The Astrology Podcast

In episode 505 astrologers Chris Brennan and Austin Coppock look at the astrological forecast for September of 2025! We spend the first hour of the episode talking about the astrology behind news and events that occurred since last month's forecast, and then in the second hour we transition into talking about the astrology of September, starting at 53 minutes. This month's news discussion focuses heavily on the themes of peak reality distortion and bubbles popping, which manifested over the summer during the peak of the Saturn-Neptune conjunction, and then was accentuated in August when Mars opposed Saturn and Neptune. On a more positive note, we also discuss the auspicious Venus-Jupiter conjunction in August and its connection to the engagement of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. The forecast for September is dominated by eclipse season, which is just getting started as the month begins, with a lunar eclipse in Pisces and a solar eclipse in Virgo. The most difficult alignment this month is a Mars-Pluto square happening around the week of September 24, which coincides with the second eclipse in Virgo around September 21. Other major alignments this month include a Saturn returning to Pisces, Uranus stationing retrograde in Gemini for the first time, and a Mars-Jupiter square. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:41 Quick overview of September astrology 00:03:24 News segment begins 00:03:41 Saturn-Neptune, peak reality distortion & bubbles popping 00:08:37 Viral AI video of bunnies on a trampoline 00:23:02 AI Psychosis 00:26:22 Mars-Saturn opposition and militarizing the Capitol 00:29:46 Violent events under the Mars-Saturn opposition 00:35:40 New moon discovered orbiting Uranus 00:37:07 Taylor Swift engagement on Venus-Jupiter conjunction 00:47:33 Chris' personal news about Leisa 00:53:48 Forecast segment begins 00:54:13 Saturn retrogrades back into Pisces 01:01:36 Lunar Eclipse in Pisces September 7 01:02:52 Uranus stations retrograde in Gemini 01:07:03 Mars-Jupiter Square 01:17:36 Eclipses through the 12 houses axis pairs 01:40:15 Auspicious electional chart for September 11 01:46:18 Solar Eclipse in Virgo September 21 01:57:42 Mars-Pluto Square 02:09:46 Mars enters Scorpio 02:14:45 Final thoughts on September 02:17:29 Announcements and Credits 02:24:31 Bonus bunnies Bunny Song & Covers "Bunnies" song by Oliver Richman @olivesongs11 on TikTok Bunnies cover by Fifi Koro @fifikoromusic on TikTok Bunnies cover by Sem Noa Verhaere @semnoaverhaere on TikTok Bunnies cover by Thyrell Smith @thyrellsmith on TikTok Austin’s Website https://austincoppock.com Chris's Courses TheAstrologySchool.com Patreon for Elections and Bonus Content https://www.patreon.com/astrologypodcast Watch the Video Version of This Episode Watch the video version of our astrology forecast for August on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk1B-ZvO81M - Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In episode 504 I talk with a group of people about their charts and discussing the astrological signatures that correlate with unique life events and circumstances. The purpose of the discussion is to answer the question, "what in the birth chart indicates that?" when something truly characteristic or uncommon happens in a person's life. We explore how specific natal placements, as well as transits from the outer planets, can describe some of the most pivotal and defining personal stories. Some of the topics covered include the astrology of being a gestational carrier, having a large number of siblings, a major friendship falling apart and then being repaired by a later transit, and a partner coming out as transgender. Throughout the episode, we identify key placements in the 3rd house for siblings, the 5th house for children, and the 11th house for friends, paying special attention to the power of mutual receptions to link the topics of two houses together in a prominent way. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:47 Teresa's chart - Gestational carrier 00:17:45 Selena's chart - Friendship issues 00:30:42 Steven's chart - Six siblings 00:44:38 Katrina's chart - Pets and Venus retrograde 00:51:23 Aisha's chart - Protecting son from police 01:07:22 Monica's chart - Partner came out as transgender 01:24:50 Danielle's chart - Traveling the world as a child 01:38:15 Betsy's chart - Brother and mother's will 01:59:25 Conclusion Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhVSg-_qbnY – Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 504 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In episode 503 of The Astrology Podcast astrologer Rod Chang joins me to discuss the long and fascinating history of comets in astrology, how astrologers viewed them as omens in ancient times, and creating a new foundation for interpreting them today. While comets are a notable astronomical phenomenon and are famous in legends from ancient times as powerful omens, there has been very little discussion about their meaning or use in modern astrology. Part of the reason for this is that they appear so infrequently, are difficult to calculate, and are not included in most astrology software, which has led to them being largely overlooked by contemporary astrologers. We begin the discussion by exploring the long history of comets in astrology, noting the contrast between the Western tradition and the Chinese tradition. In the West, research into comets was set back for centuries by Aristotle's mistaken belief that they were merely atmospheric phenomena. In the Chinese tradition, however, comets