6: Part Birthday, Part Profection Year

In this episode of Parts & Charts: The IFS and Astrology Podcast, Chelsea and KP explore:

What it means to cross a personal threshold—astrologically, emotionally, and internally—through the lens of Chelsea’s 40th birthday.

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They unpack the traditional astrology technique of annual profections and how each year of life is shaped by a different house and planetary guide (aka “Time Lord”). KP walks Chelsea through the energetic shift from a Mars-ruled fourth house year (39) to a Jupiter-ruled fifth house year (40), illuminating how themes of interiority, effort, and conflict give way to play, creativity, and joy.

Chelsea reflects on the intensity of her 39th year—how her parts showed up, how astrology intersected with life’s challenges, and what she’s hoping to leave behind. Together, they consider how astrology and IFS can support us in navigating expectations, reclaiming agency, and trusting our own unfolding.

This episode is a birthday celebration, a mini astrology class, and an invitation to be with whatever season of life you’re in—especially if it feels like a liminal one.

Key Quotes:

“Mars says no. Jupiter says yes.” — KP, on planetary rulership energy

“You don’t have to achieve anything before any timeline—because time isn’t real.” — Chelsea

“The Time Lord is like the rhythm-setter for your year.” — KP

“The energy of the year felt like: try something… and then nope. Try something else… and nope again.” — Chelsea

“You don’t have to let astrology dictate everything. But you can learn how to flow with it.” — KP

“Time isn’t real. Even though that is technically my business.” — KP, lol“There was friction because I was fighting the flow.” — Chelsea

“You’re not doing it wrong if your year feels crunchy. It might just be a 12th house year.” — KP“I was trying to overpower the universe… and just made myself suffer more.” — Chelsea“The fifth house isn’t for hustle. It’s for wonder, play, and creative expansion.” — KP

“There’s still things I want for my life, but it doesn’t have the same desperation anymore.” — Chelsea

“A 22-year-old astrologer can be brilliant if they’re self-led and coming from the heart.” — KP

Timestamps & Key Topics:

00:00 — Welcome back + birthday vibes01:00 — What is a perfection year? A time-based astrology technique05:00 — Chelsea reflects on turning 39, societal pressures, and internal parts10:00 — Mars-ruled years: conflict, frustration, and movement13:00 — How the fourth house shaped Chelsea’s experience of grounding16:00 — The energetic shift ahead: Jupiter as Time Lord in the fifth house20:00 — KP on Mars retrograde, protection parts, and burnout cycles25:00 — Why the next year is for joy, not intensity30:00 — The internal resistance to “bad” astrology news35:00 — Reframing aging as magic, not limitation38:00 — Grottoes, Gothic churches, and Mary energy40:00 — Support for anyone crossing a threshold—astrological or otherwise

Resources we mentioned in the episode:

* Annual Profections (Hellenistic astrology timing technique)

* https://horoscopes.astro-seek.com/annual-profections-astrology-calculator

* No Bad Parts by Dr. Richard Schwartz

* Internal Family Systems Institute — ifs-institute.com

* Chelsea’s therapy practice: chelseaowenstherapy.com

* KP’s as