TRANSCRIPT Ep. 341 | Uranus Enters Gemini: Open Your Mind!

Transcript – Ep 341 | Uranus Enters Gemini: Open Your Mind! (04.20.26)

Hello Invisible Friend, April here, and the date today is April 20th, 2026. Welcome to Episode 341 of the Big Sky Astrology Podcast.

This week, Venus makes a conjunction with Uranus just before they both enter the sign of Gemini. Uranus gets there on April 25th and stays in that sign until 2033. The Sun makes one of two annual transformative squares to Pluto. Mercury’s conjunctions to Mars and Saturn brings understanding about their conjunction last week. Mercury aspects Jupiter. And Venus makes a sextile to Neptune that has romantic promise, as long as we keep the rose-colored glasses off. And this is another super busy week, so there will be no listener question again, but that segment will return next week for sure.

Mercury conjunct Saturn (April 20, 2026, 4:22 am PDT)

On Monday, April 20th at 4:22am Pacific Time, Mercury makes a conjunction with Saturn at 7º55’ Aries, followed at 2:45pm by a conjunction to Mars at 8º36’ Aries. This is Mercury acting as a messenger, carrying something forward.

Mars made its conjunction with Saturn last week, where it set into motion events, defined limits, or forcing a moment of discipline, frustration, and resolve. And now Mercury comes along and conveys the message. Whatever was initiated or crystallized last week, now needs to be named, explained, or acted upon consciously.

This is all happening in Aries, the sign of initiative and impulsiveness. So, there’s a pretty strong feeling of, I have to say this, or I have to do something about this now. Nothing in Aries, least of all Mars, is going to sit around waiting for perfect timing. It speaks first and figures out the consequences later. Although Saturn’s presence here suggests that consequences are very much a part of the story.

The Sabian symbol for Mercury’s conjunction with Saturn is 8 Aries, A large hat with streamers flying facing east. This is a wonderful image. The hat kind of talks about authority or identity or a role that we’re stepping into. Something visible, something that marks us. The streamers flying talk about movement, momentum, maybe even a little bit of drama. And facing east, the sunrise point in the chart tells us that this is about new beginnings.

This symbol suggests taking on responsibility in public. It’s not just thinking serious thoughts. It is wearing them, announcing them, allowing them to be seen. With Mercury and Saturn together, this could be a moment of thinking in a really sober way, using careful speech, or making a decision that carries important weight. Words that are spoken now may not be flashy, but they are meant to last.

Mercury conjunct Mars (April 20, 2026, 4:22 am PDT)

Later in the day, Mercury moves on to Mars (2:45 pm PDT at 8°36 Aries) and the tone shifts. The Sabian symbol for this conjunction is 9 Aries, A crystal gazer.

Now we’re no longer just saying, “This is where I’m at, and this is what’s happening.” Instead, we’re trying to see ahead. The crystal gazer peers into the future and looks for patterns and meanings that aren’t immediately visible.

When Mercury and Mars come together, there’s a sense of urgency. Our thoughts move really quickly. Conversations can get heated. And we’ll often want to act on any ideas immediately. But the image of the crystal gazer says that this isn’t impulsive action just for its own sake. It’s action that is informed by our instincts and our foresight, trusting what we sense is coming, even if we don’t have all the evidence yet.

So, if we take these two conjunctions together, they’re describing a process. First, own the responsibility, name the truth, accept the role that you are being asked to play. And then look ahead and act. Use that clarity to make a decisive move that’s guided not just by logic, but also by intuition. It’s a powerful day for conversations, even or especially the difficult ones, strategic decisions and committing to a path that might require courage and stamina. Mercury with Saturn says, “Choose your words carefully.” And Mercury with Mars says, “But don’t be afraid to use them.”

Venus conjunct Uranus (April 23, 2026, 6:58 pm PDT)

On Thursday, April 23rd at 6:58 pm Pacific Time, Venus wraps up her journey in Taurus with a conjunction to Uranus at the very end of the sign. Now, Venus in Taurus and Uranus are not natural allies. Uranus thrives on disruption and surprise, but Taurus prefers stability and doesn’t really love change. So, this conjunction can feel jarring. And this comes especially in Venus matters of love, money and pleasure.

