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A detailed look at the astrology forecast for November 2026, with astrologer Chris Brennan. The first half of the month is dominated by the overlapping retrogrades of Venus and Mercury in Libra and Scorpio, bringing relationship realignments, buried secrets, and communication breakdowns to a head before both planets finally station direct on November 13. Tensions are heightened mid-month by a rare triple conjunction of Mars, Jupiter, and the South Node in Leo, which highlights high-stakes dynamics around themes of war and peace. Finally, by the end of the month Mars moves into Virgo, where it will station retrograde in January, and begins forming a particularly volatile square with Uranus in Gemini. This is episode 555 of The Astrology Podcast. Sale on Chris' Courses Use promo code RETROGRADE to get a 15% discount on Chris' courses: https://theastrologyschool.com Timestamps 00:00:00 November 2026 astrology overview00:04:31 Oct 24: Mercury stations retrograde in Scorpio00:06:06 Oct 23–25: Venus cazimi in Scorpio & ingress into Libra00:07:45 Nov 4: Mercury cazimi in Scorpio & Mercury Rx themes00:11:35 Venus retrograde in Scorpio & Libra themes00:28:49 Nov 4: Venus in Libra sextile Jupiter in Leo00:35:08 Nov 5: Mars enters pre-retrograde shadow in Leo00:37:29 Nov 9: New Moon in Scorpio00:41:20 Nov 13: Mercury & Venus station direct00:44:29 Nov 13: Mercury in Scorpio square Pluto in Aquarius00:50:45 Nov 15–16: Mars conjunct Jupiter & South Node in Leo00:57:36 Mars-South Node conjunctions in history01:06:13 Nov 22: Auspicious electional chart for November01:13:10 Nov 18–22: Sun squares Jupiter & Mars, enters Sagittarius01:14:21 Nov 24: Full Moon in Gemini conjunct Uranus01:16:28 Uranus in Gemini trine Pluto in Aquarius01:23:30 Nov 25–Dec 4: Mars enters Virgo & squares Uranus01:32:04 Nov 28–29: Mercury exits shadow & Venus sextile Jupiter01:40:19 The Astrology School courses & November promo code01:45:08 Letter from Austin from the underworld01:49:04 Wrap-up and patron credits Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7Nhazv6gVw - Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In this episode I examine recent news stories happening under Venus retrograde in Scorpio and trace how many of them echo earlier events that happened under the same alignment. Throughout the episode I go through current headlines involving things like mysteries, court cases, celebrity relationships, and pop culture, connecting them back to events from previous Venus retrograde in Scorpio periods in 2018, 2010, 2002, 1994, and even as far back as 1938. I also highlight standalone stories that serve as clear thematic examples of Venus retrograde in Scorpio right now, including difficult mother dynamics, espionage, and buried secrets coming to light. I feel like documenting these stories as they happen gives us a rare opportunity to see how planetary cycles connect the past with the present, while at the same time sharpening our practical understanding of core astrological concepts like Venus, Scorpio, detriment, and retrograde motion. This is episode 554 of The Astrology Podcast. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction & 8-year cycle of Venus00:06:39 Amelia Earhart plane expedition (1938)00:10:37 Christa Pike execution & Aileen Wuornos (2002/2018)00:15:45 Title IX rules rollback & Cornell case (2018)00:20:18 O.J. Simpson accomplice story (1994)00:22:34 Tupac killer Keffe D sentenced (1994/2018)00:24:51 Pope Leo lung surgery & 1978 papal conclave00:26:54 Engineer poisoning video (2018)00:28:48 Shia LaBeouf, FKA twigs & Mia Goth divorce (2018)00:32:03 Pete Davidson interview & Ariana Grande (2018)00:34:06 Elon breakup00:35:31 Gypsy Rose Blanchard's ex-fiancé dies (2018)00:38:11 Evan Rachel Wood & Courtney Stodden00:41:26 Michael Douglas memoir & past relationships00:43:44 Ethan Hawke & Drew Barrymore 1990s crush00:47:25 Jim Carrey, Justin Timberlake & Tobey Maguire00:51:05 Anthropic policy on bullying Claude AI00:53:38 Lindsay Clancy case & mother themes00:55:21 TikTok ghost filter prank & The Other Mommy01:00:19 Dakota Johnson, Black Swan & Verity (2010/2018)01:04:15 Marina Abramović NYT profile (1946)01:05:52 Megan Thee Stallion revives Tina Snow (2018)01:07:48 Paramount-Warner Bros. merger & DreamWorks (1994)01:09:20 Hellraiser: Revival video game (1986)01:11:00 Stolen Renoirs, Big Brother & DIVA exhibit01:13:23 AI cracks Napoleon's coded letter01:14:38 OpenAI hidden recording device & CIA gold bars01:16:58 1982 Tylenol cold case break01:18:54 Conclusion: Empirical astrology & time01:25:40 Credits and outro Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54gUQX16ZQ0 - Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

Discussing movies that came out around when Venus was retrograde in Scorpio in different eras, with astrologers Skye Barclay, Ames Doyle, and Chris Brennan. In the last couple of episodes on Venus retrograde in Scorpio, we kept finding notable movies that spoke to the nature of the transit at different points over the past century. So for this episode, Skye, Ames, and I decided to sit down and compile a list of all the major films that came out when Venus was retrograde in Scorpio over the past several decades. We especially focused on the last several cycles (2026, 2018, 2010, 2002, and 1994) going backwards chronologically, since that was the range where the three of us had seen the most movies (though we also mention a few scattered ones from earlier than that). In the process, we were able to identify a number of recurring themes that kept coming up, such as a surprisingly prominent focus on toxic mother dynamics, alongside some other classic Venus in Scorpio signatures. Ultimately, I feel like this helped clarify and sharpen some of the themes we caught glimpses of in the previous episodes. Different aspects of the archetype are becoming clearer not just through the lens of the past, but also in the present as we see headlines echoing these themes today. This is episode 553 of The Astrology Podcast. Skye's Venus Retro Book, Website, and Social Media https://www.skyeastrology.com/venusrx https://www.skyeastrology.com https://www.instagram.com/skye.astrology Ames' Website and Social Media https://www.astrowithames.com https://www.instagram.com/astrologywithames Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction00:06:11 The Social Reckoning (2026)00:12:27 The Favourite (2018)00:21:07 Suspiria (2018)00:27:58 A Star Is Born (2018)00:35:49 Vox Lux (2018)00:38:26 The Hate U Give (2018)00:43:52 Halloween (2018)00:48:54 Black Swan (2010)01:00:36 Let Me In (2010)01:05:18 Easy A (2010)01:07:52 RED (2010)01:12:06 The Ring (2002)01:16:45 Chicago (2002)01:28:03 White Oleander (2002)01:36:11 Kill Bill: Vol. 1 filming (2002)01:38:31 8 Mile (2002)01:45:09 Bowling for Columbine (2002)01:48:03 Frida (2002)01:51:49 Interview with the Vampire (1994)02:02:29 The Shawshank Redemption (1994)02:07:19 Pulp Fiction (1994)02:14:06 Léon: The Professional (1994)02:16:41 Disclosure (1994)02:20:19 The Swan Princess (1994)02:23:14 Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)02:27:24 Hellraiser filming (1986)02:30:54 The Color of Money (1986)02:37:55 Halloween (1978)02:41:28 Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)02:43:55 Love Story (1970)02:44:47 Dr. No / James Bond (1962)02:46:03 Magnificent Obsession (1954)02:49:21 A Star Is Born (1954)02:50:48 It's a Wonderful Life (1946)02:57:13 Beauty and the Beast (1946)02:58:53 Summary of Venus retrograde in Scorpio themes03:12:36 Skye and Ames's work and offerings03:16:05 Credits and outro Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzudkDBSdq8 - Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

A detailed exploration of what Venus retrograde in Scorpio means in birth charts, primarily by looking through 29 different celebrity case studies, with astrologers Skye Barclay and Chris Brennan. During the episode, we examine not only how this placement manifests natally, but what happened when these figures experienced their 8-year Venus retrograde recurrences. By tracing these transits, we highlight the major turning points, delayed successes, and public reckonings that literally played out in their lives and careers in real time. Our research uncovered some profound archetypal patterns surrounding what it means for a retrograde planet to be in its detriment. We dive deep into concepts like "struggle love," the "sympathetic villain," and the myths of Medusa and Lucifer, exploring how the individuals in our case studies challenged conventional beauty standards, subverted gender norms, and navigated the darker, more taboo facets of Venus. Skye is the author of an awesome new book titled 2026 Venus Retrograde: A Dance of Daggers & Delights, which you can get in print or PDF on her website: https://www.skyeastrology.com/venusrx This is episode 552 of The Astrology Podcast. Skye's Website and Instagram https://www.skyeastrology.com https://www.instagram.com/skye.astrology Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction and Skye's new book on Venus retrograde00:04:12 Content warning: True crime and heavy themes00:05:26 Venus in Scorpio: detriment and retrograde00:09:15 Inga Duncan Thornell and mastectomy tattoos00:18:24 Gianni Versace and subverting fashion standards00:28:56 The Medusa myth and the female gaze00:37:15 Marina Abramovic, endurance art, and prolonged breakups00:55:44 Ted Bundy, hybristophilia, and manipulation01:12:09 Penn Badgley and playing the obsessive stalker in You01:40:25 Jenna Ortega, Scream Queens, and the goth aesthetic01:48:38 Tom Ellis and the Lucifer fallen angel archetype01:53:45 Gwendoline Christie, Brienne of Tarth, and gender non-conformity02:01:34 Demi Moore, The Substance, and delayed awards02:06:15 Margaret Qualley playing the younger Demi Moore02:43:34 Jon Stewart, The Daily Show, and satire as subversion02:53:28 Joe Dante, B-horror movies, and Piranha02:58:43 Teresa de Lauretis and queer theory03:05:48 Jessica Valenti, Feministing, and the purity myth03:14:20 Andrew Tate, toxic masculinity, and the lover boy method03:21:56 Tonya Harding, ice skating exile, and public scandals03:40:16 Natalee Holloway and missing persons cases03:44:00 Oscar Pistorius and sudden downfalls03:46:13 Ketanji Brown Jackson and writing dissenting opinions03:51:36 Halsey, identity, and toxic relationships in music03:58:46 Usher, the R&B loverboy persona, and public scandals04:04:39 Eve, female MC trailblazers, and delayed Grammys04:09:50 Drake, vulnerable rap, and the Kendrick Lamar feud04:18:35 Cary Elwes, The Princess Bride, and Saw04:24:46 Rachel McAdams, Mean Girls, and The Notebook04:34:02 Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, and Game of Thrones04:44:38 Matt Damon and the archetype of returning home04:58:43 Final thoughts and where to find Skye's work Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxCkyxSLzGI Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 552 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

A detailed look at the astrology forecast for October 2026, with astrologer Chris Brennan. This month is dominated by a tumultuous Venus retrograde in Scorpio, kicking off alongside intense hard aspects to Mars and Pluto, which will dredge up some challenging things from the past. Tensions are further heightened as Mercury slows down and stations retrograde in Scorpio later in the month, bringing communication breakdowns and the need for significant retooling. I explore the historical precedents for these transits and break down how to navigate this tough astrological weather before the planets finally station direct and offer resolution in mid-November. This is episode 551 of The Astrology Podcast. Timestamps 0:00:00 Introduction00:02:04 October 2026 astrological overview00:05:01 Early October alignments and Mars-Pluto opposition00:10:00 General themes of Venus retrograde00:18:38 Venus retrograde in Scorpio and 8-year cycles00:28:00 High-stakes diplomacy and historical parallels00:41:21 Artistic and cultural expressions of Venus in Scorpio00:47:41 Chronological breakdown resumes: early October aspects00:49:38 October 6 and 7: Mercury-Venus, and Uranus aspects00:54:45 October 10: New Moon in Libra00:58:29 October 15: Pluto stations direct in Aquarius01:04:26 October 19: Venus square Pluto01:05:13 October 16: Mars trine Saturn01:08:09 October 23: Scorpio season begins and Venus Cazimi01:12:38 October 24: Mercury stations retrograde in Scorpio01:16:35 October 26: Full Moon in Taurus01:19:17 October 30: Mercury retrograde square Mars01:22:27 October electional astrology chart01:29:28 Looking ahead: Venus and Mercury station direct in November01:36:27 Wrap-up and sponsor shoutouts Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH897-9qacM - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 551 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

Astrologer Thea Anderson joins the podcast to discuss the astrology behind the recent AI swarm attack that happened to the Hugging Face website in July, which ended up coinciding with the Mars-Uranus conjunction in Gemini. Experts are saying that this was the first AI swarm attack of its kind in history, and Thea helps walk us through the astrological timeline, and then we discuss the implications. This is episode 550 of The Astrology Podcast Thea's Websites: https://theaanderson.substack.com https://www.instagram.com/theaastrology Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction: Hugging Face AI attack00:03:17 Overview of autonomous AI hacking incident00:05:09 May timeline: OpenAI sandboxes and reinforcement learning00:07:58 June 26: AI discovers admin privileges in the "holy s" chain of thought00:12:20 July 4: Artifactory message pad outage aligns with the Mars-Uranus conjunction00:15:21 July 8 to July 13: The AI swarm escalates and the hack begins00:17:46 Mercury Retrograde Cazimi and Saturn/Neptune stations00:21:10 August 26: Public report released near the Pisces lunar eclipse00:23:56 AI regulation discussions and the Uranus station in Gemini00:27:37 Parallels to World War II, the atomic bomb, and previous Mars-Uranus conjunction00:29:31 AI mimicry and Uranus in Gemini significations00:32:32 Implications of the hack for global infrastructure00:34:42 Future Mars-Uranus conjunction dates in 2028, 2030, and 203200:36:27 Where to find Thea Anderson's astrology work00:37:46 Outro, Patreon supporters, and sponsors Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMpQ9ReW_Io - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 550 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

A deep dive into the repeating eight-year historical cycles of Venus retrograde in Scorpio, to understand the recurring archetypal themes this transit brings to the surface. During the course of the episode, I group together retrogrades that are archetypally similar in order to clearly illustrate the undeniable patterns that emerge when this cycle repeats. Ultimately, analyzing this history provides us with a helpful framework for anticipating what will unfold during the current Venus retrograde in late 2026. This is episode 549 of The Astrology Podcast. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction00:03:13 Venus Retrograde Dates and Repeating Cycles00:12:03 Unearthing the Underworld: Buried Discoveries & Hidden Secrets00:17:23 High Stakes Diplomacy, Brinkmanship, and "Deals with the Devil"00:34:31 State Secrets, Espionage, and Covert Operations00:41:07 Political Power Shifts and Massive Wave Elections00:49:15 Women's Rights, Queer Liberation, and Cultural Reckonings01:02:41 Racial Justice, Desegregation, and Civil Rights Struggles01:15:28 Poisons, Pollution, and Ecological Reckonings01:23:58 True Crime, Cults, and Psychological Terror01:31:37 Economic Control, Sabotage, and Structural Revolutions01:38:25 Media, Broadcasting, and Global Icons01:54:26 Movies, Media, and Dark Themes in Pop Culture02:15:34 Disasters02:21:07 Repetitions02:25:41 The Planet Venus02:31:26 Concluding Remarks02:35:32 Credits Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r214njQKZFE - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 549 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

Hellenistic astrology emerged in Egypt in the 2nd century BCE, representing a profound synthesis of the older Mesopotamian and Egyptian astrological traditions. While it is sometimes assumed that this was the result of a gradual or haphazard blending of cultures, recent historical and archaeological research points to a much more deliberate and brilliant invention. In this episode, I share the results of my latest research into the origins of Hellenistic astrology, arguing that this system was created by a group of astrologers connected to the Egyptian temples, representing the earliest iteration of the Hermetic technical and philosophical tradition. To understand how this happened, I trace the history leading up to the massive cultural melting pot of the Hellenistic era. Out of this Greco-Egyptian synthesis emerged four foundational astrological texts written in the 2nd century BCE under the pseudonyms of Hermes Trismegistus, Asclepius, Nechepso, and Petosiris. One of the central arguments of this presentation is that these manuals are not just the bedrock of the astrological tradition, but they also represent the earliest known iterations of Hermetic philosophy. By examining surviving fragments, such as the mystical vision of Nechepso, I demonstrate how some of the metaphysical tropes of later Hermeticism were already deeply embedded in these technical texts centuries before the Corpus Hermeticum was compiled. In the second half of the episode, I deconstruct the conceptual architecture of Hellenistic astrology. We explore how the founders took ancient concepts like the Mesopotamian Exaltations and seamlessly integrated them with new, interlocking diagrams: the Thema Mundi, the Seven-Zoned Sphere, and the Planetary Joys scheme. I also highlight a breathtaking recent breakthrough showing how the Planetary Joys are structurally projected directly from the Exaltations, proving that these diagrams were engineered together as a unified whole. This episode represents the culmination of a decade of new research and reflection since the publication of my book, Hellenistic Astrology, in 2017. By unpacking these interlocking mechanics, we can see exactly how the founders encoded their deepest philosophical and religious beliefs directly into the mathematics of the cosmos, building the exact framework the astrologers still use today to study fate and make predictions about the future. This is episode 548 of The Astrology Podcast. Timestamps PART I: THE HISTORICAL TRADITIONS00:00:00 Introduction00:11:44 The Mesopotamian Astrological Tradition00:46:02 The Egyptian Astrological Tradition01:03:08 The Early Greek Tradition01:15:48 The Hellenistic Era01:36:03 Early Hermeticism PART II: THE FOUNDATIONAL TEXTS02:04:27 The Four Foundational Hermetic Astrological Texts02:05:49 Hermes Trismegistus: The Dodecatropos (Twelve-Turning)02:26:40 Asclepius: The Octatropos (Eight-Turning)02:48:43 Nechepso and Petosiris03:28:56 The Mystical Vision of Nechepso & The God Kneph PART III: THE CONCEPTUAL CONSTRUCTS03:40:20 The Conceptual Constructs Underlying Hellenistic Astrology03:41:08 The Exaltations03:56:34 The Thema Mundi04:36:06 The Seven-Zoned Sphere04:57:58 The Planetary Joys Scheme05:39:57 Projecting the Joys from the Exaltations 06:02:54 Conclusion: The Architecture of Fate06:23:24 Credits Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JtxPvM2gQ0 - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 548 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

A detailed look at the astrology forecast for September 2026, with astrologers Chris Brennan and Austin Coppock. We spend the first hour talking about news and events that happened over the past month since our last forecast, and then in the second hour we get into the astrology of September. In the first part of the news section we discuss the strikingly literal manifestations of the recent eclipses in Leo and Pisces, including devastating floods and the deaths of several prominent figures and monarchs. After that we address the recent controversy surrounding Steven Forrest. In terms of the astrology of September, we open the month still coming out of the chaos of eclipse season and the recent Mars-Saturn square, but the first week of September offers some excellent electional opportunities while Mercury and Venus are still in their home signs of