Starzology Astrology Podcast 100th Episode Celebration

Starzology Astrology Podcast 100th Episode Celebration

Author: Alison Price   –   Published: July 2013   –   Revised: January 2024

Our Journey to 100 episodes

When you start your astrological journey, you never know where it will end up.

Sometimes you don’t even realize there is a journey at all.

It just seems like another day.

But it is a day with astrology in your life.

There was the day before astrology came into your life and then there is the day when astrology got you.

The day when you thirsted to learn more.

To understand the glyphs.

To discover other signs.

To explore areas of life that astrology represented for you.

And it just gets better.

The more you learn about astrology the more you realize you know nothing.

I mean, there are so many advanced topics to explore once you have got the hang of a basic chart interpretation.

Your Path

Your path is different to mine.

You will meander down new trails.

You may stay on the highways, but long to dally down a side road or lay by.

Your way will be the right one for you.

Learning

The order in which your astrology knowledge grows is different to everyone else’s.

There is no one size fits all.

Looking back, can you see the turning points in your astrology journey?

Can you say when you finally “got” astrology?

If you even have?

How we got here

I took my first astrology lesson in 1980.

It was just the beginning of a two-year diploma course.

Since then, I’ve attended countless other astrological conferences, events, gatherings, classes, courses and workshops.

I’ve had years to hone my craft.

And by the way, I believe this is a sixth house activity – to gain the skills you need to do the work you do.

I still seek out opportunities for professional development and I urge you to do so as well.

Take that class.

Go to that workshop.

Join that group.

Read that book.

Lean in.

Grow.

Evolution of Our Podcast

The most recent thing I’ve done astrologically, apart from getting this newsletter onto a regular cadence, is the Starzology podcast.

It wasn’t planned. It just evolved.

Let me tell you how.

Vancouver

When I first arrived in Vancouver in 2012, I did not know many people.

I began a Meetup group in my local coffee shop.

The topic was, of course, astrology and I think it the first meeting was a New Moon session.

3 People came. 

Not a great turnout.

Anyway, as the meeting broke up we said our goodbyes and I began walking home.

One woman was going my way, so we chatted a bit and walked together.

When I got to the front my high rise apartment building I halted and said, “This is me” and she said, “Me too!”

What was this serendipity?  

I’ve just moved into the same building as another astrologer in a city of six hundred and fifty thousand people!

What are the odd?

Clearly 1:650 000 or thereabouts.

That is how I met Arwynne.

She lives two floors above me. She is my upstairs neighbour if you will.

We met again the next month and further developed our connection.

The point is that you never know who you will meet and who will influence your astrology.

Even with a poor attendance, of just 3 people in that first meeting, I was able to make a fantastic connection with a likeminded astrologer whom I’ve now known for over 12 years.

arwynne-and-alison-100th-episode

Our First Podcast

A few months in, Arwynne said, “We should do a podcast.”

To which I replied, “What’s a podcast?”

Arwynne explained that in a podcast we record our astrology conversation and then put it out there.

Out where I wasn’t sure.

Her partner had a microphone and so we set a time to meet at her place for our first recording.

Axis Astrology

Back then we decided to call it Axis Astrology referring to the Ascendant and MC axes in every chart. Over the next two years we recorded episodes every week.

We had many interesting astrology guests like Nina Gryphon and Andrew Morton from the UK who flew in and recorded with us.

The Mountain Astrologer picked our show up and recommended our podcast to their readership. You can still listen to those early episodes here.

Over time Axis Astrology ran its course and we stopped recording. This was a before Spotify and Apple podcasts. Things were different then.

But we remained friends and would have social dinners with our partners together now and then.

I also invited Arwynne to speak at the Vancouver astrology group when I was running the show.

Seasonal Art Group

In 2022 I started a seasonal art group. You can see more about this here.

I knew Arwynne was an artist as she had designed astrology tarot cards and drew Badass Goddess artworks at a local studio in town.

I invited her and a couple of other art ladies and we got together for an art evening session. If you are interested, I do watercolour and acrylics.

We did the art group a few times.

In my spare time, I started to listen to podcasts on Apple podcast once I’d downloaded the app and after Norma began hers.

Then I started to listen to people like Andrew Huberman and lots of others. I became a podcast listener.

In April 2023 I had the idea to launch my own podcast.

The very next day I had my Buzzsprout account opened, threw some money at it and voila my first episode was recorded and live.

That week I messaged Arwynne, who I had not seen for a couple of months, and simply said, “How about it?”

She agreed and we got the second episode in the bag by the following week.

I started out publishing episodes fortnightly as I honestly did not know what I was doing.

Within weeks is was obvious that we had enough content to go weekly.

Gulp!

Could I keep it up?

Was the commitment too much?

Would anyone listen?

Wednesday

We pushed on doing weekly shows for around four months and then added the Wednesday midweek minisodes, little episodes, as well.

We wanted to keep the Sundays for solid astrology and meaningful conversations.

We added the midweek ones with a lighter tone and more variety.

The vision was that we could chat about things other than mainstream topics.

There was a place on the Wednesday edition for a little more individual personality and both Arwynne and I have lots of that.

We’ve since gone on to interview people independently, but we always come back to the main editions.

In a way, it has given us a flexibility to allow our creative output to flourish.

There has been talk of slotting in an odd Friday quickie as well, but we’ll have to see about that.

Katia-arwynne-and-alison

Who Knew?

The point is that 24 months ago I did not know I would be an astrology podcaster.

It has been a way for myself, and Arwynne, to express our love of astrology and share it with you.

For myself, I believe the Uranus ingress into my 11th house was the spark. And as Jupiter entered as well it could grow and the broadcast improved.

To grow (Jupiter) my tribe (11th house) through astrology (Uranus).

What About You?

What will you be doing astrologically in 2 years time? That’s one Mars return and a great time period to get something started, launched and nurtured.

What will you do

Don’t answer now.

I have some specific questions for you in the “Extend Yourself” section below.

Thanks to You

Our podcast would not be where it is today without you.

I want to thank you for supporting our podcast and the astrology conversations we love to provide you.

As this week we publish our 100th episode, our centennial episode if you will, we are grateful.

Grateful that you came.

Grateful to you for listening and sharing in our astrology journey.

The Next 100 Episodes

I’d like to share with you what it takes to wrestle each episode to the mat.

Podcast Episodes

The Plan

We painstakingly plan the content.

We look for a variety and balance of astro topics and levels of complexity.

We need more basic than advanced stuff as that is our audience.

Sunday Content

Our Sunday episode is usually the main one for the week.

It includes upcoming transits and or other solid astrology information about planets, signs, houses and aspects.

Wednesday Content

Our Wednesday episodes tend to be slightly more beginner topics presented by Arwynne and her guests.

I pop in mid-week when we’re doing an high level chart reading for one of our listeners.

These episodes are examples of where to start with readings.

Additionally, I may present some solo topics and astrology ideas that I want to float and explore.

The midweek show can be a mix.

Studio Recording

We schedule the recording sessions for every other Monday evening.

I spend at least one hour setting up the podcast studio.

This generally means tiding up, sorting some lighting and sound organization.

I rearrange the furniture because the podcast studio, although it sounds fancy, is actually set up at my dining table.

There are microphones, candles, an iPad with the charts for the night on Astro Gold, a laptop computer and pens and notepad at the ready.

I also a prepare Audacity, which is our audio recording platform, for the two particular episodes which we will discuss that night.

Often I draw the chart in question on my freestanding whiteboard so we can discuss it on the go.

I’ll also list things that we must mention that evening. It’s like a checklist.

Arwynne arrives at my place around 6pm.

She has her computer and copious reference notes (did I say she is a research astrologer?) and usually a book or two.

We do a sound check and then get straight into the two recordings.

starzology-podcast-studio

Voice

When recording, its important to save your voice and not talk much earlier in the day so you don’t sound raspy at the end of the day.

I do this by trying not to talk much beforehand. This is not always easy to achieve, but now I avoid teaching classes, coaching, having general Zoom chats and Astro consulting on “podcast day”.

We have a few snacks and a light drink.

Each session usually takes three hours to record two 30-minute episodes.

There are stops and starts and we may chop and change things up on the fly.

After the recording is finished we will take some time to brainstorm upcoming topics.   

Now we’ll also discuss anything else business wise about how we’re doing, what we’re doing, where we’re going and check our recent statistics.

Scheduling

We schedule in special time sensitive episodes like an eclipse piece for example.

Our recording schedule is entered into our joint calendar so we can both see it and add and move things around.

We schedule for about three months ahead.

Now and then some topics will jump the queue.

These queue-jumpers typically come from listeners like you sending in hot questions.

The evening concludes.

3 hours.

Edit

I start the editing of the audio files the next day.

It usually takes about one hour to edit each episode. This is high focus work.

Upload

The finished episode is uploaded to our podcast host Buzzsprout. Fingers crossed here.

Optimize

Now I add the title, authors, episode number, hashtags, description, referred links and link to the topic blog post.

I will pull that particular episodes audio link and add it to the blog post.

Sometimes the blog post goes live before the podcast episode is available on Apple or Spotify.

But once the link is on the blogpost anyone like you, ——- can listen as soon as it’s ready.

This is before the Sunday or Wednesday official launch of the podcast.

To be clear, some episodes are available early if you go to Starzology and visit the blog post.

The latest posts are in the sidebar.

Older posts that have been around for a while, like Mercury retrograde for example, but which do not yet have a podcast episode associated with them, will get the link straight to them.

Not every episode can be heard early.

Uploading to Buzzsprout and the associated tinkering and fiddling while Rome burns takes me about 30 minutes.

Artwork

Next, I create the four episode artworks:

The podcast episode icon that’s the square (1:1) with diagonal that details the episode.

The Pinterest pin for the blog post. This is the one that goes on Pinterest (2:3).

The Instagram post image for the episode (1:1) which is often different to the episode icon. And note at this stage I’m only posting to my Starzology Instagram grid on a Sunday. I plan to post the Wednesday episode to Instagram soon. It is just so much work and I haven’t got round to it yet.

