Solar Return Charts

[Arian Maverick]

My birthday is in less than four days, so naturally I have become interested in the concept of the Solar Return. I noticed awhile ago that this is a type of chart offered on Astrodienst (http://www.astro.com/), so I created one for myself in hopes of gleaning some insight of that day. It is a very interesting concept, but do Solar Return Charts have any greater astrological value than simply describing the energies of a particular moment on a particular day? I have heard of people traveling on their birthday in hopes of improving their luck for the upcoming year...does this have any basis in fact?

As always, I greatly appreciate feedback! :D

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/5280/mysolarreturnchart20061ky.png (http://imageshack.us)

Arian Maverick

[23]

Try this link:

http://www.llewellynjournal.com/article/391

I used it for my chart this year and it clarified a lot of things for me.

[Summery Joy]

I'm not good at them but I hope these help

http://www.karmastrology.com/ast_srtn.shtml

http://www.bobmarksastrologer.com/19.1Birthdays.htm

[Arian Maverick]

Thanks so much for the links, 23 and sorehearted! :mrgreen:

Arian Maverick

[wilsontc]

Arian,

I have found Solar Returns useful and, to keep the astrology simple, I read them the same as I read a birth chart, except the energy applies to the year only, not to the person's life. So this year, with most of your planets in the top right of your chart, you focus most on using your understanding of the outer world to personally achieve goals which help the outer world. With North node (future goals) focused in the 11th house (friends, also others' self-expression), there may be a strong concern this year in personally helping others to help other people express themselves. This usually indicates an interest in humanitarian causes of some type.

Although I have heard of the theory of relocating in order to avoid an unpleasant Solar Return, to me this makes no sense. We were born with certain energies in us. The Solar Return is simply the yearly activation of those energies. We can no more run away from our Solar Return energies than we can run away from our own shadow in bright sunlight!

Solarizing,

Tom

[C Jayne]

Dear AM--

:) If I get too tied up with things on Wednesday to say Happy Birthday, please know my heart was in the right place. I think all of us should give you an online party -- your posts really perk this place up!

Year after year, I have tried Solar Return charts. I have found them to be -- :( -- utterly useless! Progressions, yes, but Solar Return charts -- not for me.

But everything is worth exploring! :wink:


-- CJ

[VENUS]

ive heard that if you have a particular problem, and you spend your birthday in another country, the problem could go away, but it could arise in another area... :|

[Arian Maverick]

If I get too tied up with things on Wednesday to say Happy Birthday, please know my heart was in the right place. I think all of us should give you an online party -- your posts really perk this place up!

Thank you, C Jayne! I think we should have a belated online party (http://www.astrologyweekly.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1429) for the Spring Equinox, anyway...I'll bring the balloons! :mrgreen:

http://img484.imageshack.us/img484/7048/balloons9xw.png (http://imageshack.us)

Arian Maverick

[Howl]

Hello all!

Regarding solar returns - I gather that at least some astrologers subscribe to the belief that your return chart will change if you 'move' for your birthday. However, I am wondering, does it 'change back' when you come back home? Do you effectively have a solar chart cast for the whole year, from the location of your solar return, or do the house placements of planets in the chart (and your SR ascendant) adjust as you travel around after your solar return?

Any opinions on the matter appreciated :D

[rubyelixir]

I was taught that travel for your solar return chart would always be beneficial to the right location. In fact I went to Miami this year for my birthday to get a better chart. However, I see more and more astrologers online saying it reverts back to your present location. Personally, I believe that the chart is cast for that specific time & you can't be in two places at the same time, so i go for were i was & thats the chart for the year. I think its opinion & I'm not even sure when Solar returns were first being used , i dont think its midevel but i'm not sure

[rubyelixir]

by the way, this backfired on me because my birthday is jan 1. I erected the chart BEFORE jan 1 & when I plugged it in for solar return on astrodienst, it came out w the 2005 chart not 2006, I didnt catch it , went to Miami & realized it after my birthday when I showed the chart to an astrologer friend of mine who pointed it out, No wonder I have so many problems this year!

[Howl]

Thanks for your thoughts :)

Mmm, Ive been considering this, and if it DOES revert, it would mean you have a different SR ascendant as you move around the place. Given that your personality might be seen to change significantly if you move between Australia and India, for example, it seems feasible. Also, Astrodienst has an 'astro click travel' horoscope where it shows you the different energies that will supposedly play out in your life depending on where you are,

(http://www.astro.com/horoscopes/ahor.asp)

which is interesting, and consistent with the idea that your SR chart changes. I'm still not sure though, maybe I can look at past SR charts for when Ive had my birthday overseas!!

