Episode 18

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 how all of March’s astro madness landed IRL. Covering everything from the rising groundswell of anti-Trump activism to Cory Booker’s record-breaking Senate speech, the ongoing Signalgate scandal, and Canada’s upcoming election, we unpack all the ways the recent retrogrades and eclipses manifested in the collective. And then we look ahead to April and make predictions about what’s in store with the much-anticipated Mars–Pluto matchup at the end of the month. The world spins on, and we’ve got a lot to discuss. So let’s get into it.

Content warning: Abduction, genocide, acts of war

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Welcome to Down to Astro episode 18

(07:17) - Global protests and political movements

(22:59) - 2017 vs. 2025: the influence of Venus retrograde

(29:38) - State violence and disappearing protestors

(35:32) - Saturn and Neptune: a struggle between structure and erosion

(40:49) - The astrology of the Signalgate scandal

(55:52) - The Virgo eclipse and the loss of both language and detail under Trump

(59:56) - Neptune in Aries: a shift in Canadian national identity

(01:12:00) - The sociocultural stakes of the Canadian election

(01:14:10) - Historic astro parallels: 1960s and modern migration

(01:16:30) - Ask us anything: understanding the reverb of astrological transits

(01:25:55) - Predictions for April: the Mars-Pluto opposition

This episode was recorded on 4/2/2025.

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:

• Ali Olomi’s (@aaolomi) X thread about the Virgo eclipse

• Anxiety by Doechii

• “The Editor Who Was Accidentally Texted War Plans” by The Daily

• “The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans” by Jeffrey Goldberg for The Atlantic

• “These Words Are Disappearing in the New Trump Administration” by Karen Yourish, Annie Daniel, Saurabh Datar, Isaac White, and Lazaro Gamio for The New York Times

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

Episode 17

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 how Venus’ retrograde in Aries and the North Node–Neptune conjunction have shown up on the world stage — and set the scene for the rest of this month’s milestone astro. Covering everything from Zelensky’s Oval Office visit to Bernie Sanders’ anti-oligarchy tour, nationwide town hall takeovers, and Anora’s Oscar wins, we break down the many ways these transits have manifested in the collective. Plus, we give a preview of what’s to come. (Spoiler: It’s a lot.) March’s madness is just getting started. So buckle up, and settle in.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Welcome to Down to Astro episode 17

(00:25) - Neptune and the North Node: what happens when things fall apart

(06:50) - The role of Neptune in current events

(10:49) - The impact of retrogrades on global dynamics

(19:45) - Zelensky’s chart: a Venusian figure in politics

(37:20) - Bernie Sanders’ chart: astrology and the fight against oligarchy

(44:57) - Art as resistance: the upside of Venus retrograde

(49:50) - The spirit of disruption: local movements and protests

(51:14) - Oscars recap: politics and representation in film

(56:22) - Inanna and Ereshkigal: the Venus Rx journey of transformation

(01:01:39) - Venus in Aries: love, relationships, and personal growth

This episode was recorded on 3/3/2025.

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:

• “The Astrology Podcast” hosted by Chris Brennan

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

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.