Big Sky Astrology Podcast

This week: A creative boost from a Mercury-Jupiter sextile, the Sun's entry into Libra at the equinox, and a reflective Sun–Neptune opposition paired with an empowering Sun–Pluto trine. The Aries Full Moon carries forward eclipse themes from spring 2025, and Mars begins a long transit through Leo. And a listener question about what it means when a progressed planet turns retrograde for decades. Plus: Chemistry teachers in jail, lonely in a group, and invisibility as a superpower!

Read a full transcript of this episode.

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Timestamps

[1:35] Mercury sextiles Jupiter (Sep. 21, 3:51 pm PDT, 17º55’ Libra/Leo). Creative endeavors get a boost as Mercury and Jupiter meet in Libra and Leo. The Sabian symbols are explored through the lens of Breaking Bad's Walter White and Jesse Pinkman, a story of missed and created opportunities.

[3:40] Sun enters Libra (Sep. 22, 5:05 pm PDT). The Sun enters Libra, marking the autumn equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern. Libra begins on the Sabian symbol "a butterfly made perfect by a dart through it," and consider the tension between enjoying something beautiful and wanting to possess it.

[6:21] Sun opposes Neptune (Sep. 25, 6:36 pm PDT, 2º59’ Libra/Aries). The Sun–Neptune opposition on the symbol "the dawn of a new day" explores change, loss, and finding comfort through collective meaning.

[9:02] Sun trines Pluto (Sep. 25, 10:34 pm PDT, 3º09’ Libra/Aquarius). This short-lived but potent trine promises personal empowerment through getting clear about who you are and what you want as the foundation for authentic relationships.

[10:47] Aries Full Moon (Sep. 26, 9:49 am PDT, 3º37’ Aries/Libra). The Aries Full Moon on the Sabian symbols "Two lovers strolling through a secluded walk" and “A group around a campfire” carries energy from the March 29, 2025 Aries Solar Eclipse. What were you determined to accomplish then, what has slowed you down, and what have you learned since?

[15:02] Void-of-Course Moon periods. Three VOC periods this week: Monday, a VOC Moon in Capricorn from 7:31 am to 10:14 am (get to work), Wednesday in Aquarius from 1:18 am to 8:23 pm (collaborate on solutions), and Saturday in Pisces from 1:32 am to 3:23 am PDT (channel volatile energy into home projects).

[19:30] Mars enters Leo (Sep. 27, 7:49 pm PDT) through May 14, 2027. Mars begins an extended transit through Leo (with a retrograde loop into Virgo early next year). Excellent for creative projects, but watch for impulsiveness and self-absorption as Mars approaches its opposition to Pluto.

[23:20] Listener Question: Listener Maria asks about her progressed Mercury turning retrograde in Scorpio for the next 21 years. Thoughts about how this can deepen a writer's work, reframe feeling "unseen" as a superpower, and invite revisiting unfinished stories.

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!

[28:41] Donor Thanks.  A tribute to this week’s donors! If you would like to support the show and receive access to  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.

Hello, Invisible Friend, April here – and the date today is September 14, 2026. And I’m sorry to say there will not be a new podcast this week! Between the conference I went to, and getting the Podathon episodes finished, I just plain ran out of time. Rest assured, though, that I’ll be back next Monday with a new episode!

Now, today is officially the last day of Podathon, meaning that if you’d like to be entered in my drawing to win an eclipse report or a reading, you need to make your donation of $25 or more by MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, Pacific time! I’ll be doing the drawing tomorrow, and winners will be notified by email. Best of luck!

Let me just say how much I enjoyed bringing those Podathon interviews to you, and thanks to all of you who have sent kind words about them! If you haven’t had a chance to listen to all of them yet, you can catch up with them at bigskyastropod.com – just click on the orange “View All” button at the end of the page to see the full list.

I’m putting up a column so you can catch up with the major aspects of the week. And as I said, I’ll return with a new podcast episode next Monday, Sep. 21. I hope you have a wonderful week. And keep your feet on the ground, and your eyes on the stars!

It’s the final day of the 7th Annual Big Sky Astrology Podathon, and we’re wrapping up five days of special fundraising episodes with an in-depth conversation with relationship astrology expert Dorothy Oja! Dorothy shares her approach to understanding relationships through the birth chart — covering the three stages of relationship astrology (natal capacity, synastry, and combined charts), the importance of Saturn as the "glue" that holds relationships together, why Venus and Jupiter are the "liking" planets, and how Mars provides the spark. Plus, April covers the week's planetary news (Mercury trine Pluto, opposite Neptune, and trine Uranus) and makes her annual fundraising appeal - with a chance to win prizes including eclipse reports and personal readings!

0:00 — Podathon week intro & welcome

0:28 — Host introduction — April Elliott Kent

0:56 — What is Podathon? Five daily episodes & fundraising

1:22 — Thank you to listeners and supporters

2:16 — Why April keeps the show ad-free

2:42 — How to donate & prize drawings ($25+)

4:15 — $10 donor bonus: private Zoom calls & videos

5:13 — Free ways to support the show

6:08 — Today's episode overview

6:40 — Planetary news: Mercury trine Pluto, opposite Neptune, trine Uranus

8:22 — Interview intro: Dorothy Oja on relationships in the birth chart

9:25 — Dorothy's background & credentials

10:35 — Interview begins

11:48 — Starting with the natal chart: your capacity for relationship

13:18 — The Moon: emotional responsiveness in relationships

14:30 — Three stages of relationship astrology

15:12 — Synastry: comparing two charts planet by planet

16:05 — Composite & Davison charts explained

18:13 — The Davison chart's power and midpoint resonance

18:41 — Why challenging aspects aren't always bad

20:31 — Saturn's role: the glue, trust, and commitment

23:08 — Venus & Jupiter: the "liking" aspects that bring harmony

23:58 — When to use composite vs. Davison charts

25:00 — Oppositions in relationship charts & finding balance

27:13 — Difficult natal aspects and how partners trigger them

29:37 — Readiness, inner work, and the "marriage myth" (Sun & Moon)

31:58 — Mars: the unsung relationship planet

33:14 — The Moon's daily emotional rhythm & compatibility

34:37 — Teamwork, choosing well, and when to walk away

36:27 — Dorothy's upcoming Kepler College course & where to find her

38:33 — Podathon wrap-up, donor thanks, and final fundraising appeal

Links mentioned:

Donate: bigskyastropod.com

Dorothy Oja on Substack: dorothyoja.substack.com

Dorothy's Kepler College course: Illuminating Relationships: Natal Promise and Synastry (begins Sept 24)

On Day 4 of the 7th Annual Big Sky Astrology Podathon, we cover a packed day of planetary news - with Venus entering Scorpio, Mercury entering Libra, Uranus turning retrograde, and the Virgo New Moon! And we welcome astrologer and author Donna Stellhorn for an in-depth conversation about money in the birth chart. Donna breaks down the four "money houses” and shares sign-by-sign patterns, as well as timing techniques for job searches and major purchases, how to tell whether someone is better suited as an employee or entrepreneur, practical strategies for leaning into your chart's strengths when finances are tight, and the often-overlooked Part of Fortune.

Also: How to donate to the Podathon and be entered in a drawing to win prizes; and a preview of Podathon Day 5 with Dorothy Oja on Relationships.

Timestamps

[0:00] Podathon week announcement

[0:36] April's welcome and Podathon fundraising appeal

[2:50] Donation prizes: eclipse reports, personal readings, and donor-only Zoom calls

[4:09] Free ways to support the show (subscribe, rate, review, recommend)

[6:24] Today's topic preview: money in the birth chart with Donna Stellhorn

[6:51] Venus enters Scorpio and upcoming retrograde preview

[7:18] Mercury enters Libra

[8:01] Uranus turns retrograde (through Feb 2027)

[10:09] Virgo New Moon] service, home repairs, and family

[12:13] April introduces guest Donna Stellhorn

[14:01] Interview begins: reading the 2nd house for money

[16:28] Why Donna prefers Placidus for money questions

[18:00] Signs on the 2nd house: Sagittarius, Capricorn, Scorpio/Pluto, Cancer/Moon

[21:24] The four money houses: 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 11th

[23:05] Employee vs. entrepreneur] reading the chart for career direction

[25:10] Timing money decisions with transits and the progressed Moon

[27:24] Outer planet transits over the Midheaven and industry shifts

[29:19] Practical advice by sign: leaning into your 2nd house ruler

[33:18] Venus in the 2nd house and the Part of Fortune

[35:18] Using downtime productively instead of worrying

[36:02] Where to find Donna (YouTube) and interview wrap-up

[38:51] Support the Podathon: Donate at bigskyastropod.com. Donations of $10+ get access to private Zoom calls and videos. Donations of $25+ are entered for a chance to win: A Followed by a Moonshadow Eclipse Report ($35 value), a 60-minute personal astrology reading with April ($195 value), a 90-minute grand prize reading with April ($245 value).

Deadline: Midnight Pacific Time, Monday, September 14th. Drawing held September 15th.

Coming Up Tomorrow: Dorothy Oja on relationships in your birth chart, and the 7th Annual Podathon wraps up!

On Day 3 of the 7th Annual Podathon, April sits down with naturopath, nutritionist, herbalist, and medical astrologer Kira Sutherland to explore how medical astrology can help us understand and support our physical health. They cover the key houses, planets, and transits that matter most when looking at health in the birth chart, and how to work with them practically rather than fearfully. Plus, today’s planetary news and Podathon fundraiser details! To be entered in a drawing for a chance to win an eclipse report or a reading, make your donation by midnight PDT on Sep. 14, at bigskyastropod.com. And tune in tomorrow for Day 4’s interview with Donna Stellhorn! (Find Kira Sutherland at astrologyofhealth.com and on Instagram @astrologyofhealth.)

Make your donation to the Podathon today!

Timestamps:

[0:00] Podathon intro & donation info

[6:58] Today's planetary news: Moon in Leo void-of-course, Moon enters Virgo

[10:15] Interview begins: Kira's background in naturopathy and medical astrology

[13:11] The Ascendant & First House as the foundation of physical health

[15:35] The 6th House (acute illness & preventative health) and 8th House (genetics, surgery)

[19:42] The 12th House: chronic illness, hospitals, and why ignoring the 6th lands you there

[22:00] Working with outer planet transits (Pluto, Neptune) over the Ascendant

[29:34] Menopause in the chart: Mars, Saturn, Chiron return & the Progressed Moon

[37:10] The art of convalescence: rest as medicine, especially during the Balsamic Moon phase

[40:13] Jupiter in medical astrology: the benefits and the risks of excess

[44:23] Using your natal Mars to find the right movement and exercise

[46:22] The mutable signs (Virgo, Gemini, Sagittarius, Pisces) and nervous/immune system connections

[48:21] Where to find Kira, upcoming projects & wrap-up

Mentioned in This Episode:

Caroline Myss on finding meaning in illness

Dana Gerhardt on lunar phases

Kira's upcoming book and her monthly deep-dive course on each sign's ruling planet and house

Kira at UAC (United Astrology Conference) in September

Support the Podathon! Donate at bigskyastropod.com. Donations of $10+ get access to private Zoom calls and videos. Donations of $25+ are entered for a chance to win a Followed by a Moonshadow Eclipse Report ($35 value), a 60-minute personal astrology reading with April ($195 value), or a 90-minute grand prize reading with April ($245 value)! Deadline to enter: Midnight Pacific Time, Monday, September 14th. Drawing held September 15th.