A weekly podcast on the history, philosophy, and techniques of astrology, hosted by professional astrologer Chris Brennan.
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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
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
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 Babylon
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 Jeff
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 de
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 opp
Astrologers Chris Brennan and Patrick Watson explore the ancient timing technique known as Babylonian goal year periods, which can be used to identify repeating transits and events over very long spans of time. Recovered from the astronomical diaries of Mesopotamian sky watchers in the first millennium BCE, these periods demonstrate how the visible planets repeat their exact zodiacal placements and phase relationships with the Sun over predictable intervals. Our discussion breaks down the math behind these synodic cycles and highlights how repetition is the ultimate key to prediction in both m
In this episode a group of students and patrons join me to reflect on the recent Venus-Jupiter conjunction in Cancer, and to share stories of how it manifested in our lives based on which of the twelve houses it was transiting in their birth charts. The episode opens with a brief introduction where I talk about the importance of taking into account both the entire range of the sign-based conjunction or copresence between Venus and Jupiter, which lasted from May 18 until June 13, as well as the more intense range of the degree-based conjunction which went exact on June 9. After that I interview
A deep dive into the astrology forecast for June 2026, with astrologers Chris Brennan and Leisa Schaim. We spend the first hour talking about the astrology behind news and events that happened since our last forecast, and then in the second hour we get into the astrology of June. The month opens with one of the most auspicious planetary alignments of the year: a Venus-Jupiter conjunction in Cancer that remains active for the first two weeks. Venus-Jupiter conjunctions are excellent for relationships, marriages, and partnerships, as well as peacekeeping efforts and the confirmation of good thin
In this episode a group of students and patrons join me to reflect on the recent Mars-Saturn conjunction in Aries, and to share stories of how it manifested in our lives based on which of the twelve houses it was transiting in our birth charts. The episode opens with a brief introduction where I talk about the importance of taking into account both the entire range of the sign-based conjunction or copresence between Mars and Saturn, which lasted from April 9 until May 18, as well as the more intense range of the degree-based conjunction which went exact on April 19. After that I interview seve
In this episode I'm joined by writer Courtney Ann LaFaive to discuss the life and work of the famous 20th century astrologer Linda Goodman, who wrote the highest-selling astrology book of all time. In 1968, Linda's book Sun Signs became a runaway phenomenon, selling millions of copies and becoming the first astrology book to make the New York Times bestseller list. Goodman’s approachable writing style appealed to a wide variety of readers, and helped to catalyze a massive boom in astrology in the late 1960s and 70s, serving as the gateway for millions of people to discover their full birth cha
In this episode I explore the astrology behind the deadly Hantavirus outbreak that is currently dominating global news headlines, specifically focusing on how it began around the recent Mars-Saturn conjunction, and demonstrating why ancient astrologers associated these alignments with plagues and pestilences. This is an alignment that we were nervous about and actually predicted in our year-ahead forecast for 2026, partially because it reminded me of the Mars-Saturn conjunction that took place in March and April of 2020. During that time, the world experienced the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns j
A deep dive into the astrology forecast for May 2026, with astrologers Chris Brennan and Austin Coppock. We spend the first hour talking about the astrology behind news and events that happened since our last forecast, and then in the second hour we get into the astrology of May. The month opens with a peace-shattering Mars-Jupiter square around May 4. At the same time there is a very intense Pluto station on May 6, which highlights themes of power and control, but will also mark an important turning point with respect to ongoing technological and social transformations over the past few years
In this episode I explore the stark astrological alignments coinciding with the escalating global oil crisis, which is rapidly accelerating as the planets Mars and Saturn form a conjunction in the sky. In the first part of the episode I discuss how the Mars-Saturn conjunction, which goes exact on April 19, is set to coincide with when the last oil tankers that made it out of the Strait of Hormuz before the war in Iran began will arrive at their destinations. Then in the second part of the episode I discuss how this is tied in with the broader Saturn-Neptune conjunction that recently occurred,
This episode is a recording of a live chart reading webinar I did with patrons, where I talked about how I conceptualize the practice of natal astrology as identifying a person's life narrative and fate, and then I interviewed three patrons about how their chart describes some unique facets of their life story. Before jumping into the readings, I give a brief philosophical introduction exploring how ancient Hellenistic astrologers viewed fate as an ordered sequence of events, reflecting on Vettius Valens' analogy of each person playing a specific role as an actor in a cosmic play. During the l
