013 | Pisces Season: Gopher It!

April and Jen would like to buy a vowel or two, please, as they paddle furiously against the muddy Mercury Rx in Pisces conversational tide. This week in the Big Sky: A New Moon in Pisces, the Jupiter/Neptune sextile, and Venus and Jupiter in joyful, excessive cahoots. All of this, plus gophers, the four elements, Lady Gaga, kites, Game of Thrones, and more!

Please support the BSA podcast for as little as a buck! April & Jen thank you. 😊

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01:05 – A big thank you to listeners who have left such lovely comments! Please keep them coming, and perhaps your co-hosts will read your comment aloud in a future episode! Because we are all about fellowship.

01:40 – More than you probably wanted to know about April’s affinity for Bob Ross in Episode 8!

03:36 – If you love the podcast, please consider kicking in a few dollars to help keep it going! Thanks thanks thanks!!!

04:59 – The Sun wades into Pisces on Feb. 18th, sextiling Uranus on the 22nd and Mars on the 24th. Fire sign April attempts to describe water signs here (more on them in Episode 3!).

05:58 – A description of the four elements: fire, earth, air, and water.

08:18 – Free cheat sheet on the elements!! Grab it here. And while you’re at it, wouldn’t you like to sign up for April’s fantabulous newsletter?

09:19 – Jen wonders whether the Sun/Mercury in Pisces and no planets in air signs right now are making it harder to think clearly? (Because something is!) April gives her two cents, which are worth at least a dollar.

09:58 – Jen is fascinated by April’s casual mention of the gopher civilization taking over her backyard. Plus, hello? The “coincidence” of the connection between April’s backyard and the University of Minnesota's mascot surely means April is meant to move to Minneapolis… which, happily, April realizes on her own.

10:40 – What does it mean if you are missing one of the four elements in your birth chart?

12:06 – Jen shares an exercise called box breathing as a possible remedy to the current lack of planets in air signs. (Could be helpful, too, if your birth chart is light on this element!). And if earth is what you need, listen to Episode 12 for a quick grounding exercise.

13:10 – Lady Gaga is the avatar of the moment!

14:38 – It’s ** Moonwatch** time! A New Moon (Feb. 23rd) at 4.28 Pisces is on the Sabian symbol “a church bazaar.” (And though April seems to picture it as a Midwestern Mayberry, Minneapolis is a fairly large city, and is officially a terrific place to live!) [“Hey, San Diego is a good-sized city, too, and we have church bazaars!” ~ April]

19:24 – If you have a planet or point at 5 Virgo, go fly a kite! And more about chart configurations.

20:55 – *We interrupt our regularly scheduled program to bring you a fleeting Game of Thrones reference.*

23:47 – Listen to last week’s Episode 12 for more about the Jupiter/Neptune sextile, in effect throughout 2020!

24:40 – Venus squares Jupiter on Feb. 23rd… curb your indulgences and know your return policies! Plus, a mini-lesson on astrological grammar.

26:52 – Want to hear more on Jupiter in Capricorn? Check out Episode 2!

29:18 – Check out Episode 3 to hear about Friday the 13^th and days of the week.

012 | Mercury Retrograde: Where Are My Pants?

Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day, or the birthday of famed American suffragette Anna Howard Shaw, join April and Jen for a breakdown of the week’s astrological highlights: a Last Quarter Moon in Scorpio, Mars joining the Capricorn clown car, and Mercury turning retrograde in Pisces. Also: What goes well with Chinese food, who lost her pants, and this year’s criminally underreported Jupiter/Neptune sextile!

***Extending this special offer for podcast listeners: Want to learn more about your own Saturn return (See episode 11!)? Use the discount code bsapod10saturn at checkout for 10% off a 60-minute reading with April! Offer valid through Feb. 14, 2020.***

Please support the BSA podcast for as little as a buck! April & Jen thank you. 😊

To join the podcast conversation and leave a comment for April & Jen, go to www.BigSkyAstroPod.com.

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00:40 – For the first time [“But not, I vow, the last.” ~ April], Jen regrets not living in San Diego. Because…gimongous Galentine's Day Mexican brunch!

01:09 – April digs into the history and astrology of Valentine’s Day, briefly unearthing Geoffrey Chaucer and name-checking Courtney Love along the way.

02:12 – Venus squares the Lunar Nodes (see Episode 7) just before V-Day. What’s missing is 8 degrees Libra – there’s a blazing fireplace in a deserted home at that point, so pull up a chair and stay awhile.

06:20 – Does your birth chart have a T-square? Here’s the lowdown on your missing table leg.

08:49 – Valentine’s Day features a Moon in Scorpio - a passionate Moon sign whose trust and loyalty must be earned!

10:00 - Hear the story of when April met Jonny on this episode of American Public Media’s TBTL podcast from last year! April appears in a segment that begins at the 25:40 minute mark.

10:36 – It’s ** Moonwatch** time! A Last Quarter Moon (Feb. 15) at 27 Scorpio lands on the Sabian symbol “A military band on the march.” The Sun is at 27 Aquarius on “An ancient pottery bowl filled with violets.” Need an explanation? Challenge accepted!

14:29 – Fear not: April has not forgotten about The Repair Shop!

15:56 – Just when you think the Capricorn clown car is filled to capacity, Mars grabs his hammer and nails and shoehorns his way into the sign of his exaltation (Feb. 16) for a six-week stay.

18:40 – All this talk of recent Capricornian history makes Jen think of the upcoming Jupiter/Neptune sextile (throughout 2020). Rose-colored glasses are optional, but wouldn’t a little hope and optimism feel good right about now?

21:47 – *We interrupt our regularly scheduled program to bring you a quote from Breaking Bad.*

21:51 – Mercury turns retrograde in Pisces on the 16th. This might feel like a long transit, as the planet closest to the Sun usually only stays in a sign for three weeks, and this time he’ll fog up his swim goggles for ten weeks! To learn – or, more appropriately, *re*learn – all about Mercury’s shadow period, check out Episode 3!

24:27 – Feeling lost at sea? Here’s some info from the Mayo Clinic on how to ground yourself.

27:18 – April’s Spidey senses tingle at open houses; maybe yours do too, if you have planets in water signs.

28:45 – Hi, you! Did you like the podcast today? Might you be willing to toss in a dollar or five to help keep the show going? Just look for the little frock-wearing Victorian depictions of April and Jen on the podcast page… it might be the only time you see your co-hosts in dresses!

011 | Saturn Returns We’ve Known and Loved

As April faces down her second Saturn return, we explore these important astrological rites of passage, as well as how astrocartography can help you find your place in the world. Plus, this week in the Big Sky: Mercury in Pisces, Venus in Aries, and a Leo Full Moon that reeks of Neptune – complete with disillusionment and drunken chickens. All in under thirty minutes!

***Special offer for podcast listeners: Want to learn more about your own Saturn return? Use the discount code bsapod10saturn at checkout for 10% off a 60-minute reading with April! Offer valid through Feb. 10, 2020.***

To join the podcast conversation and leave a comment for April & Jen, go to www.BigSkyAstroPod.com.

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00:35 –Check out April’s observations on astro*carto*graphy in this Shape magazine article! A shout-out, too, to BSA pal and astrolocality whiz Ralph MacIntyre. And a warm welcome to any new listeners who found the BSA podcast this way. 😊

03:01 – Using astro*carto*graphy, April suspects that when she lives in Minneapolis, she might have a Scorpio rising sign. [“Ascendant confirmed. Relocation confirmed only by Jen.” ~ April]

04:14 – Mercury enters Pisces on February 3rd, and like a fish out of water, he’s in the sign of his detriment. Be forewarned: He’s retrograde beginning February 17th. Still, we could all stand to emulate Fred Rogers in our communication style (see Episode 8); and in the cartoon thought balloon of Jen’s imagination, this Mercury sports a cardigan and comfy slippers. (Though we suspect the trickster will complete his ensemble with a hat like this.)

08:18 – Venus enters Aries on February 7^th, and although Venus is in her detriment here, April convinces Jen that this can be a courtly and romantic placement – though Venus in Aries will always be Wonder Woman (or maybe Captain Marvel!) to Jen.

11:39 – ***Moonwatch!** A Full Moon on February 8/9 (click this link for time and date in your city) at 20 degrees Leo is on the Sabian symbol (see Episode 7) “Intoxicated chickens,” with the Sun on the opposite, less buoyant, but surprisingly related degree symbol. And here is the article about inebriated Minnesotan birds. You’re welcome.

14:58 – Talk of drunken chickens prompts April to wax nostalgic over a recipe from her pre-vegan days. And to French speakers yelling, “Tu ne peux pas parler français!” throughout this segment, we offer a sheepish “Pardonnez-nous!”

15:26 – Nothing stands in the way of the truth being shown, as this Full Moon is trine Mars in Sag.

16:21 – April hears the SATURN RETURN train a comin’! Hop aboard and learn about this important transit at ages 29 and 58, when Saturn in the current sky returns to its position in your birth chart. As April faces her second Saturn return, BSA is having its first (aw… ❤). How are the first and second Saturn returns similar and different? April and Jen reminisce about their own Saturnine experiences. Ask yourself: Is *this* how you want your life to look? If not, the cosmic principal will call you to his office to tell you, “You’re responsible for you, my friend.” For more about Saturn returns, here's an article at the website!

27:44 – If it suits your fancy, and you like the podcast, it sure would be nice if you took one second to give the BSA Podcast a 5-star rating, and maybe hit that “subscribe” button. And do join us over at https://www.bigskyastrology.com/episode-11/. Thank you!

010 | Neptune & The Zen of Groundhog Day

It’s a quieter week in the Big Sky, with only a First Quarter Moon in Taurus and Venus/Mars vs. Neptune on the cosmic agenda. So, finding themselves with a little time on their hands, your intrepid co-hosts roll up their jeans and wade into a Neptunian miasma of topics, including how January’s Big Astrological News hit Buckingham Palace and why astrology is like theater. Plus: Grab some popcorn and join April and Jen at the (decades-old) movies!

To join the podcast conversation and leave a comment for April & Jen, go to www.BigSkyAstrology.com/podcast.

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Technical note: Apologies for some audio issues this week which left April sounding like Prince Albert in a can. We’ve isolated the problem and will return to form next episode!

00:53 – April (a Leo) admits to a fascination with royalty, as she and Jen link the astrology of the times with Meghan and Harry’s decision to step back from being senior royals.

07:27 – ***Moonwatch!** A First Quarter Moon (see Episode 2) on February 1st at 13 degrees Taurus is on the Sabian symbol “A man handling baggage.” Is this baggage physical or emotional? Is Jupiter carrying your bags? Why are airlines so hard on your baggage? And why are there a couple of different versions of the Sabian symbols out in the world? Plus: still no theme song, but much lively humming.

11:47 – Venus sinks into a soothing Neptunian bubble bath with a conjunction on January 27th. Is what you *think* you want what you *really* want? And the next day…

15:23 – … It’s Mars vs. Neptune! Having touched on planes during the Moonwatch segment, we move on now to trains - along with a raftload of other metaphors. Plus: Are you more like Joan of Arc or Don Quixote?

17:36 – The birth chart as a theater set… oops! Jen had no idea April used this analogy in her book The Essential Guide to Practical Astrology  (*takes sheepish glance at keyboard and hugs April’s book, which recently arrived, closer*). [“Probably not original to me, Jen. Hold your head high!” ~ April] One of your co-hosts loves theatre of all stripes, the other prefers her theatre in iambic pentameter. If you’re a regular listener with keen insight, you might just be able to figure this one out!

21:04 – “Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don’t forget your booties cause it’s cold out there!” Groundhog Day, oh Groundhog Day, how April and Jen do love you!!

22:52 – The plot of this episode’s eponymous film is belatedly laid out. Should April and Jen have led with that? Yeah, probably. They blame Neptune. (Note that April uses this film as an example of the 6th and 12th houses in her Followed by a Moonshadow eclipse report!)

25:36 – The history and symbolism of Groundhog Day. The holiday, not the movie. Think: fertility and purification. Did you know that February comes from the Latin term februum?

26:40 – Jen’s mini-monologue on movies about rebirth and redemption. She pivots briefly from Groundhog Day, makes a pitstop at It’s a Wonderful Life, and drives past The Wizard of Oz while she’s in the neighborhood.

27:20 – April makes the case for February’s vaguely Neptunian/12^th house bona fides; Jen scratches her head and has many follow-up questions… it all sounds so Plutonian to her. Things gets deep.

30:11 – Why do we use the birth chart for astrology instead of a conception chart? April untangles that particular knot, first referenced all the way back in Episode 1.

31:33 – Realizing that it’s been ages – maybe four minutes! – since they’ve referenced anything from the 70s, 80s, or 90s, your co-hosts would like to thank you for joining them “At the Movies with April and Jen” (with apologies to Siskel and Ebert)!

32:25 – Hey you! Yeah, you! The one who must’ve not only listened to the podcast, but made it to the end of these show notes! 😊 Have you subscribed to the BSA podcast in your podcatcher? Have you taken one second to give us a 5-star review? You’ll do that, right? To help spread the word? Thank you, thank you!!

009 | It’s Aquarius Season, Charlie Brown!

This week in the Big Sky, the Sun dons Charlie Brown’s shirt for a tour of Aquarius, where he’s joined by the New Moon in this future-oriented sign. And while Aquarius may be hip, this week is all about the squares: the Sun and Moon at odds with unpredictable Uranus, and a gentle Piscean Venus crossing paths with zealous Mars in Sagittarius. Plus, Tinkertoys, why Aquarius is not a water sign, and the inevitable home repair metaphor.

Read more about this week’s astrology at the Big Sky Astrology website.

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00:45 – With only momentary lapses into French, April and Jen effusively thank the listeners who’ve sent kind feedback about the podcast - and thrill to the news that they are one listener’s Bob Ross. Sacré bleu!

03:16 – Do check out www.bigskyastropod.com – the new BSA podcast site where you can easily comment on the episodes and access past episodes, show notes, and transcripts!

04:01 – More podkeeping: A plug for April’s weekly column and the Big Sky mailing list. If you’ve not yet signed up, check it out – and you’ll get a free “Working with the Moon” workbook each month!

05:44 – The Sun enters Aquarius, which reminds Jen of Charlie Brown’s shirt. (And now, you can’t unsee it.)

06:10 – Aquarius is symbolized by the water bearer, yet it’s an air sign. April describes air signs generally and Aquarius specifically. And this is how Jen imagines Aquarius.

08:05 – The Sun is in its detriment in Aquarius – because it places the planet of the self in the sign of the many. Employing wide-ranging examples that include Aquarian presidents and Tinkertoys, April explores the rich fabric of this contradictory sign - and impresses Jen with her prior knowledge of Ellen DeGeneres’ Aquarian provenance.

12:25 – As promised: A video of Ellen's DJ, tWitch, dancing! 😊 (Not an Aquarius, but a kindred Libra spirit.)

15:45 – What is “Sun Sign Astrology,” anyway? Jen breaks it down, and April explains how each sign has a particular relationship to your Sun sign.

18:25 – ***Moonwatch!*** This month, the New Moon degree is on the Sabian symbol “A council of ancestors.” (Check out Episode 7 for an explanation of the Sabian symbols.) The Sun squares Uranus in Taurus (January 22), carrying its unpredictability into the January 24 New Moon.

23:33 – Where Uranus is concerned, astrology advises, “Expect the unexpected.” Have you done the foundational work required by the recent eclipses (Episode 5) and Saturn/Pluto conjunction (Episode 6 and Episode 7)? And speaking of the unexpected: will Netflix officially become a sponsor of our show?

26:26 – When Venus Met Mars… We wind down with a discussion of Venus in Pisces squaring Mars in Sagittarius (January 26). If this week were a romantic comedy, this aspect would mark the moment when the two leads meet and take an instant dislike to one another – a sure sign they’ll wind up together by the end of the movie. This week, relationships of all stripe must grapple with this energetic signature… but both planets’ Sabian symbols feature Easter imagery of renewal and rebirth as well. More about that in next week’s episode!

008 | Saturn and Pluto Need a Party

So far, our planet appears to have narrowly survived the Week That Will Live In Infamy (see Episode 7!), and the Sun decides Saturn and Pluto need a party. April and Jen use Venus entering Pisces as an opportunity to spread the loving gospel of Mister Rogers, and April assures Jen that Mercury is far more excellent in Aquarius than seems plausible. This week’s Moonwatch segment is brought to you by the Last Quarter Moon in Libra and April and Jen humming doo-doo-doo. Plus: Bob Ross, people. Bob. Ross.

Read more about this week’s astrology at the Big Sky Astrology website.

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00:34 – The word of the week is “portmanteau.”  And – recollecting that April has previously deployed the gallicisms bonhomie to describe The Repair Shop (see Episode 6) and bon vivant to describe Jupiter (see Episode 2) – Jen wonders whether her podpal is secretly fluent in French. [“Non.” ~ April]

01:12 – Podkeeping: The BSA podcast arrives in your podcatcher each Monday morning… and if you are enjoying the podcast, please take one second to give us a 5-star review (it helps spread the word)!

02:20 – As the dust settles after the intense Lunar Eclipse (see Episode 7) on the 10th and the epic Saturn/Pluto conjunction (Episode 6 & 7) on the 12^th, the Sun joins the soirée. The “official” story behind those celestial fireworks is unveiled; how is it playing out for you personally?

04:44 – What are rulerships? A brief, but hardly concise, description.

7:57 – Also on the 13th, Venus enters Pisces, where she is…

08:37 – …exalted. Jen asks: What is this “exalted” business anyway, how do we know each planet’s sign of exaltation, and will this be on the test? April shares a beautiful example of Venus in Pisces (thanks, Mom), and Jen is reminded of Fred Rogers and the podcast Finding Fred. This cosmic dictate is strong right now: Be gentle, be loving, be kind.

12:40 – Will April and Jen ever do an episode on Chiron? April will have to collect her peanuts first.

15:59 – Mercury dons his lab coat/Geek Squad shirt and enters Aquarius on January 16th. And April explains (and possibly demonstrates) why Mercury is a little too comfortable in Leo.

21:11 – Mercury, moving quickly, squares Uranus on the 18^th and spills the real beans on the Sun’s recent conclave with Saturn/Pluto.

21:45 – Uranus is the “higher octave” of Mercury. Neptune and Pluto practice their scales, too, as they are the cosmic collaborators of Venus and Mars.

23:57 – Breaking News! In this week’s Moonwatch segment, we consider the Last Quarter Moon at 27 degrees Libra on the Sabian Symbol (see Episode 7), “An airplane hovering overhead.” What’s capturing your attention? (For Jen, it’s the fact that Blain Bovee looks like one of her favorite movie stars of all time, Jimmy Stewart.)

26:30 – How did the first month of the year get its name? His name is Janus.

26:43 – A plug from Jen: Subscribe for free to April’s awesome mailing list, won’t you? Subscribers get a free “Working with the Moon” workbook, updated each month! This is a 10+ page PDF that you’d pay big bucks for elsewhere! And it’s a real treat – lots of valuable information on the Moon’s cycle and phases that month, specifically what to initiate and release, where the focus is in your chart, and how to set intentions for the New Moon. Plus, cool artwork and free frozen custard! (Okay, the frozen custard part is a lie. But everything else is true! 😊) [“Any mention of frozen custard is proof that: 1) Jen wrote the show notes, and 2) She’s originally from Milwaukee.” ~ April]

28:28 – Two words: Bob Ross!

28:29 – No, Bob does not have Venus in Pisces.

29:44 – April gives a shoutout to returning fictional sponsor Netflix and their excellent film, The Two Popes! Find out how the movie connects with the Saturn/Pluto conjunction. Because sooner or later, everything does.

007 | Saturn and Pluto Go to The Repair Shop

It’s an epic week in the Big Sky, and April and Jen bring you the down-low on the up-high: Jupiter meets the South Node, Uranus brings extra tumult to a highly-charged Lunar Eclipse, and we sound a final “all aboard” for the S.S. Saturn/Pluto Conjunction. Plus: more new (fictional) sponsors than you can shake a stick at, and April takes any opportunity to discuss her latest TV obsession.

Want to learn more about eclipses based on your individual birth chart? Check out April’s Moonshadow Eclipse Report!

Read more about this week’s astrology at the Big Sky Astrology website.

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00:45 – April enthuses about her new personalized astrological almanac from Honeycomb Collective!

02:22 – She also can’t get enough of The Repair Shop, which is now available on Netflix.  Apparently, English people fixing stuff is just what her life has been missing.

03:58 – Jupiter takes the Saturn/Pluto-ravaged South Lunar Node to the cosmic repair shop (Jan. 8). For our discussion of Jupiter in Capricorn, lend your ears to Episode 2, Falstaff in a Business Suit.

04:30 – What are the Lunar Nodes, anyway? Jen demonstrates her molecular recall of BSA’s first six episodes by immediately identifying our discussion of the topic in Episode 5, Unboxing Eclipses.

7:37 – The Japanese art of fixing broken pottery with powdered gold is called Kintsugi. Find strength in your frailties.

08:29 – Buckle up for a potent Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse on the Sabian Symbol degree A prima donna singing. Includes a quick explanation of these cryptic symbols, which originated in April’s fair city.

11:24 – As promised: This world map locates the Lunar Eclipse’s path of visibility.

14:50 – A recap of other eclipse points near 20 Cancer over the years. Hint: Look for planets and points in your birth chart between 16-24 of the Cardinal signs. And just as Jen breathes a sigh of relief over remembering to mention Aries, she overlooks poor Capricorn. Sorry, Seagoats!!

18:40 – April’s new front path provides a useful metaphor for the planetary lineup in Capricorn during this eclipse. Shockingly, The Repair Shop is not mentioned.

19:43 – Wake up! Uranus stations direct within six hours of the eclipse, boosting the day’s unsettling weirdness quotient. This oddball planet rotates on its side - and we love him for it.

22:12 – At last: the Saturn/Pluto conjunction! Jen compares it to the phoenix rising. And April salutes astrologer Blain Bovee’s lyrical take on the conjunction’s Sabian Symbol, Two awards for bravery in war. (For a full discussion of this important transit, check out last week’s Episode 6, Eat More Crunchy Things.)

24:20 – April’s take on Pluto transits and how even the most devastating events can move us in powerful and positive directions. (Curious about Jen’s injury? Listen to our 10-minute preview.)

26:03 – Demonstrating her Catholic grade school bona fides, April busts a quote from Matthew 26:39. Not that she could have cited the book, chapter, or verse (no one said she was a good student).

Duration: 29:23

006 | Eat More Crunchy Things

Happy New Year! This week, Mars enters Sagittarius and the First Quarter Moon is in Aries. Otherwise, it’s a slow astrological news week - so April and Jen set you up for next week’s big Saturn/Pluto conjunction, which astrologers have been talking about forever! All this, plus: if planets were dogs, an iconic poison control spokescritter, and taking a bite out of the new year with lots of food references.  

Read more about this week’s astrology at the Big Sky Astrology website.

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Download a full transcript of this episode (PDF).

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00:30 – Did you know Capricorn is the resolutions sign? Are crunchy foods a resolution or a lifestyle choice?

02:03 – April gives a shout out to Honeycomb Collective and their awesome personal astrological almanacs!

02:55 – April finally accepts that someday she’ll move to Minneapolis. 😊 [“Can you tell Jen wrote the show notes?” ~ April]

03:41 – What does Mars mean astrologically? This week, he moves into Sagittarius, and like an ice cream sundae, gets a big plop of Jupiter chocolate sauce on his head.

05:18 – A nutshell of fixed signs: April’s Leo planets and Jen’s Scorpio planets are all, “I’m not stubborn, you’re stubborn!”

10:20 – Mars rules the noggin, so it’s appropriate to say: Head’s up! He’ll be retrograde this fall.

11:22 – The First Quarter Moon happens in action-oriented Aries, but a thundering herd of planets in Capricorn admonishes us not to run with scissors. Killjoys.

15:26 – Yep, April and Jen set you up for the gimungous Saturn/Pluto conjunction next week! You’re welcome.

17:26 – Jen is fairly certain that Saturn, if he were a dog, would be a Border Collie.  And here is a photo of Jen’s dog from back in the day.

18:30 – April shares the colors of Saturn and Pluto, while Jen misremembers the name of a 1970s Poison Control Center image.

21:20 – The North Node in Cancer reminds us to be inclusive. It’s a Big Sky, and there’s room for everyone!

28:18 – April’s Venus in Cancer likes to bake bread (sourdough, of course – her Venus is kissed by Pluto!).

005 | Unboxing Eclipses

Begin your list of 2020 goals, because Mercury moves into Capricorn this week! April and Jen spend the rest of this jumbo-sized episode discussing the upcoming Solar Eclipse, and in general what eclipses mean, how they work, and why we use them.

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01:21 – The quote of the week comes from April: “We go nowhere, we see no one, and we do nothing.” Points if you can guess what she’s talking about!

03:19 – Jen is very fancy: She has a basement in her house! (But not a cellar.)

06:28 – What else has nothing to do with astrology? Murphy beds!

06:54 – April is also fancy with her new front path!

07:16 – Jen urges April to take a bite out of the Minneapple. Again.

07:49 – We finally remember we’re supposed to be talking about astrology and get down to business, starting with Mercury moving into Capricorn. We’re pretty sure Capricorn has a basement, but maybe not a Murphy bed.

09:47 – New Moon Solar Eclipse in Capricorn! Depending on your time zone, this will be happening on Christmas Day (December 25^th) or…

10:10 – …on Boxing Day (December 26^th). Or is it Unboxing Day?

14:04 – April recounts her checkered history of eclipses aspecting her natal Venus, ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime. Venus asks: Do you deserve this treatment? In the end: You love you.

16:53 – What is an eclipse? Solar vs. Lunar Eclipses and what they mean astrologically.

22:42 – Don't call me Shirley!

23:30 – This eclipse is tied to the solar eclipse from December 25^th, 2000. We learn about the Metonic cycle and how this eclipse activates the same points in your chart.

25:44 – Eclipses in the house(s)!

27:53 – Eclipses move backwards through the chart – that is to say, clockwise. So forward motion is counterclockwise, which makes no sense… until you learn that the planets orbit the Sun counterclockwise. Aha!

34:50 – We love us some Pema Chödrön!

35:05 – Eclipses in aspect to natal planets!

44:15 – The few aspects April uses in eclipse work, and why.

45:47 – April’s interview about eclipses on Melissa LaFara’s Energetic Principles podcast!

46:18 – Shameless plug for April’s Followed by a Moonshadow Eclipse Report – special promo code for podcast listeners! Use code podcasteclipse5 at checkout to get a $5 discount (through December 27, 2019). Order here!

004 | It’s Frequently Sunny in Minneapolis

As April bravely endures a bone-chilling, 55-degree day in San Diego, she and Jen discuss the Capricorn Solstice, Venus in Aquarius (she wants her space), and this week’s Last Quarter Moon. Plus: Podpets on the move, more about square aspects, a preview of the upcoming eclipse, and a courageous attempt to explain mutual reception with a housesitting analogy.

Read more about this week’s astrology at the Big Sky Astrology website.

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01:50 – What do fireplaces, Girl Scouts, Richard Nixon, and Vienna sausages have in common?

05:18 – Last Quarter Moon in Virgo is time for taking stock and assessing progress. It’s a melancholy, self-critical phase, so take it easy and…

06:52 – Say three good things about yourself!

10:47 – What was the Lunar Phase at your birth? New Mooner Jen marches to her own drummer, and Last Quarter-born April is always looking over her shoulder.

13:40 – Mercury square Neptune is like trying to do math when you’re still waking up from a nap.

17:38 – Venus + Uranus = Independence, space, and breathing room. And here is the link to April’s Venus in Aquarius article.

20:00 – All this talk of independence has our podpets on the move! What Venus and Uranus share in common, how they’re different, and what mutual reception has to do with housesitting.

23:38 – Here comes the Winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere, and the Summer Solstice for the southern hemisphere!

25:57 – The Sun reaches its minimum elevation at noon in the northern hemisphere. From here, there’s nowhere to go but up.

28:41 – April and Jen set you up a little for the upcoming solar eclipse on December 25^th. Calculate your birth chart here. And this blog post will help you find where the eclipse falls in your birth chart.

32:01 – Shameless plug for April’s personal eclipse report. Read all about it!

33:55 – If you’d like to give April and Jen something nice to say about themselves, please rate this podcast 5 stars, write a happy little review, and be sure to subscribe so you’ll get all future episodes.