In this episode of "Imagine That!" astrologer Shawn Nygaard dives into the oceanic immensities of the planet Neptune in astrology, myth, and culture. The episode includes:Introduction & AnnouncementsPerspective on Neptune in AriesNeptune in General, including a mythic story and mythic figure associated with Neptune (Roman) or Poseidon (Greek).Links mentioned in the episode:Selection of Episode SlidesMISPA Webinar - Sunday June 8, "Working with T-squares - Tension & Sparks""Neptune's Immensities" talk from United Astrology Conference (UAC) 2018"Immensities" - the movie scene referred to in the episodeArticle from The Mountain Astrologer: "Life to Live and Dreams to Dream - The Saturn-Neptune Cycle in Movies and History" by Shawn NygaardDONATE TO SUPPORT THIS PODCAST
In this first episode of 2025, astrologer Shawn Nygaard takes a look at the complicated dynamics of the sky this year, through a frame going back to August 19, 2024, and taking us to February 20, 2026. Shawn describes the significance of the move of many planets from Pisces into Aries, spends some time with Saturn in Aries, and touches briefly on Neptune in Aries. More to come on Saturn-Neptune in Aries in a future episode. The sections of this episode include:IntroductionTransitionsCycles2025 EssentialsThe Astrology of Taylor Swift (Saturn's Version)A Saturn in Pisces Check-inA Note on EclipsesOutroRelated Links:Donate to support current and future episodes of "Imagine That!": CLICK HEREMISPA Webinar: "Opening The Red Book (of C.G. Jung)" presented by Shawn Nygaard (2024)Upcoming MISPA Webinar, March 2, 2025: "The Saturn-Neptune Cycle - Living, Dreaming, Ending, Beginning" presented by Shawn Nygaard
In this Winter Solstice 2023 episode of "Imagine That!" astrologer Shawn Nygaard takes a look at one of the most complicated planets in astrology - Saturn - by drawing from astrological texts and a variety of elements from culture, including music, literature, poetry, movies, and television shows. After a couple of annoncements, the show features:Saturn, the Lord of DarknessReflections on Saturn in Pisces + a note about VenusA look at the short story "Mentor," by Garth GreenwellSaturn in the psychological eraRomantic poet John Keats' description of SaturnA few Saturn tidbits, including 3 generations of Saturn in CapricornThe Golden YearsRelevant Links:The Evolving Astrologer - The magazine of OPA, The Organization for Professional AstrologyArticle: "Tina Turner - Thunder & Lightning" by Shawn NygaardArticle: "Olga Tokarczuk - Livng In Between" by Shawn NygaardMISPA - Mercury Internet School of Psychological AstrologyWebinar: "Another Look at Chiron & the Archetypal Wound" presented by Shawn NygaardSaturn & Soul - Winter Solstice 2023 Episode PDFUpcoming MISPA webinar: "Opening Jung's "The Red Book" - Suggestion for Getting Started" Shawn Nygaard's website is: imagineastrology.com
In this episode Shawn Nygaard talks with Thomas Moore, author of the classic New York Times best-selling book Care of the Soul and 30 other books. The conversation touches on numerous subjects, from Thomas' newest book The Eloquence of Silence to his 4-decade-long friendship with James Hillman, and subjects from Hillman's work such as pathologizing, the importance of image and imagination, Senex & Puer, and the difference between spirit and soul. Thomas Moore's books referenced in this episode:The Eloquence of Silence: Surprising Wisdom in Tales of EmptinessCare of the Soul Twenty-fifth Anniversary Edition: A Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday LifeThe Essential James Hillman: A Blue Fire (edited and with commentary by Moore) The Planets Within: The Astrological Psychology of Marsilio Ficino
In "All the World's a Stage," Shawn Nygaard looks at the sign of Leo, Venus in Leo, and the current Venus retrograde in Leo, drawing from the book by James Hillman, "The Thought of the Heart and the Soul of the World" and various cultural references. The episode covers:A look at the current zeitgeist and Leo's connection to the heartImagination as the authentic voice of the heart and what keeps us from thatThe Heart of BeautySome charts featuring Venus in Leo or Venus Retrograde in LeoThis episode references the following resources:The essay "Ognosia" by Olga Tokarczuk.The article "Pluto in Aquarius - When the Center Cannot Hold" by Shawn Nygaard.The book "The Thought of the Heart and the Soul of the World" by James Hillman.PDF of dates and essential quotes.
As a tribute to the late Tina Turner (1939-2023), in this episode Shawn Nygaard examines Tina's birth chart and looks at the transits from the time she left Ike to when she became Tina, the global superstar.The charts discussed can be viewed at this link: Tina Turner ChartsThe dates of the transits discussed can be viewed at this link: Tina Turner Transits
Originally intended to be a short "bonus" episode, in "Mars in Cancer - Make Omelets, Not War!" Shawn Nygaard explores:Mars in CancerStereotypes vs. ArchetypesEssential Dignities from traditional astrologyMasculinityThe nature of Mars in Cancer, the sign of Cancer, and the MoonLunacyNote this episode refers to James Hillman's essay "Silver and the White Earth," from Volume 5 of his Uniform Editions, "Alchemical Psychology."Shawn Nygaard is a professional astrologer based in Minneapolis, MN. He is a Tutor for MISPA (Mercury Internet School of Psychological Astrology) and has been a speaker at the AA, NCGR, UAC, SOTA, and NORWAC conferences, as well as the Minnesota Jung Association. His writing has been published in WellBeing Astrology Guide (Australia) and The Mountain Astrologer. Shawn is a graduate of the CMED Institute in Chicago, where he studied archetypes and symbolism with Caroline Myss.
In this episode Shawn Nygaard looks at the entrance of Pluto into the sign of Aquarius, which takes place on March 23, 2023. The episode includes:The relevant datesA look at the sign AquariusA bit about PlutoA historical look at the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment & the Age of Reason, the French Revolution, and the beginning of the Romantic EraA return to present time and what Pluto in Aquarius asks of us todayIf you have ever wondered what Mary Poppins has to do with the French Revolution, this is the episode you have been waiting for!
It's the extra-long Saturn in Pisces episode! Shawn Nygaard looks at Saturn's move into the sign of Pisces which begins Tuesday March 7, 2023. After a brief introduction, the episode includes:Some "technical" bitsSaturn moving from Aquarius into PiscesThe story of the seal-womanRomanticism via the Saturn-Neptune cycleSaturn in Pisces in moviesBeauty & order in an astrological cosmos (Venus exalted in Pisces)This episode features a section from the article "Life to Live and Dreams to Dream."
The debut episode of "Imagine That!," a podcast for astrology and archetypes, includes:An introduction of host Shawn NygaardAn introduction of what the podcast is about, in generalEpisode 1's topic, "The Old Man & the Sea-goat" - looking at Pluto in late degrees of CapricornPeering aheadA first look at Movies & Archetypes, including a clip of an interview with Jim CurtanFeatured article discussed: "Pluto in Aquarius - When the Center Cannot Hold"