The Astrology Podcast

Astrologer Israel Ajose discusses the significance of the Moon in astrology, emphasizing its role in emotional insights and life manifestations. The conversation covers the moon's symbolism, void of course concept, and its impact on memory and group dynamics. Insights into Hellenistic and Indian astrology traditions, along with reflections on lunar placements in birth charts, conclude the enriching discussion.

In episode 293 astrologers Kelly Surtees, Austin Coppock, and Chris Brennan look at the astrology forecast for March of 2021. March features the end of the sign-based square between Mars and Saturn that began way back in mid-2020, plus a shift of planets into mutable signs, and the beginning of a new Venus synodic cycle. Towards the end of the episode we talk about a few miscellaneous topics that came up on the podcast this month, such as the meanings of the north and south nodes, the different definitions of the void of course Moon, and whether astrology is a form of divination like tarot. This episode is available in audio and video versions below. Archetypal Explorer Our sponsor this month is Archetypal Explorer, which offers a visual astrology program for the savvy enthusiast: ArchetypalExplorer.com Current Offerings From Kelly, Austin, and Chris Here are links to some of our current offerings this month: KellysAstrology.com AustinCoppock.com SphereAndSundry.com TheAstrologySchool.com (prices of Chris' courses going up later in March)   Planetary Alignments for March 2021 Here are the planetary alignments for March: Coming off of the Full Moon in Virgo Feb 26 Saturn barely more than a degree separating from Uranus Mars into Gemini March 3 New Moon in Pisces March 13 Mercury into Pisces March 15 Sun into Aries March 20 Venus into Aries March 21 Mercury squares Mars March 23 Sun conjunct Venus March 26 Full Moon in Libra March 28   Auspicious Astrological Date for March The most auspicious astrological date we could find in March is: March 1, 2021, at approximately 10:30 AM local time, with Gemini rising There are a few other charts for March that are available in our private subscriber-only electional astrology podcast. Timestamps Here are some timestamps for topics covered at different points in the episode: 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:06 March 2021 overview 00:04:50 February 2021 review 00:17:21 Mars-Saturn square finally over 00:22:04 Kelly's take on March 00:22:28 Austin's take on March 00:23:15 Mutable sign qualities 00:26:50 Sun and Venus in Pisces 00:27:14 Venus under the beams 00:34:52 March 1 00:35:22 Final Mercury-Jupiter conjunction 3/4 00:37:32 Mars in Gemini 00:38:55 Mercury in Pisces 00:39:40 Mercury Square Mars 3/23 00:40:30 March auspicious electional astrology chart 00:46:17 Update on Chris' astrology courses 00:48:33 New Moon in Pisces 3/13 00:52:40 Halfway point of eclipse cycles 00:57:40 Mercury enters Pisces 3/15 01:00:00 Mercury-Neptune conjunction 01:07:55 Archetypal Explorer 01:11:44 The Sun and Venus enter Aries 3/20-3/21 01:14:40 Venus-Sun conjunction in Aries 01:17:40 Full moon in Libra 3/28 01:23:10 Malefic contrary to sect benefits? 01:25:45 More about Full Moon in Libra 01:27:20 More about Venus Sun in Aries 01:30:28 Mars trine Saturn 3/21 01:35:49 Mars North Node conjunction 3/25 01:46:10 The pacing of March 01:49:11 More about Rahu 01:52:35 Astrology community and popularity 01:57:40 Void of Course Moon 02:15:41 Seeking a name for a double transit 02:21:30 Tarot and astrology as divination 02:26:00 Upcoming events 02:31:06 Closing remarks Watch the Video Version of This Episode You can watch the video version of our March astrology forecast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHJdclBYtpM - Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode You can either play the audio version of this episode of the podcast directly from the website or download it as an MP3 to your device by using the buttons below:

Episode 292 features a discussion between astrologers Yasmin Boland and Chris Brennan about the three different ways of defining what it means for the Moon to be void of course in astrology. This discussion is largely based on definition of void of course that I wrote for The Astrology Dictionary back in 2012, where I noted that there are three different ways that the Moon is defined as being void of course in the western astrological tradition. Yasmin specializes in the astrology of the Moon in particular, and wrote a popular astrology book in 2016 titled Moonology, and asked to record a discussion with me about the different ways that void of course is defined. I agreed as long as I could also release it as an episode of The Astrology Podcast, and it ended up being a pretty good discussion not just about the void of course Moon, but also the transmission of astrology and how astrologers define and receive different concepts. You can find out more about Yasmin on her website: Moonology.com This episode is available in both audio and video versions below. Watch the Video Version of This Episode on Void of Course Watch the video version of this episode on the void of course Moon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ4WQExbelI - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 292 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode You can either play the audio version of this episode of the podcast directly from the website or download it as an MP3 to your device by using the buttons below:

Episode 291 features an interview with T. Susan Chang about some of the parallels between astrology and tarot cards as forms of divination. Susan is a professional tarot card reader, and the purpose of this discussion was to explore some of the ways that astrology is similar to tarot as a form of divination, versus some of the ways that it is different. We tried to answer some questions like: how can tarot inform our understanding of what astrology is as a phenomenon? What makes divination divination? What are some different types of divination? What models of reality support the practice? In some ways this was a nice followup to episode 53 of the podcast with Geoffrey Cornelius on The Moment of Astrology, where we talked about whether astrology is a form of divination or a natural science. Susan is the co-host the Fortune's Wheelhouse esoteric tarot podcast, as well as the author of the new book 36 Secrets: A Decanic Journey Through the Minor Arcana of the Tarot. You can find out more about her work on her website: TSusanChang.com This episode is available in both audio and video versions below. Watch the Video Version of This Episode Here is the video version of this episode on astrology and tarot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ccU6ShBhq0 - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 291 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode You can either play the audio version of this episode of the podcast directly from the website or download it as an MP3 to your device by using the buttons below:

In episode 290 astrologer Ronnie Gale Dreyer joins the show to talk about the early history and meanings of the nodes in astrology, both in the western and Indian astrological traditions. As discussed in episode 127, in the late 20th and early 21st century the nodes came to be associated with one's past and future life in modern western astrology, but these associations are absent from the tradition if you look back more than a century or so. The premise of this discussion, then, is what did the nodes mean in the older traditions of astrology if they didn't have to do with past lives? Ronnie is the author of the book Vedic Astrology: A Guide to the Fundamentals of Jyotish, and she is also a Sanskrit scholar who is currently working on a translation of a 4th century Indian text on applying astrology to the lives of women. Together we set out to explore and discuss the early history of the nodes in eastern and western astrology. You can find out more information about Ronnie on her website: RonnieDreyer.com The painting featured in the cover art for this episode is by astrologer Shu Yap, and depicts the Samudra Manthan story, which we mention at one point in this episode as being connected to Hindu legends surrounding the origins of the nodes. You can follow Shu on Instagram: @interpsycle_astrology This episode is available in both audio and video versions below. Timestamps Here are some timestamps for topics covered at different points in the episode: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:00 Ronnie's book and background 00:14:45 History of women in astrology 00:20:39 The nodes and past lives 00:30:54 Interaction between Eastern and Western astrology 00:36:39 Mythology of Rahu and Ketu 00:39:19 Ancient mentions of the nodes 00:48:58 Parashara and nodes 00:57:30 Nodes, malefics, and outcasts 00:59:00 Nodes, the ecliptic, eclipses 01:01:30 Valens on the nodes 01:05:40 Rahu like Saturn, Ketu like Mars 01:07:40 Delineations from Phaladeepika 01:10:00 Houses 3, 6, 10, 11 and Rahu 01:14:18 Houses 4, 5 and Rahu 01:16:00 Rahu and Ketu as malefics 01:20:59 Houses 7, 10, 9, 11 and Rahu 01:24:40 House 12 and Rahu 01:25:00 Houses 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and Ketu 01:29:56 Houses 9, 10, 11, 12 and Ketu 01:32:44 Dragon and the nodes 01:34:49 Exaltations of the nodes 01:37:44 Opinion According to the Chaldeans 01:43:30 Turning point of nodes in history 01:47:25 Persian tradition 01:48:35 More about the dragon 01:51:30 Guido Bonnati on the nodes 01:58:58 More on the Vedic nodes 02:02:25 Rudhyar and evolutionary astrology 02:11:38 Three traditions of the nodes 02:16:21 Outer planets and the nodes 02:19:47 How Chris uses the nodes 02:22:38 Nodes and eclipses 02:27:54 Ronnie's work and website 02:28:44 Closing remarks Watch the Video Version of This Episode Here is the video version of this episode on the Moon's nodes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjRw8465OhE - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 290 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode You can either play the audio version of this episode of the podcast directly from the website or download it as an MP3 to your device by using the buttons below:

In episode 289 astrologers Kelly Surtees, Austin Coppock, and Chris Brennan look at the astrological forecast for February of 2021. February features the first of three exact Saturn-Uranus squares this year, plus a stellium of planets in Aquarius, and a Mercury retrograde in Aquarius. We spend the first 30-40 minutes giving an overview of some of the major themes that have been occurring since our last forecast in mid-December, and then we get into a more detailed breakdown of the transits for February. This episode is available in both audio and video versions below. 2021 Auspicious Elections Report and Astrology Calendars The Astrology Podcast has released our annual electional report and calendars! 2021 Electional Astrology Report 2021 Astrology Calendar Posters The Mountain Astrologer Magazine Our sponsor for this episode is The Mountain Astrologer magazine: The Mountain Astrologer magazine Current Offerings From Kelly, Austin, and Chris You can find out more about our work on our websites: KellysAstrology.com Kelly: Guiding Lights: Your Ascendant Ruler and Sect Light Kelly's Astrology Guide Monthly AustinCoppock.com Sphere + Sundry ChrisBrennanAstrologer.com Chris' book on Hellenistic Astrology Chris' online course on ancient astrology   Auspicious Astrological Date for February The most auspicious astrological date we could find in February is: February 21, 2021, at approximately 11:00 AM local time, with Gemini rising There are a few other charts for February that will present on our private subscriber-only electional astrology podcast. Timestamps Here are some timestamps for topics covered at different points in the episode: 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:14 Visuals of February 00:04:42 Overview of February 00:05:07 Saturn Uranus square 00:06:03 Mars in Taurus January 6 00:08:10 Saturn Uranus themes 00:13:41 Stock market volatility 00:24:06 January 6 riots/insurrection 00:30:19 Mars Uranus Inauguration day 00:32:28 Saturn Jupiter conjunction 00:37:33 Aquarius assembly/stellium 00:45:55 Mercury retrograde in Aquarius 01:06:57 Venus enters Aquarius Feb 1 01:13:41 Sun Mercury conjunction Feb 7 01:14:24 Mercury retrograde into Mars Feb 10 01:15:37 New Moon in Aquarius Feb 11 01:18:52 Venus Jupiter 01:22:23 The morality of Aquarius 01:23:36 Aquarius in birth charts 01:31:11 Mercury conjunct Venus Feb 12 01:31:30 Mercury conjunct Jupiter Feb 14 01:32:10 1st Saturn Uranus square Feb 17 01:36:42 Sun enters Pisces Feb 18 01:37:02 Mercury direct Feb 20 01:37:25 Venus squares Mars Feb 19 01:39:37 Auspicious election chart 01:44:30 Venus enter Pisces Feb 25 01:46:45 Full Moon in Virgo Feb 27 01:52:38 The Mountain Astrologer magazine 01:56:48 Upcoming projects Watch the Video Version of This Episode You can watch the video version of our February astrology forecast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkvgBTy9Rzc - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 289 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode You can either play the audio version of this episode of the podcast directly from the website or download it as an MP3 to your device by using the buttons below:

Episode 288 features a discussion where an astrologer tries to explain what astrology is about to two people who are curious about the subject but somewhat skeptical. Last week Ian and Shaye from the comedy podcast Camp ReEducation reached out to me to see if I would be on their show, where they do interviews with people from different fields and try to familiarize themselves with new topics and reexamine their preconceptions. I agreed to do it as long as I could also release the recording as an episode of my podcast, and it ended up being a good discussion about trying to figure out how to explain astrology to a couple of non-astrologers who are skeptical about the subject but willing to listen and ask questions. Figuring out how to communicate what astrologers do to the general public has always been one of my interests, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to try doing that with them, and I think it ended up being a great discussion. You can find out more info about Ian and Shaye and their podcast at: CampReEducation.com This episode is available in both audio and video versions below. Watch the Video Version of This Episode Here is the video version of my talk with the guys from Camp ReEducation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG3ETNYNTXs - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 288 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode You can either play the audio version of this episode of the podcast directly from the website or download it as an MP3 to your device by using the buttons below:

