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. FEB 26

    Eclipse Season, Memory Cards, & Pluto at 4° Aquarius

    This first episode of 2026 begins with a threshold. Schyler shares what it means to quit a job on New Moon Solar Eclipse in Aquarius - a clean break under a sky that favors disruption, reinvention, and future-focused risk. Then the timeline folds in on itself. A weekend trip to a used game store with her 14 year old becomes an accidental excavation site. Consoles that once defined an era now sit behind glass like artifacts, right beside iPads, cell phones, and tons of PlayStation and Nintendo accessories.  We revisit the original PlayStation and how Sony disrupted the industry with CD-based gaming, memory Cards, music playback and those SURREAL visualizers that turned your room into a digital lava lamp.  There's a brief detour into Dinosaur Jr's album Where You Been, testing tracks through the console just to watch the graphics pulse and warp. A reminder that tech once felt experimental, tactile, and alive.  We also explore: Eclipse Season, Memory Cards, & Pluto at 4° AquariusSony manufactures components and batteries for Nintendo cartridges before becoming a competitor.The acceleration of culture during Uranus in Aquarius (1995/96-2003.)Neptune entering Aquarius and the slow dissolve of physical media into digital space.Saturn in Aries 30 years ago and what it means to stumble across relics when cycles complete. The Mercury Retrograde cycles of 2026 and why this cycle is structured around review, re-calibration, and re-orientation. Pluto at 4° Aquarius, a degree tied to roots, memory, and emotional imprint, and why nostalgia feels collective 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 Rhythms & Retrogrades is a podcast hosted by astrologer Schyler exploring the intersection of astrology, music history, & cultural cycles. Each episode looks at iconic musicians, historic moments in music & pop culture, and the planetary patterns shaping the eras that defined them. Interested in booking a Natal Chart Reading? Cracking the Cosmic Code Come follow: Schyler for astrology insights, podcast updates, & pop cultural commentary. Check out The Spiral Archive on Substack Stay connected with the world of Rhythms & Retrogrades, where astrology meets music history and pop culture. ▶ YouTube Sign up for mailing list ☕ Buy Me a Coffee, or donations through PayPal. Cosmic Clarity is a 1:1 astrology consultant in your back pocket. Cosmic Clarity 3 month container Cosmic Clarity 6 month container

    24 min
  2. 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 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 Rhythms & Retrogrades is a podcast hosted by astrologer Schyler exploring the intersection of astrology, music history, & cultural cycles. Each episode looks at iconic musicians, historic moments in music & pop culture, and the planetary patterns shaping the eras that defined them. Interested in booking a Natal Chart Reading? Cracking the Cosmic Code Come follow: Schyler for astrology insights, podcast updates, & pop cultural commentary. Check out The Spiral Archive on Substack Stay connected with the world of Rhythms & Retrogrades, where astrology meets music history and pop culture. ▶ YouTube Sign up for mailing list ☕ Buy Me a Coffee, or donations through PayPal. Cosmic Clarity is a 1:1 astrology consultant in your back pocket. Cosmic Clarity 3 month container Cosmic Clarity 6 month container

    26 min
  3. 07/17/2025

    Top 8 Meltdowns & Saturn’s Teachings: Astrology of the Internet’s Emo Era the Early 2000s

    In this episode of Rhythms and Retrogrades, Schyler time-travels to the MySpace era to decode the cosmic fingerprints behind the early 2000s internet boom. From Saturn in Gemini’s obsession with screen names to Saturn in Leo’s digital spotlight, this episode maps out how astrology shaped the dawn of online identity. We dive into: The rise of MySpace, YouTube, and digital music sharingSaturn’s transits through Gemini, Cancer, and Leo (2000–2007)Uranus and Neptune in Aquarius reshaping the collective experienceEmo culture, crytyping, and the raw vulnerability of the Saturn in Cancer eraSeptember 11th, 2001’s chilling musical context and Jupiter in Cancer’s impactWhy your MySpace top 8 might’ve ended a friendship (thanks Saturn in Leo)How Uranus in Pisces glitched the music industry into MP3 dreamsPacked with nostalgia, cultural analysis, and astrology, this episode is your cosmic guide to broadband breakthroughs, heartbreak lyrics, and DIY rebellion. Get your eyeliner and LimeWire ready. Clear Channel Memorandum List This episode contains a sound clip from freesound.org from user: x.3d.gime Support the show Rhythms & Retrogrades is a podcast hosted by astrologer Schyler exploring the intersection of astrology, music history, & cultural cycles. Each episode looks at iconic musicians, historic moments in music & pop culture, and the planetary patterns shaping the eras that defined them. Interested in booking a Natal Chart Reading? Cracking the Cosmic Code Come follow: Schyler for astrology insights, podcast updates, & pop cultural commentary. Check out The Spiral Archive on Substack Stay connected with the world of Rhythms & Retrogrades, where astrology meets music history and pop culture. ▶ YouTube Sign up for mailing list ☕ Buy Me a Coffee, or donations through PayPal. Cosmic Clarity is a 1:1 astrology consultant in your back pocket. Cosmic Clarity 3 month container Cosmic Clarity 6 month container

    18 min
  4. 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 Rhythms & Retrogrades is a podcast hosted by astrologer Schyler exploring the intersection of astrology, music history, & cultural cycles. Each episode looks at iconic musicians, historic moments in music & pop culture, and the planetary patterns shaping the eras that defined them. Interested in booking a Natal Chart Reading? Cracking the Cosmic Code Come follow: Schyler for astrology insights, podcast updates, & pop cultural commentary. Check out The Spiral Archive on Substack Stay connected with the world of Rhythms & Retrogrades, where astrology meets music history and pop culture. ▶ YouTube Sign up for mailing list ☕ Buy Me a Coffee, or donations through PayPal. Cosmic Clarity is a 1:1 astrology consultant in your back pocket. Cosmic Clarity 3 month container Cosmic Clarity 6 month container

    15 min
  5. 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 Rhythms & Retrogrades is a podcast hosted by astrologer Schyler exploring the intersection of astrology, music history, & cultural cycles. Each episode looks at iconic musicians, historic moments in music & pop culture, and the planetary patterns shaping the eras that defined them. Interested in booking a Natal Chart Reading? Cracking the Cosmic Code Come follow: Schyler for astrology insights, podcast updates, & pop cultural commentary. Check out The Spiral Archive on Substack Stay connected with the world of Rhythms & Retrogrades, where astrology meets music history and pop culture. ▶ YouTube Sign up for mailing list ☕ Buy Me a Coffee, or donations through PayPal. Cosmic Clarity is a 1:1 astrology consultant in your back pocket. Cosmic Clarity 3 month container Cosmic Clarity 6 month container

    55 min
  6. Astrology, Music, & Nostalgia: Welcome to Rhythms & Retrogrades

    SEASON 1, EPISODE 1 TRAILER

    Astrology, Music, & Nostalgia: Welcome to Rhythms & Retrogrades

    Welcome to the very first episode of Rhythms and Retrogrades, where astrology meets pop culture, music history, and the unforgettable soundtracks of our lives. Hosted by Schyler, a lifelong lover of the stars and sound, this intro episode lays the cosmic groundwork for what’s to come. In this debut, Schyler shares the inspiration behind the podcast: a fascination with time, patterns, and the eerie alignment of planetary transits with major musical and cultural shifts. From flipping through an ephemeris to decoding the ‘90s through an astrological lens, Schyler takes you behind the scenes of the podcast’s creation and what to expect going forward. We’ll explore: Why Pluto in Scorpio had a choke-hold on the ‘90sThe cultural meaning of nostalgia in times of massive planetary changeWhat the 27 Club, Saturn in Pisces, and Pluto’s transition into Sagittarius have to do with music evolutionThe real reason we’re collectively obsessed with throwback culture right nowIf you’re curious about how astrology weaves into iconic music movements—from grunge to industrial rock—and how cosmic cycles continue to echo through pop culture, you’re in the right place. 🎧 Subscribe, turn up the volume, and prepare to time travel through the zodiac and your favorite music eras. Support the show Rhythms & Retrogrades is a podcast hosted by astrologer Schyler exploring the intersection of astrology, music history, & cultural cycles. Each episode looks at iconic musicians, historic moments in music & pop culture, and the planetary patterns shaping the eras that defined them. Interested in booking a Natal Chart Reading? Cracking the Cosmic Code Come follow: Schyler for astrology insights, podcast updates, & pop cultural commentary. Check out The Spiral Archive on Substack Stay connected with the world of Rhythms & Retrogrades, where astrology meets music history and pop culture. ▶ YouTube Sign up for mailing list ☕ Buy Me a Coffee, or donations through PayPal. Cosmic Clarity is a 1:1 astrology consultant in your back pocket. Cosmic Clarity 3 month container Cosmic Clarity 6 month container

    5 min

Trailer

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!