"Imagine That!" is a podcast created by Shawn Nygaard about astrology, archetypes, archetypal psychology, and imagination, presented from a rather wide-ranging Jungian perspective. This is astrology as seen through the arts, popular culture, history, movies, and literature, influenced by the work of James Hillman, Carl Jung, 80s pop music, and fairy tales, among many other things.
Publisher
Shawn Nygaard
Category
arts · religion & spirituality · society & culture
In this episode of "Imagine That!" astrologer Shawn Nygaard dives into the oceanic immensities of the planet Neptune in astrology, myth, and culture. The episode includes:
Introduction & Announcements
Perspective on Neptune in Aries
Neptune in General, including a mythic story and mythic figure associated with Neptune (Roman) or Poseidon (Greek).
Links mentioned in the episode:
Selection of Episode Slides (https://imagineastrology.squarespace.com/s/Neptunes-Immensities-2025-Episode-Slides.pdf)
MISPA Webinar - Sunday June 8, "Working with T-squares - Tension & Sparks" (https://www.mercuryinternetschool.com/webinar/working-t-squares-tension-sparks/)
"Neptune's Immensities" (https://uacastrology.com/store/Shawn-Nygaard-Neptunes-Immensities-p108202607) talk from United Astrology Conference (UAC) 2018
"Immensities (https://youtu.be/rRgWiV0OHY0)" - the movie scene referred to in the episode
Article from The Mountain Astrologer: "Life to Live and Dreams to Dream - The Saturn-Neptune Cycle in Movies and History" (https://static1.squarespace.com/static/532de889e4b01f203fa38194/t/64aab84466290b506344d5ba/1688909896871/216TMAnygaard.pdf) by Shawn Nygaard
DONATE TO SUPPORT THIS PODCAST (https://imagine-that.captivate.fm/support)
17 Feb 2025
EP09 The Astrology of A Chapter In History 2024-2026
In this first episode of 2025, astrologer Shawn Nygaard takes a look at the complicated dynamics of the sky this year, through a frame going back to August 19, 2024, and taking us to February 20, 2026. Shawn describes the significance of the move of many planets from Pisces into Aries, spends some time with Saturn in Aries, and touches briefly on Neptune in Aries. More to come on Saturn-Neptune in Aries in a future episode. The sections of this episode include:
Introduction
Transitions
Cycles
2025 Essentials
The Astrology of Taylor Swift (Saturn's Version)
A Saturn in Pisces Check-in
A Note on Eclipses
Outro
Related Links:
Donate to support current and future episodes of "Imagine That!": CLICK HERE (https://imagine-that.captivate.fm/support)
MISPA Webinar: "Opening The Red Book (of C.G. Jung)" presented by Shawn Nygaard (2024) (https://www.mercuryinternetschool.com/video/opening-jungs-the-red-book/)
Upcoming MISPA Webinar, March 2, 2025: "The Saturn-Neptune Cycle - Living, Dreaming, Ending, Beginning" presented by Shawn Nygaard (https://www.mercuryinternetschool.com/webinar/the-saturn-neptune-cycle/)
22 Dec 2023
EP08 Saturn & Soul - Winter Solstice 2023
In this Winter Solstice 2023 episode of "Imagine That!" astrologer Shawn Nygaard takes a look at one of the most complicated planets in astrology - Saturn - by drawing from astrological texts and a variety of elements from culture, including music, literature, poetry, movies, and television shows. After a couple of annoncements, the show features:
Saturn, the Lord of Darkness
Reflections on Saturn in Pisces + a note about Venus
A look at the short story "Mentor," by Garth Greenwell
Saturn in the psychological era
Romantic poet John Keats' description of Saturn
A few Saturn tidbits, including 3 generations of Saturn in Capricorn
The Golden Years
Relevant Links:
