TRANSCRIPT Ep. 290 (5.12.25)
A Magical Scorpio Full Moon!
Hello, Invisible Friend, April here, and the date today is May 12th, 2025. Welcome to Episode 290 of the Big Sky Astrology Podcast.
This week: A powerful and magical Scorpio Full Moon. Mercury has a volatile square off with Mars and Pluto. The Sun joins forces with unpredictable Uranus, and the week ends on a high note as Jupiter interacts with the lunar nodes. And I offer a mini-lesson on transiting Saturn going into Aries next week.
Scorpio Full Moon (May 12, 2025, 9:56 am PDT)
The week begins with the Moon report, and we begin, as always, with the major lunation of the week. This week, it is the Scorpio Full Moon on May 12th at 9:56 am Pacific Time. That’s at 22º12’ Scorpio and Taurus.
The Scorpio Moon always brings intense emotions and urges and prompts us to take a look at what lies beneath the surface. This is especially true at a Scorpio Full Moon when the Moon’s bright light reveals everything. With the Moon at 22º12’ Scorpio opposed the Sun, which is in a conjunction with Uranus, there is tension and instability around resources and security, self-worth. Even though the Moon in Scorpio is traditionally ruled by Mars, many modern astrologers looked Pluto for an illustration of Scorpio’s deeper meaning, a symbol of metamorphosis, power, and emotional rebirth.
The Sabian symbol for the Full Moon is 23 Scorpio, A rabbit metamorphosed into a fairy. We couldn’t get a more literal symbol of metamorphosis, and the Sun is on symbol 23 Taurus, A jewelry shop, a picture of what happens when humans co-create with nature to change raw materials into objects of great value and beauty.
Under this Full Moon, patience and honesty, and emotional depth are essential. It’s a time to dig deep, to train your instincts, and to allow yourself to evolve. At the Scorpio Full Moon, we need to seek truth, embrace emotional complexity, and not shy away from the dark.
Lunar Phase Family Cycle
This is the Full Moon in a lunar phase family cycle that began at the New Moon on November 13th, 2023, at 20º43 minutes Scorpio. What it was that you imagined or intended at that New Moon is now being fully revealed. It’s like a seed that we planted the New Moon, that we don’t really know what it’s going to produce until a half a cycle later.
The First Quarter in this cycle was on August 12th, 2024, at 20º24’ Scorpio. That was an action point where we initiated, where we took positive action toward those New Moon goals, and now we’re here at the Full Moon seeing the consequences of that planting, of that action. The Last Quarter in this lunar phase family cycle comes on February 9th, 2026, at 20º46’ Scorpio. If there is something powerful that you planted and initiated at that long-ago New Moon, that is going to be the time when you take a last conscious informed action to bring those goals to completion.
Void-of-Course Moon periods
Let’s look at the Void-of-Course Moon periods for this week. Saturn is at the very end of Pisces – it’s getting ready to move into Aries next week. So this week’s Void-of-Course Moons all begin with aspects to Saturn and different ways to reflect on how well we’ve done, not only in this lunar cycle, but since Saturn went into Pisces in March 2023.
On May 12th, the Moon in Scorpio trines Saturn at 11:37 pm Pacific Time. It’s Void-of-Course for one hour, 58 minutes, and enters Sagittarius on May 13th at 1:35 am. Void-of-Course Moon periods that begin with the Moon’s trine to another planet suggest a gift or a reward. Aspects to Saturn always demand hard work.
But this one also leaves us with the feeling of accomplishment after we’ve done, respect from others, a positive change in our status. This Scorpio Void-of-Course Moon period encourages us to appreciate the gift of our work and to have faith that doing it well has the power to transform us.
On May 15th, the Moon in Sagittarius squares Saturn in Pisces at 11:28 am Pacific Time. It’s Void-of-Course for one hour, 30 minutes, and then enters Capricorn at 12:58 pm. Void-of-Course Moons that begin with the Moon square to another planet represent a conflict or an obstacle that we’re trying to overcome. This is a Void-of-Course Moon in which we need to put aside our personal beliefs – Moon in Sagittarius – roll up our sleeves and get to work. Get into the habit at this Void-of-Course Moon of replacing negative feelings with emotional resilience and with a sense of duty and a reputation for being reliable.
And on May 17th, the Moon in Capricorn sextiles Saturn at 9:27 pm Pacific Time. It’s Void-of-Course for one hour, two minutes, and then enters Aquarius at 10:29 pm. The Moon sextile to another planet at the beginning of a Void-of-Course period represents an opportunity or an invitation. At this one, there’s the opportunity to bring together business and personal obligations.
Void-of-Course Moons are always a good time to initiate new habits and at this Void-of-Course period, we can get in the habit of handling both our business and personal obligations wisely by showing wise stewardship of both our personal and business responsibilities.
Mercury square Pluto (May 12, 2025, 10:23 am PDT)
Mercury squares Pluto on May 12th at 10:23 am Pacific Time at 03º48’ minutes Taurus and Aquarius. Aspects of Mercury show us how we’re developing our perceptions, skills, and communication. Its aspects to Pluto, of course, take us to a deeper place with our intellect, to really look beneath the surface, to troubleshoot problems, and to achieve a deeper understanding of things.
Since we’re in Taurus season, let’s use a couple of garden analogies. Pluto would be like the compost pile, unpleasant up close, not smelling that great, but essential for deep, fertile transformation. But Mercury, by contrast, is the pollinator, the little bird or bee flitting from bloom to bloom, helping life reproduce and, in the case of the mind, ideas to take root.
Both of these forces, Mercury’s changeability and curiosity and Pluto’s depth are necessary for true growth. In human terms, Mercury is the ruler of communication, commerce, travel, and Pluto adds a sense of urgency, intensity, transformation, and scale. When these two meet in a tense square aspect, we often see major developments, dramatic market shifts, communication breakdowns, big travel disruptions, or uncomfortable truths that come to the surface.
So, if anxious thoughts arise as they sometimes do when Mercury is connecting with a difficult planet like Pluto, channel them into focused and repetitive work. And we often, on the podcast, point to things like knitting or puzzles or running.
Mercury’s Sabian symbol is 4 Taurus, The rainbow’s pot of gold. It talks about the abundance that comes from bridging the material and the spiritual. And Pluto’s symbol is A Hindu healer, which we’re spending a lot of time with lately, as Pluto is around this fourth degree of Aquarius. It reminds us of the healing that can be found in a focused spiritual practice.
So, this is a transit that invites us to confront the uncomfortable, to speak truth with clarity, and to truly grow through what we learn.
Sun conjunct Uranus (May 17, 2025, 4:32 pm PDT)
This week, the Sun makes a conjunction with Uranus on May 17th at 4:32 pm Pacific Time. It’s at 27º17’ Taurus on the Sabian symbol 28 Taurus, A woman pursued by mature romance. This combination brings a jolt of change to the steady rhythms of the Sun in Taurus.
The Sun represents a strong and stable sense of self, what makes us feel like who we are. And Uranus, when it comes together with the Sun, is a challenge to evolve, often through reacting to unexpected shifts. For some of us, this transit can feel invigorating and freeing; for others, especially those who are resistant to change, it can feel uncomfortable. We may feel disoriented. Taurus really prefers predictability.
So, there will be some people who will be struggling this week with unexpected things that come up, but this is a powerful time to embrace what it is that makes you unique and to explore that in new ways. This Sabian symbol, A woman pursued by mature romance speaks to the idea of ongoing renewal and staying open to new possibilities, regardless of your age or your circumstance. Try something new. You don’t have to commit to it forever. This is a pretty quick transit. But the act of opening yourself up is growth in and of itself.
Mercury square Mars (May 17, 2025, 9:36 pm PDT)
Mercury squares Mars on May 17th at 9:36 pm Pacific Time at 13º 53’ minutes Taurus and Leo. Mercury is the communication planet. When it connects with Mars, the way we communicate can get a little bit rough, a little bit sharp, reactive, or even might be cut off entirely. So it’s really important to choose our words carefully. We might deeply hurt someone without meaning to at all.
This is a really tense aspect and it can almost work like a Mercury in Aries, where our speech can be a little bit impulsive and frustration might come out through the words that we say. But it’s also a powerful opportunity to take a look at the roots of our anger and frustration and how to transform those into insight or more helpful feelings.
You could find that your mind is really racing and this makes it a great time for intense mental focus. Sort of like that Mercury-Pluto aspect earlier in the week. And it’s really good for writing or studying or any project that requires sharp thinking and also the ability to make decisions.
Mercury’s Sabian symbol is 14 Taurus, Shellfish groping and children playing. Anytime we see children playing in a Sabian symbol, we know it’s a reminder to us to take a more playful attitude towards things. The shellfish groping even are grasping for something that they want and being willing to hold onto it.
Mars’ symbol is 14 Leo, The human soul awaiting opportunity for expression. I always think of this symbol when I think of creative people, of artists, and they’ll often tell you they have no idea where a song they wrote came from or a portrait that they have painted. Where did they get the idea for the particular technique that they used?
And to me, it is that little soul looking for opportunity for expression and kind of whispering in the ear of somebody that is doing the creative work. So I think although Mercury square Mars sounds a little bit difficult, and it can be, we do need to stay on top of what we say and on top of our feelings, but it’s also, especially on these Sabian symbols, enormously creative and playful. It’s an aspect that really challenges us to speak with intention, to think clearly and to speak our truth with courage, but also with some kindness.
Jupiter square the Lunar Nodes (May 18, 2025, 11:46 am PDT)
And on May 18th at 11:46 am Pacific Time, Jupiter in Gemini squares the lunar nodes at 25º05’ Gemini, Pisces, and Virgo. The transit of Jupiter square the lunar nodes can kind of bring a nice reprieve or a reward or a stroke of luck. We need to just be aware and welcome what comes our way.
Appreciate little messages that come our way that say you are moving in the right direction. It might sound funny to say that about a square aspect, but Jupiter squares usually bring increased fortune or luck, and also a strong desire to stretch our horizons. And in the case of the lunar nodes, it’s about reaching out for new things and being willing to use what it is we already know and are comfortable with to move us in new directions.
Jupiter’s Sabian symbol is 26 Gemini, Winter frost in the woods, and it’s a lovely symbol even here in springtime in the Northern Hemisphere, about the essence of beauty because the trees are bare and we see this frost glittering in the pale winter light. It’s about ridding ourselves of things that are non-essential and finding truth in beauty.
The North Node is on the Sabian symbol 26 Pisces, A New Moon that divides its influences. It’s about freedom of choice, about exercising our free will, and even with the people closest to us, understanding that there are times when we’ll be the closest if we’re free to pursue our individual paths.
The South Node is on the Sabian symbol 26 Virgo, A boy with a sensor – those little things they wave in a church with incense in them. It’s about the sacred duty of service, about remaining humble as part of our spiritual practice. The South Node always says, here is a place where we need to do a little conscious letting go, and this can be about the ways in which we can take a little bit too much pride sometimes in the ways we serve in our spiritual practice. And feeling that through those practices, wow, we’re sure a lot better than some other people we know. So that is what needs to be let go, I think, at this South Node.
Mini-Lesson: Saturn entering Aries
In today’s mini-lesson, let’s take a look at Saturn, which is getting ready to move into Aries next week on May 24th. Saturn only changes signs about every two and a half years, so it’s a pretty big deal when it does. I decided that over the next few episodes, I’ll be including mini-lessons specifically to help us prepare for the Saturn in Aries shift. Today, I really just want to offer a very general introduction into what it might mean for us as Saturn is changing sign, and specifically what we can expect it to teach us while it’s in Aries.
In next week’s Episode 291, we’ll look at Saturn in Aries moving through the houses of the horoscope. And then in Episode 292, a quick look at Saturn in aspect to the planets in your birth chart. But first, a quick overview of Saturn itself. Saturn takes about 29 years to make a complete circuit of the zodiac, and it spends about two and a half years in each sign. As it enters Aries, it’s saying goodbye to Pisces, which it entered on March 7th, 2023.
It’s going to be in Aries through September 1st, spend a few months retrograding into Pisces between September 1st and February 13th, when it will then go back into Aries until April 12th, 2028.
Transits of Saturn describe periods when we’re challenged to become more mature, wiser, more disciplined. Most of all, I think with Saturn, we’re being challenged to be the authority of our own lives and to set limits and boundaries. Boundaries on our own behaviors, and also boundaries to protect us from other people who might try to transgress. Before we knew about Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, Saturn represented the boundary of the known solar system beyond which we could not go. That I think is where we get this interpretation of Saturn being about boundaries.
Here is something I wrote in my book, “Astrological Transits” – and by the way, I will be quoting a bit from that book here. So instead of constantly saying, “as I wrote in my book,” you can just kind of assume this source. I began by writing:
“I won’t lie to you, Saturn’s transits can bring frustration, deprivation, and loneliness. But they are the means to an end, not the end itself. Saturn has no interest in abandoning you to a pit of despair. Rather, these transits teach you what you’re made of and force you to create a life that’s more nurturing and supportive of the real you.
Suffering through hardships doesn’t feel good. It hurts and it’s supposed to hurt. There is a reason for it, just as there is a reason the physical body feels pain – to alert you that something is endangering your wellbeing, that something isn’t right, so that you can avoid it or fix it. And so it is with your heart and your spirit. If you hurt, it’s because you’re supposed to hurt when your life is moving in the wrong direction.”
What about Saturn transiting through the signs of the zodiac?
“Saturn doesn’t want to hear excuses. Saturn only cares about results. So, the sign that Saturn is in is not just about a style of doing things, but also about the nature of the work that’s being assigned to us.
The first step in handling Saturn’s sojourn through any sign is not to panic, but to take stock, figure out what structures of your life have been neglected and come up with a plan to shore them up. It doesn’t have to happen overnight, either. Saturn just says, acknowledge responsibility and determine the ways you’re able to respond to a situation,” and then do what you can to improve, bit by bit, day by day.
And specifically, what about Saturn in Aries? Because they seem to be such different symbols. Saturn represents rules and boundaries, and Aries rejects rules and insists on doing things in his own way. So, what does it mean to bring these two together?
I think that Saturn in Pisces was about engaging in the work of service and kindness and caring for one another. Aries, of course, is a very different assignment, and in my Transits book, I wrote,
“Some people blame others for their failures and misfortunes, and then there are those who are successful. When Saturn is moving through Aries, it’s tempting to be the first kind of person. We can enumerate chapter and verse of the ways other people and cruel circumstances are holding us back. ‘If only I were better looking, born to a rich family, had married my high school sweetheart, if only people treated me fairly instead of giving everything to somebody else.’ If only, if only, if only.
But the real ‘if only’ goes something like this. If only I had the courage to go after what I want, if only I had the gumption to keep trying every time I fail, if only I treated other people as well as I expect to be treated, and if only I worked hard to earn the breaks that I feel I deserve. When Saturn is in Aries, we are charged with accepting total personal responsibility for our lives. Saturn will not accept excuses, complaints, or blame.
You are the author of your life, so write it the way you want to and then turn the book into the movie you want to live in.”
Saturn was last in Aries between April 1996 and March 1999. If you were born then, you’ll be having your first Saturn return, and if you were born between March 1967 and April 1969, you will be having your second Saturn return.
I’m going to put the exact dates in the show description. because there will be some overlap between Aries and Pisces and Aries and Taurus during those times. (STEPHANIE: April 7, 1996-June 8, 1998; Oct. 25, 1998-Feb. 28, 1999. And March 3, 1967-April 29, 1969.)
The Saturn return is when transiting Saturn returns to the exact same degree, minute, second, and sign of Saturn in your birth chart. And it’s a time for a review of issues related to your maturity, achievement, career, and status.
I’ve found that during the first Saturn return, it’s very common to look from outside ourselves to monitor our success. To decide if our life looks the way it should. Do we have the right career? Have we bought a house? How’s our income? Do we have the partner of our dreams? Are we going to start a family? These kinds of questions.
At the second Saturn return, we monitor success quite a bit differently and we start asking whether our lives feel the way they should. Are we satisfied that our life’s work has paid off in the way that we would like in terms of personal satisfaction and the ability to make a real, meaningful contribution to the world?
As Saturn moves into a new sign every two and a half years, we learn to step up our collective societal game and to take responsibility for a new area of society. Often, when Saturn moves into a new sign as well as a new house of the chart, the work that we need to do can seem insurmountable and overwhelming. But with Saturn, always, if we’re patient, take our time and pick away at the task bit by bit, we can be successful. As we’ll see next week, Saturn in Aries moving through your personal horoscope can show us the area or areas of your life where you are personally called to these challenges. And Saturn in aspect to your personal planets will symbolize the parts of your personality that will be called into service.
I’ll be returning to listener questions in a couple weeks, so if you 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 of course, you can always email me at April(at)bigskyastrology(dot)com, and be sure to put “Podcast Question” in the subject line.
Donor Thanks
Well, that’s everything I have on my show sheet, so I’m going to wrap this one up. Thank you for listening to the Big Sky Astrology Podcast. If you like what you’re hearing, please 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 bigskyastro.com.
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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 © 2017-25 by April Elliott Kent
For more on this week’s planetary news, read my column!