In this episode I discuss the importance of exact transits to the birth chart within one degree of orb, and I interview patrons who share personal stories about events that happened in their lives under these close alignments. While sign-based transits set the broader stage and signify the overarching themes of an extended period, the moment a transiting planet aligns exactly to the degree and minute of a natal placement is often when the most critical, tangible events occur. We explore how these precise hits function like a spike in intensity, bringing the reality of the transit to the immedi
A deep dive into the astrology forecast for April 2026, with astrologers Chris Brennan and Austin Coppock. The first hour is dedicated to unpacking the astrology behind recent world events, with a primary focus on the outbreak of war in Iran that aligned with the recent Mars-Uranus square. We explore the striking historical repetitions at play, discussing how current Saturn-Neptune and eclipse cycles mirror significant historical turning points from the past, and what that means for the present global landscape. In the second half, we transition into the granular astrology of April, a month ch
In the episode I trace the history and origins of the astrological technique called midpoints back to two students of Placidus who lived in the 17th century, and then tell the story of its recovery and popularization by German astrologers in the early 20th century. For the past twenty years, the history of midpoints has been shrouded in mystery. Many astrologers have speculated about its origins, with myths tracing the technique back to the 13th-century astrologer Guido Bonatti, the 2nd-century astrologer Claudius Ptolemy, or assuming it was invented from scratch by Alfred Witte and the Hambur
Astrologer Ileana Reyes joins me to talk about childhood astrology, and how placements in the twelve houses are experienced early in life. While most astrological consultations focus on adults who have the autonomy to make their own choices, reading a child's chart offers a unique glimpse into their foundational environment, early developmental milestones, and raw temperament. The core of the conversation takes listeners on a step-by-step journey through the twelve astrological houses, specifically tailored to the experiences of children from birth through their early teenage years. Ileana bre
In this episode I provide an astrological analysis of the war that began between the US, Israel, and Iran on February 28, 2026, and discuss how these current alignments may be signaling the beginning of a much larger conflict. I look at the striking historical recurrences that culminated in this week's events, including the recent Saturn-Neptune conjunction, which perfectly echoes the 1953 US-backed coup and the 1989 death of Iran's Supreme Leader, and the exact Mars-Uranus square that triggered the initial strikes. I also explore the extraordinary fact that all three of three major leaders in
In episode 526 of The Astrology Podcast we look ahead at the astrological forecast for March of 2026, with astrologers Chris Brennan and Austin Coppock. We are coming off the heels of some incredibly momentous planetary alignments, so we spend the first half of the episode doing a deep dive into recent news events to see how the astrology has been manifesting before transitioning into our breakdown of the transits for the month ahead. In the news segment, we explore the impact of the exact Saturn-Neptune conjunction, particularly how it has been revealing things that were previously concealed,
In this episode, I'm looking at Saturn-Neptune conjunctions in birth charts and sharing some preliminary research I've been doing recently about how this placement shows up in people's lives. With the Saturn-Neptune conjunction finally going exact in the sky right now on February 20, 2026, I wanted to shift our focus from mundane world events to how this alignment manifests on a personal level, especially by looking at the lives of notable individuals and celebrities. I explore a variety of fascinating manifestations, from what I've been calling the "reality distortion field," to themes of mys
In ancient astrology, eclipses were viewed as omens of the death or downfall of prominent people. In this episode, I want to go over some examples from recent history and current news that demonstrate that this ancient observation is still true to this day. I recorded this on February 19, 2026, right as the big news hit that Prince Andrew was just arrested in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein files, which happened only two days after a solar eclipse in Aquarius. We'll dive into what I define as "eclipse season," a roughly month-long period that starts about a week before the first eclipse an
In episode 523 astrologer Ashley Otero joins me to discuss the astrological significance of Bad Bunny’s recent Super Bowl halftime show and its deep connection to the history of Puerto Rico, focusing in particular on Saturn-Neptune conjunctions. We demonstrate how the performance aligns with a powerful series of Saturn-Neptune conjunctions that have coincided with pivotal moments in the island's past, including the granting of US citizenship in 1917, the ratification of the Constitution in 1952, and the formal request for self-determination in 1989. Through this lens, we analyze the archetype
Saturn-Neptune conjunctions have historically coincided with themes involving conspiracies, secret organizations, covert operations, and the exposure or suppression of secretive groups. As this conjunction goes exact again in February of 2026, I wanted to reflect on how some of these themes have been coming up again quite dramatically, and how history is repeating. This is episode 522 of The Astrology Podcast. Timestamps 00:00:00 - Introduction00:01:27 - The Zodiac Club & J.P. Morgan00:03:30 - The Epistemic Crisis00:06:29 - Secret Societies and Their Suppression00:10:56 - Secret Pacts and Dipl
