Episode 143 | Podathon Day #5: Moon Power! With Simone Butler
It’s PODATHON week on the Big Sky Astrology Podcast, with daily episodes, guest interviews, and your chance to win big prizes! On this FINAL DAY of the Podathon: Oh hello, Mercury – retrograde again? Plus: Today’s Moon in Pisces just wants us to relax, but tell that to Venus and Mars! And April welcomes astrologer and author Simone Butler to talk about lunar rituals and her unique system of combining astrology and feng shui.
This Labor Day week, September 5th through 9th, we bring you the Third Annual Big Sky Astrology Podathon, with daily episodes, amazing guest astrologers and prizes … so many prizes! Make a note to check your podcast feed every day that week for a brand new Mooncentric episode! Make your donation of $25 no later than Mon. Sep. 12, 2022, at 11:59 pm Pacific time and be entered for a chance to win a reading, course, and other prizes!
Love the show? Click here to make a one-time or monthly donation!
Read a full transcript of this episode.
Timestamps
[0:45] Welcome to DAY FIVE (September 9, 2022) of the Third Annual Big Sky Astrology Podathon! This is the week each year when April brings you five daily episodes – complete with FIVE very special guests, prizes and a raffle – and not coincidentally, it’s when she appeals for contributions to keep this show running!
[1:30] Thank you to everyone who’s supported the show in the past twelve months, with donations, downloads, and kind feedback!
[1:50] Shout-out to Jen Braun, who brought so much spirit and hard work to our episodes in the first months of this Podcast year (September-January).
[2:30] Everyone who donates $25 or more, as well as ongoing monthly contributors, will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a 90- or 60-minute reading with April, free registration in one of her upcoming courses, or a lovely astrology poster donated by Patrick Blasa of Tha Elegant Universe!
[3:50] To be entered in the drawing, you must make your donation of $25 or more no later than Monday, Sep. 12, 2022, at 11:59 pm Pacific time.
[4:02] Donors of only $10 or more will have access to April’s special episodes for the Equinoxes and Solstices! The September Equinox episode will be released on September 22nd, and will give you a comprehensive look ahead at the coming three months.
[4:38] Here are a few easy free ways that you can really help the podcast. (Submit your question by leaving a voicemail of one minute or less at speakpipe.com/bigskyastrologypodcast or email april(at)bigskyastrology(dot)com, and your question may be answered on a future episode!
[6:00] Mercury turns retrograde at 8:38 pm, at 8º55’ minutes Libra, on the Sabian symbol Three old masters hanging in an art gallery. Mercury is retrograde through October 1, backing into Virgo on Sep. 23 and reentering Libra on October 11. Step back and consider before you act; look out for the “gotcha.”
[8:55] This retrograde Mercury rules Mars in Gemini, which will also turn retrograde at the end of October – so both of these planets are probably feeling quite unstable.
[10:05] Today the Moon is in Pisces. In many ways, this is like the balsamic phase of the Moon; these are days for rest and healing, for meditation and spiritual inquiry.
[10:26] The Moon opposes Venus in Virgo at 6:39 am and squares Mars at 4:08 pm. Venus in Virgo likes being busy, but with Virgo’s ruling planet, Mercury, turning retrograde, we should stop and gather our thoughts. Slow down and rest.
[11:20] When you get too busy, clear your head with Pisces-ruled things, like music, meditation, or relaxing with a pet.
[12:05] April welcomes Simone Butler, a San Diego-based expert astrologer with more than 30 years of experience helping people find their purpose and passion. She has written for The Mountain Astrologer, Starscroll and Tarot.com, and has been interviewed on many podcasts. Her books include Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life, Moon Power: Lunar Rituals for Connecting with your Inner Goddess, and Ten-Minute Moon Rituals: Easy Tips for Working with Each Astrological Sign to Develop Your True Lunar Nature. You can read Simone’s bi-monthly blogs and/or book a reading at www.astroalchemy.com.
[13:20] What’s the difference between designing a lunar ritual for a New Moon vs. a Full Moon?
[14:20] Simone likes to observe the New Moon in a relatively solitary and contemplative way, often with making collages. Set intentions based on the New Moon’s sign and which house is triggered in your birth chart.
[17:45] Full Moons are the expression of what was planted at the New Moon. These are good times to gather with others, physically go out and enjoy the moon, and explore your emotions.
[19:30] Full Moons are connected to relationships because the Sun and Moon in opposite signs have the potential to bring balance.
[20:00] Acknowledge the upcoming Pisces Full Moon, “The Wine Moon” or Harvest Moon, with a glass of wine and a gathering of friends. But watch out for the Moon conjunct Neptune!
[22:50] The Full Moon connects with the last New Moon in that sign, about six months earlier.
[23:20] April loves Simone’s Astro Feng Shui system, which combines western astrology with the bagua map. Simone describes how you can use it to enhance your New Moon rituals.
[25:50] Working with the recent Virgo New Moon and the Pisces Full Moon using this system.
[28:20] Where to find Simone’s books or book a reading. Join her mailing list at her website, AstroAlchemy.com!
[30:20] That’s a wrap for The Third Annual Big Sky Astrology Podcast Podathon! This weekly podcast is audience-funded and your generous donations help April keep the podcast coming to you. To make your donation, please go to bigskyastropod.com. Donate $10 or more and get access to April’s special episodes for the equinoxes and solstices. Donate $25 or more and you get these episodes PLUS will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a reading, a course, or an astrology poster! Make your donation no later than Sep. 12, 2022 at 11:59 pm Pacific time to be entered in the drawing.
[32:10] THANK YOU for celebrating Podathon with us. See you again bright and early next Monday!
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!
Big Sky Astrology on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
