered into the drawing for a 90-minute or 60-minute reading with April, or a copy of April’s Followed by a Moonshadow Eclipse Report, to help you look at last month’s eclipses and prepare for upcoming ones.
[4:00] To be entered in the drawing for a chance to win, make your $25 donation at BigSkyAstropod.com no later than midnight (11:59 pm PDT) on Monday, September 14th. The drawing will be held on September 15th, and winners will be notified by email.
[4:44] Can't contribute $25 or more? That's ok! Donate $10 or more to gain access to April's special series of YouTube videos on New Moons, going in depth on big planetary transits and the New Moon symbolism.
[5:10] If you can’t contribute financially, here are some free ways to help the show! Please subscribe or follow the BigSkyAstrology Podcast on your app of choice. Enthusiastic 5-star ratings and reviews are welcome and please share the show with your astrology-loving friends.
[6:57] Labor Day Monday in the U.S. brings the Moon in Cancer square Venus in Libra at 6:39 am, then void-of-course until 9:49 am, when it enters Leo. A quiet, homebody energy tempered by sociable Venus in Libra.
[8:48] Interview with Linea Van Horn: Professional astrologer since 1998, founder of the San Francisco Astrological Society, member of ISAR and OPA.
[9:23] Moving House in the Horoscope. The 4th house cusp (IC) as the primary indicator for moves, with the 10th house (MC) and its square points as secondary sensitive areas.
[13:23] Transits to the IC – Outer Planet Meanings
Jupiter: Moving to a bigger place
Saturn: Structural or forced change (Linea's eviction story)
Uranus: Shocking, unexpected change; "upgrade" and "emancipation" (Maurice Fernandez)
Neptune: Water problems, plumbing issues, underwater mortgages
Pluto: Dramatic, life-changing transformation
[20:06] Progressed angles as additional functional points. The progressed Moon (one degree per month) as a precise timer. Reference to Bernadette Brady's Predictions in Astrology.
[24:03] Ruler of the 4th House The planet ruling the IC sign as another indicator. Linea prefers traditional rulers (Jupiter over Neptune, Mars over Pluto) for their movement and action.
[25:27] Example – The Moving Couple. Husband: Uranus exactly on IC — shocking job loss led to a better job with reduced rent. Wife: four simultaneous indicators including Jupiter over IC, solar arc Moon over IC, and progressed Moon square natal Moon.
[31:42] When someone doesn’t move, look for stability indicators. Redirecting restless energy through remodeling, gardening, or career shifts.
[35:01] When transits don't support a move, look ahead 2–5 years for a more promising window. Clients often already sense the timing.
[37:38] Make sure to check out Linea’s website, no matter what she says about it! Find her at UAC, where she’s organizing the Marion D. March Regulus Awards at UAC.
[39:36] And that's a wrap for the first day of The Seventh Annual Big Sky Astrology Podathon! And be sure to make your donation at BigSkyAstropod.com. Join April tomorrow morning for another Podathon episode, including an interview with Samuel Reynolds on career in the birth chart!