were meticulously documented for thousands of years, where they were often referred to as "broom stars" that could sweep away the old government or indicate the need for reform. This eventually led to a rich history of astrological interpretation, which we are only now beginning to recover and understand. During the course of the episode we talk about what comets are from an astronomical perspective, as well as how their erratic and unpredictable nature became a key part of their astrological interpretation. Traditionally comets were interpreted as omens that signified major disruptions, the death of prominent people, and important turning points in history. Their meaning was often derived from their visual appearance, such as their color or the shape of their tail. While often viewed as negative omens that coincided with natural disasters or the death of rulers, there are also instances where they were interpreted positively. Towards the end of the episode we discuss how contemporary astrologers are now in a much better position to study comets, with new tools that allow us to calculate their positions and go back and research what was happening in the world when major comets appeared in the past. This is a large part of the focus of Rod's new book titled Comets in Astrology, where he identifies some of the most important "Great Comets" in history and documents the events that coincided with their appearance. We hope that this discussion provides a good foundation for a subject that will become an exciting new area of research in astrology in the years to come. Rod's book was just released August 13, and you can get it now: Comets in Astrology on Amazon You can find out more information about Rod on his website: RodChang.com This episode is available in both audio and video versions below. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:05 Rod’s journey into studying comets 00:02:40 Why comets are overlooked in modern astrology 00:07:09 What is a comet? 00:10:04 Short-period vs. long-period comets 00:16:55 Erratic and unpredictable quality of comets 00:19:18 Aristotle’s error vs. Chinese documentation 00:24:30 Edmond Halley, Brahe, and Kepler 00:28:58 Recent comets: Pons-Brooks 00:33:52 Decline of astrology hindered comet research 00:36:39 Researching historical comets and mundane events 00:39:01 What defines a “Great Comet” 00:51:04 Chinese “broom stars” and political significance 01:01:06 Comets as omens 01:11:47 Death of prominent people 01:15:02 Mark Twain and Halley’s Comet 01:25:52 Observational astronomy 01:36:18 Comet’s tail and directionality 01:40:03 Positive interpretations of comets 01:43:27 Setting a foundation for comet research 01:48:11 Rod’s upcoming work, website, and classes 01:51:29 Concluding remarks Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-UtgNIRCnY – Transcript

In episode 502 of the podcast, I'm joined by astrologer and historian Philip Graves to talk about his work as an astrological librarian and the publication of his new book, Technical and Planetary Developments in Astrology. This is the first volume in a new series, Graves' Studies in the History of Astrology, which showcases the fruits of his decades-long project to build one of the largest and most comprehensive private astrological libraries in the world. Technical and Planetary Developments in Astrology and is available now on Amazon and from other booksellers. The Life of an Astrological Librarian We begin the episode by discussing Philip’s journey into astrology and how he began amassing his vast collection of astrological texts. His library includes not only modern books but also rare original editions from as early as the 16th century, alongside an extensive collection of astrological journals, periodicals, and almanacs. We delve into the fascinating world of antiquarian book collecting, touching on topics such as: The importance of first editions. The challenges of preservation, including issues like "foxing," "worming," and rebinding. How to handle very old books. The limitations of older, poor-quality digital scans and abridged reprints, and the value of comparing them to original source texts. Research from the Library A major theme of our discussion is how having access to this wide range of primary sources allows for a more accurate and nuanced understanding of astrology's history. Philip’s collection serves as a massive research database, enabling him to trace the development of astrological concepts through time. His new book is a collection of essays that demonstrates the value of this approach. Some of the historical questions we explore from his research include: The Development of Uranus: How did astrologers in the early 19th century figure out the meaning of Uranus? We look at surprisingly early and accurate delineations from journals in the 1820s and 1830s, showing the empirical process astrologers used to determine its significations. The Outer Planets: We contrast the empirical approach used for Uranus and Neptune with the more mythological approach applied to Pluto shortly after its discovery in the 20th century. The Meanings of the Houses: Philip’s book contains a detailed survey of the significations of the 12 houses, tracing their continuity and changes from the Hellenistic tradition through the Medieval and Renaissance periods. The History of Minor Aspects: We discuss the timeline of how harmonic aspects were developed, starting with Kepler and being gradually adopted and expanded upon by later astrologers. The Origins of Sun-Sign Astrology: Research from Philip and others has pushed back the origins of newspaper Sun-sign columns much earlier than the commonly cited 1930s date. Ultimately, our conversation highlights how astrology has never been a single, unchanging system, but a dynamic tradition that has always been growing and evolving. Find Out More You can find Philip’s work, including high-quality scans of rare texts and a secondhand bookshop, on his website: Astrolearn.com His new book is titled Technical and Planetary Developments in Astrology and is available now on Amazon and from other booksellers. Timestamps 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:34 Philip's library and background 00:10:13 Condition and handling of old books 00:17:03 Early significations about Uranus 00:28:08 Uranus in Gemini and the US 00:34:50 Did astrology die out in the 17th century? 00:37:50 More early Uranus significations 00:45:16 Assigning names of gods to planets 00:57:05 Early treatments of Neptune and Pluto 01:06:32 Schism between modern and traditional astrology 01:12:07 Survey of the houses 01:32:47 Lilith 01:36:09 12 letter alphabet 01:49:28 Alan Leo 02:00:59 Laws against fortunetelling

In episode 501 astrologers Chris Brennan and Austin Coppock look at the astrological forecast for August of 2025! We spend the first hour of the episode talking about the astrology of news and events that have occurred since our last forecast, and then in the second hour we transition into talking about the astrology of August, starting at 1 hour and 12 minutes into the episode. The three main alignments this month are a Mars-Saturn opposition, Venus-Jupiter conjunction, and Mercury stationing direct opposite Pluto. Then in the final days of the month we begin to head into eclipse season. Since this is the episode after the 500th episode we also spend some time reflecting on that, and on 10 years of doing forecast episodes together. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:54 August quick overview 00:03:35 News segment 01:07:21 UAC 2026 01:12:02 August forecast 01:23:46 Election for August 01:29:29 August forecast continued 02:25:59 Wrapping up 02:33:04 Credits United Astrology Conference https://uacastrology.com Hellenistic Astrology Course https://theastrologyschool.com Austin’s Website https://austincoppock.com Patreon for Elections and Bonus Content https://www.patreon.com/astrologypodcast Watch the Video Version of This Episode Watch the video version of our astrology forecast for August on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFi-42KZ5Ew - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 501 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

Celebrating the 500th episode of The Astrology Podcast, and reflecting on how the podcast got started and what I learned from doing the past 100 episodes! In the first part of this episode I talk a bit about how the podcast got started, I look at the founding charts for the podcast, and discuss the outline of what I said that I wanted to accomplish with the show in the very first episode back in 2012. I reflect on how ambitious my original outline for the podcast was, and that I've actually ended up accomplishing quite a bit of what I originally set out to do at this point. Later in the episode I reflect on some of the things I've learned in the process of doing the past 100 episodes in particular, especially over the past couple of years, mainly from a technical standpoint. Finally I conclude by thanking some people, and talking a bit about the future. Thanks for watching or listening to the podcast for the past 500 episodes! Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJbFI8xXxpU - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 500 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In episode 499 of The Astrology Podcast I interview a group of people about how the transit of Uranus in Taurus went for them over the past eight years based on the whole sign house it was transiting in their chart. With Uranus having just made its first ingress into Gemini, now is an excellent opportunity to review the last seven to eight years and understand the types of changes and themes that came up in our lives. The focus of this episode is to explore how the transit of Uranus through a specific whole sign house in your birth chart manifested. To do this, I'll be interviewing several people who will share their personal stories of what happened when Uranus transited through various houses in their charts—from sudden changes in their living situations and relationships to radical shifts in career and personal philosophy. We'll examine how these real-life events connect directly to the astrological symbolism. By looking back at these examples, the goal is to better understand the principles of a Uranus transit, as well as what Uranus means in general in astrology. This will help us anticipate and understand what the upcoming seven-year transit of Uranus in Gemini might mean for each of us, depending on which house it will be moving through in our own charts. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:14:25 4th House 00:31:00 5th House 00:38:44 8th House 00:50:03 7th House 01:08:22 10th House 01:23:41 6th House 01:42:24 11th House 01:54:29 9th House 02:08:35 12th House 02:26:33 3rd House 02:38:19 Concluding Remarks Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4fiCMQags4 - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 499 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In episode 498 I discuss how the filming of the movie Back to the Future started during a Mercury retrograde period, and the production experienced notorious delays, including firing the lead actor after 6 weeks of filming. By examining the challenges and ultimate success of the film, we can gain a deeper understanding of what Mercury retrograde truly means in astrology. The story begins with the filmmakers, Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis, who, after years of developing the script, had their hearts set on Michael J. Fox for the lead role of Marty McFly. When Fox was unavailable, they moved forward with another actor, Eric Stoltz. Filming commenced in late November 1984, precisely as Mercury was slowing down to station retrograde. Mercury retrogrades are often associated with delays, revisions, and the need to redo things. The initial weeks of filming with Stoltz proved to be a prime example of these themes, as his more serious interpretation of the role clashed with the comedic vision of the filmmakers. This led to the difficult and highly unusual decision to recast the lead role in the middle of production. The story of Back to the Future's creation, with its delays and necessary do-overs, serves as a powerful real-world example of Mercury retrograde in action, teaching us that sometimes we must go back to the past to correct our course in order to create a better future. Join me as I break down the astrological timeline of these events and discuss the broader lessons we can learn about navigating our own Mercury retrograde periods. Timestamps 00:00:00 - Introduction: Back to the Future & Mercury Retrograde 00:00:28 - What Mercury Retrograde Means in Astrology 00:00:52 - The Movie's Origin Story 00:02:11 - The Failed Attempt to Cast Michael J. Fox 00:03:40 - Eric Stoltz is Cast as Marty McFly 00:04:36 - The Astrology of When Filming Began 00:07:23 - Filming with Eric Stoltz Isn't Working 00:09:20 - The Fateful Decision to Recast the Lead 00:09:51 - Approaching Michael J. Fox During Christmas 00:11:47 - The Astrology Chart of the Recasting 00:13:20 - Michael J. Fox's Birth Chart Transits 00:16:15 - Stoltz is Fired, Fox Starts Filming 00:19:03 - Michael J. Fox's Grueling Filming Schedule 00:23:36 - Production Delays & Eventual Success 00:25:30 - Key Lessons About Mercury Retrograde 00:28:27 - The Venus Retrograde Connection to Star Wars 00:33:23 - The Lasting Impact on the Actors 00:34:54 - 40th Anniversary Repeats the Astrology of 1985 00:37:37 - Final Conclusions Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mXmW1AhfEg – Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 498 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In episode 497 astrologer Chris Brennan analyzes predictions made about Iran on The Astrology Podcast over the past year, and discusses what we can learn from those predictions in terms of mundane astrology. Starting with the eclipse season that happened last year in April 2024, I began seeing seeing astrological indications that implied a conflict with Iran would escalate over the course of the next year, and we ended up making a number of predictions to that effect in from mid-2024 to early 2025. After those predictions were fulfilled in June of 2025 when Israel and the United States launched a surprise attack on Iran, I went back and looked at the statements we made over the past year in order to see how we did, and ended up making a clip compilation from different episodes. During the course of this episode I present 10 clips from different episodes of The Astrology Podcast over the past year where we talked about Iran and made different predictions based on the astrological alignments we were seeing, and in between each clip I add some commentary in order to contextualize the clip and explain the different stages in our thinking. Putting together all of the clips and statements we made like this is really useful because you can see the evolution of our thinking, as we discovered new things and as new developments took place, and I think there are a number of useful lessons that can be learned from studying the things we got right as well as the areas where we could have done better. My hope is that astrologers can use this as a case study, and apply some of the lessons we learned from this to making other world astrology predictions in the future. Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8oGSA07-NY - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 497 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In episode 496 astrologer Chris Brennan talks about the transit of Uranus in Gemini, and how astrologers came to associate it with major wars in United States history. The first part of the episode discusses how the astrologer Luke Broughton (1828-1899) seems to have been the first astrologer to have observed the correlation between Uranus in Gemini and major wars in US history, and he used this in order to make predictions in the early 1860s about the start of the Civil War. Later I discuss the astrologer Evangeline Adams (1868-1932), who used the Uranus in Gemini transit to predict the start of US involvement in World War II, in a book that she published in 1931. Later I reflect on one of the earliest episodes of The Astrology Podcast, episode 11 titled The Astrology of Uranus and the United States, where I discussed this transit with Nick Dagan Best and the implication that it predicted another major war after Uranus enters Gemini again in 2025. This is also a followup to episode 376, titled The Uranus Return of the United States, which delves more into what Uranus in Gemini has coincided with in the past in US history. This episode was recorded late in the night of July 6, 2025, just hours before Uranus went into Gemini on July 