Big Sky Astrology Podcast

040 | Mars vs. Saturn, Virgo vs. Sagittarius, April vs. Gravity

It’s a busy week in the big sky, and in true Sun-in-Virgo form, April and Jen run down a checklist of planetary highlights: Mars runs into Saturn’s upturned palm, but learns something that will lead to a positive, North Node outcome. The First Quarter Moon in Sagittarius tells the Sun in Virgo to stop waiting for things to be perfect before taking a chance. Mercury and Venus cross-pollinate most of the Solar System, including shared aspects to think-big Jupiter and drowsy Neptune. Also: ladders, boots, and (inevitably) kittens.
Sign up for April's mailing list for updates, a free monthly lunar workbook, AND an email tutorial on the Lunar Phases!
To read April & Jen’s essays, or to join the podcast conversation and leave a comment, go to www.BigSkyAstroPod.com.
Read more about this week’s astrology at the Big Sky Astrology website!
Follow Big Sky Astrology on IG, Twitter, and FB @BigSkyAstrology
Read a full transcript of this episode.
Episode links:
00:28 – Life goes up, and life goes down… through it all, it’s nice to have a pal to chat with. Do check out the BSA podcast page, where we now bring you essays, along with the usual weekly podcast and transcripts of each episode.
.
05:15 – The first of three squares between Mars and Saturn arrives (Aug. 24)! The planet of action is stymied, and we might find we have to push ourselves a bit to make progress. The Sabian symbol for Mars at 27 Aries is “A lost opportunity regained in the imagination.” Saturn is on 27 Capricorn “A mountain pilgrimage.” Jen shares how her life-changing injury reminds her of these two symbols. In other words, these boots are made for walking.
.
10:07 – Mercury in Virgo trines Uranus (Aug. 25), which is on the Sabian Symbol for 11 Taurus, “a woman sprinkling flowers.” This is an opportunity to take something that you do regularly and see it in a new way. The trine is a quiet voice of innovation, whereas the recent square between these two planets might have felt more like a wake-up call.
.
12:04 – Mercury trines Jupiter in Capricorn (Aug. 29) on the Sabian symbol for 18 Virgo “An Ouija board,” which can give everyday happenings a spiritual flavor. It’s a good day to get the word out! (Listen to Episode 10, Neptune and the Zen of Groundhog Day for more on the Pisces/Virgo polarity.)
.
13:58 - Mercury in Virgo opposes Neptune in Pisces (Aug. 30). This might feel a bit like a Mercury retrograde, so it’s not the best day to think clearly. A great day for visualization, meditation, and tapping into spirituality, though!
.
15:15 – There is a pragmatic Grand Earth Trine for a couple of weeks, starting Aug. 25. This forms a triangle between Jupiter in Capricorn, Uranus in Taurus, and Mercury/Sun in Virgo. What are you envisioning? Write it down; give it form.
.
15:47 – ** Moonwatch! ** A First Quarter Moon (FQM) at 2.59 Sagittarius (Aug. 25) is on the Sabian symbol, “Two men playing chess,” which speaks to a battle of intellects. During this season of Virgo self-improvement, it’s a good time to take action to organize in a useful way… but don’t take things too seriously. Sag reminds us: Just make a beginning. (To hear more about the juggling story, go to Episode 39, Leo New Moon: A Rainbow at Daybreak.) Quote of the week goes to April: “Sagittarius rising, everything else falling down!”
.
21:11 – A good book on Neptune is Steven Forrest’s The Book of Neptune. (FYI: We get no $$ from this mention – just the satisfaction of turning you on to something marvelous!)
.
21:43 – Adventure versus caution: Venus opposes Jupiter in Capricorn (Aug. 25) on 18 Cancer, “A hen scratching for her chicks.” But even in Venus in Cancer’s lovely, protective home, its opposition to Pluto (Aug. 30) is a reminder of the daunting outside world.
.
24:22 – Thankfully, Venus also trines Neptune (Aug. 27) on 20 Cancer, “Gondoliers in serenade.” Neptune is on 20 Pisces “A table set for an evening meal.” Find ways to harmonize with the world around you.
.
25:46 – Finally, Mars in Aries makes an opportunity aspect to the North Node of the Moon in Gemini (Aug. 25). Even though it may seem that things are not flowing smoothly, you’re building muscles and moving forward on a path of curiosity and new learning environments. Difficult situations can sometimes take us in directions that we couldn’t have otherwise imagined for ourselves.
.
28:22 – As always, April and Jen appreciate you! If you enjoy the show, take a moment to subscribe and give us a 5-star rating and/or write us a happy review! And if you like the podcast, please toss a few dollars our way to help keep the show going. Thanks, podpals!
 

