HDxLiberation: A Human Design Podcast

S2, Ep. 3: Embracing Personal and Planetary Shifts as We Move Toward a New Year

• Courtney Napier, Andrea Ward Berg • Season 2 • Episode 3

Share episode

In this episode of the Human Design and Liberation podcast, hosts Andrea and Courtney discuss the intersection of human design, liberation theology, and astrology, particularly focusing on Mars in Leo retrograde. They delve into themes of personal and collective relationships, the impact of rugged individualism, and the importance of aligning actions with true desires. The hosts also highlight upcoming learning opportunities, including a fundamentals course on human design, and provide insights into navigating the grindy energies of Mercury and Mars retrogrades. The conversation is rich with reflections on community building, personal evolution, and the power of intentional living.

Resources:

1. Chani Nicholas's Astrology of the Week Ahead Podcast for December 2nd contains mini readings for Mars in Leo Retrograde based on your rising sign

2. Natalia Luna and Colin Bedell created an Instagram series about Mars Retrograde based on sun signs.

3. History Is A Weapon has provided a free, web-based version of Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Friere. Read about dialogical leadership in Chapter 4.

Contact and Support:

For more insights and to join the conversation, follow the HDxLiberation podcast on social media at @hdxliberation on Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, and join the Liberation Lab on Substack for exclusive content and community benefits.

Andrea:

Hi, I'm Andrea.

Courtney:

Hey y'all, this is Courtney and welcome to the Human Design and Liberation podcast. This is a space where we explore how human design and liberation theology intersect with the past, present, and future.

Andrea:

With the intent of sharing the beauty and pain of the human experience to encourage you in your liberation journey. Hi, how are you? I am good. I'm excited about this episode. Me too. Me too. Me too. It's going to be so juicy.

Courtney:

Mm hmm. Mm hmm.

Andrea:

Um, like check in before we dive in. What is like, what is up for you right now?

Courtney:

Oh, what is, what is up? What's up with me? Um, fun things, good things, all happy things. Um, a lot of, uh, expansion, uh, especially like relationally, which has been really beautiful. Um, yeah. I mean, we're going to be talking about Mars and Leo today, and it's all over my chart, this moment. So there's just been a lot of, a lot of deep, a lot of deep work happening as far as like identity and like limiting beliefs and that Kind of space. So, um, I feel like I've been walking around with like wide eyes, like everywhere, just like, Oh my God, like things are changing so quickly and I feel so different and I love it, but it's like kind of jarring a little bit overwhelming, but, um, and with a defined. solar plexus right now. I'm like experiencing a lot of extra feels. Um,

Andrea:

Everybody's got a defined sort of plexus right now.

Courtney:

Yeah. So, I mean, they could feel it in the air too. It's like, I typically don't have one. So it's both. Um, and, but it's been really, really cool. Like, um, we've been texting back and forth as we always do and I'm just, I've, I've learned. One of the most powerful things I've learned lately is that when I have When I take the time to understand exactly what I want and I allow myself to have it, it's good for everyone around me.

Andrea:

Yeah.

Courtney:

Um, and even like in a seasonal way, like as we're getting closer to holidays and this idea of like giving gifts and it can feel very like sacrificial, you know, um, and, uh, the universe is really confronting that in me right now, the idea of like sacrificing something that I need or want in order to take care of someone else. Like what if that's not The only way, or that's not the highest way of like meeting someone's needs, you know, giving up something that you need. So that's been, Ooh, big, big, big, big themes, big feels, um, but yeah, that's where I'm at right now. What about you? Oh yeah. Go ahead.

Andrea:

I was just going to say that reminds me of one of the things that people struggle with when they come to human design is, um, the, disconnect between what their authority is telling them and what they think other people want them to say. Um, or that they've been even conditioned to believe that other people want them to say, because often once you start listening to your authority, you're afraid you're going to upset somebody and they don't get upset. And you're like

Courtney:

This whole time. 100%. 100%. I, I myself abs. Abs. Absolutely that. Oh my God. Yeah.

Andrea:

And it's a good reminder that like, what is for your highest and best good is also for my highest and best good, because mm-hmm we are connected on that spiritual level, like underneath it all, we are all different expressions of the one divine. Right. And so we get into this, you know, hyper individualized conditioning that, um, it's a zero sum game. Like if I win, then somebody else loses. And that's actually not how it works. Like when I win, everybody wins. And when you win, I win. And. Um, yeah, that's a very like transitioning from seven centered to nine centered, uh, challenge to navigate

Courtney:

Mm-hmm

Andrea:

because it used to be zero sum, like it used to be

Courtney:

Yeah.

Andrea:

much more, um, I mean, at least that was the conditioning around it. I, it probably wasn't then either. Like it, Somebody benefits from the zero sum is basically what it comes down to.

Courtney:

Right,

Andrea:

And it is the person who is trying to extract control. So,

Courtney:

yeah, yeah. 150%. That's been, yes. All of that. All of that. Yeah. Um, what about you boo?

