Conversations with the Planets

So often, the conversation around the tropical and sidereal zodiac is framed as an either/or debate about which zodiac is "better." In this podcast episode, Lori Kaufman and Alicia Cielle Heiser are joined by fellow astrologer Cameron Cassidy to discuss the importance of using BOTH the sidereal and tropical zodiac. We go over the philosophical differences underpinning each zodiac, as well as the c...

Engaging with planetary magic helps to build relationship with planetary deities and herbalism is a great way to incorporate multiple aspects of an archetype into your work. In this podcast episode, astrologers Lori Kaufman and Alicia Cielle Heiser (who is also an herbalist) discuss how to incorporate simple herbal practices into your astrological magic. We dig into herbs and strategies related to...

A special Saturn's day bonus post to share some insights into the Saturn in Aries transit that just recently began. Saturn recently moved into Aries on May 25, 2025 which is a significant collective shift for us all. In this podcast episode, astrologers Alicia Cielle Heiser and Lori Kaufman unpack what this Saturn in Aries transit means for you personally. We delineate how Saturn in Aries feel...

The mythology of Orpheus goes deep and working with the asteroids can be a wonderful way to ground our birth charts into the mythic stories we embody throughout our lives. In this podcast episode, astrologers Alicia Cielle Heiser and Lori Kaufman are joined by their friend and fellow astrology Matthew Oliver, the founder of Still Water Alchemy, to discuss the mythology and astrology of Orpheus. We...

The goddess Artemis was one of the most widely worshipped and revered deities in Ancient Greece. A virgin goddess associated with wilderness, frenzy, the Moon, childbirth, illness and healing, maidenhood, the protection of young women, dogs, stags and bears, Artemis can also speak to queerness and the power of belonging to ourselves and honoring our own individual needs. In this podcast episode, a...

Purchase Alicia's Personal Astrology Mapping Workshop ⁠ to learn how to work with astrological timing in a personalized way that is easy to apply in your day-to-day life: In this podcast episode, astrologers Alicia Cielle Heiser and Lori Kaufman discuss annual profections, one of the most popular timing techniques in the Hellenistic period. This technique helps identify what life topics are hi...

Pilgrimage is a profound way to travel in honor of the sacred and liminal. In this podcast episode, astrologers Alicia Cielle Heiser and Lori Kaufman chat with our teacher Jason Holley about a pilgrimage to Greece that he recently organized in which we participated. We discuss the importance of being in relationship with land, deities, animals and humans to move into generative ways of being rathe...

Just like staying at your buddy's place can be nicer than staying in a rental hosted by a stranger, having planets in mutual reception with each other can provide support and resourcing that can strengthen the condition of a planet. In this podcast episode, astrologers Alicia Cielle Heiser @aliciacielle and Lori Kaufman @lorik_127 discuss mutual reception in a birth chart. We go over how to id...

Understanding the nuance of each degree in the Zodiac can provide insight when looking at the condition of a planet. This episode goes into why knowing the degrees of your planets and angles improves your astrological analysis. In this podcast episode, astrologers Lori Kaufman @lorik_127 and Alicia Cielle Heiser @aliciacielle discuss anaretic degrees, exaltation degrees and how degrees play into t...

Having a planet in their own bounds can be a secret superpower that greatly strengthens the planet’s ability to bring about positive significations in your life. Like being a teacher in a classroom, a planet’s bound lord sets the terms and rules for the conditions under which the planet can operate.  In this podcast episode, astrologers Alicia Cielle Heiser and Lori Kaufman discuss the significanc...

Just as our lives are nuanced, the condition of each planet in our chart requires the consideration of multiple factors. When a planet has triplicity strength, it is stronger and more capable of bringing about positive significations for the life of an individual. Tangibly, this can show up as community support in relation to the topics the planet is in charge of in your chart.  In this podcast ep...

When a planet is in fall, it is in the sign opposite of its place of exaltation and can struggle with reputation and visibility. It is in an environment contrary to its essential nature and often can act in ways different than what society expects. This can bring difficulties for someone’s life, but there are also benefits with having a planet that doesn’t express themself the way society expects...

While there is a lot of discussion about the difficulties that can arise with a planet in detriment, there can be many benefits with having a planet that doesn’t express themself the way society expects them to. In this podcast episode, our good friend Hannah Piper Burns joins us again to continue our discussion of essential dignity. When a planet is in detriment, they are in a sign opposite from...

Assessing the dignity of a planet is a key component of traditional astrology. When a planet is exalted, its reputation is raised up and it is given resources to better bring about its significations. In this podcast episode, we explore what exaltation means with our good friend Hannah Piper Burns. This episode is good for beginning and advanced astrologers alike. We go over: The nuance between ex...

Like being a custodian or landlord of the land you inhabit, a planet in their own sign has the power and resources to bring about their own significations. In this episode, astrologers Alicia Cielle Heiser and Lori Kaufman discuss the significance of having a planet in domicile and go over the Thema Mundi, an ancient teaching tool and the birth chart of the world, to explore the significations of...

In this episode, we discuss the mythology and astronomy of Okyrhoe, the daughter of Chiron and Chariklo. A literal centaur in astronomy, those who have the asteroid Okyrhoe placed prominently in their birth chart may live out her mythology throughout the course of their life. Okyrhoe can speak to prophetic abilities and the consequences of fate. She is a lesser-known mythic being who is important...

It's so important to take small moments throughout the day to check in with yourself and tend to your needs. There are many ways to approach self care - astrology can provide insight to guide you to effectively sooth and support yourself. In this episode, we chat with Devon Heyn, the host of the It's All Magic podcast . We discuss different places you can look in the birth chart to support...

Herbalism and astrology are both incredible tools to bring more health, vitality and harmony into your life. Working with these two symbiotic modalities allows us to weave together the power of the land and skies. In this podcast episode, Senami Morris joins Alicia Cielle Heiser and Lori Kaufman to give tips and insight on how we can use herbalism and astrology to care for our nervous systems. We...

The myth of Cassandra is a powerful allegory for the importance of listening to and believing women and the consequences that can come when we don't. Taylor Swift's latest album includes a song titled "Cassandra" that provides opportunity to reflect on how this ancient myth is still sadly relevant in modern life. In this podcast episode, astrologers Alicia Cielle Heiser and Lori...

Astrologically, asteroids that are placed prominently in our birth charts serve as beacons to the mythic stories we embody in our lifetimes. In this podcast episode, astrologers Lori Kaufman and Alicia Cielle Heiser discuss the mythology of Rhea (Kronos's wife) and Chariklo (Chiron's wife). While their husbands are more well-know, these two powerful women add depth and dimension to ancient...

Astrology and music are two fields that have always been inextricably related. When you look back across ancient histories, the boundaries between these two lineages begin to dissolve. In this podcast episode, Elias Romero Hampton chats with Alicia Cielle Heiser and Lori Kaufman about the parallels between astrology and music. We discuss the difference between solar and lunar ways of being and how...

Were you born during the day or night? This simple distinction can have a big influence on how your birth chart and life unfold. Do you embody a more solar or lunar way of being, and how does that show up in your life? Is Jupiter your greatest helper, or do you vibe more to the rhythms of Venus? Sect is a central technique in ancient Hellenistic astrology and a very simple approach that you can st...

Sharing stories is a powerful way to bring the magic of the asteroids to life. In this episode, astrologers Hannah Piper Burns, Lori Kaufman and Alicia Heiser talk about the mythic story of Icarus. From acrobatics to burnout, we discuss the ways that the myth of the man who flew too close to the Sun lives on in modern times. This episode builds on material we discussed in our  ⁠⁠Asteroids 101 epis...

One of the most impactful ways to work with asteroids astrologically is to use them to determine which mythic stories you embody in your lifetime. Storytelling can be a deeply healing experience that connects us backwards and forwards across time through the lineage of oral tradition. In this episode, astrologer Hannah Piper Burns talks about the mythic story of Philomela who weaves the grief of h...

A very special episode all about LOVE! In this podcast, we talk about the Love Card system, the relationship between Venus and Saturn, the differences between Taurus and Libra, and the psychic powers of the number 6. Astrologers Lori Kaufman and Alicia Cielle Heiser interview Lilla Dent about the Love Card system (also called the Destiny Cards). We talk about how these systems are similar and diff...