TRANSCRIPT Ep. 299 | Mercury Retrograde: Permission to Pause!

TRANSCRIPT Ep. 299 (July 14, 2025)
Mercury Retrograde: Permission to Pause!

Hello, Invisible Friend, April here, and the date today is July 14th, 2025. Welcome to Episode 299 of the Big Sky Astrology Podcast. This week, Mercury stations for its latest retrograde period. An Aries Last Quarter Moon issues a final call to action in the Cancer New Moon cycle. Mars makes a conjunction with the South Node and asks that we let go of negative Mars traits. Mercury and Venus highlight heartfelt communication, and I answer a listener question about synastry – what if you and your partner have very difficult aspects between your birth charts?

Aries Last Quarter Moon (July 17, 2025, 5:38 pm PDT)

The week begins with the Moon Report and we begin with the week’s major lunation, the Aries Last Quarter Moon on Thursday, July 17th at 5:38 PM Pacific Time at 25º40’ Aries and Cancer. And what this sign, Aries and the Last Quarter phase have in common. It’s that they both really love a good call to action.

This is the moment to take a final, bold step toward intentions that we set back on the June 25th Cancer New Moon. That New Moon likely stirred up questions about how your plans affect your loved ones, your family, your partner, close friends, even your broader community. Now, under this Last Quarter Moon, it is time to act, not recklessly, but with confidence.

The Last Quarter is about asserting your perspective, making the tough calls, and moving toward the finish line with purpose. The early part of this lunar cycle, of course, asked us to consider the needs of others. How we fit into their lives and how they fit into ours, and how the big decisions we make in our lives impact those people close to us.

But now we pivot to choices that reflect our own needs, our own truth. What is it that you need most? What feels deeply authentic and non-negotiable? The Moon’s Sabian symbol at this Last Quarter is 26 Aries, A man possessed of more gifts than he can hold, and the Sun is on 26 Cancer, Contentment and happiness in luxury, people reading on davenports. The Moon’s symbol can be said to introduce a little bit of a note of caution to not overextend yourself, not try to carry more things at a time than you can comfortably. I am forever doing this in our home, trying to save a trip by carrying more dishes and so forth, and have very often dropped things and broken them! So this is a reminder also to be discerning, to focus your energy in a way that is wise and judicious.

The Sun’s Sabian symbol speaks of responsibility that comes as we grow into positions of influence. People who are in luxury who are contented, and it’s about staying connected to the ideas and beliefs of the world going on around us, while remembering that our own individual comfort and luxury can be fleeting and we need to use that knowledge with care.

Lunar Phase Family Cycle

This is the Last Quarter in a lunar phase family cycle that began at the New Moon on April 19th, way back in 2023, at 29º50’ Aries. This was, in fact, a solar eclipse at the very last degree of Aries, so as this lunar phase family has been unfolding since then with important phases every nine months, we have been going more deeply into the meaning of that eclipse. That eclipse point was square Pluto, which had just moved into zero degrees Aquarius, and it was a very volatile eclipse point. If you look to the area of your chart where 29º 50’ Aries falls, I think it’s very possible that in the time since that eclipse, you will have been seeing some powerful changes and transformations in that area of life.

Nine months after that New Moon, there was a First Quarter Moon on January 17th, 2024, at 27º31’ Aries. That would’ve been a moment when some kind of awareness or decision, or action was called for responding to the eclipse. And then nine months after the First Quarter was the Full Moon on October 17th, 2024, at 24º35’ Aries, when more was revealed about what had been initiated at that New Moon eclipse, especially in the realm of relationships in our lives. Now we are at the Last Quarter period, and that’s the time when, with the benefit of hindsight, of looking at the different stages of this lunar phase family as it’s unfolded, we’re now in a powerful position to take a final action towards these important Aries areas of our lives.

Void-of-Course Moon periods

Let’s look at the Void-of-Course Moon periods for this week. On Tuesday, July 15th, the Moon in Pisces trines the Sun in Cancer at 10:10 AM Pacific time. It’s Void-of-Course for 11 hours, 22 minutes, and then enters Aries and gets ready for that Last Quarter Moon at 9:32 PM. The Moon making a trine to another planet as it goes Void-of-Course, we usually say, brings a gift or a reward in some way.

The Sun and Moon here are in the water signs of Pisces and Cancer. Emotions are at the forefront. And since the relationship between them is a trine, there is a pretty good chance that the emotional content of this day will be of a pretty positive variety. Water signs prefer to work in a way that is more receptive than assertive.

So allow yourself to be open to a flood of positive emotions coming your way on a day like this. Resolve to get into the habit of letting the good times roll, going with the flow instead of trying to force things that are not coming naturally.