Virgo and Libra. There is a major turning point and tone shift around the New Moon in Virgo on September 10, when Uranus stations retrograde in Gemini, and Mercury and Venus both change signs the same day. The astrology culminates late in the month around the Full Moon in Aries on September 26, because right after that Mars moves into Leo and begins to oppose Pluto, while Venus slows down to station retrograde in Scorpio in early October. Ultimately, late September acts as a preparatory phase, setting the stage and introducing the core themes for the intense Venus and Mars retrogrades that will dominate the next several months. This is episode 547 of The Astrology Podcast. Community Perspectives Samuel Reynolds: Letter to Steven Forrest Akwe McDaniels: Thoughts on Steven Forrest's Recent Comments Kay Marie: An Open Letter to Steven Forrest and Ricky Williams Janét Jones: A Black Friend Is Not an Alibi Janét Jones and Nichole Zapanta: Podcast on the Steven Forrest controversy Courtney Napier: Allyship Means Accountability…Even for Astrologers Rachel Star:  Unpacking the Steven Forrest scandal in the Astrology community  Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction00:01:57 News Segment Begins00:05:10 Pisces Eclipse and the Death of Kings00:09:46 Notable Celebrity Passings00:13:48 Leo Eclipse and the Death of a Lion00:15:59 Nepal Floods00:17:00 US-Iran Escalation00:17:42 The Steven Forrest Controversy01:01:21 September Astrology Forecast Begins01:07:19 Sequential Breakdown of September Begins01:12:33 Venus Enters Pre-Retrograde Shadow01:23:04 September 10: Tone Shift as Venus Enters Scorpio01:30:15 New Moon in Virgo & Uranus Stations Retrograde Sept 1001:32:20 Auspicious Electional Chart: September 801:37:23 Mid-September Transits: Mercury Opposite Neptune01:41:56 Mercury Opposite Saturn: Sept 17-18:01:44:46 Mercury Sextile Jupiter: Sept 2101:45:55 Full Moon in Aries Sept 2601:49:14 Mars Enters Leo & Opposes Pluto: Sept 2701:52:02 Late Sept / Early Oct: Mercury-Mars & Venus Retrograde01:57:07 Austin's Upcoming Stuff02:01:11 Chris' Upcoming Stuff02:03:21 End Cards Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zLqcyZ-Pwc - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 547 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

Scholar M. David Litwa joins the podcast to explore the intersections of Gnosticism, Hermeticism, and ancient astrology. David is a historian of early Christianity and Greco-Roman religions who recently published a new translation of the Corpus Hermeticum. Together, we trace how these esoteric traditions developed and interacted in the ancient world, particularly in the cultural melting pot of Alexandria. We discuss the emergence of Hermeticism as a synthesis of Egyptian religion and Greek philosophy, and how early Christian Gnosticism subsequently adapted many of these cosmological frameworks. A major focal point is how ancient astrology, including the ascent and descent of the soul through the planetary spheres, was integrated into these religious movements. We contrast the Gnostic view of the planets as restrictive archons keeping the soul imprisoned with the more sympathetic Hermetic view of the visible cosmos as a second God and part of divine providence. We also take a close look at the Peratics, a unique Gnostic group that integrated technical Hellenistic astrology directly into their religion in order to map the soul's escape from the material realm. Finally, we unpack the historical tensions between fate, providence, and free will, examining how early Christians navigated astrological determinism before figures like Augustine firmly pushed back against the practice. This conversation highlights the profound impact that Hellenistic astrology had on the broader philosophical and religious landscape of the ancient world. This is episode 546 of The Astrology Podcast. David's Website and YouTube Channel https://mdavidlitwa.com https://www.youtube.com/@m.davidlitwa Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction & David's Background00:04:46 Alexandrian vs. Roman Christianity00:07:27 Astrology in the New Testament00:09:55 The Nag Hammadi Library00:13:35 Debating the Term "Gnosticism"00:20:57 Alexandria: Birthplace of Hermeticism00:22:52 Dating the Corpus Hermeticum00:27:29 Early Astrological Hermetica00:35:18 The Cosmos as the Second God00:46:15 Ascent of the Soul00:54:08 Planets as Malefic Archons00:59:42 The Gnostic Demiurge01:06:58 The Paratai & Astrological Salvation01:16:36 Astrology, Fate, & Free Will01:21:17 Baptism & Freedom from Fate01:30:21 Augustine's Anti-Astrology Bias01:38:09 "De-astrologizing" Hermetic Texts01:48:46 The Need for Astrological Literacy01:50:46 Conclusion & Resources Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UZl_fMgGRs - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 546 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

An interview with musician Roland Orzabal from the band Tears for Fears, discussing his new autobiography, Welcome to Your Life, where he tells his life story through the lens of astrology. In the late 1980s, Roland experienced a profound shift in his worldview, moving from the psychological belief that we are all born as "blank slates" to discovering the stunning accuracy of the natal chart. We discuss his deep dive into the subject and how understanding his Leo Sun and Capricorn stellium helped him navigate the intense pressures of global fame, the complex creative dynamics within Tears for Fears, and his challenging family history. What makes Welcome to Your Life so unique is that it serves as both a deeply personal, unfiltered memoir and an accessible introduction to astrology. During the episode, we pull up Roland’s birth chart to track the major transits of his life, from the Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions that aligned with some of his biggest career milestones, to the heavy Pluto and Neptune transits that correlated with periods of profound personal loss, addiction, and eventual healing. Ultimately, this is a conversation about fate, free will, and how astrology provides a hidden language to make sense of our most difficult and triumphant moments. It was an honor to speak with a legendary musician who is also a dedicated, lifelong student of the astrological tradition. This is episode 545 of The Astrology Podcast. Get the Book The book came out on August 4, and it is available now in bookstores everywhere: Welcome to Your Life: Love, Death & Tears For Fears Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction and Roland's new astrological memoir00:03:16 Discovering astrology and primal therapy in the 1980s00:10:55 Interpersonal astrology and synastry with bandmates00:16:36 Perspectives on fate, free will, and major Pluto transits00:20:57 Looking at Roland's birth chart and key placements00:25:26 The non-linear, Mercury retrograde style of the book00:28:13 The loss of his first wife and the astrology of meeting Emily00:33:02 Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions and signing the first record deal00:35:41 The first Saturn return and the split with Curt Smith00:46:24 Weaving astrological teachings into a mainstream memoir00:50:18 The astrology behind Songs from the Big Chair and The Seeds of Love00:53:40 Progressed Sun in Libra and experiencing a major life shift00:56:09 Thoughts on the Gary Jules cover of "Mad World"00:59:50 Childhood, his parents, and fourth house Uranian themes01:08:16 Neptune squaring the Ascendant and recovering from addiction01:17:31 How birth charts correlate with personal belief systems01:24:41 Major astrological influences: Liz Greene and Richard Tarnas01:28:55 Releasing an album on 9/11 during the Saturn-Pluto opposition01:32:34 Closing remarks01:32:42 End cards Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7miA6G8eqQ - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 545 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In this episode I propose a new theory about the origins of the so-called Chaldean order of the planets, as well as the assignment of the seven traditional planets to the days of the week. In ancient times, a specific sequence of the planets arose known as the order of the seven-zoned sphere, which goes: Moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. In modern times, this is often called the "Chaldean order", because the 5th-century CE writer Macrobius referred to it as the "system of the Chaldeans." For a long time, it was mistakenly thought that this meant it came from ancient Babylonian or Mesopotamian astrologers, but we now know there is no trace of it in that tradition. In Macrobius’s era, the word "Chaldean" had simply become a generic term for "astrologer", so when he refers to it like this, what he really means is "the system of the astrologers." So, where did this system come from, and when was it introduced? While historians have long known that this planetary order was popularized during the Hellenistic era, the standard assumption has been that it was first developed by astronomers, or Pythagoreans, or some other group, and then only later incorporated into astrology. In some academic sources this shift, which radically moved the Sun to the center of the planets, is notably glossed over, largely because scholars don’t really know where it came from or how it happened. In this lecture, I propose the exact opposite: that this system was actually first popularized, and potentially even invented, by astrologers in Egypt in the 2nd century BCE, starting with the group of texts Hermetic surrounding Nechepso and Petosiris. From the 2nd century BCE forward, this order became widely adopted across different scientific, philosophical, and religious traditions, eventually becoming the underlying rationale for the names of the seven days of the week. My primary goals with this episode are to: 1) Demonstrate that this planetary order originated with the astrologers working in Egypt in the 2nd century BCE. 2) Demonstrate that the days of the week which are derived from it also may have originated with these same astrologers in Egypt during that same time period. This is episode 544 of The Astrology Podcast. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction00:07:36 Early Planetary Orders00:15:58 Plato's Order00:22:32 Eratosthenes & The Hellenistic Shift00:27:00 The Seven-Zoned Sphere00:39:57 Nechepso and Petosiris00:51:33 The Seven-Zoned Sphere as a Conceptual Construct00:52:00 The Hermetic Conceptual Constructs01:24:43 Stoic Philosophy & The Heart01:44:26 Supposed Pythagorean Connection01:48:54 Planetary Significations Derived from the Seven-Zoned Sphere02:21:22 Decans and Monomoiria02:31:56 Planetary Days and Hours02:58:28 Ptolemy's Cosmological Model03:11:07 Concluding Remarks03:23:28 Credits Watch the Video Version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yIa5eyDdiI – Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 544 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In this major new episode, I do a deep dive into the historical evidence for when the Declaration of Independence was finalized on July 4, 1776. There has been a mystery surrounding the birth chart of the United States for more than two centuries, but I recently discovered some new evidence that allows us to triangulate the approximate birth time much more closely than I previously thought possible. This was a massive research project that I suddenly stumbled into last month shortly after the Mars-Uranus conjunction went exact on July 4. I found new historical evidence showing that Thomas Jefferson regularly recorded the times he took temperature readings outside. This detail led me to re-examine all of the surviving primary sources, including the Journals of the Continental Congress and letters from John Adams. Through this, I conclude that it is possible to achieve much greater certainty about the probable time for the Declaration. In this four-hour video essay, I present a series of compelling arguments that the birth chart for the US should be set for the late morning of July 4, 1776, giving the country a Libra Ascendant. Key topics I covered in this episode: The Astrological Signatures of 1776: A look at how the Mars-Uranus conjunction in Gemini represented the severance and armed rebellion against Great Britain, while the highly auspicious Venus-Jupiter conjunction in Cancer symbolized the union of the thirteen colonies. Jefferson's Weather Log: How Thomas Jefferson's daily temperature readings help establish a clear timeline of when Congress was in session and taking breaks. Debunking the Sibley Chart: An explanation of the critical misunderstanding behind the popular Sagittarius rising chart. I show how Ebenezer Sibley actually cast a mundane ingress chart for London rather than a timed natal chart for Philadelphia. The Gemini Rising Myth: Why a 2:00 AM or 3:00 AM chart is historically implausible and makes for a poor electional chart. Historical Transits: A preliminary look at how major events in US history, such as the Civil War, the Apollo 11 moon landing, and the stock market crash of 1929, and Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech align remarkably well with a Libra rising chart. This episode outlines all of my research findings in one place to help advance the long-standing debate over the true astrological chart of the United States. This is episode 543 of The Astrology Podcast. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction00:05:53 Why July 4, 1776?00:49:31 Historical Evidence for the Time on July 2 & 4, 177601:10:18 The Vote for Independence on July 2, 177601:28:10 Finalizing the Declaration of Independence on July 401:57:05 The Proclamation on July 8 as Supporting Evidence02:03:34 Analyzing the Libra Rising Chart as an Inception Chart02:22:54 Preliminary Analysis of Some Major Events in US History02:50:23 What About the Gemini and Sagittarius Rising Charts?03:26:46 The Timeline and Transits of 177603:57:08 Concluding Remarks04:12:48 Credits Watch the Video Version of the Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP1yoSz32Ck - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 543 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

A deep dive into the astrology forecast for August 2026, with astrologers Chris Brennan and Austin Coppock. We spend the first hour talking about the astrology behind events that happened in the news in July, and then in the second hour we do a deep dive into the astrology of August. August is mainly centered on an eclipse season, which begins the first week of the month with a solar eclipse in Leo, and is followed later in the month by lunar eclipse in Pisces. Early in the month Venus enters Libra, which is the sign that it will later retrograde back to in October, and it begins its shadow degree phase by the end of August. A Mars-Saturn square begins building mid-month, and eventually culminates on the final day of August at the same time that a Jupiter-Saturn trine goes exact. This is episode 542 of The Astrology Podcast. Austin's Website https://austincoppock.com Chris' Patreon and Hellenistic Course https://www.patreon.com/astrologypodcast https://theastrologyschool.com Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction00:00:51 August Astrology Quick Overview00:03:24 News Segment Begins00:06:01 Iran War Reignites on Mars-Uranus Conjunction00:18:03 Nuclear Stories00:22:35 Three Mars-Uranus Recurrence Transits00:27:25 Mars-Uranus Conjunction Countries00:31:34 Jupiter-Pluto Opposition00:45:14 US Birth Chart00:49:22 Austin Anecdote00:54:44 Chris's Projects00:56:33 Austin's Projects00:57:51 August Forecast Begins01:01:09 Eclipse Season01:09:58 Venus Retrograde Shadow Sign01:19:26 Mars-Saturn Square01:32:35 Chronological Breakdown of July Begins01:33:16 Venus Enters Libra Aug 601:35:51 Venus-Jupiter Sextile Aug 16/1701:40:17 Mars Enters Cancer Aug 1101:43:22 Solar Eclipse in Leo Aug 1201:51:30 Mercury-Jupiter Conjunction Aug 1501:55:56 Auspicious Electional Chart: August 1601:59:51 Mars-Neptune Square Aug 1702:02:35 Venus-Saturn opposition Aug 2102:05:40 Sun and Mercury Enter Video Aug 22 & 2502:06:16 Lunar Eclipse in Pisces Aug 2802:18:53 Mars-Jupiter Trine & Mars-Saturn Square Aug 3102:20:43 Saturn-Neptune & Barbault Basket Reflections02:33:56 Predictive Patience & Seed Moments02:40:22 Wrapping Up02:41:53 Credits Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJeUvRzMwso - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 542 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

A deep dive into the astrology forecast for July 2026, with astrologers Chris Brennan and Austin Coppock. The month opens on highly unstable ground, dominated by a volatile Mars-Uranus conjunction that threatens sudden, unpredictable shifts and explosive turns. This erratic energy is ruled by a newly stationary retrograde Mercury, which has just backed away from a conjunction with Jupiter. This combination sets the stage for logistical snafus, technological difficulties, and widespread delays right out of the gate. Jupiter, having just entered Leo at the end of June, begins to form a tense opposition with Pluto that goes exact around the middle of the month. This highlights major power struggles and the tension between truth and control. This opposition is part of a much larger, momentous pattern of simultaneous outer planet alignments peaking this month. As Uranus completes its first exact trine with Pluto, these planets lock into a complex basket configuration alongside Jupiter and Neptune. This heavy planetary geometry indicates that significant precursor events are unfolding in the background, particularly surrounding rapid technological or military innovations. We finally see a more positive shift in the astrological weather during the second half of the month. Mars applies to a stabilizing, constructive sextile with Saturn, helping to ground the earlier chaos. Mercury stations direct, clearing up miscommunications, and the Sun makes its triumphant ingress into Leo to form an auspicious conjunction with Jupiter. This cazimi brings a much needed wave of radiant, showy warmth and outward confidence, despite an opposition with Pluto. However, a lingering Venus-Mars square operating in the background introduces an unwelcome element of creative friction and tension in partnerships, pitting the forces of unification against the drive to sever and divide. This late July window ultimately serves as a temporary lull, and a calm before the storm. By early August, we swiftly transition into eclipse season, bringing weighty major endings and beginnings to the forefront, just as Venus enters the shadow sign of its upcoming retrograde phase. This is episode 541 of The Astrology Podcast. United Astrology Conference https://uacastrology.com Austin's Website https://austincoppock.com Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction00:00:53 July Astrology Quick Overview00:03:57 News Segment Begins00:04:51 Venus-Jupiter Conjunction Stories00:05:13 First Trillionaire00:08:49 Spielberg Disclosure Day00:13:45 Marriages00:16:25 Iran-US peace deal00:20:31 Zelda Remake00:22:07 Beer Shortage00:24:04 Venus-Pluto Opposition00:26:50 Mars-Uranus Stories00:27:06 Venezuela Earthquakes00:29:47 AI Companies Authorized00:35:03 Lebanon agreement00:36:17 Nuclear news on Mars ingress00:38:36 Wrapping up news segment00:41:43 United Astrology Conference00:46:04 July Forecast Begins00:47:06 Mars-Uranus Conjunction00:59:34 Mercury Retrograde01:02:11 Outer planet alignments01:09:07 Jupiter-Pluto opposition01:25:23 Sequential breakdown of the month01:25:46 July 1: Mars-Uranus Overview & Sun-Saturn Square01:26:55 July 7: Neptune Stations Retrograde in Aries01:29:45 July 9: Venus Enters Virgo01:31:33 July 12: Mercury Retrograde Cazimi01:33:08 July 14: New Moon in Cancer01:35:58 July 15-18: Uranus Sextile Neptune & Trine Pluto01:39:35 July 19: Mars Sextile Saturn01:41:21 July 20-21: Jupiter-Pluto Opposition & Outer Planet Aspects01:50:54 July 22-23: Sun Enters Leo & Mercury Stations Direct01:51:52 July 24: Venus Sextile Mercury01:54:44 July 25: Neptune-Pluto Sextile01:55:04 July 26: Saturn Stations Retrograde & Lunar Nodes Shift Signs01:57:33 July 27: Sun Opposes Pluto01:58:55 July 28: Venus Square Mars02:02:29 July 29: Sun-Jupiter Cazimi & Full Moon in Aquarius02:04:31 Electional Chart for July02:07:42 Wrapping Up02:17:39 Credits Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ0uN2QpczA - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 541 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3: