The Astrology Podcast
Host: Chris Brennan
Episode: Analysis of a Prediction: Iran
Date: July 16, 2025
Episode Overview
In this special retrospective episode, Chris Brennan conducts an in-depth analysis of a series of astrological predictions made about escalating conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel – culminating in the dramatic strikes on Iran in June 2025. Chris reviews forecasts made over the previous year on The Astrology Podcast, examining the methods, techniques, and thought processes that led to unusually confident and frequent predictions of war, and how the events actually unfolded. Through audio clips, commentary, and technical discussion, Chris aims both to learn from successes and shortcomings, and to provide listeners with a practical demonstration of astrological prediction in mundane world affairs.
Key Themes and Purpose
- Retrospective Prediction Analysis: Chris aims to "go back and look at the progression of our thinking on that topic and how it evolved over the course of about a year," focusing on the development of the Iran conflict prediction and how different techniques and signals pointed toward escalation ([00:00]).
- Learning and Documentation: A primary motivation is "to learn from it and to try to take some of the best pieces... for others to potentially use in the future" ([00:00]).
- Astrology in World Events: The episode presents a case study of how mundane astrology can track, anticipate, and help understand significant geopolitical developments.
Episode Breakdown: Major Discussion Points and Insights
1. The Genesis of the Prediction: Eclipses and Escalation
Clip from April 2024 Forecast – Episode 446
- Eclipses and Recursive Events: The eruption of violence between Israel and Palestine in Oct 2023, under major eclipses, set a pattern, with the astrologers expecting developments on subsequent eclipse windows ([00:00]–[10:00]).
- Critical Observation: The open missile exchange between Iran and Israel in April 2024 coincided precisely with a set of Aries-Libra eclipses, which Chris interpreted as "an omen and something significant that could develop and progress and escalate," laying the ground for the forecast of further conflict ([03:20]).
"All this makes me nervous, though, because sometimes eclipses represent momentous beginnings that have humble origins."
— Chris Brennan, [10:33]
- Birth Charts of Leaders and Nations: Striking links were found between the natal eclipse placements of Iran's supreme leader (Aries eclipse) and Israel’s Netanyahu (Libra eclipse), with each set of eclipses powerfully activating their leadership and, by proxy, their nations ([10:16]).
2. Following the Eclipse Cycle: Repeated Escalations
Sep–Nov 2024 Forecasts – Episodes 464 & 466
- Escalating Steps: Each subsequent eclipse—Pisces in September, Libra in October—saw new escalations: attacks in Lebanon, assassination of leaders, direct missile launches between Iran and Israel, and the opening of wider conflict ([15:44]–[31:21]).
- Astrological Mechanisms: The repeated activation of Aries/Libra signs was interpreted as symbolic of the direct involvement of Iran (Aries) and Israel (Libra/Netanyahu’s natal placements) ([19:49], [28:45]).
"For whatever reason, the North Node in Aries and then subsequent eclipses... are correlated extremely strongly with assassinations or the sudden removal of heads of state."
— Austin Coppock, [40:49]
- Forecasted Patterns: With each eclipse, the team expected and observed further developments, confirming the reliability of the eclipse-cycle as a predictive tool for world conflict.
3. Technical Tools: Ingress Charts & Historical Repetitions
Key Finding: Aries Ingress for Iran
- Aries Ingress Chart: Austin Coppock’s discovery that the March 2025 Aries Ingress for Tehran put Mars exactly on the Ascendant—a classical indicator of war—echoing the ingress preceding the Iran-Iraq war ([34:55], [62:06]).
"Mars on the ascendant in the Aries ingress chart... is an omen of war and conflict."
— Chris Brennan, [34:35]
- Other Repetitions: Chris also picked up on Saturn-Neptune conjunctions and Mars retrograde loops that matched crucial moments in modern Iranian history (1953 coup, 1978-79 Revolution), arguing for the weight of historical cycles ([66:30], [87:18]).
4. Intensifying Concern: Year-Ahead and Month-by-Month Projections
- Year-Ahead 2025: By late 2024, Chris and Austin had zeroed in on March–April 2025 as the "big one," expecting events of decisive, world-changing magnitude ([40:13], [45:11]).
"I think this eclipse is gonna be really important for geopolitical events because every other eclipse that's occurred in Aries over the past year and a half ... has been a further escalation."
— Chris Brennan, [40:23]
- Additional Planetary Triggers: Besides eclipses and the Ingress, other upcoming factors included Neptune and Saturn ingresses into Aries, Venus and Mercury retrogrades, and, crucially, Uranus entering Gemini (coinciding with previous US “great wars”) ([45:19], [121:21]).
5. Immediate Build-Up and Final Triggers
Spring–June 2025 Forecasts – Episodes 480, 483, 484, 488, 491
- Growing Belligerence: All signs continued to point toward direct US/Iran confrontation through spring, especially after a 60-day ultimatum from President Trump, the gathering of bombers and carriers, and rising threats ([82:34]).
- Mars-Uranus Square as the Spark: The forecast team flagged the Mars-Uranus square of June 14–15 as especially volatile, often a sign of explosions, military or violent surprises, and “combustible” incidents ([106:21]).
"My word for Mars Uranus hard aspects is always combustible... things can easily spark very suddenly and unexpectedly in a Mars related fashion."
— Leisa Schaim, [106:21]
- Result: On June 13, 2025, Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran, followed by tit-for-tat retaliation and then direct US strikes—playing out precisely on the highlighted Mars-Uranus window ([108:24]).
6. Mars Recurrence, Trump’s Chart, and Final Astrological Layers
- Personal-Political Link: Mars' exact return (79-year cycle) to Trump's natal placements occurred in this period, tightly tying the escalation not just to mundane astrology but to the US president’s own chart, including during his birthday and planned military parade ([107:26], [121:21]).
- Historical Cycle Emphasis: Chris connects this Mars cycle to significant moments in US history and underlines the importance of astrological cycles for both individual and national events ([124:07]).
Notable Quotes & Timestamps
-
"Sometimes eclipses represent momentous beginnings that have humble origins."
— Chris Brennan, [10:33] -
"...the Aries ingress chart for Iran...Mars is conjunct the degree of the rising, which is a very strong indicator of not peace."
— Austin Coppock, [34:12] -
"This is the final episode of this is historically correlated very strongly not only with wars for Israel, but also assassinations in general..."
— Austin Coppock, [56:06] -
"When you start seeing indicators wherever you look...I will be very surprised if there isn’t overt military...exchanges with Iran quite soon."
— Austin Coppock, [84:56] -
"Combustible. I think that’s a really good characterization of [Mars-Uranus aspects]...There can be literal explosions, but there can also be metaphorical explosions."
— Leisa Schaim, [106:21] -
"So the predictions started with the eclipses. And you can understand and see why we drew those conclusions...pay attention to things that develop and are connected by the eclipses in six month increments..."
— Chris Brennan, [126:15]
Timeline of Critical Segments
| Timestamp | Segment & Content | |----------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00–10:00 | Intro & Purpose; Origins of the prediction; Eclipses and initial escalation. | | 15:44–34:55 | Echoes at subsequent eclipses; open conflict increases; birth chart activations and historical patterns clarified. | | 34:55–45:11 | Mars on the Ascendant in the Aries ingress for Iran and its historical war correlation; additional indications raise alarm. | | 45:11–62:35 | Year-ahead forecast; more technical details; further cycles involving Uranus, Saturn, Neptune, and lessons from earlier wars and revolutions. | | 82:34–88:05 | March-April 2025; US ultimatum to Iran; escalation of military deployments; ongoing build-up towards an anticipated trigger. | | 95:49–98:29 | Aftermath of the Aries eclipse; delay of actual strike on Iran; identification of Saturn ingress and Mars-Uranus square as likely final triggers. | | 106:21–108:24 | June 2025 forecast; Mars-Uranus square analysis; prediction of "combustible" events and direct reference to global and presidential charts. | | 121:04–126:15 | Final tie-ins—Mars recurrence at Trump's birthday, historical context for the cycles, and meta-analysis of prediction process and what was learned. |
Episode Highlights & Lessons Learned
What the Predictions Got Right
- Timing and Mechanisms: The sequence of major escalations mapped with great accuracy to eclipse cycles and other astrological triggers.
- Historical Repetition: Both national and leader-specific cycles (e.g., Mars, Saturn-Neptune, Uranus) played out in alignment with previous periods of upheaval.
- Technical Innovation: Use of the Aries ingress chart for annual national forecasting demonstrated strong predictive value.
- Composite Analysis: Multiple astrological indicators stacked together increased confidence and allowed unusually precise forecasts.
Shortcomings and Learning Points
- Sometimes, specific final triggers (e.g., Mars-Uranus square) were underrepresented in immediate forecasts, despite being archetypally explosive.
- Recognizing the value of looking for "clusters"—moments where several different factors all converge for maximum likelihood of major events.
Future Considerations for Astrological Forecasts
- Greater emphasis on the significance of historical planetary period repetitions (e.g., Mars’ 79-year cycle).
- Continued documentation of how eclipses and ingress charts affect world events for improved predictive models.
- Monitoring for unexpected connections between individual leader’s charts and national or international developments.
Conclusion
Chris Brennan closes with a reflection on the process of astrological prediction, the need for ongoing documentation and empirical analysis, and encouragement for listeners to learn from the composite approach demonstrated. The episode serves both as a technical masterclass for astrologers and an illustration for the broader public on how astrology interacts with real-world events, particularly in times of escalating global crisis.
Further Listening
- "Uranus Returns and US Wars" (with Nick Dagan Best, 2013 & 2022)
- Year Ahead 2025 Forecast (Episodes 472 & 430)
- July 2025 Forecast Episode for aftermath coverage
Contributors Appearing in Clips:
- Austin Coppock
- Diana Rose Harper
- Nick Dagan Best
- Leisa Schaim
For references, charts, and supporting graphics, visit The Astrology Podcast website.