Solar Return Questions

[newbie]

I'm trying to pull up my solar return charts on the website "astro.com".

I have a few queries:

Now on the data entry page, where it asks for details such as name, gender, place/date/time of birth, should I be entering my current location or my actual place of birth as I no longer live in the place that I was born years ago!

If I choose the current location, what should be the time of birth? The time when I ask for the chart to be drawn?

Additionally when it asks for House system, which one is the best?
Also, what does the "Start Date for the chart" indicate?

If I choose 1st July 2008 there, will that chart hold good from 1st July 2008 to June 30 2009?

Reason I ask is, any date I put in there until Dec 31st for this year, gives me the same chart. The moment I put in the date 1st Jan 2009, I get a different chart.

[barty]

For the time, you need to know the exact time when the sun is in the same place that it was when you were born. This may be a day before or after your actual birthday. I have no idea how you would calculate it manually, you'd probably need some astrology software (or a helpful member with some astrological software!!!) to do it.

As for the location, there is some debate amongst astrologers whether to use your place of birth, your home address at the time of the return, or indeed the place you physically were at the time of your return.

I'm back here tomorrow, if u wanna post (or PM me) your birth data I can sort a solar return chart out for you :-)

[astro.teacher]

The location should always be your birth location. Modern Astrologers tend to believe that you can go on vacation for your solar return and expect "better" results, however traditional opinion is, its dependant on your birth place only, and you cannot change it. Astro.com includes this option because it caters more to modern Astrologers.

As for the date, it doesnt matter the month you put in, it only wants to know the year you want the chart for because the month/day is your birth month/day, the only variable is the year.

[cassanra]

AStro.com has a solar and lunar chart choice. You can change the locaation with a drop down box...no it is in blue and is says "modify reference point".

[pallas]

The location should always be your birth location. Modern Astrologers tend to believe that you can go on vacation for your solar return and expect "better" results, however traditional opinion is, its dependant on your birth place only, and you cannot change it. Astro.com includes this option because it caters more to modern Astrologers.

As for the date, it doesnt matter the month you put in, it only wants to know the year you want the chart for because the month/day is your birth month/day, the only variable is the year.

I use the location of the person at the time of the solar return...
I use the transits to the natal and progressive charts in addition if I need
verifcation.
Question for you astro.teacher...this isn't to try and pull your chain, just curious...since you only use birthplace, then you don't apply any use
to relocation charts?:confused:

[VENUS]

Planets in Solar Returns by Mary Fortier Shea says to put the solar return chart at the location you are on your birthday. I think most astrologers say that too, because it comes out more accurate

[VENUS]

actually i made a mistake...heres what ms. shea says:
"The solar return chart is generally calculated for your location at the time of the sun's return. This may occur on your birthday, or the day before, or after. During leap years, it sometimes occurs 2 days before your birthday. If you are going to be away or traveling near your birthday, it is a good idea to calculate the time of the sun's return before you leave; then you can note your position at the exact moment of the solar return."

then she continues to say:
" You can also calculate the chart for your natal birth location even if you no longer live there. The natal location solar return chart is not as definitive as the relocation solar return, but it can give you good information. The natal location solar return is like a progressed solar arc chart; you are born with it. Therefore, a natal solar return cannot and will not reflect any free will choices you might have made regarding where you live or where you are when the sun returns. It is a good chart, but it does not mirror the whole picture, especially if you have moved a great distance."

so there you go i guess. i usually put my location for the solar return, but i guess you could do both charts. and compare them? she also says in here that no matter where you go your transits and progressions dont change themes anyway. i guess whatever is written for you is written for you :)

[astro.teacher]

Question for you astro.teacher...this isn't to try and pull your chain, just curious...since you only use birthplace, then you don't apply any use
to relocation charts?

Relocation charts are pretty unheard of in traditional Astrology (the form I practice) therefore I dont use them. Ive also done comparision between relocation and natal location and natal location is most accurate therefore I use that primarily. A lot of people do not actually understand how to even read solar returns (Modern Astrology has hardly touched on the use of Solar returns and their interpretation - although some authors have ventured there) which may also lead to a lot of complications concerning the two different chart results youd get.

[BobZemco]

so there you go i guess. i usually put my location for the solar return, but i guess you could do both charts. and compare them? she also says in here that no matter where you go your transits and progressions dont change themes anyway. i guess whatever is written for you is written for you :)

A Solar Return chart is just a transit chart. Your transits are the same where ever you are, the only difference is in which houses they fall.

I had been living in a foreign country when I got married.

Using my natal location:

Pluto 2nd
Saturn 3rd
Uranus 3rd (close to 4th House cusp)
Neptune and Moon 4th
Mars 4th (close to 5th House cusp)
Jupiter 6th (close to 7th House cusp)
Sun/Mercury 9th
Venus 10th

My residence:
Pluto 11th (close to 12th House cusp)
Saturn and Uranus 1st
Neptune 1st (close to 2nd House cusp)
Moon and Mars 2nd
Jupiter 3rd (close to 4th House cusp)
Sun/Mercury 7th
Venus 7th (close to 8th House cusp)

In my opinion my natal location shows better marriage indiactors than the residence.

[VENUS]

hey bob,
well in your residence of that time you had a strong emphasis in your 7th house...sun, venus, merc....what marriage indicators did you have using your natal location besides jupiter...?
maybe looking at both charts could give you a hint on whats in store for the year...?

I'm sure every astrologer has their own opinion though.

In Planets in Solar Return Mary Fortier Shea says: " One fact about marriage and the solar return chart is surprising. The solar return is not necessarily a good indicator of a marriage during the year. The begginning of a relationship might be easily seen, but the marriage itself is more likely to be reflected in transits, solar arcs, and secondary progressions. On the other hand, the postponement of a marriage or the refusal to make a commitment can be easily seen with saturn, uranus, or neptyune in the 7th house."

Im not saying shes right, im just stating what she says, because like i said before every astrologer has their own opinion.

personally, if i would use transits and progressions for a marriage indicator... i think solar returns are more of an indicator on how you feel, how you will feel, and where emphasis is placed...and where theres going to be action for the year. i dont take them as serious as other charts. :)