The Astrology Podcast
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The Astrology Podcast episodes

  • November Astrology Forecast 2026
    A detailed look at the astrology forecast for November 2026, with astrologer Chris Brennan.
    The first half of the month is dominated by the overlapping retrogrades of Venus and Mercury in Libra and Scorpio, bringing relationship realignments, buried secrets, and communication breakdowns to a head before both planets finally station direct on November 13.
    Tensions are heightened mid-month by a rare triple conjunction of Mars, Jupiter, and the South Node in Leo, which highlights high-stakes dynamics around themes of war and peace.
    Finally, by the end of the month Mars moves into Virgo, where it will station retrograde in January, and begins forming a particularly volatile square with Uranus in Gemini.
    This is episode 555 of The Astrology Podcast.
    Sale on Chris' Courses
    Use promo code RETROGRADE to get a 15% discount on Chris' courses:
    https://theastrologyschool.com
    Timestamps
    00:00:00 November 2026 astrology overview00:04:31 Oct 24: Mercury stations retrograde in Scorpio00:06:06 Oct 23–25: Venus cazimi in Scorpio & ingress into Libra00:07:45 Nov 4: Mercury cazimi in Scorpio & Mercury Rx themes00:11:35 Venus retrograde in Scorpio & Libra themes00:28:49 Nov 4: Venus in Libra sextile Jupiter in Leo00:35:08 Nov 5: Mars enters pre-retrograde shadow in Leo00:37:29 Nov 9: New Moon in Scorpio00:41:20 Nov 13: Mercury & Venus station direct00:44:29 Nov 13: Mercury in Scorpio square Pluto in Aquarius00:50:45 Nov 15–16: Mars conjunct Jupiter & South Node in Leo00:57:36 Mars-South Node conjunctions in history01:06:13 Nov 22: Auspicious electional chart for November01:13:10 Nov 18–22: Sun squares Jupiter & Mars, enters Sagittarius01:14:21 Nov 24: Full Moon in Gemini conjunct Uranus01:16:28 Uranus in Gemini trine Pluto in Aquarius01:23:30 Nov 25–Dec 4: Mars enters Virgo & squares Uranus01:32:04 Nov 28–29: Mercury exits shadow & Venus sextile Jupiter01:40:19 The Astrology School courses & November promo code01:45:08 Letter from Austin from the underworld01:49:04 Wrap-up and patron credits
    Watch the Video Version of This Episode
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7Nhazv6gVw
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    Transcript
    A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 555 transcript
    Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode
    Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:
    1 hr 51 min
  • Venus Retrograde in Scorpio Repetitions in the News
    In this episode I examine recent news stories happening under Venus retrograde in Scorpio and trace how many of them echo earlier events that happened under the same alignment.
    Throughout the episode I go through current headlines involving things like mysteries, court cases, celebrity relationships, and pop culture, connecting them back to events from previous Venus retrograde in Scorpio periods in 2018, 2010, 2002, 1994, and even as far back as 1938.
    I also highlight standalone stories that serve as clear thematic examples of Venus retrograde in Scorpio right now, including difficult mother dynamics, espionage, and buried secrets coming to light.
    I feel like documenting these stories as they happen gives us a rare opportunity to see how planetary cycles connect the past with the present, while at the same time sharpening our practical understanding of core astrological concepts like Venus, Scorpio, detriment, and retrograde motion.
    This is episode 554 of The Astrology Podcast.
    Timestamps
    00:00:00 Introduction & 8-year cycle of Venus00:06:39 Amelia Earhart plane expedition (1938)00:10:37 Christa Pike execution & Aileen Wuornos (2002/2018)00:15:45 Title IX rules rollback & Cornell case (2018)00:20:18 O.J. Simpson accomplice story (1994)00:22:34 Tupac killer Keffe D sentenced (1994/2018)00:24:51 Pope Leo lung surgery & 1978 papal conclave00:26:54 Engineer poisoning video (2018)00:28:48 Shia LaBeouf, FKA twigs & Mia Goth divorce (2018)00:32:03 Pete Davidson interview & Ariana Grande (2018)00:34:06 Elon breakup00:35:31 Gypsy Rose Blanchard's ex-fiancé dies (2018)00:38:11 Evan Rachel Wood & Courtney Stodden00:41:26 Michael Douglas memoir & past relationships00:43:44 Ethan Hawke & Drew Barrymore 1990s crush00:47:25 Jim Carrey, Justin Timberlake & Tobey Maguire00:51:05 Anthropic policy on bullying Claude AI00:53:38 Lindsay Clancy case & mother themes00:55:21 TikTok ghost filter prank & The Other Mommy01:00:19 Dakota Johnson, Black Swan & Verity (2010/2018)01:04:15 Marina Abramović NYT profile (1946)01:05:52 Megan Thee Stallion revives Tina Snow (2018)01:07:48 Paramount-Warner Bros. merger & DreamWorks (1994)01:09:20 Hellraiser: Revival video game (1986)01:11:00 Stolen Renoirs, Big Brother & DIVA exhibit01:13:23 AI cracks Napoleon's coded letter01:14:38 OpenAI hidden recording device & CIA gold bars01:16:58 1982 Tylenol cold case break01:18:54 Conclusion: Empirical astrology & time01:25:40 Credits and outro
    Watch the Video Version of This Episode
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54gUQX16ZQ0
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    1 hr 28 min
  • Venus Retrograde in Scorpio Movies
    Discussing movies that came out around when Venus was retrograde in Scorpio in different eras, with astrologers Skye Barclay, Ames Doyle, and Chris Brennan.
    In the last couple of episodes on Venus retrograde in Scorpio, we kept finding notable movies that spoke to the nature of the transit at different points over the past century. So for this episode, Skye, Ames, and I decided to sit down and compile a list of all the major films that came out when Venus was retrograde in Scorpio over the past several decades.
    We especially focused on the last several cycles (2026, 2018, 2010, 2002, and 1994) going backwards chronologically, since that was the range where the three of us had seen the most movies (though we also mention a few scattered ones from earlier than that).
    In the process, we were able to identify a number of recurring themes that kept coming up, such as a surprisingly prominent focus on toxic mother dynamics, alongside some other classic Venus in Scorpio signatures.
    Ultimately, I feel like this helped clarify and sharpen some of the themes we caught glimpses of in the previous episodes. Different aspects of the archetype are becoming clearer not just through the lens of the past, but also in the present as we see headlines echoing these themes today.
    This is episode 553 of The Astrology Podcast.
    Skye's Venus Retro Book, Website, and Social Media
    https://www.skyeastrology.com/venusrx
    https://www.skyeastrology.com
    https://www.instagram.com/skye.astrology
    Ames' Website and Social Media
    https://www.astrowithames.com
    https://www.instagram.com/astrologywithames
    Timestamps
    00:00:00 Introduction00:06:11 The Social Reckoning (2026)00:12:27 The Favourite (2018)00:21:07 Suspiria (2018)00:27:58 A Star Is Born (2018)00:35:49 Vox Lux (2018)00:38:26 The Hate U Give (2018)00:43:52 Halloween (2018)00:48:54 Black Swan (2010)01:00:36 Let Me In (2010)01:05:18 Easy A (2010)01:07:52 RED (2010)01:12:06 The Ring (2002)01:16:45 Chicago (2002)01:28:03 White Oleander (2002)01:36:11 Kill Bill: Vol. 1 filming (2002)01:38:31 8 Mile (2002)01:45:09 Bowling for Columbine (2002)01:48:03 Frida (2002)01:51:49 Interview with the Vampire (1994)02:02:29 The Shawshank Redemption (1994)02:07:19 Pulp Fiction (1994)02:14:06 Léon: The Professional (1994)02:16:41 Disclosure (1994)02:20:19 The Swan Princess (1994)02:23:14 Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)02:27:24 Hellraiser filming (1986)02:30:54 The Color of Money (1986)02:37:55 Halloween (1978)02:41:28 Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)02:43:55 Love Story (1970)02:44:47 Dr. No / James Bond (1962)02:46:03 Magnificent Obsession (1954)02:49:21 A Star Is Born (1954)02:50:48 It's a Wonderful Life (1946)02:57:13 Beauty and the Beast (1946)02:58:53 Summary of Venus retrograde in Scorpio themes03:12:36 Skye and Ames's work and offerings03:16:05 Credits and outro
    Watch the Video Version of This Episode
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzudkDBSdq8
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    3 hr 19 min
  • Venus Retrograde in Scorpio in Birth Charts
    A detailed exploration of what Venus retrograde in Scorpio means in birth charts, primarily by looking through 29 different celebrity case studies, with astrologers Skye Barclay and Chris Brennan.
