This week, we have some turbulent transits influencing the cultural landscape (which we’ve been feeling since early June, making this a significant and climactic month) — a Mars/Uranus square shakes things up on Sunday, leading us into Jupiter forming a square to the ongoing Saturn/Neptune conjunction. We also have a sprinkling of supportive transits to help us navigate the week’s larger astrology, plus Mars (finally) enters Virgo until early August! Subscribe to my newsletter, Black Cat Press: ...
Jun 15, 2025•39 min
In this week’s episode, we dive into the week’s abundance of harmonious astrology, including a sparky sextile between Mercury and Mars and a lovely synergy between Venus and Jupiter. Subscribe to my newsletter, Black Cat Press: https://open.substack.com/pub/alimurray?r=tsu5l&utm_medium=ios
Jun 02, 2025•22 min
Happy New Moon in Gemini! This one receives a supportive boost from Pluto, Neptune, Saturn and Mercury, serving as the ideal moment to cultivate a new mantra or initiate a fresh perspective. Mercury is the main character of several other transits this week, so get ready for a buzzy, social and communicative week! Subscribe to my newsletter, Black Cat Press: https://open.substack.com/pub/alimurray
May 25, 2025•29 min
Happy Full Moon in Scorpio! In this week’s episode, we’re unpacking this week’s cathartic lunar transit, plus a Sun/Uranus conjunction shaking things up this weekend! Subscribe to my newsletter, Black Cat Press: https://open.substack.com/pub/alimurray
May 12, 2025•27 min
This week’s astrology features a tense Pluto station and an anxiety-inducing Mercury/Chiron conjunction — thankfully, we have a number of lovely transits to support us with problem-solving, building rapport and centering authenticity (plus, Mercury ingresses into Taurus!) Subscribe to my newsletter, Black Cat Press: https://open.substack.com/pub/alimurray
May 04, 2025•31 min
In this week’s episode, we’re discussing today’s New Moon in Taurus (square the Mars opposition to Pluto), Venus re-entering Aries and immediately forming a conjunction to Neptune over the weekend! Subscribe to my newsletter, Black Cat Press: https://open.substack.com/pub/alimurray
Apr 28, 2025•25 min
In this week’s episode, we’re talking about the Mercury/Pluto Opposition (square the sun), along with the Venus/Saturn/North Node conjunction (and a few helpful transits which will support us along the way.) Subscribe to my newsletter, Black Cat Press: https://open.substack.com/pub/alimurray
Apr 21, 2025•1 hr
Happy Venus direct! We’re basking in the afterglow of Saturday’s Chironic Full Moon in Libra, while Mercury’s third trine to Neptune sets a dreamy, nebulous tone for our week (and possibly brings something back up from the retrograde — this time, to move us in the direction of resolution.) The weekend features a helpful Mars trine to Neptune, and Mars/Mercury slide back into the signs they turned retrograde in (it’s also officially Taurus Season as of this weekend, adding a vibe of grounded stab...
Apr 12, 2025•32 min
We have a lot happening this week astrologically, beginning with a series of transits to Venus retrograde and leading into a Full Moon in Libra this weekend. Mercury and Venus station direct this week, and at the beginning of the episode, we briefly discuss the larger transits of Neptune in Aries (as of last week) and the ongoing sextile of Saturn and Uranus (in play until later in the month.) Subscribe to my newsletter, Black Cat Press: https://open.substack.com/pub/alimurray...
Apr 06, 2025•52 min
We’ve got a TON happening this week astrologically, from Venus and Mercury Retrograde conjunct Neptune to Mars square Chiron and a Solar Eclipse in Aries over the weekend. We’re unpacking all of it in today’s episode! Subscribe to my newsletter, Black Cat Press: https://open.substack.com/pub/alimurray?r=tsu5l&utm_medium=ios
Mar 23, 2025•52 min
Happy Ostara! 🐣 We’re celebrating spring’s arrival here in the Northern Hemisphere with the Vernal Equinox, marked by the sun’s entrance into Aries on Thursday. We’re unpacking the astrological significance of this event, along with Wednesday’s Sun/Neptune conjunction (which colors the whole week with a vibe of dreamy mysticism and mental fog), and Venus Retrograde sextile Pluto and conjunct the sun over the weekend! Subscribe to my newsletter, Black Cat Press: https://open.substack.com/pub/ali...
Mar 16, 2025•45 min
This week, we have a sun/Saturn conjunction AND a Mercury/Venus conjunction to reconcile with — plus a Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Virgo this weekend. Subscribe to my newsletter, Black Cat Press: https://substack.com/@alimurray?r=tsu5l&utm_medium=ios
Mar 10, 2025•58 min
It’s officially Venus retrograde! As Mercury takes his first steps through the pre-retrograde shadow zone and enters Aries on Monday, pay attention to what’s seeded this week (as it’s setting the tone for the upcoming Mercury Retrograde, March 15th — April 7th.) Especially around Sunday March 2nd (when Mercury forms the first conjunction to Neptune) any communication glitches, overlooked details or inaccurate reveals are likely to resurface or prove more significant throughout the retrograde. Th...
Mar 02, 2025•37 min
Mars turns direct this week…just as Venus turns retrograde until April 12th. In this week’s episode, we’re discussing both of these transits along with Tuesday’s Mercury/Saturn alignment and an optimistic New Moon on Thursday. Subscribe to my newsletter, Black Cat Press: https://open.substack.com/pub/alimurray
Feb 23, 2025•48 min
This week’s astrology forecast is short & features only a couple transits, including a Mercury square to Jupiter and the sun entering Pisces. If you’ve been sleepy, sensitive, emotional and having vivid dreams, you’re picking up on all the Pisces energy this week (a nice break from last week’s fixed full moon!) We also discuss the moment’s Neptune conjunction to the North Node in the sign of the fish (exact at the beginning of the month but in play until March.) Subscribe to my newsletter, B...
Feb 16, 2025•27 min
We have an active week astrologically, beginning with a number of supportive aspects on Sunday (but Mercury conjunct Pluto complicates things mid-week.) A New Moon in Aquarius on Wednesday supports manifestation and wish-making, while Venus slips into her pre-retrograde shadow zone and conjuncts dreamy Neptune later in the week. Subscribe to my newsletter, Black Cat Press: https://open.substack.com/pub/alimurray
Jan 26, 2025•45 min
It’s Aquarius Season, witches! And we have an active week in the cosmos, beginning with two lovely Mercury transits and ending with a supportive Mars trine to Venus. On Tuesday, the sun conjuncts Pluto, overlapping with Mercury square Chiron. We’re in for a bit of a ride! Subscribe to my newsletter, Black Cat Press: https://open.substack.com/pub/alimurray?r=tsu5l&utm_medium=ios
Jan 19, 2025•1 hr 12 min
In this week’s episode, we’re discussing a passionate Full Moon in Cancer on Monday, a productive sun/Mars Opposition mid-week, Venus conjunct Saturn over the weekend (an opportunity to bring structure and organization to our relationships, wellness and finances) and much more! We have a packed week astrologically, so you don’t want to miss this episode. Subscribe to my newsletter, Black Cat Press: https://open.substack.com/pub/alimurray?r=tsu5l&utm_medium=ios
Jan 13, 2025•58 min
It’s our first full week of 2025 and while we’re still in the churn of Mars Opposite Pluto, it’s a relatively quiet week astrologically. Mars backtracks into Cancer to finish out his retrograde, stirring primal feelings of vulnerability and (potentially) defensiveness, and Neptune casts a glamorous fog over our critical thinking skills this week when the shamanic planet forms a tense square to Mercury. Later in the week, Mercury enters Capricorn for the rest of the month — an excellent time to o...
Jan 05, 2025•20 min
In this week’s episode, we’re unpacking the astrology of the last week of 2024 (and the first week of 2025) — and there’s a lot to discuss! We have a tense Mars-Pluto Opposition mid-week (activating dormant resentment and general and unrest), but a stabilizing New Moon on Tuesday makes this the perfect week to set intentions for the next 12-month cycle. Subscribe to my newsletter, Black Cat Press: https://open.substack.com/pub/alimurray?r=tsu5l&utm_medium=ios
Dec 30, 2024•57 min
In this week’s episode, we’re unpacking the astrology from December 22nd — December 28th, 2024. We begin the week with a lovely sextile between sensual Venus and complex Chiron, a gentle invitation to feel seen, known and accepted. Mid-week, we have our second square of the year between Jupiter and Saturn, a larger influence promoting many of us to restructure our boundaries and/or our ability to be spontaneous (and possibly bringing up themes from August of this year. ) Later in the week, Mercu...
