TRANSCRIPT Ep. 265 (11.18.24)
Pluto Enters Aquarius: Tearing Out Drywall!
Hello Invisible Friend, April here, and the date today is November 18th, 2024. Welcome to Episode 265 of the Big Sky Astrology Podcast. This week, a major shift as Pluto leaves Capricorn for the final time and enters Aquarius. The Sun trines Neptune, makes a sextile to Pluto, and enters Sagittarius. Mercury opposes Jupiter, Venus makes an opportunity aspect with Saturn, and the Last Quarter Moon is in Virgo. And I’m replaying a mini-lesson from last year about what Pluto’s ingress into Aquarius might mean for us in the coming 19 years.
Mercury opposed Jupiter (Nov. 18, 2024, 12:55 am PST)
Mercury opposes Jupiter on November 18th at 12:55 am Pacific Time at 18º47’ Sagittarius and Gemini. Since Mercury entered Sagittarius, it has been in what we call mutual reception with Jupiter in Gemini. Which means each planet is in a sign that’s ruled by the other. Mercury in Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, and Jupiter in Gemini is ruled by Mercury.
The planet Mercury and the sign Gemini are connected with themes of communication. And Jupiter and Sagittarius are associated with foreign travel, with higher education, and of seeing the big picture. The tension between these two, I often think, has to do with Mercury and Gemini keeping their eye on the small individual pieces of things, and Jupiter and Sagittarius focused on how it all fits together.
When planets are in mutual reception, we think that they act a little bit as though each of them is in their rulership. So they help each other out and strengthen each other. And what this possibly means is this is a good time to use each of these planets. So, Mercury’s keen attention to the details, as well as Jupiter’s ability to see how all the little pieces fit together in the whole. Although it’s an opposition aspect, which is sometimes thought to be a little difficult, I actually think this is a pretty good aspect for this week.
Also, be aware that we have Mercury coming up on its latest retrograde period that will begin on the 25th of November, a few days before Thanksgiving here in the United States, which I imagine will bring us some really gnarly commutes for the holiday. And, even more so, because both Mercury and Jupiter are related to travel and to movement. The only reason I bring this up now is so that you have plenty of time to double and triple-check your travel plans for the holidays, if you have any, and to make sure that you have contingency plans in place.
Sun trine Neptune (Nov. 18, 2024, 6:08 pm PST)
Later, on November 18th at 6:08 pm Pacific Time, the Sun in Scorpio trines Neptune at 27º13’ Scorpio and Pisces. If you are a creative or spiritual person, this could be an excellent time to tap into that realm, to give yourself comfort through doing any kind of artistic projects, singing, dancing. Creating beauty and harmony in some way, seems to be what really brings the Sun alive when it connects with Neptune. Even the Sabian symbols for this trine are very lovely. The Sun is on 28 Scorpio, The king of the fairies approaching his domain, and Neptune is on 28 Pisces, A fertile garden under the Full Moon. So, very whimsical, fanciful, but also gives us that beautiful image of being in this garden under this Full Moon and celebrating and appreciating the beauty around us and creating more of it.
The Sun’s trine to Neptune is often a really nice time to take a little time off if you’re able to, to skip work for the afternoon and go to the park or walk by the lake. Neptune really loves water, so if we can connect with that element on this day, more the better. It’s a healing aspect, and it’s also an opportunity to reach out to people in your life who you think might have been going through a difficult time, let them know you’re thinking of them, and sending love their way.
Pluto enters Aquarius (Nov. 19, 2024, 12:40 pm PST)
Pluto enters Aquarius on November 19th at 12:40 pm Pacific Time, and it will be in this sign through March 8th, 2043. It’s been there briefly over the last year. Pluto first moved into Aquarius on March 23rd, 2023, and then again on January 20th, 2024. It’s been a bit of a bumpy ingress.
I had a conversation with Pluto in Sagittarius astrologer Anna Hall on Episode 254. That was during the Podathon, and I interviewed an astrologer from each of the practicing Pluto generations, and she is Pluto in Sagittarius. And I remember asking her what she thought about the astrologers and followers of astrology that were so excited about Pluto going into Aquarius and thinking, oh wow, it’s going to be the beginning of a new bright age of brotherhood and togetherness. And I said, do people often think that about your Pluto in Sagittarius as well, and we kind of laughed about it. And she said, no, no, it really is still Pluto. And we were saying to each other that that’s not Pluto’s job to bring anything like harmony or togetherness. Pluto’s job is really about taking down what exists so that something new can emerge in its place.
The last transit of Pluto in Aquarius, because it has a very long cycle, it has about a 250-year cycle, and it corresponded with the war for American independence, its establishment as a republic, and that was an era, Pluto in Aquarius, that ended with the French Revolution. So, it does seem very likely that this Pluto in Aquarius transit will continue to find nations in rebellion and transition and discord.
After that long Pluto in Capricorn transit since 2008, which has seemingly been destined to deconstruct almost all existing societal structures, it will be time, eventually, to reinvent society and nations. At the end of this episode, I will replay a mini-lesson that I ran back in March of last year about Pluto going into Aquarius, which explores a few more of these themes in a little more detail.
Sun enters Sagittarius (Nov. 21, 2024, 11:56 am PST)
The Sun enters Sagittarius on November 21st at 11:56 am Pacific Time. Sagittarius is the hopeful sign, and in its season, we celebrate Thanksgiving holiday in America. I love how each of the national holidays seems so appropriately placed in the calendar, and this is definitely an example of that.
Sagittarius is grateful, and hopeful, and bright, and optimistic. During this time of year, whether or not you celebrate Thanksgiving, wherever you are in the world, it is a time to give thanks. To give thanks for your people, for the basics of shelter and food, to unite together with others, to engage in whatever faith tradition is meaningful to you.
The New Moon in this sign comes on the 30th of this month. And if you are a donor to the podcast, you will be receiving an email from me in the next couple of weeks about a YouTube video that I’m going to be offering up for the Sagittarius New Moon, so keep an eye out for that. And if you haven’t donated yet, and you would like to be in on that New Moon discussion, feel free to make a donation of 10 or more, at BigSkyAstropod.com and you will get all of these YouTube videos that I’m going to be doing throughout this year.
Sun sextile Pluto (Nov. 21, 2024, 12:49 pm PST)
Also on November 21st, just about one hour later, at 12:49 pm Pacific Time, the Sun sextiles Pluto at 0º02’ Sagittarius and Aquarius. This is the first aspect that will be made to Pluto during this long stay in Aquarius this time around. It is a sextile, a 60-degree aspect, and sextiles represent opportunities.
So what can we find as an opportunity when the Sun comes together with Pluto? It is the chance to rid ourselves of what we no longer need. When the Sun is connecting with Pluto, the dead, outgrown parts of the self are burned away. Letting go of waste is cleansing, having nothing to hide is empowering, which is always something that Sagittarius reminds us of. Scorpio, the sign before it, tends to be a little more closed, to keep its secrets, to keep its opinions to itself. But Sagittarius tends to be much more open, much more revealing, and outgoing about whatever it’s thinking and feeling, because it feels that’s the best way to be free, is to have nothing to conceal.
Venus sextile Saturn (Nov. 22, 3:55 am PST)
Venus sextiles Saturn on November 22 at 3:55 am Pacific Time, at 12º44’, Capricorn and Pisces. As Venus transits through a sign, it tends to describe what we’ll be drawn to, what we like, what we enjoy. The other thing that Venus does when it’s moving through a sign is to give us some kind of reward and pleasure.
I think Venus being in Capricorn is that influence that comes our way from time to time from somebody whom we respect, perhaps a figure of authority in our lives, a teacher, a parent that might give us a kind gesture on this day that makes us feel successful, respected, validated, as though someone is paying attention to our efforts and our growth and really respecting it.
And if you hold that kind of position in the life of somebody close to you, if you’re a mentor, a parent, a teacher, remember on this day to extend that particular kindness to the person who looks up to you, and let them know that you notice and appreciate the steps that they’re taking to do and be their very best.
Virgo Last Quarter Moon (Nov. 22, 2024, 5:27 pm PST)
And now for the Moon Report. And it begins with the Last Quarter Moon in Virgo on November 22nd at 5:27 pm Pacific Time, at 1º 14’ Virgo and Sagittarius. Last Quarter Moons are the time when we give one last push to accomplish the intentions we set forth for ourselves during the previous New Moon, in this case on that November 1st Scorpio New Moon.
The Sabian symbol for the Moon is A large white cross upraised and for the Sun, two Sagittarius, The ocean covered with white caps. This combination speaks of a purity of purpose, the devotional aspect of Virgo, and of standing up to the waves when they come your way, the ocean covered with whitecaps. A Last Quarter is a time of a little bit of conflict and friction because the Sun and Moon are square each other. And it says that in order to go after what we want entails a little bit of risk, of fear even.
The Last Quarter phase of the Moon can be a little bit of a melancholy time because we’re reflecting back, and we’re looking at perhaps what we haven’t done as well as we could have done. It’s important not to focus on self-recrimination at this phase of the Moon, but instead to remember the purity of what we started out to do and to stand up to any resistance that the world puts in our way as we attempt to achieve our purposes.
Lunar Phase Family cycle
This is the Last Quarter phase in a lunar phase family cycle that began with the New Moon on August 27th, 2022, at 4º03’ Virgo. So if you’re able to reach back and look at and think about what you were intending at that New Moon in the Virgo area of your chart, you are coming close to the end of a three-year cycle of trying to achieve that goal, that intention, and it also has to do with purity of purpose, wanting to be your most helpful, wanting to serve.
The First Quarter phase in this lunar phase family cycle came on May 27th, 2023 at 6º 5’ Virgo. That would have been an action point of trying to realize something that you envisioned at that New Moon. The Full Moon was on February 24th of this year, 2024, at 5º 23’ Virgo, when things were illuminated, your sense of purpose was clarified. And now we’re at the Last Quarter, and the Last Quarter asks us: What more can you do in order to try to achieve the goals that you set out for yourself at that particular New Moon?
Void-of-Course Moon periods
Let’s look at the Void-of-Course Moon periods for this week.
On November 17th, the Moon in Gemini squares Neptune at 8:08 pm Pacific Time. It’s Void-of-Course for 4 hours and 41 minutes before it enters Cancer on November 18th, at 12:49 am Pacific Time. These planets together, and especially in the signs of Gemini and Pisces, point out the need for clearer communication, vetting your sources before you present something as a fact, and also, and very importantly, to be kind. Not only truthful, not only clear but kind as well. If this is something that you struggle with, this is a good Void-of-Course Moon for making some kind of gesture toward breaking that habit and forming a new one.
On November 20th, the Moon in Cancer trines the Sun in Scorpio at 3:20 am Pacific Time. It’s Void-of-Course for about two and a half hours and then enters Leo at 5:51 am. Trines from the Moon to another planet, as a Void-of-Course Moon period begins, indicate a gift. And perhaps it’s something as simple as a good night’s sleep for those of us here on the West Coast of the United States. And, rest generally. But also this emotional component of the two water signs, Cancer and Scorpio coming together, and perhaps a message from a friend, perhaps a dream of somebody that you love, or somebody bringing you a kindly message.
On November 22nd, the Moon in Leo squares Uranus at 5:15 am Pacific time, and this is a pretty good long Void-of-Course period, 9 hours 45 minutes before the Moon enters Virgo at 3 pm. The Moon square another planet at the beginning of Void-of-Course Moon period indicates a conflict or something that you’re trying to overcome.
When we’re talking about the Moon with a planet like Uranus, there are some unstable emotions, we might say. It is a long Void-of-Course period, and it happens during the workday here in the United States, so we do have to look out for dramatic conflicts in the workplace, and to also be a little bit careful when you’re driving, because road rage is something that can erupt when you have the Moon in a fiery sign like Leo and Uranus is a planet about moving around. So, be a little bit careful.
And again, Void-of-Course Moon periods are about breaking destructive habits and building new and healthier ones. In this case, if it’s been a pattern for you in your life, having difficulty maintaining your emotional balance, this is an important time to try to break that habit because it kind of is a habit. We tend to feel that we’re not in control of our emotions when really, we can practice containing them, and I think that is a really good use for this Void-of-Course Moon period.
Mini-Lesson: Reviewing Pluto entering Aquarius
In this week’s mini-lesson, we’re I’m replaying a portion of Episode 169 from March 12th, 2023, which was just before Pluto entered Aquarius for the first time. I thought it might be good to revisit it now with the benefit of hindsight and a couple of different moments when Pluto entered this sign.
And now that we are at the beginning of that long 19-year stretch of this transit, I thought it might be good to take another look at it. So here I am from March 2023.
Now first let me talk about this transit in the most general terms. Pluto is the planet that transforms whatever is unnecessary, unsound, or out of character.
Over time, I think that matters related to Pluto’s sign undergo what we’ll call a rebirth. That sounds very hopeful and I think it is, but the process itself can be pretty unsettling. The years when Pluto was in Scorpio brought, among other things, the AIDS crisis, and a huge shift in society in perceptions about sex, about gay rights, about public health.
In the mid-1990s, Pluto in Sagittarius saw a surge in fundamentalist terrorism, Sagittarius being a sign that’s associated with belief systems. And air transportation, which is often associated with Sagittarius, became the focus of these deadly episodes. There was TWA Flight 800, and ultimately the 9-11 attacks, which really have forever changed the way the public experiences air travel, and that Sagittarian sense of the world is our oyster and we should be able to get out and adventure without fear.
And finally, Pluto in Capricorn since 2008 has brought a sort of complete change in commerce, really, via Amazon and Walmart, and a broad mistrust of major institutions like government, big business, pharmaceutical companies.
Now, the way things work with Pluto is that it is a bit like a cancer, where cells grow out of control until they’re endangering the overall health of the host. Pluto rules power, and when too much power is congregated in too few hands, there is almost inevitably an implosion, and that’s what we often see by the time Pluto finishes its transit through a sign.
There’s no question Pluto can also bring power your way and if you look at the Capricorn area of your birth chart, think about how different these areas of your life look today from how they looked in 2008. Hopefully, you have found some success in those areas of life, even if you also probably experienced a good amount of pressure.
And now, coming out of Capricorn, where it brought enormous power but also destruction to a lot of traditional structures of society, Pluto is entering Aquarius. If we want to imagine how the paradigm is getting ready to shift, I don’t think we need to look any further than the last two and a half years that Saturn was in Aquarius, before it just shifted to Pisces. Saturn expects us to grow stronger and to build useful things, and the pandemic made it really a tough time to build Aquarian things, like a strong sense of community, a clear vision for the future, those kinds of things.
Politics and other social movements come under the purview of Aquarius, and technology is also an Aquarian concern. And as we stand at the very end of Pluto in Capricorn, artificial intelligence is hitting the mainstream. I think writers like me might very well see ourselves replaced by AI entirely by the time Pluto is finished with Aquarius in 2043.
My hope for Pluto in Aquarius over the next 20 years is to see society strengthened, for us as a collective to learn to use technology for the greater good, to restructure politically and economically. And because Pluto is a transformational planet, that may very well be what comes out of the next 20 years, but realistically, Pluto transits don’t tend to begin with positive news. Because its fundamental job is to root out what’s wrong, what is undermining the organism, so that it can be dismantled and taken away and cut out, and what remains is in integrity and strong.
Pluto is kind of like a crew that comes in to remediate the black mold problem in your house. They will probably cure the problem, but they’ll have to tear out a lot of drywall first.
Jessica and Charlotte, thank you so much for listening to the podcast and for supporting the show with your donations. If you’d like to support the show and receive access to those bonus YouTube videos that I mentioned earlier, please go to BigSkyAstropod.com and make a contribution of $10 or more. You can make a one-time donation in any amount or become an ongoing monthly contributor.
That’s 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 column!