039 | Leo New Moon: A Rainbow at Daybreak

April & Jen have a purrfect cattitude this week! Meet our latest podpet, “mews” upon the Leo New Moon, and learn about yods. And later in the week, we welcome Virgo season as the Sun and Mercury enter the sign of soulful self-improvement. And the latest in our planetary return series, as April has a Venus return! Plus: Skittles, juggling, and hey – where’d you get your name?
Sign up for April's mailing list for updates, a free monthly lunar workbook, AND an email tutorial on the Lunar Phases!
To join the podcast conversation and leave a comment for April & Jen, go to www.BigSkyAstroPod.com.
Read more about this week’s astrology at the Big Sky Astrology website!
Follow Big Sky Astrology on IG, Twitter, and FB @BigSkyAstrology
Read a full transcript of this episode.
Episode links:
00:30 – Everything’s coming up kitties! April’s fondest feline dreams came true last week with two new podpets, one of whom seems to harbor podcasting ambitions. Sorry, kid, you’re too small for headphones.
.
05:23 – Cazimi! Mercury conjoins the Sun (Aug. 17) at 25°09’ Leo on the Sabian symbol “a rainbow.” Anticipate brilliant, beautiful insights, and enjoy a handful of Skittles.
.
07:55 – Mercury and the Sun are the apex of a yod with Neptune in Pisces and the Capricorn crew (Jupiter, Pluto, Saturn). What is a yod, anyway? And which finger is doing the pointing?!
.
12:16 – Here is the NASA link, which also features monthly skywatching tips.
.
12:45 – Grab your checklist and get organized: Mercury enters Virgo (Aug. 19) for a short stay (until Sept. 5). Learn the difference between Gemini and Virgo, Mercury’s two natural places of residence. This would also be a good time to learn to juggle!
.
17:13 – Venus in Cancer sextiles Uranus in Taurus (Aug. 18): Be on the lookout for Your People and for social opportunities, even if only online.
.
18:56 – Collect the whole set of personal planetary returns! April talks about Venus Returns, even as she experiences her own! To hear April and Jen’s most recent episode on planetary returns, go to Episode 37, Full Moon in Aquarius & Many Happy (Solar) Returns.
.
21:25 – ** Moonwatch! ** Take heart: A beautiful, warm, hopeful New Moon arrives at 26°35’ Leo (Aug. 18) on the Sabian symbol “Daybreak.” Will a new day dawn when April and Jen don’t sing on an episode? (Spoiler alert: Probably not!) This ties in nicely to the earlier symbol of “a rainbow” – both have that sense of possibility. With its ties to other points – Mars and the North Node – our actions and activities are guided in a lovely, helpful way.
.
26:33 – Check out the brand-new newsfeed feature on the BSA podcast page! Read all the latest goings-on, including Jen’s Leo New Moon essay and April’s weekly articles. Yay!
.
27:31 – It’s time for the harvest: The Sun enters Virgo (Aug. 22)! Separate the wheat from the chaff, and think about what adjustments you can make to improve yourself and your world. (Return to Episode 10, Neptune and the Zen of Groundhog Day if you’d like to hear more about the Virgo/Pisces polarity.)
.
33:24 – Thanks for listening, podpals! We’d love it if you could please take a moment to subscribe and give us a 5-star rating and/or write us a happy review! And if you like the podcast, please toss a few dollars our way to help keep the show going. Thanks so much!

038 | Taurus Last Quarter Moon – but wait, there’s S’more!

April & Jen bring you the biggest news of the week: Mars squaring off with Pluto, which seems ominous… yet the symbolism might support deeper, positive work. A Last Quarter Moon in Taurus prompts a discussion of the larger picture surrounding this lunar phase, which includes Uranus turning retrograde for a five-month nap and the Sun kissing Mars. Also: marshmallows, grandparents, and 25,000 ways to say thank you. Although, really… it always comes back to pie, doesn’t it?
Sign up for April's mailing list for updates, a free monthly lunar workbook, AND an email tutorial on the Lunar Phases!
To join the podcast conversation and leave a comment for April & Jen, go to www.BigSkyAstroPod.com.
Read more about this week’s astrology at the Big Sky Astrology website!
Follow Big Sky Astrology on IG, Twitter, and FB @BigSkyAstrology
Read a full transcript of this episode.
Episode links:
00:35 – Yep, we’re extending the birthday celebration, because why not? To hear the solar return mini-lesson and infamous birthday song and spousal cameo, go to Episode 37, Full Moon in Aquarius & Many Happy (Solar) Returns. Give a listen while you’re eating s’mores and lemon meringue pie!
.
05:18 – Leonine Mercury squares bullish Uranus at 10°40’ (Aug. 10). The planet of communication is on the Sabian symbol “Children in a swing in a huge oak tree.” The planet of disruption is on “A woman sprinkling long rows of flowers.” (Review Episode 23, Talkin’ Taurus and the Void (Of Course!) Moon for more on these symbols.) Look for flashes of inspiration, an awakening of ideas, bolts out of the blue, or surprising news – and cultivate some beauty, like some lavender fields or a tulip farm. And take note: This aspect may feel somewhat like a Mercury retrograde! This is the continuation of a story that began around April 30. (And to hear Jen’s parents’ cameo, go to Episode 23, Talkin’ Taurus and the Void (Of Course!) Moon.)
.
09:16 – ** Moonwatch! ** This week there is a Last Quarter Moon (LQM) at 19°28’ Taurus (Aug. 11). This reflective point in the lunar cycle always supports contemplation and thinking about “How am I doing to achieve my long-term goals?” So it’s linked to this particular 3-week period, of course, as is the case every month... but also to life in general.
.
10:49 – Jen pitches a question: Why do some astrologers associate the lunar cycle with a 28-day cycle, a 6-month-cycle, and 2.5-year cycle? April hits it out of the ballpark.
.
12:14 – This LQM is on the Sabian symbol “Wind, clouds, and haste,” but the sign of the bull doesn’t usually move too quickly… perhaps conditions exist in which things are moving rapidly. The Sun is on the symbol “Zuni sun worshippers” which indicates the importance of ritual, being intentional, and revering nature and the natural rhythms and cycles of life.
.
14:59 – Mars in Aries squares Pluto in Capricorn at 23°05’ (Aug. 13) for the first of three times between now and the end of the year, continuing a story that began on March 22. Mars wants to move forward at warp speed, but Pluto points out the limits of our personal efficacy and power. The Sabian symbols are lovely, though: Mars is on “An open window and a net curtain blowing into a cornucopia.” And Pluto: “A woman entering a convent.” There might be an opportunity here for you, if you will pause and let yourself retreat and reflect: If change is coming, in what positive direction can you help move it?
.
21:07 – Uranus sits down to reverse course (Aug. 15) at 10°41’ Taurus on the symbol “A woman sprinkling long rows of flowers.” Sound familiar? As the planet of the unexpected pauses in the sky, it becomes more internalized and can sometimes act the opposite of what we associate it with. The sideways planet will turn direct in January 2021 at 6° Taurus. (Learn how to find this point in your birth chart here.)
.23:43 – The Sun and Mercury in Leo both trine Mars in Aries (Aug. 16). This is a warm, encouraging aspect, so act with heart on your loving, creative impulses. Sun/Mercury are on the symbols for 25 Leo “A large camel crossing the desert.” Mars is on “A double promise.” Both speak of duality and seem future-focused. These might be messages of: What direction are you headed? And, do you have a plan? With the focus on two, it might be wise to have a backup plan too!
.
27:40 – Thanks for listening 25,000 times, podpals! We’d love it if you could please take a sec and make sure to subscribe and give us a 5-star rating, or write us a happy review! And, do you like the show? Yay! Would you be willing to toss a few dollars in the contributions bucket? That would really help us out! Double thanks, and a double promise to keep bringing the show to you each week!

037 | Full Moon in Aquarius & Many Happy (Solar) Returns

April & Jen: The Musical! – is brought to you by a disruptive Full Moon in Aquarius, tight-lipped Mercury falling on Saturn’s deaf ears, Mars square Jupiter, Mercury in Leo (hence this episode’s festive tone) and Venus joining the North Node before entering cozy, home-loving Cancer. Also, for your learning pleasure, a mini-class on solar returns! And, someone is having a birthday! Can you say carrot cake?
Order your Solar Return birthday report here!
Sign up for April's mailing list for updates, a free monthly lunar workbook, AND an email tutorial on the Lunar Phases!
To join the podcast conversation and leave a comment for April & Jen, go to www.BigSkyAstroPod.com.
Read more about this week’s astrology at the Big Sky Astrology website!
Follow Big Sky Astrology on IG, Twitter, and FB @BigSkyAstrology
Read a full transcript of this episode.
Episode links:
00:33 – April launches another trip around the Sun on Aug. 5, and all of us at the BSA Podcast would like to wish her a happy birthday! (Note: “All of us” includes one person and two furry co-workers. 😊)
.
01:36 – Previous episodes about planetary returns include Episode 11, Saturn Returns We’ve Known and "Loved" and lunar returns on Episode 20, Libra Full Moon: A Magic Carpet Ride.
.
02:02 – Let’s talk Solar Returns! What are they? What do they tell us? How are they calculated? And can you really get a better year by spending your birthday somewhere else? You can order your Solar Return birthday report here, even if it’s not your birthday! And, in other news this week, April’s birthday is also National Work Like a Dog Day and National Underwear Day! *giggling*
.
09:37 – ** Moonwatch! ** This week there is a Full Moon at 11.46 Aquarius (Aug. 3) on the Sabian symbol “People on stairs graduated upward.” Perhaps this speaks of vision – can the people on the top can see farther? And the Sun is on “An evening lawn party.” A charming symbol, and both are about groups of people, so it must be nice, right…?
.
11:01 – But wait! At this Full Moon, unpredictable Uranus in the sign of the bull provokes both the Sun and Moon. Maybe it’s not too comfortable after all… but maybe comfortable is not all it’s cracked up to be.
.
12:54 – Also on Aug. 3, Mercury in Cancer opposes Saturn in Capricorn. There might be some difficulty in communicating, because this can feel like a cork in your mouth. On the bright side, not blurting out every thought can have its advantages!
.
14:49 – It’s the end of Act 1: there’s tension as Mars in Aries squares Jupiter in Cap (Aug. 4). These planets came together on March 20 (for a review of that, see Episode 17, Saturn in Aquarius: All in This Together), and Mars will square the Capricorn clown car (Jupiter, Pluto, Saturn) throughout the fall. Think back to March – what were the personal stories for you? Use some of that energy in a positive way this week. Why? Because it's hip to be square!
.
18:24 – Mercury enters Leo (Aug. 4), a creative, persistent, and expressive placement. However, beware subjectivity. This is a good time to do anything fun – express yourself with a project just for you! (For more info, listen to Episode 8, Saturn and Pluto Need a Party.)
.
22:42 – You are here: In a galaxy with 200 billion stars, and at the center of it – out there – is the galactic center. Venus joins the North Node (Aug. 5) and therefore opposes the South Node, currently aligned with the galactic center. You might get messages of what to release related to Venus-themed things. It can also bring important people into your life.
.
27:02 – Venus enters cozy Cancer (Aug. 7) and immediately heads over to Bed Bath & Beyond. This is a time to take pleasure in home and family.
.
30:25 – Thanks for reading the show notes! We’d love it if you could please take a sec and make sure to subscribe and give us a 5-star rating, or write us a happy review! And if you like the show, please consider kicking in five or ten coffee bucks! [“I STILL can’t believe coffee costs that much!” – April ] Thanks, y’all.