I'd prefer it if it changed with location, otherwise I have to make a huge crazy decision about where I'm having my birthday this year!!! :)

[Howl]

ahahah, tricked!! So you feel pretty sure that your on location SR chart for 2006 is playing out consistently?

[AquariusMoon]

Hello all!

Regarding solar returns - I gather that at least some astrologers subscribe to the belief that your return chart will change if you 'move' for your birthday. However, I am wondering, does it 'change back' when you come back home? Do you effectively have a solar chart cast for the whole year, from the location of your solar return, or do the house placements of planets in the chart (and your SR ascendant) adjust as you travel around after your solar return?

Any opinions on the matter appreciated :D

Hi. Nice links. I love Celeste Teal.

I'm not an expert on SR's, but maybe the best thing to do is to experience it firsthand. Especially if you're looking at a crummy SR anyway. Some may not notice a change while others may. There are lots of factors to consider.

Last year as it so happened, I moved (only 800 miles away), but this changed my SR nonetheless. At my new location the Asc changed to 23 Libra (Spica). I didn't know it at the time, but I moved to my Jupiter line, which is my chart ruler. Needless to say, what I've experienced has made me a believer in both astrocartography and traveling for a SR if the chart is a bad one. I moved near the time of my demi-return.

Yes, the planets will be the same, but in different houses. This could be a good thing if you want to get, say, Pluto off an angle. The angles will change. This could be a good thing if, say, 29 Taurus is on one of the angles. Some people don't like having Pluto on an angle or a 29 Taurus angle, those type of things, exercise their free will and change it.

So look at your transits, look at your progressions and look at your SR together and see if it's worth it. It's fun to take a little trip on your birthday anyway. All the better if the place you're going will be potentially beneficial for the whole year.

AqMoon

[Miss Saturn]

The house position of the sun may be used to indicate the busiest period of the year.In an angular house the beginning of the year will have the most activity.Pivotal circumstances and events correspond with the sun in a angular house.

Houses two five and eleven the middle portion of the year, will prove to be the most productive.The position of the sun here represents issues with personal resources, and personal values.It usually represents conclusions, finalities and the oppurtunity for stabilization.

If the sun is in house three,six,nine or twelve the last part of the year will show the most forward movement. As most of the year has been spent in preparation and adjustments.

While the house position of the sun may be used as a general timing, a prominence of planets in one of the three sectors may modify your findings.

[Miss Saturn]

I have been reading more into the solar returns, a lot of articles i have read seem to go into quite long interpretations about the position of the planets and the aspects. Maybe there is something in it i will have to test it out for myself.

Are they just a background to your transits or would they offer any added interpretation. It seems that you look at this new ascendent on the chart as some of the characteristics you are likely to take on, but i have always found the progressed moon as an excellent indicater in my chart to descibe the influences on my life and the personality traits i have taken on and this influence lasts for two and a half years.

The sun in a house seems to indicate what you will be focusing on for that year ,again you would have to synthesize this with your progressd moon. All these added aspects as well it's alot of information.I know your only supposed to interpret the chart for that year. I supposed i would have to experiment with it to see if i found it useful for predicting the general trend for the year.

[Lorielle]

I've been looking at my solar return chart for this year. I have heard that whenever a planet is in the same degree as a node, it is going to be a difficult year. /shrug. I also read that you take the ruler of the SR chart, see what SR house it's in and that's where a lot of your focus will be for the year. Cap rising, Saturn in the 7th. Yeah that, so far is what's going on.

Also, I have Sun/Moon conjunct in the 2nd house, and having those 2 conjunct is like having all your eggs in one basket. I've got Uranus and Neptune nearby also, showing lots of changes for the year with regards to 2nd house issues.

I am looking for a new job, and that could change my income...

Lori

[Howl]

I only started looking at SR charts this last year, and mine for Dec 2005, to me anyway, looks like a huge year. There is both a grand cross in fixed signs and a kite involving my sun and moon. One planet, saturn in my third house, is the only one in the first five houses and seems to pin the two formations together. Third house is also my natal placement of saturn. So, even though I think I may have only gotten the gist of what's going on, I'm enjoying watching this year to see if I perform as anticipated ;)

I think it's the most exciting SR chart I'm gonna get for a while! Here it is:

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/6816/lisssolarreturndec057dz.th.gif (http://img115.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lisssolarreturndec057dz.gif)

[Miss Saturn]

I had a look at my solar return chart and here is what i found.

My solar return sun is in the 1st house and this house represents what i can do for myself, it's says you tend to act alone, and that this is a time of personal progress and achievement.Self interests are important. I am building on these skills now because next year my solar return sun will be in the 10th house so my skills can be used in the workplace. So that is my challenge for this year to translate my personal development into career success.

My sun in the previous year was in the 4th house so i formed emotional support and an appropiate physical enviroment

My solar return ascendent is in aquarius this gives me a need for independence. A strong need to break out of my shell and express a new me. There may also be some emotional detachment and stability.I have to be careful not to alienate people

My solar return planet in aspect indicate i will have a tendency to overreact, and there will be conflicts with other people.(sun square mars)
Strong need to make changes and break daily routine.Attracted to the new and unusual.(sun conjunct uranus)

All this is very true actually, i have been more into my own interests i have got back into astrology. I have also been thinking about doing a self confidence course because i think my lack of confidence is holding me back from things i want to do.

My sun in the previous year was in the 4th and i had a baby last year and so my focus was very much there and making a nice home.

I have tended to alienate people sometimes because i just want to do my own thing and not be distracted.I think this chart is very helpful in seeing where your focus is lying and where you are wanting to develop your skills.

[Lorielle]

I've been really trying to get the hang of SR charts. :) It's pretty easy to see some things in retrospect, as usual. I know that natally, I have Aquarius rising. I went back to 2000 and ran an SR for that year, as I remember that year being particularly difficult in several different areas for me. There were tough changes, although they were welcome after the fact. That year, my ASC was Leo... the ASC/DESC axis was reversed.

Can any of you look back to particularly "strong" years, not necessarly bad, but just memorable in some way and see it in that year's SR chart? I'm just asking this because I'd like to see if certain "rules" really work. :)

Look back on a year when you started a new relationship, a love relationship, that was particularly memorable for you in some way. In the SR for that year, which planet was rising? What was the ASC and where was the Lord of the ASC in the SR chart?

Just doing this for some practice. :)

Everlearning, Evergrowing. :)
Lori

[Miss Saturn]

Hi,

I looked back on the year 2004, because that was when i started a new job and i started a new relationship, which was going to be very important to me as we would have a child togther, and it has turned into a long term relationship.

Solar Return Chart

Sun,mercury and uranus are in my 6th house of work.
My ascendent is in virgo which rules your daily duties.
MY ascedent ruler in the 6th house of work.
Saturn is in the tenth house both of these signify career
Sun conjunct mercury
Sun trine saturn
All these placements i think indicate the work aspect of my life for that year.

These next placements are what i think indicate the new relationship
Sun trine saturn
sun conjunct uranus
moon trine neptune
venus trine pluto

But like you said lorielle it's easy to see in retrospect,the real test is trying to predict the influences for the following year, when i have time i will try this out myself.

:) Hope this helped even a little towards your understanding .

[Lorielle]

Thanks for the post. :) I looked back to the years when I got married. (Ack that sounds bad... plural like that.. twice.) I can see the two different qualities, in retrospect, of the marriages.

If you take the SR chart and place your natal planets on the outside, in a double ring chart, look for the first planet rising after the ascendent. Supposedly, Venus rising is supposed to indicate a new romance coming into the picture.

Venus rises in my SR chart, followed closely by natal Saturn and Jupiter. The ascendant ruler is Saturn in the 7th house. (A semi-long term relationship just ended for me... he is a Capricorn.)

Jupiter is in the 10th house. Natally it rules my 10th house. Almost all of the SR planets are in the 1st 2 houses. My 2nd house has the Moon, Sun, Uranus, and Mercury. Usually, wherever Uranus is, is the house, or area of life with the biggest changes. From memory, Mars is in the 5th, Saturn in the 7th. JUpiter in the 10th and Pluto in the 12th.

Saturn indicates restrictions and/or structure. There were certainly a lot of restrictions in the romance...

I am both hoping for a new job and a new love... so we shall see.

Lori

[Miss Saturn]

Hi Lorielle,

With your sun being in the second house this is a good time to budget your expenses and focus on money making ideas.This is the year were you decide you deserve more and push for a higher income.The actual increase might not come till the end of the SR year or until the sun moves into 11th house.
Self worth issues are to the forefront you will expect appreciation.If your in an unhappy relationship you will you consider ending it.Aren't you worth it.This is a good time to prioritise your values.

