322 | Giving Thanks: Saturn and Mercury Direct, and a Podcast Milestone!

This week: A birthday milestone for the podcast, and another week full of transits! As Mars squares the Lunar Nodes, prepare to move toward your future. Mercury conjoins Venus on a whimsical degree, and Venus trines Jupiter and Saturn; Saturn turns direct on Thanksgiving Day, and Mercury turns direct a couple of days later. A Pisces First Quarter Moon could bring a crisis of faith; and Venus finishes her busy week and her time in Scorpio with an opposition to Uranus and a trine to Neptune, before entering merry Sagittarius. And unfortunately, this is another week that is so full of aspects to talk about that, once again, there’s no time for a listener question! Plus: Making camp, the places that fit us, and sacred arts. 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! [1:48] A Big Sky Astrology Podcast milestone! This week marks six years since April and co-host Jen Braun aired the very first episode on Nov. 26, 2019. [2:39] Mars squares the Lunar Nodes (Nov 24, 5:32 am PST) Mars in Sagittarius jolts us out of Virgo South Node perfectionism and toward the Pisces North Node’s realm of faith, imagination, and possibility. Even small steps toward our dreams bring rewards—even if they don’t look exactly like we imagine. [5:09] Mercury conjunct Venus (Nov 24, 5:52 pm PST, 22°45' Scorpio). On the whimsical Sabian symbol, A bunny metamorphosed into a fairy, Mercury and Venus merge their magic in transformative Scorpio. Through what we love—and how we summon it verbally—we encounter opportunities for Scorpionic metamorphosis. [6:50] Venus forms harmonious trines to Jupiter in Cancer (Nov 26, 8:31 am PST) and Saturn in Pisces (Nov. 26, 3:48 pm PST). Venus–Jupiter: Pleasure, ease, and maybe a little luck—if we’re willing to look beneath the surface. Venus–Saturn: Clarity around needs vs. wants. Themes of self-reliance, wisdom, and sufficiency arise. Venus’ Sabian symbols: 25 Scorpio, An X-ray, and 26 Scorpio, Indians making camp. [9:30] Saturn Turns Direct (Nov 27, 7:51 pm PST, 25°09' Pisces). After months of inward restructuring, Saturn emerges direct on Sabian symbol 26 Pisces, A new moon that divides its influences, symbolizing new beginnings and individuation. [11:15] Pisces First Quarter Moon (Nov 27, 10:59 pm PST, 6°17' Sagittarius/ Pisces). A call to action on intentions seeded at the Scorpio New Moon (Nov 19). Sagittarian certainty meets Piscean feeling—what action feels like the right next step? [13:47] This is the First Quarter phase in a Lunar Phase Family cycle that began at the Pisces New Moon (9º40’ Pisces) of Feb 27, 2025. What were you dreaming of then? Now’s the time to take action. Future critical moments in this cycle: Full Moon on Aug 27, 2026 (4º54’ Pisces), Last Quarter on May 28, 2027 (7º01’ Pisces). [16:11] Void-of-Course Moon Periods. Nov 25: Moon in Capricorn sextiles Neptune (1:10 am PST) and is VOC for one hour, 5 minutes before entering Aquarius at 2:15 am PST. The pragmatism and organization of the Capricorn Moon provides a strong structure for Neptune’s intuition. [17:00] Moon in Aquarius squares Uranus (Nov 27, 9:53 am PST) and is VOC for 1 hour 31 minutes before entering Pisces (11:24 am PST). No matter how unconventional we consider ourselves to be, there are times we’d still like to fit in. [18:47] Moon in Pisces conjoins Neptune (Nov 29, 4:05 pm PST). It’s VOC for 1 hour and 2 minutes, then enters Aries (5:07 pm PST). Go within and see what you find there. [19:33] Mercury Stations Direct (Nov 29, 9:38 am PST, 20°42' Scorpio). Retrograde since Nov 9, Mercury turns direct—but with “retrograde residue” through Dec 16. April shares her thoughts on Mercury retrograde “confirmation bias” and her plan to track Mercury mishaps while it’s direct. [21:55] Venus Opposes Uranus (Nov 29, 6:48 pm PST, 29º05’ Scorpio-Taurus, Sabian Symbols 30 Scorpio: Halloween jester and 30 Taurus: Peacock parading on an ancient lawn. A nudge to question outside influences on money, values, and desire. What do you truly want—not what society says you should? [24:07] Venus Trine Neptune (Nov 30, 12:48 am PST, 29º24’ Scorpio-Pisces). A dreamy, romantic, and potentially bewildering transit. Wonderful for release and spiritual clarity—just take care not to idealize the wrong person, purchase, or path. [25:32] Venus Enters Sagittarius (Nov 30, 12:14 pm PST). Through Christmas Eve, Venus revels in adventure, cultural exploration, music, and the great outdoors. Perfect for discovering beauty in unexpected places. [27:50] Another packed week of planetary activity leaves no room for listener questions—April promises they will return soon! Send yours to: April (at) bigskyastrology (dot)com (subject: Podcast Question) or by voicemail: speakpipe.com/...