posted March 27, 2009 07:58 PM
STEPS ON HOW TO INTERPRET A SOLAR RETURN CHART,by StarlinkA Solar Return chart is a very personal way to see how transits will relate to your natal chart. It shows where the action for the year will happen.
Once you understand the basics of your birth chart interpretation, you can use the same technique on your Solar Return chart. The Solar Return chart is a chart drawn up for the exact time when your Sun makes its yearly return to the position it was on at your birth. So you have a different Solar Return chart every year, but the Sun is always at the same sign and degree. Solar Return charts can be created at http://www.astro.com/ under "Free Horoscopes" "Extended Chart Selection". (excerpt from Wilscontc)
A Solar Return chart should always be looked at in connection with your natal chart therefore, because we want to see what our natal planets are doing this year and looking at their positions in the SR chart is one way of looking at that. Putting them on a 2-wheel chart is a good way of viewing them. Put the natal chart in the inner wheel. Use different colours (for the planets, highlight them by hand if you print it out) for both charts.
Note:You can also view the Solar Return as a chart on its own, but it wont tell you as much as when you compare with the natal chart.
Start by looking at the SR Ascendant. The sign on the Asc. will colour your natal Ascendant sign. So if natal Asc. is Capricorn but Solar Asc. is Saggittarius, you might come out of your shell a bit more in this year, maybe get more interested in other cultures, travel or starting a new study.
SR Ascendant ruler and any planets in the 1st SR house are very important.
Look into which house the SR Ascendant falls in your natal chart.
If it falls within 5° of the next housecusp then take the next house. That house will usually get a lot of focus in the year to come, as well as where the Sun is in the SR chart. Also look at both natal and SR rulers of that house.
Example: Look which planet rules the SR Asc. If it is Venus, then look at your natal chart first and see in which house that Venus is positioned. In the 1st? and now in the Solar Return chart you find Venus in the 5th? That will show you where your Venus qualities for this year will express themselves. You now see how the function of that natal Venus will operate in this year (new sign, new house in the Solar Return).
You can do this for every other personal planet. Should your SR. Asc. be ruled by a transpersonal planet (Uranus, Neptune or Pluto), then also look at this one. The traditionalists amongst us can look at Saturn, Jupiter and Mars or both modern and traditional to get an allround picture.
So focus on the following:
1.The house placement of the natal ruler of the solar return Ascendant
2.The house placement of the solar return ruler of the SR Ascendant
3.The house cusp (natal)closest to the SR Ascendant
4.The house placement of the Sun in the SR chart.
If the SR Ascendant is the same as your natal Asc. then this year could be a very important year with great integration from your part.
Should the Natal Descendant become the SR Ascendant, then a difficult year could be awaiting you. You might be at the mercy of others this year. Jupiter or Venus rising might mitigate the problems a bit. Same problems can arise when SR Moon opposes the Sun. This could also indicate health problems during the year. Be sure to look at the SR 6th house to determine that.
Also look at the overview of the SR chart, just like you do it for a natal chart.
All planets all of a sudden below the horizon?? this could show a year where you will keep more to yourself, turn inwards and become more subjective.
When most planets fall on the Asc. side (east) of the SR chart, you might get into action more than when they would fall in the Desc. side (west). You might even be forced to undertake more, depending on the aspects.
Where the Solar Return MOON falls in the natal chart indicates an area of activity or restlessness for the year.
Natal Saturn in the SR 12th house can show the need to spend time alone, or even hospitalization. A good placement for solitary work.
Natal Jupiter in the SR 12th can show a certain amount of protection during the year.
Indicators of Marriage: 3rd, 7th, 9th or 11th houses accentuated. Sun or Venus conj.SR Ascendant. 5th and 7th houses both activated and Venus prominent could show a love affair culminating in commitment.
Childbirth or Pregnancy: 4th, 5th and 11th houses activated, Lunar Nodes across the 5th/11th house axis. Solar or natal Neptune in the 4th.
Career/Job change: 2nd, 6th and 10th houses activated. Uranus or Moon in 6th and 10th especially show change.
