#19 - Four Branches of Astrology

This week in The Astro Study Room, we are talking about the four branches of astrology. We talk all about our current thoughts and understandings on natal, mundane, electional, and horary astrology. We even do a little live demonstration of us playing around with a horary chart!

Here are some topics we talk about in this episode: 

5:28 - Mercury Retrograde in Pisces

6:45 - Saturn ingress into Aries

7:41 - Venus/Jupiter Exalted Trine

8:33 - New Moon in Aquarius

12:22 - Solar Eclipse in Aquarius

15:19 - Astrology Branches Defined

17:34 - Jordan's Horary Story

21:33 - Astrology Branches vs Traditions

24:36 - Brief Look into Different Astrological Traditions

27:43 - Tropical vs Sidereal Explained

33:19 - Live Horary for 75 Soft

41:20 - This or That

43:50 - What's Next!

We will see you back in the study room on March 3rd when we talk all about the things that make up the zodiac signs including polarities, elements, and modality.

Chapters

• 5:28 Mercury Retrograde in Pisces
• 6:45 Saturn ingress into Aries
• 7:41 Venus/Jupiter Exalted Trine
• 8:33 New Moon in Aquarius
• 12:22 Solar Eclipse in Aquarius
• 15:19 Branches Of Astrology Defined
• 17:34 Jordan's Horary Story
• 21:33 Astrology Branches vs Traditions
• 24:36 Brief Look into Different Astrological Traditions
• 27:43 Tropical Vs Sidereal Explained
• 33:19 Live Horary: Designing A 75-Day Practice
• 41:20 This or That
• 43:50 What's Next!

Transcript

Ember 0:17

Hey Star students, welcome back to the Astro Study Room. I'm Ember Faye, your friendly neighborhood Fire Fairy Witch.

Jordan 0:25

And I'm Jordan, a university librarian by day and a dedicated astrology student by night. And yes, welcome back to the Astro Study Room.

Ember 0:33

Over the next few weeks, you might notice our intro shifting and evolving a little bit. We've been in this space together for a little over six months now. And as we've grown, we've also been getting clearer on the kinds of conversations Jordan and I want to be having with each other and with all of you. So we've always just said we're just two students going over our notes together in this little astro study room. And while that's still true, I just lovingly want to point out that Jordan is a freaking cred, like incredible astrologer. Truly, her depth of knowledge and curiosity and ability to translate astrology into like a living experience and to like really truly understand it is a gift. And so for me, as your resident, eclectic, embodiment-loving fairy witch over here, like I use astrology as a tool in my spiritual practice and for my movement and work and in everyday magic. So we are both showing up here in our true self-forms for you all, ready to embrace whatever we feel called to share with you and with each other.

Jordan 1:40

Yeah, and Emperor and I started talking about how we want to honor both of our strengths and let this space expand a little bit. And at its heart, this podcast will always be rooted in astrology, and that of course will be the foundation of it forever. But we also have other interests and things that we're learning about, and just like how we just like how today we're going to be talking about the branches of astrology and the different ways to use astrology, there are many ways that people experience astrology, and that can be through spirituality, philosophy, embodiment, connection, psychology, ritual, spell work, scheduling, planning, creativity, and all the things that go into daily life. So what does that all mean exactly? Uh, we don't know. We're still discovering that. And we're inviting you to discover it with us. So whether you identify as an astrologer, a witch, a wizard, a mystic, a spiritual seeker, or simply just a human, uh, you belong here, and this study room is for everybody.

Ember 2:32

Our goal is still the same for this to feel like a group of badass students from all levels gathering to explore, reflect, question, connect. And so no matter where you're at in your spiritual or astrology journey, learning is a forever game. Growth is cyclical, curiosity is sacred, and we are so happy you're here to wander around the cosmos with us. So if you'd like, grab your notes, your beverage of choice, your pens, your highlighters, or just bring yourself, your body, and an open mind.

Jordan 3:00

Every other Tuesday, we will be exploring different astrology and spiritual topics, sometimes teaching, sometimes reflecting, sometimes just chatting and wondering out loud together. If you're into it, we'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and just know you can always come hang out with us in the Astro Study Room.

Ember 3:15

We are jumping into episode 19, where we are going to have a conversation about the different branches of astrology that you can study and a little bit about the traditions, more in like a general way. So you can follow along with these when they come up in the future.

Jordan 3:29

And as a reminder, the Astro Study Room is live on YouTube. So if you're more of a visual person, come check us out on YouTube.

Ember 3:36

And don't forget about our Patreon, which is currently free, and we're still trying to figure out like the best way to utilize it. Uh, but signing up will make sure that you are the first to get any of our study guides or tools that we put out. And the link is in the show notes. And Jordan, can you tell everyone how they can get an amazing astrology consultation with you?

Jordan 3:56

Absolutely. I do natal chart and solar return consultations where we can take a look and talk about what your soul intended for you in this lifetime. And I also offer cosmic check-ins where we can talk about any current trance that's going on, or if you want dedicated time to ask any questions about your chart or certain placements in your chart, we can definitely look at that together. Ember, what do you have going on?

