Mercury Retrograde Reframed

What part of your life feels unclear right now?

What direction do you secretly wish you could choose?

Today, Jay is joined by astrologer and author Chani Nicholas for a deeper look at astrology beyond the pop-culture stereotypes. Chani traces astrology back to its ancient roots, describing it as a timeless tool for understanding our place in the world and the inner forces that shape us. Together, she and Jay break down the basics: birth charts, rising signs, the sun and the moon, and how each piece reveals something about our drive, our emotional needs, and the natural rhythms that shape our lives.

The conversation deepens as Jay and Chani explore purpose, growth, and personal agency. Chani explains that astrology isn’t about predicting your future, it’s about noticing your patterns, understanding yourself, and making choices with more awareness. She shares her own stories about finding her calling, meeting her partner, and the ways astrology can reaffirm the truth people already sense within themselves. Together, they unpack common misconceptions about compatibility, Mercury retrograde, and so-called “bad signs,” offering a more compassionate, practical way to work with timing without giving up responsibility for your life.

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to Use Astrology to Find Your Purpose

How to Work With Your Saturn Return

How to Navigate Tough Life Cycles With Awareness

How to Use Astrology to Choose the Right Moment

How to Strengthen Self-Agency Through Astrology

How to Release a Difficult Year and Reset Intentionally

As you move forward, remember that life isn’t asking you to have everything figured out, it’s simply asking you to stay curious, stay honest, and stay connected to what feels true within you. The cycles you’re experiencing aren’t setbacks; they’re invitations to pause, reflect, and realign with the life you know you’re capable of living.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

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What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

01:01 What Exactly Is Astrology?

02:39 Understanding the Cycles We Live In

05:31 How Astrology Evolved Over Time

07:42 Discovering Your Life’s True Purpose

11:34 How to Read and Understand a Birth Chart

14:52 Why “Bad Astrology” Isn’t Real

19:04 What Does Your Sun, Moon, and Rising Actually Mean?

20:16 Living in Alignment With Your Chart

25:30 When Your Chart Shows the Areas You Struggle Most

27:34 Can Astrology Reveal Future Wealth?

29:12 Asking Yourself What You Truly Want

32:42 What’s the Difference Between Fate and Free Will?

36:06 What Astrology Shows About Your Relationships

38:41 Choosing the Best Timing for Big Decisions

47:13 Staying Grounded in What You Feel

52:46 If You’re Not Ready, Focus on Inner Work First

54:27 Noticing the People Who Changed Your Life for the Better

57:45 Inspiring Others Through Your Own Growth

01:03:52 What is Your Saturn Return?

01:10:51 Why You Don’t Need to Fear Your Saturn Return

01:14:19 Is Mercury Retrograde Actually That Bad?

01:18:58 Don’t Use Your Sign to Excuse Bad Behavior!

01:20:22 Are Certain Signs More Compatible?

01:23:14 Making “Incompatible” Charts Work Together

01:25:32 Who Are You as This Year Comes to a Close?

01:33:04 Chani on Final Five 

Episode Resources:

Chani Nicholas | Website

Chani Nicholas | Instagram

Chani Nicholas | Threads

Chani Nicholas | YouTube

Chani Nicholas | TikTok

You Were Born for This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance

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