    During the episode, we examine not only how this placement manifests natally, but what happened when these figures experienced their 8-year Venus retrograde recurrences. By tracing these transits, we highlight the major turning points, delayed successes, and public reckonings that literally played out in their lives and careers in real time.
    Our research uncovered some profound archetypal patterns surrounding what it means for a retrograde planet to be in its detriment. We dive deep into concepts like "struggle love," the "sympathetic villain," and the myths of Medusa and Lucifer, exploring how the individuals in our case studies challenged conventional beauty standards, subverted gender norms, and navigated the darker, more taboo facets of Venus.
    Skye is the author of an awesome new book titled 2026 Venus Retrograde: A Dance of Daggers & Delights, which you can get in print or PDF on her website:
    https://www.skyeastrology.com/venusrx
    This is episode 552 of The Astrology Podcast.
    Skye's Website and Instagram
    https://www.skyeastrology.com
    https://www.instagram.com/skye.astrology
    Timestamps
    00:00:00 Introduction and Skye's new book on Venus retrograde00:04:12 Content warning: True crime and heavy themes00:05:26 Venus in Scorpio: detriment and retrograde00:09:15 Inga Duncan Thornell and mastectomy tattoos00:18:24 Gianni Versace and subverting fashion standards00:28:56 The Medusa myth and the female gaze00:37:15 Marina Abramovic, endurance art, and prolonged breakups00:55:44 Ted Bundy, hybristophilia, and manipulation01:12:09 Penn Badgley and playing the obsessive stalker in You01:40:25 Jenna Ortega, Scream Queens, and the goth aesthetic01:48:38 Tom Ellis and the Lucifer fallen angel archetype01:53:45 Gwendoline Christie, Brienne of Tarth, and gender non-conformity02:01:34 Demi Moore, The Substance, and delayed awards02:06:15 Margaret Qualley playing the younger Demi Moore02:43:34 Jon Stewart, The Daily Show, and satire as subversion02:53:28 Joe Dante, B-horror movies, and Piranha02:58:43 Teresa de Lauretis and queer theory03:05:48 Jessica Valenti, Feministing, and the purity myth03:14:20 Andrew Tate, toxic masculinity, and the lover boy method03:21:56 Tonya Harding, ice skating exile, and public scandals03:40:16 Natalee Holloway and missing persons cases03:44:00 Oscar Pistorius and sudden downfalls03:46:13 Ketanji Brown Jackson and writing dissenting opinions03:51:36 Halsey, identity, and toxic relationships in music03:58:46 Usher, the R&B loverboy persona, and public scandals04:04:39 Eve, female MC trailblazers, and delayed Grammys04:09:50 Drake, vulnerable rap, and the Kendrick Lamar feud04:18:35 Cary Elwes, The Princess Bride, and Saw04:24:46 Rachel McAdams, Mean Girls, and The Notebook04:34:02 Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, and Game of Thrones04:44:38 Matt Damon and the archetype of returning home04:58:43 Final thoughts and where to find Skye's work
    Watch the Video Version of This Episode
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxCkyxSLzGI
    Transcript
    A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 552 transcript
    Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode
    Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:
    5 hr 4 min
  • October Astrology Forecast 2026
    A detailed look at the astrology forecast for October 2026, with astrologer Chris Brennan.
    This month is dominated by a tumultuous Venus retrograde in Scorpio, kicking off alongside intense hard aspects to Mars and Pluto, which will dredge up some challenging things from the past.
    Tensions are further heightened as Mercury slows down and stations retrograde in Scorpio later in the month, bringing communication breakdowns and the need for significant retooling.
    I explore the historical precedents for these transits and break down how to navigate this tough astrological weather before the planets finally station direct and offer resolution in mid-November.
    This is episode 551 of The Astrology Podcast.
    Timestamps
    0:00:00 Introduction00:02:04 October 2026 astrological overview00:05:01 Early October alignments and Mars-Pluto opposition00:10:00 General themes of Venus retrograde00:18:38 Venus retrograde in Scorpio and 8-year cycles00:28:00 High-stakes diplomacy and historical parallels00:41:21 Artistic and cultural expressions of Venus in Scorpio00:47:41 Chronological breakdown resumes: early October aspects00:49:38 October 6 and 7: Mercury-Venus, and Uranus aspects00:54:45 October 10: New Moon in Libra00:58:29 October 15: Pluto stations direct in Aquarius01:04:26 October 19: Venus square Pluto01:05:13 October 16: Mars trine Saturn01:08:09 October 23: Scorpio season begins and Venus Cazimi01:12:38 October 24: Mercury stations retrograde in Scorpio01:16:35 October 26: Full Moon in Taurus01:19:17 October 30: Mercury retrograde square Mars01:22:27 October electional astrology chart01:29:28 Looking ahead: Venus and Mercury station direct in November01:36:27 Wrap-up and sponsor shoutouts
    Watch the Video Version of This Episode
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH897-9qacM
    -
    Transcript
    A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 551 transcript
    Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode
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    1 hr 42 min
  • The First AI Swarm Attack: Mars-Uranus Conjunction
    Astrologer Thea Anderson joins the podcast to discuss the astrology behind the recent AI swarm attack that happened to the Hugging Face website in July, which ended up coinciding with the Mars-Uranus conjunction in Gemini.
    Experts are saying that this was the first AI swarm attack of its kind in history, and Thea helps walk us through the astrological timeline, and then we discuss the implications.
    This is episode 550 of The Astrology Podcast
    Thea's Websites:
    https://theaanderson.substack.com
    https://www.instagram.com/theaastrology
    Timestamps
    00:00:00 Introduction: Hugging Face AI attack00:03:17 Overview of autonomous AI hacking incident00:05:09 May timeline: OpenAI sandboxes and reinforcement learning00:07:58 June 26: AI discovers admin privileges in the "holy s" chain of thought00:12:20 July 4: Artifactory message pad outage aligns with the Mars-Uranus conjunction00:15:21 July 8 to July 13: The AI swarm escalates and the hack begins00:17:46 Mercury Retrograde Cazimi and Saturn/Neptune stations00:21:10 August 26: Public report released near the Pisces lunar eclipse00:23:56 AI regulation discussions and the Uranus station in Gemini00:27:37 Parallels to World War II, the atomic bomb, and previous Mars-Uranus conjunction00:29:31 AI mimicry and Uranus in Gemini significations00:32:32 Implications of the hack for global infrastructure00:34:42 Future Mars-Uranus conjunction dates in 2028, 2030, and 203200:36:27 Where to find Thea Anderson's astrology work00:37:46 Outro, Patreon supporters, and sponsors
    Watch the Video Version of This Episode
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMpQ9ReW_Io
    -
    Transcript
    A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 550 transcript
    Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode
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    41 min
  • Venus Retrograde in Scorpio in History
    A deep dive into the repeating eight-year historical cycles of Venus retrograde in Scorpio, to understand the recurring archetypal themes this transit brings to the surface.
    During the course of the episode, I group together retrogrades that are archetypally similar in order to clearly illustrate the undeniable patterns that emerge when this cycle repeats.
    Ultimately, analyzing this history provides us with a helpful framework for anticipating what will unfold during the current Venus retrograde in late 2026.
    This is episode 549 of The Astrology Podcast.
    Timestamps
    00:00:00 Introduction00:03:13 Venus Retrograde Dates and Repeating Cycles00:12:03 Unearthing the Underworld: Buried Discoveries & Hidden Secrets00:17:23 High Stakes Diplomacy, Brinkmanship, and "Deals with the Devil"00:34:31 State Secrets, Espionage, and Covert Operations00:41:07 Political Power Shifts and Massive Wave Elections00:49:15 Women's Rights, Queer Liberation, and Cultural Reckonings01:02:41 Racial Justice, Desegregation, and Civil Rights Struggles01:15:28 Poisons, Pollution, and Ecological Reckonings01:23:58 True Crime, Cults, and Psychological Terror01:31:37 Economic Control, Sabotage, and Structural Revolutions01:38:25 Media, Broadcasting, and Global Icons01:54:26 Movies, Media, and Dark Themes in Pop Culture02:15:34 Disasters02:21:07 Repetitions02:25:41 The Planet Venus02:31:26 Concluding Remarks02:35:32 Credits
    Watch the Video Version of This Episode
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r214njQKZFE
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    Transcript
    A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 549 transcript
    Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode
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    2 hr 38 min
  • The Hermetic Origins of Hellenistic Astrology
    Hellenistic astrology emerged in Egypt in the 2nd century BCE, representing a profound synthesis of the older Mesopotamian and Egyptian astrological traditions. While it is sometimes assumed that this was the result of a gradual or haphazard blending of cultures, recent historical and archaeological research points to a much more deliberate and brilliant invention. In this episode, I share the results of my latest research into the origins of Hellenistic astrology, arguing that this system was created by a group of astrologers connected to the Egyptian temples, representing the earliest iteration of the Hermetic technical and philosophical tradition.
    To understand how this happened, I trace the history leading up to the massive cultural melting pot of the Hellenistic era. Out of this Greco-Egyptian synthesis emerged four foundational astrological texts written in the 2nd century BCE under the pseudonyms of Hermes Trismegistus, Asclepius, Nechepso, and Petosiris. One of the central arguments of this presentation is that these manuals are not just the bedrock of the astrological tradition, but they also represent the earliest known iterations of Hermetic philosophy. By examining surviving fragments, such as the mystical vision of Nechepso, I demonstrate how some of the metaphysical tropes of later Hermeticism were already deeply embedded in these technical texts centuries before the Corpus Hermeticum was compiled.
    In the second half of the episode, I deconstruct the conceptual architecture of Hellenistic astrology. We explore how the founders took ancient concepts like the Mesopotamian Exaltations and seamlessly integrated them with new, interlocking diagrams: the Thema Mundi, the Seven-Zoned Sphere, and the Planetary Joys scheme. I also highlight a breathtaking recent breakthrough showing how the Planetary Joys are structurally projected directly from the Exaltations, proving that these diagrams were engineered together as a unified whole.
    This episode represents the culmination of a decade of new research and reflection since the publication of my book, Hellenistic Astrology, in 2017. By unpacking these interlocking mechanics, we can see exactly how the founders encoded their deepest philosophical and religious beliefs directly into the mathematics of the cosmos, building the exact framework the astrologers still use today to study fate and make predictions about the future.
    This is episode 548 of The Astrology Podcast.
    Timestamps
    PART I: THE HISTORICAL TRADITIONS00:00:00 Introduction00:11:44 The Mesopotamian Astrological Tradition00:46:02 The Egyptian Astrological Tradition01:03:08 The Early Greek Tradition01:15:48 The Hellenistic Era01:36:03 Early Hermeticism
    PART II: THE FOUNDATIONAL TEXTS02:04:27 The Four Foundational Hermetic Astrological Texts02:05:49 Hermes Trismegistus: The Dodecatropos (Twelve-Turning)02:26:40 Asclepius: The Octatropos (Eight-Turning)02:48:43 Nechepso and Petosiris03:28:56 The Mystical Vision of Nechepso & The God Kneph
    PART III: THE CONCEPTUAL CONSTRUCTS03:40:20 The Conceptual Constructs Underlying Hellenistic Astrology03:41:08 The Exaltations03:56:34 The Thema Mundi04:36:06 The Seven-Zoned Sphere04:57:58 The Planetary Joys Scheme05:39:57 Projecting the Joys from the Exaltations
    06:02:54 Conclusion: The Architecture of Fate06:23:24 Credits
    Watch the Video Version of This Episode
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JtxPvM2gQ0
    -
    Transcript
    A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 548 transcript
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    6 hr 25 min
  • September Astrology Forecast 2026
    A detailed look at the astrology forecast for September 2026, with astrologers Chris Brennan and Austin Coppock.
    We spend the first hour talking about news and events that happened over the past month since our last forecast, and then in the second hour we get into the astrology of September.
    In the first part of the news section we discuss the strikingly literal manifestations of the recent eclipses in Leo and Pisces, including devastating floods and the deaths of several prominent figures and monarchs. After that we address the recent controversy surrounding Steven Forrest.
    In terms of the astrology of September, we open the month still coming out of the chaos of eclipse season and the recent Mars-Saturn square, but the first week of September offers some excellent electional opportunities while Mercury and Venus are still in their home signs of Virgo and Libra.
    There is a major turning point and tone shift around the New Moon in Virgo on September 10, when Uranus stations retrograde in Gemini, and Mercury and Venus both change signs the same day.
    The astrology culminates late in the month around the Full Moon in Aries on September 26, because right after that Mars moves into Leo and begins to oppose Pluto, while Venus slows down to station retrograde in Scorpio in early October.
    Ultimately, late September acts as a preparatory phase, setting the stage and introducing the core themes for the intense Venus and Mars retrogrades that will dominate the next several months.
    This is episode 547 of The Astrology Podcast.
    Community Perspectives
    Samuel Reynolds: Letter to Steven Forrest
    Akwe McDaniels: Thoughts on Steven Forrest's Recent Comments
    Kay Marie: An Open Letter to Steven Forrest and Ricky Williams
    Janét Jones: A Black Friend Is Not an Alibi
    Janét Jones and Nichole Zapanta: Podcast on the Steven Forrest controversy
    Courtney Napier: Allyship Means Accountability…Even for Astrologers
    Rachel Star:  Unpacking the Steven Forrest scandal in the Astrology community 
    Timestamps
    00:00:00 Introduction00:01:57 News Segment Begins00:05:10 Pisces Eclipse and the Death of Kings00:09:46 Notable Celebrity Passings00:13:48 Leo Eclipse and the Death of a Lion00:15:59 Nepal Floods00:17:00 US-Iran Escalation00:17:42 The Steven Forrest Controversy01:01:21 September Astrology Forecast Begins01:07:19 Sequential Breakdown of September Begins01:12:33 Venus Enters Pre-Retrograde Shadow01:23:04 September 10: Tone Shift as Venus Enters Scorpio01:30:15 New Moon in Virgo & Uranus Stations Retrograde Sept 1001:32:20 Auspicious Electional Chart: September 801:37:23 Mid-September Transits: Mercury Opposite Neptune01:41:56 Mercury Opposite Saturn: Sept 17-18:01:44:46 Mercury Sextile Jupiter: Sept 2101:45:55 Full Moon in Aries Sept 2601:49:14 Mars Enters Leo & Opposes Pluto: Sept 2701:52:02 Late Sept / Early Oct: Mercury-Mars & Venus Retrograde01:57:07 Austin's Upcoming Stuff02:01:11 Chris' Upcoming Stuff02:03:21 End Cards
    Watch the Video Version of This Episode
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    Transcript
    A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 547 transcript
    Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode
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    2 hr 5 min
  • Gnosticism, Hermeticism, and Ancient Astrology
    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. A major focal point is how ancient astrology, including the ascent and descent of the soul through the planetary spheres, was integrated into these religious movements. We contrast the Gnostic view of the planets as restrictive archons keeping the soul imprisoned with the more sympathetic Hermetic view of the visible cosmos as a second God and part of divine providence.
    We also take a close look at the Peratics, a unique Gnostic group that integrated technical Hellenistic astrology directly into their religion in order to map the soul's escape from the material realm. Finally, we unpack the historical tensions between fate, providence, and free will, examining how early Christians navigated astrological determinism before figures like Augustine firmly pushed back against the practice. This conversation highlights the profound impact that Hellenistic astrology had on the broader philosophical and religious landscape of the ancient world.
    This is episode 546 of The Astrology Podcast.
    David's Website and YouTube Channel
    https://mdavidlitwa.com
    https://www.youtube.com/@m.davidlitwa
    Timestamps
    00:00:00 Introduction & David's Background00:04:46 Alexandrian vs. Roman Christianity00:07:27 Astrology in the New Testament00:09:55 The Nag Hammadi Library00:13:35 Debating the Term "Gnosticism"00:20:57 Alexandria: Birthplace of Hermeticism00:22:52 Dating the Corpus Hermeticum00:27:29 Early Astrological Hermetica00:35:18 The Cosmos as the Second God00:46:15 Ascent of the Soul00:54:08 Planets as Malefic Archons00:59:42 The Gnostic Demiurge01:06:58 The Paratai & Astrological Salvation01:16:36 Astrology, Fate, & Free Will01:21:17 Baptism & Freedom from Fate01:30:21 Augustine's Anti-Astrology Bias01:38:09 "De-astrologizing" Hermetic Texts01:48:46 The Need for Astrological Literacy01:50:46 Conclusion & Resources
    Watch the Video Version of This Episode
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UZl_fMgGRs
    -
    Transcript
    A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 546 transcript
    Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode
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    1 hr 56 min

About The Astrology Podcast

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A weekly podcast on the history, philosophy, and techniques of astrology, hosted by professional astrologer Chris Brennan.

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