TRANSCRIPT Ep. 192 (8.21.23)
Solar Enters Virgo: A Useful Good friend!

Pay attention and browse full present notes right here

Hey, invisible pal, April right here, and the date at present is August twenty first, 2023. Welcome to Episode 192 of the Large Sky Astrology Podcast.

Earlier than we get began, I’d prefer to remind you that the fourth annual Podathon begins on September 4th. I’ve per week of particular episodes coming your method, and I might love to listen to a few of your lovely voices on the present, too. So I invite everybody listening to please depart a voicemail telling me the way you discovered the present, how lengthy you’ve been listening, something you’d prefer to share about your relationship with the Large Sky Astrology Podcast. Simply depart a message of 1 minute or much less at speakpipe.com/bigskyastrologypodcast. I actually stay up for listening to from you!

This week it’s a really busy sky, as Venus features Jupiter; Mars opposes Neptune and enters Libra; the Solar enters Virgo and opposes Saturn; Mercury enters its newest retrograde interval; and, an adventurous Sagittarius First Quarter Moon. And I reply a listener query about Saturn transits!

Venus sq. Jupiter (Aug. 22, 2023, 5:16 am PDT)

On August twenty second at 5:16 AM Pacific Time at 15º18′ Leo and Taurus, Venus squares Jupiter. That is the second of three squares between these two. The primary was on June eleventh, and the final can be on September sixteenth. There’s a tendency to assume, effectively, Venus and Jupiter are the 2 luckiest, most lucky planets, so any type of side from them ought to be nothing however clear crusing. I do like Venus and Jupiter collectively, even when the side is a sq., as a result of when the side is a sq., they’re type of egging one another on, and in some methods that may intensify the higher qualities of every planet. However in fact, generally it will probably intensify their much less fascinating qualities. However let’s check out this Venus sq. to Jupiter from say, a viewpoint of cash, which is related to Venus and is related to Jupiter whereas it’s in Taurus.

And one of many questions that’s good to ask ourselves at a time like that is how a lot cash brings extra happiness? And are the hours that we’re exchanging for cash price it? As a result of time is a finite useful resource, we solely have a lot time on the planet and we wish to ensure that we’re making each minute rely.

So on this case, we’re time and cash as equal sources. Is the time that you’re spending doing all of your job or spending time with your loved ones, spending time with sure buddies, is it paying off in the best way that you’d hope it will with regards to a job? It may be, are they paying you adequate or are you getting sufficient satisfaction from the job? As a result of that’s actually essential. In case you’re spending eight hours, 5 days per week at a job, that’s quite a lot of time to throw away on one thing that you just’re not having fun with in any respect. So whether or not the enjoyment comes by means of relationships with different folks or by means of the cash that you just’re making and the satisfaction of with the ability to help your self, possibly a household, these are all methods to take a look at the way you’re being compensated.

Mars opposed Neptune (Aug. 22, 2023, 1:34 pm PDT)

Afterward August 22 at 1:34 PM Pacific Time, Mars in Virgo opposes Neptune at 26º59’. Mars’ Sabian image right here is 27 Virgo, Grand dames at tea, and the Sabian image for Neptune is 27 Pisces, A Harvest Moon. And I might invite you to simply step into these symbols for a minute and really feel how totally different they’re. The grand dames at tea – we think about ladies who’re very correct, who’re a part of a societal context that’s about observing the foundations. And that is in distinction to Neptune on the Harvest Moon diploma. And take into consideration the large, brilliant, full harvest Moon, and the magic that we affiliate with that.

When we have now two planets in opposition, there’s a pressure of opposites. Mars in Virgo needs to do issues rigorously and by the e-book. And Neptune in Pisces is about that magical dance and interplay that we have now with the world. Someplace between the 2 approaches is the extra fascinating one, as a result of Mars and Virgo is nice for serving to us get issues taken care of. However Neptune in Pisces reminds us that caring for enterprise just isn’t every little thing, and that we have now to make room in our lives for magic and for the surprising, and to direct our Mars efforts in direction of one thing that we dream of, one thing that appears actually worthwhile and enchanting.

Solar enters Virgo (Aug. 23, 2023, 2:01 am PDT)

On August twenty third at 2:01 AM Pacific Time, the Solar enters Virgo. It’ll be on this signal by means of September 22. This can be a season of harvest, and particularly of evaluating the standard of the harvest, separating the wheat from the chaff, deciding what enhancements could possibly be made throughout the subsequent planting and cultivation seasons to enhance our harvest for the following season.

When the Solar enters an indication and enters the season of that signal, it tells us the qualities that can shine, that can make it doable to be observed. And within the case of Virgo, these are qualities of practicality and of usefulness. So this may be the pal who all the time is aware of how you can repair that bizarre drawback together with your printer or together with your wiFi. Somebody who’s all the time useful and type in that very sensible method.

The Solar can be a logo of satisfaction, of how we be ok with ourselves. And through Virgo season, we have to take satisfaction within the Virgo areas of our charts. For instance, Virgo was within the second home of your chart, you have to to really feel some satisfaction in your potential to help your self to make a residing. This might translate to assembling a type of proposal to take to your boss to say, Hey, it’s time I acquired a increase.

Mercury stations Retrograde (Aug. 23, 2023, 12:59 pm PDT)

Later that very same day, on August 23 at 12:59 PM Pacific Time, Mercury stations retrograde at 21º51’ Virgo. Mercury can be retrograde by means of September 15, so till September 3, each Mercury and Venus are retrograde. This can be a time to guage previous plans and methods, to investigate previous information, to take an in depth take a look at previous relationships. Having each of them retrograde on the identical time actually emphasizes the mandate of retrograde intervals, which is to retreat and to look inside for steerage. There’s quite a lot of falsehood on the market, I feel, and quite a lot of overreaction about Mercury’s retrograde intervals, and a temptation responsible each single factor that goes unsuitable on Mercury being retrograde. I feel that is actually a misunderstanding of the cycle. Mercury is the planet that’s retrograde essentially the most usually. Not essentially the most period of time essentially, as a result of the outer planets Uranus by means of Pluto are additionally retrograde for lots of the yr. However Mercury’s the one that’s going out and in of its retrograde state quite a few instances throughout the yr.

So Mercury’s retrograde instances say, Hey, there’s a time for pushing forward and initiating new communication, new connections, new methods. And this isn’t one in all them! And significantly with Mercury in Virgo, it’s in regards to the sensible aspect of Mercury. Mercury has two faces. It guidelines Gemini, which is devoted to communications and to sharing data from one particular person to the following.

Mercury in Virgo additionally has a few of these qualities, however can be centered round determining what to do with the issues that Mercury likes to gather. So this is a superb time to wash issues out, to undergo your dresser drawers and reorganize them to get the entire outdated stuff out of the closet that you just’re not utilizing or to prepare to vary your seasonal wardrobe.

Once we discuss at Mercury Retrogrades about backing up your laptop or saving your pictures, all of that, I feel that that is a vital piece of recommendation throughout this retrograde. However when you are doing it, take that point to look at what has crammed up the entire methods in your life. Are you able to do away with some of these items in your laptop or again it as much as one other type of exterior drive or one thing like that with all of the pictures in your telephone when you’re sitting within the night watching tv or one thing like that.

Be shopping by means of the pictures in your telephone and eliminating those that. Are both duplicates or they’re not one of the best shot, otherwise you took an image of the purchasing checklist earlier than you went to the shop, one thing like that.

Sagittarius First Quarter Moon (Aug. 24, 2023, 2:57 am PDT)

And now for the Moon report for this week, and we start with the Sagittarius First Quarter Moon on August 24 at 2:57 AM Pacific Time. It’s at 1º Sagittarius and the Solar is at 1º Virgo. This can be a dynamic First Quarter Moon; the Solar in Virgo is opposed Saturn in Pisces, and they’re each squared by the Moon in Sagittarius.

The First Quarter is all the time a dynamic section as a result of the Solar and Moon are in that tense sq. side. It’s the time within the Moon cycle once we are compelled to maneuver ahead, and it’s a leap of religion. The First Quarter is that section when these issues we first conceived on the New Moon have been gestating going spherical and spherical in our minds, and till lastly now we’re able to wish to act on them and we have now to maneuver ahead with a type of a leap of religion, as a result of it’s nonetheless a brand new mission or endeavor.

The Sabian image for the Solar is 1 Virgo, A person’s head, and I feel it’s a extremely good descriptor of Virgo’s mind and the need to compose a cautious plan. However the Moon Sabian image is A grand military of the Republic campfire. It reveals these troopers across the campfire, and I think about them speaking about what’s going to occur within the subsequent day’s battle.

Each symbols are squared by Saturn at 5 Pisces, the image is A church bazaar, and that may be a societal setting as effectively, type of just like the campfire, but it surely’s a logo of the bigger group, not only a small military of it. Be mindful the bigger query of what it’s that you just’re planning for and appearing upon at this First Quarter Moon.