Ember 4:16

Yeah, I'm on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube under Ember Fame Magic. And you can sign up for my newsletter or take my free quiz on discovering your sensual shadow archetype at my website, which is linked in the Instagram bio and in the show notes. And you know, all we love words of affirmation. So please let us know how we're doing. Give us feedback on what you want to hear, let us know what you've enjoyed. As we are always saying, we are learning together in this little astro study room, which is why it's so special to us.

Mercury Retrograde in Pisces

Saturn ingress into Aries

Jordan 4:47

So buckle up, so our students, class is officially out and the study room is in session. We have a lot coming up. Yeah, we do. February is a big one. Um, I also want to say I'm getting over a cold right now, so if my voice starts to break and crack, that is why. But we're still here because we air every other weekend. Every other week. Fuck. Um by the time this episode airs, we have been in the pre-shadow period of our first Mercury retrograde of 2026. This will be in Pisces, and Mercury actually goes retrograde on February 26th. The pre-shadow period is when you might start to notice um either hints at or slight downloads or something at the very, like the very beginning of something that will become more apparent during the actual retrograde. I personally don't think every single Mercury retrograde is going to be momentous for every single person. Um, I would pay the most attention if you are a Mercury-ruled person, if your time lord is Mercury, that's at you, Ember. Or if you have any placements between 8 and 22 degrees of Pisces or another planet making a tight aspect. Mercury is the planet of information and information exchange, and all of the action in Aquarius lately has been tied to the Epstein vials and all the new all the new info di all the new info dumps. And I'm wondering if this retrograde for the US at least will be related to the Epstein vials. However, in the US's chart, this is in the fourth house, and I believe the fourth house in mundane astrology has to do with the land's natural resources, and Mercury is a planet of trade. Um, and so maybe like some new trade agreement that has to be redone or some new information coming out about what the US produces. Uh, we shall see. Saturn is moving into Aries on February 13th. I feel like I have been simultaneously dreading this and also mentally preparing for it since August, so I'm also kind of ready for it. Uh the exact conjunction with Neptune will be on February 20th, but I wouldn't necessarily expect anything major to happen for you, like specifically on that day. Will that be at one degree Aries or gonna be zero degrees?

Ember 7:06

It's gonna be zero, okay. The most well, the second most critical degree. I have my black moon Lilith mean, which I've worked with a lot. I really like the idea of the Black Moon Lilith.

SPEAKER_02 7:17

Yeah.

Ember 7:17

Um, especially around like the shadow self and all sensuality and all of that. And that is exactly conjunct the black moon Lilith mean for me.

Venus/Jupiter Exalted Trine

Jordan 7:26

Interesting. You'll have to reflect on what that means and then relate it back to me. February has a lot of major astrology transits and events, like we talked about. And I think this is probably the most noteworthy month of the year for astrology, and we have some really awesome transits coming up too. On February 22nd, Venus and Jupiter are both exalted and training each other in Cancer and Pisces. So look at where you have Cancer and Pisces and think about expanding something and building relationships. For me, I have Cancer in my ninth house and Pisces in my fifth house with my natal Jupiter in my fifth house. So I'm thinking about this as manifesting as romantic experiences that feel spiritually rich, uh, travel and study and spiritual opportunities, restoring some kind of faith. And if you know me, LOL, deepening a relationship through something creative, um, or just spiritual companionship in general.

Ember 8:18

I feel like you need to send me little like ding reminders of these things. I know. Like when these happen, so I can like do something about it.

Jordan 8:25

I know, so we can like remember to reflect on it.

New Moon in Aquarius

Ember 8:28

All right, let's kick it over to the Astro Loco weather. So this episode, I think this is maybe the first time this is happening, is actually airing on the new moon on February 17th at 701 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, which I feel like is usually when you post, right? Is it 6 a.m. or 7 a.m.? 6 a.m., yeah. We should make this one 7 a.m.

unknown 8:50

Maybe.

Ember 8:52

Um, so this is our new moon in Aquarius, and I just love this energy. You know, we pair it alongside in bulk season, which is all about the stirring under the earth right now, maybe beneath the snow if you have some snow or ice, with Aquarius being an air sign, signaling new beginnings. This moon feels particularly potent for maybe cleansing and potentially meditating on your personal new beginnings, your personal goals, maybe some innovative ideas that you have for your future self. And I think this could look like a couple different things. So cleansing your altar is always great this time of year, just kind of like sweeping out some of those winter cobwebs and all those ashes and things we've been burning from candles and gotta give that a little sweep, a little tune up, maybe a digital detox or giving yourself time away from electronics for the new moon, but then like meditating on these aspects of Aquarius, right? Because Aquarius is all about innovation and technology and see how you know and see how you can actually like utilize them more effectively in your life. So maybe it's connecting through a special community through social media, maybe it's creating your own community in social media, maybe it's bringing a new app in to help streamline some of your studies, your ritual practices, some of your daily practices. And I I think this is like, you know, I say all these things, and I think there could be a lot of hesitation from the spiritual community, from the witchcraft community to incorporate technology into witchcraft. But I did want to bring up something awesome that happened this weekend. So we had our in bulk uh coven gathering this past weekend. And unfortunately, there was like a good, I don't know, like a third of us who were sick and not able to come in person. It was really a bummer, but our high priestess was open to having them join ritual via Zoom. Um, and Jordan, maybe you can talk a little bit about that experience. But I I feel like it was such an amazing way to like include people in this hybrid environment. And I don't think it took away from the ritual itself. I think technology is so important for connecting us, and this was just like one of the ways that felt very true. It didn't feel like we were doing anything like bad or not sacred because we had Zoom going on at the same time. It just felt special and so grateful to have everyone there, even if they couldn't physically be in the space.

Jordan 11:19

Yeah, I think this is a really interesting conversation and very Aquarious, yeah, because like I I really resonated with the part where you talked about, like, you know, uh some kind of tech detox, but then also like acknowledging the pros, because I I think that's exactly what this is about, at least personally. Because it does like cause a lot of issues in life, but it also does like bring so much things. And I do like prefer speaking on the in bulk ritual. I do prefer like being in person. It does, at least to me, it does feel different. Like it didn't feel the same, but also how lucky we are that we live at a time where like we still got to be included and participate in some way and still we still got to celebrate in a way.

Ember 11:56

Yeah. I think being open to that technology and thinking about how we can like use it is very Aquarious. And especially this season, then the new moon, just gathering all of that together and embracing innovation and technology and community. Just celebrate this new moon by reflecting on how that shows up in your life and if there's potentially any changes you'd like to make over the next six months in that cycle.

Solar Eclipse in Aquarius

Jordan 12:21

Yeah, and additionally, this new moon is actually a solar eclipse. And so we are officially in the eclipse season, baby. This is also the first eclipse with the lunar nodes welcoming us to the Leo and Aquarius axis. Um, on the individual level, my biggest advice here is to, during this eclipse, uh, which is today, if you're watching this a day of, uh, is to actively stay focused and avoid multitasking. And I kind of like, I think that was really interesting what you were picking up, Ember, with the whole like like a technology detox, because I do think this is a bit about like just do one thing at a time, just stay focused right now. I'm so bad at that. I mean, and like whatever that means to you, I know some people focus different ways. Some people focus through multitasking. I guess do what resonates with you. For the US, this eclipse is one degree away from our natal moon. And the moon in mundane astrology rules the public and the people. Um and I think this has a lot to do with like a karmic cycle related to technology. And this is really interesting because I didn't read what you had written, Ember, so that's kind of fun. So I think that this can have to do with AI um transportation related to technology, because this is in the third house for the USS chart. Um, this I wondered if this could have to do with like the self-driving cars which have been introduced to my city recently. Oh yeah, they're not like you can't get a ride yet, but they're like driving around and like mapping out the city right now. That's so wild. It is. And with this eclipse being right on the US's natal moon, my thoughts are that the public will have some kind of noticeable reaction or feelings about whatever comes up technology or transportation-wise. And then the last thing I wanted to mention, the next eclipse is the day of our next episode, uh, which is March 3rd, and that will be in Virgo at 13 degrees. We didn't plan this.

Ember 14:10

This happened. Yeah, I'm excited.

Jordan 14:39

Uh we've been trying a new format where we're kind of like planning things a bit less than we would. One, because we want to be less scripted, uh, two, because like we're both really busy individuals and we need to have more time to live our lives. So I haven't planned what we're gonna talk about. I felt the love to say that first. Yeah.

Ember 14:57

So, Jordan, I you you started telling me earlier today, but can you tell our listeners what the difference is between an astrological branch and an astrological tradition?

Branches Of Astrology Defined

Jordan 15:08

Yeah, so a branch, there's four main branches in astrology. I guess we'll start there. There's natal astrology, electional astrology, horary astrology, and mundane astrology. Natal astrology is the one that you hear about the most often. That's what most people study, that's what we have the most easiest access to, and that's like the birth chart astrology and the individual astrology. And then there's mundane astrology, and that is using astrology to make sense of study and predict world events. Um, so when I talk about the US's chart in relation to astrology, that is mundane astrology. There is electional astrology, and that is using astrology to pick the best time to do the best or worst time, I guess, to do something. Um, like you could pick the best time to get married. Uh you could pick the best time to do something where no one will catch you, like if you wanted to do something secretive. Um and then there's horary astrology, which I think is the most horror. I have no idea.

Ember 16:06

It's such a horror.

Jordan 16:08

Yeah, I guess that is a weird one. Horrary astrology is the most like I get what I called like stereotypical divination. Um, it's where you ask a question and you look at the chart at the time of the that you asked that question and you use that chart to like divinate an answer. What am I comparing these to? Tradition, the word tradition?

Ember 16:26

Yeah, like the tradition. Well, I don't know. Maybe we'll start there and then we'll we'll ask about traditions after because the divination do you have any like I guess you do have preferences. I know you have preferences um between like the different branches.

Jordan's Horary Story

Jordan 16:43

I wouldn't even say I have a strong preference. I think I just haven't spent time in most of the other ones. I've like most people do natal astrology, and I I think that's like that is like the main one. And I think I haven't like I don't have data to back this up, but I think that all the other versions of ast all the other branches of astrology um take things from natal astrology. So kind of everyone you have to start at natal, or I guess I don't know, that's just where everyone starts. And I'm getting into mundane astrology. I'm finding that it's harder to study, like there's less resources out about that, about it. So I'm having trouble, I guess, like formally studying it. And then electional astrology just hasn't electional and horary haven't like called to me too much. I used electional when we started our coven. Um, and then I used Horary once. I'll tell this story. Brendan lost his glasses, my partner. And he's the type of person who like cannot function without his glasses on. Um and he's never lost them before. That's never happened. Uh he had them in his pocket and he was walking, he had dropped off a rental car and he was walking home from there. And it was like a um, it was a kind of long walk. It was like a three or four mile walk. Uh, and he like dropped his glasses somewhere, and he spent the rest of the day walking that trip, that path, that three to four mile path, like four times. I think he walked 20 miles that day looking for his glasses. And I was kind of like, you're insane, just go home. Uh you're if you didn't find them the first walk through, you're not gonna find them. And he was like, I like he was like, I must find them. So we both went walking the next day, and then I did like a my first time, I did a horary chart on it. And uh it like from what I got from it, it was like one, like, no, you're never gonna find them. And it was like that they might have been like stolen, which I think that might have been what happened because if like if if he didn't see them four times walking that path, I'm like, someone must have taken them. And it was like it was like a cold day too, like the grass wasn't super long, like we would have seen them in the grass. So long story, that's the only time I've used horary, and I'm not not interested in it. I just no, I guess that's what I'm saying. I just haven't been interested in it much yet. Does is there a certain one that calls to you more than the other? Like which one made you the most curious? The horrory one. Oh yeah, okay.

Ember 18:55

I mean, I I feel like I mean, needle chart readings, I think, like you said, as a as a baseline is so important because I love understanding. Um, I mean, I like what? Me. I want to understand me. I want to understand me, but I love using it to understand other people. Um, there was a Coven member this weekend that had we were talking about how she had a lot of personal planets in her cancer house. And and I think Cancer was in her 11th house. It was so interesting to be able to like talk to her and explore that a little bit, you know. Just like it, I feel like I'm at a point where I can get little peaks of people's personalities and talk about it. Like that's where my astrology level is now. It's like deeper, a little bit deeper than like the sun, you know. So I can look and be like, oh, this is so interesting. You have this cluster of very personal planets in this one spot. Do you know your house of community? What?

Jordan 19:49

Do you know what that's called? A cluster. I feel like it starts with an S. Stellium. Yes. Yes, that's called a stellium, baby. Is there a certain number that needs to be in one? That's debated. At least three. Okay. Um, some people say you have to have at least four to get this to focus. I was like, whatever. No, I oh, I'm like blurry.

Ember 20:12

Um, yeah. So I definitely like, would we be able to like if I asked a question, we could like pull up a chart and see like what yeah, you want to try it?

Jordan 20:23

I mean, again, I have that. Oh god, I dropped the candle.

Ember 20:26

Maybe we'll save that for the end. Maybe we'll um so okay, so the branches four branches. The election the electoral, electional. Electional. That one's really interesting too. So that's just all about making decisions about things. Yeah, yeah, pretty much. Okay, yeah, I think that is interesting because, like you said, I think a lot of these kind of do come from the natal chart, or you can get some of that information from the natal chart. It feels like I guess, but it that's like a very personal thing, rather. I guess. Yeah, an electional is like down to the minute. It's like what minute should I start this?

Jordan 21:04

Okay. And the birth chart will kind of tell you like what season you should start this.

Ember 21:08

Like reverse engineering your natal chart. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Interesting. And so those are your branches. And then we have talked we haven't really talked about it. We've just mentioned a lot of different traditions in our episodes. And so I wanted to ask, like, what is the difference between a branch and a tradition? And then maybe a little bit about like some of the traditions in like very basic terms.

Astrology Branches vs Traditions

Jordan 21:31

The traditions are like it's it's largely a cultural thing, too. It's like what communities founded different types of astrology, and it kind of gets um attributed back to them. Um, like we have Babylonian or well, Meso Mesopotamian astrology and specifically Babylonian astrology, and then there's Vedic and there's Egyptian astrology and Hellenistic astrology, and those are kind of like the traditions. Um, they all practiced a little bit differently. There's Mayan astrology.

Ember 21:57

Um There's Mayan astrology. Yeah. Um that feels like something I need to look into because that just hit me with like some tingles.

Jordan 22:06

Oh, well, fun fact um Elise Wells on the Sacred Places podcast that I happen to edit has an episode. I feel bad that I can't remember any of their names or the title, but um he the person she interviewed, it wasn't about just Maya Astrology, it was about like the sacred places of Maya of ancient Mayan buildings. But he also he does Maya Astrology.

Ember 22:28

His name is Solomon Pakal. Yeah. Yes, Solomon Pakal, if I'm saying that correctly. Elise and Solomon are lecturing together at Sacred Space Conference. Oh, cool. Okay, yeah, that makes sense. And so how many different traditions? I I was under the impression, like when I think traditions, it was like Hellenistic, Vedic, modern, traditional were like the four I knew.

Jordan 22:55

Yeah, that's that's a good one to dive into. So modern and traditional astrology do not refer to like this conversation of traditions. Oh, really? Mm-hmm. Oh. It's hard, like you know, it's hard to find the words to say it, but I'll just kind of give examples. Like Hellenistic astrology is under traditional astrology. Um, evolutionary astrology, which is another I guess, tradition of astrology, is under modern astrology. So I guess it's kind of like you can take tradition, yeah. Like I guess the overarching one is like the word astrology, modern, and then traditional, all the other things.

Ember 23:30

Where do the and then the branches fall under any? That's a different conversation. That's like they're all okay.

Jordan 23:37

Yeah, like I don't I I actually said this before we started filming. I don't like know too much about the history of electional or horror astrology. I know like mundane astrology has some roots in like there's like the Aries ingress chart and like something that we're not gonna go into. Um, and like kings using mundane astrology to predict something for their country. But as far as like electional and horary astrology, I don't know. Like I wouldn't like not every tradition I'm I uh assume practices all four branches. And I don't know like how old electional and horary astrology is. I feel like electional, just guessing, I feel like electional has to be a little bit newer, has to be more modern, because we didn't have access to like like I imagine it came out when we had like ephemerises that people could just easily have. I don't know. I I don't know that for sure. Okay.

Ember 24:26

Um I'd buy it though, because you said it.

Jordan 24:29

Thanks.

Brief Look into Different Astrological Traditions

Ember 24:32

So, Jordan, can you go a little bit into what some of these traditions are? And like very, very like baseline. Like, I don't even really have a baseline for like what Hellenistic astrology is and what like Vedic astrology is, but I've heard the terms a lot.

Tropical Vs Sidereal Explained

Jordan 24:48

Yeah, and I'm definitely not an expert on any of them, really. Um, and I I would say most people today, like, there aren't a lot of people I think that strictly follow one tradition. A lot of people do a mix of things. It's it's interesting to think if I would consider like modern versions of astrology to be traditions, like I don't know if they're old enough to be traditions, but I guess we can start there. The one that I can think of most immediately for modern astrology is evolutionary astrology. And that is, and again, I'm not an expert on any of these. These are just like my what I the little that I do know about them. My understanding is it's very focused on Pluto, and it's very much like Pluto I don't know, like Pluto is like the planet that is of your soul or something. It's a very spiritual heavy tradition, it's very psychological, and I believe it was founded in like the 60s. My voice is definitely starting to go. Um there's Uranian astrology. This one like is so weird to me. Um, I mean it sounds cool, but I don't I don't know why it's called Uranian astrology. I don't think it actually has to do with Uranus, but it has to do with like oh gosh, like the midpoint of things and using that to predict things better than other versions of prediction. I don't know. So that one's interesting. There are a couple people who like do specifically do uranian astrology. Um never heard these terms before. Yeah, they're not like that. I mean, evolutionary is pretty popular. Um, I don't think uranian astrology is very popular. Evolutionary feels like something I would be into. I that's actually kind of where I started a little bit because I was into modern, like I said, or like everyone I feel like starts in modern. Um so I was doing modern astrology. I don't remember how I got into evolutionary, but I think I was really attracted, I was very attracted to how spiritual it was. And then I got a book on it, and oh, I think I was also really attracted to the fact that it was so much about Pluto, and modern astrology says that I'm ruled by Pluto, so I was like, oh my god, me. Um and then I I read a book on it and I was kind of like, I'm not vibing with it too much, but I am still intrigued by it. Like Adam Allenboss does, I I love how he teaches astrology, and he takes a lot of things from evolutionary astrology, and I like what he does with it. He's very traditional, but he takes some of those roots from it. Then there's Hellenistic astrology, which a lot of people hear about that one. And the word Hellenistic just kind of means like traces back to Greece and Greece, Greek cultural exchange, so it can have to do with like Egypt as well, uh and Mesopotamia. So Hellenic Hellenistic astrology is like the astrology that uh goes back to Greece, ancient Greece, and there's Vedic astrology, which is Indian astrology. The biggest difference is most Western people use tropical astrology, Vedic astrology uses sidereal. And so tropical astrology has to do with the ecliptic path of the sun in the sky. And it doesn't actually have anything to do with where the zodiac signs are, where those constellations are. Sidereal astrology actually follows the constellations and where they are actually located. Have you ever heard that thing? It goes around every so often that's like astrology has changed. Your sun sign is not what it was, not what it used to be. Have you heard that before? Oh yeah. That has to do with sidereal astrology. Which falls under where often Vedic. Vedic. Okay. I think I'm sure other traditions also use sidereal, but it's most well known in Vedic astrology.

Ember 28:21

And we're saying then then you have tropical versus sidereal. And that is also not falling under traditions, right? That's like a separate thing.

Jordan 28:31

Yeah, I think it's it's kind of just like a tradition, a tradition might favor one over the other. Like I think Western astrologers to like I don't think I know I I don't personally know any Western astrologers that use sidereal zodiac.

Ember 28:44

Okay, but sidereal is the one that's actually like where they are in like where the constellations are. That's isn't it crazy?

unknown 28:51

Yeah.

Jordan 28:52

So wait, then what's tropical? Tropical has to do with the sun's path uh along the ecliptic. And it it's more tied to seasons. Tropical. Oh. Um so yeah, sidereal is tied to like where the the constellation literally is, and also the constellations are not all the same size. So like in a birth chart, we give each zodiac sign 30 degrees, but they're not all actually 30 degrees. I think Virgo, if I if I get it right, I think Virgo is like huge, Pisces is really tiny. But sidereal zodiacs will actually give each constellation how how many degrees it is in real life.

Ember 29:28

Well, that feels like it should be that should be how it is, I guess, but that would make it so much harder.

Jordan 29:35

Yeah, it kind of at s at some point we're probably gonna have some kind of conversation or episode about like how does astrology work? Um, because who knows? And also, like, there's tons of theories, but I don't really fall in the camp that that these planets have like invisible rays or force fields that are like energetically influencing us. I don't that one I don't vibe with as much. And I think it kind of all clicked in its place for me once I learned that we don't actually follow the literal zodiac signs, because a lot of it is just it's it's just so different. Because it kind of goes into like it's not all logic. Like it's it's and if anything, maybe like psychological too. Like, I think it's what we make of it. It's it's like the stories and the legends that we have made up with it, and then also the belief that like that this has been like divinely divinated and stuff.

Ember 30:23

I love that. Okay, yeah, this is making a lot of sense. I don't know, I don't know if I'm gonna be able to recall all these, but like you're definitely buzzword terms I've heard, but I'm like I said, like I'm I'm not an expert on any of these. I'm gonna summarize what we've talked about. So we have branches which are going to be different than our traditions. Our traditions are basically like cultural understandings of astrology and studying of astrology, right? Does that seem accurate? Okay. So like Hellenistic and Vedic and evolutionary. Oh, what was that book in evolutionary astrology that you read? Do you think I'd like it? You think our listeners would like it?

Jordan 31:03

Uh, I mean, give it a try. I think it was written by so the guy who founded evolutionary astrology, his name is I think it's John Wolf Green, and this book was written by his daughter. Oh. Yeah. Um, I can't remember what it's called, but you can easily Google it. Do you have it? No, I read it on my Kindle. It's called Evolutionary Astrology. Is it very textbook? Yeah.

Ember 31:26

Or it's it's more like textbooky.

Jordan 31:28

It's definitely not. Have have you read astrological texts before? I wouldn't say this is like your modern witchcraft books. Like this, it's definitely not like that. It's by Deva Green or Deva Green. I don't know how to pronounce her name.

Ember 31:40

So it's boring.

Jordan 31:41

And it's oh, it's titled Evolutionary Astrology, Pluto and Your Karmic Mission. You can just get a sample of it and see if you like it.

Ember 31:47

Yeah. I think a big part, this is like a total side note, but like I'm really trying to figure out how astrology fits into like my spiritual practice because I Where do you feel right now? Oh, you're probably about to go into that.

Jordan 31:59

Like, what do you yeah? Because I I would love to record how you feel now so we can like reflect on it later.

Ember 32:04

Oh, so uh this is gonna like go somewhere. I don't know, but um I definitely appreciate astrology. I love its patterns, I love its connections within each other, I love its connection to the universe and its connections to the elements. Like, there's so many aspects of astrology that I really appreciate and really love. I definitely like appreciate astrology a lot and figuring out where and how I want to utilize it more. Like, I mean, I follow the moon cycles in the different signs. Like, I already do that. I want to have like a better understanding of when these like transits happen and be able to like more understand how they affect me, but also use astrology as a divination tool. Like, I think that's what I want to do.

Jordan 32:54

It'll be cool when we practice a little horrible chart together.

Ember 33:23

What do you think? Yeah, let's do it. Okay, so what so the questions then should I like is it just like anything?

Jordan 33:30

Like I just ask you basically you're gonna ask the question, and then after you finish asking it, I'm going to update, I'm gonna refresh the page, and we'll have our chart to look at with and to divinate with. So, what's your question? Uh so what kinds of questions can I ask? You know, let me again reiterate that like I haven't studied horary astrology. Like, this is me kind of like applying natal techniques to it. So, I mean, I think you can ask anything. Like I said, I asked the question of like, are we gonna find Brendan's glasses? Um, I think you can ask simple yes or no questions. I think you can ask anything. Okay.

Ember 34:05

So I am doing a challenge with a couple of our Coven members. Uh, it's very reminiscent of like the 75 hard, 75 soft soft vibe, but we're all kind of making our own what that looks like, like what the 75 days will look like. And so I would like to know if there's any suggestions on the chart of like what I should include in mine.

Jordan 34:26

Okay. Right off the bat, I'm curious what you pick up on first. It's okay. Take your time.

Ember 34:34

Okay, so we have Mars, the sun. The first thing I went to was the sixth house. That was like what drew my eye first, which is interesting because that is like the house of rituals. So I didn't even like consciously think of that. It just happened more because I saw the sun and Mars there.

Jordan 34:51

And um what I picked up on first that I think was interesting is Jupiter exalted in 11th house, and you're doing this with the coven. So I thought that was fun.

Ember 35:00

Oh, I did also see that. Yeah, I didn't pick up I my eyes went to Jupiter, but I didn't pick up the 11th house.

Jordan 35:06

So I think the first thing I look at as someone who does not practice this is the chart ruler and how that's doing. And so it is in the seventh house in Pisces. And being in seventh house is like a positive thing. Being in Pisces is not a very positive thing. As far as like what you should do. Wait, who's the chart wait, why is this the chart ruler? Oh, because Virgo's the ascendant. Oh. Yeah, so whoever the ascendant, whatever the ascendant is, the planet that rules that sign is your chart ruler. I know you're supposed to also look at the moon because the moon is like the most fast acting, and the moon is in fall right now. But the question wasn't really like if it's gonna go well or not. No. The question was what should I what should I add? And I think like sixth house is health and activity. I think like that's one of those things where like you have to sit with it too, because you know, right before this, we were kind of like having a little conversation about like how long should you do movement for, like, should you commit to? And there's a lot going on in this sixth house. Pluto is there, and then both Mars and Venus are under the beams of the sun, which is not great. Actually, what comes to mind is burnout, because the sun is burning up Mars and Venus. So I think the advice there would be don't burn yourself out. Think of some like don't overcommit.

Ember 36:30

That's a big I think that's a big thing for me, too, because like I think I want to be realistic about this and not I we've talked about in the past how if I have a goal, it's like I'm gonna do it, even if it's gonna like stress me out and not actually be what is nourishing me.

Jordan 36:47

I'm also thinking because the chart ruler is in the seventh house, that you should do something one-on-one with somebody. Like it could literally be your spouse, it could be doing some kind of daily ritual commitment with your husband, but obviously it could be like that one-on-one friendship too.

Ember 37:04

I'll have to ask my partner if he's willing to do some with me. Um, and we keep saying the chart ruler. I just want to mention that's Mercury, right? Yes. Okay.

Jordan 37:12

Because Virgo is the ascendant and Mercury rules Virgo, which we haven't really talked about. We'll talk about that as we get through the signs.

Ember 37:18

Yeah. What's Mercury doing? Mercury's just chilling.

Jordan 37:22

Mercury's in fall. Mercury doesn't like to be in fall, but it's in the house of, like I said, house of spouse. Um, I like to just I know a lot of people who natally have Mercury in Pisces, and I like to I like to describe Mercury in Pisces as like you're very creative, but you really struggle to write to get it into a language that other people can understand. Like it's like you're speaking an alien language. So if any of that resonates with you here, go forth with that.

Ember 37:49

Neptune is at zero degrees of Aries in eighth house, which is like I mentioned, my black boon lilet. That feels this that this transit feels potent for me, but I don't know why yet. So and in this case, we're talking Neptune at zero degrees.

Jordan 38:13

My next question would be why are you doing a 75 soft challenge? Because that will tell me what house we should look into.

Ember 38:20

Because everyone else is doing it. Okay. Some consistent I think some consistency. I think group motivation is very potent for me. Like it works really well, so it's kind of like the momentum is it's the momentum. Like the momentum is building, and I think like having that group momentum together will be very helpful for me to like get back into routines that I may, like movement that I have been wanting to get back down into my foundations of things that like I think I've let go of in the past few months.

Jordan 38:59

Yeah, what keeps coming up for me is like avoiding burnout. Like everything you're saying, I'm like looking back at the chart. This is starting to feel like more personal than like putting this on a podcast. But you're talking about like action and movement, and that's very Mars. But Mars, like I said, is is literally being burnt up by the sun. Yeah.

Ember 39:15

Whoa, this is cool.

Jordan 39:17

What was the other thing I was just about to say? Oh, I was thinking originally I was thinking too about ninth house and like the spiritual connections in this horror chart is ruled by Venus, which is also being burnt up by the sun in the sixth house of health and routine and activities and and doing something and just like the mundane work of things. And I I think the big I like the overarching thing here is like don't burn yourself out. And I'm looking at the Jupiter 2, like I said, which is really cool that it's in the 11th house, it's exalted, but it is retrograde, is kind of like a some significant ticks in the downward position.

Ember 39:48

I think what you're saying resonates a lot, Jordan, and and it kind of plays off of the conversations and my personal history of like committing to these things and pushing myself until I burn out. And so I think that tonight when I'm reflecting on what I actually want to do for my 75, I don't like calling 75 soft. It's just my 75, 75 witch. Um and for my 75 witch, I will reflect on that and make sure that the I think my goal will be to make sure I am committing to things that will feel nourishing.

Jordan 40:24

Yeah. The last thing I do want to mention, I want to talk about your Saturn here, the Saturn here. Because Saturn is the dispositor of all this stuff going on in Aquarius, and it's at an at the anorexic degree right now, and it's in the same house as the chart ruler Mercury. And I'm like, no answer is coming to mind, but I'm thinking about, I don't want to say like avoiding burnout necessarily, but like working through burnout or whatever, through some kind of partnership with someone or people. Maybe that means like leaning on someone more when you're feeling that burnout, like talk about it more or something. Yeah.

Ember 41:04

I think that was really good, Jordan. Thank you.

Jordan 41:06

Yeah, that was fun to play with. I should I should play with that more often. That was fun. I'll just send you questions all the time.

Ember 41:14

I kind of like looking at it together, too.

This or That

Jordan 41:17

I know that was fun. I like seeing what drew your eyes first, too.

Ember 41:21

All right, Jordan, you want to jump into our this or that? Fate or free will? I mean free will. Mundane astrology or a deep natal dive.

Jordan 41:32

Oh, I am still gonna say deep natal dive. If it was, if you didn't say deep, I would have said mundane.

Ember 41:40

A sinistry reading or a birth chart reading?

Jordan 41:42

Oh, we didn't even talk about sinistry readings. I do sinistry readings too. I haven't I haven't like offered them because I'm too scared, but I do sinistry readings too. What was the sinistry in what?

Ember 41:51

Or a birth chart reading.

Jordan 41:54

Still birth chart. I mean, yeah, still birth chart.

Ember 41:56

I've never I really want to do a sinistry reading for me and Trevor. Let's do it. I mean, totally. Um, astrology as a sacred science or an art of science. Art of science, yeah. Reading charts for friends or charts for strangers. For friends. Wait, what are your answers? I want to know what you'd say. Um, free will, natal deep dive. I have never had a sinistry reading, but I'm so interested in that. Mostly because, like I said, I really like to learn about the dynamics between people, and I think sinistry charts would be so cool. So I would love to be able to like look at that in the future. I think astrology is a sacred science. Like, I think it combines the spiritual and the science. Oh, I thought you were gonna say art. Um, you know, what's interesting, like I the reason that wording came up is because I always think of veterinary medicine as an art of science.

Jordan 42:53

I was like, because I think we talked about that in one of these episodes where we talked about how astrology is an art and a science. And then you you taught about the art of medicine.

What's Next!

Ember 43:02

Yeah. And so I do I think resonate more with the sacred, like the divine aspect of astrology as well. So I I don't know, I went back and forth on that. And then um reading charts for friends, because I do not have the uh confidence to read for a stranger right now. Thank you so much for being here with us in the study room. Whether you're just beginning your journey with astrology, starting to utilize it as a tool in your craft, or just curious about the universe, we are so happy you were here to join us. And if you have any comments or questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. The link is in the show notes.

Jordan 43:53

Next episode, we're gonna be jumping into all about the elements and the modalities in astrology. I think we said we were gonna do that for this episode, but we Your mind. We're going to do that next. So we're going to be talking about like the foundations of learning about the zodiacs because the next next episode, we are going to finally start with our deep dive into all the zodiac signs, starting with Aries. And I'm very, very excited about that because that's kind of like the we've said this before, the bread and butter of this podcast. So that's that's what we do best.

Ember 44:19

Yes, I am so excited because I feel like I have relationships with the planets. I actually started re-listening to our podcast. Like I started the sun episode again because I still feel like there's so much I still have these like buzzwords in my head about the planets, but I want to like reconnect with that relationship with them. And I'm really excited to do that with the Zodiac because I do really have like the pop astrology idea of the key themes of most of the signs. And so I want to learn more about them.

Jordan 44:49

What's going to be like beautiful with that too is once you get through the signs, like it's you see how the planets make up the signs, and I think that strengthens your knowledge of the planets, your understanding of the like like when you think of Venus, like Venus is Taurus in Libra, and what does it mean to be Taurus in Libra? That's Venus. Like that's beautiful. Yeah. Oh my gosh, I'm excited. Yeah. This podcast is my practice of asking big questions, uncovering the hidden truth, and creating an accessible space for others to do the same.

Ember 45:16

And I'm so grateful to be learning alongside Jordan and all of you, sharing our resources and diving into what it means to connect with the cosmos. Thank you so much for being part of our journey, and we'll see you back in the study room every other Tuesday.