Home change:3rd (talking and thinking about change) & 4th house activations. Moon, Mars or Uranus in 4th. Uranus can also show changes within the home like an addition made or changing the furniture.
Saturn in SR 4th shows staying in the same place.
Health:1st, 6th and 12th houses.
Surgery : 8th and Mars in the 8th or on the Asc. or the Moon in the 8th, challenged. (also for dental surgery and caesarian section delivery)
Death: cannot really be predicted but the possibility is there when 2nd and 8th houses are activated, as well as the 4th.
Death of parents 5th and 11th which are the parents 8th . The 1st and 7th represent their 4th house of ending.
Inheritance: strong 2nd/8th activity.
Divorce: 3rd (dissolution of contract), 7th (break with partner), 8th (financial settlements) and the 9th (legal activities). Pluto, Uranus and Mars angular.
Affairs: 5th and 12th houses ; Unfaithfulness: 7th and 12th
ASPECTS Solar Return planets are only to be considered active when they aspect a natal planet!
Any planet withing 3° of a cusp, activates that house.
Any planet on an angle or within 5° before the angle should get extra attention, as well as the house this planet rules.
Any planet receiving a return (within 3° to 4°) is particularly significant and the SR houses ruled by them needs special attention.
SR planets forming a T-square or Grand Square with a natal opposition or T-square can show great activity in the natal houses involved.
A quincunx forming a Yod with a natal Quincunx are also important as they could indicate a great choice to be made that year.
which quadrant is most occupied in the Solar Return.
1-4 = personal needs
5-8 = interpersonal involvement
9-12 = could show a transpersonal time in your life.
Where are most planets situated?
Most planets in angular houses? much action promised, new projects and /or relationships, anything new.
In succedent houses? could show completion of projects already under way at the beginning of your SR year. Opportunities for growth possible.
In cadent houses? Year of change and mental activity. Adaptability is necessary and it could be difficult to concentrate on one thing at a time.
NOTE: Rising planets, especially natal planets which are in the rising side of the SR chart, and especially the one’s in the 1st house and close to the SR Asc. have a lot of power in this year. In fact the natal planets position in the Solar Return chart seem to have more impact than the Solar Return planets, but you should anyhow look at both.
Lastly look at the Angles
Ascendant (what you want)
MC/IC. (the end stations and what you aim for) Are they Fixed? Cardinal? or Mutable?
Examples:
Cardinal Asc. and IC/MC Fixed: you could start energetic and end the year by completing what you wanted to do. The Cardinal energy will bring on a busy time, trying to get something done and the Fixed quality will do just that: make it a finished (fixed) product or plan.
Fixed Asc. and Mutable IC/MC? Things that looked like they were set and done (Fixed), might have to be changed or will undergo change (Mutability always shows changes with a great deal of activity indicated
Mutable Asc. and Fixed IC/MC? Others might help you get going on projects you dont want to finish (mutable people have trouble to finish something they started). Be careful not to be too dependent on what others tell you to do, but do try to accomplish and finish (Fixed )something you started even before this new year.
Fixed Asc. and Cardinal IC/MC: Established, (maybe outworn) ideas and plans (Fixed) could maybe get enlarged and updated. Maybe now is the time to do what you actually wanted to do for a long time and take action (Cardinal attitude)
Intercepted signs and planets are also important to look at, because those houses will be so much bigger. Intercepted planets could have trouble to express their energy at the beginning of the year but when exiting the interception they become better in their expression again.
Rulers of SR intercepted houses can work on a subconscious level Also take into account that intercepted signs share a common house.
General Notes:
For most accuracy keep all aspects between natal and Solar Return planets within 5° orb.
Below you find some links, also explaining the Solar Return by Celeste Teal and Mary Shea:
www.llewellynjournal.com/article/391
Frequently asked questions about Solar Returns, also which location you should use to draw the SR chart, your present location (where you spend most of your time during the year), your place of birth or the place you are at the time of your birthday (on vacation in another country for instance) are explained here:
http://www.maryshea.com/sr.html#2
Lindaland
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posted March 27, 2009 07:58 PM
posted March 28, 2009 06:29 AM
posted March 28, 2009 11:24 AM