But there is a useful side to this planetary pairing. Venus is very comfortable in Taurus. It’s a sign that she rules. And sometimes when we get too comfortable, we can get a little bit complacent. Uranus will provide the jolt that can get us unstuck and shake loose what has grown maybe a little too rigid and nudging us towards something new.

Venus enters Gemini (April 23, 2026, 9:03 pm PDT)

Just a little over two hours later, at 9:03 pm Pacific Time, Venus enters Gemini. This is a lighter and more conversational sign for Venus, and connection will often come through words and ideas and shared interests.

Venus enters Gemini just a couple of days before Uranus follows her into that sign, and it’s helpful to think of Venus as the gracious hostess setting the tone. She makes the sign of Gemini feel charming and inviting and smooths the way before Uranus arrives with much more fanfare. And Venus in Gemini won’t mind that excitement. In fact, she’ll probably enjoy it. Venus will be in Gemini until May 18th.

Leo First Quarter Moon (April 23, 2026, 7:32 pm PDT)

And now it’s time for the Moon Report. And as always, we begin with the week’s major lunation. This week, that’s the Leo First Quarter Moon on Thursday, April 23rd at 7:32 pm Pacific Time, at 3º56’ Leo and Taurus.

The First Quarter Moon is the phase of action. And specifically, it’s action related to whatever we set in motion at the Aries New Moon back on April 17th. This is not action that’s based on having all the information. It’s more instinctive, sometimes urgent, and driven by the tension of that square between the Sun and Moon. In this case, the Moon in Leo is square the Sun in Taurus. And both Leo and Taurus are fixed signs, which means they’re determined. They are persistent. And once they’ve committed to a direction, they are not going to get swayed from it very easily.

The friction between them comes from their very different styles. Taurus likes steadiness, simplicity, tangible results. And Leo thrives on expression and confidence, a certain dramatic flair. Taurus can get impatient with Leo’s big energy. And Leo can feel a little bit stifled by Taurus’s caution.

Still, this First Quarter Moon belongs to the Aries New Moon cycle. And that gives Leo a little bit of an edge here. This is a moment when confidence matters. It’s about being willing to stand up and take a risk and sell your story, even if you don’t know yet exactly how it will all turn out.

This First Quarter Moon is made a little more complex by Pluto at 5 degrees Aquarius, because that is square the Taurus Sun and it’s opposed the Moon in Leo. And that adds an element of considerable pressure. If we make an effort to move forward, we’re likely to meet some strong resistance, either from other people, from systems, or from circumstances that feel beyond our control. Power dynamics are part of the picture with Pluto and it may become clear where you need to adjust your approach or dig in your heels.

The Moon’s Sabian symbol is 4 Leo, A man formally dressed and a deer with its horns folded. This is not a man who’s free to be his natural, comfortable self. He is all dressed up. And the deer’s horns could be folded because of an injury, but more often this happens during the natural shedding process. So, there’s an image here of temporarily laying down our strength, not in defeat, but as a preparation for renewal.

Meanwhile, the Sun’s on 4 Taurus, The rainbow’s pot of gold. And this symbol promises Taurus-style rewards – security, value, and prosperity waiting at the end of a challenging stretch. Together, these symbols say that even if our confidence feels momentarily restrained and our attempts at progress meet resistance, something worthwhile is beginning to take shape.

Lunar Phase Family Cycle

This is the First Quarter Moon in a lunar phase family cycle that began with the New Moon on July 24th, 2025, at 2º08’ Leo. And this cycle is in the process of unfolding over a three- year period. Whatever creative projects, romances, or other Leo ambitions that you envisioned at the time of that New Moon are now ready to be acted upon.

You don’t have to know exactly what those intentions will ultimately look like. It’s just important to get them moving. Nine months from now, there’s a Full Moon on January 22nd, 2027 at 2 degrees 14 minutes Leo. And that’s where you really begin to see the fruits of your labors, the fruits of whatever seed you planted at this New Moon. And they probably have something to do about expressing yourself fully in the world, possibly through some creative projects or efforts.

Nine months after that, there’s a Last Quarter Moon on October 22nd, 2027 at 29 degrees 5 minutes Cancer. So, of course, it is not in Leo, but it is definitely close enough to be part of this family cycle. The Last Quarter is when we take a final action to complete or to get perspective on this lunar phase cycle. It’s a little bit quieter than the other lunations in Leo, but it is at 29 degrees, the anaretic degree of Cancer, which gives it more urgency and a strong desire to bring things to completion.

Void-of-Course Moon periods

Let’s look at the Void-of-Course Moon periods for this week. And there are only a couple. On Thursday, April 23rd, the Moon in Cancer sextiles Uranus in Taurus at 12:28 p.m. Pacific Time. It’s Void-of-Course for only 13 minutes, the blink of an eye, and then enters Leo at 12:41 p.m.

When the Moon begins its Void-of-Course period on a sextile to another planet, there’s an opportunity or an invitation that’s possible. The Moon is strong in Cancer, and when it’s in the sign, we tend to love being at home or around familiar people and situations. But for a brief moment this afternoon, someone new or a new situation arrives to tempt you out of your comfort zone.

If someone new should ask you to lunch or somebody invites you to a different restaurant for lunch than you usually go to, accept it and embrace it. Void-of-Course Moon periods are often a great time to change our habits. So go ahead and try something new. You might find it really energizing.

And on Friday, April 24th, the Moon in Leo trines Mercury in Aries at 3:21 p.m. Pacific Time. It’s Void-of-Course for one full day, two hours and 43 minutes before it enters Virgo on April 25th at 6:04 p.m. The Moon going Void-of-Course on a trine aspect to another planet offers a reward or a gift. And the Moon in warm-hearted, creative Leo in an aspect to Mercury in Aries is a tremendous combination for fun conversation or creative collaboration. This is a good, long Void-of-Course Moon period, one full day plus a few hours, so it extends into the weekend. Give yourself the gift of an afternoon at the ballpark, an evening concert, or just a fun dinner with friends and make a new habit of enjoying something like this on a regular basis.

Sun square Pluto (April 25, 2026, 9:33 am PDT)

The Sun squares Pluto on Saturday, April 25th at 933 a.m. Pacific Time at 5º28’ Taurus and Aquarius. This is one of the heavyweight aspects of the week, and it’s the kind of aspect that does not ask us politely. It tells us what it wants us to do.

Back on March 25th, the Sun in Aries was sextile Pluto in Aquarius, and that offered an opportunity to step into power in a new way. That was the invitation, but the square is the follow-up, and it’s a lot less gentle. With the Sun in Taurus square Pluto, we’re pushed into the deep end, and we may have to confront power directly. That might mean having conflicts with powerful people, with systems that are really entrenched, or circumstances that feel much larger than we are.

The Sun represents our sense of self, who we believe we are, and how we can express our vitality. Pluto tests that identity, and when they clash, we’re forced to ask, how much am I willing to stand for who I am, and at what cost? This can often feel like a struggle for control, but really, it’s about integrity. Something about our identity, our priorities, our attachments, all come under pressure.

In Taurus, the temptation is to dig in and refuse to budge, but Pluto does not respond well to stubbornness for its own sake.

This aspect can strip away qualities or attachments that used to feel essential, but are really no longer serving us. What remains is stronger and more authentic. If you’re willing to release the need to dominate, or the fear of being dominated, this is a square that ultimately can leave you standing more firmly in your power, and on ground that you have consciously built.

Uranus enters Gemini (April 25, 2026, 5:51 pm PDT)

Uranus enters the sign of Gemini on Saturday, April 25th at 5:51 p.m. Pacific time. Now, Uranus was briefly in Gemini beginning last year on July 7th, and then it went retrograde, it went back into Taurus on November 7th, and now it’s in Gemini to stay, at least until it enters Cancer on May 22nd, 2033.

Uranus is the planet of disruption. It has an 84-year cycle to go all the way around the Sun, and it spends roughly seven years in each sign. Since 2018, when it went into Taurus, the tension between the stability represented by Taurus and upheaval symbolized by Uranus has driven innovation, but that has brought some discomfort and uncertainty with it.

Now, previous times that Uranus was in Gemini have brought revolutionary advances in technology and transportation. Its last time in this sign in the 1940s, we saw the development of radar, the first commercial jet airliner flight, creation of the international airmail system, the first commercial television broadcast, and the development of the U.S. interstate highway system in the post-war United States.

The advent of suburbs created more of an automobile culture, a big difference from the urban communities, because they were based on individual automobile travel rather than trams or trains or buses. This transit of Uranus should bring major changes as well in our neighborhoods, our local communities, both ruled by Gemini, including changes in primary education, transportation, and more changes in communication infrastructure. With Uranus in Gemini, we’ll likely see disruptions in communication and media networks against schooling, transportation, and supply chains.

The chart that’s often used as the founding chart for the United States is called the Sibley chart. It’s calculated for July 4th, 1776 at 5:10 p.m. local time in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and that chart had Uranus at early degrees of Gemini and Mars in Gemini in the seventh house, a house of relationship including conflict. The period when Uranus was in Gemini between 1774 and 1782 included the Revolutionary War, and subsequent transits every 84 years of Uranus in Gemini have also overlapped with the United States’ involvement in major wars, the American Civil War during the 1858 through 1866 transit, and the U.S. involvement in World War II when Uranus was in Gemini between 1941 and 1948. And of course, right now, this is reflected in the war with Iran.

The repeated cycle of war that we’ve seen with Uranus in Gemini is specific to the U.S. chart. Its house placement and aspects to planets in your birth chart indicate where disruption is possible for you personally, but also that lovely Uranian quality of inspiration and innovation. And that’s especially true if we’re willing to open our minds to new ideas and new ways of doing things. Uranus will be in Gemini until May 22nd, 2033. I know it sounds like a really long time, but it’ll be here before we know it!

Venus sextile Neptune (April 26, 2026, 10:43 am PDT)

On Sunday, April 26th at 10:43 a.m. Pacific time, Venus sextiles Neptune at 3º07’ Gemini and Aries. This is one of the more romantic combinations in astrology, and it’s an aspect that can open up our hearts to unconditional love. The Sabian symbols for this combination reflect that theme really well. Neptune is on 4 Aries, Two lovers strolling through a secluded walk. It’s an image of intimacy and privacy. Venus is on 4 Gemini, Holly and mistletoe. And that brings to mind the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe at Christmas while lovely carols are playing in the background.

So together, these symbols paint a picture of enchantment. When Venus and Neptune come together, it’s easy to idealize people and relationships. This is a beautiful transit for art and music and acts of kindness that come from the heart. But there’s a risk of seeing what we want to see rather than what’s actually there. We can meet someone and just fall head over heels. But then when the spell wears off, we might see that we were completely wrong about them.

The sextile is a cooperative aspect, and usually this makes things flow easily. That can show up as a real harmony between people. But it can also describe those situations when things are a little too smooth. Sometimes it’s the friendly vibe that lets someone who isn’t trustworthy get a bit closer than they should. The best way to use this aspect is consciously. Lean into it by spending time with people you love and trust. Create beauty, share music and stories in quiet times, but keep one foot on solid ground.

Mercury square Jupiter (April 26, 2026, 11:33 am PDT)

And finally, on Sunday, April 26th at 11:33 a.m Pacific time, Mercury squares Jupiter at 18º20’ Aries and Cancer.

This follows a pair of trines between Mercury and Jupiter back in March, which made it easier to feel optimistic and inspired and confident in our ideas. Maybe even a little too confident. The challenge with Mercury-Jupiter trines is that they can encourage selective hearing where we only hear what we want to hear and we believe what we want to believe and just gloss over inconvenient details. But the square doesn’t let us float along so easily. It introduces friction and that friction can bring clarity.

The Sabian symbols illustrate this tension really well. Mercury is on 19 Aries, The magic carpet that symbolizes the urge to lift off, to transcend limitations and to imagine ourselves flying towards something bigger and more exciting. Jupiter meanwhile is on 19 Cancer, A priest performing a marriage ceremony and that speaks to vows, responsibility and the seriousness of long-term commitment.

The question of this square is simple. Are we ready to commit to whatever we’re talking about? It’s one thing to get swept up by a thrilling idea, but it’s another to make a promise that you have to see through.

No Listener Question this week

As I said at the opening, it’s another very full, busy week in the sky. So unfortunately, we won’t have time for a listener question this episode, but things let up a bit in the sky next week. So we’ll have a question then. In the meantime, keep sending your questions. You can leave a voicemail of one minute or less at speakpipe.com / bigskyastrologypodcast or just send it via email to april (at) bigskyastrology (dot)com and be sure to put “Podcast Question” in the subject line.

Donor Thanks

Well, that is everything on my show sheet, so I’m going to wrap this one up. Thank you for listening to the Big Sky Astrology Podcast.

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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!