Archetypes and the Planets

In this episode, we look at the astrological ages as a giant mirror for the human psyche. We dive into the precession of the equinoxes, that 26,000-year cycle that slowly drags the spring equinox across the zodiac and rewires our mythologies in the process. We also apply Carl Jung’s psychological theories and the heavy-duty research from Hamlet’s Mill to figure out where we find ourselves now. We...

In this episode we examine how translation influences meaning across psychological and spiritual traditions. We discuss examples from religious and historical texts, consider the work of Giordano Bruno and Frances Yates, and reflect on “masculine” and “feminine” as symbolic principles shaping human experience. Books Mentioned:   James Hollis Under Saturn’s Shadow Frances Yates Giordano Bruno and t...

In this episode, we dive into the hidden mathematical and geometric architecture of the cosmos. Inspired by the work of John Addey, we look at "Harmonic Astrology," which moves away from static house divisions toward a dynamic, wave-based view of the birth chart. We also explore the wonderful book by John Martineau--A Little Book of Coincidence: In the Solar System. Is the universe a machine or a...

In this episode, we break down the mythology, music, and philosophy of Richard Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde ahead of the Metropolitan Opera’s production this month. We trace the myth to its 12th-century Celtic roots and examine its psychological meaning using the work of Joseph Campbell and Robert A. Johnson. We detail how Wagner applied Arthur Schopenhauer’s philosophy to create the "Tristan chord...

In this episode, we examine the approaching Saturn–Neptune conjunction in Aries as a way to ask how cultures shape their myths, maps and collective identities using Spain as an example. We begin with Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl moment reclaiming “the Americas,” then explore how recurring Saturn–Neptune cycles echo through history in the blurring of borders, the collapse of old narratives, and the strug...

In this episode, we pick up from where we left before, tracing the thread running through science, symbolism, and human meaning. We return to the Pauli-Jung connection, Kepler’s mathematics, Fludd’s rejected cosmology, and the ancient Goal-Year cycles that linked planetary motion to deep time. We revisit Jung's notion that number acts as an ordering principle across cultures and discuss how ideas...

In this epidose, we explore the hidden bridge between psyche and matter through the extraordinary meeting of analytical psychology and quantum physics. At its center is the unlikely dialogue between Carl Jung and a Nobel Prize–winning physicist whose inner life, dreams, and obsessions revealed that the unconscious does not stop at the edges of the mind. Drawing on Marie-Louise von Franz’s work, we...

In this episode we explore ancient Babylonian star lore as a synchronistic “heavenly writing” that links sky and earth through meaning rather than physical causation, drawing on the work of scholars like Francesca Rochberg and Gavin White’s book Babylonian Star-lore. These works allow us to connect Babylonian ideas about constellations, portals of the dead, and ancestral sky myths with Jung’s noti...

In this episode, we trace how the Romantic era still shapes inner life and culture, moving from Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley to Frankenstein and Guillermo del Toro’s new film to ask what they reveal about technology, AI, and the rejected “other.” We follow the radical lives and charts of Wollstonecraft and Shelley, reading Frankenstein as a warning from a mechanistic worldview that exiles...

In this episode of Archetypes and the Planets, we follow Hermes’ trail through history to rethink what Uranus in Gemini (c. 2025–2033) might signal. Instead of focusing on geopolitics, we track Mercurial patterns: dialogue, translation, dispersal of knowledge, trickster authorship, and sudden cross-pollination between disciplines. Stops on the journey include Plato’s formative years amid the Pelop...

In this episode, we explore James Hillman's book The Soul's Code, focusing on Hillman's "acorn theory," which posits that individuals are born with the full potential for their unique gifts—much like an acorn contains the pattern of an oak tree. We contrast this with compensatory psychological theories and argue that Hillman offers a more empowering perspective on adversity. The conversation also...

In this episode we explore how writers—those mythic figures of our cultural psyche—embody astrological archetypes. From the enigma of Shakespeare’s authorship to the Neptunian dreamscapes of García Márquez, we ask: what patterns recur in the charts of those whose words reshape worlds? Jenny dives deep into the Shakespeare authorship debate through the lens of astrology, comparing the birth charts...

In this episode, we explore how eclipse placements and Scorpio themes in the British Royal Family’s charts reveal patterns of duty, sacrifice and buried tensions. We then turn to Tim and Jeff Buckley, tracing recurring astrological signatures of grief and abandonment back to their Irish immigrant roots and the trauma of the Potato Famine. By mapping family charts together, we uncover how generatio...

Do you ever wonder how your family’s past might quietly shape your destiny? In this episode we delve into ancestral patterns hidden in astrology charts. From repeating family dramas to generational secrets and trauma, we explore how becoming aware of these unseen influences can empower you to rewrite your story. Tune in to discover how your ancestors' stories live on--and how you can consciously c...

In this episode, Béa and Jenny consider the definition of “psychological astrology” and revisit a classic by Dr. Liz Greene, “Barriers and Boundaries: The Horoscope and the Defenses of the Personality.” What does each sign or planet fear most, and what are its defenses against these primal fears? How are such defenses adaptive, even creative, and when do they cross the line into pathology or self...

In this episode, Jenny and Béa discuss dreamwork—how to get started, what to do if dream recall is challenging, and the catalytic role of dream groups in enriching our engagement with the unconscious. We look at vivid dream symbols that are rooted in powerful natal astrological placements as well as world transits. Finally, Jenny chats with John Temple, a dedicated student of Jung and creator of t...

In our latest episode, we explore the life and work of one of Carl Jung’s greatest students and collaborators, Marie-Louise von Franz. We examine von Franz's considerable contributions to Jungian psychology, particularly in the areas of alchemy, fairy tales, and dream interpretation. We analyze von Franz's birth chart and look at her synastry with Jung. Additionally, we take a brief look at von Fr...

In this episode we discuss the life and work of Emma Jung, Carl Jung's wife, challenging common misconceptions about her role in his career. We explore Emma Jung's contributions to Jungian psychology, particularly her research on the Grail myth, highlighting her intellectual independence and significant impact on his theories. Using their birth charts to guide us, we explore the complexities of th...

In this episode we discuss various issues related to astrological predictions regarding the outcome of the 2024 elections, including failed predictions, technique, philosophy, and ethics. Why do we seek certain knowledge of outcomes, and is this what astrology is “for?” Are we called to commit to our best guesses, as in dream interpretation? Our conversation ranges into speculation about Pluto’s e...

In The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious, CG Jung wrote: "[I]n all chaos there is a cosmos, in all disorder a secret order, in all caprice a fixed law, for everything that works is grounded on its opposite”. In this episode, we discuss Dr. Bernadette Brady's book, Cosmos, Chaosmos and Astrology. This book explores the evolution of astrology from its origins in ancient creation myths to its...

In this episode, we welcome Anita Ashland to discuss the connections between the Jungian typological model and the birth chart. Our conversation delves into the various typologies, with special emphasis on the "inferior function" - a critical aspect that simultaneously exposes our vulnerabilities and unlocks our potential for personal development. The books we mention include: Marianne Meister, Th...

We're back after a short summer break exploring lunar cycles and their relationship to broader planetary movements. We examine the Moon's role in progressed charts, highlighting the significance of progressed Sun-Moon conjunctions that mark new 29-year cycles. Our discussion draws on insights from Dane Rudhyar, Robert Blaschke, Esther Harding, Nor Hall, and Irene Claremont de Castillejo.

In this episode, we explore dreams from both ancient and modern perspectives. We discuss how dreams can be viewed subjectively and objectively, considering personal experiences alongside universal symbols. We also look into possible connections between astrological elements and dream content. The conversation covers the potential healing effects of dreams and how they might aid in emotional proces...

In this episode, we delve into the impact of illness on the narrative of one’s life by examining the contributions of Marion Woodman and Monika Wikman. Both are Jungian analysts whose extensive commentary on the topic stems from their own paths to healing. Particularly noteworthy is Woodman’s focus on the body, marking her as a key figure in the dramatic integration of this theme into broader disc...

In this episode we take a look at the phenomenon of projection through the lens of the birth chart. Projection is a term increasingly being thrown around in the current political climate but what is it exactly? Why do we project and how do we retrieve our projections? Books mentioned include: 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘦-𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘗𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺, Marie Louise von Franz; 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵, James Hollis...