7, and then released shortly after the ingress took place, with early Gemini rising. My goal was to reflect on the history of astrologers studying this transit and using it for predictions, and to mark the occasion as we head into what is clearly shaping up to be another very important turning point in US history. Timestamps 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:07 - The 84-Year Historical Pattern of Major U.S. Wars 00:05:44 - Why This Pattern Exists: The U.S. Birth Chart 00:08:03 - The Natal Mars-Uranus Conjunction 00:11:09 - Symbolism of Fireworks on the 4th of July 00:13:20 - Luke Broughton's 1861 Prediction of the Civil War 00:17:38 - Reading From Broughton's Astrological Journal 00:22:46 - The Three Most Significant Wars in U.S. History 00:24:52 - Evangeline Adams' 1931 Prediction of World War II 00:28:24 - Reading Adams' Famous Prediction 00:36:42 - How Long Modern Astrologers Have Anticipated This 00:38:38 - Clip from 2013 Prediction of a War in 2025 00:47:05 - Current Events: Potential for Internal & External Conflict 00:52:26 - The Empirical Side of Astrology & Making Predictions 00:56:47 - Potential Positives: Transformation & Liberation 01:02:21 - Key Dates to Watch During the Transit (2025-2033) 01:14:21 - Conclusion Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsuFeSuZeGo – Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 496 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In episode 495 astrologers Chris Brennan and Austin Coppock look at the astrological forecast for July of 2025! We spend the first hour of the episode talking about the astrology of news and events that have occurred since our last forecast, and then in the second hour we transition into talking about the astrology of July, starting at 1 hour and 3 minutes into the episode. July opens with Uranus entering the sign of Gemini on July 7, which it hasn't visited since the 1940s, and beginning the long-anticipated Uranus return of the United states. In the first half of the month Saturn and Neptune both make their first retrograde station in Aries, and move into a very close conjunction with each other in the sky, coming within less than a degree of orb for the first time since the late 1980s. There is also a Mercury retrograde period in Leo that begins in the middle of the month, and then doesn't conclude until early August. In this episode we also celebrate our 10th anniversary of doing forecasts together! Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:57 Quick overview of July 00:03:23 News segment 00:55:36 United Astrology Conference 01:01:37 Hellenistic course discount 01:03:02 July forecast 02:19:30 Electional date for July 02:26:11 Mars-South Node & Venus-Mars 02:35:02 New Moon in Leo July 24 02:44:34 Wrapping up 02:53:04 Credits United Astrology Conference https://uacastrology.com Hellenistic Astrology Course Sale 15% off Chris' Hellenistic course with promo code JUPITER until July 14: https://theastrologyschool.com Austin’s Website https://austincoppock.com Patreon for Elections and Bonus Content https://www.patreon.com/astrologypodcast Watch the Video Version of This Episode Watch the video version of our astrology forecast for June on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc6kr7we5Wg - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 495 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In episode 494 I share several Venus retrograde repetitions that have happened in the news recently, and summarize what I learned from closely tracking the Venus retrograde recently. Since Venus finally departed from Aries and completed the extended retrograde period earlier this month I wanted to do one final episode to wrap up some lingering 8-year repetition stories that I had found, and also to share some conclusions I drew from this research over the past 6 months. I needed to do this episode in order to bring this series to completion that I started back in January, and this is the third and final installment in the news series. Some repetitions I covered include: Star Wars, Nintendo, the Oscars/Conan, the Rose Garden, and Iran. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:07:31 Star Wars 00:16:01 Oscars & Conan 00:26:06 Nintendo 00:44:40 Rose Garden 00:47:41 Iran 01:00:49 Miscellaneous Stories 01:18:58 What I've Learned 01:55:37 Credits Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luI_GV5Ga9I – Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 494 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In episode 493 I interview some patrons and students talk about how the recent Venus and Mars retrograde periods went for them, and to demonstrate a principle I discovered about how retrogrades can describe the unfolding of a sequence of events over an extended period of time. One of my unique perspectives on Venus and Mars retrogrades is that they are not just the period when the planet is moving backwards, but instead represent an extended stay in one or two signs of the zodiac. This long transit often coincides with the unfolding of a sequence of events over several months, frequently centered on the topics of the whole sign houses the retrograde occupies. Now that the extended retrograde period ranges have been completed this month, with Venus finally departing from its retrograde sign of Aries and Mars departing from its retrograde sign of Leo, I wanted to document and demonstrate this principle by sharing some real-life stories. I'm joined by several students from my courses and patrons of the podcast who share their experiences of how these transits played out in their lives. In particular we explore three specific ways that I have identified about how retrogrades can manifest: Retrogrades that represent the unfolding of a sequence of events that play out over an extended period of time. Retrogrades that cross a sign boundary and connect two sets of topics across the whole sign houses involved. When Venus and Mars are retrograde in different signs and the topics of both houses they are in become relevant.   