The Astrology Podcast

In episode 492 Professor A. Tun en 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 highlighteda 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.

Tun'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, 14501600

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:

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

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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

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In episode 489 astrologers Chris Brennan and Leisa Schaim discuss their views on astrology, fate, and destiny.

This is part of a new series exploring our personal view on the philosophy of astrology, and in particular exploring the relevance of some ancient Stoic concepts related to fate and determinism.

While most of the episodes of the podcast are usually more technically oriented, the purpose of this series is to begin to articulate some of the philosophical and spiritual views that we have developed based on our practice of astrology.

This episode is available in both audio and video versions below. Leisa's website with info on her upcoming zodiacal releasing workshop: https://www.leisaschaim.com

Chris' ancient astrology course:

https://courses.theastrologyschool.com Timestamps 00:00:00 Exploring Astrology's Philosophical Foundations 00:03:53 Fate, Free Will, and the Stoic Perspective 00:09:26 Astrology vs. Scientific Materialism 00:11:16 The Role of Fate in Personal Growth 00:17:34 Understanding Predetermined Events in Life 00:21:10 The Interplay of Fate and Free Will 00:27:12 The Internal and External Aspects of Fate 00:32:40 Zodiacal Releasing and Life's Turning Points 00:35:40 Finding Meaning in Predetermined Choices 00:38:45 The Nature of Experience and Free Will 00:40:06 Astrology and Personal Growth 00:41:54 Understanding Control and External Circumstances 00:44:10 The Limitations of Control in Astrology 00:48:31 Electional Astrology: Navigating Choices 00:51:45 The Interplay of Timing and Fate 00:56:34 Fate, Free Will, and Life's Direction 01:01:23 The Role of Astrology in Accepting Fate 01:06:39 The Stoic Perspective on Fate and Acceptance 01:12:03 Predetermination vs. Free Will in Astrology 01:17:37 Electional Astrology and Conditional Fate 01:24:36 The Balance of Knowledge and Action in Astrology 01:31:27 The Unfolding of Fate and Personal Growth 01:39:16 Understanding Fate and Destiny in Astrology 01:45:08 The Complexity of Free Will and Fate 01:49:33 The Birth Chart: Present Life Focus 01:55:29 The Immutable Nature of the Natal Chart 01:58:38 Fate, Free Will, and Timing in Astrology 02:00:12 Finding Peace in Astrological Insights 02:03:10 Astrology as a Language of the Cosmos 02:06:34 Personal Perspectives on Astrology and Fate 02:09:21 The Importance of Technical Approaches in Astrology 02:12:25 Exploring Different Astrological Traditions 02:19:18 Leisa's zodiacal releasing workshop Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1wIprhk9AE

– Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 489 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In episode 488 astrologers Chris Brennan and Austin Coppock look at the astrological forecast for May of 2025!

May opens with the tense Mars-Pluto opposition separating but still in close alignment, and this gets reactivated when Pluto stations in Aquarius and the Moon swings in and acts as a trigger at various points.

Venus returns to Aries where it retraces its steps and begins the process of fully winding down its long retrograde period, and Mars is similarly finishing up its broader retrograde cycle as it makes its way through Leo.

The most important transits this month is that Saturn moves into the sign of Aries on May 24, and this marks the beginning of a three year transit through this sign, where it will meet up with Neptune this summer and early next year.

The month ends with an auspicious stellium of planets all meeting up in Gemini, which provides us with one of the best electional charts of the year.

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 half we transition into talking about the astrology of May. Timestamps

00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:49 Quick overview of May 00:03:08 Beginning of news segment 01:03:08 May forecast begins 02:03:28 Electional chart for May 02:07:49 Late May 02:14:30 Upcoming projects 02:20:48 Credits

Patreon for Early Access & Bonus Content Patreon.com/AstrologyPodcast Austin’s Website Austincoppock.com Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_645ovm11u0

- Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 488 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3: