Episode 256 | Pisces Lunar Eclipse: Looking Back, with Healing and Forgiveness
This week, the eclipses are here! Should you be terrifiiied?!?™ Maybe not, but buckle up, because it is a busy sky this week! The Pisces Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse brings a shift toward healing, forgiveness, and releasing grief. Mercury’s aspects with Jupiter and Saturn examine group communications and slowing our minds. The Sun aspects Uranus (your unique self is acknowledged), Neptune (confusion), and Pluto (handling power), and then bursts into Libra season. On the day of the Libra equinox, Venus’s square to Pluto leads to a deep examination of values, before it sinks into mysterious Scorpio. And a listener question about the second Saturn return. Plus: Unconscious patterns are… unconscious, slowing the monkey mind, and your Saturn report card!
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Timestamps
[1:25] Moon Report! The Pisces Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse is on Sep. 17 (7:34 pm PDT) at 25º40’ Pisces and Virgo. This is the first eclipse in Pisces since February 26, 2017. Eclipses are now beginning to shift to the Pisces/Virgo axis, and we will see eclipses along this axis through February 2027. The tension between these two signs is between functioning as effectively as possible in our day-to-day lives and keeping our eye on the ways in which we’re part of something bigger and more important than just our individual ourselves. If there are any planets or angles in your chart within about four degrees of 26 Pisces, this should be a pretty consequential eclipse for you.
[3:35] It can be helpful to look at past eclipses that were near this degree. In this case, Sep. 16, 1997, March 19, 2007, March 20, 2015, Sep. 16, 2016.
[4:53] This is the Full Moon in a lunar phase family cycle (LPFC) that began with a New Moon on March 21, 2023, at 00º49’ Aries. The First Quarter Moon in this LPFC was on December 19, 2023, and the Last Quarter Moon in this LPFC is on June 18, 2025.
[6:23] Void-of-Course (VOC) Moon Periods. On Sep. 18 (2:02 am PDT), the Moon sextiles Pluto at 29°46’ Pisces and Capricorn. It’s VOC for about 22 minutes before it enters Aries (2:24 am PDT). Maybe before you go to bed, write a little message to your unconscious self to say, “It’s good to feel, but it’s important to be protected.”
[7:58] On Sep. 20 (1:39 am PDT), the Moon squares Pluto at 29º45’ Aries and Capricorn. It will be VOC for 23 minutes and then the Moon will enter Taurus (2:02 am). Think before you act.
[9:11] On Sep. 22 (3:14 am PDT), the Moon trines the Sun at 29°53’ Taurus-Virgo. It’s VOC for 10 minutes before it enters Gemini (3:24 am PDT). A brief moment of emotional stability within a turbulent astrological sky.
[9:55] On Sep. 18 (1:50 am PDT), Mercury opposes Saturn at 15º15’ Virgo-Pisces. The Sabian symbol for Mercury is 16 Virgo, An orangutan and for Saturn, 16 Pisces, The flow of inspiration. Soothe your “monkey mind” with mindful breathing exercises, guided meditations and journaling.
[11:05] On Sep. 19 (7:04 am PDT), the Sun trines Uranus at 27º07’ Virgo-Taurus. On August 19, 2024, we had an Aquarius Full Moon, and at that time the Sun at 27º Leo was making a square to Uranus at 27º Taurus. Now we have the Sun and Uranus making a trine aspect. There could be recognition for being unique. Leaders of the world could be noticed for being visionaries who are willing to break the mold.
[13:00] The Sun opposes Neptune on Sep. 20 (5:17 pm PDT) at 28º30’ Virgo and Pisces. Explore new possibilities while maintaining a strong sense of who we are and what we want.
[14:27] Mercury squares Jupiter on Sep. 21 (1:50 am PDT) at 20º48’ Virgo and Gemini. The Sabian symbol for Mercury is 21 Virgo, A girls’ basketball team, and Jupiter is on 21 Gemini, A labor demonstration. How do we cooperate and collaborate with others, especially during a conflict?
[15:17] On Sep. 21 (11:12 pm PDT), the Sun trines Pluto at 29°44’ Virgo and Capricorn. Power plays could be occurring amongst people who are considered leaders. If you find yourself in a position of power, use it for the greater good of all.
[17:03] On Sep. 22 (5:44 am PDT), the Sun enters Libra (through Oct. 22). The Sun’s ingress into Libra marks the Libra Equinox. In the Northern Hemisphere, this is the beginning of fall. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is the beginning of spring.
[17:26] Libra is about balance. We see it in this symbol for the sign, which is the scales. Additionally, the glyph of Libra symbolizes the setting sun, the idea of balance of day and night. Also, in astrology, the western part of the chart, where the sun sets, is the house of relationship, also ruled by Libra.
[18:02] Libra is one of two signs ruled by Venus. The other one is Taurus, but Libra is more cerebral, more focused on communication, on the social justice side of Venus. Libra specifically is associated with relating and relationships which speaks to Saturn’s exaltation in the sign of Libra since maturity, balance, boundaries, and patience are needed for successful relationships.
[19:00] On Sep. 22 (2:14 pm PDT), Venus squares Pluto at 29º43’ Libra and Capricorn. This brings together the ideas of relationship, fairness, balance and power.
[19:33] Venus squaring Pluto could be a prelude to Venus entering Scorpio just a few hours later on Sep. 22 (7:36 pm PDT) since Scorpio and Pluto have similar correspondences. Venus will be in Scorpio through Oct. 17, 2024. Embrace things that are not considered conventionally beautiful.
[21:49] Listener Lisa asks about the second Saturn return. Recommended reading: Astrology of Midlife and Aging by Erin Sullivan.
[27:22] If you’d like to have a question answered on a future episode, leave a message of one minute or less at speakpipe.com/bigskyastrologypodcast or email april(at)bigskyastrology(dot)com; put “Podcast Question” in the subject line.
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