Episode 287 features a lecture by Chris Brennan on the concept of reception in traditional astrology, and how it can be used as a powerful mitigating factor in birth chart interpretation. Broadly speaking, reception occurs when one planet is placed in a sign ruled by another planet, and the ruler of the sign aspects the guest planet. Since the signs of the zodiac were originally conceptualized as the homes or dwelling places of the planets, reception was conceptualized as what happens when a host planet welcomes and supports guests staying in its home. Medieval astrologers often treated reception as a powerful mitigating factor, which could make aspects from benefics even more positive, or alternatively make difficult aspects from malefics more constructive. In the first part of the lecture I talk about the history and philosophy behind this concept, while in the second half I present a bunch of contemporary chart examples to demonstrate how the technique works in practice. This episode is available in both video and audio versions below. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:50 The problem: Why hard aspects are sometimes constructive 00:01:35 Modern vs. ancient approaches to mitigating factors 00:02:45 Reception defined as a mitigating condition 00:03:29 Prerequisite: Signs of the zodiac as homes of the planets 00:04:14 The guest-host metaphor for planets 00:06:51 The traditional rulership scheme 00:07:51 Firmicus Maternus on the guest-host relationship 00:10:20 Basic definition of reception 00:12:19 Aversion: When signs do not aspect each other 00:14:28 Reception as the next best thing to a planet being in its own sign 00:16:07 Early textual references to reception 00:18:00 Formalization of reception in the early Medieval tradition 00:20:49 Mutual reception: Exchanging signs 00:21:26 Three types of mutual reception 00:30:44 Reception as familiarity or a "family tie" 00:35:30 Reception as hospitality (xenia) 00:36:40 Medieval astrologers on reception as a mitigating factor 00:40:48 Abu Ma'shar on reception and illness 00:44:53 Prerequisite concepts for chart examples 00:52:07 The concept of overcoming 00:58:08 Worst-case scenario: Maltreatment without reception 00:58:34 Chart example 1: Sibling's death 01:02:18 Chart example 2: Che Guevara 01:05:01 Chart example 3: Loss of a friend 01:08:57 Chart example 4: Ted Kennedy 01:12:41 Chart example 5: Maurizio Gucci 01:16:36 Chart example 6: Carrie Fisher 01:22:50 Chart example 7: Robin Williams 01:29:13 Chart example 8: Aretha Franklin 01:36:22 Chart example 9: Dr. Dre 01:51:36 Chart example 10: Kurt Cobain 02:05:25 Concluding remarks 02:06:04 Reception is not the only mitigating factor 02:07:52 Recommended book and course 02:09:47 Closing remarks and credits Watch The Video Version of this Episode on Reception Here is this video version of this episode on the concept of reception in astrology: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwNTivlTws8 - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 287 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode You can either play the audio version of this episode of the podcast directly from the website or download it as an MP3 to your device by using the buttons below:

Episode 286 features an interview with astrologer Banu Guler about the popular astrology app that she founded called Co-Star. Co-Star is an app for iPhone and Android that calculates your birth chart and provides some basic interpretations, as well as daily transit notifications. The app was launched in late 2017, and quickly became one of the most popular astrology apps in the world, with Co-Star estimating that approximately 20% of young people in the US have downloaded the app. Despite its popularity, the app has also been the subject of criticism within the astrological community, for things ranging from the appropriateness of certain delineations, to questions about the extent to which astrologers were involved in its creation. Last month Banu did an impromptu Ask Me Anything thread on the astrology page on Reddit, to answer some questions about the app. I myself noticed the AMA and asked some questions, and I was impressed enough with the answers that I asked Banu if she wanted to come on the podcast to talk about the history of the app and address some of the controversies. It ended up being a really interesting two-hour conversation where we talked about a range of different topics. You can find out more about Co-Star on their website at: Costarastrology.com This episode is available in both audio and video versions below. Watch the Video Version of This Episode You can watch the video version of my interview with Banu on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN0AtSHxN6Q - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 286 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode You can either play the audio version of this episode of the podcast directly from the website or download it as an MP3 to your device by using the buttons below:

In episode 285 astrologer Chris Brennan presents a set of year ahead horoscope forecasts for 2021 for all twelve signs of the zodiac. The horoscope for each sign is about 15 minutes long, and they are meant to be looked at from the perspective of your Ascendant or rising sign, although you can also listen to the ones for your Sun sign or Moon sign as well. I mainly focus on the movements of the outer planets through the signs and houses, especially Jupiter and Saturn having recently moved into Aquarius, Uranus squaring Saturn this year from Taurus, and eclipses taking place in Gemini, Sagittarius, and Taurus. There are audio or video versions of each horoscope available below. The video versions are in separate videos on YouTube, and the audio ones are all in a single audio file, although I will put timestamps below so that you can jump to specific signs. 2021 Electional Astrology Report and Posters Released We recently released our 2021 Electional Astrology Report, as well as our 2021 Astrology Calendar Posters! Watch the Video Versions of This Episode You can watch the video versions of my 2021 horoscopes through the links below: Aries 2021 Horoscope Taurus 2021 Horoscope Gemini 2021 Horoscope Cancer 2021 Horoscope Leo 2021 Horoscope Virgo 2021 Horoscope Libra 2021 Horoscope Scorpio 2021 Horoscope Sagittarius 2021 Horoscope Capricorn 2021 Horoscope Aquarius 2021 Horoscope Pisces 2021 Horoscope   Timestamps for the Audio Version Here are the timestamps for each sign for the audio version: 00:02:00 Aries 00:16:23 Taurus 00:30:08 Gemini 00:45:41 Cancer 01:02:43 Leo 01:19:31 Virgo 01:35:19 Libra 01:52:33 Scorpio 02:10:11 Sagittarius 02:26:45 Capricorn 02:43:19 Aquarius 02:59:12 Pisces Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode You can either play the audio version of this episode of the podcast directly from the website or download it as an MP3 to your device by using the buttons below: