Solar Return Charts

[u4ic]

Does anyone know anything about these?

I was reading up a bit on them today, and am curious about them vs transits.

This upcoming solar return indicates quite possibly some travel; I have a 4 planet stellium in the 9th, in a t-square with Jupiter in 12th (ruler of my natal 9th) and Neptune in the 3rd; Moon conjunct Mars (conjunct the MC); and Uranus in the 3rd almost exactly conjunct the IC.

I feel it is screaming travel or relocation for me (funny, since I can't travel at all now due to long term illness)...yet my transits don't indicate it at all. (I realize there could be a couple of alternate explanations, such as returning to school, but the outer planet transits don't look like it, either).

There are lots of conjunctions, squares and oppositions...feels like a lot of power and movement in the chart, as well.

If anyone has any information on them, I would love to learn more! :hi:

[stellanoir]

1. Welp

There is a lot of controversy in the astro community over Solar Return charts.

They certainly have their import but the controversy lies within the split within the community that can fly to far flung places for their birthdays to have the experience of a certain alleged benefic planets to be angular. Those who cannot afftord to do so tend to believe that it reverts back to the chart of one's residence when they inevitably go home.

It's kind of funny. The only time I had birthdays in far flung places I lived in those places for the duration of the year. So go figure.

But I'd say it you are incapable of travel then focus on the higher learning, philosophical, and spiritual expansion aspects of the 9th house. Jupiter in the 12th and Neptune in the third could help your imagination as well. Uranus on the IC may have you restless for sure.

In terms of the influences on your MC as well as Uranus on your IC, it may be time to reframe your goals and your relationship to your aspirations and your grounding. Uranus on the IC can be indicative of home renovations and changes in care of your body as well. Maybe think Feng Shui and connecting with the earth in a more profound way.

I have no business doing this without knowledge of your natal configurations though.

Just thought I'd chime in.

[cassiepriam]

2. Yes, "travel" can mean anything that broadens your horizons.

Can mean growth and education, etc...

[u4ic]

4. Yes, expansion is the key

4 planet stellium in 9th square Jupiter in 12th...

[u4ic]

3. Thank you very much, stellanoir!

That was very informative, and for sure I can very much relate to what you said, especially In terms of the influences on your MC as well as Uranus on your IC, it may be time to reframe your goals and your relationship to your aspirations and your grounding. Spot on!

It is a time of huge change for me now, and I think for a few years to come...(if I could leave the province where I am now, I would love it!)

Do you know which takes precedence, or is considered more important - transits, or the solar return chart - if there are conflicting interpretations?

[cassiepriam]

5. In karmic astrology, outer planet transits are the most important

[u4ic]

8. I must be a karmic astrologer at heart

I don't even bother looking any anything closer than Mars ->> outward(though I think you're probably talking Jupiter and outwards?) :hi:

[cassiepriam]

11. yes Jup onwards.

Outer planets transits are karmic in nature and the effects will last for some time, inner planet transits are considered more day to day kind of thing.

[cassiepriam]

14. Oh and wide orbs: 4-5 degrees on either side of exact,

as the effects will be felt long before and after the short time they will be exact.

[u4ic]

15. That's good to know

It'll be hard to let go of this Jupiter square Venus...here's hoping the effects will linger. :rofl:

(though without the weight gain...)

[stellanoir]

6. hmmmmm. . .

"Do you know which takes precedence, or is considered more important - transits, or the solar return chart - if there are conflicting interpretations??

To use an old cliche. . .It's sort of like apples and oranges.

The solar return will illucidate the primary focal points of a year. The outer most planet's transits tend to hover back and forth over the same degrees for the better part of a year so would show up in both. Yet no one would sneeze at Venus on their Sun or Moon in a solar return even though that is a fleeting transit.

A decent astrologer can weigh in factors from transits, to the Natal charts, progressed placements, and solar return charts and determine which factors would be more prevalent at any given time and when there are contradicting influences that's what you cannot necessarily or rarely get from a computer generated chart. It's won of the toughest things to teach or learn to do and is highly experiential and intuitive.

I may have told this story before here but I'll never forget when a really bright guy I was tutoring in astrology showed up at an astro conference. I introduced him to one of the real wizards in my field and let them talk privately. Later when I saw the wizard I said, "what do you think of that guy?" He said, "He's great but he's still at the stage of astrological learning wherein one wonders,"does the hangnail go this way or that way when the bottom line is it's just a stupid hangnail and get rid of it."

That analogy cracks me up to this day and is really apt.
 

[u4ic]

9. LOL

I may be at the hangnail stage, too :)

However, if I don't ask, I may never learn. I'll look at them very carefully...only thing I can remember is my Uranus is sextile MC (and trine IC..the upcoming solar return chart it IS on the IC, so I thought there's reinforcement...)Another deep, involved look is in order, I think.


So..solar chart returns, basically, are outward manifestations of what the year will be like (or where our outward focus will be), but outer planet transits works on an inner level?

Thanks for your thoughts, stellanoir!

[stellanoir]

13. ahhh

"So..solar chart returns, basically, are outward manifestations of what the year will be like (or where our outward focus will be), but outer planet transits works on an inner level?"

No both can manifest inwardly and be event oriented as well.

The solar return is sort of an orientation for the year's agenda. Outer planet transits manifest on many levels depending upon the way in which we greet or resist and respond to them. Also aspects to personal planets factor in as well as the quadrant in which the transits

I know it's confusing but keep asking questions and you'll get a feeling for it over time.

[u4ic]

17. Thanks

Yes, I should have known already that transits manifest both internally and externally. D'oh!

It's this solar return stuff that's confusing me (when inconsistent with transits).

I was looking at last years, to compare to the year so far...some of it makes sense, some doesn't. (for eg Sun in the 12th...my focus has actually been on getting back into the world after a long illness, and reintegrating back into 'normality' It's been anything but behind the scenes, though I have been working on my spirituality once again. I don't see anything in the chart that indicates getting out into the world again) :shrug: (I'm just trying to understand it, I'm not looking for a reading. Wanted to clarify that!)

Such is life, I guess. :-)

[stellanoir]

27. In terms of

"getting back into the world after a long illness, and reintegrating back into 'normality'" don't just look at the Sun's placement as that has more to do with identity issues which aren't neccesarily unrelated. Look to Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn's placements for that potential reintegration as they relate repectively to your will and ability for meeting opportunities and manifesting something of lasting import amongst many other things.

[u4ic]

28. Thank you!

That's very helpful information.

Interestingly enough, both 2005 and 2006 solar return charts have moon conjunct mars in them. (in the new one, all 3 of the aforementined planets are in 2 different t-squares...well, in fact EVERY planet save Chiron is in one of those t-squares...yikes...just shoot me now. lol)

[Chemical Bill]

7. I can't really be comfortable without a chart but...

I will say that the 9th house doesn't necessarily mean travel. I think of higher learning, spiritual exploration, and teaching, as well as travel. I also think that the planets don't force you to, in this case, travel. You have the chance to concentrate on these areas this year, what you do with the opportunity is up to you. I think that solar returns are interesting in that they describe the upcoming year, but transits are much more useful in timing events.

Bill

[u4ic]

10. Hi Bill

Thank you for your insights. :)

I've got a 9th house Moon, and yes, I've always had the travel bug; and have always wanted to live abroad (Cancer is on the 4th cusp; 9th cusp Sag ruled by Jupiter, in 4th)

Maybe it's just a matter of seeing what I'd really like to be seeing (travel), but I can definitely see it as a time of study about spiritual matters, perhaps even a bit of teaching (not paid, as I can't work, but perhaps through my church, etc)

Nonetheless, it's screaming change. Which is good. :bounce:

[cassiepriam]

12. Astrology, the process

I am always amazed at how complex this field is.

And how it really requires a strong left and right brain, it really is an art and a science.

And a complicated juggling act, staying close to the data to be accurate, but then stepping back and looking at the big picture and just feeling what the chart means.

I usually tear the chart apart in in microanalysis, then put it back together and look at in a macro way. So it is going back and forth all the time.

[u4ic]

16. It is, isn't it?!

I'm just starting to try and understand it a bit more...and my approach...I get a feeling from the chart initially, then I need to dissect it more.

Putting it all back together again...that's a challenge...

[cassiepriam]

19. Yes that is the hard part

Most of us can break the chart down into its parts and interpret those parts,
but putting it all back together in a holistic way is the art of it all. The parts are only truly meaningful when interpreted in the context of the whole.
The natal chart represents tremendous and varied energy that is a supreme juggling act.

One of the things I look for is themes. Often times in natal charts, the same theme is repeated over and over again. Those are the things that are important to look at....

One of the things that I have noticed in the field of astrology is that there is not a great deal of training in the process of chart interpretation. Seems like a tremendous amount of content information about the WHAT, but not much about the HOW to do it. Some books talk a bit about it, but not much.

The other missing piece is how to talk to clients about the chart. A good astrologer is like a counselor, the info has to be presented in a certain way to maximize the impact of the reading. The other thing I don't see a lot of is the whole ethics of astrology.

Astrology is a very complicated business. To be able to accurately read a chart takes a tremendous amount of technical and intuitive skill. Then the ability to present it to the client in an ethical, humane and proper way is a whole other set of skills.

[Shine]

18. I have nothing startling to say or share.

but I thought I'd pop in, anyway, and say hello, u4ic! :hug: :loveya:

the "power and movement" aspects sound promising...:hi:

[u4ic]

22. Hello, my dear Shine!!

:bounce:

Thank you for popping in :loveya: :hug:

I hope things are better; on the up and up for me. I've been down, physically, for far too long. :-(

[u4ic]

29. Hello, Shine!

How very kind of you to visit! :hug: :loveya: After so many stagnant years, I'm hoping that this energy will help me to bring some positives into my life!

And I'd be a lousy host if I didn't offer you :donut:

:D

[cassiepriam]

20. Jup sq Venus

Can be positively expressed by feeling ardent, charming, sociable, and generous. Or it can be expressed in a negative way as self focused, excessively emotional, demanding, exaggeration.

Remember we are to balance the energy and learn to use it wisely.

[u4ic]

23. I'm definitely feeling the former

Jupiter is transiting through the 7th now (Venus is in Leo in the 5th)..it seemed to take a while to get kick started, but I am feeling more sociable now, and have made some friends through my church (when re-emerging into the world last fall, I had no idea how I would make any friends at all, and they were so very welcoming to me).

I am welcoming the chance to socialize after so many years of not being able to (and even before that, I was pretty much a loner). So it's a very new, yet positive experience for me.

It just seems like a natural progression...Jupiter in the 6th, my health improves, Jupiter in the 7th, I am finding social outlets, Jupiter passes into the 8th come fall...lots of sex, perhaps?? :rofl:

[cassiepriam]

25. More than just sex, more like spontaneous combustion with someone else!

With a 5h Venus in Leo, then Jup in the 8th, watch out :)

You are right, it is a real nice progression, health, social, then a hot love affair.

[u4ic]

30. Oooh!!

If I come into some money from that Jupiter in the 8th, you're hired!

Especially if I get to hear more subject lines like the one above!! :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

Later in May, I've got T Venus on my ASC, T Mars conjunct my Mars in Leo (4th), and T Jupiter in the 7th square my 5th house Venus in Leo. T Chiron in 11th will also be close to an opposition to my Venus (a chance to heal, perhaps?)

I'm interested to see how that may play out. :D

[cassiepriam]

21. Solar returns give an indication of the year ahead

The SR chart itself can be read much like a natal chart, to get a flavor of the year to come. Houses which are emphasized indicate which areas of life will be prominent that year, and planets identify drives or challenges that will be coming into play in the year to come.

Transits charts pinpoint periods of change. Transits release potential.

[u4ic]

24. Do you use the house cusps in SR charts

like in natal astrology? Or do you compare it to one's natal chart at all?

Thanks for all the info, cassie! :D

[cassiepriam]

26. SR charts

SR charts can be used in several ways in karmic astrology; I am not sure how classic folks do it.

1. The chart itself can be read the same way a natal chart is read, to obtain the flavor of the year to come. Houses which are emphasized indicate prominent areas of life that year, planets identify challenges of drives that will be coming sharply into play or are fading away. (and yes you would use the house cusps just like you do in a natal chart).

You can even try to get a precise read on the year to come by plotting the transit of the sun or ascendant around the SR return chart, 1 degree as roughly equal to one day. It is said that one can obtain fairly accurate timings for events or inner shifts by establishing when planets will be set off by the sun or ASC transit.

2. Also the SR chart can be read in terms of aspects made to the natal chart.

3. SRs can be relocated to the current place of residence, which changes the ASC and house positions.

Lunar return charts tend to pinpoint the emotional changes taking place during the year.

Hope this helps.....

[u4ic]

31. Thanks, it does!

In regards to house cusps...for example, when I want to know how things may go romantically (which isn't my only concern, trust me!), I could look for either the Sun's or Venus's (5th and 7th rulers) placement and see where they fall into the solar return chart, and take it from there?

edit: if those 2 houses are empty