Down to Astro

The wisdom of Pallas Athena: Her myth, meaning, and strategic impact on your birth chart

Episode 22 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 special episode is entirely dedicated to Pallas Athena — the asteroid and warrior goddess known for her strategic genius. We start by unpacking her many myths, including the famous story of her birth from Zeus’ head, her role in the beheading of Medusa, and her origins in ancient Libya. Then we get into the astro of it all. We break down how Pallas Athena became one of the four asteroid goddesses, and how the archetypal warrior queen manifests in your birth chart. And finally, we look at the charts of major icons with prominent Pallas placements — like Amelia Earhart, Nina Simone, Issa Rae, and Britney Spears — and dig into the ways they each used intelligence, independence, and innovation to their advantage. Ready to enter your strategy era? Pull up your chart in the CHANI app (yes, your Pallas Athena readings have arrived), and welcome Pallas Athena into the chat. Content warning: sexual assault, domestic violence Timestamps: (00:00) - Welcome to Down to Astro episode 22 (00:50) - An introduction to Pallas Athena (11:16) - Mythological origins and evolution of Pallas Athena (23:46) - Pallas Athena’s role in Greek tragedy (25:00) - The complexities of Pallas Athena’s relationship with the patriarchy (27:16) - Athena and the betrayal of Medusa (36:31) - Pallas Athena and the archetype of the virgin goddess (39:12) - Pallas Athena’s astrological significance (41:06) - The astronomy of the asteroid Pallas Athena (45:39) - Amelia Earhart: aviation and Athena on the ascendant (54:15) - Audre Lorde: “poetry is my primary weapon” (01:00:28) - Nina Simone: child prodigy and musical genius (01:13:09) - Diana Ross: international icon and innovato (01:15:17) - Issa Rae: “Insecure” and strategizing in communit (01:21:38) - Miley Cyrus: Pallas vs. Billy Ray Cyrus (01:24:01) - Britney Spears: a legal battle for freedom (01:27:24) - Tina Turner: superstar, sensation, survivor (01:34:12) - Lucy Lawless: TV’s warrior princess (01:43:02) - How to work with Pallas Athena in the CHANI app This episode was recorded on 7/30/2025. For more astrological insights, download the CHANI app [https://app.chani.com/] or follow CHANI on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chani.app/], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@chani.app], and Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/chaniapp.bsky.social]. The song “Midas,” featured in the podcast, was created by NISHA [https://thisisnisha.com/] and is available wherever you listen to music. This episode also mentioned the following creative works: * “Asteroid Goddesses: The Mythology, Psychology, and Astrology of the Re-Emerging Feminine [https://bookshop.org/p/books/asteroid-goddesses-the-mythology-psychology-and-astrology-of-the-re-emerging-feminine-demetra-george/9054693?ean=9780892540822&next=t]” by Demetra George and Douglas Bloch * “Circe [https://bookshop.org/p/books/circe-madeline-miller/15276582?ean=9780316556323&next=t]” by Madeline Miller * “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus * “Hit Me Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears * “Insecure” (2016-2021) TV series created by Issa Rae * “Metamorphoses [https://bookshop.org/p/books/metamorphoses-revised-ovid/14915128?ean=9780140447897&next=t]” by Ovid * “The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl” (2011-2013) Web series created by Issa Rae * “Mississippi Goddam” by Nina Simone * “The Oresteia [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-oresteia-aeschylus/17064505?ean=9780140443332&next=t]” by Aeschylus * “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” (1993) Film directed by Brian Gibson P.S. The transcript for this episode is available here [https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8w9sqczse3dy63n/AAAiPjqplLM5HgQDNc3tc86na?dl=0].

Tina Knowles, Mamdani’s primary win, the Israel–Iran conflict, and more

Episode 21 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 Jupiter’s long-awaited entrance into Cancer (and its recent square to Saturn) have landed IRL. Covering everything from Tina Knowles’ memoir “Matriarch” and the first-ever CHANI Pop-Up to the No Kings protests, the Israel–Iran conflict, and the NYC mayoral race, we look at how the most anticipated astrology of 2025 has manifested in the collective so far. We also reflect on some of 2025’s other milestone astro (hey, Pluto in Aquarius and Neptune in Aries), dig into how those transits have played out historically, and prep for what’s ahead with Uranus in Gemini. These are unprecedented — yet eerily familiar — times, and we’ve got the charts and chats to help make sense of it all. So let’s dive in. Content warning: mentions of sexual predation, genocide, murder, police brutality, and forced pregnancy Timestamps: (00:00) - Welcome to Down to Astro episode 21 (00:41) - Jupiter in Cancer: An era of hope and connection (01:50) - The CHANI Pop-Up: community engagement and collective care (13:26) - The impact of the Saturn square on Jupiter’s abundance (15:32) - Iran’s chart and the Israel–Iran conflict (27:13) - Comparing ancient astrological predictions and current events (30:14) - The growing power of local movements with Jupiter in Cancer (32:53) - ICE protests, No Kings, and the misuse of military force (38:48) - Uranus in Gemini: Historical astrological parallels and predictions (44:27) - Neptune in Aries, NATO’s chart, and redrawing international alliances (54:40) - Mars square Uranus: Israel’s initial strikes on Iran (59:15) - Uranus in Gemini and the US on the brink of war (01:04:30) - The shifting world order and the need for human connection (01:07:40) - The future of intelligence, tech, and critical thinking (01:12:19) - Tina Knowles’ memoir “Matriarch” and the power of art and generosity (01:18:45) - Beyoncé’s Requiem for America (01:25:11) - Ask us anything: What does it mean if I’m in my Neptune square? This episode was recorded on 06/24/2025. For more astrological insights, download the CHANI app [https://app.chani.com/] or follow CHANI on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chani.app/], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@chani.app], and Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/chaniapp.bsky.social]. The song “Midas,” featured in the podcast, was created by NISHA [https://thisisnisha.com/] and is available wherever you listen to music. This episode also mentioned the following creative works: * Ali A. Olomi’s translations from Abu Mashar [https://www.patreon.com/headonhistory] * “Matriarch: A Memoir" by Tina Knowles [https://tinaknowlesbook.com/] * The works of Kelly Surtees  [https://www.kellysastrology.com/] * The works of Nick Dagan Best [https://www.nickdaganbestastrologer.com/] P.S. The transcript for this episode is available here [https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8w9sqczse3dy63n/AAAiPjqplLM5HgQDNc3tc86na?dl=0].

Scorpio Full Moon spotlight: Cassie, ChatGPT, and the Biden cover-up

Episode 20 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 the Full Moon in Scorpio, the Uranus cazimi, and Jupiter’s square to the lunar nodes have manifested IRL. We get into everything from the Democratic cover-up of Joe Biden’s decline to the start of the Diddy trial, the fire at a 166-year-old plantation, and the selection of the new Pope — then we break down how these key astrological events have shown up in the collective. We also look ahead to Saturn’s shift into Aries and unpack what that transit means for anyone entering a Saturn return, or any other significant Saturn transit. We rant. We reflect. We keep it real. There’s a lot to get to, so let’s get going. Content warning: sex trafficking, sexual assault, genocide, slavery, murder, wildfires Timestamps: (00:00) - Welcome to Down to Astro episode 20 (08:56) - Personal stories from the Scorpio Full Moon (15:00) - Political reflections: Joe Biden's Scorpio stellium (21:00) - The Diddy trial: uncovering dark secrets (26:56) - Cassie’s case and the Mars Synodic Cycle (36:44) - Historical parallels: Anita Hill and Cassie (38:16) - Mars cazimi, 1991 and now: South Africa in the news (42:22) - The Full Moon and high-profile trials (44:48) - The importance of centering survivors (48:08) - Saturn, Ceres, and Cassie on the stand (50:42) -  Burning down the past: Neptune and the Nottoway Plantation fire (57:39) - The Scorpio Moon, the Mars–Pluto opposition, and global politics (01:07:39) - Power outages, tech failures, and the Uranus cazimi (01:14:04) - The significance of Jupiter’s square to the nodes of the Moon (01:18:21) - Jupiter, ChatGPT, and the impact of tech in higher education (01:22:44) - The astrology of Pope Leo XIV (01:30:45) - Saturn’s shift into Aries (01:37:40) - Navigating your second Saturn return (01:39:45) - Saturn squares: key Saturn transits in your 30s and 40s (01:41:09) - Upcoming astrological shifts: Saturn in Aries and Jupiter in Cancer This episode was recorded on 5/20/2025. For more astrological insights, download the CHANI app [https://app.chani.com/] or follow CHANI on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chani.app/], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@chani.app], and Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/chaniapp.bsky.social]. The song “Midas,” featured in the podcast, was created by NISHA [https://thisisnisha.com/] and is available wherever you listen to music. This episode also mentioned the following creative works: * Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again [https://bookshop.org/p/books/untitled-0672-penguin-publishing-group/22284058?ean=9798217060672&next=t] by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson * We Do Not Care Club series [https://www.tiktok.com/@justbeingmelani/video/7505405796998516010] on TikTok by @justbeingmelani [https://www.tiktok.com/@justbeingmelani] * Doppelganger [https://naomiklein.org/doppelganger/] by Naomi Klein P.S. The transcript for this episode is available here [https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8w9sqczse3dy63n/AAAiPjqplLM5HgQDNc3tc86na?dl=0].

Mars vs. Pluto: the Pope, Beyoncé, Sinners, and Katy Perry in space

Episode 19 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 about how the Mars–Pluto opposition and new Aries era have landed IRL. Covering everything from the Blue Origin flight to Beyoncé’s birth chart reading, the passing of Pope Francis, and the impact of Sinners’ success at the box office, we look back at how recent planetary power struggles manifested in the collective. Plus, we give a preview of what to expect when Saturn changes signs at the end of May. It’s practical. It’s fun. It’s chatty. And it’s the women x space collab you deserve. Content warning: Vancouver and New Orleans terror attacks Timestamps: (00:00) - Welcome to Down to Astro episode 19 (03:06) - Previous Mars–Pluto predictions: revolution and struggles for power (05:51) - Venus and Neptune in Pisces: women in space (17:59) - Defying authority: the role of judges and the law (20:57) - Violence and tragedy: the Mars–Pluto opposition reflected in recent headlines (31:12) - The impact of Trump on the Canadian election (39:02) - The passing of Pope Francis and its astrological significance (46:17) - Economic turmoil and the role of Uranus (56:30) - The influence of Venus in Aries: the Met Gala (01:01:01) - Cowboy Carter and Beyoncé’s astrology (01:11:20) - Sinners: 1932’s nodal return reflected in cinema (01:20:50) - Ask us anything: the transition to Saturn in Aries (01:24:41) - Imagining a new reality with the upcoming Saturn–Neptune conjunction This episode was recorded on 04/29/2025. For more astrological insights, download the CHANI app [https://app.chani.com/] or follow CHANI on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chani.app/], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@chani.app], and Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/chaniapp.bsky.social]. The song “Midas,” featured in the podcast, was created by NISHA [https://thisisnisha.com/] and is available wherever you listen to music. This episode also mentioned the following creative works: * “The Astrology Podcast” [https://theastrologypodcast.com/2025/03/25/saturn-neptune-conjunctions-in-history/#:~:text=In%20episode%20483%20astrologers%20Chris,important%20turning%20points%20in%20history] hosted by Chris Brennan * “Cowboy Carter” [https://music.beyonce.com/] by Beyoncé * “Cowboy Carter Art Book” [https://shop.beyonce.com/products/cowboy-carter-art-book] by Beyoncé * The New York Times/Siena Survey [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/28/podcasts/the-daily/trump-polling-100-days.html] P.S. The transcript for this episode is available here [https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8w9sqczse3dy63n/AAAiPjqplLM5HgQDNc3tc86na?dl=0].

Witches in the woods, the Canadian election, and Signalgate

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 [https://app.chani.com/] or follow CHANI on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chani.app/], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@chani.app], and Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/chaniapp.bsky.social]. The song “Midas,” featured in the podcast, was created by NISHA [https://thisisnisha.com/] and is available wherever you listen to music. This episode also mentioned the following creative works: * Ali Olomi’s (@aaolomi) X thread [https://x.com/aaolomi/status/1900643480327909689] about the Virgo eclipse * Anxiety [https://open.spotify.com/track/1musbempyJAw5gfSKZHXP9?si=3788dfb697094ec8&nd=1&dlsi=1aa23fc4be5a4aff] by Doechii * “The Editor Who Was Accidentally Texted War Plans” [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1DPd8AFZsbCxpjsWsnscmP?si=dc59151a970543a7] by The Daily * “The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans” [https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/03/trump-administration-accidentally-texted-me-its-war-plans/682151/] by Jeffrey Goldberg for The Atlantic * “These Words Are Disappearing in the New Trump Administration” [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/03/07/us/trump-federal-agencies-websites-words-dei.html] 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 [https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8w9sqczse3dy63n/AAAiPjqplLM5HgQDNc3tc86na?dl=0].