On Thursday, July 17th, the Moon in Aries squares the Sun at 5:38 PM Pacific Time. It’s Void-of-Course for seven hours, 20 minutes, and enters Taurus on Friday, July 18th at 12:58 PM. This is the polar opposite of the previous Void-of-Course Moon period. It is characterized by conflict instead of ease. This is basically the Last Quarter Moon in Aries that we talked about earlier.

This Void-of-Course Moon period could bring up topics around what it is that you want versus what your loved ones want and the actions that need to be made to satisfy all of the parties involved. Use this Void-of-Course Moon period to assert your needs, your individual requirements, in a way that others will probably respect, even if they aren’t always pleased with your point of view, especially initially.

On Saturday, July 19th, the Moon in Taurus sextiles the Sun in Cancer at 11:43 PM Pacific Time. It’s Void-of-Course for three hours, 39 minutes, and then enters Gemini on Sunday, July 20th at 3:22 AM. A sextile between the Moon and another planet as it goes Void-of-Course, usually says that there is an opportunity or an invitation that can be coming your way on this date. The Moon in Taurus, plus the Sun in Cancer, and it’s a Saturday night – this sounds like an opportunity to just spend some time with loved ones or very good friends, maybe watching a movie together, having a lot of snacks.

Use this Void-of-Course Moon period to make these kinds of evenings with special people in your life, more of a habit or a monthly tradition. I was speaking with a friend a couple of days ago and saying, wow, it really seems since the pandemic that people have a little harder time committing to social engagements than we used to. I think this little Void-of-Course Moon period is a reminder that this can be very enjoyable. It doesn’t have to be just the big moments of life that we get together for.

Mercury Stations Retrograde (July 17, 2025, 9:45 pm PDT)

Mercury stations retrograde on Thursday, July 17th at 9:45 PM Pacific Time. It takes place at 15º34’ Leo, on the Sabian symbol 16 Leo, Sunshine just after a storm. Mercury will be retrograde until August 11th when it turns direct at 4º14’ Leo. So this whole Mercury retrograde period will be playing out entirely in the sign of Leo.

When Mercury is retrograde in a sign like Leo, any mix-ups or delays or travel snafus that we associate with Mercury retrograde can play out in a very loud and even dramatic way. But here’s the silver lining. Retrogrades are really the universe’s way of saying slow down for a bit, keep your schedule lighter than you normally would. Don’t try to move from appointment to appointment to appointment.

Leo is actually pretty good at that. If you don’t believe me, go visit a zoo in the afternoon and check out the lions. They are absolute pros at lounging around. So, this Mercury retrograde in Leo is, in a sense, our permission slip to hit pause. To take it easy and to really enjoy some summertime leisure, or if you’re in the southern hemisphere, some cold weather days where you’re warming yourself by the fire.

The Sabian symbol for this retrograde point, Sunshine just after a storm, is a reminder that clear skies will always follow the cloudy days. So even if things get a little bit off course or frustrating or a little bit dramatic, clarity and joy will surely follow.

Mercury sextile Venus (July 18, 2025, 6:37 am PDT)

On Friday, July 18th, Mercury retrograde sextiles Venus in Gemini, at 6:37 AM Pacific Time. It’s a harmonious aspect. It highlights the power of heartfelt communication, with Mercury currently retrograde, you know, retracing its steps in Leo. This is an aspect that invites us to revisit conversations or creative ideas that we had, maybe wrote in a journal or a notebook, and that we may have put them on hold for various reasons, but now there really is a fresh chance opening up to express these with charm and clarity.

The Sabian symbol for Mercury is 16 Leo, Sunshine just after a storm, which we just talked about. For Venus, 16 Gemini, A woman suffragist haranguing. The Sun’s symbol, Sunshine just after a storm really does speak to some relief and renewal after a turbulent time. But Gemini’s symbol, A woman Suffragist haranguing, talks about that passionate advocacy and the courage to speak our truth.

Together, I think these symbols suggest a moment when voices that have long been silenced may rise again, this time with warmth, purpose, and a touch of that Leo flair. Use this day and this energy to revise your communications. Revise writing, reopen important conversations, or reconnect with someone through sincere words of affection. Catch up on your emails and your texts on this day.

Mars conjunct the South Node (July 20, 2025, 6:59 pm PDT)

Mars in Virgo makes a conjunction to the Moon’s South Node on Sunday, July 20th at 6:59 PM Pacific Time, at 19º38’ Virgo on the Sabian symbol 20 Virgo, An automobile caravan.

Mars in Virgo wants improvement across the board, and this includes self-improvement. Mars in Virgo can get hung up on trying to improve things to a state of perfection. Perfection is unattainable because nothing is perfect. As Mars crosses the South Node of the Moon, this is a signal to let go – the South Node is a letting-go point, so it’s letting go of what’s not helpful about Mars and, in particular, Mars in Virgo. So, it might be a time we want to adjust our expectations to a somewhat more reasonable standard or level. Refuse to judge others and yourself on the basis of imperfection and really pausing, count to 10 before you start getting critical with people.

The Sabian symbol for this conjunction, 20 Virgo, An automobile caravan, is about cooperation. We’re all together in this caravan. It’s about optimizing effort to gain the best results by working with others, with kindred spirits, working cooperatively towards a common goal. But in order to really do this and to do it effectively, you have to be willing to take people as they are and where they are, instead of holding them to impossibly high standards

Listener Question: Challenges in Synastry

In this week’s listener question, Listener Joanna writes, “What does it mean if you and your partner don’t have good synastry? His Saturn is square my Venus. My Pluto is conjunct his Mars. Help! I think we have a good relationship, but maybe I’m fooling myself.”

Joanna, that is such a great question and one that a lot of people ask when they start comparing charts with a partner, and that’s the meaning of the word synastry – looking at the placement of the planets in one person’s chart and how they aspect planets in a partner’s chart.

So first, take a deep breath. Challenging aspects between your chart and the other person’s chart does not mean your relationship is doomed, any more than easy aspects guarantee riding off into the sunset in a state of bliss. Astrology describes dynamics and potential; it doesn’t dictate the outcome that is up to the two of you.

Now I will grant you, Saturn square Venus doesn’t sound like the loveliest of aspects. It can symbolize differences in how the two of you express affection and receive love. One of you might feel that the other is too reserved or sometimes withholds affection. The other might worry about being overwhelmed or not taken seriously.

This aspect can also create a strong sense of commitment between two people. I actually really like to see synastry connections of Venus and Saturn because it suggests that the two of you can build a long-lasting, solid commitment, even if it probably is going to take some work.

But the good thing about an aspect like this is, all relationships take some work. And if you have nothing but easy aspects in your synastry, you might not be as well prepared to work things through in case something comes along and you have a disagreement.

You also mentioned Pluto conjunct the other person’s Mars. That’s pretty intense. It is also very passionate. There’s a lot of feeling there and it points to a deep magnetism between you. This is a relationship that truly has the power to transform you both. And sometimes it can be very empowering. Sometimes it can be a little overwhelming, depending on how you both handle it.

What can happen sometimes in a situation like this is, you imagine there’s gonna be a lot of anger and a lot of arguments. It doesn’t always work that way, because Pluto can really dampen Mars to a great degree. So, what it can feel like for the Mars person is that the other person is either trying to be a little controlling or doesn’t make them feel like they’re energized and supported in their desire to go after what they want.

So, to your question, are you fooling yourself? I don’t think so. You are probably feeling the power of these aspects. If you’ve been in the relationship for a while and you have an idea of the kind of work that they ask of you. The real question is, do you both want to engage with that work consciously?

And if so, this could be a relationship that strengthens, and strengthens you both over time. Besides, I’m certain there are plenty of other aspects between your two charts that are easy, enjoyable, and relaxed. Maybe there’s a good aspect between the Sun and Moon, and that’s a combination that can symbolize just a warm compatibility between you.

Maybe Jupiter in one of your charts connects with the Sun or Moon or Venus or descendant, maybe in the other’s chart. This can mean that you feel that more things are possible because you are together. Relationships, of course, are complicated, and so is synastry and astrology. But I think usually if you liked each other enough to get into a relationship in the first place, you probably are able to find common ground and have a chance to overcome the challenges you face together and celebrate the more compatible parts of your relationship, too.

Joanna, thank you so much for that question. I know it’s a topic people think about a lot. And best of luck to you in your relationship!

If you have a question that you would like me to answer on a future episode of the podcast, leave a voicemail of one minute or less at speakpipe.com/bigskyastrologypodcast. Or you can send an email to me, april (at) bigsky astrology.com and just be sure to put “Podcast Question” in the subject line.

Donor Thanks

Well, that is everything I have on my show sheet, so I’m gonna wrap this one up. Thank you for listening to the Big Sky Astrology Podcast. If you like what you’re hearing, I ask that you please subscribe to the podcast or follow it in your app of choice. This can help other people find the podcast. Please leave a rating or review in your app, and I hope that you’ll help spread the word by telling an astrology-loving friend about the podcast. You can read show notes and full transcripts and leave your comments about each episode at BigSkyAstropod.com.

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That is it for this episode. Join me again, bright and early next Monday, and until then, keep your feet on the ground and your eyes on the stars!