Lunar Part Household cycle

That is the primary quarter section in a lunar section household cycle that started on the New Moon on November twenty third, 2022 at 1º37’ Sagittarius. That was the New Moon whenever you conceived one thing of the character of Sagittarius, one thing you wished to study, or data that you just wish to share, possibly a visit you wished to take or a brand new diploma maybe that you just wish to pursue.

And now’s the time to behave upon that. You’ve had 9 months to let the thought germinate and actually get to the purpose the place now you may have just a little extra of a way of one thing you may do. For instance, in case you wished to pursue a complicated diploma, this may be the time whenever you enroll in courses or whenever you truly start courses – it’s that point of yr. Then on the Full Moon on Could 23, 2024, we’ll get a fuller image of what it was that we conceived final November, after which the Final Quarter on this cycle can be on February 20, 2025 and that’s once we resolve how you can fantastic tune and how you can deliver that mission to completion.

Void-of-Course Moon intervals

Let’s take a look at the Void-of-Course Moon intervals for this week on August 21, the Moon and Libra sextiles the Solar at 1:31 PM Pacific Time. It’s Void-of-Course for nearly three hours, after which enters Scorpio at 4:22 PM. The Moon in Libra speaks of desirous to get together with others, desirous to be sociable and placing different folks first to a point. However the sextile to the Solar, which on that day remains to be in Leo, reminds us that it’s great to get together with different folks and to collaborate, however don’t lose monitor of who you’re and what it’s that you just want.

On August twenty third, the Moon in Scorpio sextiles Pluto at 10:10 PM Pacific Time. It’s Void-of-Course for about an hour and a half, after which enters Sagittarius on August 24 at 1:07 AM. Generally pursuing a aim, which is indicated right here by Pluto, particularly a sophisticated aim – Pluto in Capricorn – requires that we set our feelings apart or that we management them. When the Moon is in Scorpio, our emotions are typically very intense, very sturdy. Our feelings are near the floor. However throughout this Void-of-Course Moon interval, take heed to holding on to your feelings. As a result of to the extent that you just’re ready to do this, you should have a a lot simpler time reaching your aim.

On August 26, the Moon in Sagittarius squares Mars very early within the morning Pacific time at 4:56 AM and it’s Void-of-Course for just a little over one hour earlier than it enters Capricorn at 6:05 AM. The Moon in Sagittarius describes the necessity for freedom and the concentrate on the large image. However Mars is in Virgo, so the Moon in Sagittarius impulses and wishes are a bit in battle with the necessity and need of Mars to do wonderful work. The Void-of-Course moons are all the time about altering a sample that we would have fallen into, and the Moon in Sagittarius sq. Mars in Virgo does say it’s great to maintain your eye on the large image. However in some unspecified time in the future, to ensure that the large image to grow to be actual, we have now to take care of the sensible particulars of creating it a actuality.

Mars trine Pluto (Aug. 24, 2023, 5:23 pm PDT)

On August 24 at 5:23 PM Pacific Time, Mars trines Pluto at 28º 22’ Virgo and Capricorn. Work and drive are represented by Mars. And once they come collectively in a constructive method with Pluto, there’s no stopping us. Pluto is a really highly effective drive and may take our particular person efforts and propel them in a a lot bigger course.

Use your power on at the present time, your Mars power, for the larger good. Your most cautious and exact efforts can help in a larger mission, and that’s what’s represented, I imagine, by this trine from Mars to Pluto.

Solar opposed Saturn (Aug. 27, 2023, 1:28 am PDT)

The Solar opposes Saturn on August 27 at 1:28 AM Pacific Time at 3º50’ Virgo and Pisces. The Sabian image for the Solar is A black youngster taking part in with white youngsters, and Saturn’s Sabian image is Heavy site visitors on a slender isthmus. So these symbols to me paint an image of getting together with others, although we’re totally different from each other, so as to have the ability to share a good house like that slender isthmus with all of the site visitors.

When the Solar opposes Saturn, it may be a day once we really feel just a little blocked. I’m going to speak extra about that within the listener query for this week. And when Saturn blocks us, it’s to maintain us from making a mistake or transferring onto one thing earlier than we’re actually prepared for it.

You recognize, when the Solar squares Saturn, which it does a few instances a yr, it will probably actually spur us on. However when there’s the opposition to Saturn, it will probably really feel like a blockage that’s very exhausting to maneuver by means of. And once more, I simply wish to level out the useful interpretation of this side, which is Saturn is conserving us from doing an excessive amount of too quick or doing the unsuitable factor.

