Astrologer and death doula Alissa Bernard Golbus joins host Jenn Zahrt from the Eastern Seaboard! Alissa and Jenn sit down for a chat about books and more, including: the menorah and the seven visible planets; Saturn as the planet of Judaism; an alternate chart for the United States; and the value of calculating a chart by hand. Plus: intergenerational patterns in the chart, the benefit of an enforced pause, and… hooray for Virgo!

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Transcripts available upon request.

Song “Wake Up” used with permission by The E-Block Band.

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Episode timestamps (conversation recorded March 2025):

00:00 – Jenn introduces the show with info about upcoming Labs at CAELi! Check them out!

01:05 – Alissa Bernard Golbus (she/her) is a consulting natal and predictive astrologer, death doula, and nonprofit development and operations professional residing on the ancestral and unceded land of the Pawtucket and Massachusett peoples. Her client practice has a particular focus on intergenerational patterns within natal charts, as well as complex early childhood environments and how they impact our adult relationships. She gave her first client reading in elementary school (a palm reading for 25¢). Alissa is a child of Saturn.

01:26 – Alissa’s first astrology book was Sun Signs by Linda Goodman.

07:04 – If Alissa could bring only three books to a deserted island, her first pick would be The Combination of Stellar Influences by Reinhold Ebertin.

08:24 – Alissa’s second choice would be The Beginning of Wisdom: An Astrological Treatise by Abraham ibn Ezra. (Jenn also brings up Astrologies: Plurality and Diversity, edited by Nicholas Campion and Liz Greene. And Alissa gives an honorable mention to The Greatness of Saturn: A Therapeutic Myth by Robert Svoboda!)

23:55 – Interlude: Join the CAELi Support Drive and for only $35, you can enjoy your morning beverage out of a gorgeous CAELi mug!

24:41 – The third title Alissa would bring is American Histrology by Ronald Howland.

29:44 – For beginners, Alissa recommends: The Doctrine of Nativities and Horary Questions by John Gadbury, the previously mentioned Combination of Stellar Influences by Ebertin, and Simply Math: A Comprehensive Guide to Easy and Accurate Chart Calculation by Lauran Fowks and Lynn Sellon.

40:43 – Find Alissa on Instagram and Bluesky. Or say hello to her if you’re at NORWAC 2025!

41:31 – Thanks for listening to Within Orb! If you love the show, please help support it at no cost to you: Follow or subscribe wherever you listen, rate it five stars, or write a happy review! And if you’d like to become a CAELi member or support our work with a contribution of any amount, we’d be delighted – thanks!

Show notes by Jen Braun, JJ Boots Productions LLC.