Prima Donna Moon
The Last Quarter Moon (Oct. 13, 2025, 11:13 am PDT, 20º39’ Cancer) is the moment in each lunar cycle when we take a final action toward anything that we set in motion at the previous New Moon, and in this case, that was that Solar Eclipse Virgo New Moon on September 21st.
How far have we come with those New Moon intentions, and how have they helped us move ahead in work and service without getting overwhelmed by perfectionism? Honestly, it’s sometimes easier to focus on all the things that we haven’t done, or where we think that we’ve fallen short. That’s a bit the nature of the Last Quarter Moon. And Cancer, which is the sign of this Last Quarter Moon, has a particular talent for holding on to these kinds of feelings. But ideally, we’d focus less on what we have or haven’t accomplished, and more on what we’ve learned from the lunar cycle.
This Moon is on the Sabian symbol, 21 Cancer, A prima donna singing, with the Sun on 21 Libra, A crowd upon the beach – the attention-getting, perfectionistic soloist who has worked diligently to develop her voice, and the ensemble that accompanies her. This Last Quarter Moon of the Libra season challenges us to reflect on what we’ve learned about shining our individual light without upsetting the balance and blend of the collective chorus.
Too Much Venus?
I live with a Libran who is a wonderful cook. He’s from the culinary school of “if a little bit of an ingredient is good, then certainly four times as much must be better.” (Did I mention his Taurus Moon?) And usually, the results are stupendous. But now and then, things go off balance and there’s a vegetable and rice dish with too little rice, or a pasta salad with so much lemon that it’s almost inedible.
Balance is best in cooking and in most things. But is that also true of love, ruled by Venus? And can one ever have too much money or beauty, also ruled by Venus?
Well, yes, actually. And while Venus is in Libra (Oct. 13, 2025, 2:19 pm PDT through Nov. 6), it’s important to seek balance even in those things. A relationship may have one person who loves more, or is vastly more beautiful, or brings far more wealth to the table than the other. But we don’t all have to bring the same qualities to a relationship, just as long as the sides of the scale balance out in the end.
Love and Loveliness
No one is perfect, however much we love them, no more than we are ourselves. And Venus’ opposition to Neptune (Oct 13, 2025, 6:16 pm PDT, 00°12’ Libra-Aries) prompts us to consider whether we can still love those closest to us even after we see what isn’t so lovely about them.
Even if your relationships are doing just fine, this aspect can reveal uncomfortable truths about your basic values. Our politics, figures of inspiration, our approach to earning and managing money… any of these can suddenly be revealed as naïve or wrong-headed.
Venus moves quickly, so this influence lasts no more than a couple of days. But it could trigger a larger shift in how and whom you cherish.
Eruptions
A volcano can stay dormant for thousands of years and still be capable of tremendous damage. Roman writers described Vesuvius as having been covered with gardens and vineyards before it erupted in 79 CE, destroying Pompei.
When Pluto is retrograde (since May 4), for almost half of each year, it’s like a dormant volcano. It seems that forces of power and control have receded and that complacency is the law of the land. But under the surface, destructive power is building. And a day or two around the day that Pluto stations to move direct (Oct. 13, 2025, 7:52 pm PDT, 1º22’ Aquarius) is when it’s most likely to blow.
The Right One
Years ago, we stopped by the animal shelter to pick out a companion kitten for Bodhi, a recent feline addition to our household. I was picturing a marmalade-colored kitten named Max; within the hour, we came home with a straggly brown tabby whom we immediately dubbed Spike.
I had a very particular kitten in mind, but the heart was wiser and recognized the right one.
When Venus is trine Uranus (Oct. 14, 2025, 7:09 am PDT, 00º52’ Libra and Gemini), something you’ve been wanting may show up in a surprising way. The timing could be unexpected, or it may arrive in a package that’s different than you’d imagined.
When Venus trines Uranus, let your heart surprise you.
Creating Space
Here’s why I love the desert: it’s so empty, and the sky is so big, that I feel free to do and be anything. My real life is filled with beloved possessions; I love my creature comforts. But there’s no question that “stuff” weighs us down in many ways, as we pay for it, store it, and maintain it. It’s probably a common fantasy to think of chucking it all and starting over someplace new, with a big, empty slate and limitless possibilities.
There comes a time when even cherished possessions have outlived their usefulness. The emotional connections they represent may need to be released, or we simply want to lighten our load for the journey ahead. As Venus trines Pluto (Oct. 14, 2025, 4:45 pm PDT, 1º22’ Libra and Aquarius) this week, don’t be surprised if you feel a sudden desire to get rid of things and create more space for yourself.
“Yes” Woman
Every now and then, I become inspired to say “yes” more. It happened a few years ago when I read Shonda Rhimes’ “The Year of Yes,” detailing the marvels that came from saying yes to more things in her life. It happened again the other day, when a YouTube video popped up in my feed about how the creator’s life had been fatefully and positively impacted by saying “yes” to more things.
The granddaddy of these affirmative messages is Danny Wallace’s 2005 memoir “Yes Man,” about how a chance encounter on a bus led him to pledge to say “Yes” to everything for a whole year. That book details a journey of excitement and self-discovery, but also describes the emotional toll of agreeing to everything from credit card offers to dubious social agreements, and losing control over his choices.
Those are the potential pluses and minuses of the Sun’s square to Jupiter (Oct. 16, 2025, 10:43 pm PDT, 24º06’ Libra and Cancer): the excitement and new possibilities of embracing Jupiter’s giant YES, but the danger of saying yes to too much, or to things that are not helpful, healthy, or safe.
But how about this: Next week (Oct 24), the Sun will square Pluto, squelcher of exuberance. Any excesses or poor choices you make this week can be reined in then. This week, maybe play with saying “yes” a little more – but with the knowledge that Pluto’s upraised palm will be coming soon!
Drawing the Curtains
Scorpio, symbolized by the Scorpion, is called one of the “mute” signs; it’s a secretive sign, and a deep, perceptive one. If you want to solve a puzzle or get to the bottom of a mystery, here’s your Mercury sign for it.
But it’s a water sign, much more susceptible to hurt feelings than it might like to admit. When Mercury comes together with Mars here (Oct. 19, 2025, 11:51 pm PDT, at 19º11′ Scorpio), expect to be a little more apt than usual to take offense – and a lot less likely to turn the other cheek.
This, of course, is an eventuality to be scrupulously avoided.
This conjunction takes place on the Sabian symbol 20 Scorpio: Woman drawing two dark curtains aside. There’s a revelation at work here, and that’s another side of Mercury with Mars – the courage to open up and tell the truth, with vulnerability and humility. The Scorpio part is the very fair point that not everyone you meet deserves that openness from you. But it’s the greatest gift you can give the ones who have earned your trust.
Writing and images © 2012-2025 by April Elliott Kent