036 | A Mini-Class for the Dog Days: Elements & Modalities

April and Jen take a paws during the dog days of summer and combine two great mini-lessons into one great show: Enjoy this mash-up of the elements and the modalities of the zodiac! It’ll be ruff without us for one week, but we’ll return to our regular broadcast next week!
Sign up for April's mailing list for updates, a free monthly lunar workbook, AND an email tutorial on the Lunar Phases!
To join the podcast conversation and leave a comment for April & Jen, go to www.BigSkyAstroPod.com.
Read more about this week’s astrology at the Big Sky Astrology website, and sign up for!
Follow Big Sky Astrology on IG, Twitter, and FB @BigSkyAstrology
Read a full transcript of this episode.
Episode links:
00:29 – Summertime means break time, and like a Labracadabrador, April and Jen magically bring you some important info for the dog days of summer!
.
01:50 – We start you off with the four elements: fire, earth, air, and water. Brought to you by the gophers of Episode 13, Pisces Season: Gopher it! Don’t forget to grab your free cheat sheet on the elements! And while you’re at it, wouldn’t you like to sign up for April’s fantabulous newsletter?
.
05:41 – Next up, the three modalities, brought to you by Episode 21, Cardinal, Fixed, & Mutable: Signs a la Mod-alities. Cardinal goes first, since they are the initiators of the zodiac.
.
08:45 – Fixed signs can be stubborn (said your Leo/Scorpio co-hosts). But hey, someone’s got to keep things going!
.
12:43 – The mutable signs are the disseminators of the cosmos. Someone has to spread the word, right?
.
17:37 – Jen was looking out her windshield, wearing a windbreaker, looking at a windstorm, when April leaned out her window and said, “Hey Jen, let’s play the wind game!”
.
18:01 – Learn why signs of the same modality tend to argue.
.
18:42 – Here is your cheat sheet on modalities! Free… yes, absolutely FREE!
.
19:28 – Dear friends: Thanks for the week off! Even though we’re not here to remind you – don’t forget to subscribe to the BSA podcast, and also to give us a 5-star rating! And if you have an extra ten seconds, we love awesome reviews. Finally, please help support the show - perhaps kick in enough to treat your co-hosts to a cup of joe! Mmm… coffee… Thanks muchly!
 

035 | A Second Cancer New Moon, and Savoring the Sun in Leo

April and Jen embrace National Tell an Old Joke Day as a way to cope with a very stormy second Cancer New Moon, which is facing off against stern Saturn. Also this week, the Sun enters the joyful playground of its own sign, Leo, and Mercury gets a bolt of inspiration from Uranus. Plus: more imaginary sponsors, several new (old) jokes, and hey… let’s just savor this moment, shall we?
 
Sign up for April's mailing list for updates, a free monthly lunar workbook, AND an email tutorial on the Lunar Phases!
To join the podcast conversation and leave a comment for April & Jen, go to www.BigSkyAstroPod.com.
Read more about this week’s astrology at the Big Sky Astrology website, and sign up for!
Follow Big Sky Astrology on IG, Twitter, and FB @BigSkyAstrology
Read a full transcript of this episode.
 
Episode links:
00:33 – Join us in hilarity as we celebrate Tell an Old Joke Day! And, is National Moon Day always on a Moonday? More importantly, will shows about tiny houses take over the real estate in April’s heart where The Repair Shop currently resides? (This love goes back to at least Episode 7, Saturn & Pluto Go to The Repair Shop; perhaps even earlier.) (“Seemingly from past lifetimes.” – April)
.
05:12 – Have you seen April’s artwork for Episode 34, The 8 Lunar Phases: Have Them with a Salad!? It’s delicious! Also, join April's mailing list to get a free mini-tutorial on the eight lunar phases! And to regularly enjoy April’s artwork, join her on IG or FB (@BigSkyAstrology).
.
06:54 – ** Moonwatch! ** The second New Moon in the sign of Cancer is on July 20th! The Sabian symbol for 29 Cancer is, “A storm in a canyon.” Hmmm… powerful release of emotion, anyone? This New Moon point is in a very tight opposition to Saturn (exact 5 hours after the New Moon!). New Moons are normally good for starting new things, but what is initiated under Sun/Saturn oppositions can have a hard time growing. .
11:54 – Mars will square the July 4 eclipse point this week (July 22). To hear about fast-moving planets trigging eclipse points, listen to Episode 33, Kittens and Composite Charts. To hear about the July 4 eclipse, review Episode 32, Capricorn Lunar Eclipse: A Minnesota Goodbye
.
13:13 – Mercury revisits territory from the week of the June 20/21 Solstice Solar Eclipse. Additionally, since this is the second New Moon in Cancer, storylines from that time may be continued. (Give a listen to Episode 30, Cancer Solar Eclipse: You’re Buffering.)
.
14:41 – How to deal with this big New Moon? Saturn rewards perseverance and persistence. Make sure you have a healthy infrastructure in place for your plans. Energy, courage, and confidence can feel stifled right about now… We’re not crying, YOU’RE crying! 😭
.
16:36 – Take heart: The Sun enters the lion’s den and sign of its rulership on July 22! The Sun does its best work here, in a sign that delights in play, creativity, children, recreation, open-heartedness. What are your hobbies? What do you wake up and say, “Today I get to do (this)!!” about? Get your flow on and savor life’s joys! .
23:03 – Inspired thinking and intellectual breakthroughs incoming: Mercury sextiles Uranus on July 22. Mercury is on the Sabian symbol for 11 Cancer, “A clown making grimaces.” Uranus is on 11 Taurus, “A Red Cross nurse.” This represents the spirit of healing and neutrality, and expressing yourself in a fun, dynamic way.
.
26:14 – Howdy friends! Do you like the show? If so, please SUBSCRIBE! (Sorry, didn’t mean to yell… the podcasting cognoscenti say it’s important for our rankings and to help people find us. It’s free!) Of course, we also love 5-star ratings and awesome reviews. If you can toss a few dollars our way, help keep the podcast going! In the meantime, let’s think about t-shirts and mugs!