Through these discussions, we see clear examples of how these extended retrograde periods timed significant life stories, from relationship changes and career shifts to health matters and dealing with family. This episode serves as a final case study to substantiate the theoretical framework I outlined in previous forecasts, providing concrete examples to help astrologers learn how to apply this concept to future retrogrades. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction & premise 00:09:36 Three retrograde types 00:19:04 Kitt 00:38:34 Abby 00:49:53 Baykan 01:00:51 Emily 01:16:31 Summer 01:32:15 Christine 02:03:08 Dinah-Maria 02:24:55 Erin 02:26:31 Denese 02:48:15 Concluding remarks 03:02:13 Credits Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CS4YLeg4xc - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 493 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In episode 492 Professor A. Tunç Şen joins the podcast to discuss his book, Forgotten Experts: Astrologers, Science, and Authority in the Ottoman Empire, 1450-1600, which is on astrologers working in the Ottoman court in the 15th and 16th centuries. The conversation offers a detailed picture of the lives and social dynamics of astrologers who operated at the highest levels of power in the Ottoman court. A significant focus is the establishment of a formal unit for court astrologers, or munajjim, within the Ottoman bureaucracy, which paralleled other expert fields like physicians and architects. This unit, which could consist of one to six astrologers, was created in the 15th century and remarkably lasted until the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century. The episode delves into the various duties performed by these court astrologers. A primary function was the practice of electional astrology, where they would determine auspicious moments for a wide range of state affairs, including military campaigns, the founding of mosques, and wedding ceremonies. The astrologers would also issue an annual almanac, interpret the birth charts of rulers, answer horary astrology questions, and sometimes give medical advice. The conversation also explores the personalities and internal dynamics within the court. Much attention is given to Sultan Bayezid II, a ruler with a deep personal interest in the astral sciences who was instrumental in the institutionalization of the court astrologers. The story of the astrologer Riyazi is also highlighted—a highly skilled but frustrated practitioner who was never appointed chief astrologer and expressed his professional frustrations in poetry. This illustrates the debates, disagreements, and competition for authority that existed among the astrologers themselves, as well as other practitioners of esoteric or occult sciences. The discussion challenges the narrative that astrology was in a state of decline after an earlier "golden age," demonstrating that it remained a vibrant and impactful field. Tunç's book was just released on May 20, and you can order it on Amazon or other online retailers now: Forgotten Experts: Astrologers, Science, and Authority in the Ottoman Empire, 1450–1600 This episode is available in both audio and video versions below. Timestamps 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:02:45 - Challenging the "Decline Narrative" of Astrology 00:04:11 - Astronomy vs. Astrology in the Ottoman Empire 00:07:20 - The Story of the Istanbul Observatory's Destruction 00:09:03 - The Official Unit of Court Astrologers (Müneccim) 00:14:23 - How Astrological Knowledge Was Transmitted 00:16:50 - The Benefits of Being a Court Astrologer 00:22:50 - How Electional Astrology Was Used by Sultans 00:27:13 - A Debate Over an Electional Chart for a Mosque 00:36:08 - The Story of the Frustrated Astrologer-Poet, Riyazi 00:43:04 - Sultan Bayezid II: The Philosopher King 00:50:49 - The Sultan's Rebellious Youth & Lifelong Friendship 00:58:02 - A Scholar's Spirited Defense of Astrology 01:03:01 - Why Astrologers Needed Better Astronomical Data 01:12:21 - The Many Duties of the Sultan's Astrologers 01:13:13 - The Annual Almanacs & Predictions for the Kingdom 01:16:26 - The Risks and Rewards of Predicting for the Sultan 01:21:33 - The Decline in Status for Court Astrologers 01:25:01 - Competition Between Astrologers & Other Esoteric Arts 01:31:53 - Conclusion Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvZiDOnFIf0 - Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In episode 491 astrologers Chris Brennan and Leisa Schaim look at the astrological forecast for June of 2025! We spend the first hour of the episode talking about the astrology of news and events that have occurred since our last forecast, and then in the second hour we transition into talking about the astrology of June, starting at 1 hour and 3 minutes into the episode. June opens with Venus and Mars wrapping up their extended retrograde periods by moving into new signs finally, with Venus moving into her home sign of Taurus and Mars moving into Virgo. A major shift this month is Jupiter moving into Cancer, which is the traditional sign of its exaltation, where it will stay for the next year. There are some tense alignments in the middle of the month, with an explosive Mars-Uranus square around June 15, and restrictive Jupiter-Saturn square going exact on the same day. By the end of the month Saturn has moved within 1 degree of a conjunction with Neptune, making that alignment peak in intensity, blurring the lines between what is real and what is not. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:04 Quick overview of June 00:03:47 News segment 01:03:49 June forecast 02:31:55 Electional date for June 02:38:00 Wrapping up 02:42:03 Credits Patreon for Early Access & Bonus Content Patreon.com/AstrologyPodcast Leisa's Website LeisaSchaim.com Watch the Video Version of This Episode Watch the video version of our astrology forecast for June on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDMTDGvDjuI - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 491 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In episode 490 professor M. Willis Monroe joins the podcast to discuss the history of astrology in ancient Mesopotamia. Willis is a historian of the ancient Near East and scholar of Cuneiform Studies with a focus on the science and scholarship of first millennium Mesopotamia, and he did his doctoral thesis on the use of zodiacal subdivisions in cuneiform sources. During the course of the episode we give an overview of the origins of western astrology in ancient Mesopotamia, starting with the earliest surviving sources around 2000 BCE, and then working our way forward until cuneiform writing died out around the 1st century CE. We end up discussing the earliest evidence for astrology in eclipse omens from the 2nd millennium BCE, the high point of state supported astrology under the Neo-Assyrian kings in the 7th century BCE, and eventually the development of the zodiac and natal astrology in the 5th century BCE. This episode is available in both audio and video versions below. Timestamps 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:22 - Ancient Languages: Akkadian, Sumerian & Cuneiform 00:02:49 - The Origin of Writing in Mesopotamia 00:07:28 - How Urbanization Led to Specialized Roles like Diviners 00:10:02 - The Role of Polytheism and Gods of Specific Cities 00:12:46 - The Concept of a God's "House" (Temple) 00:17:48 - The Emergence of Divination in Mesopotamian Culture 00:20:01 - Earliest Evidence: Gudea's Dream & Divination (c. 2100 BCE) 00:22:38 - Three Forms of Divination: Astrology, Dreams, and Entrails 00:28:43 - The Omen Series Format: "If P, then Q" 00:32:08 - Early Significance of Eclipses & Rituals to Avert Omens 00:35:25 - How Astrology Motivated the Development of Astronomy 00:40:46 - The Enuma Anu Enlil: The Canonical Collection of Omens 00:42:42 - No Distinction Between Astronomy and Astrology 00:50:52 - High Point of State-Sponsored Astrology (7th Century BCE) 00:54:38 - Astrologers Reporting to the King & Scholarly Disagreements 01:12:37 - The Late Period: Development of Natal Astrology (Birth Charts) 01:20:23 - The Astronomical Diaries: Daily Records of Sky & Earth 01:28:02 - Goal-Year Texts & Long-Term Planetary Cycles 01:32:04 - The Standardization of the 12-Sign Zodiac 01:40:51 - Early Qualities of the Signs (Body Parts, Gender) 01:46:40 - The Exaltations (Hypsomata) Originated in Mesopotamia 01:50:31 - The First Images of the Zodiac Signs on Clay Tablets 02:02:49 - The Hellenistic Period & Cross-Pollination of Astrology 02:08:32 - The End of the Cuneiform Tradition & Loss of Knowledge 02:20:01 - The Babylonian Creation Myth (Enuma Elish) 02:30:20 - Adapa: The Mythical Sage Who Revealed Astrology 02:37:05 - Lineage vs. Individual Authorship 02:42:31 - Regional Differences in Astrological Practice (Babylon vs. Uruk) 02:57:33 - Willis's Current Research Projects 03:06:23 - Conclusion Watch the Video Version of This Episode Watch the video version of this episode on Mesopotamian astrology on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkcM6wOJBZY - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 490 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In episode 489 astrologers Chris Brennan and Leisa Schaim discuss their views on astrology, fate, and destiny. This is part of a new series exploring our personal view on the philosophy of astrology, and in particular exploring the relevance of some ancient Stoic concepts related to fate and determinism. While most of the episodes of the podcast are usually more technically oriented, the purpose of this series is to begin to articulate some of the philosophical and spiritual views that we have developed based on our practice of astrology. This episode is available in both audio and video versions below. Leisa's website with info on her upcoming zodiacal releasing workshop: https://www.leisaschaim.com Chris' ancient astrology course: https://courses.theastrologyschool.com Timestamps 00:00:00 Exploring Astrology's Philosophical Foundations 00:03:53 Fate, Free Will, and the Stoic Perspective 00:09:26 Astrology vs. Scientific Materialism 00:11:16 The Role of Fate in Personal Growth 00:17:34 Understanding Predetermined Events in Life 00:21:10 The Interplay of Fate and Free Will 00:27:12 The Internal and External Aspects of Fate 00:32:40 Zodiacal Releasing and Life's Turning Points 00:35:40 Finding Meaning in Predetermined Choices 00:38:45 The Nature of Experience and Free Will 00:40:06 Astrology and Personal Growth 00:41:54 Understanding Control and External Circumstances 00:44:10 The Limitations of Control in Astrology 00:48:31 Electional Astrology: Navigating Choices 00:51:45 The Interplay of Timing and Fate 00:56:34 Fate, Free Will, and Life's Direction 