This week: a very busy Sun and Venus refuel at the Mars filling station, confront the impersonality of Pluto, merge together in a conjunction, and walk hand-in-hand into Scorpio season. Saturn turns direct, and a high-tension Last Quarter Moon in Cancer shows us what we're made of. And April answers a listener's question about what Pluto entering Aquarius next year could mean for us individually, not just collectively. Plus: escape routes, meal plans, and hidden romance.

Read a full transcript of this episode.

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Timestamps

[1:13] The week begins with a Last Quarter Moon at 24°18' Cancer on October 17th at 10:15 am PDT.  This Last Quarter Moon features a T-Square of the Moon in Cance, opposed Pluto in Capricorn and both square the Sun at 24°Libra. Look to Aries for an escape route.

[3:33] This is the final critical moment in a Lunar Phase Gestation Cycle that began on the Cancer (28°26') New Moon on July 20, 2022. The First Quarter Moon of this cycle was in April 2021, and the Full Moon in January 2022.

[4:50] Void-of-Course (VOC) Moon periods for this week:  October 17th, between 1:56 pm and 9:46 pm PDT. The Moon's opposition to Pluto is a time to reflect on how to make ourselves stronger and truly protected without closing off completely.

[6:15] The Moon in Leo (27°00') sextiles the Sun (Libra 27°00') on October 20th at 3:35 am PDT and is VOC for six hours before entering Virgo at 9:25 am PDT.  Look for opportunities to collaborate with another which could lead to being recognized for the star that you are!

[7:15] On October 22nd the Moon in Virgo (26°09') trines Pluto in Capricorn (26°09') at 11:17am PDT and is VOC for almost seven hours before entering Libra (6:24 pm PDT).  Cleaning or organizing could be a soothing outlet at this time.

[8:51] The Sun in Libra (24°30') trines Mars in Gemini (Oct. 17, 3:05 pm PDT), getting a welcome jolt of Mars' energy and decisiveness!

[9:56] Venus (Libra 24°42') trines Mars in Gemini (Oct. 18, 7:20 pm PDT).  Since Venus is so close to the Sun, we may have a hard time seeing an interesting prospect that is right in front of our face. Mars is on the Sabian symbol, "A Man Trimming Palms," which suggests narrowing down your possibilities.

[12:33] The Sun (Libra 26°08') squares Pluto in Capricorn (Oct. 19, 6:33 am PDT), followed by Venus later that evening (11:02 pm PDT). Channel Stuart Smalley and repeat this mantra: "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough and doggone it, people like me!"

[15:42] The Sun and Venus come together in a conjunction at Libra 29°26' (Oct. 22, 2:17 pm PDT), sparking a burst of creativity between October 21-23rd.

[17:46] Mercury trines Saturn just as Saturn turns direct (Oct. 22, 6:00 pm PDT, Aquarius 18°35'), an excellent time to focus on what's important.

[20:07]  Scorpio season begins! Venus enters Scorpio (Oct. 23, 12:52 am PDT), followed by the Sun (3:36 am PDT). It's time to celebrate the miracle of compost! We're also getting close to the Oct. 25 Solar Eclipse at 2° Scorpio. (What will the eclipse mean for you? Order April's Followed by a Moonshadow eclipse report!)

[22:12] Listener Rachel asks about how we can cope, as individuals, with the upcoming Pluto in Aquarius era.

[29:06]  If you have a burning question about astrology that you'd like April to answer on a future episode, please leave a voicemail of one minute or less at speakpipe.com/bigskyastrologypodcast or just send an email to april(at)bigskyastrology(dot)com.  Be sure to put "Podcast Question" in the subject line.

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