Episode 16

In this podcast, professional astrologers Chani Nicholas, Thea Anderson, and Eliza Robertson look to the sky to make sense of what’s happening here on Earth.

This episode brings you into the astrological group chat to talk through the flood of chaos that kicked off 2025 and Mars’ retrograde through Cancer. Covering everything from the influx of devastating executive orders to Trump’s catastrophic colonial ambitions, Elon’s continuing coup-attempt, Kendrick Lamar’s Song of the Year, and Beyoncé’s historic Grammy win for Cowboy Carter, we look back at the many ways that this retrograde has manifested in the collective. Plus, we give a preview of what’s still to come, including the protest potential of Venus’ retrograde in Aries and the illusion-bursting end of Neptune in Pisces. It’s been a long year already, and we’re just getting started. Let’s get into it.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Welcome to Down to Astro episode 16

(07:39) - Astrological insights on Mars retrograde

(12:47) - The significance of Mars in Cancer

(19:08) - Activating Cancerian themes of home, security, and family

(28:15) - Neptune’s influence and the power of narrative control

(35:15) - Neptune and the North Node in Pisces: the “flood the zone” strategy

(41:04) - Mars stations direct: collective unrest and class consciousness

(48:08) - Venus retrograde and the rise of protests

(56:10) - Healing through personal and collective violence

(01:01:59) - Cultural reflections: Mars retrograde at the Grammys

(01:08:56) - Neptune, Saturn, and the return of “manifest destiny”

(01:20:59) - Pluto in Aquarius: a new era for change

(01:32:52) - Focusing on community and resistance amid climate catastrophe

This episode was recorded on 2/5/2025.

For more astrological insights, download theCHANI app or follow CHANI onInstagram,TikTok, andBluesky.

The song “Midas,” featured in the podcast, was created byNISHA and is available wherever you listen to music.

This episode also mentioned the following creative works:

• “Libri Mysteriorum: The Astrological Metaphors” by Abû Ma'sar

• The “Octavia Butler tried to tell us” T-shirt by exittheapple

P.S. The transcript for this episode is availablehere.

Episode 15

In this podcast, professional astrologers Chani Nicholas, Thea Anderson, and Eliza Robertson look to the sky to make sense of what’s happening here on Earth.

This episode, we’re digging into the astrology of 2025 and what it reveals about the year to come. Marked by major planetary shifts, lots of activity in Aries, and some historically era-defining transits, 2025 is not for the faint of heart. Between the Mars and Venus retrogrades that point to conflict over traditional ideals, Saturn and Neptune transits that seem to signify the erosion of institutions, and Uranus in Gemini promising to usher in a new world order, there’s a lot to unpack. So buckle up. We’re breaking down the year month-by-month to give you insight into what to expect, takeaways to apply to your own chart, and tips to help you plot a course through the chaos. Let’s get into it.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Welcome to Down to Astro episode 15

(02:28) - Introducing 2025, the year of massive change

(06:53) - January’s major astrological moments

(20:51) - The personal and political impacts of Mars in Cancer

(26:19) - February and the crisis of patriarchy

(35:35) - March and the Venus retrograde parallels to 2017

(39:13) - Counter movements to traditional gender roles

(42:16) - Astrological insights on Venus and Mars retrogrades

(46:24) - Eclipses and their influence on personal growth

(50:55) - Neptune in Aries: the “war of ideals” and the modern implications

(01:01:25) - The American Civil War and the power of historical narratives

(01:09:27) - April 2025 forecast

(01:12:15) - The Venus–Saturn conjunction: committing for the long-haul

(01:17:09) - The Mars–Pluto opposition: the final confrontation

(01:20:40) - May madness: Saturn and Neptune in Aries and the erosion of institutions

(01:30:43) - Jupiter’s exaltation in June: a hopeful turn

(01:35:25) - Navigating Saturn’s challenges and Jupiter’s blessings

(01:39:17) - The tension between individualism and community

(01:40:39) - Utopian visions of collective living

(01:41:37) - July and Uranus in Gemini: a catalyst for change

(01:48:10) - A new world order: shifting borders and information dynamics

(01:55:05) - August’s astrological highlights and cautions

(01:58:10) - September eclipses and returning to old patterns

(01:59:29) - Navigating themes of desire and consequence

(02:02:04) - Sorting through loss and serving your community: the Virgo–Pisces axis

(02:07:58) - Preparing for change: the movements of the outer planets

(02:12:02) - Assessing the landscape: political and global perspectives

(02:17:00) - Ending the year with clarity: a new beginning

This episode was recorded on 12/2/2024.

For more astrological insights, download the CHANI app or follow CHANI on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky.

The song “Midas,” featured in the podcast, was created by NISHA and is available wherever you listen to music.

This episode also mentioned the following creative works:

• “Crime and Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

• “The Dads,” directed by Luchina Fisher

• “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy

P.S. The transcript for this episode is available here.

Episode 14

In this podcast, professional astrologers Chani Nicholas, Thea Anderson, and Eliza Robertson look to the sky to make sense of what’s happening here on Earth.

This episode brings you into the astrological group chat to debrief after the US election. We start by comparing our past predictions to the actual results, and discussing where hope fits into the equation. Then we get into all that’s still to come — from the tech, AI, and alien(?) implications of Pluto in Aquarius to the cazimi following Inauguration Day and how it could act as a fluorescent spotlight on the seedy underbelly of American politics. We also revisit the planetary parallels to the 1968 election for historical hints regarding the work that lies ahead. And finally, we dig into the upcoming Mars and Venus retrogrades, including what they might reveal about gender dynamics and activism in this new era. These uncertain times (and the sky) are always changing. But we know we’ve got each other. So let’s get into it.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Welcome to Down to Astro episode 14

(02:58) - Post-election reflections

(06:01) - The role of hope in astrology

(09:03) - The complexity of political astrology

(11:50) - Mars square Pluto: a battle of forces

(15:01) - The future landscape of politics

(17:59) - Inauguration Day and the Pluto cazimi

(21:00) - The underbelly of American politics

(23:59) - The “age of Aquarius” and its challenges

(30:40) - Pluto’s influence on technology and society

(31:59) - The rise of tech oligarchs and the corruption of money in politics

(35:59) - The media’s shifting role in election cycles

(40:06) - Astrological parallels to 1968

(56:34) - Gender dynamics and Mars’ retrograde

(01:01:52) - The impact of Venus’ retrograde on activism

(01:08:01) - Ask us anything: breaking down critical degrees in astrology

This episode was recorded on 11/18/2024.

For more astrological insights, download the CHANI app or follow CHANI on Instagram and X.

The song “Midas,” featured in the podcast, was created by NISHA and is available wherever you listen to music.

This episode also mentioned the following creative work:

• “How many husbands control the votes of their wives? We’ll never know” by Rebecca Solnit

P.S. The transcript for this episode is available here.