This week brings an action-packed sky: a Sun-Uranus trine sparks clarity, Mercury enters Scorpio and squares both Mars and Pluto, Venus stations retrograde for deep relationship and financial repair work, and a Mars-Pluto opposition ignites power struggles between the individual and the collective. A Cancer Last Quarter Moon pushes toward July 2024's New Moon intentions, while a Sun-Saturn opposition demands decisiveness to close out the week. Plus: Pointiness, breaking a bone, and which indulgences to choose? Read a full transcript of this episode. Have a question you’d like answered on the show? Email April or leave it here! Subscribe to April’s mailing list and get a free lunar workbook at each New Moon! Love the show? Make a donation! Timestamps: [1:42] Sun trines Uranus (Mon. Sept. 28, 9:22 am PDT, 5°33' Libra-Gemini). This trine opens a window for Libra to be its authentic self without constantly checking what others are doing. Uranus in Gemini offers a clarifying idea that cuts through Libra's people-pleasing tendencies. [3:32] Mercury enters Scorpio (Wed. Sept. 30, 4:44 am PDT). The planet of communication steps into a tense T-square with Mars in Leo and Pluto in Aquarius. This is a ruthless, penetrating Mercury with no patience for small talk or diplomacy. [4:11] Mercury squares Mars (Fri. Oct. 2, 2:14 am PDT). An aspect that speaks its mind and doesn't suffer fools gladly. April explores the Sabian symbols for both planets, including "a woman having her hair bobbed" at Mars's degree — a radical act of independence that echoes Amelia Earhart, who was born with the Sun at this degree. [6:41] Mercury squares Pluto (Fri. Oct. 2, 1:43 pm PDT). Pluto ups the ante beyond impulsive anger into particularly ugly territory: jealousy, contempt, trolls, and cold collective judgment. On the upside, this aspect sharpens Mercury's ability to see beneath the surface and discover what we've believed about ourselves that is flat-out wrong. [7:52] Mars trines Neptune (Fri. Oct. 2, 3:18 pm PDT, 2°48' Leo-Aries). After the Mercury squares and before the Pluto opposition, this trine offers a softening moment. Neptune says "I care" and Mars says "I'm going to do something about it" — a helpful day for volunteering, donating, or resetting Mars's strident Leo energy. [9:07] Venus stations retrograde in Scorpio (Sat. Oct. 3, 12:16 am PDT, 8°29' Scorpio, "dental work"). Venus urges deep repair in relationships, money, and self-worth — even if it hurts. April walks through the full retrograde timeline (back into Libra Oct. 25, stationing direct Nov. 13 at 22°51' Libra, reentering Scorpio Dec. 4) and suggests looking back to October–November 2018 for echoes of this cycle. [12:55] Mars opposes Pluto (Sat. Oct. 3, 3:39 am PDT, 3°06' Leo-Aquarius). The week's pointiest aspect: the irresistible force meets the immovable object. April traces the Mars-Pluto story from their January 27 conjunction, through the May 25 square, to this opposition — and asks what proud Mars in Leo is trying to accomplish that Pluto in Aquarius doesn't appreciate. Expect power struggles for a few days either side. [16:07] Moon Report: Cancer Last Quarter Moon (Sat. Oct. 3, 6:25 am PDT, 10°21' Libra-Cancer). This Last Quarter carries the Mars-Pluto opposition, making it a powerful but not gentle push toward Virgo New Moon plans from September 10. April unpacks the Sabian symbols ("a clown making grimaces" vs. "a professor peering over his glasses") and traces the full lunar phase family cycle back to the July 5, 2024 Cancer New Moon; First Quarter (first action point) Apr. 4, 2025; Full Moon (awareness point) Jan. 3, 2026. [21:50] Void-of-Course Moon periods. Four VOC periods this week: Mon. Sept. 28, 2:50 am PDT (Aries Moon opposing Mercury — indecision vs. impulsiveness); Tue. Sept. 29, 4:36 pm PDT (Taurus Moon squaring Jupiter — overindulgence warnings); Thu. Oct. 1, 7:42 pm PDT (Gemini Moon sextile Jupiter — social fun and happy hours); Sat. Oct. 3, 8:08 am PDT (Cancer Moon squaring Saturn — feelings, boundaries, and emotional security). [26:56] Sun opposes Saturn (Sun. Oct. 4, 5:29 am PDT, 11°18' Libra-Aries). The Sun's yearly opposition to Saturn demands decisive action from a sign that prefers to deliberate. April explains how Saturn in Aries can serve as a necessary shove for Libra's chronic indecisiveness. [28:51] Got a question? Leave a message of one minute or less at speakpipe.com/ bigskyastrologypodcast or email april (at) bigskyastrology (dot) com; put “Podcast Question” in the subject line. Free ways to support the podcast: subscribe, like, review and share with a friend! [29:32] A tribute to this week’s donors! If you would like to support the show and receive access to April’s special donors-only videos, go to BigSkyAstropod.com and contribute $10 or more. You can make a one-time donation in any amount or become an ongoing monthly contributor.
