Rhythms and Retrogrades

Schyler Strickland

We'll be diving into music, pop culture, and trends through the lens of Astrology. Diving deep into legendary artists, cultural movements, & the astrological cycles behind the artists and music that influenced the collective through pop culture. So, if you're into pop culture, maybe use to check your horoscope in magazines back in the day. This may be the podcast for you!

Episodes

  1. 09/03/2025

    Robert Johnson’s Cosmic Deal: Blues, Myth & Astrology

    Robert Johnson is more than just a blues legend—he’s a myth, a mystery, and the man whose music shaped generations. In this episode of Rhythms & Retrogrades, host Schyler takes you to the crossroads of music, astrology, and folklore to uncover the cosmic truth behind Johnson’s haunting legacy. Born May 8, 1911 in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, Robert Johnson lived a short but unforgettable life. Known as the King of the Delta Blues, his guitar style and lyrics inspired rock’s greatest legends—Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, and countless others. Without Robert Johnson, modern music would not sound the same. But Johnson’s story has always carried a shadow. Tales of selling his soul to the devil at the crossroads made him larger than life, and his mysterious death at age 27 marked him as the first true member of the 27 Club. In this episode, Schyler explores not just the myth, but the astrology written in his birth chart, revealing how Pluto in Gemini and Venus shaped Johnson’s fate. We’ll look at: Robert Johnson’s astrology chart (Sun in Taurus, Pluto in Gemini)The Pluto in Cancer generation and the birth of Delta BluesThe mystery behind his death and theories of poisoning, illness, or fateThe role of Papa Legba in African and diasporic traditions versus the “devil at the crossroads” mythHow Robert Johnson’s posthumous fame exploded in the 1960s during Pluto in Virgo, shaping the counterculture and British InvasionHis lasting influence on blues, rock, folk, and even hip-hop From the recording sessions in San Antonio and Dallas to the cosmic timing of Pluto’s transits, this episode connects music history with astrology, showing how Johnson’s legacy was fated to outlive him. His haunting songs like Crossroad Blues, Sweet Home Chicago, and Love in Vain became scripture for generations of musicians—and his astrological story explains why his ghost still lingers in every riff, lyric, and legend. Whether you’re a music lover, astrology nerd, or history buff, this episode takes you deep into the myth and magic of Robert Johnson. The crossroads weren’t just about the devil—they were about destiny, transformation, and a cosmic deal written in the stars. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow, subscribe, and share with a fellow traveler. And if you’re ready to explore the stars behind your own story, DM Schyler the words Cosmic Clarity. Sources: www.Louisianavoodoo.com https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Johnson Cosmic Clarity ad  Some sound effects used in this episode are licensed under Creative Commons from Freesound.org. Thanks to creators Funky_Audio, JimPurbrick, Kinoton, and cabled_mess. Support the show Follow on Instagram YouTube Buy Me a Coffee

    26 min
  2. 06/15/2025

    Music, Media, & Megabytes: The Hyper-Expansion Era

    In this electrifying episode of Rhythms & Retrogrades, Schyler cracks open the cosmic vault of Pluto in Sagittarius and the early internet era. From dial-up connections and Napster’s disruption of the music industry to the rise of megachurches and viral fame, this episode unpacks the planetary transits that reprogrammed our collective beliefs, identities, and cultural landscapes. We explore: Saturn in Aries: The “DIY or Die” years (1996–1998)—when rebellion, zines, garage bands, and bedroom startups lit the fire.Saturn in Taurus: Monetizing the rebellion (1998–2000)—Napster, file sharing, artist royalties, and the value of music.Saturn in Gemini: Speak or vanish (2000–2003)—The double life era of blogs, LiveJournal, TRL, and early meme culture.The role of Uranus and Neptune in fueling the internet revolution.Cultural breakdowns, digital awakenings, and how astrology was already narrating it all.Cosmic Theme: From monoculture to micro-cultures — how the late ‘90s and early 2000 birthed the digital collective unconscious and redefined fame, identity, and artistic value. Astrological Focus: Part of Pluto in Sagittarius (1995–2001)Saturn in Aries, Taurus, and GeminiChiron in ScorpioUranus & Neptune’s role in the dot-com boom We also tease future chart readings for Napster, Y2K, and even Google, diving into how these digital titans were born under powerful skies. Support the show Follow on Instagram YouTube Buy Me a Coffee

    15 min
  3. 05/21/2025

    Death, Disruption, and Dial-Up: Pluto’s Pendulum and the Mono-culture Meltdown

    In this raw and nostalgia-packed episode of Rhythms & Retrogrades, host Schyler takes you on a time-traveling deep dive into the chaotic mid-1990s—a five-year window of planetary upheaval and cultural disillusionment. We explore the cosmic shifts between 1993 and 1998, a period where Pluto pendulum-swung between Scorpio and Sagittarius, Saturn wrapped up its time in Aquarius, Uranus moved into Aquarius, and Neptune entered Aquarius in 1998, marking the beginning of a whole new digital dreamscape. But this isn’t just about astrology—it’s about how those transits echoed through our music, media, and collective psyche. From the Tonya Harding–Nancy Kerrigan scandal, the rise of AOL chatrooms, and the “ASL?” era of ICQ and AIM, to the OJ Simpson trial, the death of Notorious B.I.G., and the rise of the Latin music wave post-Selena—this was a time when our sense of self and reality was shifting fast. Schyler covers the cultural saturation of MTV’s reality TV boom, the birth of online identity, and the surreal wave of celebrity deaths including Kurt Cobain, Tupac, Bradley Nowell, Kristen Pfaff, and more. This episode also zooms in on the the “Macarena” phenomenon and the fading illusion of the American Dream. Listen in for the astrology, stay for the sharp cultural commentary. Throw in the 1996 Summer Olympics bombing, the loss of major musical icons, and the early days of reality TV, and you’ve got a storm of transformation—culturally, musically, cosmically. And yes, these outer planet shifts? They’re happening again right now. Cosmic Clarity ad  Some sound effects used in this episode are licensed under Creative Commons from Freesound.org. Thanks to creators Funky_Audio, JimPurbrick, Kinoton, and cabled_mess. Support the show Follow on Instagram YouTube Buy Me a Coffee

    55 min

About

We'll be diving into music, pop culture, and trends through the lens of Astrology. Diving deep into legendary artists, cultural movements, & the astrological cycles behind the artists and music that influenced the collective through pop culture. So, if you're into pop culture, maybe use to check your horoscope in magazines back in the day. This may be the podcast for you!