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Venus Retrograde Repetitions in the News Part 3
In episode 494 I share several Venus retrograde repetitions that have happened in the news recently, and summarize what I learned from closely tracking the Venus retrograde recently. Since Venus finally departed from Aries and completed the extended retrograde period earlier this month I wanted to do one final episode to wrap up some lingering 8-year repetition stories that I had found, and also to share some conclusions I drew from this research over the past 6 months. I needed to do this episode in order to bring this series to completion that I started back in January, and this is the third and final installment in the news series. Some repetitions I covered include: Star Wars, Nintendo, the Oscars/Conan, the Rose Garden, and Iran. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:07:31 Star Wars 00:16:01 Oscars & Conan 00:26:06 Nintendo 00:44:40 Rose Garden 00:47:41 Iran 01:00:49 Miscellaneous Stories 01:18:58 What I've Learned 01:55:37 Credits Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luI_GV5Ga9I – Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:
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1:58:17
Venus and Mars Retrogrades as the Unfolding of a Sequence of Events
In episode 493 I interview some patrons and students talk about how the recent Venus and Mars retrograde periods went for them, and to demonstrate a principle I discovered about how retrogrades can describe the unfolding of a sequence of events over an extended period of time. One of my unique perspectives on Venus and Mars retrogrades is that they are not just the period when the planet is moving backwards, but instead represent an extended stay in one or two signs of the zodiac. This long transit often coincides with the unfolding of a sequence of events over several months, frequently centered on the topics of the whole sign houses the retrograde occupies. Now that the extended retrograde period ranges have been completed this month, with Venus finally departing from its retrograde sign of Aries and Mars departing from its retrograde sign of Leo, I wanted to document and demonstrate this principle by sharing some real-life stories. I'm joined by several students from my courses and patrons of the podcast who share their experiences of how these transits played out in their lives. In particular we explore three specific ways that I have identified about how retrogrades can manifest: Retrogrades that represent the unfolding of a sequence of events that play out over an extended period of time. Retrogrades that cross a sign boundary and connect two sets of topics across the whole sign houses involved. When Venus and Mars are retrograde in different signs and the topics of both houses they are in become relevant. Through these discussions, we see clear examples of how these extended retrograde periods timed significant life stories, from relationship changes and career shifts to health matters and dealing with family. This episode serves as a final case study to substantiate the theoretical framework I outlined in previous forecasts, providing concrete examples to help astrologers learn how to apply this concept to future retrogrades. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction & premise 00:09:36 Three retrograde types 00:19:04 Kitt 00:38:34 Abby 00:49:53 Baykan 01:00:51 Emily 01:16:31 Summer 01:32:15 Christine 02:03:08 Dinah-Maria 02:24:55 Erin 02:26:31 Denese 02:48:15 Concluding remarks 03:02:13 Credits Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CS4YLeg4xc - Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:
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3:04:55
Ottoman Court Astrology
In episode 492 Professor A. Tunç Şen joins the podcast to discuss his book, Forgotten Experts: Astrologers, Science, and Authority in the Ottoman Empire, 1450-1600, which is on astrologers working in the Ottoman court in the 15th and 16th centuries. The conversation offers a detailed picture of the lives and social dynamics of astrologers who operated at the highest levels of power in the Ottoman court. A significant focus is the establishment of a formal unit for court astrologers, or munajjim, within the Ottoman bureaucracy, which paralleled other expert fields like physicians and architects. This unit, which could consist of one to six astrologers, was created in the 15th century and remarkably lasted until the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century. The episode delves into the various duties performed by these court astrologers. A primary function was the practice of electional astrology, where they would determine auspicious moments for a wide range of state affairs, including military campaigns, the founding of mosques, and wedding ceremonies. The astrologers would also issue an annual almanac, interpret the birth charts of rulers, answer horary astrology questions, and sometimes give medical advice. The conversation also explores the personalities and internal dynamics within the court. Much attention is given to Sultan Bayezid II, a ruler with a deep personal interest in the astral sciences who was instrumental in the institutionalization of the court astrologers. The story of the astrologer Riyazi is also highlighted—a highly skilled but frustrated practitioner who was never appointed chief astrologer and expressed his professional frustrations in poetry. This illustrates the debates, disagreements, and competition for authority that existed among the astrologers themselves, as well as other practitioners of esoteric or occult sciences. The discussion challenges the narrative that astrology was in a state of decline after an earlier "golden age," demonstrating that it remained a vibrant and impactful field. Tunç's book was just released on May 20, and you can order it on Amazon or other online retailers now: Forgotten Experts: Astrologers, Science, and Authority in the Ottoman Empire, 1450–1600 This episode is available in both audio and video versions below. Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvZiDOnFIf0 - Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:
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1:34:58
June Astrology Forecast 2025
In episode 491 astrologers Chris Brennan and Leisa Schaim look at the astrological forecast for June of 2025! We spend the first hour of the episode talking about the astrology of news and events that have occurred since our last forecast, and then in the second hour we transition into talking about the astrology of June, starting at 1 hour and 3 minutes into the episode. June opens with Venus and Mars wrapping up their extended retrograde periods by moving into new signs finally, with Venus moving into her home sign of Taurus and Mars moving into Virgo. A major shift this month is Jupiter moving into Cancer, which is the traditional sign of its exaltation, where it will stay for the next year. There are some tense alignments in the middle of the month, with an explosive Mars-Uranus square around June 15, and restrictive Jupiter-Saturn square going exact on the same day. By the end of the month Saturn has moved within 1 degree of a conjunction with Neptune, making that alignment peak in intensity, blurring the lines between what is real and what is not. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:04 Quick overview of June 00:03:47 News segment 01:03:49 June forecast 02:31:55 Electional date for June 02:38:00 Wrapping up 02:42:03 Credits Patreon for Early Access & Bonus Content Patreon.com/AstrologyPodcast Leisa's Website LeisaSchaim.com Watch the Video Version of This Episode Watch the video version of our astrology forecast for June on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDMTDGvDjuI - Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:
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2:44:47
Mesopotamian Astrology
In episode 490 professor M. Willis Monroe joins the podcast to discuss the history of astrology in ancient Mesopotamia. Willis is a historian of the ancient Near East and scholar of Cuneiform Studies with a focus on the science and scholarship of first millennium Mesopotamia, and he did his doctoral thesis on the use of zodiacal subdivisions in cuneiform sources. During the course of the episode we give an overview of the origins of western astrology in ancient Mesopotamia, starting with the earliest surviving sources around 2000 BCE, and then working our way forward until cuneiform writing died out around the 1st century CE. We end up discussing the earliest evidence for astrology in eclipse omens from the 2nd millennium BCE, the high point of state supported astrology under the Neo-Assyrian kings in the 7th century BCE, and eventually the development of the zodiac and natal astrology in the 5th century BCE. This episode is available in both audio and video versions below. Watch the Video Version of This Episode Watch the video version of this episode on Mesopotamian astrology on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkcM6wOJBZY - Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:
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3:09:27