The Astrology Podcast – "The War Begins" (March 7, 2026) Host: Chris Brennan | Guest: Nick Dagan Best

Episode Overview

In this episode, Chris Brennan, joined by astrologer Nick Dagan Best, explores the astrological signatures surrounding the dramatic escalation into open war between the US/Israel and Iran—including the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader just days before a lunar eclipse. They analyze long- and short-term planetary cycles, the remarkable recurrence of pivotal eclipses, and what these astrological dynamics suggest for the future. The discussion delves into historical patterns, predictive astrology, and the continued resonance of ancient astrological observations in contemporary geopolitics.

Key Discussion Points & Astrological Insights

1. Opening Events and the Astrological Trigger

• [00:02] Announcement of War and Assassination:
  On Feb 28, 2026, war began as the US and Israel launched strikes targeting Iran’s leadership, assassinating the Supreme Leader.
• Chris notes:

  “The timing is a stunning convergence of both long term planetary cycles as well as a sequence of eclipses and eclipse repetitions that...give people some perspective on the astrology of this event and of the beginning of this war.” [00:16]

2. Long-Term Planetary Cycles

• [01:00] Saturn-Neptune Conjunctions (Every 36 Years):
  • Feb 20, 2026: Exact Saturn-Neptune conjunction (rare, pivotal).
  • Historical Repetitions:
    • 1953: Saturn-Neptune conjunction—US-backed coup in Iran, Shah installed.
    • 1989: Saturn-Neptune conjunction—Death of previous Supreme Leader, rise of Khamenei.
    • 2026: Current conjunction marks Khamenei’s death and leadership transition.
  • Chris:

    “The cycle that was opened in 1989 with his leadership was brought to a close with this Saturn Neptune conjunction.” [03:06]

3. Mars Retrograde and Revolution Echoes

• [04:38] Mars Retrograde in Leo (2025):
  • Repeats the 1978–79 revolution cycle.
  • Jan 2026: Sun-Mars conjunction in Capricorn, echoing the date the Shah fled Iran in 1979.
  • Mars has returned to the same sky position as when the post-revolutionary government was established.

4. Mars-Uranus Squares: The Aspect of Surprise Attacks

• [06:18] Trigger for War’s Start:

  • Mars-Uranus square went exact on Feb 27, 2026; war began within 24 hours.

  • Aspect associated with sudden, violent events and offensive action.

  • Historic examples:

    • June 2025: US/Israel initiated what’s now called the “12-day war” with Iran under the same aspect.
    • 1988 (Iran Air Flight 655), May 2018 (Trump withdraws from Iran Deal): Both under Mars-Uranus square.

  • Chris:

    “There’s a connection and a weird repetition...the pulling out of that deal is part of the setup and the sequence of events that led us directly to where we are today under the Mars Uranus square.” [09:13]

5. Eclipses: Catalysts for Leadership & Conflict

• [10:23] Eclipse Season Context:

  • War erupted between two eclipses: Aquarius (mid-Feb) and total lunar Virgo (Mar 3, 2026).

  • All three leaders—Trump, Netanyahu, Khamenei—were born literally on eclipse days (statistical oddity).

    • Trump: June 14, 1946 – Lunar eclipse in Sagittarius.
    • Netanyahu: Oct 21, 1949 – Solar eclipse in Libra.
    • Khamenei: Apr 19, 1939 – Solar eclipse in Aries.

  • Khamenei's son (possible successor) was born near a solar Virgo eclipse; current transition echoes his own natal eclipse cycle.

  • Chris:

    “That is incredibly stunning...to have all three of these world leaders born not just close to an eclipse, but literally on the day of an eclipse.” [12:24]

• Historicity of Eclipses and Power:

  • Ancient and modern traditions consistently connect eclipses with the rise and fall of powerful leaders and regimes.

6. Escalation Timeline: Eclipse-to-Eclipse Analysis

• [15:00+] Chris details a six-month escalation cadence, mapped to each eclipse season:

  • Oct 2023: Libra eclipse—Hamas attacks Israel; Taurus eclipse—Israel invades Gaza.

  • Mar/Apr 2024: Eclipses coincide with Israel’s bombing of a consulate in Syria and Iran’s first direct missile strike on Israel.

  • Sep/Oct 2024: Pisces & Libra eclipses—Israel attacks Hezbollah in Lebanon; repeats cycle of direct conflict escalation.

  • Mar/Apr 2025: Virgo eclipse—US bombs Houthis in Yemen (Iran proxy) and repositions military assets, foreshadowing current war.

  • Sep 2025: Eclipse—Europe imposes severe sanctions, causing Iranian economic collapse and fomenting protests.

  • Feb/Mar 2026: Current eclipse season as war officially begins.

  • Chris:

    “When an eclipse happens, sometimes part of the symbolism is that it’s a seed moment...If it happens near an eclipse, it actually will take on much greater importance and significance in the long term than it might seem at first.” [16:35]

  • Each step marks a major escalation—a literal eclipse-to-eclipse chain leading to open warfare.

7. Assassinations and Eclipses: A Deadly Pattern

• [23:03] Nick Dagan Best shares:
  • Historic assassinations under eclipses:
    • Abraham Lincoln (Libra eclipse, 1865)
    • MLK Jr. (Aries eclipse, 1968)
    • Hajj Ali Razmara (Pisces eclipse, 1951)
    • Yitzhak Rabin (near Scorpio eclipse, 1995)
    • Qassem Soleimani (Capricorn/Cancer eclipse season, 2020)
    • Hasan Nasrallah (Pisces eclipse, 2024)
    • Ali Khamenei (Virgo lunar eclipse, 2026)
  • Nick:

    “Ancient people thought [a blood moon eclipse] was ominous ... leaders dying or being assassinated near eclipses, because this is a pattern that actually continues to hold up in modern times...” [25:30]

8. Astrological Outlook for the Immediate Future

• [27:06] Key Upcoming Configurations:

  • April 2026: Mars-Saturn conjunction exacerbates Saturn-Neptune challenges.

  • Oct/Nov 2026: Venus retrograde in Scorpio, echoing the Iranian Revolution period (late 1978/early 1979), suggesting intensified political unrest.

  • Chris:

    “There was a Venus retrograde in Scorpio that's a repetition of the one happening later this year that happened right in the middle of the Iranian revolution...” [28:10]

• Uranus in Gemini: America’s Return to Major War

  • Uranus is returning to Gemini (its cycle with the US):
    • American Revolution, Civil War, WWII each began under this cycle.
    • Uranus enters Gemini (April 2026) signifying likely US involvement in a major war, possibly World War III.
  • Chris:

    “Each time Uranus comes back to Gemini, the United States ends up in one of the most important major wars in its history...” [30:07]

• Current Alignments Set to Escalate

  • Alliances activating, Russia aiding Iran, US assets mobilizing in the Middle East.
  • Possibility that US focus on Iran could open a window for China to move on Taiwan.

9. Final Astrological Markers

• Mars-Uranus Conjunction in Gemini: July 2026

  • [~37:50] This conjunction historically marks escalation and key turning points—July 2026 is pinpointed as a critical period.

  • Four such conjunctions will occur in Gemini between now and 2033, corresponding to expected periods of heightened conflict.

  • Chris:

    “This is the last waning Mars Uranus hard aspect before the Mars Uranus conjunction takes place...in July of 2026, just months away from now...they often ended up being the pivotal turning points...” [34:07]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Historical Repetition:

  “...the sky keeps mirroring events on Earth and how especially it keeps coinciding with these momentous historical events, and to record some of these ominous correlations...”
  — Chris Brennan [38:25]

• On Eclipses as Omens:

  “Some of the earliest omens that they recorded were connected with eclipses...One of the things that may have clued [astrologers] in was this weird thing that happens with eclipses, where really important stuff starts taking place, especially involving powerful people.”
  — Chris Brennan [39:29]

• On Cycles of War:

  “Even though some of the people involved in starting some of these military conflicts may think that they’re doing something that will be...limited, the Uranus return of the US implies that...will probably spiral out of control and escalate into much larger conflicts...”
  — Chris Brennan [32:21]

• On Passing Down Knowledge:

  “My hope for the future in documenting some of this stuff...so that hopefully future generations can benefit from it in understanding things from this perspective of astrology that we have.”
  — Chris Brennan [39:47]

Key Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:02 – War and assassination announcement; astrology’s relevance.
• 01:00 – Saturn-Neptune conjunctions and Iranian history.
• 04:38 – Mars retrograde cycles and echoes of the 1979 revolution.
• 06:18 – Mars-Uranus squares as triggers for conflict.
• 10:23 – Eclipse themes; all three leaders’ natal eclipses.
• 15:00 – Six-month eclipse-to-escalation timeline outlined.
• 23:03 – Eclipses and the pattern of assassinations (Nick Dagan Best shares).
• 27:06 – Near-future astrology: Mars-Saturn, Venus retrograde, Uranus in Gemini.
• 32:21 – Uranian themes and likelihood of U.S. involvement in major war.
• 37:50 – Mars-Uranus conjunction in July 2026 noted as a key escalation point.
• 39:29 – Eclipses as the origin of astrology in ancient times.
• 38:25–39:47 – The importance of recording cycles for future generations.

Conclusion

Chris Brennan and Nick Dagan Best present a comprehensive analysis linking the escalation of the US/Israel-Iran conflict to a tapestry of repeating astrological cycles, with eclipses and planetary conjunctions as focal points for historical and contemporary turning points. They underscore the uncanny recurrence of these patterns, reaffirming the ancient astrological tradition while providing cautionary insights for the future.

Listeners are invited to participate in the ongoing analysis and reflection as world events unfold under the guidance of the heavens.