The challenge for you the coming year when your sun moves into the 11th house is to foster new goals off your present stability,and develop friendships with people who really appreciate you.

The asset from the previous year when the sun was in the 5th house is the ability to express yourself.Creative outlets can lead to money making projects and increased self worth.

This was what i found on the meanings of the sun in the SR chart and yours being in the 2nd house.

Good luck with finding a job and enjoy your spare time before the next fella comes along, when i was single i loved having the t.v remote to myself, and doing as i please.:)

[Missa]

I don't particularly enjoy begging for interpretations, but I'm still quite new to solar return charts and the year has been quite rough (though I've still got a few months left before my next solar return) and I'd like to hear what some more experienced astrologists see there. I also ask you to be honest.

My current solar return (http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/5346/solarreturn0506kv7.jpg) (since september 2005)

[Howl]

Hi Missa,

I am by no means an expert - but I am very interested in SR charts! I'd like to share what I think but the image I get when I click the link is exceptionally grainy....I can't read it.

Could you try posting it again, or if necessary, the SR details?

It looks like it has a grand cross. My SR chart for this year has one of those! :)

[Missa]

Hi Missa,

I am by no means an expert - but I am very interested in SR charts! I'd like to share what I think but the image I get when I click the link is exceptionally grainy....I can't read it.

Could you try posting it again, or if necessary, the SR details?

It looks like it has a grand cross. My SR chart for this year has one of those! :)

Really? It looks just fine to me. Does anyone else have a problem with the image? The image is so big that your computer might make it automatically smaller, when you put your mouse over the picture you're able to make it bigger when you click the button on the lower right corner. At least that's how it works for me.

[Howl]

Ohhhhhhh, that's how it works!! Silly me :) Bear with me, I am typing as I think so this may not come out smoothly...

The first thing I notice is your grand fixed cross (moon, venus, neptune, mars). That's three personal planets, one of which is the ruler of your SR chart (moon), each connecting with lovely neptune, which can bring inspiration/delusion/spirituality, and supposedly illicit substances, too... :)

I picture a grand square, especially in fixed signs, as sort of a double mexican standoff (four planets, guns loaded and aimed, all eyeing eachother off to see who will shoot first :D) Your cross is between houses 2, 8, 11, 5. Houses two and five are personal, eight and eleven are about others/the outside world:

5H personal/individual expression of self---------11H social/group expression of self
2H what you value/control----------------------8H what transforms values/you can't control

So to me, this looks like a standoff between what is important to you and your sense of self, and how your relationships with other people (money/freinds/sex/ideals) are **GRINDING** against this.

Interestingly, the signs involved in your grand cross are native to the houses involved, just "rotated" 90 degrees (2H - Leo) (8H - Aqua) (5H - Scorpio) (11H -Taurus). My theory is that this would reinforce the house focus described above.

With Cancer ascendant, the grand cross featuring the moon and neptune, and also venus being in watery scorpio, I'm thinking there's a strong water/emotion focus. Your sun is also in 4H, which has water/emotion focus. So there's a lot of emotion, but with Saturn in 1H Leo (in detriment, and conjunct moon) - my guess it that you feel unable to express it all. Perhaps you feel like these are your personal problems, and you shouldn't show them, or that no-one should "have to" listen to you.

Note also that mars and venus are in detriment - perhaps what you want, and the way you feel like you can get it, are especially "difficult" for this period of time (if squares and oppositions didn't make this difficult enough already!!).

On the up side (there always is one!) from 4H libra, mercury makes a tight trine and sextile to planets in the grand cross. Your sun makes a looser trine and sextile. Jupiter is also in 4H Libra. My guess is that you have spent considerable time and effort THINKING about your relationships, and CHOOSING how to ACT on your emotions in a balanced, considered manner.

I have faith that you've got the emotional resources/resilience to "figure it out" and take something positive from whatever difficulties you've faced during the year. Jupiter conjunct nadir would also suggest so ;)

Qualifier: I may be entirely off target, this is an interpretation of how the chart looks to me! I'd be interested to know if any of it sounds right for you :)

[Howl]

P.S. - I have a fixed grand cross this year, with different planets, and also a kite ;) I think it's beautiful!! One of the most rewarding years of my life, so far.

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/5734/lisssolarreturndec05ce5.th.gif (http://img191.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lisssolarreturndec05ce5.gif)