047 | Virgo New Moon: A Fresh Start
April & Jen enter the cleansing and decluttering heart of the Virgo New Moon, in opposition to healing and spiritual Neptune. The Sun engages in smooth aspects with Saturn and Pluto, calling forth our power and authenticity. And a protracted discussion of midpoints – what are they and why are they important? Also: animal trainers, feng shui, and our very own Encyclopedia Braun! Sign up for April's mailing list for updates, a free monthly lunar workbook, AND an email tutorial on the Lunar Phases! To read April & Jen’s essays, or to join the podcast conversation and leave a comment, go to www.BigSkyAstroPod.com. Read more about this week’s astrology at the Big Sky Astrology website! Follow Big Sky Astrology on IG, Twitter, and FB @BigSkyAstrology Read a full transcript of this episode. Episode links: 00:30 – A big thank you to everyone who supported our first annual Podathon with donations and by downloading our five daily episodes! Winners of our big drawing will be announced by email on the 15th. . 01:55 – Are you listening from Latvia, Norway, India, Portugal, or New Zealand? Tell us what makes our podcast one of the top Society and Culture podcasts in your country! Is it the Bob Ross references? . 03:17 – The Sun trines Pluto (Sep. 14, 4:05 pm PDT) on the Sabian symbols 23 Virgo (Sun), “An animal trainer,” and 23 Capricorn (Pluto), “Two awards for bravery in war,” at the degree of January’s Saturn/Pluto conjunction. Both symbols speak of bravery in confronting dangerous things, and imply that our power derives from handling small things, and serving something larger than ourselves. . 06:30 – For more on the Jan. 2020 Saturn/Pluto conjunction, revisit Episode 6: Saturn & Pluto Eat More Crunchy Things, Episode 7: Saturn and Pluto Go to the Repair Shop, and Episode 8: Saturn and Pluto Need a Party. . 07:19 – Venus squares Uranus (Sep. 15, 8:28 am PDT). This combination can bring unexpected expenses or income, and sometimes both. Unexpected developments in relationships, especially around the subject of independence vs. togetherness. . 10:22 – Jen Braun is a regular Encyclopedia Brown! To hear more about the Sabian symbols (Venus) “Children on a swing in a huge oak tree,” and (Uranus) “A woman sprinkling flowers” go to Episode 23, Talkin’ Taurus and the Void (Of Course!) Moon. . 10:26 – What are midpoints and why do they matter? . 15:53 – We enter the midpoint between eclipse seasons with this week’s square from the Sun to the Lunar Nodes (Sep. 16, 5:53 pm PDT). Sun in Virgo arbitrating between Gemini/Sagittarius nodes to find points of commonality in their search for truth. (Shout out to wonderful astrologer Caroline Casey!) . 17:40 – Learn more about Lunar Nodes on Episode 24: Scorpio Full Moon & Lunar Nodes for Grasshoppers. And take a deep dive on eclipses with us in Episode 5 Unboxing Eclipses. . 18:33 – ** MOONWATCH ** 25 deg. Virgo “A boy with a censer.” With the New Moon point opposed Neptune and trine Saturn, the rituals of cleansing, organizing your home, and healing your thought patterns can help you sow new seeds, particularly in the area of work. . 22:19 – A couple of books we like about decluttering with feng shui: Karen Kingston’s Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui and Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life by Karen Rauch Carter. . 22:52 – Sign up for April's mailing list and you’ll get a new, monthly Working with the Moon e-book for each lunar cycle! . 23:22 – The Sun trine Saturn (Sep. 17, 2:36 pm PDT) rewards a good work ethic and possibly indicates a new job or kind of work. Make sure what you do now is aligned with your authentic self. . 24:43 – April is a water sprite! . 24:54 – As Mercury finishes up in Libra this week, it squares Jupiter on Sep. 17 at 3:35 am (conversation out of balance, philosophical disagreements) and Pluto on Sep. 20 at 10:18 pm PDT (deep conversation, language that prompts power struggles, but great time to continue New Moon ritual because words and ideas have tremendous p