The blog post image. This is typically something arty in blue and yellow our brand colors (3:2) and with more detail related to the specific topic. This artwork doubles as the image in this newsletter.

Social Content

Next I write the copy (words) that will go on the social posts.

So that is:

  • One paragraph for Instagram with hashtags.
  • One paragraph for Pinterest including hashtags.

These two then get uploaded and scheduled to go live on the same day as the podcast episode is officially released.

This all takes about half and hour.

So in all, getting each podcast episode out takes about 3.5 hours.

What am I telling you this?

Because it’s a labor of love.

We love what we do.

And from your response you do too.

Your Astro Journey

You don’t know where your astrology will take you.

And hey, maybe you can’t see the path just yet. That’s ok.

Giving it some thought could help.

Extend Yourself

If you bring your attention to bear on your astrology it can help focus your time and energy.

  • What are your astrology dreams?
  • Is your journey just starting out?
  • Can you cast a chart?
  • Can you read a natal chart?
  • Can you forecast with transits? Secondary progressions?
  • Which area of astrology do you need to focus on right now?
  • What will you achieve?

Extend Yourself Further

Anyone can benefit from some forecasting. And as good astrologers, let’s lean into the planet’s cycles for some help.

  • What is your next month (Moon) goal for astrology?
  • What is your next quarter (seasonal/cardinal) goal for astrology?
  • What is your next six-month (solstice) goal for astrology?
  • What is your 12-month (Sun) goal for astrology?
  • What is your 2-year (Mars) goal for astrology?

Too many questions?

Author Bio

Alison Price: Professional Astrologer

Alison helps you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor. She offers Consultations for everyone and Coaching for Aspiring Astrologers.

If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email at starzology@gmail.com.

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Birth Data Required for a Birth Chart

Birth Data Required for a Birth Chart

Author: Alison Price   –   Published: June 2024

Let’s Talk About Birth Data

In astrology the actual chart is the core of an interpretation.

For every reading you absolutely require a chart.

When you cast a birth chart for someone you do need a few bits of information.

And specifically, you require three important facts to cast any chart.

3 Components

The three core pieces of information you need are:

  • The birth date.
  • The birthplace.
  • The birth time.

Of course you could always use other input as well such as, why they came to you in the first place and what the focus of the consultation should be, but those details are not essential to cast the actual chart.

Quick Sidebars

I’ve highlighted two asides here for you to ponder which might throw some light on this topic.

I don’t want to go into detail on either point in this newsletter.

Please let me know if you’d be interested in a deeper look later.

Sidebar 1: Birth Data Ratings

Birth data is categorized on the Rodden Rating system as follows.

AA = Accurate accurate: From birth certificate or record – written down and in hand.

A = Accurate: From memory, family legend or hearsay – spoken or word of mouth.

B = Biographical: From autobiography or biography – second hand.

C = Caution: From conflicting sources.

DD = Dirty Data: Don’t use.

X = No time: Date only with no birthtime.

XX  = Very insecure.

I prefer to only cast charts with an “AA” or “A” rating.

Of course you can cast charts with weaker data, but each chart you prepare takes up your time and your energy.

It is a lot of work and you still may not be correct.

Sidebar 2: Birth Time as Given

In astrological circles, there is a school of thought which believes that you can reliably cast charts using “birth time as given”.

Birth time as given is criteria used in manual chart calculations mainly, but can be with a computer.

It really means that any information which the client provides you, the astrologer, will work for them.

The individual will resonate with the resulting chart, even if it is not exact.

The fact that they gave you some particular birth data is embedded in their psyche and becomes a part of who they are.

It can be related to a Freudian slip.

I’ll not debate this idea now.

Let’s have a closer look at the 3 essential facts required for a birth chart calculation.

1. Birth Date

The birth date is usually available.

Just about everyone knows their birth date.

But just about does not mean all…

Date of Birth

In my many years as an astrologer, I’ve only come across three people who were not sure of their birth date.

This was back in Africa where things were not written down.

Un-noted birth dates were especially the case for mothers who had home deliveries in remote villages.

Year of Birth

But it’s not just their birth dates that people don’t know.

Amazingly there was one woman who did not know her year of birth.

It seems her mother could not recall.

However, she did know the day and month.

But in the main you will get their full birth data including day, month and year. Brilliant!

Historical People

Another situation occurs when you work with historical charts.

It is often impossible to get a good birth date for very old charts.

Anyone from history or people born 500 plus years ago, when records were few and far between, frequently do not have a time and sometimes do not have a date either.

But for most people alive today, and I’m assuming these are the charts you are working on, will provide you with the birth date.

birth-chart-rectification

2. Birth Place

Typically, the birth place is readily available.

People do tend to know where they were born.

As another aside to this, let me tell you that the birth certificate is not always correct either.

I’ve had a client whose official birth certificate, in hand, was written with a city in England, but he was actually born in Kenya.

His parents only registered his birth at six weeks old when they returned to their home country.

Tricky, tricky.

In Flight

Even people born on airplanes know whereabouts they were on the flight at the time.

This doesn’t happen much anymore as the airlines are stricter about pregnant women boarding in the first place, but you do still get this situation for people past their second Saturn return.

Interestingly, these folk seem to be able to claim citizenship from both the departure and the arrival country.

City Center

I have experienced a situation where someone born in a big city, like say Mexico City or Tokyo, could gently tweak the birthplace.

Born in a huge city, and with a firm birth time, their calculated Ascendant was within a whisker of a sign cusp.

This meant their Ascendant sign could be one of two choices.

The person, although their birth time and date were good, felt the returned Ascendant was off.

In this instance, I zoomed into the specific birth hospital location.

By digging into their information and using a map, I found the actual nursing home building where they were born.

I extracted the longitude and latitude and then manually input these coordinates into my astrological software to firm up the Ascendant.

Usually, all big cities have their geo-coordinates set at the town hall or the post office.

Someone born in a hospital in a big city could be up to 50km away from the actual city coordinates which pop up in astrology software.

Looking back now, I wonder “Who has time for this sort of deep dive?” but yes, I did.

I did it all back then.

3 Birth Time

The third piece of birth data required is the birth time.

Noon Chart

As the first step, if my client has no birth time, I will cast the noon chart.

A noon chart is created with the birth time set at 12 noon.

This is right in the middle of the day.

The idea is that with a noon chart you can only be 12 hours out.

And let’s face it 12 hours is still huge, but it is better than being 24 hours out.

With the noon chart you have to ignore the angles and house cusps.

Although you can be pretty confident on lots of the planets in their signs and many of the aspects will hold up.

Noon Chart Exceptions

Of course, there are a couple of exceptions to being sure of a planet’s sign with a noon chart.

Exception 1: Sign Cusp Planets

Any planet, especially the Sun, Mercury, Venus or Mars, which is close to a sign cusp at 0 degrees or 29 degrees of any sign, could potentially change signs that day.

Planets do not conveniently change signs at midnight.

The sign ingress may occur either before noon or after noon.

Because in a noon chart we don’t have a firm birth time, you can’t say for sure which sign any planet that is placed on a sign cusp was in.

And note that this planet-on-sign-cusp can be any of the planets which might change signs, not just the personal planets.

Either way, the outer ones move slower, but if they are on a sign cusp you still have to check.

Consideration needs to be given to any sign cusp planet. Look out for retrograde motion as well.

You may need to keep an open mind about which of the potential two signs a cusp planet could tenant until you fully understand the chart.

Exception 2: The Moon

The second exception is the Moon.

The Moon trots along at give or take 13 degrees each day.

Therefore, in one 24-hour period the Moon will travel about 13 degrees through the zodiac.

So, for a 12-hour period, and here I mean our noon chart, it can potentially.

move around 6.5 degrees from the noon position.

That is, the Moon can travel up to 6.5 degrees before noon and 6.5 degrees after noon.

This means that if the Moon in the noon chart is 6.5 degrees from either sign boundary, the before sign and the after sign, it will be in that sign.

And for more certainty, if the Moon at noon is placed between 6.5 to 23.5 of a sign, it will be in that sign.

Double Check

Note, if the Moon is bang on 6.5 from a sign boundary, you must go back and check the lunar daily motion on that particular day. If it is greater than 13 degrees you will have to rethink the sign.

In a noon chart for example:

  • If the Moon is at 6 degrees Virgo it could be in the previous sign of Leo.
  • If the Moon is at 10 degrees Sagittarius it will definitely be in the sign of the Archer.
  • If the Moon is at 26 degrees Pisces it could be in the next sign, Aries.

You can tinker with an unknown birth time for days.

A Better Solution

But what if there was an easier way to find the birth time if you don’t know it?

Fortunately for us there is.

It’s called rectification.

Rectification

Rectification is a highly skilled astrological technique which explores the options for a better birth time and therefore firms up the Ascendant and the house cusps.

Not every astrologer practices rectification.

Rectification is usually used in two specific instances:

When there is no birth time, like what I’m talking about here with the noon chart, and,

If there is a birth time, but the chart doesn’t seem to fit comfortably with the person.

As maths is not my strong suit and due to the heavy load of numbers, maths and statistics required to work out someone’s rectification, it’s not something I do.

I will admit I have done rectification back in the day, but now I don’t do rectification nor do I enjoy doing it.

I feel it’s better left to the specialist astrologers who relish maths and love practicing rectification to help others.

Rectification Specialist

This week I am thrilled to share with you the conversation I had recently with professional astrologer, and rectification specialist, Norma Lachance.

Norma is a highly skilled professional astrologer with an advanced certificate (soon to be a diploma) from the Faculty of Astrological Studies, London, England.

And if you don’t know, the Faculty diploma is the world class honour you can receive in astrology today.

I’ve known Norma for about seven years.

She is the only rectification specialist to whom I confidently refer my own clients when they want, or need, their birth chart rectified.

norma-lachance-headshot

Recommendation

I love Norma’s style of astrology and the high energy and sparkle which she brings to her work.

That is why I’m supremely confident in referring her to you.

And let’s be quite clear here.

I want you to know that I’ll only recommend talented people to you, whom I believe will bring value and goodness into your life.

It’s important that you can trust the good-hearted people in the astrology community whom I send your way and those I feel are worthy of your time.

Listen to our rectification podcast episode and if you think it is something that will be right for you, reach out to Norma astrologydva@gmail.com and let her know that you discovered her from me.

Extend Yourself

You can extend yourself and lean into rectification in a couple of ways.

See if you can find someone in your family, friend circle or general client base who has an Ascendant within one degree of a sign cusp.

So, their Ascendant will either be at 0 and some minutes or at 29 degrees and some minutes of any sign.

Then in your astrology journal please do the following:

  • Look at the current Ascendant degrees and minutes and step the chart forward or backward to see how many minutes in time it would take to change the rising sign. Write this time down. It probably will be under ten minutes.
  • Note exactly how many minutes (of arc this time) is equal to the time in minutes. This will probably be less than 59’. You could also ask, “How far is the Ascendant from the cusp?” Which will return the same answer.
  • Consider whether the new rising sign would be a better fit for the person and their personality. Avoid making a snap decision here. Give this some thought. As I like to say, let it percolate.
  • Decide if the new chart ruler, the planet that rules the new Ascendent, better reflects the type of person the chart is for. This is sometimes clearer with some pairs of planets whose energy is quite different.

Example 1: Sun and Moon cusp – Cancer/Leo.

Example 2: Venus and Mars cusps – Aries/Taurus and Libra/Scorpio.

Example 3: Jupiter and Saturn cusps – Sagittarius/Capricorn and Aquarius/Pisces.

Extend Yourself Further

Think about whether you are ready, at your stage of astrology knowledge, to learn chart rectification.

Remember, rectification is not for everyone.

If you think rectification is something that interests you here are 3 ways to start exploring it now:

  • Read this book The Complete Book of Chart Rectification by Carol Tebbs from Llewellyn Publications.
  • Get your chart professionally rectified by Norma.
  • Invest in a serious rectification course with Norma. Learn how to rectify charts for your family, friends and clients.

I’d love to hear how you get on. Let me know your answers by completing this quick one minute survey.

I’ll report back on the results in a later email.

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Author Bio

Alison Price: Professional Astrologer

Alison helps you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor. She offers Consultations for everyone and Coaching for Aspiring Astrologers.

If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email at starzology@gmail.com.

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Sun Square Neptune

Sun Square Neptune

Author: Arwynne O’Neill  –   Published: June 2024

Sun square Neptune

Aspect Basics Series

Today we’re going to be talking about the Sun square Neptune. This is part of our basic aspect series.
 
We are going to be seeing this transit exact on June 20, 2024 with the Sun at 29 Gemini Square Neptune at 29 Pisces but we’re going to focus on what it looks like in someone’s natal chart and give some celebrity examples and it’s relevant regardless of when you’re listening because this aspect occurs twice every year. For the last few years, it has occurred in mid-June and mid-December.

Sun square Neptune in the natal chart

In her book Aspects and Personality, Karen Haymaker Zondag says, “The dream and fantasy world so typical of Neptune comes to the fore with this aspect. Inferiority feelings are not uncommon. The sources for this inferiority include Neptune’s habit of fudging boundary lines, which make it hard for us to see where our ego begins and ends or to discover who we are and what we want. The second is a nagging feeling that there’s something more, a feeling that another world lies beyond the world of perception and that our individual limitations are in sharp contrast to it.”
 

Spiritual Seeker

This person may be a spiritual seeker, with little interest in the real world, taking refuge in ideas and feelings or continually searching until they find an ideal that meets their emotional needs. There can be a lack of responsibility or grounding, but also a great deal of creativity, especially in music, poetry and other forms of wordplay, ideas, mysticism and metaphysics. These people can be incredibly eloquent and convincing, so they should be very clear within their own minds about their intentions, as they could potentially use their gifts to deceive and lead other people astray.

 

Sensitive

This is a very sensitive aspect, and this person often has to overcome insecurity and disappointments to build their self-esteem and confidence in order to feel strong. They can easily become confused, paranoid or dependent on drugs or alcohol if these dynamics are not dealt with in more productive ways. They should be cautious about chemicals, alcohol, drugs and medical treatments, and they may be susceptible to illnesses that defy explanation or diagnosis.

They may also fall victim to stronger personalities, people who try to take advantage of them or dominate them, like gurus or con artists. Although idealistic, life experiences can make it hard for these people to stand up for themselves, possibly because of their insecurity but also because they idealize other people and may find it hard to believe that others are not trustworthy or truly mean them ill.

They can be very altruistic and may be attracted to politics, volunteerism or activism, if they don’t become disillusioned. Spirituality can be used for good or ill; the darker realms of religious cults and political demagogues should to be avoided.

 

Honesty

People with this aspect are urged to be as honest and direct as possible because Neptune can blur your intentions whether you mean to be dishonest or not. This is amazing for creativity, music, writing, etc., but can be challenging when it comes to dealing honestly with others, promoting yourself or pursuing your own goals. There may be a feeling of insecurity, guilt or the desire to apologize; over idealizing others and being gullible can lead to disappointment.

 

Sun square Neptune by transit

Your energy level can be lowered to the point where your immune system suffers or you may feel discouraged and beaten down by circumstances. This is not a great confidence boosting transit. You may feel inadequate and consumed by the futility of pursuing your goals.
 
Put off anything that requires clear thinking until this transit passes. It can stimulate idealism which can be great if you’re trying to produce something creative or beautiful but don’t be discouraged if what you create doesn’t match your ideal vision.
barack-obama-birth-chart-sun-square-neptune

Celebrities with this aspect

Barack Obama, Lady Gaga, Whitney Houston, Paul McCartney, Carl Jung, Che Guevara, Pink, River Phoenix, Kevin Costner, Matthew Perry, James Joyce and Kurt Vonnegut.

 

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Arwynne O’Neill: Research Astrologer

Arwynne O’Neill works as a research astrologer in Vancouver, with a focus on delving into historical cycles and how they relate to societal transformations as influenced by the energies of the outer planets.

Contact Arwynne

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Ms Pink Art shop

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Star of David: Major Aspect Pattern

Star of David: Major Aspect Pattern

What to Consider As the Star of David is made from two grand trines and six sextiles it has much of the meaning of the grand trine. There are typically only two elements in play, fire and air or earth and water, so there is usually in one polarity either active or...

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Jupiter Trine Pluto

Jupiter Trine Pluto

Author: Arwynne O’Neill  –   Published: May 2024

Basic Aspect Series: Jupiter trine Pluto

This is almost a generational aspect because Jupiter takes 12 years to go around the zodiac, so this aspect only happens every 8-10 years and this is an interesting one because both of these planets have just entered the air signs. Jupiter will be in Gemini for the next year, and we’ve done an entire podcast about Jupiter in Gemini so please go listen to that, as this aspect will be affecting everyone in different ways.

Pluto will be in Aquarius until 2046 which is a massive generational placement that we’ve also done an entire episode about. Jupiter will be at 1° Gemini trine Pluto at 1° Aquarius on June 2, 2024, but in this episode we’re going to focus on what this aspect looks like in someone’s natal chart. 

Jupiter trine Pluto in the birth chart

The trine is one of the soft aspects, the other being the sextile. Trines are flowing aspects that occur between signs in the same element, in this case, air. Air signs are characterized as intellectual, innovative, communication, community-oriented, outgoing and curious.

Trines create positive movement, and in this case, opportunities for growth and profound transformation. Jupiter is the big benefic in the solar system and Pluto is the planet of death, rebirth and transformation, so when they’re in aspect, these two planets come together to create a very exciting, powerful, dynamic potential for positive change.

Some of the keywords with Jupiter trine Pluto aspects are growth, improvement, healing, perception, ability to understand profound or complicated issues, ability to plan and organize, pursuit of success and a growth orientation. This person fully believes in their own ability to improve things and to make profound impacts in life wherever they choose to set their sights. They can be excellent researchers and investigators. They’re determined to get to the bottom of any issue whatever it is and they may become obsessed or adamant with finding the truth or expressing that truth to others.

These people need to feel important and they can have very strong willpower and great power of persuasion. Great explorers, investigators, and social organizers.

This is an ideal aspect for legislators, judges, politicians, detectives, publishers and scientists. These people are ideally suited for fields where they can use their talents at investigation, handling other people’s resources, managing other people’s talents and money and expanding anything they touch in the realm of success, power, influence and philosophy.

 

Jupiter trine Pluto by Transit

If transiting Pluto is making a trine to your natal Jupiter or vice versa, you might feel motivated to take control of your life’s direction, an amplified need for personal power, growth and change. You may have outgrown situations or environments in your life and feel the need to supercharge your personal transformation. Keywords are radical growth, intense metamorphosis, boundless confidence, plumbing of the depths, shedding your limitations, growing ambitions, big challenges and bold moves opportunities for growth and beneficial use of power.

This could also enhance your need for spiritual meaning, higher connections or interconnectedness. If you’re a spiritual person or someone who believes in coincidences or synchronicities you may have a field day with this transit. Make time for self-reflection, meditation, journaling or doing something that puts you in tune with your own inner voice or whatever the divine means to you. Share your vulnerabilities with others and make deep connections, seek meaning wherever you can, and accept the gifts of insight that the universe offers. When Jupiter’s expansion meets Pluto’s X-ray vision, dreams can become manifest and aspirations can become real. Set your sights high.

tine-turner-birth-chart-jupiter-trine-pluto

Previous Jupiter trine Pluto dates

October 11, 2015
March 16, 2016
June 26, 2016

Celebrities with Jupiter trine Pluto

Lady Gaga, Kanye West, Margot Robbie, RuPaul, Michael Keaton, Lynda Carter, Tina Turner, Nelson Rockefeller, Boris Johnson, Dave Chappelle, Rose McGowan, Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Dahmer

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Author Bio

Arwynne O’Neill: Research Astrologer

Arwynne O’Neill works as a research astrologer in Vancouver, with a focus on delving into historical cycles and how they relate to societal transformations as influenced by the energies of the outer planets.

Contact Arwynne

Website MsPink

Ms Pink Art shop

Instagram @mspinkdotcom

 

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3 Tips to Reduce Interpretation Overwhelm

3 Tips to Reduce Interpretation Overwhelm

Author: Alison Price  Published: March 2024

Interpretation Overwhelm

When you’re just starting to learn how to read a chart, it can feel like there’s a lot to take in. Whether you’re a hobbyist, an amateur, or a student astrologer, it’s helpful to start by focusing on the essentials.

You don’t have to tackle everything at once; instead, you can gradually explore the finer details of chart reading over time.

The key is to prioritize understanding the main elements of the chart first.

Many people wonder where to begin with chart reading because there’s so much to explore. It’s true, there are countless details, some obvious and some more subtle, waiting to be discovered.

However, you don’t need to try to absorb everything all at once, especially with your next chart.

To help ease the overwhelm of starting out as an astrologer, here are three strategies you can use when approaching a chart for the first time.

Interpretation Overwhelm: Visible Planets

Planets to Display

One approach to reduce overwhelm is to focus solely on the visible planets.

Traditionally, there are seven visible planets: the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.

To start, I recommend displaying only these planets on the chart.

  

Planets to Cut Out

You won’t include Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, or factors like Chiron, Eris, and other asteroids.

Also, you won’t show into the lunar nodes or other specific points for now.

These topics are best saved for later exploration.

Interpretation Overwhelm: Ptolemaic Aspects

Big Five Aspects

To further simplify your interpretation process, focus only on the five Ptolemaic aspects.

These include the conjunction, opposition, trine, square, and sextile.

These are the essential aspects you should concentrate on initially.

Aspects To Ignore

You should disregard the minor aspects, including the semi-sextile, quincunx, semi-square, and sesquiquadrate.

Also, ignore any aspects beyond the basic five, such as quintiles, septiles, noviles, and deciles.

While these lesser-used aspects have their significance, you don’t need to focus on them when you’re just starting out.

Interpretation Overwhelm: Tighten Orbs

Cut Orbs

Next, I recommend halving the orbs.

By doing so, you’ll focus only on the aspects that are tighter in orb, making them more significant in the chart reading.

This adjustment helps streamline your interpretation process.

Conjunctions, Oppositions, Trines and Squares

Reduce the orb for the conjunction from its original 8° to 4°, allowing only conjunctions with a 4° orb or less to appear in the chart.

Similarly, adjust the orbs for oppositions, trines and squares to also have a 4° orb.

This ensures that only tighter aspects are considered in the chart analysis.

Sextiles

When halving the orbs, decrease the orb for the sextile from 4° to 2°.

With fewer aspects to interpret, you’ll focus on the ones that matter most initially.

Keep in mind that tighter orbs indicate greater significance for the aspect.

Example Chart: Andy Warhol

Let’s have a look at an example chart with these three ways of reducing overwhelm applied.

  

Chart Data

We’ll take the chart for Andy Warhol who was born at 6:30 AM on August the 6th, 1928 in Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Andy-warhol-birth-chart
Andy-warhol-aspectarian

Visible Planets Only

In a typical full birth chart, which is what I usually use, there are 12 planets and four points displayed.

However, this chart also includes 55 aspects in the aspectarian, which a professional astrologer would interpret, but you don’t need to dig into all of them at the beginning.

By simplifying the display to include only the visible planets, the chart becomes much easier to read.

You’ll immediately notice that it’s simpler to interpret, with only seven aspects in the aspectarian for you to understand.

Andy-warhol-birth-chart-visible-planets-only
Andy-warhol-aspectarian

Ptolemaic

When we narrow down the aspects to the five Ptolemaic ones, the chart becomes significantly easier to interpret.

Now, there are only 6 aspects to decipher, comprising 3 squares and 3 trines.

Andy-warhol-birth-chart
ansy-warhol-birth-chart-aspectarian-ptolemaic-aspects-only

Cut Orbs

By halving the orbs, we further reduce the number of aspects to deal with. Now, there are only 3 aspects remaining.

However, it’s important to note that the Fire Grand Trine is the only aspect pattern left in this chart, underscoring the supreme significance of this major aspect pattern and the 3 trines that comprise it for this specific chart reading.

Andy-warhol-birth-chart
Andy-warhol-aspectarian

Take Away

Interpretation Overwhelm

By implementing all three steps to reduce the amount of data for interpretation, the information is significantly pared down.

In Andy Warhol’s chart, we’re left with only 3 aspects.

However, it’s not necessary to take all three steps every time you want to reduce the quantity of information to interpret. You can opt for just one of the steps mentioned above.

For instance, you might choose to retain all the planets in the chart but simply reduce the orbs.

Alternatively, you could keep all the planets but focus solely on Ptolemaic aspects.

Either approach will effectively decrease the amount of information you need to interpret.

Sign and House

For your chart reading you will still have to interpret every planet which is displayed by its sign and house. That’s where using the visible planets comes in.

Aspects

As you begin to trim down both the aspect set and the orbs within it, you’ll notice a considerable decrease in the workload for each chart.

The beauty of this approach to reducing information overwhelm is that what remains are the crucial Ptolemaic aspects involving visible planets.

These aspects form the backbone of the chart reading process.

Creating Information Overwhelm

Let’s approach this from another angle.

Whenever you introduce additional elements to a chart, such as asteroids or fixed stars, you inevitably increase the interpretation load.

Each new component requires consideration by sign, house and aspect, adding more work to the process.

Moreover, if you decide to include quintile aspects, while intriguing, it further burdens your interpretation load since these aspects also need to be analyzed.

The key takeaway here is that the more you add to a chart, the more it contributes to your interpretation workload.

Conversely, simplifying what’s displayed within the chart brings clarity to what truly matters, focusing on the tight, Ptolemaic aspects between visible planets.

  

Let me know which of these 3 tips you will try to reduce your chart information load and improve your chart readings.

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Author Bio

Alison Price: Professional Astrologer

Alison helps you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor. She offers Consultations for everyone and Coaching for Aspiring Astrologers.

If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email at starzology@gmail.com.

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Chart Interpretation Example: Bella Boom

Author: Alison Price   –   Published: May 2024

Birth Data

Bella’s birth information is as follows: 10:35 PM, 10th March 1975, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

 

 

Balances

Polarity

The active polarity is strong with 6 planets.

Element

The elemenst are in balance.

Modes

The Modes are in balance.

Hemispheres

The Northern Hemisphere is strong with 6 planets.

Quadrants

The 2nd quadrant is strong with four planets which is two more than the next best quadrant.

Triple Division

The 2nd triple division is strong with four planets two more than the next best.

example-chart-for-bella-boom

Chart Ruler

Planet

The chart ruler is Mercury.

Sign

The chart ruler is in Libra.

Rulership

Mercury rules the chart, the northern hemisphere, the 1st quadrant, the 2nd triple division and the 1st and 5th houses.

House

The chart ruler is in the 5th house.

Aspects

Hard

Mercury opposition Jupiter.

Mercury opposition Chiron.

Mercury opposition Eris.

Soft

Mercury trine Mars.

Mercury trine Ascendant.

Mercury trine the Midheaven.

Bella-boom-aspectarian

The Sun

Sign

The Sun is in Libra. It is in fall and gets a score of (-4).

House

The Sun is in its natural 5th house. It has accidental dignity with a provisional score of (+1).

Rulership

The Sun rules the Western hemisphere, the 2nd quadrant and the 3rd and 4th houses.

Aspects

Neutral

Sun conjoined Pluto.

Hard

Sun opposite Eris.

Sun square the Part of Fortune.

Soft

Sun trine Ascendant.

Sun sextile Neptune.

The Moon

Sign

The Moon is in Virgo.

House

The Moon is in the 4th house.

Rulership

The Moon rules the 2nd house.

Lunar Phase

The lunar phase is Balsamic.

Aspects

Hard

Moon square Mars.

Moon square Ascendant.

Moon square the Part of Fortune.

Soft

Moon trine South Node.

Moon sextile North Node.

Dispositor Tree

Mutual Reception Tree

Bella has two planets in mutual reception the Sun in Libra nd Venus in Leo.
iondispositor-tree-mutual-recept

Bella’s Special Focus

Bella has specifically asked for information on her midlife change of relationships and career.

We’ve had a look at the upcoming transits and the solar return chart.

And please note that in a full consultation I would explore the secondary progressions, eclipses and solar arc directions as well.

Upcoming Forecast

Chiron Return (3-Hit)

Her Chiron triple hit return begins around May 2025 on and off to April 2026.

Jupiter Crosses the Ascendant

Jupiter conjoins the Ascendant around August 21, 2023. Immediately after the conjunction to transiting Mars.

Jupiter rules the 7th house of serious partnerships.

 

Bella-boom-bi-wheel-transits

Solar Return Chart

Sun’s House

In a solar return chart, the Sun’s house is important and this year it is in the 11th house.

Sun’s Aspects

Hard

The Sun is opposition Chiron.

Soft

The Sun is trine the Moon.

Bella-boom-solar-return

Notes From the Client

Here are the notes from Bella, and what she enjoys about our podcast.

Thank you Bella!

Favorite Episodes?

I love learning about aspects both from the natal chart and transit sides. It helps me read natal charts as well as prepare for upcoming weather.

Additional Comments

There is a bouyancy to the podcast that I find really refreshing.

I also appreciate your wisdom of years of experience, both astrologically and in life.

It brings a fullness that many other podcasts hosted by pre-midlife and pre-Saturn return lack.

Author Bio

Alison Price: Professional Astrologer

Alison helps you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor. She offers Consultations for everyone and Coaching for Aspiring Astrologers.

If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email at starzology@gmail.com.

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Mars in Gemini

Mars in Gemini

Mars in Gemini. Arwynne talks about what to expect from this transit, and what Mars in Gemini looks like in the birth chart.

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