Andrea:

I'm doing good, doing good. Um, I. I have been going through an interesting, like, I don't even know what to call it. Um, refinement, I think is the way to describe it. Um, yeah, I have had some pretty hefty transits. We were texting about this the other night. Um, so Neptune has been on top of my Sun off and on for a long time. to look up the transit to see like how long, but it's been like years. Um, and Saturn is in my 10th house right now. Yeah. So the 10th house is all about like your legacy. And also my son is in my 10th house. So like neptune and Saturn have both, you know, there's been a lot going on in like my You know, a lot of people think of the 10th house as your career, but one thing that was really helpful for me is someone said, it's more like legacy energy. So yes, like if you're working in something that is your legacy, that you are uniquely here to leave, then yeah, it could be career, but it might not yeah. You not be working in that thing that is your legacy. Like you might be working a day job and like your legacy is at the food bank. Like

Courtney:

right. That's so true.

Andrea:

it just depends. Um, so anyway, a lot happening there and I'm sure there will be more to tell but um, I feel like the last like three weeks, um, I have gotten some clarity. It was right around when Saturn went direct. So Saturn was retrograde for a while. Um, and right when Saturn went direct, I feel like I got some like keen insights into things. And so I'm doing some like experimentation and, um, yeah, more, more to come there, but fine. It's good.

Courtney:

We're both in this like experimentation space again, which is interesting as six lines. Yeah. Yeah. Like how we kind of, we, you bopping it out of all of it. Like it's all cyclical. It's all, Yeah, nothing. I think the important thing to remember about human design in any other modality is that you are in an experiment. No one is giving you rules, you know, and that. You know, these are not walls that we're like we're not walking through some like maze of walls and you can't revisit things or like experience things over or differently or whatever like this you're gonna be like flowing in and out of a lot of different experiences. And that's, that's the point, you know, that's, that's a feature, not a, not a flaw A

Andrea:

A feature, not a flaw. Its very six line. I mean that's a very six line observation, obviously but I think that, um, You know, the six line it, the way I learned it and the way I interpret Ra's writing around it and his lectures is that, um, you're like living out in an, uh, what's the word I want to use, like an amplified way, an exacerbated way, the, the cycle of, uh, Uranian. Life cycle, which only been in right like that 1780 transition, um, transition us from seven centered to nine centered, but it's also when we started being living a uranium life cycle,

Courtney:

Yeah

Andrea:

um The six line exacerbates. So the sick, for those that are new to profile or, you know, you're not a six line, so you haven't really looked at this six lines, um, live out three phases. The first phase you live like life, like a third line where you're really like experimenting, taking in life, like learning, and then you have, um, the second phase, which is about healing from all of the challenges of that line phase. Um,

Courtney:

given those bumps and bruises, uh, a moment to Yeah. Come back together.

Andrea:

where you start to get some distance, some healthy distance. So the six line really is meant to have some distance, but in our first 30 years we have none. Um, and then in the third phase, which, um, the first phase lasts until your first Saturn return. So like 28, 30, and then you start to climb on the roof. And that's when the second phase begins that lasts from your first Saturn return until 50. And then actually, um, you start to transition off the roof a little before 50, which is the phase that I'm in right now after your Uranus opposition and your Saturn opposition. That is really when you start that transition. So I had my Saturn opposition this summer. So like on top of Saturn being in my 10, 000, all the things it was, I was actually going through a Saturn opposition as well. Um, and so that's when you are getting ready to come off the roof and, um, The thing that reminded me of this is like, we are both in an experimenting type of energy, because even though you have those three phases,

Courtney:

Mm hmm.

Andrea:

those three phases are always present with you.

Courtney:

Mm,

Andrea:

you're in your in your first phase, you also are able to find objective truth, and you're able to find some distance from the things that you are observing, right? And when you're in your second phase, likewise, you are going to have to do some experimenting and you're also going to have moments where you're really able to be present and show up for the people in your life and show them what's possible for them, which is really what the role model is all about. So, um, the third phase is, is the role model phase. So I just think it's a good reminder of like any six lines that are out there listening, like You're gonna, you're always going to have a little bit of all the phases. It's just, you know, wherever you are in that cycle is like the predominant theme, but you're still going to have some of the other themes present.

Courtney:

Yeah. And so even just allowing for that, like, You mentioning that's really powerful because again, like people try to be like, Oh no, no, I'm not, I'm on the roof now. So I'm not going to like, da da da. It's like, no, like that's strategy and authority. That's what that's for, you know, um, to, to bring you into those, like, right experiments for you when you're on the roof and you're a little bit distant, but you still have things to figure out. Like the whole point is the role model. It's not doing it. It's not following the rules. It's becoming who you're put here to become, yeah.

Andrea:

Yeah.

Courtney:

Yeah. So, but you, I love, like, you had a really, really good segue when you were talking about like, if you're not familiar with profile, like, you know, because we are working on. Um, a really, really special course offering, um, you want to talk a little bit about that?