034 | The 8 Lunar Phases: Have Them with a Salad!

April and Jen shine a light on the Sun this week: First opposing the ginormously powerful point where Saturn/Pluto met in January, and then picking a fight with Jupiter AND Pluto on Team Seagoat. Also: The eight lunar phases! Learn about them! Have them with a salad! Plus: cream pies, tote bags, and early morning pancakes with pals.
 
April’s Astrological Transits book is groovy and fantastic!
To join the podcast conversation and leave a comment for April & Jen, go to www.BigSkyAstroPod.com.
Read more about this week’s astrology at the Big Sky Astrology website, and sign up for April's mailing list!
Follow Big Sky Astrology on IG, Twitter, and FB @BigSkyAstrology
Read a full transcript of this episode.
Episode links:
00:31 – Should we have mentioned that National Tape Measure Day and National Nude Day are on the same day?! Well, we did. And thanks to all of you who have left such lovely comments!! Listen in to hear our take on resources for Neptune transits, including April’s “Astrological Transits” book. And you can always leave us a lovely comment on the BSA pod page. (For more on Neptune, revisit Episode 10, Neptune and the Zen of Groundhog Day and Episode 29, Neptune Washing Over All, and the US Pluto Return.)
.
07:03 – Report card time: How are we doing with renegotiating the structures of our lives? How can we be kinder? The Sun opposes the point that Saturn and Pluto came together on back in January. This is important for our leonine friends, because the Sun rules Leo! Hey, doesn’t Jen know a Leo?
.
11:36 – The princely Sun in Cancer opposes King Jupiter in Capricorn (July 14). The Sun sits on the Sabian symbol for 23 Cancer, “Meeting of a literary society.” Fellowship, anyone?
.
13:37 – The Sun then moves on to oppose Pluto (July 15). Lots of stories that began at the end of 2019 and beginning of 2020 are having their mid-way check-in point. How are you faring on your path to transformation? Sometimes, we have to let some things go in order to move forward.
.
15:01 – To be our solar selves, we have to confront Jupiter and Pluto – the transiting Sun describes our joy! In the faceoff with this Jupiter-Pluto-ness, can we persist in expressing jubilance? (Here’s a quick version of the NASA time-lapse video of the Sun; but better yet, here is an excellent 5-minute highlights reel.)
.
16:35 – A word on Jupiter: In myth, he wasn’t always a kind ruler, and could be selfish. How much is enough? Will material things fill our needs? (Spoiler: Probably not.)
.
18:10 – ** Moonwatch** Meet the Balsamic Moon (July 16) and the eight lunar phases! A mini-lesson for YOU, our podpals! Of course, it all comes back to pie!
.
23:54 – The Balsamic Moon – or waning crescent – begins when the Moon is 45 degrees behind the Sun. It’s the last phase before the New Moon, a time to heal, let go, and have pancakes with friends.
.
28:00 – There are certain aspects that can form between the Sun and Moon during each phase. For example, if you’re looking at a birth chart, a New Moon can be a conjunction (same degree, natch) or a semi-sextile (which is 30 degrees).
.
29:28 – Hiya podpals! Do you like the show? If so, go ahead and give us a 5-star rating wherever you listen… it helps others find the podcast! Also, please subscribe in your podcatcher and leave us a wonderful comment. If you can toss a few dollars our way, help keep the podcast going! In the meantime, we’ll think about tote bags. 😉

