An Intro to Solar Returns in Astrology
Every year around my birthday I eagerly anticipate my solar return. The solar return is the time of year when the sun in the sky returns to its natal placement, or where it was located when you were born. This is why you get an extra boost of energy and vitality around your birthday- it’s when you are your most radiant self. The solar return is represented by the transit Sun conjunct Sun.
Snapshot of the year ahead
The solar return chart is a snapshot of your year ahead, including the themes that are likely to arise and the external forces you can expect to experience. Of course, the solar return chart only describes potential energy. You might have Sun in the 10th, the house of career and public persona, but if you sit on your hands instead of taking action, chances are you will fail to reap the fruits of this fortuitous energetic climate and the opportunities that come your way.
Where can I obtain one?
You can purchase a $5 solar return report on Cafe Astrology complete with detailed analysis. However, if your study of astrology is more advanced, you can always generate a bare bones solar return chart on astro.com for free minus the interpretation. Simply click the dropdown menu entitled ‘Free Horoscopes’ and under the category ‘Drawings and Calculations’ select the option for ‘Extended Chart Selection.’ Once you reach that page click the dropdown menu for Chart Type and scroll down until you find the option for Solar Return Chart. You can leave everything else as it is. Then all that’s left to do is hit the button for “click here to show the chart” and enjoy.
How to interpret your solar return chart
The solar return chart can be interpreted in much the same way as the natal chart. The rising sign represents your physicality, the impression you make on others and your instinctive behavior. The Sun describes how you shine your light and what gives you vitality. The placement of this planet is most important; it’s called a solar return after all. Mercury indicates the way you think and what you are inclined to think about. Venus is how you love, express desire, experience pleasure and your capacity to make money honey. Mars is how you choose to devote your energy, the way you take action, your passion and the areas of life that have the potential to be battlegrounds. The Moon describes how you nourish yourself physically and emotionally as well as what you need to feel safe. I will not delve into each of the roles that the outer planets play, but suffice to say that they are also worth taking note of.
Spheres of emphasis
A stellium, which refers to 3-4+ planets in a single house signals an emphasis in that particular sphere of life. For example, this year my solar return chart contains two stelliums- the 9th house and 12th house respectively. Therefore, I can expect those themes to be especially salient this year. My focus will likely turn to learning, expanding my horizons, travel (physical or figuratively ie shamanic journeying, astral travel, lucid dreaming, escapist books or films), solitude, dream life, shadow work and the unconscious. You will also want to decipher what signs these stelliums inhabit as that further colors your experience of these realms of life.
Pay attention to aspects too, as these provide additional clarity regarding the energy of the year- what will come easily, potential blind spots, challenges, competing/contradictory energies that need to be reconciled or balanced, innate gifts, etc. Aspects bring the entire picture into much greater focus and tell you more about the dialogue happening between your planets and houses.
If you have any questions about solar returns, please let me know in the comments below. If you’d like to go deeper in exploring the nuances of your chart, solar return, natal or otherwise, I invite you to book an astrology reading with me. It would make a fantastic birthday gift!