Dec 23, 2024•59 min
This week, we have a number of supportive transits although the chatter amongst the planets remains quiet. We have the sun trine Chiron on Tuesday — a supportive opportunity for a moment of healing and confidently engaging with activation — and later in the week, Venus opposes Mars retro and forms a sextile to Mercury (whose also currently retrograde.) Subscribe to my newsletter, Black Cat Press: https://open.substack.com/pub/alimurray
Dec 09, 2024•27 min
In this episode, we’re unpacking the astrology of the week of December 1st, starting with a pragmatic yet productive New Moon in Sag on Sunday, squaring Saturn and trine vivacious Mars. It’s a climactic week for Mercury Retrograde — the Trickster God stations direct on December 15th, but much of the mayhem is likely to happen THIS week if it’s going to. With the Mercury Jupiter Opposition, exact on Wednesday December 4th, our words hold weight this week, and information circulates rapidly (and s...
Nov 30, 2024•1 hr 16 min
In this episode, we’re breaking down the astrology for the week of November 24th, starting with Mercury turning retrograde on Tuesday the 25th until December 15th in Sagittarius. Mid-week, a challenging Venus transit to Chiron actives our core wounding around our sense of self-worth, relationships and/or finances, but a supportive sun/Mars trine provides the energy and empowerment we can lean into to navigate it. Over the weekend, we have the final days of the moonwane — aka the Dark Moon. First...
Nov 24, 2024•38 min
This week is a MOMENT! Pluto enters Aquarius on Tuesday, marking the climactic beginning of a new era which brings us into 2044 (if you’re feeling a little anxious or uneasy this week, you’re not alone. The first few months of Pluto in Aquarius will be challenging — the Underworld God opposes Mars on and off through May of ‘25, leading to turbulence and tension — but as Pluto gets settled later in the year, the intensity will start to dissipate!) On Monday, we have the first of three oppositions...
Nov 17, 2024•57 min
In this episode, we’re diving into the astrology for the week of Sunday, November 10th to Saturday the 16th of 2024. Venus enters stately Capricorn for the month and on Tuesday, Mercury squares Saturn in the shadow of their retrograde (and just as Saturn prepares to move direct on Friday, coinciding with our first post-election FM on the 15th.) Friday’s Uranian Full Moon intensity carries us into the weekend with an Opposition between the Scorpio Sun and Uranus in Taurus, stirring restlessness a...
Nov 10, 2024•54 min
In this episode, we’re discussing the astrology for the week of Sunday, Nov 3rd. This includes a tense opposition between Mars and Pluto, stirring conflict and building momentum toward something to be developed more fully in the spring of 2025. Mars moves into Leo until January, shifting the dominant element in the cosmos from primarily water to fire, and Venus forms several aspects this week including a supportive trine to Chiron and an opposition to Jupiter (plus a square to Neptune later in t...
Nov 03, 2024•51 min•Season 1Ep. 48
We’re trying something new this week! In this episode, I’m breaking down the astrology from Wednesday the 25th to Tuesday October 1st, transit-by-transit. We’ve got Mercury Opposite Neptune casting a veil of mental fog over the week, but thankfully, Mercury trine Pluto brings intuitive insight and psychic-level tracking skills. We finish the weekend with a burst of clarity and illuminating dialogue with Mercury conjunct the Sun on Monday the 30th, and if you have to deal with a Saturnine dilemma...
Sep 25, 2024•47 min
In this episode, we talk about the moon in the birth chart by aspect to the inner and outer planets. We discuss how the moon in aspect to each planet benefits from self-care, in both theory and practice, as well as how it hints at the early developmental experience and shapes our needs, drives and instincts. Email me at: thesmartwitchpodcast@gmail.com and follow me on instagram @thesmartwitch. And click here to subscribe to my newsletter: https://open.substack.com/pub/alimurray?r=tsu5l&utm_m...
Nov 30, 2023•1 hr 51 min•Season 2Ep. 46
In this episode, we dive deeply into the moon in the birth chart as the primary tool for understanding our deep self and achieving a sense of internal wellness. We go through how the moon manifests in the birth chart through the lens of each of the 12 signs, and then unpack this energy by house placement. This is a long one so grab a warm beverage, your birth chart and prepare for a deep immersion into your moon! Email me at: Thesmartwitchpodcast@gmail.com and click here to subscribe to my newsl...
Nov 01, 2023•2 hr 35 min•Season 2Ep. 2