Mars enters Libra (Aug. 27, 2023, 6:20 am PDT)

And at last on August 27 at 6:20 AM Pacific Time, Mars enters Libra. It’s an attention-grabbing contradiction, the planet of battle and struggle within the very peaceful signal of Libra. When Mars is in Libra, we combat strategically, utilizing our minds, tempering our bodily impulses. Now this will also be a placement for Mars the place we’re ready to make use of the power of one other in opposition to them. There’s a martial artwork that does this – is it Jiu-jitsu? – the place you employ your opponent’s power to deflect them from harming you. The very best offense actually is usually a great protection, and we see that when Mars is in Libra. The opposite adage that I’ll affiliate with this placement is catching extra flies with honey than with vinegar.

Mars can be in Libra by means of October 13, and it is among the historically weaker placements for Mars. I don’t need you to take that personally. In case you take a look at your individual start chart and see that Mars is in Libra, it doesn’t imply which you can’t be assertive and a great employee and defend your self and all of those different issues we relate to Mars. However what it does say is your strategy to doing these items needs to be just a little extra oblique. And as Mars goes from Libra into Scorpio in October, it enters an indication during which it’s a lot stronger. So if there’s something that it’s essential do that actually requires you to combat and defend your self, attempt to put it off till October when you’ve got the chance to do this.

In fact, generally Mars approaches us within the second and we have now to determine how you can defend ourselves. And whereas Mars is in Libra, the best way to do this is to make use of appeal and our personal minds to defend ourselves.

Listener Query: Saturn transits

On this week’s listener query, listeners, Kelly with a Y, and Kellie with an i e requested associated questions on features with transiting Saturn, and I assumed this may be a great week to take a look at them since transiting Solar is opposed Saturn this week. Kelly with a y asks: “Hey, April, thanks for the weekly insights and the magic you deliver to the world. How a lot of an orb would you give to a Saturn transit and will I be fearful that three quarters of my household may have a Saturn Sq. throughout its time in Pisces? My oldest’s Saturn is at zero levels Sagittarius. My youngest daughter’s is at 21 levels and mine is 28 levels, precisely conjoined Uranus. I might love any insights into the power of transiting Saturn in Pisces sq. Saturn in Sagittarius, and our start charts.”

After which Kellie with an ie asks, “How can an opposition to transiting Saturn, significantly of the transiting Solar or Moon, or perhaps a natal planet, be used constructively? This week I heard a passing reference as being blocked, and I’ve to confess, I had the expertise myself once I tried to arrange a workshop when the transiting Solar was opposed Saturn. I’ve to hope there’s some advanced approach to work with these energies.”

Properly, thanks, “Kellys”. First, a really fast evaluation of Saturn and its symbolism. Saturn is a planet of self-discipline, restraint, worldly achievement, and maturity. Saturn’s job by transit is to assist us grasp a specific space of life because it transits by means of a home of the horoscope. The concept is to exert self-discipline within the areas of life described by that home to beat the issues that problem us. Within the third home, for instance, this could possibly be about working very exhausting and displaying self-discipline and dedication in studying one thing new or in the best way we talk with others.

Now, a Saturn transits an indication over a two-and-a-half-year interval. The fashion of self-discipline and work which might be required will mirror that signal. Proper now, Saturn’s in Pisces. So displaying extra gentleness and kindness and accepting that issues gained’t all the time go alongside on a strict schedule. These are good methods to grow to be extra competent and mature, which is what Saturn needs from us. And because it’s transiting, Saturn makes features to its place in your start chart. Your typical method of approaching targets and displaying self-discipline are going to be challenged by a brand new method of doing issues.

Think about that you’ve got a boss that you just report back to at your job. Now, this may increasingly or might not be an awesome boss, however you’re used to them and their requirements and expectations. After which let’s say your boss has to exit on prolonged depart and a brand new boss is available in to deal with issues within the interim. However this boss has a radically totally different management fashion and totally different expectations than your common boss. So it’s type of an enormous adjustment in the way you’re going to do issues everyday, and it additionally makes you’re taking a contemporary take a look at your individual competence and self-discipline.

That is the case for Kelly with a Y and her Saturn in Sagittarius family. A Saturn in Sagittarius boss is one who is aware of quite a bit, however generally thinks that they know an entire lot extra. There’s a very sturdy sense about what’s true and no hesitation in sharing these concepts. This can be a boss who’s very pleasant, no less than till somebody challenges them about what they imagine.

Now Saturn and Pisces has stepped in to deliver a distinct fashion. The Saturn and Pisces boss values following instincts reasonably than opinions. They encourage workers to do what feels proper to them reasonably than what the foundations say or what the boss believes to be proper. And it will normally be a reasonably sort and empathetic boss, however generally the management fashion is just a little bit complicated.

Kelly’s family has a number of members who’re used to a Saturn in Sagittarius fashion with regards to issues like caring for the practicalities of every day life, planning for the long run, making essential choices. As Saturn transits by means of Pisces, it’s just a little tougher to know what’s completely true and what’s not. We come to should depend on religion just a little extra as a information reasonably than data. There’s the sense that the entire belongings you’ve believed to be useful and true are now not issues which you can actually depend on, and you must transfer forward, guided by your instincts with out so many exhausting and quick guidelines.

The benefit of this – and the sq. is a really tempering affect – it says that we have to study from it to be stronger and higher variations of ourselves. So the benefit of the sq. is that we study to not be fairly so set in our considering and our methods.

And Kelly, you requested in regards to the orb of affect of this sq.. A common rule of thumb that I’ll use for a transiting planet, particularly a sluggish transferring one like Saturn, is about three levels of orb. However you’ll really feel it in fact, extra strongly the nearer it will get. Once we’re an orb of one thing like possibly two levels from actual. At the very least approaching possibly one diploma separating.

We’re speaking a couple of sturdy affect of Saturn, and you’ll most likely have multiple actual sq. for every of you. The primary one tends to really feel just a little extra rugged as a result of it’s the primary expertise of it. The second feels uncomfortable, however just a little extra acquainted, and by the point you get the final sq. from transiting to Natal Saturn, you may have a reasonably good sense of what it was you have been speculated to study and the way good of a job you’ve completed studying it.

Now as for Kelly with an -ie’s query, it’s just a little totally different as a result of what we’re speaking about listed here are features from quicker transferring transiting planets to transiting Saturn, reminiscent of this week’s Solar-Saturn opposition’s a great instance. These are a lot much less consequential features than transiting Saturn to natal Saturn, for instance, which you’ll be able to really feel for weeks or generally even months. The transiting Solar against Saturn, nevertheless, is strongest on the day the side is actual and solely possibly a few days main as much as the precise side and a day after it’s actual. Let’s say you’re planning an essential occasion as you have been close to the date of a side like this.

There are some things to bear in mind. Saturn’s first intuition to new challenges is to say no. So an occasion that’s scheduled for a day when a quicker transferring planet, such because the Solar, is in a conjunction sq., or opposition to Saturn just isn’t that conducive to having issues run easily. Why is that? As a result of it’s Saturn’s job to ensure that the correct issues get completed on the proper time by the correct folks and in the correct method. And fast-paced planets come and go so shortly that Saturn doesn’t essentially have an opportunity to determine if what they’re proposing is the correct factor.

So once more, let’s think about Saturn because the boss. And let’s say that on a day when the boss is type of feeling their age and feeling drained and distracted, some strapping younger whippersnapper comes into their workplace with this nice new thought. This boss is in no temper. There isn’t any time or power to determine if this particular person or their thought is worth it. So when the side’s an opposition, the boss simply says No. It’s significantly better to plan issues at a time when features are attempting or sextile to Saturn. As a result of throughout these features, the boss would possibly nonetheless not have the power to fully perceive what’s being proposed, however can be much more apt to simply say sure, to get you out of their workplace!

“Kellys”, I hope that helped you perceive just a little extra about what to anticipate from our good pal and boss Saturn.

And in case you, invisible pal, have a query you’d like me to reply on a future episode, simply depart a message of 1 minute or much less at speakpipe.com/bigskyastrologypodcast. Or you possibly can ship me an e mail at April(at)bigskyastrology(dot)com and you’ll want to put podcast query within the topic line.

Donor Thanks

Properly, it’s been an enormous week, however that’s every little thing I’ve on my present sheet, so I feel it’s time to wrap this one up. Thanks for listening to the Large Sky Astrology Podcast. In case you like what you’re listening to, you’ll want to subscribe or comply with in your app of selection. Depart a ranking or evaluation, and I hope you’ll unfold the phrase by telling an astrology loving pal in regards to the podcast. You possibly can learn present notes and full transcripts and depart your feedback about every episode at bigskyastropod.com.

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That’s it for this episode. Be part of me once more brilliant and early subsequent Monday, and till then, preserve your ft on the bottom and your eyes on the celebrities!

Writing and pictures © 2017-23 by April Elliott Kent

For extra on this week’s planetary information, learn my column!

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