TRANSCRIPT Ep. 288 (4.28.25)
Venus in Aries: Nature’s Embrace!
Hello, Invisible Friend. April here, and the date today is April 28th, 2025. Welcome to Episode 288 of the Big Sky Astrology Podcast.
This week, the skies are quieter than they’ve been recently, but what is coming our way is fairly loud and dynamic. Venus enters Aries, then makes a conjunction with Neptune. Pluto stations retrograde right after a very energetic First Quarter Moon in Leo and I answer a listener question about the opposition aspect.
Venus enters Aries (April 30, 2025, 10:16 am PDT)
First up this week, Venus enters Aries on April 30th at 10:16 am Pacific time. Because of her retrograde period, Venus has moved over this first degree of Aries twice already – on February 3rd, and again on March 27th when she was moving backward into Pisces.
Aries is a little bit of a difficult sign for Venus. It’s one of the signs of her detriment, which means she is in a sign opposite the sign of her rulership. Aries is ruled by Mars, and Aries and Mars are more concerned with the self and they do not shy away from confrontation. So, for Venus, which is a very harmony and cooperation-oriented planet, it can be really difficult to get her work done in this sign.
Since Venus is connected with relationships and money, we might show some more Aries traits in these areas while Venus is in this sign, which it will be through June 5th. You might be a little more prone to impulse buying, especially purchasing new fast toys. Generally, Aries really can’t stand anything that slow or drawn out. So, fast-paced, short-lasting activities will be more appealing. When it comes to romance, think of speed dating, or a sort of a competitive edge to pursuing relationships. Somebody you might not have been interested in, suddenly a friend is interested in them and you go, hmm, maybe that person’s a little more interesting after all.
And also, Aries likes the thrill of the chase in relationship. So, this might be the kind of transit where you’re not necessarily pursuing something with the idea of making it a long-term permanent relationship.
But what I like about Aries is how delightfully elemental it is. It is fully alive and present. The Sabian symbol for this first degree of Aries is 1 Aries: A woman rises out of the water. A seal rises up and embraces her. As we prepare to pull ourselves out of the waters of Venus in Pisces, it’s as though nature itself is wrapping us in her arms and saying, “It is so wonderful to see you here. Enjoy yourself.”
Venus conjunct Neptune (May 2, 2025, 10:07 am PDT)
On May 2nd at 10:07 am Pacific Time, Venus makes a conjunction with Neptune at 01º08’ Aries. This is the third and final time that Venus will make this conjunction with Neptune for a while, again, because of that retrograde period it had. With Mercury and Venus, basically, over the last couple of weeks, we’ve been catching up on the aspects that those two planets made before they went retrograde, and then while they were retrograde.
The first time Venus made a conjunction with Neptune was on February 1st, and the second time was on March 27th, when Venus was still retrograde. So, this conjunction might have some kind of connection to things that were happening for you around those dates, especially related to relationships and finance.
Venus and Neptune have a little bit in common, especially in the area of the arts and of romance. Venus rules relationships, and Neptune rules true love, unconditional love, but Neptune doesn’t always see things very clearly, so we need to try to see people as they are before we get involved with them. And in existing relationships, sometimes a relationship that we entered in good faith dissolves because one or both partners realize they’ve just really changed irrevocably.
Venus also rules finances, of course, so our financial routines and situations could come under review, and we might find that our finances are in better shape or worse shape than we thought they were. Seeing the situation realistically is the key. And it can be sort of scary in times like the ones we’ve been through in recent weeks, where looking at your investments, for example, can be a little scary because maybe they have dropped in value. But it’s always best to know where we are in things and that is the key with Venus and Neptune together. Whether it’s a relationship or a financial situation, we need to be clear and realistic about where things stand.
At the end of this final transit of Venus with Neptune, hopefully, we’ll have a better idea of what we’re worth and also what drains us. Neptune can feel like a slow leak of energy and we can also have a better sense of who and who does not really care for us and appreciate us.
Leo First Quarter Moon (May 4, 2025, 6:52 am PDT)
And now for the Moon Report. And as always, we start with the week’s major lunation. This week, it’s the First Quarter Moon in Leo on May 4th at 6:52 am Pacific Time, and this is at 14º21’ Leo and Taurus.
This is the First Quarter Moon phase after the Taurus New Moon that we had on April 27th. So, this is the phase to take action toward the goals that you may have set at that New Moon for building financial security, improving your health, enjoying life more. The Sun in Taurus represents our resources – what is it that we have? And the Moon in Leo, then, is in charge of making something of those resources, creating something new from the things that we have.
And at this First Quarter Moon, let’s use our Leo Moon superpowers to do that. The Moon is on Sabian symbol 15 Leo, A pageant, so celebrate a little bit, throw a party, go dancing, get on stage under the spotlight, no matter what the Sun in Taurus says, because it doesn’t love to be in the spotlight. But wear some fiery colors, eat spicy food. And most of all, make others feel good with your creative work and fun and glamor.
Lunar Phase Family Cycle
This is the First Quarter phase in a lunar phase family cycle that began with the New Moon on August 4th, 2024, at 12º34’ Leo. It was a very nice New Moon. The New Moon point was sextile Mars and Jupiter in Gemini, so very good for communication, creativity, and networking. Whatever it was that you set your sights on at that New Moon, it’s now time to take action to pursue those goals or ideas.
At the Full Moon nine months from now, on February 1st, 2026, we’ll have a much clearer picture of how far we’ve come with regard to those goals and how much further we still have to go and what we might need to tweak just a little bit to get there. And then nine months later, at the Last Quarter, Moon, on November 1st, 2026, it’s a final action point when, based on everything that we’ve learned during the rest of this lunar phase family cycle, we take one more action to try to complete those New Moon goals.
Void-of-Course Moon periods
Let’s look at the Void-of-Course Moon periods for this week.
On April 28th, the Moon in Taurus sextiles Venus and Pisces at 10:18 pm Pacific Time. It’s Void-of-Course for one hour, 16 minutes, and then enters Gemini at 11:34 pm.
When the Moon sextiles another planet as it turns Void-of-Course, it often brings an opportunity or an invitation. And I feel that the opportunity at this void period is about relaxation. It’s about relaxing your body – Moon in Taurus – and feeding your spirit, Venus in Pisces.
And always, the Void-of-Course Moon periods are a good time to institute daily routines that are gonna be helpful. So, make it part of your daily habit and routine to make sure you enjoy a little time out, relaxation, indulgence, especially if you tend to work really hard and not take enough time for yourself.
On April 30th, the Moon in Gemini squares Saturn in Pisces at 8:49 pm Pacific Time. It’s Void-of-Course for three hours, 34 minutes, and then enters Cancer on May 1st at 12:23 am.
A Moon’s square to another planet as it goes Void-of-Course, says this is a good time to address a conflict or a blockage. And this one could have to do with having obstacles, especially in communication or maybe learning. And often with the square, it means we have to work hard to overcome this. Use this Void-of-Course Moon period to contemplate any recent setbacks or obstacles, or even rejections. Think about how we can use them consciously to improve the way we communicate, and that means the way we listen as well as the way that we speak, and to work hard on developing communication skills that are a little bit sensitive and intuitive, because that Saturn is in Pisces, as opposed to just coming from the mind, coming from the heart as well.
And on May 3rd, the Moon in Cancer trines Saturn at 1:02 am Pacific time. It’s Void-of-Course for three hours, 27 minutes, and then enters Leo at 4:29 am. When the Moon trines another planet as it goes Void-of-Course, there is a sort of a gift or reward that comes our way.
The Moon in Cancer feels things very deeply and on the days that the Moon is in the sign, we can be a little moody. But the trine to Saturn brings the gift of stabilization and support. If you happen to live, say, on the West Coast of the United States, you’ll probably be asleep during this Void-of-Course Moon period. But if you are awake, use this Void-of-Course period to get in the habit of developing a solid work routine. Because in doing that, your emotions will be more stable and it will boost your confidence and also increase the respect that you receive from others.
Pluto stations Retrograde (May 4, 2025, 8:27 am PDT)
Pluto stations retrograde on May 4th at 8:27 am Pacific Time, at 03º49’ Aquarius. Pluto turns retrograde just over an hour and a half after the First Quarter Moon in Leo, and that means that this stage is set for a little heightened drama and intensity.
When a planet turns retrograde, it typically marks the beginning of a time of introspection, of inner transformation in the case of Pluto. But Pluto is still being opposed by Mars, and that adds a volatile edge and stirs up deep emotions and power struggles. This is not a quiet descent into the underworld. It’s more like a fiery plunge. Be mindful of how you channel this day’s energy because the day a planet changes direction, we feel it especially strongly. If you don’t check your impulses now, it could lead to more conflict, especially internally or even external dramas. Pluto stations on the Sabian symbol 4 Aquarius, A Hindu healer, and that reinforces the idea that, as this Pluto will be retrograde – and it’s retrograde through October 13th. This is a time for healing and the way Pluto heals is through getting rid of, burning away, whatever isn’t useful, whatever isn’t instructing us, or whatever has been holding us back from being our true selves.
Listener Question: The Opposition Aspect
In this week’s listener question, Listener Anna writes, “I keep hearing on repeat from several astrologers that opposition aspects are activated through interactions with other people. I find this interesting and logical as oppositions involve both polarity – what we have in common and what we very much don’t – as well as the longest, farthest view away from something.
How do we interpret opposition aspects in our own natal charts? What’s the best way to work with natal oppositions? And do those lessons involve finding balance within ourselves, or do they involve others?”
Well, thank you for that question, Anna. And the quick answer is: both. They do involve finding balance with ourselves and often that’s most easily done in interactions with other people, because we can see things clearly in another person that we might not be able to easily see within ourselves.
Also, the opposition is innately an aspect of balance. For example, let’s say you have Jupiter opposed Saturn in your birth chart, and that tends to swing from side to side between being enthusiastic and optimistic and wanting to take chances and risks and have adventures… so one minute you’re Jupiter and you are all over that, you’re very generous, you spend indiscriminately – and then the next moment you are in your Saturn mode. Where you are refusing to spend a dime even on things that are very practical and justified, and that would make your life run more efficiently.
Let’s say that your partner has a conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn, and they tend to always be fairly restrained, neither very, very optimistic or very pessimistic. When you are in your Jupiter phase, they will often use their Saturn to put on the brakes, and when you’re being extremely Saturnian, they will make the argument for loosening the purse strings a little bit to, like, get the car repaired or something like that.
And it’s not just your partner. Usually, when you get in that Jupiter mode, a friend, a family member, a mentor might try to rein you in a little bit. Like,
“Don’t buy that new car at full price and finance it through the dealer.” And when you’re in a very Saturn mode, the cheerful Jupiter clerk at Best Buy who tries to sell you a new widget, is really gonna rub you the wrong way and make you dig in your hooves even more.
It’s not that relationships are the only way that we work with oppositions. Oppositions are like the world’s way of maintaining balance. So, when one quality is out of control, we magnetize the thing that will represent the opposite, trying to get the teeter-totter level. When you’re having a particular transit that is activating an opposition in your birth chart, you might see those qualities, say it’s the Jupiter and Saturn, show up in your close relationships. But you might even just see the dynamic show up between two characters on a television show you watch, or in a discussion on an online forum or on social media, or overhear a conversation in a coffee house that shows the themes of that natal opposition.
Oppositions are a little bit of the nature of the seventh house or the sign of Libra. They tend to hold up a mirror to us so we can see what’s going on, and that happens very naturally in interactions with other people. I would say in terms of working with the oppositions in your chart, astrology is great because it makes us aware of what they are and what some of the themes are. Essentially, what we’re trying to achieve is balance in that area of life.
My teacher used to say that oppositions are interesting because both planets want the same thing. They’re just coming at it from totally different directions. So they’re on a polarity, and they’re headed towards the middle, towards the center.
In the case of Jupiter and Saturn being opposed, it would be having a good balance between being willing to try new things and invest a little bit, but on the other side, being Saturn and being kind of careful and deliberate in the way we do things. A nice balance of it, instead of extremes on either side.
So, if you have oppositions in your chart, it’s about focusing and concentrating on what needs to be balanced. And when you see yourself expressing one side of that opposition, really strongly, consciously finding ways to balance that out through using the symbolism of the opposite planet in the opposite sign.
Anna, I hope that helps and thank you very much for your question.
If you have a question you’d like me to answer on a future episode of the podcast, leave a message of one minute or less at speakpipe.com / bigskyastrologypodcast, or send an email to April (at) bigskyastrology (dot) com and be sure to put “podcast question” in the subject line.
Donor Thanks
That’s everything I have on my show sheet, so I’m gonna wrap this one up. Thank you for listening to the Big Sky Astrology podcast. If you like what you’re hearing, be sure to subscribe or follow the show in your app of choice. Leave a rating or review, and I hope that you’ll help spread the word by telling an astrology-loving friend about the podcast. You can read show notes and full transcripts and leave your comments about each episode at BigSkyAstropod.com.
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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 © 2017-25 by April Elliott Kent
For more on this week’s planetary news, read my column!
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