01:01:23 The Role of Astrology in Accepting Fate 01:06:39 The Stoic Perspective on Fate and Acceptance 01:12:03 Predetermination vs. Free Will in Astrology 01:17:37 Electional Astrology and Conditional Fate 01:24:36 The Balance of Knowledge and Action in Astrology 01:31:27 The Unfolding of Fate and Personal Growth 01:39:16 Understanding Fate and Destiny in Astrology 01:45:08 The Complexity of Free Will and Fate 01:49:33 The Birth Chart: Present Life Focus 01:55:29 The Immutable Nature of the Natal Chart 01:58:38 Fate, Free Will, and Timing in Astrology 02:00:12 Finding Peace in Astrological Insights 02:03:10 Astrology as a Language of the Cosmos 02:06:34 Personal Perspectives on Astrology and Fate 02:09:21 The Importance of Technical Approaches in Astrology 02:12:25 Exploring Different Astrological Traditions 02:19:18 Leisa's zodiacal releasing workshop Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1wIprhk9AE – Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 489 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In episode 488 astrologers Chris Brennan and Austin Coppock look at the astrological forecast for May of 2025! May opens with the tense Mars-Pluto opposition separating but still in close alignment, and this gets reactivated when Pluto stations in Aquarius and the Moon swings in and acts as a trigger at various points. Venus returns to Aries where it retraces its steps and begins the process of fully winding down its long retrograde period, and Mars is similarly finishing up its broader retrograde cycle as it makes its way through Leo. The most important transits this month is that Saturn moves into the sign of Aries on May 24, and this marks the beginning of a three year transit through this sign, where it will meet up with Neptune this summer and early next year. The month ends with an auspicious stellium of planets all meeting up in Gemini, which provides us with one of the best electional charts of the year. We spend the first hour of the episode talking about the astrology of news and events that have occurred since our last forecast, and then in the second half we transition into talking about the astrology of May. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:49 Quick overview of May 00:03:08 Beginning of news segment 01:03:08 May forecast begins 02:03:28 Electional chart for May 02:07:49 Late May 02:14:30 Upcoming projects 02:20:48 Credits Patreon for Early Access & Bonus Content Patreon.com/AstrologyPodcast Austin’s Website Austincoppock.com Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_645ovm11u0 - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 488 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In episode 487 astrologers Chris Brennan, Lindsey Turner, and Nick Dagan Best review a number of stories in the news recently that coincided with the Venus retrograde. This is a followup to episodes 475 and 477 where we talked about what Venus retrograde in Aries has coincided with in history, and part of our purpose with this episode is to document repetitions where stories from the past became relevant again today under the current retrograde. In the first half of the episode we focus on 8 year repetitions of Venus, connecting past and present events, while in the second half we focus on other stories in the news that match the general quality of Venus retrograde. For more info about Lindsey and Nick check out their websites: https://badpastor.me https://www.nickdaganbestastrologer.com Timestamps 00:00:00 - Introduction: Tracking 8-Year Repetitions 00:03:36 - The 2025 Venus Retrograde Timeline 00:06:17 - Keywords: Normative vs. Non-Normative 00:08:31 - Rollback of Civil Rights & The SAVE Act 00:13:51 - The Target Boycott Reversal from 2017 00:19:01 - The Handmaid's Tale: From 1985 to Today 00:20:50 - Violence Against Women During the Station 00:24:24 - Lady Gaga and "Reheating Her Nachos" 00:28:41 - Artists Looking Back: The Beatles' "Get Back" 00:30:58 - Breaking News: Beyoncé's Rumored Birth Time 00:38:20 - Repetitions in Bridge Construction 00:42:21 - Kendrick Lamar at the Super Bowl 00:57:52 - The Breakfast Club 40-Year Reunion 01:06:47 - Trump's "Liberation Day" Speech & Historical Callbacks 01:12:37 - Nintendo Switch 2 Delayed by Tariffs 01:15:33 - Severing of Global Relationships & Alliances 01:42:06 - Invoking the 1798 Alien Enemies Act 01:58:41 - Casey Anthony Resurfaces 02:14:40 - RFK Jr.'s Comments vs. "Love on the Spectrum" 02:29:13 - Conclusion & Guest Information Watch the Video Version on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB6AlA16nbA Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 487 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In episode 486 astrologer Chris Brennan interviews some listeners of the podcast to talk about the recent retrogrades of Venus and Mars and what changes they coincided with in their life. Mars is recently coming off of its retrograde in Cancer and Leo, while Venus is wrapping up its retrograde in Aries and Pisces, so it felt like a good moment to check in with some people and see how these retrogrades played out depending on where the transits happened in the chart. During the course of the discussion we hear about some unique and interesting ways that the transits manifested, especially in terms of the houses that the retrograde periods happened in. This episode is available in both audio and video versions below. Watch the Video Version on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRLXFU_qDeI - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 486 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3: