The Awake Space with Laurie Rivers Podcast

Join the Awake Space to explore how to use astrology in practical and liberating ways!
This week on The Awake Space Astrology Podcast, Laurie tackles the Steven Forrest controversy and addresses the idea that Western Tropical Astrology is exclusionary or a rip off of Vedic. (Find source material links below)
Laurie traces the fascinating development of astrology from ancient Mesopotamia through Greece, India, the Islamic world, medieval Europe, and into modern practice. She explains why Western Tropical and Vedic/Jyotish astrology are distinct traditions, how scholars exchanged knowledge across cultures, and why astrology has always evolved alongside our understanding of humanity.
She also shares why she developed Progressive Evolutionary Astrology, an approach centered on the complexity of human experience rather than rigid binaries, limiting labels, or outdated interpretations.
Plus, Awake Space Magazine Subscriber questions, this week’s Ralph Report, and a look at the August 12 Leo New Moon and solar eclipse.
Chapters
00:00 — Welcome & What’s Ahead
03:49 — The Steven Forrest Controversy
13:15 — Moving Astrology Forward
29:21 — The Real History of Western & Vedic Astrology
47:02 — Mundane Astrology & the U.S. Chart
51:10 — Your Astrology Questions Answered
01:05:00 — The Ralph Report
01:11:01 — August 12 Solar Eclipse & Leo New Moon
Astrology has never existed in a vacuum. It has grown through observation, mathematics, cultural exchange, scholarship, and generations of astrologers asking better questions. This episode explores that history while looking toward what astrology can become next.
Show Links:
July Archivist Report on Laurie's Predictions
Citations: Please note that some information is debated by scholars.
Encyclopaedia Iranica — Horoscope, David Pingree
Encyclopaedia Iranica — Astrology and Astronomy in Iran, David Pingree & Christopher J. Brunner
Encyclopaedia Iranica — Zodiac
Encyclopaedia Iranica — Planets
Bill M. Mak — The Date and Nature of Sphujidhvaja’s Yavanajātaka Reconsidered
Cambridge History of Science — Translation and Transmission of Greek and Islamic Science to Latin Christendom
Please note he was an astrologer (astronomers and astrologers were not separate occupations until the 18th century) https://mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Al-Biruni/
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/cambridge-history-of-science/islamic-astronomy/DBE63FFD4918F948F362A66DE721C022
Plato Tiburtinus who translated Ptolemy into Latin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato_Tiburtinus
Also not mentioned directly in the podcast, but given the Islamic Empire was very vast throughout it's history I decided to look up what might be in Timbuktu which still houses literature that goes back over 1000 years. Here's an article that might be very interesting - remember, there was not division between astronomy and astrology until the 18th century. https://www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-2014-12-02-africas-ancient-astronomers-made-their-mark-in-culture-folklore

August is a month that asks a different question than most of us are used to answering. Instead of asking what's happening out there, it asks: Who are you becoming in the middle of it?
This week, Laurie explores the defining astrology of August 2026 and why the coming planetary shifts; from Venus entering Libra and Mars entering Cancer to the powerful Pisces Full Moon eclipse are less about reacting to the world's chaos and more about examining your own beliefs, motivations, and direction before taking action.
Against a backdrop of political upheaval, economic uncertainty, extreme weather, and constant distraction, Laurie shares practical ways to stay grounded, reconnect with your values, and rediscover meaning without becoming consumed by the collective noise.
Along the way, she pays tribute to legendary astrologer Joanne Wickenburg, whose scholarship and lifelong commitment to observation helped shape Laurie's own approach to astrology and reminds us why thoughtful study matters in an age of opinions and algorithms.
Listener questions cover finding joy in uncertain times, the Uranus opposition and midlife reinvention, protecting your energy, grounding practices, and how astrology can become a practical framework for understanding yourself rather than simply predicting events.
If the world feels louder than ever, this episode is an invitation to go within and challenge yourself to shifting your inner landscape to help shape a life experience worth diving into.
Episode LINKS
July Archives: Accuracy Report
AFA Joanne Wickenburg Books
Consultations with Laurie BOOK HERE

Time Stamps
00:00 – Remembering Joanne Wickenburg and her legacy
07:00 – The teacher who changed Laurie's career forever
18:00 – August astrology: self-examination before reaction
23:00 – Finding meaning and joy during uncertain times
33:20 – Understanding the Uranus opposition and midlife reinvention
37:25 – Astrology Q&A: city charts, eclipses and Saturn returns
43:15 – Protecting your energy and grounding during collective chaos
54:25 – Community updates, August classes, The Ralph Report and what Laurie is watching next

S7 Ep 38 Your host Laurie Rivers walks you through the astrology of August which technically kicks off with the July 29th Aquarius Full Moon.
Show Links: Awake Space Community on Patreon
True or Mean Node? Click for Article
Astrology Consults with Laurie & the astrologers CLICK TO BOOK
The Aquarius Full Moon is one of the most powerful lunations of the year. With Pluto, Jupiter, Uranus, Mars, and Venus all creating intense planetary dynamics, Laurie explains why this is not an ordinary Full Moon and why the days surrounding it could bring historic events, geopolitical escalations, disruptive weather, technology shocks, and major leadership developments.
More importantly, she explores how this same energy can become a catalyst for personal liberation. Rather than reinforcing old limitations, this Full Moon invites you to break through outdated beliefs, reclaim your agency, and use disruption as an opportunity for transformation.
Chapters

00:00 Introduction and overview of the episode
01:24 The cosmic rift: Full moon conjunct Pluto and opposition to Jupiter
02:20 How to navigate the energy of the full moon and upcoming astrological events
05:14 Predictions for August 2026: Environmental, political, and social insights
09:47 The importance of directing your narrative and beliefs
11:02 Managing systemic change: Strengths, community, and discernment
16:53 The significance of local action and self-sufficiency
22:42 Predictions for wildfires, environmental issues, and political shifts
28:50 Using astrology for personal empowerment and systemic liberation
37:35 The shadow concept in astrology and shadow work
40:48 Collective and personal impacts of lunar transits
56:35 The full moon in Aquarius: planetary aspects and global impacts
01:02:01 Potential leadership changes and global upheavals
01:12:45 Practical advice for navigating the energetic chaos
01:15:12 Community, self-care, and grounding practices
01:17:05 Upcoming projects, courses, and community support

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This week, Laurie returns to an audio-only format and shares why simplifying The Awake Space is the right move—for both her and the community. She discusses the future of the Patreon community, the importance of protecting spaces built on trust, and why sustainable teaching matters more than chasing algorithms.
Laurie also dives into the growing trend of AI-generated astrology, explaining why real astrological interpretation cannot be replicated by large language models or automated reports. Finally, she revisits André Barbault's famous "basket" aspect pattern, separating internet mythology from actual mundane astrology and sharing what she believes this week's planetary patterns may bring.
All Member Live Replay on the community changes https://theawakespacepodcast.com/Theawakespace/posts/recorded-live-on-164213350Awake Space Magazine
https://theawakespacepodcast.com/collection/20218
Astrology Consultations
wokeastrology.com/book-online

00:00 Welcome back to audio & why the podcast is changing
02:24 Community changes, Patreon updates & scholarship memberships
03:08 An AI company asks me to review its astrology tool
04:23 Birthday week, visual impairment & returning to what works
05:18 Barbault's Basket: separating astrology from internet hype
06:30 2027 recordings, planner updates & settling in
07:38 Why audio is the format that fits me best
10:03 Building community instead of building a fandom
12:12 Why AI astrology reports don't work
16:16 The 2027 Astrology Planner & applied astrology
18:43 Living by Luna, new websites & what's coming next
20:43 My response to an AI company asking for free expertise
27:03 Why AI cannot replace a professional astrologer
31:08 Setting boundaries around free labor and expertise
34:11 What is Barbault's Basket really?
36:45 The planetary pattern behind the July 19–20 Basket
41:16 Leadership, power & what this cycle could bring
43:21 Saturn-Pluto cycles, history & preparing for 2028
47:25 Why community matters more than followers
49:47 What I expect this week astrologically
52:44 Recent prediction highlights & weekly forecast accuracy
54:55 Focus on yourself, not the panic
57:20 Birthday month, community invitation & closing thoughts

S7 Ep 37 - I clutch my pearls after ending up on the wrong side of TikTok
This week I'm back in the studio after the 2027 Predictions & Preparation event, and one thing became crystal clear: 2027 doesn't feel like the explosive years we've been through. It feels like a year of revelations, consequences, and long-running stories reaching completion.
We also explore Mercury Retrograde in Cancer and why this isn't about getting trapped in the past. It's an invitation to notice what has become stable, what still needs attention, and the stories we keep telling ourselves.
Join The Awake Space Community for exclusive content and resources - https://www.patreon.com/c/TheawakespaceAstrology of the Child: 3 part lecture series

Why July's astrology points toward a completion cycle that extends into 2027
What Mercury Retrograde in Cancer is really asking of us
Leadership changes, hidden truths, and why some masks may begin to fall
Why literacy, discernment, and critical thinking matter more than ever
The difference between facts and the stories we build around them
A personal lesson about healing PTSD by refusing to create unnecessary narratives
My thoughts on CERN, timeline shifts, and why collective consciousness is more powerful than conspiracy theories
Three simple questions to help you regulate your nervous system during stressful times
An introduction to Living by Luna and how working with lunar rhythms builds agency instead of fear
A preview of Astrology of the Child and why understanding children's perceptions changes everything

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