033 | Kittens and Composite Charts

April and Jen celebrate National Days relevant to their interests (pie and kittens) and review the week’s planetary highlights: Mercury turns direct after a feisty aspect to impulsive Mars; the Sun hits the beach with Neptune; and an energetic, possibly aggravating Last Quarter Moon in Aries. Also, a brief introduction to Composite Charts (they're two, two, two charts in one!). Plus: an oddly quiet day, an eloquent ASL interpreter, a big anniversary, and interviewing kittens.
 
To join the podcast conversation and leave a comment for April & Jen, go to www.BigSkyAstroPod.com.
Read more about this week’s astrology at the Big Sky Astrology website, and sign up for April's mailing list!
Follow Big Sky Astrology on IG, Twitter, and FB @BigSkyAstrology
Read a full transcript of this episode.
Episode links:
00:42 – Everything was coming up April and Jen this week: kittens, cows, and pecan pie. (You better believe pie goes way back… to Episode 1, Stars Over Thanksgiving! Or how about Episode 15, Venus + Pie: 0-29 Degrees of Separation?)
.
03:00 – We wish Jen’s parents a happy wedding anniversary! (Meet Jen’s parents on Episode 22, Taurus New Moon and Venus Gone Wild!) Aww… their marriage was born the same year as April! What a great year!
.
04:43 – A curiously quiet day on July 7… the Moon will be void-of-course in Aquarius all day. Good day to catch up, rest, and wear your leisure suit! (Learn about the VOC Moon on Episode 23, Talkin’ Taurus and the Void (Of Course!) Moon.)
.
05:39 – Mercury makes the second of three opening squares to Mars on July 8. The pair first joined forces last September, along with a co-hosting duo you may know. What was happening for you last September? (And, because we like you, the composite chart as an 80s candy commercial.)
.
08:55 – Squares always indicate tension: Mercury is on the Sabian symbol for 7 Cancer, “Two Fairies on a moonlit night.” Mars is on 7 Aries, “A man successfully expressing himself in two realms at once.” So although these are lovely symbols, remember to think before speaking, and show caution when driving, too! (And as for Gov. Walz’s much-lauded ASL interpreter, read about her here or watch a short news clip about her here.)
.
13:28 – Mercury turns around and faces forward on a busy day in the skies (July 12) on the Sabian symbol for 6 Cancer, “Game birds feathering their nest.” Cozy, or cautionary? (Mercury turned retrograde on June 18 at 14.46 Cancer (Episode 30, Cancer Solar Eclipse: You’re Buffering). Jen’s big take-away: Always blame Neptune. .
17:28 – Also July 12, the Sun in Cancer trines Neptune in Pisces at 21 degrees. This is a lovely aspect for creativity, music, getting into nature, having a spiritual retreat, and catching up on sleep. .
19:35 – ** Moonwatch**! A temperamental Last Quarter Moon at 21.03 Aries (yep, July 12). This part of the lunar cycle always asks us to look back: How are you doing with what you initiated at the Cancer New Moon solar eclipse on June 20/21? How about at March’s Aries New Moon? Aries is about new life and initiating things. Is there a way now to safely make progress?
.
23:44 – This lunar aspect forms a T-square, with Jupiter/Saturn/Pluto in Capricorn making tense aspects to both the Sun and Moon. The release point is from 20-29 degrees Libra. Got any planets getting squeezed there?
.
25:46 – At the Last Quarter, the Moon is on the Sabian symbol for 22 Aries, “The gate to the garden of desire.” The Sun on 22 Cancer, “A woman awaiting a sailboat.” What is the path forward? Is there a kitten in the picture?
.
27:06 – When does eclipse season end, anyway? [Update: Look to July 26/27, when Mercury opposes the July 4/5 eclipse point, as a resolution point.]
.
29:00 – Hey you, our podpal! If you’re enjoying the show, would you please take a sec and give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen? Thank you! We also welcome your lovely comments. And, if you have a few extra bucks, please make a contribution to keep the podcast going. Thanks!!