TRANSCRIPT Episode 240 (6.24.24)
Venus and Mars’ Sexy Sextile, and Astrocartography!
Hello Invisible Friend, April here, and the date today is June 24th, 2024. Welcome to Episode 240 of the Big Sky Astrology Podcast.
This week, Mercury makes helpful aspects to Saturn and Uranus. The Aries Last Quarter Moon moves to finish up the Gemini New Moon’s work. Venus connects with Mars in a fun, productive, and sexy aspect. Saturn turns retrograde and we look within for authority, and I answer a listener question about astrocartography.
Mercury trine Saturn (June 26, 2024, 11:09 am PDT)
Mercury makes a trine aspect to Saturn on June 26th at 11:09 am Pacific Time. When Mercury is in combination with Saturn, we are often clear-headed, focused, and able to apply ourselves to daunting mental challenges. Because Mercury and Saturn are both in water signs at this trine, I think that also there’s something to be said for using our intuition, which is especially strong, to solve these daunting challenges.
Mercury is on the Sabian symbol 20 Cancer, Gondoliers in serenade and Saturn is on 20 Pisces, A table set for an evening meal. I like that this suggests mellifluous communication. Mercury in Cancer, the gondoliers singing … at the dinner table, which is the 20 Pisces. So we have that sense of really being able to not just communicate, but to do it beautifully, and not just to be able to use our cognitive functions for very practical things as we would expect with Saturn, but also things of the heart.
Aries Last Quarter Moon (June 28, 2024, 2:53 pm PDT)
And now for the Moon Report. It begins with the Aries Last Quarter Moon on June 28th at 2:53 pm Pacific Time at 7 degrees, 40 minutes, Aries and Cancer. The Last Quarter phase is a final action point in the lunar cycle. In this case, the Gemini New Moon cycle that began on June 6th. So, looking back, we evaluate what our objectives were, what it was that we intended or conceived at the New Moon, and now we are getting ready to finish up that project.
Since this Last Quarter Moon is in Aries, we will be kicking ourselves toward the finish line. We will be a little bit in a hurry, perhaps, to wrap things up. The Sabian symbol for the Last Quarter Moon is 8 Aries, A large hat with streamers flying, facing east and the Sun is on 8 Cancer, Rabbits dressed up in clothes and on parade, which I find so delightful.
And here we have two symbols of fancy clothes and movement, streamers flying, rabbits on parade. We are finishing up those Gemini plans, and we’re doing it with flair, so that we can get ready to move on to the Cancer New Moon.
Lunar Phase Family Cycle
This is also the Last Quarter in a lunar phase family cycle that began on March 31st, 2022, with a New Moon at 11º30’ Aries. Aries New Moons tend to be a little bit ambitious. We often want to undertake something we have never done before, maybe something nobody has ever done before, to really challenge ourselves.
The first action point in this three-year cycle came on December 29th, 2022 at the First Quarter Moon at 8 degrees, 18 minutes Aries, then the Full Moon on September 29th, 2023 at 6 degrees Aries gave us the opportunity to see a little more clearly what it was that we actually initiated at that New Moon.
And now the Last Quarter on June 28th, that’s 7 degrees 40 Aries, is the last action point in this cycle. This is the phase when, in light of everything else that we know from the beginning of this cycle in March 2022, we are ready to make one more push to take one more major action toward reaching those Aries goals.
Void-of-Course Moon periods
Let’s look at the Void-of-Course Moon periods for this week. On June 25th, the Moon in Aquarius squares Uranus and Taurus at 3:30 pm Pacific Time. It’s Void-of-Course for about seven and a half hours and enters Pisces at 11:07 pm.
The Moon is Void-of-Course when it’s finished making all of its major aspects in its current sign. And it’s Void-of-Course then until it moves into the next sign. These Void-of-Course periods vary in length. They give us an opportunity to take a look at how we’re dealing with a particular area of our life and decide whether we want to change a certain habit, move on to a new way of doing things.
Void-of-Course Moon periods that begin with a square bring a challenge, and the challenge here is about being willing to recognize and break habits that force us to go along with the group and to instead think independently. We associate both Aquarius and Uranus with this kind of strong sense of individuality, but the Moon in Aquarius especially is quite group oriented, and it likes to stand out in the group, but it does enjoy the dynamic of being involved in society, in groups, and finding its way in those groups.
So, this is just a Void-of-Course Moon period that says, even so, even if we like being part of a group, we like other people, we’re very sociable, there periodically come these moments in life where we have to review and examine whether we’re focusing too much on getting along and going along at the expense of our individuality.
On June 28th, the Moon in Pisces makes a conjunction with Neptune at 1:44 am Pacific Time. It’s Void-of-Course for only 8 minutes and then enters Aries at 1:52 am. The feeling of the Moon coming together in a conjunction with another planet is either a sense of their merging together, so it’s hard to tell one from the other, or a sense of pressure that we feel.
And in this case, it really is about managing emotions, managing your own feelings, as well as what you tend to take on from others and to learn to manage all emotions without getting overwhelmed. In the past, I’ve recommended tackling a practical task to deal with this kind of emotional overwhelm. And when you have a Void-of-Course Moon as short as this one, only eight minutes, and here on the West Coast of the United States, it’s in the middle of the night.
So this is something you might want to do before you go to bed. But the intention is just to do one practical thing that gets you out of that Pisces-Neptune malaise that can sometimes be overwhelming. Before you go to bed, maybe it’s just setting out your clothes for the next day and doing that with the intention of starting out with a clear head and a practical purpose.
And on June 29th, the Moon in Aries squares Mercury in Cancer at 9:57 pm Pacific Time. It’s Void-of-Course for about 7 hours, then enters Taurus on June 30th at 5 am. So, with a square aspect again, we have a challenge or conflict. Moon in Aries talks about the part of us that can be impatient and a little blunt. Mercury in Cancer tends to be pretty cautious with its approach and in what it says. So, there’s a bit of tension, of course, between both of these. But planets, in a square aspect, each have to have their voices heard. So, Moon in Aries is the voice that says, let’s just get things said, clear the air, and then move on.
The same time, Mercury in Cancer is a little more reticent and doesn’t want to be super straightforward. But each of them has to find a way to work with the other. So, somewhere, there is a balance that we can find between being in a little too much of a hurry and a little blunt and sometimes even hurtful in the things we say versus not being willing to speak up and be clear about what we want.
Venus sextile Mars (June 28, 2024, 9:49 pm PDT)
On June 28th at 9:49 pm Pacific Time, Venus sextiles Mars at 14 degrees, 39 minutes, Cancer and Taurus. Venus is on the Sabian symbol, 15 Cancer, Group who have overeaten and enjoyed it and Mars is on 15 Taurus, A man muffled up with a rakish silk hat. Venus’ symbol is one of several this week that’s about enjoyment and luxury.
A sextile between Venus and Mars can be pretty sexy, and all things being equal, you could reasonably expect to connect with someone this week who seems to have potential as a partner. This is also an aspect that is generally about pursuing what it is that we want and also wanting what we pursue. Venus in Cancer is very cozy and very cuddly, Mars in Taurus enjoys the things of the physical world. When they get together, it’s a very cozy combination.
Saturn stations retrograde (June 29, 2024, 12:06 pm PDT)
Saturn stations retrograde on June 29th at 12:06 pm Pacific Time at 19 degrees, 25 minutes Pisces on the Sabian symbol 20 Pisces, A table set for an evening meal. Saturn will be retrograde until November 15th. When Saturn is retrograde, we’re asked to look within ourselves for authority. The kind of authority that we’ll sometimes seek outside of ourselves through parents or a boss, or a mentor, some authority figure in our lives. But when Saturn is retrograde, as it is for about five months out of each year, that’s a time we would prefer to back off and look within ourselves and make our own plans and decisions. I always think of Saturn, the authority, as representing the way in which we’re willing to be the author of our own life story.
The Sabian symbol, a table set for an evening meal, sounds like preparation is a big part of this Saturn retrograde cycle, and that at the end of it, in November when Saturn turns direct, is a nice evening meal. A time to gather together with others in a comfortable and lovely setting and enjoy being together.
On a very practical level, Saturn’s retrograde periods may not be the very best for initiating new interests or new projects related to Saturn things. For example, it might not be the very best time to incorporate a business and given the Sabian symbol of Saturn at this retrograde, definitely not a good time to start a restaurant! The table’s set for an evening meal. Construction projects around your home might also go a little more slowly than you’d hoped if you initiate them while Saturn is retrograde.
Mercury sextile Uranus (June 29, 2024, 7:20 pm PDT)
Mercury sextiles Uranus on June 29th at 7:20 pm Pacific Time at 25 degrees 40 minutes Cancer and Taurus. Mercury is on the symbol 26 Cancer, Contentment and happiness in luxury, people reading on davenports and Uranus is on 26 Taurus, A Spaniard serenading his senorita. And here we have another contentment degree, contentment and happiness in luxury, of dedicating our Mercury, our mental energy to things that are enjoyable, not just the things that are essential. And Uranus is on another musical symbol. Earlier in the week, we saw gondoliers who were serenading. We could see this as a time to use our ideas and words to move forward toward change, even though Cancer and Taurus as signs generally are not big fans of change. But Uranus, on this very musical degree, to me suggests the change will be good. The change will be harmonious. That’s not always so with Uranus, which can send some fairly disruptive and unpleasant changes our way from time to time.
Listener Question: Astrocartography
In this week’s listener question, listener SteveTheHammer23 writes, “I’d like to know more about the technique of astrocartography. Or, Locational Astrology. Do all points on a given astrocartography line share the same planetary characteristics? Does it take some time living on that line before the effects kick in?
What would be the difference in effect from living on, say, a Jupiter Ascendant line versus living on a Jupiter Midheaven line? If the native has an exalted or otherwise well-placed malefic in their chart, would living on that malefic’s line actually be beneficial? Should I be suspicious if I receive an anonymously funded, all-expense paid trip to a biker rally or a knife fighting workshop to be held at a geographical location on my Mars line?”
Well, SteveTheHammer23, I am not an expert in astrocartography, but I feel confident that I can introduce the basics, hopefully address your specific questions, and offer some resources in the show notes for people who want to investigate it further.
Astrocartography, also known as Locational Astrology, is a branch of astrology in which we look at different locations on Earth and how they can influence an individual based on their birth chart. Astrocartography maps out planetary lines across the globe, indicating areas where specific planets were rising, which is the Ascendant, setting, which is the Descendant, culminating at the Midheaven, or at their nadir, or IC, at the time that a person is born.
So the idea is that planetary energies can manifest differently in different parts of the world, and that potentially affects our experiences and opportunities in those places. For example, living near a favorable Venus line might enhance relationships, or finances, While a challenging Saturn line could bring obstacles or increased responsibility.
Some people use astrocartography to make decisions about where to live, travel, conduct business in the hope that if they align themselves with supportive planetary energies, this could lead to a more harmonious and fulfilling life experience in these locations. The farther a place is from where you were born, the more your chart changes in that place.
But if you live very close to a major planetary line, you might see an even more powerful effect by moving exactly on that line. Not necessarily a positive effect, but definitely powerful. I had lived close to my Ascendant Neptune line for many years, but when I moved to a city just 14 miles away that was precisely on that line, I had many powerful Neptune experiences, including becoming a professional astrologer.
You can get a look at your own astrocartography map at astro.com and I will put a link to that in the show notes. They have a really nice feature that will show your map for you. If you’re curious about how your chart would be in a specific city, you don’t even need to look at that map. You can just relocate your birth chart to a particular location to see what planets are especially active for you in that part of the world. I believe that they have that feature in astro.com. I will give instructions in the show notes.
Now, SteveTheHammer23 specifically asked, do all points on a given line share the same planetary characteristics? And what would be the difference in effect from living on, say, a Jupiter-Ascendant line versus living on a Jupiter-Midheaven line? I would say that all the Jupiter lines in your astrocartography map of the world have the quality of Jupiter generally, and your Jupiter specifically. Now the good news is, do what you will to Jupiter – give him hard aspects to nasty planets – and you’re still going to get something good out of him. But if you do have a Jupiter that’s a little iffy, maybe it is close together with a hard planet, or it is in the sign of its detriment or its fall, Jupiter places may not be quite as beneficial as they would be otherwise.
And not only that, a Jupiter line might also push other planets into difficult positions in the chart. So I think rather than just looking for your Venus and Jupiter lines and making a beeline for them, you do need to consider your own Jupiter or Venus, and you do need to run your relocation chart for a place with those lines in order to get the full picture before you make a big move.
The difference between, say, a Jupiter Ascendant line and a Jupiter Midheaven line is simply what area of life Jupiter exerts the most influence in. If you move to a place with Jupiter on the Ascendant, you might feel the desire to push your personality forth, out into the world, to take more chances and risks. And generally, you would probably meet the world with a measure of optimism. And unless you have a very challenged Jupiter in your birth chart, a place like this will generally get you noticed, and in a positive way. If it’s Jupiter on the Midheaven, you will be seen as a Jupiter character in public. Generally, Jupiter will indicate that people are receptive to your big energy in these places, and you might indeed expect to experience greater fortune in these areas.
And by the way, you don’t even have to physically go to such a place to attract that Jupiter energy from people in that place. If Jupiter is on your Midheaven in a city on the other side of the world from you, you might find that you still receive recognition or fortune through people in that place, especially in the digital age, which makes it possible to reach out and do business or have other kinds of connections with people around the world.
Then SteveTheHammer23 asks, “If the native has an exalted or otherwise well-placed malefic” – generally we mean Mars and Saturn – “in the native’s chart, would living on that malefic’s line actually be beneficial?”
However well-placed a difficult planet might be in your birth chart, in astrolocality, I think we would still be inclined to exercise a little caution in visiting, let alone moving to, these places. Famously, John F. Kennedy, for example, was killed in Dallas, which is right on his Pluto midheaven line. I married someone from Wellington, New Zealand, which is on my Moon Midheaven line, but Uranus is on my Ascendant line there.
I always love going there, but the first time I visited, at a time when I was terrified of flying, fortunately, I’m not anymore -our plane experienced a scary hydraulics problem. I was terrifiiiied!™ And it all worked out fine in the end, but with Uranus on the Ascendant, I guess it could have been pretty bad.
And my chart overall in that place puts my Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in the sixth house. I seem to get sick every time we go there. And there was a time I got sicker than I’ve ever been in my life, in Wellington.
Now, as for how long you have to be in a place for the energy of the astrocartography lines to kick in, I would say that it’s pretty much immediate. The JFK example is a pretty good one, or my plane with the hydraulic issues in New Zealand. But of course, the longer you stay someplace, the better. The more influential those lines and that chart, and the more they seem to reflect the way you channel your chart.
Anyway, it’s an intriguing practice, astrocartography, and as I said, I’ll include a couple of resources in the show notes in case you want to go in-depth and learn a little more.
Thanks for that question, SteveTheHammer23 and beware of biker rallies and knife-fighting workshops along your Mars line!
If you, Invisible Friend, have a question you would like me to answer on a future episode, please leave a message of one minute or less at SpeakPipe.com/bigskyastrologypodcast or email me at april (at) bigskyastrology (dot)com and please put “Podcast Question” in the subject line.
Donor Thanks
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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!
Writing and images © 2017-24 by April Elliott Kent
For more on this week’s planetary news, read my weekly column!
