TRANSCRIPT Ep. 262 (10.28.24)
Scorpio New Moon: A Fellowship Supper!
Welcome to the Big Sky Astrology Podcast with your host, astrologer and author, April Elliott Kent. Hello invisible friend, April here, and the date today is October 28th, 2024. Welcome to Episode 262 of the Big Sky Astrology Podcast. This week, Mercury makes its rounds with Uranus, Neptune, Mars, and Pluto, before entering adventurous Sagittarius. Mars makes a trine with Neptune and opposes Pluto before it enters Leo. Celebrate like there’s no tomorrow with an ultra-spooky Scorpio New Moon. And Venus is aspecting Saturn and Jupiter. Plus, I answer a listener question about how your birth chart describes your ideal career.
Mars trine Neptune (Oct. 28, 2024, 5:31 am PDT)
The week begins with Mars making a trine aspect to Neptune on October 28th at 5:31 am Pacific Time. Mars is associated with taking action, so anytime it’s aspecting Neptune, the planet of empathy, kindness, and idealism, it’s a good time to take action, some action, however small, that you feel might improve someone’s life.
Stick up for someone who can’t defend themselves, or for some kind of cause that you’re very passionate about. But whenever Neptune is involved, we do need to try to make sure that we’re very clear about the situation, about everything that is in play. We could very easily take a very well-motivated action that ends up to be ill considered because we didn’t know all the facts. This is a very motivational transit for creating art that evokes emotion, empathy, and compassion, especially since both of these planets are in water signs.
Venus square Saturn (Oct. 28, 2024, 6:35 am PDT)
Later that day, on October 28th at 6:35 am Pacific Time, Venus squares Saturn, at 12 degrees, 58 minutes Sagittarius and Pisces. The combination of Venus with Saturn asks us to consider whether we want something badly enough to overcome the obstacles that might be involved in getting it, or to pay for what it’s going to cost us – perhaps financially, or maybe just emotionally.
This could be associated with finances since Venus is a financial planet. There could be some kind of major purchase that you’re considering making, such as a mortgage for a house or a loan for an automobile, and you really have to think hard before you make that commitment. Make sure it’s really the thing for you.
Venus is on the Sabian symbol 13 Sagittarius, A widow’s past is brought to light. And Saturn is on 13 Pisces, A sword in a museum. Venus’ symbol is, to some extent, about dealing with unresolved issues. And especially if this Venus-Saturn square is referring to something in your romantic life. This Sabian symbol does talk about dealing with unresolved issues that might be getting in the way of making a real commitment.
Saturn’s symbol, A sword in a museum, is, I think, possibly about battles from the past. Again, about the feeling that we have tried to make a relationship work, maybe that hasn’t worked out, or we even still have some residual bad feelings about that.
This combination of planets could suggest that what we really need is a serious, possibly uncomfortable conversation with someone that we love, someone we respect, or maybe even somebody who is in a position of authority in our lives.
Mercury opposed Uranus (Oct. 30, 2024, 3:15 pm PDT)
On October 30th at 3:15 pm Pacific Time, Mercury in Scorpio opposes Uranus at 25 degrees 56 minutes Scorpio and Taurus. Mercury’s aspects are about what we’re thinking and how we’re using the skills and tools that we have to accomplish the things we want to accomplish. Mercury’s aspects with Uranus always bring the opportunity for a breakthrough, an inspiration, seeing things in a really new way.
Because the aspect is an opposition, often this will come about by watching others and seeing how they do things differently than we do, how they think differently, how their opinions are different from ours. If we spend a lot of time in a bubble, only listening to people that we know well and agree with us about most things, or reading or watching media sources that also confirm our own biases about things, then we don’t change. Mercury’s opposition to Uranus does encourage us to listen to other sources, take a different approach to the way you listen.
Uranus is also a symbol of rebelliousness and a desire for freedom, so it could be that we get engaged in conversations with people, or, we see played out, the idea of people who disagree or people who are going against the status quo in what they think and how they express that.
Mercury trine Neptune (Oct. 31, 2024, 5:33 pm PDT)
And on October 31st at 5:33pm Pacific Time, Mercury makes a trine aspect to Neptune at 27 degrees, 30 minutes Scorpio and Pisces. This is Halloween Day in the United States. This would be just about the time that little trick or treaters are getting ready to go out and go door to door to ask for candy. Mercury’s Sabian symbol is 28 Scorpio, The king of the fairies approaching his domain. It’s such a fanciful image and perfect for dressing up and playing with fantasy and being a different character.
Intuition is generally very heightened when Mercury is connecting with Neptune. Now it might not be that everything we intuit is factually correct. But, it is very fanciful and intuitive, a great time for expressing our creative ideas or just giving ourselves over to the festive, imaginative play of Halloween.
Scorpio New Moon (Nov. 1, 2024, 5:47 am PDT)
And now for the Moon Report, and it begins with the Scorpio New Moon on November 1st at 5:47 am Pacific Time, at 9 degrees, 35 minutes Scorpio, on the Sabian symbol 10 Scorpio, A Fellowship Supper. In the Catholic Church, this is the Feast of All Saints, which acknowledges all of the past martyrs and those who sacrificed for the Church.
In Mexico, this is one of the Days of the Dead, Día de los Muertos, and metaphorically, it’s thought that the veil between the living and the dead is especially thin at this time. This concept of Día de los Muertos and the Sabian symbol, A fellowship supper, kind of brings to mind that ritual, that tradition of going to a loved one’s gravesite for a communal feast on this day.
Scorpio’s ruling planet, Mars, is forming an opposition to Pluto, which by some is considered its modern ruler. This is an aspect that represents power struggles and the quest to gain control. It is a real tug of war. And if we find ourselves engaged in a power struggle with somebody, that’s like a tug of war, remember that all it takes to break this kind of impasse is for one person to drop their side of the rope. It can be the hardest thing to do when we’re engaged in a battle of wills with somebody else to just stop it. But I think that that is what we can learn from Mars’ aspects to Pluto.
This particular New Moon degree, 9 degrees, 35 Scorpio, is making a trine aspect to Saturn in Pisces. And this does imply that we can reach this kind of emotional maturity, the possibility of emotional growth from working through this battle of the wills in the Mars-Pluto opposition. Many of us set intentions for the month ahead at each new Moon. At the Scorpio New Moon, consider burning a candle of a Scorpionic color. This can often be a very deep crimson color – can be a little bit hard to find in a candle, but not impossible. In extreme cases, the color black, if you have a lot of negative emotional baggage that you’re trying to leave behind.
Given the fact that Mercury at this New Moon is in Scorpio, which is considered one of the mute signs – because it’s symbolized by a creature that does not make sound – and the ruler of the Scorpio New Moon, Mars, is also in a mute sign, the sign of Cancer. At this New Moon, if we are creating intentions, let’s focus first on listening over speaking. So, in other words, letting ourselves invite in at the New Moon what it is that we need most for our own personal growth. So instead of petitioning the universe in that very outward way, instead to send out the intention of acceptance and to hope that what comes our way is what we most need for our development.
Lunar Phase Family cycle
This New Moon initiates a new lunar phase family cycle, which will take the message of this Scorpio New Moon and expand it out over the next three years. So we have lots of time to explore the issues of this New Moon.
The First Quarter phase in this cycle comes along nine months from now on August 1st, 2025. That’s a moment to take some specific action, take conscious action, if you can, towards the important goals or objectives that you’re setting forth at this New Moon. Then the Full Moon in this cycle is on May 1st, 2026, when we have a much clearer picture of what it is that we set in motion at this New Moon. And the Last Quarter in this lunar phase family cycle is on January 29th, 2027, and that is when we take our last focused action towards completing what we set in place at this New Moon. So I think it’s a good idea to mark down those phases and those dates so that we can keep track of how we’re doing developing along the lines of this New Moon.
Void-of-Course Moon periods
Let’s talk about the Void-of-Course Moon periods for this week. On October 28th, the Moon in Virgo trines Pluto at 8:54 pm Pacific Time. It’s Void-of-Course for 36 minutes and then enters Libra at 9:30 pm.
A Void-of-Course Moon period that begins with the Moon trine another planet offers us a gift. The Moon in Virgo implies that it is the small things that we do, attention to detail, persistence day to day with particular habits or ritual, that over time reward us with a sense of having taken good care of ourselves, and because we’ve done that, then we have the energy, the power, and the resources to take care of whatever else will be important to us.
On October 31st, Halloween Day, The Moon squares Pluto at 9:57 am Pacific Time. It’s Void-of-Course for 32 minutes, and then enters Scorpio at 10:29 am. The Moon square another planet implies a conflict or some kind of blockage that we’re trying to overcome. This particular conflict between the Moon in Libra and Pluto in Capricorn says that the conflict could be something of the nature of how well we are able to hear what somebody else says to us, even when it’s difficult and how we are able to express something that we feel strongly or that we need from somebody. If this is a habit for you, here is a Void-of-Course Moon to try in some small way to break that habit so that you can create a healthier one. And it could be something as small as somebody asking you, somebody you care about, what would you like to have for dinner? And instead of reflexively saying, “Oh, I don’t know, whatever you like, that sounds great.” Instead, this is about taking responsibility for expressing what it is you do prefer, however small the subject might be. And it’s often good to begin with these very small, low stakes issues and say, “Well, I would really like to have Thai food tonight,” even if you know your partner doesn’t really love it.
Then, on November 2nd, the Moon sextiles Pluto at 9:51 pm Pacific Time. It’s Void-of-Course for just 28 minutes, and then enters Sagittarius at 10:19 pm. Sextile aspects from the Moon to another planet say there is an opportunity or an invitation that’s coming your way. And since the Moon is in Scorpio at the sextile, it’s an opportunity to dig deep, get down to the root of things that are bothering you, and to take control and express it. This goes back to that previous Moon in Libra square Pluto, where we had to face the fact that it can be really difficult to ask for a very small thing that we want, and this is about digging a little bit deeper and maybe having a conversation that’s slightly more confrontational.
Mercury trine Mars (Nov. 2, 2024, 1:21 am PDT)
Mercury makes two aspects and then enters a new sign as we’re leading up to the Mars Pluto opposition on November 3rd. So I’m going to cover them a little bit quickly, but on November 2nd, Mercury makes a trine aspect to Mars. That’s at 1:21 am Pacific time at the very last degrees of Scorpio and Cancer, Mercury is on the Sabian symbol 30 Scorpio, The Halloween jester, and Mars on 30 Cancer, A daughter of the American Revolution.
These Sabian symbols are about letting off steam, the Halloween jester, and tradition that we see in the daughters of the American Revolution. It’s about walking it the way we talk it with Mercury and Mars. And instead of just saying we’re going to do something, actually putting the action behind it.
But we have to remember, even though this is a nice aspect, that words can be a little hurtful, especially with Mercury at that very last degree of Scorpio. So, we need to be mindful of what we say and put the emphasis on taking action on things that we have already said or declared are important to us.
Mercury sextile Pluto (Nov. 2, 2024, 8:03 am PDT)
Later that morning on November 2nd at 8:03 am Pacific Time, Mercury sextiles Pluto. And here is an opportunity – sextile aspect – to confront and hopefully conquer ugly thought processes that can be symbolized by Pluto. Processes like jealousy or contempt or socially unacceptable ideas. It’s a really helpful transit if you are trying to decode or work hard on some kind of project or if you’re studying for a very important exam. Or to give a lecture or class that you really want to do well with, because Pluto is very good at focusing us.
Mercury enters Sagittarius (Nov. 2, 2024, 12:18 pm PDT)
And later in the day, on November 2nd at 12:18 p. m. Pacific Time, Mercury enters Sagittarius, and it will be in this sign a lot longer than usual, until January 8th, 2025, because it will be retrograde during this time.
It stations retrograde on November 25th, at 22 degrees, 40 minutes Sagittarius, and then it will station direct on December 15th, at 6 degrees, 23, Sagittarius. Mercury is considered to be in detriment in the sign of Sagittarius, because that’s the sign opposite Gemini, which is ruled by Mercury.
Mercury in Sagittarius is concerned with the big picture, long term strategic thinking, questioning our beliefs, our philosophies. Sagittarius is a wonderful storytelling sign, a wonderful orator. If you get an opportunity, while Mercury is in this sign, to tell your story, to get up in a performative way and share your thoughts and experiences with the world, this would be a wonderful and supportive transit for that.
Mars opposes Pluto (Nov. 3, 2024, 3:37 am PDT)
And on November 3rd at 3:37am Pacific Standard Time, Mars opposes Pluto at 29 degrees 45 minutes, Cancer and Capricorn. Mars is on the Sabian symbol 30 Cancer, A daughter of the American Revolution. And, Pluto is on 30 Capricorn, A secret business conference.
This is the first in a series of oppositions between Mars and Pluto. The other two are on January 2nd, 2025 and April 26th, 2025. And so this is the beginning of a story that will play out over the next six months.
Mars has been interacting with Pluto quite a lot lately, and we know by now that these transits can indicate power struggles, a struggle for control. At the opposition between these two, don’t let yourself be defeated by a challenge. Instead, let it inspire you to empower yourself. These Sabian symbols are about tradition and about the highest level of social influence. And, if we consider ourselves outside tradition, outside the highest level of social influence, this can be an aspect that makes us feel very much on the outside of things and powerless.
But Mars opposed Pluto can work for each of us. The struggle between Mars and Pluto is the struggle between personal action and large collective forces that tend to make us feel as if the individual doesn’t have much power. And through this opposition aspect, it’s very likely we see somebody in our lives – it could be somebody in the media. It could be a friend. It could be anybody, really, in our community that feels strongly about something that most everybody believes there is not a chance that they could make a difference. And to successfully lobby for their position, but that we might see during this time at this aspect, that in fact, the more defeated we feel, the more we have an obligation to fight.
Pluto wants to make us feel it’s not worthwhile to fight. But Mars knows that it’s absolutely essential that we do so. And this is coming at the very end of Mars transit through Cancer, at least for now, and has been building to this crescendo of taking care of ourselves, of our families, of the things that we hold dear. And during this opposition, we have no choice but to fight to protect those things.
Venus opposed Jupiter (Nov. 3, 2024, 7:25 am PDT)
Venus opposes Jupiter on November 3rd at 7:25 AM Pacific Time. Any combination between Venus and Jupiter is generally considered to be good, to be hopeful and useful. They are the benefic planets. Venus symbolizes what it is that gives us pleasure, what it is that we like, our associations with other people, and Jupiter tends to bring some element of luck. Even if it’s an opposition, that just means maybe a fortunate occurrence in a relationship, or that somebody very close to us is experiencing particularly good luck at that time. In order to leave the door open for these kinds of good, beneficial influences, get out and explore new places and things. Let yourself meet new people.
This transit occurs on a Sunday, here in the United States anyway. Consider going to a museum or going to the planetarium, whatever it is that you enjoy, that will broaden your horizons in some way.
Mars enters Leo (Nov. 3, 2024, 8:10 pm PST)
And later that day, at 8. 10pm on November 3rd, Mars will enter Leo. It’ll be in this sign on and off until June 17th, 2025. Mars will turn retrograde in Leo on December 6th and reenter Cancer on January 6th, 2025. Then it turns direct on February 23rd and returns to Leo on April 17th. So we are getting a little sneak preview of what’s coming for us next spring through this Mars in Leo.
Mars in Leo is a wonderful transit for initiating creative projects, for launching any kind of entertainment concern, promoting ourselves, which can be really difficult, especially for creative people. But Mars in Leo gives you a little support in that area.
So doing anything that opens the heart and helps us show ourselves to the world as our true selves, is favored by Mars in Leo. We do need to be a little careful not to overdo it in terms of promoting ourselves. Because Mars can go a little bit overboard, and Leo can be a little self-involved, so we do have to be careful of that.
Listener Question: What’s the Best Career for Me?
This week’s listener question comes from listener Molly, who asks, “Hi April, I’m just approaching my first Saturn return.” Congratulations, Molly. “So, career is very much on my mind. I am not thrilled with what I’m doing for work right now. Where should I look at my birth chart for clues about what is the best career for me?”
Molly, that is a terrific question and absolutely something that many people ask about during their Saturn return. Because among the other matters that are related to Saturn, it is an important career planet. But before we get to Saturn, let’s look at something else: the Sun.
I think the Sun in our charts really tells the important story of what we’re here to do. And if your career does not connect in some way with that story, it’s unlikely to make you truly happy. The Sun’s sign describes what makes us light up inside. The house it’s in describes areas of life where you stand out. And its aspects to other planets describe the gifts and challenges we face in being our true selves.
Saturn, as I said, is an important career planet because it describes the way we hold authority and meet our obligations in an earthly sense. Saturn’s return to its position in your birth chart at ages 29, 58, and 87 are times when we commonly check in and give ourselves a report card reviewing how well we think we’re doing at being the adults that we want to be.
This includes marriage and children, material wealth, home ownership, and are we progressing with our career? And is it a career that we really like? When we’re 29, we’re entering our peak earning years. At the age of 58, we’re beginning to look toward winding down our career and moving toward retirement. And at 87, thinking about the legacy that we’ll be leaving behind.
The 10th house is also important in reflecting your career. It is the house that’s linked to career, as well as to status and reputation. Whether you work for money, as most of us do, or whether you don’t have to work for money, the 10th house symbolizes what we might call your calling, your life path. The sign on this house cusp describes the qualities you bring to that ideal career or path. Planets in this house symbolize life lessons that we learn from our career.
The Midheaven or MC, which symbolizes the highest point in the sky at your birth, is specifically connected to how we earn respect, how we are seen by people who don’t know us.
In quadrant-based house systems, like Placidus, Koch, or Porphyry, the MC is the cusp of the 10th house. If you use the equal house or whole sign house systems, this MC can end up in a different house. And, that house would also indicate areas of life where you can get noticed and excel.
Astrologer Jackie Slevin uses a technique called the Principle Planet, and that refers to the planet that makes the closest major aspect to the Midheaven point – conjunction, sextile, square, trine, or opposition. It does not include asteroids or minor aspects. This principle planet is a powerful indicator of the kind of career in which you’ll be most effective. If you are in a field like astrology, for example, the principle planet can pinpoint your best specialization.
So the career in the chart, as with everything we turn to astrology for, can be complicated. There are a lot of things we take into account, but I think those are a few points that can get you started. I do think, Molly, that a Saturn return is actually a great time to book a full reading with an astrologer who can help synthesize a lot of these different elements and point you in the right direction.
If you, Invisible Friend, have a question you would like me to answer on a future episode of the podcast, please leave a voicemail of one minute or less at speakpipe.com/bigskyastrologypodcast, or email me at april@bigskyastrology.com.
Donor Thanks
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