Andrea:

Yeah. So, um, one thing that we realized pretty early on in the podcast, um, was that we wanted to also create learning environments where you can go deeper. And so, um, we are actually launching our first learning environment, which we're calling the fundamentals. Um, and it's going to be a hybrid. So there's going to be some elements that are digital and Available anytime. So, you know, we're recording this in December of 2024. If you're listening to this and, you know, January of 2026, like, okay, like it's still, there's going to be some things that are still available. Um, but for January of 2025, we're actually doing a live component as well. So there will be the digital and the live component together. Um, and this is like the perfect opportunity if you are really in deliberation and you want to learn more about the nitty gritty of human design. You want to learn more about your design. you you want a resource to help you learn more about The design of people in your life, um, it is a building block for more learning that is going to be available after this, which the next piece we're going to go into, uh, likely in like February, March is profile. Um, um, and then after that we're going to go into the centers and definition. Um, so we've got some really fun educational content coming. Yeah.

Courtney:

So excited. Yeah. We've been talking about this because there's not, like you said, there's not a lot of, um, human design resources out there. We already knew this when we started the podcast, but we've definitely gotten a lot of feedback that confirms what we knew, which is that this, this way of communicating in sharing human design through a liberation lens, through a womanist lens, through, um a critical theory lens, you know, um, is, is not, uh, is not common in the space. and. uh, Also, there is, uh, so much possibility for, um, this idea of like we talked about the instead of the struggle for liberation, the experiment of liberation, because it really is such a, it starts internally and, and must be started internally and then expressed outwardly. And so there is this component of, of trying and. Um, stumbling and reflecting and, um, learning that's really important. Um, outside of the performative ways that I think gain so much prominence on social media and in the news and so forth when it comes to liberatory practice.

Andrea:

So, well, you know, it's, it's interesting because I, I do think that, um, things that we think of as, as performative can also be transformative

Courtney:

Oh,

Andrea:

when, when there's integrity underneath. So when I think of integrity, I think of like, like, uh, Yeah. Integral like it's it's all interconnected like it's in integrity. Um, and when. When there is shame around a subject, the integrity gets compromised. And so in, you know, our collective liberatory journey, we haven't Worked through so much of the shame. So what I am hoping that we can offer with human design, this lens is looking at the wholeness of our experience and letting human design be that flashlight that shines a light where there is a crack in the, Integration, right? Where your wholeness is being compromised so that you can get some momentum on your liberation journey because the more fully expressed that you are, the better we all are. The, the better off we all are. So, um, I'm excited. It's going to be,

Courtney:

gonna be good.

Andrea:

it's going to be so good. The other thing that, uh, came out last week, um, or maybe two weeks ago is our SubStack, which

Courtney:

Yes

Andrea:

is super fun. Um,

Courtney:

yes. Yes. Yes.

Andrea:

so, uh, if you're listening and you haven't checked it out yet, please go over to the liberation lab on on SubStack, which, um, yeah, super, super fun fun environment. And you get to be, you know, in conversation with us and we get to share more real time what's happening. Um, the podcast is such a great modality for us. Like in general, it's been so fun, but since we started it, we originally thought we were going to have a patron. Um, but that just ended up really not flowing and like, it never was a space that we could get.

Courtney:

Um,

Andrea:

and during our sabbatical, we had this awareness of like, Oh, maybe it's because we're meant to be on SubStack. And so far it has been super fun and really light and enjoyable. So there's like a total mix of like, um, you know, Uh, information from the podcast and

Courtney:

Mm hmm.

Andrea:

we're going to be doing some deeper dives and different subjects. Um, there's also a community aspect and comments and just like different ways that we can engage. That's super fun. Um, yeah. And then we're going to be doing some ask me any things for people who decide to upgrade and be a subscriber. So it's going to be, it's going to be really fun.

Courtney:

So excited. So excited. So excited to just, um, hear from you first of all. Lastly, also, by the way, we have hit 750 downloads on the podcast. So thank you. Speaking of hearing from you, we are hearing from you and we are so grateful. So so so grateful. Thank you so much for listening and engaging. Um, and we've been on social media a bit more, um, HDxLiberation has been, and you all have been so incredible and engaging us there. Um, So we're just really excited about what's being built and we're excited about being a part of what's being built, um, with all of you. So yeah, this is just the greatest pleasure.

Andrea:

And we would love to hear your reviews and like, regardless of maybe you're not into the SubStack or you're not into Instagram, but if you could just subscribe and like,

Courtney:

and please Yes.

Andrea:

and do whatever it is that the platform you're listening to this on and leave us a review, let us know. What about the episode you liked or what's, what's vibing for you. It just helps us reach more people and is just a very low, um, low investment way to support this work.

Courtney:

Yes. Yes. Oh, awesome.

Andrea:

Well, let's get into it girl. Cause I mean, We got a lot to cover.

Courtney:

a a lot to cover. So we are talking about Mars and Leo, the, um, which is. In retrograde today, Mars stations retrograde today in Leo, and it will be, um, retrograding, uh, through Leo. And then, and you said February, it goes into. No, in

Andrea:

January, January six, it goes into cancer still in retrograde.

Courtney:

Yes.

Andrea:

Um, and then it doesn't go direct until February 23rd.

Courtney:

Yes. yes,

Andrea:

So this is really setting the tone for the end of this year and the of next year. Um, You know, when I was thinking about this topic, when we decided to record on this, um, I, for many years have done, um, uh, like new year's retreat thing. Um, and I don't think I'm doing one next year, although I don't know that could always change. So stay tuned. Um, but I love, um, I really love to shake up the way that we think about New Year's,

Courtney:

Yes.

Andrea:

and the astrology of this time is really going to force that this

Courtney:

Yes.

Andrea:

Like, if you are one of those people who thinks of of New Year's as a new beginning and a time to come out the gates running,

Courtney:

yeah.

Andrea:

this ain't the year for that shit

Courtney:

Nope. That is not where the starting line is. You will be just running in a field by yourself,

Andrea:

Uh, or

Courtney:

where the

Andrea:

be burning up with not self. So to be super frustrated. You're going to be super bitter. You're going to be super angry. Like you're, you're going to be, um, and burning with it being Mars, like Burning is going to be an aspect, like there's going to to be some kind of, you know, internal fire, right. And sometimes this can be associated. I mean, I know we've been talking about this a lot with inflammation,

Courtney:

Mm

Andrea:

but it can also also be associated with like digestive issues because that's like your internal fire, um, can also be associated with like. anger issues, um, just like burning too hot.

Courtney:

Passion, sexuality, that space, too

Andrea:

comes into a lot of areas. Yeah. So, um, we were thinking about doing is just breaking down some of the themes of this transit. I also, I love to just talk about the planet and like planet means, um, and how that relates to both astrology and human design. Um, and then of course we will give you some practical tips at the end because that's what you're here for. Like, do I do with this?

Courtney:

Right. Exactly. Yeah,

Andrea:

I do?

Courtney:

Um, so yeah, so let's talk about, let's talk about Mars and kind of what it, what it represents.

Andrea:

So Mars your source of energy in your internal constellation.

Courtney:

Hmm.

Andrea:

want to think of it that way. Right. Um, Mars is the planet of action. Um, it is the kind of like warrior archetype. It is also, um, the. Kind of like Channy talks about this a lot and I love it, but it's, you know, it's the strategist, but it's the strategist for like using your energy well, and, and fuel, like what fuels you. Um, so for me, my Mars, um, in gate 63, which, um, like is a very kind of. Cerebral placement for it. It's in the crown. Um, for you, your Mars is in gate seven,

Courtney:

It is!

Andrea:

Which is, is, you know, um, it is getting, it's getting activated. Because gate seven is in Leo and because, um, gate seven is in relationship with gate 31. They share a channel. Gate 31 is the gate that the sun is in at this moment as it's going, as Mars is going retrograde. I'm sorry. It is your sun

Courtney:

Yes. My son. Yeah.

Andrea:

Is the gate where Mars is currently as it's going retrograde. So you're having like a Mars. Sun conjunction as it's going retrograde. So lots of, of like, lots of energy around this for you.

Courtney:

Lots. Lots. And um. um, yeah, Mars is like all the things that you said. It's, it's action. It's, it's, um, expression. It is very much connected, especially in Leo. Um, I guess I can talk specifically to Leo since I'm a Leo,

Andrea:

Yeah.

Courtney:

Leo rising, Mars. Yes. I'm a very Leo. Hashtag Leo everything. Um, so Leo is of course ruled by the sun. Um, it is deeply connected to the heart, which is something that we wanted to talk about when, when it comes to the body, when you're thinking about not necessarily the body graph, but when you're thinking about the body, your body, um, Leo rules the heart. Um, this is not the same as the heart center or the ego center in the body graph. It's actually much more akin to the G center or the identity center. Um, And I know all this and I can, I can about it so clearly because Andrea just told me before we recording.

Andrea:

Well, it's interesting because you brought up this question around, like, you were surprised that you would have to see see more Leo in the heart center. Right. And when we think about Leo in astrology, we think about like Leo being the heart. And you know, when you think about the heart, it's really like, My heart is in it or my heart is not in it. Um, that is your identity. Right. Like that is connected to the Eunice of you. Um, and so a lot of the Leo gates are in the identity center. Before 1781, the identity center and the ego or the heart center were one center where,

Courtney:

Mm hmm. Mm

Andrea:

they were the heart. Um, which is interesting cause the color for that chakra is green and I'm wearing green today. Um, I didn't plan that. So that's kind of fun,

Courtney:

Of course not!

Andrea:

Kind of fun. Um, yeah, so it gets tricky in design because the nine centered body graph that we're looking at gives us, um, deeper language and more, um, more refinement.

Courtney:

Mm hmm.

Andrea:

It's sometimes a very different Visual and or word than we're used to using for that area. So, um, we have to kind of stay open to, um, evolving the way that we talk about something so that we can access the refined concepts and understanding that it brings.