The Evolving Astrologer (https://opaastrology.org/publications/the-evolving-astrologer/) - The magazine of OPA, The Organization for Professional Astrology
Article: "Tina Turner - Thunder & Lightning (https://www.astro.com/astrology/opa_article231016_e.htm)" by Shawn Nygaard
Article: "Olga Tokarczuk - Livng In Between (https://www.astro.com/astrology/opa_article231114_e.htm)" by Shawn Nygaard
MISPA - Mercury Internet School of Psychological Astrology (https://www.mercuryinternetschool.com/)
Webinar: "Another Look at Chiron & the Archetypal Wound (https://vimeo.com/ondemand/chironwound)" presented by Shawn Nygaard
Saturn & Soul - Winter Solstice 2023 Episode PDF (https://static1.squarespace.com/static/532de889e4b01f203fa38194/t/6585a370ba381579af1c682e/1703256957372/Imagine+That%21+EP08+Saturn+%26+Soul+-+Shawn+Nygaard.pdf)
Upcoming MISPA webinar: "Opening Jung's "The Red Book" - Suggestion for Getting Started (https://www.mercuryinternetschool.com/webinar/opening-jungs-red-book/)"
Shawn Nygaard's website is: imagineastrology.com (https://www.imagineastrology.com/)
8 Aug 2023
EP07 Thomas Moore on Silence, Soul, and James Hillman
In this episode Shawn Nygaard talks with Thomas Moore, author of the classic New York Times best-selling book Care of the Soul and 30 other books. The conversation touches on numerous subjects, from Thomas' newest book The Eloquence of Silence to his 4-decade-long friendship with James Hillman, and subjects from Hillman's work such as pathologizing, the importance of image and imagination, Senex & Puer, and the difference between spirit and soul.
Thomas Moore's books referenced in this episode:
The Eloquence of Silence: Surprising Wisdom in Tales of Emptiness (https://www.amazon.com/Eloquence-Silence-Surprising-Wisdom-Emptiness/dp/1608688666/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1691462964&sr=8-1)
Care of the Soul Twenty-fifth Anniversary Edition: A Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday Life (https://www.amazon.com/Care-Soul-Twenty-fifth-Anniversary-Cultivating/dp/0062415670/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=)
The Essential James Hillman: A Blue Fire (https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Fire-James-Hillman/dp/0060921013/ref=sr_1_3?crid=KCU12129HM6R&keywords=the+essential+james+hillman+a+blue+fire&qid=1691463039&s=books&sprefix=The+Essential+James+Hillman+%2Cstripbooks%2C112&sr=1-3) (edited and with commentary by Moore)
The Planets Within: The Astrological Psychology of Marsilio Ficino (https://www.amazon.com/Planets-Within-Astrological-Psychology-Imagination/dp/0940262282/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+planets+within+thomas+moore&qid=1691463076&s=books&sprefix=The+PLanets+Within+th%2Cstripbooks%2C115&sr=1-1)
24 Jul 2023
EP06 All the World's a Stage - Leo, Venus in Leo, Venus Retrograde in Leo
In "All the World's a Stage," Shawn Nygaard looks at the sign of Leo, Venus in Leo, and the current Venus retrograde in Leo, drawing from the book by James Hillman, "The Thought of the Heart and the Soul of the World" and various cultural references. The episode covers:
A look at the current zeitgeist and Leo's connection to the heart
Imagination as the authentic voice of the heart and what keeps us from that
The Heart of Beauty
Some charts featuring Venus in Leo or Venus Retrograde in Leo
This episode references the following resources:
The essay "Ognosia (https://wordswithoutborders.org/read/article/2022-06/ognosia-olga-tokarczuk-jennifer-croft/)" by Olga Tokarczuk.
The article "Pluto in Aquarius - When the Center Cannot Hold (https://www.astro.com/astrology/tma_article230207_e.htm)" by Shawn Nygaard.
The book "The Thought of the Heart and the Soul of the World (https://www.amazon.com/Thought-Heart-Soul-World/dp/0882149539/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1690185534&sr=1-1)" by James Hillman.
PDF of dates and essential quotes (https://www.imagineastrology.com/s/All-the-Worlds-a-Stage-Shawn-Nygaard.pdf).
19 Jun 2023
EP05 Thunder & Lightning - A Tribute to Tina Turner
As a tribute to the late Tina Turner (1939-2023), in this episode Shawn Nygaard examines Tina's birth chart and looks at the transits from the time she left Ike to when she became Tina, the global superstar.
The charts discussed can be viewed at this link: Tina Turner Charts (https://www.imagineastrology.com/s/Tina-Turner-Charts-EP05-Imagine-That.pdf)
The dates of the transits discussed can be viewed at this link: Tina Turner Transits (https://www.imagineastrology.com/s/Imagine-That-E05-Tina-Turner-Transits.pdf)
10 May 2023
EP04 Mars in Cancer - Make Omelets, Not War!
Originally intended to be a short "bonus" episode, in "Mars in Cancer - Make Omelets, Not War!" Shawn Nygaard explores:
Mars in Cancer
Stereotypes vs. Archetypes
Essential Dignities from traditional astrology
Masculinity
The nature of Mars in Cancer, the sign of Cancer, and the Moon
Lunacy
Note this episode refers to James Hillman's essay "Silver and the White Earth," from Volume 5 of his Uniform Editions, "Alchemical Psychology."
Shawn Nygaard is a professional astrologer based in Minneapolis, MN. He is a Tutor for MISPA (Mercury Internet School of Psychological Astrology) and has been a speaker at the AA, NCGR, UAC, SOTA, and NORWAC conferences, as well as the Minnesota Jung Association. His writing has been published in WellBeing Astrology Guide (Australia) and The Mountain Astrologer. Shawn is a graduate of the CMED Institute in Chicago, where he studied archetypes and symbolism with Caroline Myss.
24 Mar 2023
EP03 Pluto in Aquarius, Part 1 - Stay Awake
In this episode Shawn Nygaard looks at the entrance of Pluto into the sign of Aquarius, which takes place on March 23, 2023. The episode includes:
The relevant dates
A look at the sign Aquarius
A bit about Pluto
A historical look at the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment & the Age of Reason, the French Revolution, and the beginning of the Romantic Era
A return to present time and what Pluto in Aquarius asks of us today
If you have ever wondered what Mary Poppins has to do with the French Revolution, this is the episode you have been waiting for!
7 Mar 2023
EP02 Saturn in Pisces - Feeling good feelings, old feelings, poetry and music feelings
It's the extra-long Saturn in Pisces episode! Shawn Nygaard looks at Saturn's move into the sign of Pisces which begins Tuesday March 7, 2023. After a brief introduction, the episode includes:
Some "technical" bits
Saturn moving from Aquarius into Pisces
The story of the seal-woman
Romanticism via the Saturn-Neptune cycle
Saturn in Pisces in movies
Beauty & order in an astrological cosmos (Venus exalted in Pisces)
This episode features a section from the article "Life to Live and Dreams to Dream (https://www.imagineastrology.com/s/216TMAnygaard.pdf)."
14 Feb 2023
EP01 The Old Man & the Sea-goat - Pluto in Late Degrees of Capricorn
The debut episode of "Imagine That!," a podcast for astrology and archetypes, includes:
An introduction of host Shawn Nygaard
An introduction of what the podcast is about, in general
Episode 1's topic, "The Old Man & the Sea-goat" - looking at Pluto in late degrees of Capricorn
Peering ahead
A first look at Movies & Archetypes, including a clip of an interview with Jim Curtan
Featured article discussed: "Pluto in Aquarius - When the Center Cannot Hold (https://www.astro.com/astrology/tma_article230207_e.htm)"
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Apple Podcasts (US)
4.9 / 5
42 ratings
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