The Astrology Podcast

In episode 138 of the podcast astrologers Kelly Surtees and Austin Coppock join the show to provide an overview of the astrology of 2018. During the course of the episode we provide an overview of the major planetary transits and aspects this year, such as Saturn spending its first full year in Capricorn, Uranus moving into Taurus, the continuing Leo-Aquarius eclipse series, and more. The cover art for this episode is from the new 2018 Planetary Movements poster, which is now on sale along with the 2018 PlanetWatcher calendar! You can purchase them both together in our 2018 Astrology Calendar Poster Package. Below you will find the show notes, followed by links to download or stream the recording of this episode of the podcast. Timestamps Timestamps for various parts of the episode, in case you want to skip ahead to a segment: * 0:00 – 21:17: News and announcements segment * 21:17 – 2:12:00: Forecast for 2018 * 53:50 – 58:50: Auspicious election for January News and Announcements At the top of the show we talk about some news and announcements: * Our new 2018 astrology calendar poster package is now available for purchase! * We are giving away 2 copies of the new Bindu Astrology Software program * Also giving away 3 books to patrons: The Greatness of Saturn, The Gods of Change, and Hellenistic Astrology: The Study of Fate and Fortune. * Scholarships are available for the United Astrology Conference. * The conference that is happening in Chicago in May 2018. * The conference itself has 12 scholarships available. * Each of the sponsoring orgs are offering some separate scholarships as well. Major Astrological Alignments in 2018 * Saturn in Capricorn * Jupiter in Scorpio * Uranus in and out of Taurus * Aquarius-Leo Eclipses * Mercury Retrograde periods all in fire signs * Mars retrograde in Aquarius/Capricorn * Venus retrograde in Scorpio/Libra * Jupiter ingresses into Sagittarius * Weird lack of exact outer planet aspects Quarter by Quarter Breakdown Q1: * Eclipses * Jupiter sextile Pluto Q2: * Uranus -> Taurus * Mars/Sat/Pluto in Cap March 17-May 15 :( * Mars square Uranus first of 3 (May) Q3: * Eclipses * Mars Retro * Mars square Uranus twice Q4: * Venus Retro * Jupiter -> Sag * Uranus back into Aries Auspicious Electional Chart for January 2018 Here is the primary auspicious electional chart that we highlighted for January, which was picked out by electional astrologer Leisa Schaim: * January 8, 2018 at 7:26 am (sunrise). Saturn in Capricorn election There are four more electional charts that we found for January, which will be presented in our private subscriber-only podcast on auspicious elections that is released this wee...

In episode 137 of the podcast Dr. Jenn Zahrt joins the show to talk about Elsbeth Ebertin, who was a famous German astrologer who lived in the early 20th century, and was one of the first prominent female astrologers in modern times. During the course of the show we talk about Elsbeth's life and work, and in particular the flourishing of astrology that occurred in Germany during the period between World War I and World War II. You can find out more information Jenn's work on her website JennZahrt.com. Below you will find the show notes, which contain an outline of some of the points that we touched on in the discussion, followed by links to download or stream the recording of this episode of the podcast at the bottom of the page. Episode Outline and Show Notes * It is not until the 20th century that we see women emerge as leading figures in the astrological community. * References to the earliest known female astrologers were discussed in ep. 86. * One of the first notable figures was Elsbeth Ebertin. * Elsbeth Ebertin (May 14, 1880 – November 28, 1944). * 6:22 p.m. LMT in Görlitz, Germany. (11 Scorpio rising) * Elsbeth Ebertin's birth chart * She lived during World War I & II, and was most active in-between. * Weimar Republic, the government of Germany from 1919 to 1933. * She is often only known in the English-speaking world as the mother of Reinhold Ebertin, if at all. * She was a notable astrologer in her own right though. * Published 21 books about astrology between 1915 and 1932. * Who was Reinhold, and why is he better known in the English-speaking world? * Reinhold Ebertin (February 16, 1901 – March 14, 1988) * Reinhold founded the school known as Cosmobiology. * Some of Reinhold’s books were translated into English, whereas hers were not. * The Combination of Stellar Influences (1940) * These translations had a major influence on later 20th century astrologers. * Elsbeth was also largely forgotten in the German astro community. * Much of the material she wrote was almanacs that were time sensitive. * This material is interesting now because it says a lot about her times. * Early life of Elsbeth and finding astrology * Had to step up and run the family business when father died at 13 * Her first publication was a literary biography when she was 17 * She was very independent, and left her husband in 1905 to pursue publishing. * She got really into graphology c. 1900. * Published 6 books on subject between 1909–1914. * Outlawed during WWI (1914–1918) as fortune telling. * This partially precipitated a change to astrology for Elsbeth. * Female graphologist introduced Elsbeth to astrology. * Early career as an astrologer * In 1911 Elsbeth met Albert Kniepf (1853–1924) in Hamburg. * Kniepf also taught Alfred Witte (1878–1941). * Witte went on to develop the so-called Hamburg School of astrology. * German astrology texts were sparse except for Theosophical stuff. * Some of Alan Leo’s books were translated into German.

In episode 136 of the podcast astrologer Adam Elenbaas joins the show once again to finish answering some remaining questions we received from listeners over the past few months, as a followup to episodes 133 and 127. In this episode we covered a lot of different questions, which ranged from discussions about the structure and value of astrological consultations, to questions about how to use the electional charts provided in our forecast episodes. You can find out more information about Adam on his website at nightlightastrology.com. Below you will find the show notes with an outline of some of the questions we answered, followed by links to download or stream the recording of this episode of the podcast. Questions Discussed in This Episode Here are the questions from listeners that we answered or discussed in this episode. Most of these questions were submitted by patrons of The Astrology Podcast around September or October of 2017. Cindy Letourneau   * I would love to hear specific examples of astrology counseling or interpretations that positively contributed to a client's understanding of themselves and the world around them. * Also, how is a counseling session structured? * What are the challenges and how do you prepare? * Have you ever done readings that just didn't hit the mark for the client? * What are instances in your career that validate your decision to become a professional astrologer, despite the lack of understanding and acceptance in the larger public arena? Keith Franks * Because astrology, especially ancient/traditional astrology, posits an entirely different worldview on the way our cosmos works, it seems at odds with our current secular-materialist worldview. * How do you deal with the cognitive dissonance that arises (if it does at all) in your life because of this? * This has been touched upon in previous episodes, I think, and will vary from person to person, but I'm curious as to how you guys handle it on more personal, day-to-day basis. Alec Senese * My question for the Q&A episode is regarding a planet being under the beams but out of sign.  Is the debility active or less so than if they were in same sign? I.e. In a wedding chart the Sun is at 28 Virgo, and Jupiter at 6 Libra. Katherine White * Two concepts I don't feel I have a practical handle on are declination and antiscia. * How prominently do these factor into your electional work? * Did discovery of these concepts become game changers for you in your astrological studies (and if so, how?). * How do examining these points add color or more precision to casting or examining a chart? James Wade * I know you guys have discussed Saturn returns before, but since it's relevant to the upcoming ingress into Capricorn I think discussing the effects of Saturn in Capricorn on those with that natal placement would be interesting to listeners. Arlene Edmonds * With a lot of emphasis on the ascendant I was wondering your take on the significance of the descendant, mainly in the natal and progressed charts. * I wonder if the saying opposites attract has to do with the AC/DC as kind of two sides of the same coin. Neva Welton * I'd like to know what kinds of actions people take to get the most out the elections you bring forth. * You do a great job of saying what and when, but I'm curious how people actually work with them? Veronica Gledhill * I think it would be nice to hear more on the common sense application of electional astrolo...

In episode 135 astrologer Ryan Kurczak joins the show to talk about the concept of sade sati in Indian astrology, which is a 7.5 year period when Saturn transits the signs around the natal Moon. As we discuss in the episode, the sade sati transit is usually said to begin when Saturn moves into the zodiacal sign that is just before the sign of the Moon in a person's birth chart, it culminates while Saturn is moving through the sign of the natal Moon itself, and then eventually it is brought to completion as it passes through the sign after the Moon. One of the themes we discuss that is associated with this transit is developing compassion through suffering, as the transit is often associated with a difficult period in a person's life. Later in the episode we also touch on related topics such as mitigating conditions and astrological remedies. Ryan lives in Asheville, North Carolina, and he specializes in Indian astrology. He runs a popular YouTube channel where he produces videos on Vedic astrology. You can find out more information about Ryan on his website at: http://ashevillevedicastrology.com Below you will find links to download or stream the recording of this episode of the podcast. Listen to This Episode You can either play this episode of the podcast directly from the website or download it as an MP3 to your computer by using the buttons below:

In episode 134 of the podcast astrologers Austin Coppock and Kelly Surtees join me to talk about the astrological forecast for December of 2017. The astrology of December features a Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius that first stations in a conjunction with Saturn, Mars ingressing into Scorpio, and Saturn moving into Capricorn. At the top of the show we discuss a recently debate about the validity of applying mundane transits to current events, as well as a separate discussion about the use of "should" questions in horary astrology. Towards the end of the episode we highlight the most auspicious electional chart for December, which is a Scorpio rising chart with Mars in Scorpio conjoining Jupiter. Below you will find the show notes, followed by links to download or stream the recording of this episode of the podcast. This month’s episode is available in both an audio version and a video version, and you will find links to both at the bottom of this page. Initial Discussion and Timestamps * 0:00 – 05:45: initial news and announcements. * 05:45 – 14:15: discussion about Saturn returns in Sagittarius and Capricorn. * 14:15 – 40:20: discussion about the validity of applying mundane transits to current events.  * 40:20 – 49:50: discussing a recent debate about "should" questions in horary astrology.  * 49:50 – 2:16:10: astrological alignments and forecast for November. * 2:06:15: the most auspicious electional chart for December. Major Astrological Alignments in December * Venus ingresses into Sagittarius December 1 * Jupiter trine Neptune December 2 * Mercury stations retrograde December 3 * Full Moon in Gemini December 3 * Mercury conjunct Saturn December 6 * Mars ingresses into Scorpio December 9 * New Moon in Sagittarius December 18 * Saturn moves into Capricorn December 19 * Sun moves into Capricorn December 21 * Mercury stations direct December 22 * Venus moves into Capricorn December 25 Auspicious Electional Chart for November Here is the primary auspicious electional chart that we highlighted for November, which was picked out by electional astrologer Leisa Schaim: * December 28, 2017 at 3:55 AM There are four more electional charts that we found for December, which we presented in our private subscriber-only podcast on auspicious elections that was released a few days ago. In this month's episode of the Auspicious Elections podcast we also answered some questions from listeners about electional astrology, and how to use some of these elections in practice. If you would like to get access to that discussion, then all you have to do is become a patron of The Astrology Podcast on the $5 or $10 tier through our page on on Patreon, and then you will get access to the 45-minute Auspicious Elections Podcast as soon as it is released. Watch the Video Version of this Episode Here is the video version of this month’s forecast episode: https://youtu.be/dDk9xgUlvvo . Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode You can either play this episode of the podcast directly from the website or download it as an MP3 to your computer by using the buttons below:

In episode 133 astrologer Adam Elenbaas joins the show to help me answer some questions that were submitted by listeners of the podcast over the past few months. As with episode 127, we got stuck on the first set of questions, and ended up spending the entire 90 minutes talking about issues related to learning astrology, starting to learn how to read charts, and making the transition from student to practitioner of astrology. We plan to record a followup where we answer the rest of the questions submitted by listeners, and that will be released early next month. Below you will find the show notes, which contain an outline of some of the points that we touched on in the discussion, followed by links to download or stream the recording of this episode of the podcast at the bottom of the page. Questions Here are the questions that we answered and used as starting points for the discussion in this episode, which were submitted by a listener and patron named Michael Beeson: * What are the mistakes most beginners make when they start to learn astrology? * What are your core principles when you interpret a chart, and where does construction of delineation come in? * What do you believe a consultation should look like and what purpose it should serve for the client? * What 20% of astrological tools and techniques should I focus on to cover 80% of the tasks of an astrologer? * Who are the best astrologers you know, how did they develop their practice? Outline Some points touched on or discussed during the course of this episode: * Frustration of beginners regarding language acquisition. * The need for immersion in order to truly learn chart delineation. * Adam on his school’s approach to training. * The need for astrology residency programs * The issues with lack of structure. * Therapy vs astrology. * What does a standard astrological consultation look like? * Case studies versus live demonstrations of consultations or technique. * Abstract knowledge vs experience * Making sure that you understand a concept or technique correctly before rejecting it. * Avoiding becoming overly focused on minor things that aren’t important in charts. Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode You can either play this episode of the podcast directly from the website or download it as an MP3 to your computer by using the buttons below:

In episode 132 of the podcast astrologers Jo Gleason and Ryhan Butler join the show to discuss what astrology conferences are all about, why you should try to go to one, and some strategies for making them easier to attend. Ryhan is a board member of the Association for Astrological Networking (AFAN), while Jo is on the board of the Association for Young Astrologers (AYA), and one of the functions of both organizations is trying to make it easier for astrologers to connect with each other and attend community events like conferences. Both just returned from the SOTA astrology conference in New York last month, and we thought that we would take some of the energy and enthusiasm they had coming off of the conference in order to talk about what makes conferences important these days. You can find out more information about Jo on her website AmyJoGleason.com You can find out more about Ryhan on his website at MedievalAstrologyGuide.com Below you will find the show notes, followed by links to download or stream the recording of this episode of the podcast. Show Notes * Background and introductions. * When did everyone attend their first conferences? * General discussion: what did you expect at your first conference vs. how was it in reality? * Why are astrological conferences important? * What is so great about them, especially compared to what you can get online? * The purpose of conferences is half educational, and half socializing. * The lectures and the workshops are the educational part. * The socializing is what happens in between. * What conferences are like on the ground. * Sometimes easier to have a friend there (could be roommates you meet) * Connect with conference-goers on social media before the conference * Look for general non-lecture hangouts * Hospitality suites, etc * Start conversations after lectures on lecture topic * Stay in touch with conference-goers in Facebook events where dinner plans and whatnot are often posted * In general, accept invitations to dinner/hotel bar with groups * You often learn just as much from connecting with other astrologers as you do in lectures * Could seem cliquey at first glance but groups are generally welcoming to newcomers *  Lectures. * Different types of lectures. * Standard lectures. * Keynote lectures * Workshops * Free speech lectures. * Good idea to plan out what talks you want to see ahead of time. * This is especially necessary for pre and post workshops. * One difficulty is choosing between multiple lectures happening simultaneously. * Helps sometimes that you can buy the recording after. * Decision then is which would it be better to see in person. * Seeing a variety of different lectures is good. * It is one of the things that makes conferences great for education. * Exposing yourself to new ideas, concepts, and traditions. * Get recommendations from other conference goers. * Balance between staying up late socializing vs. getting up early for lectures. * Getting to a conference can be expensive. * Three main things that you need to cover: * 1. Buying a pass to the conference itself (workshops separate expense) * 2. Buying a plane ticket or whatever to get there.

In episode 131 of the podcast astrologers Leisa Schaim and Patrick Watson join the show to talk about some examples of Saturn returns that we have observed over the past few years as Saturn has been transiting through the zodiacal sign of Sagittarius. Our example charts include a mixture of celebrity charts, charts of friends or people we know personally, as well as a number of examples that were submitted by listeners of the podcast who shared their stories with us and agreed to let us share their charts. Most of these are examples of the first Saturn return, which occurs during a person’s late 20s, although we also have one example of a second Saturn return in Sagittarius that we talk about as well. This is a followup to episode 45 on Saturn in Sagittarius, which we recorded back in 2015 when Saturn was first moving into that sign, where we talked about some themes that we expected to see during the course of that transit. We received a lot of great Saturn return stories from listeners of the show, but unfortunately we were not able to talk about all of them due to time constraints. If you are one of those people who has Saturn in Sagittarius and you would like to share your story, we would love to hear from you in the comments section below. It would probably be best if comments were kept kind of concise, like a 2-3 paragraph summary of your Saturn return, as well as your chart placements or birth data. You can find out more about Patrick on his website, BigFatAstro.com, as well as his YouTube channel. For more information about Leisa see her website LeisaSchaim.com. Leisa is presenting a webinar on Saturn returns on November 15 for Nightlight Astrology, and also has a recording the same lecture on Saturn returns and sect available on her website. Below you will find the show notes, followed by links to download or stream the recording of this episode of the podcast. This episode is available in both an audio version and a video version, and you will find links to both at the bottom of this page. Show Notes Here is an outline of some of the things we talked about in this episode: * Over two years since we did the Saturn in Sag podcast. * Return to talk about some of the stories we saw since that time. * Review a bit of what the Saturn return is about in theory. * Major keywords and themes of Saturn returns in general: * Major achievements * Major downfalls * Re-evaluating one’s life choices * Endings and beginnings * Hard work/persistence, testing, challenges * Reality principle/making things real * Our interpretive principles for how it will manifest: * The sign and degree that Saturn is in. * The house that Saturn is located in. * The two houses that Saturn rules, using traditional rulerships. * The sect of the chart (day vs. night). * Whether Saturn has any dignity or reception (see previous episode on mitigating factors in astrology). * Bonified or corrupted by aspects with other planets (for more see Chris’ class on bonificatio...

In episode 130 of the podcast astrologers Kelly Surtees and Austin Coppock join the show once again to talk about the astrological forecast for November of 2017. The show opens with an hour-long discussion about news and observations related to the recent ingress of Jupiter into Scorpio, as well as some followup discussion about episode 127 on the lunar nodes. The forecast itself covers transits such as the final Saturn-Uranus trine of the year, lunations in Taurus and Scorpio, and more. Later in the episode we also feature an auspicious electional chart for the month of November, which is an Aquarius rising election with Saturn in the 11th house. The artwork for this episode comes from the 2017 Planet Watcher astrology calendar. Below you will find the show notes, followed by links to download or stream the recording of this episode of the podcast. This month’s episode is available in both an audio version and a video version, and you will find links to both at the bottom of this page. Initial Discussion and Timestamps We talk about news, the tropical zodiac, the nodes, and Jupiter in Scorpio for the first hour of the podcast, and then in the second hour we focus on the forecast for November. If you want to jump forward to the forecast segment of the episode, we start that discussion at 1:07:05 minutes into the audio recording. Major Astrological Alignments in November * Full Moon in Taurus on November 4 * Mercury moves into Sagittarius November 5 * Venus moves into Scorpio November 7 * Saturn trine Uranus November 11 * New Moon in Scorpio November 18 * Sun into Sagittarius November 21 * Neptune stations direct in Pisces November 22 Auspicious Electional Chart for November Here is the primary auspicious electional chart that we highlighted for November: * November 9, 2017 at 12:23 PM, Aquarius rising There are three more electional charts that we found for November, which we will be talking about in our private subscriber-only podcast on auspicious elections that will be released tomorrow. If you would like to get access to that discussion, then all you have to do is become a patron of The Astrology Podcast on the $5 or $10 tier through our page on on Patreon, and then you will get access to the 45-minute Auspicious Elections Podcast as soon as it is released. Watch the Video Version of this Episode Here is the video version of this month’s forecast episode: . Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode You can either play this episode of the podcast directly from the website or download it as an MP3 to your computer by using the buttons below:

Episode 129 of the podcast features an interview with Dorian Greenbaum about the recent discovery of a new horoscope from Egypt that dates to the 4th century CE. In September of 2017 Dorian Greenbaum and Alexander Jones published a paper on the discovery through the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, titled P.Berl. 9825: An elaborate horoscope for 319 CE and its significance for Greek astronomical and astrological practice. The chart contains a number of interesting and unique features, such as zodiacal subdivisions and lots, which we discuss during the course of the interview. Below you will find the show notes, which contain an outline of some of the points that we touched on in the discussion, followed by links to download or stream the recording of this episode of the podcast at the bottom of the page. Show Notes * Introducing Dorian and talking a bit about her background. * Received her PhD from the Warburg Institute in 2009. * The Daimon in Hellenistic Astrology: Origins and Influence * Expanded version published by Brill in 2015: The Daimon in Hellenistic Astrology: Origins and Influence * New discovery of a papyrus birth chart that dates to the 4th century CE. * The chart is unique for several reasons. * Is an elaborate or “deluxe” horoscope. * Positions to the degree and minute, plus zodiacal subdivisions. * Only about 26 deluxe horoscopes survive. * Contains the seven Hermetic lots mentioned by Paulus Alexandrinus. * Also calculates the Master of the Nativity. * Paper is titled “P.Berl. 9825: An elaborate horoscope for 319 CE and its significance for Greek astronomical and astrological practice” * Published September 2017 by the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World. * Co-authored with Alexander Jones, who discovered the papyrus in the Berlin archives. * Background on other surviving horoscopes from antiquity. * Around 350 Greek horoscopes survive from antiquity. * They say there are 446 extant horoscopic texts total from antiquity. * Several collections of ancient horoscopes have been published. * About the Greco-Roman “horoscopes”. * Horoscope as a generic term for “chart” (thema) here. * Distinction between literary charts versus standalone (usually called ‘documentary’) charts. * Distinction between standard charts versus deluxe horoscopes. * The lack of delineation potentially being due to verbal interpretations. * Horoscope boards. * Most of the horoscopes are fragments of papyrus with calculated placements. * Usually thought the placements recreated on horoscope board for consultation * Rediscovering the chart. * Where and how was the chart found? * What methods were used to date it? * Are the positions in the chart tropical or sidereal? * The process of putting together the missing pieces. * Lots (so-called “Arabic Parts”). * Not a ton of charts with lots survive. * They are the second most used point outside of the planets in surviving horoscopes. * Most just have the Lot of Fortune, then some the Lot of Spirit, and then a handful of others. * Dorian prefers to refer to it as the Lot of Daimon. * Discussion about the concept of the daimon. * This is the earliest and only standalone chart to cont...

Episode 128 features an interview with astrologer John Townley about composite charts, and his work in developing and promoting the technique starting in the early 1970s. John was the first person to publish a book on the subject in 1973, and is generally recognized as having popularized the technique. During the course of the interview we discuss his background in astrology, how the concept of composite charts was first developed, and what some of the implications of the technique are. You can find out more information about John’s work on his website: www.astrococktail.com Below you will find the show notes, which contain an outline of some of the points that we touched on in the discussion, followed by links to download or stream the recording of this episode of the podcast at the bottom of the page. Show Notes * Introducing John, and talking about his early life and career. * Born August 17, 1945, 1:51 AM EWT, Washington, DC * Background and training in astrology. * The Composite Chart (1973) * Published during his Saturn return. * Composite Charts: The Astrology of Relationships (2000, Llewellyn) * Prior to the 1970s synastry was the only game in town for relationship analysis. * Synastry goes back to 1st and 2nd century, Dorotheus and Ptolemy, at least. * Origins of midpoint theory/technique in early 20th century astrology. * Came out of the Hamburg School in Germany in the 1920s. * For some reason Ebertin attributes it to Bonatti, but it is not clear why. * Understanding how and why midpoints work is key. * Synastry compares the positions in two natal charts to each other. * Composite chart creates a third chart for the relationship as an entity. * What do two people create when they come together? * Composite chart uses intra-chart midpoints for the same planet, eg. Venus-Venus * Composite as not a real chart that exists, but an artifact. * Not technically a horoscope or chart at all, in the strict sense. * Does not reflect an actual chart with a time and location. * An extrapolation from two charts. * John calls it a “mathematical construct of mutual midpoints.” * Davison chart as a midpoint in time versus composite midpoint in space. * Davidson creates a chart for a location and date halfway between the natals. * Ronald Davison (1914-1985) * First introduced Davison chart in synastry book in 1977. * Very late in his career, thus probably not central to his work. * Maybe “off-the-cuff response to the sudden burst of interest in composite charts” * John calls this part of the “why not” approach that many partook in at the time, including himself in his first volume on composites. * Advocates a physical basis for astrology. * Work on Paul Kammerer and the concept of seriality. Listen to This Episode You can either play this episode of the podcast directly from the website or download it as an MP3 to your computer by using the buttons below:

In episode 127 astrologer Adam Sommer of the Exploring Astrology podcast joined the show to answer some questions submitted by listeners of both of our podcasts, but we got stuck on the very first question and ended up having a 90-minute discussion about the lunar nodes. On the Moon’s Nodes We open the episode by introducing Adam, talking a little bit about his background and podcast, and then we transition into the Q&A session and read our first question, which was from a patron of Chris’ podcast named Sheila Roher. Sheila wrote: As your note in your book, Hellenistic astrology doesn’t seem to pay a huge amount of attention to lunar nodes. Babylonian astrology viewed the nodes as dangerous gateways to change (with dragons ready to charge into action). Many astrologers from different ‘schools’ (whether Medieval or Theosophical or New Age) tend to favor the north node and view the south node as more problematic. Some Jungian astrologers view the nodes as a key indicator of the themes the person is seeking to balance in their lives (a view I find usually accurate and helpful with clients). How, if at all, are you using the nodes in delineation? How much weight do you give transits to the nodes, nodal returns, or transiting nodes to natal planets? This then led to a full discussion on the nodes and their meaning in astrology, and in particular some of the issues surrounding how they have come to be interpreted in the west in the past few decades versus how they were used in other traditions of astrology in the past. Some of the discussion points included: * The relatively recent development of past life/reincarnation associations with the nodes. * The way the nodes are used in the Hellenistic, Medieval, and Indian astrological traditions. * The tendency to treat the south node as accidentally malefic in some modern traditions. * Why the north node is only listed sometimes in charts. * Adam’s views on the significance and importance of the nodes in natal chart work. * The nodes as destabilizing or disruptive factors in some traditions. * The connection of the nodes with eclipses. * A possible traditional justification for the way the nodes are viewed in modern times. * Empiricism versus symbolic reasoning as the means of determining what things mean in astrology. * And many other topics. Although the nodes have come up from time to time before on The Astrology Podcast, I’ve been meaning to do a show on them for a while, and this sort of turned into that episode unexpectedly. Thanks and our apologies to everyone else who sent in questions for the Q&A! We are planning to do a followup episode at some point in order to get to some of the other questions. Listen to This Episode You can either play this episode of the podcast directly from the website or download it as an MP3 to your computer by using the buttons below:

In episode 126 of the podcast astrologers Austin Coppock and Kelly Surtees join the show to talk about the astrological forecast for October of 2017, which includes Jupiter moving into Scorpio, lunations in Aries and Libra, and more. The show opens with a brief discussion about relocational astrology, which was covered earlier this month in episode 123, and Kelly and Austin share some interesting personal experiences with the subject. Later in the episode we also feature an auspicious electional chart for the month of October, which is a Venus election with Libra rising and Venus in Libra in the first house. The artwork for this episode comes from the 2017 Planet Watcher astrology calendar. Below you will find the show notes, followed by links to download or stream the recording of this episode of the podcast. This month’s episode is available in both an audio version and a video version, and you will find links to both at the bottom of this page. News and Announcements At the top of the show we discuss some news and announcements: * Chris just started a new private monthly show called The Casual Astrology Podcast, which is available as a new benefit for patrons of the show who sign up on the $10 tier through our page on Patreon. This series will feature being the scenes news about the show, some topics segments that didn’t make it into the main podcast, and occasionally some exclusive interview segments. The first episode was just released to all patrons on September 28. * The ability to attend the live taping of each month’s forecast episode has just been made a benefit for patrons on the $3 tier and above. * Kelly just published the 2018 WellBeing Astrology Guide. We are going to give away two copies to two lucky patrons this week. * Kelly is giving a workshop on an Introduction to Hellenistic and Traditional Astrology on in Sydney on October 6. Initial Discussion and Timestamps We talk about news, announcements, and relocational astrology for a bit at the top of the show. If you want to jump forward to the forecast segment of the episode, we start that discussion at 28:00 minutes into the audio recording. Major Astrological Alignments in October * Full Moon in Aries October 5. * Mercury-Sun superior conjunction Oct 8. * Jupiter ingresses into Scorpio October 10. * Venus ingresses into Libra October 14. * Mercury ingresses into Scorpio October 17. * Mercury conjoins Jupiter in Scorpio Oct 18. * First planet to conjoin Jupiter in his new sign. * New Moon in Libra October 19. * This Sun/Moon conjunction is opposite Uranus within 4 minutes! Another sync with the last Jupiter-Uranus. * Mars ingresses into Libra October 22. * Sun ingresses into Scorpio October 23. * Sun-Jupiter conjunction Oct 26. * This restarts the Sun-Jupiter synod in Scorpio. Seeds of the new Jupiter in Scorpio program. Auspicious Electional Chart for October Here is the primary auspicious electional chart that we highlighted for October: * October 14, 2017 at 5:30 AM with early Libra rising There are three more electional charts that we found for October,