Courtney:

Yes. Oh, you're barking up my favorite tree with this, like rhetorical elasticity. Like we have, yeah, we have to like, um, be ever curious about the language that we're using to describe ourselves, especially as we're integrating these different modalities, because, um, I mean, I feel like there isn't an episode that goes by where we're not, you know,Reviewing language around something. And so this is just another opportunity and, um, connected, but, uh, but slightly different. Another thing that you said when we were off air that I want to bring here, cause I loved was you, um, said that actually our, like the magnetic monopole or our is behind the identity center. And so it's like, it's, it's what our essentially what our inner light or our inner self is shining through. This is how we, um, are experiencing not just the world around this, but our own selves. Is through our identity and this idea of like, um, which feels very resonant with this retrograde. Um, well,

Andrea:

especially for you.

Courtney:

especially for me, cause it's in my first house and, and how, like, I feel like I'm your son and my, yes. Yes.

Andrea:

All the things.

Courtney:

all the things. It's how I'm experiencing myself right now. Like I feel myself experiencing myself, um, in new ways. And that is cool. Yes. Very cool. Very, very movie- like,

Andrea:

Very liberating.

Courtney:

Yes.

Andrea:

the magnetic monopole a lot of people kind of cringe And I you know, I'm an engineer, I have a defined crown, so I like I really love this kind of stuff

Courtney:

Um,

Andrea:

but So the magnetic monopole is a concept that has been present and like quantum physics for a really long time and Which is kind of this idea of like, is there, um, is there a part of us that is directing us? And, um, the science community is still kind of, you know, uh, debating it all, but what I love about

Courtney:

As they do.

Andrea:

Yeah. So, Ra did did not feel like this. Modality was quote unquote spiritual. Like he like it, like spiritual to him, left it up for interpretation. And what was, what, what was given to him was a very like logical, um, cause and effect kind modality. Um, and so when he talked about, so the, the magnetic monopole, I liken it to your soul, but it's essentially this, um, literally magnetic. It's, it's literally like a, um, a resonance. It's an energetic part of you that is moving you through life. So, um, we might liken this to what we call the inner being

Courtney:

Yeah.

Andrea:

The voice of the magnetic monopole is your authority. So it's basically this. Energetic aspect of you that is pulling you to the things that you are here to do an experience and be um and able to interact with the Multitude of variables that are in this human existence to bring the experiences and The aspects of your life together so that you can be fully expressed that, that part of you is behind your identity center.

Courtney:

Yes, it's so beautiful because I, I, what I hear in that description and what I sense throughout all of human design is the like essential nature of relationship. Because if you know, like this idea of something pulling us through through,

Andrea:

Towards the people and places

Courtney:

places, yes. Yeah, absolutely. And so there was a relating, there is a communing, there is a, there is a exchange happening constantly, which flies in the face of rugged individualism, which flies in the face of, of exceptionalism, which flies in the face of supremacy and all of these ideas to say that like. You don't need what someone else has to offer like, and that you, what you have to give is somehow more important or better or, um, any of those types of, uh, supremacist measurements comparing to someone else or somewhere else or something else. Um, and so it really just, um, it crushes the thought of all that. And it also helps for me to illustrate how dangerous and, um, destructive those ideas are because they are,

Andrea:

they are, against our true nature.

Courtney:

Yes. They're like grinding gears of our personal, like progress and growth and, um, And evolution,

Andrea:

But really, when you think about it, like, that's why it's been such a powerful tool for systems of oppression. Like the reason rugged individualism has been such a powerful tool, it's part of the reason why we are so extra in this country. Like, when you think about when this country was founded and how it was founded, it was, uh, it was an experiment. It was very much a third line experiment of like, let's go and make something of ourselves, you know, it wasn't, and it was very much, um, it was very much a money making scheme. Like it was not, it wasn't, you know, we've been brainwashed to think it was but it was very much a money making scheme. Um, and then you had this, like, uh, for a very select few

Courtney:

Mm hmm. Mm hmm.

Andrea:

Massive power transference

Courtney:

Yes.

Andrea:

due to the moneymaking scheme, which was part of the design, right, which then like doubled down on that hyper individualism, because in order to make that happen, you were literally by yourself in, on a land that was not yours.

Courtney:

Yes.

Andrea:

And so, um, We come by it honestly, but it really does fly in the face of all the ways that we were created to be in the actual like rules of engagement for being human,

Courtney:

Yes, exactly.

Andrea:

You know, and everything that's problematic about. The United States stems from that because we have many people who listen in other countries and, know, each country has their journey towards us like we have several people listening in the Netherlands. We have several people listening in Mexico. We have several people listening and other parts of Europe. Um, and so I think it's very helpful to understand the lineage. This is a cultural phenomenon that affects us. Every country on the globe, just because of how hyperconnected we are. But I do think that it's very important as you're doing this work to understand the ways that it shows up in your culture currently, so that it doesn't take you into not self. Because at the end of the day, if you are operating under this idea of having to do it all by yourself and all of the glories of doing it all by yourself, number one, at the lie.

Courtney:

That's

Andrea:

You you didn't get by yourself.

Courtney:

Complete lie.

Andrea:

You didn't get here by yourself. got here at there's some stats. That's like when you look at how many, because you know, we each have the DNA from like so many generations back, I think it's like seven or eight generations back and you add up all those ancestors, like 2000 people that it took to get you here today. So like, just the fact that you're fucking breathing, you didn't do by yourself.

Courtney:

Exactly. Yeah. Prentice Hemphill has a really beautiful quote about this and I'm going to butcher it, but it's something along the lines of like, um, you, you are a relationship before you're an individual. Hmm. I'm chilling hard. Yeah. That's just the fact of biology that you were, you were completely connected and dependent on mother, whoever mother was before you way before you were individual. Um, and way before you even thought of yourself as an individual, what I mean? Um, and so just like honoring nature, honoring the way that the universe built us as relationship, like we represent in our bodies relationship first and individual second. And, um, again, not that this is not about hierarchy, one's not more important than the other, but it's very, that duality is extremely important to embrace and to identify oneself in. Or you're going to have all the problems that we're seeing.

Andrea:

And explore and get into right relationship with, because at the, you know, when you Just talking about the U S like we are the sickest country of the developed world, know, um, we do have the most, um, deaths by gun shooting and the whole world, like there, there are like actual tangible consequences to the, the not self pattern that we're talking about. Like like the not self patterns link to actual physical harm. Um, and so if we can get to the root of the not self patterns, then we can actually start to repair and heal and we will see Those harms go down as well. And I guess it's interesting cause we're down a total rabbit hole, which I love. We always do. Um, like we didn't, we

Courtney:

I, oh, I see the trail back. I'm ex, I'm getting excited. I see the trail back and I am loving this. So like, keep going. It's so good.

Andrea:

So, uh, we got down this rabbit hole talking about the magnetic monopole and this, there are so many parts of human design that. Point to the importance of relationship, the importance of the people around you, um, whether it's your environment, whether it's your hanging gates, like there's so what your definition, whether you're split or triple split or quad split, like there's so many different aspects that remind us that we're here to do this with other people. We're not necessarily here to do this with just anybody. And that's where you have to follow your strategy and authority. Like if somebody is taking you into not self, if your parent is taking you into not self, like bless them, thank them for the life that they made possible for you and do your thing and find a way to follow your strategy and authority and the honor that while also doing your thing, because you know, it's going to look different for each of us.

Courtney:

Yes, that is so important. Um, because A couple things. One of the things that um, I feel is really interesting about this transit. First of all, obviously we're we're approaching this our own way, but I do want to let you all know that there is um, some really great resources right now. Uh, folks that are going by the signs and by the houses reflecting on this Mars and Leia retrograde. Um, so.

Andrea:

Yeah, we should definitely reference the Chani. Chani, um, week ahead from this week. So we'll put a link to that in the show notes. So if you know your rising sign, listen to the Chani week ahead, and you can see like what part of your life this Mars retrograde is, is highlighting.

Courtney:

Yes, 100%. And then also, um, yeah, Chani does a great job going through the houses and then Colin Powell, who is, um, Queer Cosmos on, which I love. I love Colin so much. Colin, I love you. Okay. And they are going, they and, um, Oh, I'm trying to remember the other, the, it's, um, the person that he's teaching with doing a series with Luna. Luna? Natalia Luna? Yes. It's Luna.

Andrea:

Luna, I know from my course that I did. With Sabia Wade on A Lifetime in Quarantine. She was one of the guest teachers.

Courtney:

Oh, of course.

Andrea:

Teaching about the indigenous African practices around the moon.

Courtney:

Oh my God, of course.

Andrea:

Isn't that Okay, perfect. That is so So when I saw her with@QueerCosmos I was like, Oh my God, this is like worlds colliding. And I'm so excited

video1716787581:

so excited right now.

Courtney:

It is so good. Like, Run Don't to Chani's, um, week ahead for this week. So I guess it would be, yeah, we'll link it. Yeah. We'll link it. And then also, um, luna and collins series going by the signs. So good. Okay. This is the other thing I wanted to say is that the idea of relationship, right. Is probably one of the most colonized patriarchal, racist, homophobic ideas. Right now, currently, particularly in the United States, because that's what I can speak to authoritatively, and, um, i, that, in and of itself, I think, in this Mars and Retrograde, particularly depending on what your house is, but I think in general, now that we're expressing, like, human design, like, the essential idea of relationship, this Mars, um, and Leo retrograde. Is going to confront your ideas about relationship according to the different houses that it is showing up in for you. Um, for me personally, it's my first house. So this is about my relationship with myself. And this is about how I choose to relate with others, like how I bring my full self into my relationships. Um, so that's what's happening with me. And I know that it's going to be different for everyone, but I think relationship is under review. Um, I think in a big way right now, how we relate, um, according to power, according to love, according to building something together, you know, this idea of community that especially, um, for progressives were like, Oh yeah, now it's time to build community. We need community more than ever now with this, this fascist Trump administration coming into power and all this stuff happening. Like we need to build community. Well, yeah. But before we can build community, you're going to really need to take time to review what community means to you and, and how available are you to relationship? Who is defining what relationship means to you, um, in these different places? And is it in alignment with your values? Is it in alignment with who you say you are and what you say that you really want? Um, because. If you didn't listen to our last podcast already with the incredible Dr. Brittany Cooper, we spend a lot of time talking about relationship and just thinking like revisiting that, um, if we're going to build coalition, if the time is now to build community, if the time is now to do all these things, then it starts with, you know, It starts with whatever the vision in your heart is regarding relationship building and community building. It starts with whatever the vision is, not what someone says it should be.

Andrea:

and not from your not self, right? Like

Courtney:

Exactly.

Andrea:

It has to come from, it has to come from the true self. Otherwise, it's not sustainable.

Courtney:

Yeah.

Andrea:

You can't, going to be to hold, you're not gonna be able to keep it up.

Courtney:

hmm.

Andrea:

Um, so I think the, the thing to know about this Mars retrograde is that it's going to go through Leo and cancer. it's going to really, um, highlight these aspects around, um, like which, which, wherever this lands in your chart, whichever house this lands in, um, your leadership in that area. Um, and just in general, when Mars is retrograde, the energy is a little grindy. just harder to move forward on things. And so, and right now, for example, Mars and Mercury are retrograde. And we just take a moment about this Mercury retrograde?

Courtney:

Jesus. Lord help

Andrea:

has been so gnarly. And I literally had to go down a rabbit hole earlier this week. Cause I'm like, this one is really grindy for me, like way worse than others. Like I, I have had so many technology issues and just like really annoying things, stressful things. Um, But Mercury is retrograde in Sag which Sag is its exile. learned about like planets exile, which I was not super versed in, but essentially Gemini is Mercury's exile. Home like domicile. so whatever sign is opposite a planet's home is considered its exile. And the opposite of Gemini is Sag, um, or like on the other side of the wheel of Gemini is Sag. Um, and the other thing that's happening is that Mercury is opposing Jupiter, who is in Gemini. And so Jupiter likes to make things big. And so like, like all the grindiness of Mercury being retrograde and it's exile, Is being amplified by Jupiter.

Courtney:

Just the extra fuckery.

Andrea:

So, uh, by the time you listen to this, uh, Mercury should be going direct soon. So maybe it will be less of a drama for you, but if you're looking back on late November, early December and like WTF, we're with you, we are living it it in this moment. Um, but I just think that like having some grace for. Ourselves going into winter, which is a time of like fallow, like winter is when like the ground is not fertile.

Courtney:

Right.

Andrea:

I mean, it's, it is, it is definitely like there's things stirring under the surface. There's a lot of like really beautiful processes that happen in winter. But, um, You know, I always encourage everyone in the Northern hemisphere. If you're in the Southern hemisphere, like you're going into summer, you're living your best life. Um, I'm, I'm happy Um, enjoy. Um, but you know, summer has its challenges too. So like both, I feel like both winter and summer, maybe it's the polarity. They both, um, really, um, Put pressure on what we think of as productivity. Like,

Courtney:

yes,

Andrea:

they both put pressure in different ways, but they both put pressure on, um, momentum and, um, you know, moving projects forward and stuff like that. So just kind of going into the season with. Some extra buffer for the things that you must do. There are things you must do, whether that's your day job or at home or like, I must make sure my kids get. Three meals a day and many snacks, many snacks

Courtney:

So many snacks!

Andrea:

All the snacks. Um, you know, that's a must do. And so things like that are going to take more energy. And so just like your overall and your overall capacity is going to be lower. So, you know, being very realistic and then really centering, what are the things that a, you must do? and then what are the things that you're really, that you get the most. Fulfillment out of

Courtney:

right? It's still Sag season, right?

Andrea:

it is,

Courtney:

So it's still space for fun and pleasure and all those things. Like it is still a festive season. It is still, there's things to it's, I love, I love everything you said because you're right. Like this is a time that is. Um, low capitalistic productivity, you know, it's not the time to, and, and time, not just December time into because of these retrogrades and just because of really how things were for a very, very long time before we decided to shake them up, um, into the spring, like,

Andrea:

yeah,

Courtney:

December, January, February into March, it's like by the time you want to go outside and be there for more than like walking to the parking lot from your car to Target, like that's, you know, when you're going to want to, that's when the, the universe, the cosmos are going to be, um, supporting That type of, of you know, those sprouts coming, like pushing through the dirt, like that's when it's time. But before then, it is a time to, you know, Mars is telling us, even as the action planet, that it's important to act correctly, you know? Yes. according to what you want, what you need, what the collective wants, because is now an Aquarius. So this, this people power, this collectivism is, is the theme for the next 20 plus years. Um, so that awareness. And so again, relationship front and center, like your neighbors and, and your family or wherever this is showing up in, um, your different houses and wherever it's showing up in your life. I mean, like, there's also common sense y'all. So like, you know, like, yes, we're, yes, we're woo woo, but we are also, you know, like a beautiful quote, like womanists, we believe in liberation, but we got to eat first. So like, yeah, it's like What do we have to do? Like, what do we absolutely need? And again, need is under review. This idea of need. Relationship under review. Action is under review. Um, communication, obviously, since we're in Mercury Retrograde, is under review. How we speak about all these things. The word choice, just like we talked about earlier. That's the stories we're telling ourselves. And so, um, and in order to get all that information, Um, Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, um, this incredible teacher leader, um, shows us that we have to adopt a liberated way of, of leading and teaching ourselves and each other. He calls it a dialogical leadership, which is essentially like reflection, and action. Those are really the two parts. Critical analysis is reflection and action. And so taking time to like, This is a time of reflection that the universe is prepared for us to reflect on where we are, um, where we, where we truly desire to be, like considering all the things that we really, really want, even the things that we're afraid or have felt afraid, like what I'm picking up right now is like, like Pluto and Capricorn. I think sometimes we get really stuck in the idea of like, have to, like what we have to do, what we should do. And that should do and have to energy is like, we're collectively like sloughing that off. And the not self version of that is essentially fascism. It's like batshit. But the true self version of that is like, If I get to define what I have to have and what I truly want to have, like what really, like I can start those dreams and those visions and those. more like out of the box, um, maybe fantastical sounding in a, like when you have that Capricorn background frequency, those types of things are now free to flow in a way they weren't free to flow before with this Aquarius background energy. And so take the, you're going to have to take the time for your like system to really Find comfort in the fact that things are different and things are changing and they can change for the better. How big can you allow yourself to dream so that you have vision for the action that you have to engage in to get to this place? You know, um, it, that really feels like a big push behind this Mars and Leo transit. Um, and the length of it, I mean, we talked about the retrograde, but after the retrograde is over, it goes back through Leo again. Yeah. It's going to be there until it's going to be, and

Andrea:

it's, it's going to be in its shadow. I can't remember how long, but I want to say it goes direct at the end of February. And then I think it's in its shadow until April and then it's in Leo until June or like that. So. yeah, it's, it's, it's, this is, this is going to be a theme for the next six months, minimum.

Courtney:

Yes, minimum.

Andrea:

And we might be be unpacking it for, for For, uh, for months after that.

Courtney:

totally, if it's anything like that, Venus and Leo retrograde a couple of years ago.

Andrea:

yeah, that was a doozy. I think that was last year.

Courtney:

Jesus, I don't even know. Oh, the Leo's have been getting it.

Andrea:

yes. Well, the Leo part of each of us has been yes,

Courtney:

exactly. The Leo part of all of us have been getting it, which is a beautiful thing. Of course. Yes, I mean, um, It's people, it's people, power, leadership, time,

Andrea:

exactly.

Courtney:

the hierarchy is crumbling, like literally in front of us, we're watching it, you know, anyone who's, if you're listening to us, that means you're paying attention,

Andrea:

also making its last stand. So. it

Courtney:

It is.

Andrea:

Yeah. So, so I mean, I think, you know, you covered this, but at the end of the day, it's really, how do you, how is this showing up in your life? And, How can you really double down on your strategy and authority so that you show up for the moments that you're being pulled into

Courtney:

Mm hmm, mm

Andrea:

show up for the people in your life that need you and the moments that they are being pulled into, um, And the cool part about these transits, they can be challenging, but also like the awareness and the connection and the potential to feel more fulfilled to make it the impact you want to make it, it gets amplified as we navigate these things. So there is a reward for being true self through these situations.

Courtney:

Yes. Yeah. Through them, meaning like every, every point along in the journey, there's going an opportunity for reward for gain and clarity and and

Andrea:

connection. So

Courtney:

yeah. So good.

Andrea:

So good. Well, if you're still listening, we adore you, you are, um, head over to the SubStack though. There's a link in the show notes for you to come over to, um, the summary post that is just going to You know, share a summary of everything that was discussed and leave us your thoughts, leave us your questions. Um, you know, where is this happening in your chart? What are you Like what comes up for you as we're discussing all of this? And, um, Um, yeah, we're just, we're excited to, to meet you and hear more from you. Don't forget to review the podcast, please.

Courtney:

Yes. Um,

Andrea:

so people can find us and we just appreciate you so much. See we do.

Courtney:

All right, y'all! See you soon.

Courtney Napier:

Thank you so much for tuning into HD and Liberation podcast. We hope you've gained valuable insights into human design and its role in building a life of peace, success, satisfaction, and wonder. If you've enjoyed this episode, please show your support by liking, following, and sharing our podcast. on YouTube, or your favorite podcast platform. Your engagement helps us reach more people who can benefit from this wisdom. For exclusive content and to join our thriving community, consider becoming a Patreon member. Your support allows us to continue exploring the depths of human design and its potential for life and community transformation. Stay tuned for more fun, thoughtful, and impacting discussions. Together, we're unlocking the path to a more liberated and authentic life. Thank you for being a part of HD and Liberation Podcast.

People on this episode

Head Shot

Andrea Ward Berg

Co-host
Head Shot

Courtney Napier

Co-host