The Astrology Podcast

Episode 247 features an interview with astrologer Arielle Guttman about her work on using myth as an interpretive device in astrology, as well as the importance of the synodic cycle of Venus, providing insight into the upcoming Venus retrograde. Arielle is the author of the books Mythic Astrology and Mythic Astrology Applied, as well as Venus Star Rising: A New Cosmology for the Twenty-First Century. During the course of the interview we talk about Arielle's background in astrology and how she got into it, her work with Jim Lewis on relocational astrology, the use of myth as a tool to help explicate archetypes in astrology, and her work on what she calls the Venus Star Point. The Venus Star Point in natal astrology is the conjunction between Venus and the Sun that occurred prior to your birth, which creates a sensitive degree in your chart, and also locks in a resonance between that phase of Venus whenever it reoccurs later in your life. Here is a handout from Arielle's website for calculating your Venus Star Point: Find your Venus Star Point PDF Handout You can find out more information about Arielle's work through her website: SophiaVenus.com Arielle came out to Denver to give a talk for our local astrology group during the second week of March, but this was just as the COVID-19 pandemic was breaking out in the US, so we switched her talk to a webinar on Saturday, March 14, and then recorded this podcast the following day. If you enjoy this episode of the podcast, the webinar the previous day went into a bit more detail about her work on Venus, and the recording is available as an episode of the Casual Astrology Podcast for patrons. This episode was co-hosted by astrologers Chris Brennan and Leisa Schaim. 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 00:02:11 Arielle's books and background 00:10:46 Astrocartography 00:20:12 Asteroids 00:24:38 How myth is used in astrology 00:33:38 Using mythic astrology with clients 00:35:30 Myth of Ceres and Persephone 00:40:13 Stories of planets that aren't prominent 00:41:56 Transit of Pluto to Ceres 00:43:13 Hermes story 00:45:47 How mythic stories help clients 00:48:55 Archetypes 00:52:19 Mythology of Venus 00:55:00 The two sides of Venus 00:58:00 Two Venus statues 00:58:56 Complexity of Venus in astrology 01:02:20 2012 Mayan astrology Venus transit 01:04:15 Venus as evening and morning star 01:07:38 Importance of Venus kazimi 01:10:06 Mayan fascination with Venus 01:12:30 Masons and Venus pentagram 01:13:28 Rosary beads and Venus cycles 01:14:26 Meanings of Venus morning and evening star phases 01:21:09 Venus pentagram 01:23:53 Relationships on the Venus star 01:26:52 Venus retrograde pattern 01:30:54 Venus passing across the face of the Sun 01:31:35 The Venus Sun conjunction prior to your birth 01:32:00 Additional point for evening star Venus people 01:33:27 Venus Star Point 2020 in Gemini 01:34:40 Impact of Venus Star Point on your chart 01:35:33 People with same Venus Star Point as yours 01:40:25 When a person outshines their partner 01:42:30 Venus Star Point at the mundane level 01:52:09 What Venus retrograde means 01:58:50 Arielle's Venus Star Rising book 01:59:10 How to find your Venus Star Point link 02:04:30 Arielle's website and how to get a signed book 02:06:56 Her Mythic Astrology books 02:07:51 Closing remarks Watch the Video Version of This Episode Here is the video version of this episode of the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYO7gjnOyco - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 247 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 246 features a discussion with astrologer Darby Costello about the four elements in astrology, and the way their archetypal meanings are applied to the signs of the zodiac. The four classical elements in the western tradition are: fire, air, water, and earth. The concept of the four elements originated in the Greek tradition with the pre-Socratic philosophers, and especially Empedocles in the 5th century BCE, with additional contributions later by Plato and Aristotle. The four elements have been applied to the triplicities since at least the 1st century BCE, and Chris published a paper in 2013 showing how the assignment of the elements to the signs of the zodiac was based on the planetary joys scheme. Darby wrote two books on the elements, titled Water and Fire: The Astrological Elements Book 1, and Earth and Air: The Astrological Elements Book 2. During the course of this episode we talk about how Darby got into astrology, the history and philosophy behind the elements, and how they are applied to the signs of the zodiac to create pairs of signs with antithetical elemental qualities. For more information about Darby's work visit her website: https://www.darbycostello.co.uk 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 00:00:43 Darby's books 00:03:10 Darby's background 00:14:10 Sources of the elements 00:20:49 Plato, elements, triplicities 00:30:50 Aristotle and natural place 00:34:56 Archetypal qualities 00:43:40 Hot, cold, wet, dry qualities 00:54:29 Water signs 01:02:17 Air and fire signs 01:18:15 Element imbalances 01:24:15 Cancer Capricorn 01:30:35 Virgo Pisces 01:39:30 Taurus Scorpio 01:57:26 Aries Libra 02:07:30 Closing remarks Watch the Video Version of This Episode Here is the video version of our discussion about the four elements: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqfK1H0qtYw – Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 246 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 245 features the astrology forecast for March of 2020, with astrologers Kelly Surtees, Austin Coppock, and Chris Brennan. The astrology of March features the tail end of the Mercury retrograde in Pisces and Aquarius, a Full Moon in Virgo, New Moon in Aries, and then ends with Saturn and Mars moving into Aquarius and forming a conjunction. We spend the first hour and a half of the episode on the astrology forecast for March, and then in the final hour we transition into talking about a recent discussion about the concept of essential dignity in the astrological community. This episode is available in both audio and video versions at the bottom of this page. For early access to new episodes and other bonus content, consider becoming a patron of The Astrology Podcast on Patreon. News, Announcements, and Links to Stuff Mentioned Here are links to some of the stuff mentioned in this episode: Kelly's website Austin's website Chris' online astrology courses #DignityBabes on Twitter #DignityBabes on Instagram Friend of Dorotheus T-shirt by @PhosphorAstro on Twitter Planetary Alignments for March 2020 Mercury retrogrades back into Aquarius March 4 Venus moves into Taurus on March 4 Full Moon in Virgo March 9 Mercury stations direct in late Aquarius March 9 Mercury moves back into Pisces March 16 Sun moves into Aries March 19 Saturn moves into Aquarius March 21 New Moon in Aries March 24 Mars moves into Aquarius March 30 Auspicious Astrological Date for March The auspicious election for March that was chosen by Leisa Schaim is set for: 🪐 March 22, 2020, starting at 9:10 AM, with Taurus rising There are a three more electional charts that we found for March, which are available in our private subscriber-only podcast on auspicious elections that was just released a few days ago. We also have a full year-ahead electional astrology report for 2020, which highlights one auspicious electional chart for each month this year. Watch the Video Version of Our March Astrology Forecast Here is the video version of our March astrology forecast episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOnzAJPHL0k - Listen to the Audio Version of Our March Forecast 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 244 features an interview with Anthony Louis about the history of how Placidus became the most popular system of quadrant house division used in western astrology in modern times. In late 20th and early 21st century astrology Placidus is the most popular house system, and it is usually the default house system in most software programs, which makes it the system that most people begin their studies of astrology with. The question is: how did this come to be the case? Especially since there are other forms of quadrant house division that are available, such as Porphyry or Alcabitius houses, what led to the widespread acceptance of Placidus? It turns out, the origins of the Placidus house system and its popularization lie in the 17th century, and it was partially based on an an attempt to reinterpret a controversial passage from the work of the 2nd century astrologer Claudius Ptolemy. The genesis of this discussion was an article on Anthony's blog titled Why are Placidus Houses so Popular? Our goal here was to talk about some of the arguments outlined in that post, and go into some areas in greater detail, to understand the history of house division. While our previous episode on the origins of the different forms of house division in ancient astrology covered the early history of house division, the purpose of this episode is to fill in some missing pieces about the later history from the Renaissance era forward into modern times. You can find out more information about Anthony on his website: TonyLouis.wordpress.com Below you will find an extensive set of show notes that we used as the outline for our discussion. This episode is available in both audio and video versions at the bottom of the page. Episode Outline and Show Notes Here is part of the outline we created in preparation for this episode: Based on Anthony’s November 2019 blog article Why are Placidus Houses so Popular? Follow-up to original article: “Placidus: The Default Darling of Domification”, in Federation of Australian Astrologers Journal, Vol 49, No 2 (June 2019), pp. 21-26. Premise of the discussion: In late 20th and early 21st century astrology Placidus is the most popular house system In modern western astrology. It is the default house system in most software programs, like Astro.com As a result of that it is the system that people usually start with One of the questions that comes up is why is Placidus the default quadrant system? Holden makes a passing remark that Placidus became the default due to availability: “It has become a cliche in the 20th century that the Placidus system later became the 19th and 20th century standard because it was the only one for which affordable tables were readily available. This is partially true, but the same thing could be said for the initial success of the Regiomantanus system.” Holden, A History of Horoscopic Astrology, p. 150. Anthony took some issue with this because Placidus had been popularized earlier. While it was the primary system available by the 20th century, this was because it had been promoted widely since the 17th century. So how did this get started? Placidus published his book in 1650. Focused on primary directions and house division. He was interested in reconstructing Ptolemy’s approach. Part of the general back to Ptolemy movement. Also evident in Lilly and others. Ptolemy was the oldest Greek author available Viewed as the most authoritative. Ptolemy has a discussion of house division in his length of life chapter (3, 11). This is also where he introduces primary directions. The method of house division he advocates here has long been the subject of dispute. “This one chapter has occasioned more astrological controversy than any other ever written.” Holden, A History, p. 47. Ptolemy was like the Einstein of his day Even in the early Greek authors after Ptolemy there were different interpretations about what system of house division they thought he was trying to introduce in this chapter. Some of the later forms of houses came from trying to interpret Ptolemy. Regiomantanus was one of the authors that did that. “Regiomontanus claimed that his method was what Ptolemy had in mind when he wrote Tetrabiblos, iii. 10 This is certainly false, but Regiomontanus’s arguments were accepted by the majority of astrologers.” Holden, Ancient House Division II. “His house tables, accompanied by auxiliary tables for calculating primary directions, were very likely the first extensive set of mathematical tables of any kind ever printed, appearing as they did scarcely four decades after the invention of printing.” “Three things combined to make the Regiomontanus system a success. First, it provided a convenient printed set of house tables. Second, it was modern and scientific. And third, it substituted a system with alleged classical Greek sanction for a system supposed to have been invented by a medieval Arab. But these arguments would have been equally applicable to the Campanus or

Episode 243 is a recording of a workshop led by astrologers Chris Brennan and Leisa Schaim about interpreting relationship indicators in the birth chart. This is a recording of a local meeting of the Denver Astrology Group, and it was meant to be an introductory overview to some of the techniques that astrologers employ when looking at relationships through the lens of natal astrology. There are three primary areas that we focus on for relationships in the birth chart: Planets in the 7th house The ruler of the 7th house The condition of Venus During the course of the meeting we demonstrate the techniques by sharing some celebrity and client example charts from our private files, and several members of the audience also shared their personal birth charts so that we could hear how certain placements have worked out in the lives of individuals directly. This episode of the podcast acts as sort of a companion to other episodes we've done on relationships in the past, such as: 🪐 The Outer Planets and Relationships with Kay Taylor 🪐 Synastry: The Astrology of Relationships with John Green 🪐 Composite Charts, with Originator John Townley 🪐 Sexual Orientation and Astrology with Christopher Renstrom 🪐 Lynn Bell on the Astrology of Family Dynamics 🪐 Relationship Astrology for Modern Times, with Jessica Lanyadoo There are some concepts that we only mention in passing in this episode, since they have been touched on in other episodes, and also since this was just meant to be a more basic technical introduction. We would also recommend checking out some of the previous workshops we've done recently, such as the one on the annual profections timing technique, or the workshop on interpreting where transiting eclipses fall in your birth chart. To learn more about the approach to astrology demonstrated in this workshop, check out Chris' online course on ancient astrology, or Leisa's lectures on annual profections and sect. 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 00:05:00 Relationships and the 7th House 00:12:35 Chart examples of positive 7th House placements 00:16:15 Carl Sagan - ascendant ruler in 7th 00:20:29 Joe Biden - Saturn in 7th, Ruler of 7th in 12th 00:25:18 Richard Nixon - Venus in 7th 00:27:11 Audience chart example - death of partner 00:33:56 Audience chart example - end of relationship 00:36:41 Saturn in 2nd ruling the 7th 00:40:50 Annual Profections 00:44:23 Ruler of 7th in 9th 00:47:53 Emmanuel Macron - Ruler of 7th in 5th 00:50:50 Venus as relationship significator 00:52:15 Venus Saturn 00:53:44 Venus Uranus 00:57:04 Venus Neptune 01:00:35 Venus Pluto 01:02:40 Lot of Eros 01:04:36 Audience chart example - Jupiter Mars in 7th 01:16:25 Audience chart example - Venus Saturn Pluto 01:21:28 Synastry 01:22:22 Audience chart example - 7th house profection 01:28:47 Meghan Markle - Ruler of 7th in 4th 01:31:15 Prince Harry - Profection example 01:33:41 Monica Lewinsky - Mars in 7th 01:34:22 Bill Gates - Ruler of 7th Saturn mitigations 01:36:58 Amanda Knox - Saturn in 7th ruling 8th and 9th 01:38:39 Prince William - Ruler of 7th in 7th 01:40:00 The Macrons' synastry 01:40:57 Audience example - Venus Neptune 01:45:12 Hitler - Ruler of 7th in 8th 01:46:08 Eva Braun - Saturn in 7th 01:47:25 Aretha Franklin - Saturn in 7th 01:49:06 Common relationship questions 01:51:20 Signs and relationships 01:52:20 Ruler of 7th in 1st 01:53:30 Placements aren't static 01:56:00 Closing remarks Watch the Video Version of This Episode Here is the video version of our discussion about relationships in the birth chart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipQMvTmMHyg - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 243 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 242 features an interview with astrologer Demetra George about her pioneering work on the asteroids in astrology, and why she feels they are interesting and important for astrologers to use. Demetra published the book Asteroid Goddesses in 1986, which was one of the first works that established an approach for incorporating the asteroids into modern astrology, and this helped to popularize their use over the past three decades. In her 2008 book Astrology and the Authentic Self she outlined a synthesis of modern and ancient astrology that showed how the asteroids could be incorporated into the framework of traditional astrology. Previously we recorded a biographical episode about Demetra's life, but our goal with this discussion was to provide a solid introduction to her work on the asteroids and why she thinks they are useful and important. You can find out more information about Demetra on her website: Demetra-George.com She has a number of audio recordings of lectures on the asteroids that she has given over the years, and also offers an asteroid personal report. Below you will find the show notes, followed by links to the recordings. This episode is available in both audio and video versions. Asteroids Episode Show Notes Eleanor Bach published The Asteroid Ephemeris in 1973. Story about how she gave the book to Demetra at a conference. Demetra spent 10 years writing Asteroid Goddesses, published in 1986. Goal was to demonstrate the usefulness and validity of the approach. Other practitioners that contributed to popularization of asteroids Lee Lehman, Al Morrison, Mark Pottenger, Martha Lang Wescott, Melanie Reinhart, Zane Stein, Barbara Hand Clow, Alex Miller, Nona Gwynn Press, Zip Dobyns, Roderick Kidston, Dave Campbell The theoretical premise of the meaning of the asteroids as derived from the name. The name having symbolic significance. Not accidental. Synchronistic correspondence. Astronomers initially used the names of gods and goddesses. Later names of ordinary and famous people Places, trees, flowers, concepts. Myth as an important tool in delineations / consultations. When an asteroid or body is prominent in the chart, the myth becomes prominent in that person’s life in some way. Mythological deities are symbolic expressions of inner structures of the psyche. The re-emerging feminine. Initial asteroids named after feminine goddesses. Balancing out predominantly male assignments of planetary names/gods. Only the Moon and Venus were feminine. Partial premise is that discovery of outer planets signaled new epochs in history and shifts, why not asteroids? Discovery coincides with an awakening of an aspect of consciousness. The big 4 asteroids: Ceres, Pallas Athena, Vesta, Juno. Discovered 1801-07 100 asteroids discovered by 1868, 1,000 by 1921, 700,000 by 2015 The glyphs for the first four asteroids. Issues regarding coming up with other glyphs. Meanings of the first four big asteroids. Ceres / Demeter Pallas / Athena Vesta / Hestia Juno / Hera Chiron - discovered in 1977. Lillith There are three different Lilliths Talks about it more in later book Finding Our Way Through the Dark (1995) Incorporating the asteroids into a more traditional framework. Astrology and the Authentic Self as a great synthesis of modern and traditional. Later daimon conceptualization of the asteroids. Personal name asteroids Locations or place asteroids Grouping asteroids that have similar themes. There are so many asteroids now, how do you sort and prioritize which ones are more or less important to a person? From Astrology and the Authentic Self: Different levels of importance: high, moderate, low, nil. High: conjunct of opposite luminaries, conjunct ruler of ASC or four angles. Moderate: Square luminaries or conjunct/opposite inner planet. Low: asteroid completes an aspect pattern, or trine/sextile luminary or ASC ruler. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:41 Demetra's history with the asteroids 00:02:06 Meeting Eleanor Bach and the first asteroid ephemeris 00:04:31 The significance of the first ephemeris 00:05:45 The story behind the name Demetra 00:07:13 Early work using mythology in consultations 00:09:37 Writing the book "Asteroid Goddesses" 00:11:49 The community's initial resistance to asteroids 00:12:46 The women's spirituality movement's interest in asteroids 00:14:28 Asteroids and the re-emergence of the feminine 00:17:53 The first four asteroids named after goddesses 00:18:21 The gender imbalance in the planetary pantheon 00:20:45 Are asteroids a serious form of astrology? 00:21:26 The reclassification of Pluto and Ceres 00:23:07 The premise that an asteroid's name is synchronistically meaningful 00:24:45 Example: Prince Charles's chart 00:28:11 Mythology as the starting point for interpretation 00:31:32 Why mythology dropped out of the astrological tradition 00:35:09 Other astrologers who popularized the asteroids 00:37:08 The launch of "Asteroid Godd