TRANSCRIPT Episode 321 (11.17.2025)
Scorpio New Moon + Sun in Sagittarius + Manic Mercury:
A Humdinger of a Week!
Hello, invisible friend. April here, and the date today is November 17th, 2025. Welcome to Episode 321 of the Big Sky Astrology Podcast. During this very busy week, the Sun and Mercury come together in a conjunction and turn their spotlights on Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. The Scorpio New Moon begins a lunar season of intense emotion, passion, and persuasion. The Sun enters its Sagittarius season, a time of optimism, gratitude, and new challenges. Uranus makes the second in a series of opportunity aspects with Neptune. And because it was such a busy week with so much to cover, I’m afraid once again this week there is no listener question, but I will be getting back to that segment next week.
The Sun trine Saturn (Nov. 17, 2025, 12:56 am PST)
The Sun trines Saturn on Monday, November 17th at 12:56 AM Pacific Time, at 25º 15’, Scorpio and Pisces. When the Sun and Saturn come together, we could read it a couple of different ways. One is that Saturn can be making us individually – Sun – feel very blocked or frustrated or tired. But we can also look at it as Saturn supporting the Sun. And in this case it’s Saturn in Pisces and it’s supporting the Sun in Scorpio.
Now, Scorpio is a sign I love, but it is ruled by Mars, so sometimes it has some rough edges. Having Pisces included in the mix brings grace and charity. It is Saturn, so it is a planet of teaching and training. It’s not that everything goes really smoothly, but here is a chance at this trine to focus on combining the Sun in Scorpio’s protectiveness and determination with kindness toward others.
Nov. 17-19, 2025: Busy Mercury
Mercury is very busy this week. On Monday, November 17th through Wednesday, November 19th, it makes three aspects and retrogrades back into the sign of Scorpio. So, I’m gonna give a quick recap of all three of these days.
Mercury sextile Pluto (Nov. 17, 2025, 12:36 pm PST)
Mercury sextiles Pluto on Monday, November 17th at 12:36 PM Pacific Time at 01º39’ Sagittarius and Aquarius. Mercury has recently made the same aspect to Pluto on October 30th when it was direct. Now it’s retrograde on November 17th, and it’s making the same sextile aspect to Pluto, and then it will go direct and eventually it will make one last sextile to Pluto on December 13th. So, this is a link in a chain connecting Mercury, the planet of communication, of thought, processes of business, even – with the planet Pluto, a planet of power and control, of intense focus. If there are matters that you really need to focus on and work through, this is a pretty good day for it. It’s a nice aspect between Mercury and Pluto for getting to the bottom of things.
Mercury Rx enters Scorpio (Nov. 18, 2025, 7:21 pm PST)
The next day, Tuesday, November 18th at 7:21 PM Pacific Time, Mercury retrograde enters Scorpio, so it’s reentering Scorpio from Sagittarius and it’s going to continue to move back through Scorpio until it reaches 20º42’ of Scorpio. And then it will turn direct on November 29th and return to the sign of Sagittarius on December 11th to finish up its work in that sign. This accentuates that aspect between Mercury and Pluto that we saw the previous day.
Now, Mercury was still in Sagittarius on that day, which gives it a lighter feeling and its focus is a little bit different in Scorpio, it is very much connected with getting to the bottom of things. And in Sagittarius it has a little more of a feeling of believing what we believe. So, it still has that intensity of an aspect to Pluto, and that’s not unlike Mercury, now going back into Scorpio. It’ll give us a little more time, a couple more weeks to be in this focused scorpionic mode.
Mercury opposes Uranus (Nov. 19, 2025, 3:45 am PST)
And on Wednesday, November 19th at 3:45 AM Pacific Time, Mercury in Scorpio opposes Uranus in Taurus at 29º31’ Scorpio and Taurus. Now again, this is a link in a chain. Mercury opposed Uranus back on October 29th when it was direct. Now retrograde, it’s making another opposition, and then it will turn direct, and on December 10th, we have the final opposition.
Now, what does it mean when Mercury comes into aspect with Uranus? Literally, it means we should change our minds. We should try to look at things from another point of view instead of digging in our heels when others suggest a different way of thinking or of looking at things. And if we can alter even very small Mercury habits, it can be a way to encourage us just in the idea of change. You might drive to work using a different route. You might read a book that wouldn’t normally feel like your kind of thing or talk to a stranger in line at the grocery store.
Mercury trine Neptune (Nov. 19, 2025, 4:21 am PST)
A little less than one hour later. Mercury trines Neptune at 4:21 AM Pacific Time, also at 29º29’ Scorpio and Pisces. This is another link in the chain and the dates are very similar. Mercury, when it was direct on October 29th, made this trine to Neptune. Now it’s retrograde and making this trine. Then once it goes direct, it will also trine Neptune on December 11th.
So, coming shortly after the opposition to Uranus, I think I would ask you to consider that the changes that you are trying to make in your thinking, when you were on the opposition to Uranus, might also open up your intuition. That is Neptune’s bailiwick.
I think Mercury in aspect with Neptune, and especially in this easy, flowing trine aspect, puts me in the mind of sitting on the sofa in the front room, gazing out the window at nothing. You know how sometimes you will be staring into the distance at nothing in particular, and all of the sudden you come back into consciousness and you’re thinking, wow, where was I?
That is a wonderful exercise sometimes for the brain. And especially with Mercury retrograde, it is a great time for letting our minds just relax and take a little mini vacation.
Scorpio New Moon (Nov. 19, 2025, 10:47 pm PST)
And now it’s time for the Moon report. And we begin as always, with the week’s major lunation. This week, that is the Scorpio New Moon on Wednesday, November 19th at 10:47 PM Pacific Time at 28º 11’ Scorpio.
This New Moon, along with Mercury, is in a grand trine aspect with Jupiter and Saturn. That means they are trine Jupiter, they’re trine Saturn, and Jupiter and Saturn are trine each other. The New Moon is also opposed Uranus. You put all these together and it’s a configuration called a kite. I like the kite because it keeps the planets in a grand trine aspect from sinking into inertia and complacency, which can often happen with that much trine energy.
When you have something like this opposition to Uranus sitting in the middle of this grand trine, it introduces some much needed tension and that motivates us, and in turn, makes us really use all of the good benefits of the trine aspects and put them to really good use as we are making our intentions at this New Moon.
We need to keep in mind this powerful call to change that we talked about a little bit earlier with the Sun in Scorpio opposed Uranus. If we’re willing to change, so much becomes possible as we see in those aspects to Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus. The world opens up and becomes larger. We tap into our innate authority. And our Scorpionic power is unleashed.
Scorpio is a fixed sign along with Taurus, Leo, and Aquarius, and these are signs that do not like to change. In Scorpio’s case, I think of its fixed nature as being a reflection of the loyalty that it has to its values, and change can look like something that is betraying those values. That doesn’t need to be the case. Think of this as an opportunity to let loose of negative qualities like holding a grudge, for instance, that can keep us stuck in bad patterns. This is a New Moon for changing that thinking and beginning to let go so we can change direction.
Lunar Phase Family Cycle
This is the New Moon in a lunar phase family cycle that will unfold over the next three years around the same issues and ideas related to this New Moon in the lunar phase family cycle, there is a major loo nation near this New Moon degree every nine months.
So, on the First Quarter Moon on August 19th, 2026, it is at 27º07’ Scorpio, and it marks a moment in this lunar phase cycle to initiate action. Consciously or sometimes unconsciously. Things need to happen in order to really get this New Moon lunar cycle moving. Nine months after that, on May 20th, 2027, there is a Full Moon at 29º13’ Scorpio. That is an opportunity to see clearly exactly what we have started at this New Moon. And then nine months later on February 17th, 2028, the Last Quarter Moon at 28º10’ Scorpio is another action moment in this cycle and gives us the opportunity to make a decided move in the direction of completing what we began at this New Moon cycle.
So, it’s a good idea to keep a little journal, I think, a little lunar journal and keep notes about what is happening in your life at this New Moon. Because somewhere in there is the seed of the story that’s going to be unfolding over the next three years.
Void-of-Course Moon periods
Let’s look at the Void-of-Course Moon periods for this week.
On Monday, November 17th, the Moon in Libra squares Jupiter in Cancer at 3:51 AM Pacific Time. It’s Void-of-Course, for nine hours and 53 minutes, then enters Scorpio at 1:44 PM. When the Moon squares a planet as it is going void-of-course, we know there is some kind of conflict, and the Moon in Libra tends to put its emphasis on others, on getting along and putting others first. When something is square Jupiter, we can be a little bit prone to overdoing things, and if you’ve gotten into the habit of being kind of a people pleaser, right now you might actually start feeling a little bit resentful or feeling taken advantage of. Jupiter is in Cancer, and you might have learned this habit of putting others first from your family at an early age. During this Void-of-Course period, keep what you give to others in some kind of balance with what you need for yourself.
On Thursday, November 20th, the Moon in Scorpio opposes Uranus at 1:24 AM Pacific Time. It’s void-of-course for one hour and two minutes and then enters Sagittarius at 2:26 AM. This transit is occurring very early in the morning, especially here on the west coast of the United States. And if you find yourself dealing with some insomnia around this time, it could be connected to financial concerns, because the Moon in Scorpio and Uranus in Taurus are both in financial signs.
Maybe you’ve been thinking about how much you’d like to have more financial independence, so before you even go to bed on this evening. Maybe grab a pen and paper and list the ways that could help you become more financially independent. Consider listening to a podcast about financial topics or reading articles about financial independence. Use this Void-of-Course, Moon period to get in the habit of reviewing your finances on a regular basis. Setting aside time to educate yourself on financial matters and get clarity on your financial goals.
And on Saturday, November 22nd, the Moon in Sagittarius squares Neptune in Pisces at 1:48 PM Pacific Time. It’s void-of-course for one hour and five minutes, and then enters Capricorn at 2:53 PM.
The Moon in Sagittarius can be a bit emotionally volatile, like it is in all of the fire signs. And when it comes into conflict with Neptune in Pisces, we might upset others with our loud emotions, especially people who are very sensitive. Use this brief Void-of-Course Moon period to stop, reflect on difficult emotions that come up in the moment instead of blowing up and letting them hurt others, or sabotage your day.
Mercury conjunct the Sun (Nov. 20, 2025, 1:23 am PST)
Mercury makes a conjunction with the Sun on Thursday, November 20th at 1:23 AM Pacific Time at 28º18’ Scorpio. And as we know, when Mercury makes this powerful exact conjunction with the Sun, it is in a condition called cazimi, which means “in the heart of the Sun”, and it’s an especially powerful moment for a planet. Wen Mercury is that close to the Sun, it seems to be conferring particular benefits to Mercury. It’s kind of like somebody who is hanging around with a celebrity and they sort of bask in the glow of that celebrity. They get a little more attention. Maybe they get favors, they get into the restaurant or concert or club along with a celebrity. It’s kind of that way when a planet is cazimi with the Sun. That is happening exactly from November 19th at 10:31 PM Pacific Time through November 20th at 4:15 AM. So that is the power period for Mercury, and that means it’s an especially good time for having conversations that you want to go well, for writing or communicating, maybe making a difficult phone call you’ve been needing to make. You’ll tend to think clearly and well. And you will get benefits and a good result from communicating.
Uranus sextile Neptune (Nov. 20, 2025, 6:33 am PST)
Uranus sextiles Neptune, on Thursday, November 20th at 6:33 AM Pacific Time at 29º29’ Taurus and Pisces. This is the second sextile between Uranus and Neptune in a series of them that are unfolding through 2027. The sextile is the first major aspect between Uranus and Neptune since they came together in a conjunction in Capricorn back in 1993.
The first of these sextiles was on August 28th of this year. There will be three more: one on July 15th, 2026, on January 15th, 2027, and on June 6th, 2027. When we have these big planets coming together in major aspects, we know that they’re going to take a little while to play out because of the retrograde periods and just the speed they go at, which is not terribly fast. It also means that the things represented by this aspect are really important because there are things that are going to unfold over time.
Back in August on Episode 305, when I spoke about this first aspect, the aspect was happening in the signs of Gemini and Aries. This time around, they are at the very end of Taurus and Pisces. There’s a little bit of a difference. I think the sextile aspect generally sparks imagination and makes breakthroughs possible, makes it easier to translate abstract or spiritual concepts into language, and basically opens up opportunities for revolutionary thinking. Now at Taurus and Pisces, I think it, it’s a little quieter than in Gemini and Aries, but I think what we are getting the opportunity to do at this sextile is to rethink or take a second look at some of the fast paces in technology, especially maybe in AI that have been taking place over the last year or so.
Everything has been going really, really fast. I think that this sextile is just maybe a moment to put the brakes on Uranus in Taurus and to contemplate not just what might happen on an intellectual level, but how it affects us on a feeling level, which is the Neptune in Pisces. And since Neptune has moved back into Pisces, I think I’ve really been feeling and seeing this kind of reaction to things. Of, what about the feeling side of things? It’ll be an interesting week. Let’s take a look on the 20th and see what is showing up in the news, in the conversations around us about advances in technology and communication and how we’re thinking about it, and more importantly, how we’re feeling about it.
Sun opposes Uranus (Nov. 21, 2025, 4:25 am PST)
On November 21st, the Sun is highlighted. It finally makes that exact opposition to Uranus that showed up in the New Moon chart. It also trines Neptune and enters Sagittarius for a month-long stay. This Sun opposes Uranus on Friday, November 21st at 4:25 AM Pacific Time, at 29º26’ Scorpio and Taurus, and then it will trine Neptune on that same day at 5:05 AM Pacific time.
This is a little bit like Mercury opposing Uranus and trine Neptune earlier in the week. But that was almost the advance press agent. When Mercury makes aspects to things, he kind of comes along and says, here is how we are going to describe what’s really going to happen when the Sun makes these same aspects later in the week.
So here we are. The Sun opposed Uranus is always an aspect that invites us to step out of our usual idea of who we are, and consider being something quite different than that.
The Sabian symbol for the Sun at this opposition is 30 Scorpio, The Halloween jester, and in a way it’s kind of the opposite of that, because the jester is wearing a costume and a mask and bringing some levity to whatever is going on. The Sun, instead, when it opposes Uranus is kind of stripping down from its costume, stripping down from its mask. And as it connects with Uranus, saying, Maybe I am not exactly what and who I have been thinking that I am. And maybe there is something underneath there that is quite different and I should be exploring it. It is an opportunity to take a little vacation from ourselves.
And as the Sun trines Neptune again, there is that element of imagination. So, as we are stepping out of our usual persona that we share with the world, this is maybe about imagining the new thing, the new self that we want to step into.
The Sun is also connected with our physical selves, and on this day, we might find that we are jittery, that our nerves are kind of jangling, and also that we might need a little extra rest or really nice snap in the afternoon.
So take care of yourself physically on this date, because know when you’re starting to. Readjust the self you identify with. That also makes the physical self a little bit open to some changes as well.
Sun enters Sagittarius (Nov. 21, 2025, 5:35 am PST)
And just a half hour later on November 21st at 5:35 AM Pacific Time, the Sun enters Sagittarius and it will be in this sign through December 21st.
It’s one of my favorite astrological seasons of the year. We celebrate Thanksgiving during Sagittarius this season, a time to gather with the people that we love in celebration of all the things that we have, and I think the entire Sun in Sagittarius season Invites us to go on this kind of journey a journey of being glad for what we have instead of being so worried about losing what we have.
The Sun is in Sagittarius through December 21st. That is of course, the winter solstice. And between now and then is the season of the winter journeyer, the winter traveler. Many of us do travel at this time of year, going to see family for the holidays, but Sagittarius is a sign of adventuring and it wants to get out of our everyday routines and do something a little bit different.
Mercury trine Saturn (Nov. 22, 2025, 10:45 am)
Mercury trine Jupiter (Nov. 22, 2025, 3:37 pm)
Now, Mercury is very busy as we’re finishing up the week as well, with two trine aspects. On Saturday, November 22nd, one is a trine to Saturn at 10:45 AM and one is to Jupiter at 3:37 PM. These are both in the signs of Scorpio and Cancer.
These are also links in a chain that connect with October 24th and 25th, when Mercury Direct previously made these same trines to Jupiter and to Saturn. And they will make their last connection with each other when Mercury is direct again on December 6th and 7th. So, think back to October 24th, October 25th, look to see what was on your calendar at that time, what you might’ve been up to, and especially regarding socializing with other people, which can be a Mercury activity. Also what we were thinking of, what we were working on and conversations that we have had that maybe we need to back up and take another look at.
If we had a dispute or a disagreement with somebody in late October, we have an opportunity now to try to make things right. Mercury in Scorpio can be a little bit sharp. It wouldn’t have been unusual for us to say some things we didn’t necessarily think through all that well. But Mercury connecting with Jupiter is an opportunity to think big thoughts. And as it trines Saturn, we have the ability to figure out how we are going to make those big thoughts, those big dreams, into a reality.
Sun sextile Pluto (Nov. 23, 2025, 11:19 am PST)
And on Sunday, November 23rd at 11:19 AM Pacific Time, the Sun sextiles Pluto at 1º45’ Sagittarius and Aquarius. The Sun is on the Sabian symbol 2 Aquarius, The ocean covered with white caps, and Pluto was on 2 Aquarius, An unexpected thunderstorm. We have had this combination of symbols a couple of times in recent weeks, and the message that they give is about things that are roiling under the surface that are starting to disturb the surface a little bit, and also a thunderstorm, something that comes out of nowhere and makes us perhaps change our direction.
And the Sun in Sagittarius sextile Pluto in Aquarius is a beautiful combination for exploration. These are both very independent signs. Very freedom loving signs that like to go out and have an adventure.
So around November 23rd, the weekend before Thanksgiving holiday here in the United States, you might be traveling literally at that time to get to visit your family or friends. But even if you’re not literally traveling, this can be a Sunday when it’s nice to just get out and have a little adventure. Because doing that will make us more confident and make us feel as though we are in control of our individual destiny.
No Listener Question this week
Well, I’m sorry. Once again, we have such a busy week that there is simply no time for a listener question. I had one I was very excited to share with you, but it’s going to have to wait for next week when the skies are not quite so frenetic. In the meantime, if you have a question you would like me to answer on an upcoming episode, please leave a voicemail of one minute or less at speakpipe.com/bigskyastrologypodcast. I would love it if you did that. We haven’t had a voicemail question in a while. Or if you are a shy person, of course, send me your question in an email to April (at) bigskyastrology (dot)com.
Donor Thanks
Well, that is everything I have on my very full show sheet, so I’m going to wrap this one up. Thanks for listening to the Big Sky Astrology Podcast. And if you like what you’re hearing, please subscribe or follow the show in your app of choice. It is the number one way to help other people find the show.
Leave a rating or review, and I hope you’ll 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.
Thank you so much to everyone who has continued to show support for the podcast, especially during my September Podathon. On each episode, I’m thanking some of my financial donors by name. This week, let’s give a Big Sky Astrology Podcast shout-out to first time donor, Kristin Dvorak, and a monthly donor since our very first Podathon, Natori Moore!
Natori and Kristin, 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 my bonus video episodes for donors only, 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 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!