In episode 125 of the podcast astrologers Cassandra Tyndall and Tony Howard join the show to discuss some tips that clients can take into consideration when trying to choose an astrologer to get an astrological consultation from. During the course of the discussion we focus in particular on some strategies for trying to find an astrologer that is right for you when getting a consultation. You can find out more about Cassandra at CassandraTyndall.com You can find out about Tony at AstroRaven.com Below you will find an extensive set of show notes, which contain most of the points that we touched on in the discussion, followed by links to download or stream the recording of this episode of the podcast at the bottom of the page. Show Notes Here is most of our outline for this episode: Getting a Consultation with an Astrologer * The primary job of most astrologers is seeing clients. * They act as consultants, and you can pay for their time, in order to use their knowledge of astrology in a way that is useful for your needs. * Times vary, but generally a consultation can last an hour or more. * Prices vary depending on things like how notable the astrologer is, how long they have been practicing, what they specialize in, what area they live in, etc. Possible Issues with Choosing an Astrologer * If you don’t know much about astrology, it can be difficult to know who to consult with. * There are a lot of different options available. * If you don’t know what is available, it might be difficult to identify the astrologer who would be the most well-suited for your needs. * There is also a lack of standardization in the field, that makes it like the wild west sometimes. * Also have to be careful since there can be some pitfalls. * You might expect or assume certain things, but the astrologer you consult with me not actually offer those things. * In some rare instances you might end up with someone who isn’t really using astrology. * Could be a psychic/intuitive, tarot card reader, or maybe even someone who is putting on a front of some sort or pretending to have expertise. * This is rare, but a possibility to be aware of. What Type of Astrologer Are You Looking For? * The first thing to be aware of is that there are different types AND traditions of astrology. * Different types of astrology are different applications of the subject to different endeavors and human affairs. * Different traditions of astrology are often specific types of astrology that come from certain geographical eras and time periods, and they often have unique technical and philosophical approaches. * It is difficult to know what tradition to go with if you are new to the subject, but it is definitely good to be aware of the different types and applications of astrology, that way you know what is offered. * Some different types or applications of astrology: * Natal Astrology * Relationship Astrology * Predictive Astrology / Forecasting * Electional Astrology * Horary Astrology Questions * Medical Astrology * Financial Astrology * Different traditions of astrology * Modern western astrology * Traditional astrology * Psychological astrology * Vedic astrology * Chinese astrology * etc. * Are you looking for something local or is long distance ok? * Although local is possible, you will have more options with long distance. * There very well may be some good astrologers in your area though,

Episode 124 of the podcast features a discussion about different options for getting a well-rounded education in astrology, and the pros and cons associated with the four major educational paths that a student can take if they want to study astrology within the context of a school or certification program. The episode was prompted by some questions Chris received from a student of astrology named Amaya Rourke, who was looking for some advice about the best path to take in terms of some of the different educational programs that are available. This episode is a recording of what was essentially a pretty candid discussion between Chris and Amaya about some of the different options that are available to students of astrology today. Below you will find the show notes with an outline of some of the points we touched on in the discussion, followed by links to download or stream the recording of this episode of the podcast at the bottom of the page. Questions About Astrological Education Here are some of the questions that Amaya had that we touched on at different points in the episode: * What method would you recommend for someone to decide if a formal astrology program was right for them? * Are online courses an equal alternative to taking a formal astrology program in person? Why or why not? * Do you believe the money spent on attending a formal astrology program pays off for the student of astrology? * What are the benefits to taking a formal astrology program? * Is it necessary to attend a formal astrology program, in order to become an effective professional astrologer? If not, what do you think IS necessary? * What would you consider to be the top 3 astrology programs a student could take right now? Why do you consider these the best? * Would you consider a student finding a direct astrological mentor to be as valuable/on par with taking a formal astrology course? * What is the difference between the major organizations (AFA, ISAR, and NCGR)? * What is the difference between being a member of one of these organizations, and being certified by one of these organizations? * What are the benefits of becoming members? * What are the benefits of receiving astrology certifications from these organizations? Listen to This Episode You can either play this episode of the podcast directly from the website or download it as an MP3 to your computer by using the buttons below: