Keys to Interpreting Solar Returns:

A Solar Return chart can be read in as much detail as desired. Some key points to
consider are as follows:
1.

The Ascendant of the Solar Return chart will color the individuals approach
to his or her environment for the year. For example, if Aries is on the Ascendant in
the Solar Return chart, the individual may approach the year with increased
energy and enterprise, and perhaps with some impatience. It describes the
individuals overall temperament and attitude during the period. Read more about
the Solar Return Ascendant sign. The ruler of the Ascending sign, and its
position by sign, house, and aspect, will hold more information as to the
individuals general temperament and focus for the year.

2.

Note which planets and points in the natal chart, if any, are effectively
brought to an angle of the Solar Return chart. Lets say, for example, that
the Solar Return Ascendant is 22 degrees Virgo, and the natal position of Venus is
24 degrees Virgo. The natal Venus is therefore conjunct the Solar Return
Ascendant, and one can presume that the condition and issues surrounding the
individuals natal Venus will be highlighted (effectively coming to the fore) in the
Solar Return year. This consideration shows us what natal conditions, or inherent
personality issues, are highlighted in the year of the Solar Return. If, for example,
you have a natal Sun square Mars, and the Sun is on the Solar Return Ascendant,
perhaps with Mars on the Midheaven as well, we can safely presume that the SunMars struggle or challenge will be especially highlighted in both a personal
(Ascendant) and public (Midheaven) manner.

3.

Similarly, note which Solar Return planets are on or aspecting Solar Return
angles. These are transits that are emphasized in the year of the Solar Return.

4.

What is the condition of the Sun? Where is it located by house? (We know
the sign, of course, because it will be at the exact natal position). This can show a
strong area of focus for the upcoming year. The house position of the Sun in the
SR chart shows where (which areas of life) the individual wants to shine. The
individual will take pride in this part of his or her life, and a big ego investment
lies in this area. He or she has the opportunity to rejuvenate this area. What
kind of aspects does the Sun make? See interpretations of the Solar
Return Sun in aspect.

5.

Another area of focus this year can be found by determining which natal house
is effectively brought to the Ascendant. For example, if the Solar Return
Ascendant is 14 degrees Cancer, and this degree is found in the natal fifth house,
the natal fifth house is effectively brought to the Ascendant, and will be another
area of focus.

6.

Where is the Moon? The position of the Moon by house and sign will show
where your heart is, so to speak. If, for example, the Solar Return Moon is in Libra
in the 5th house, you will likely to be emotionally tied up in, and concentrated on,
love and relationship. A strong need for personal self-expression will be
characteristic of the year, and emotional ups and downs are likely to occur in this
area of life, simply because this is where your heart isthis is the area of life that
you have the biggest emotional investment inand you may not be completely
rational and in control in this area. More than simple fluctuations will be in store
in this area of life if, for example, the Moon is also forming a square to Pluto in the
Solar Return chart. Profound changes are likely to occur here. Thus, factoring in
the Moons aspects will help refine the reading. Read more about the Solar
Return Moon by sign, house, and aspect.

7.

Note that a Solar Return chart can be read much like a natal chart, always
keeping in mind that it is transient rather than permanent. If you are interested in
looking at a specific area, such as finances, you can study the Returns second
house, eighth house, and the condition of Venus. For example, if Solar Return
Venus is opposite Solar Return Neptune, especially if Venus also rules the second
house in the Solar Return, you might presume that either this coming year there
is less emphasis on materialism, or that your income might be fluctuating and
somewhat unstable.

8.

Get an overall feel for the Solar Return chart by examining hemispheric
emphasis, whether or not it is scattered, and which houses (angular, succedent,
and cadent) are emphasized. Also, note the qualities of the dominant signs of the
year (cardinal, fixed, or mutable).

9.

You know the upcoming year will be a big one (in a transitional sense) when
the Solar Return Sun forms a hard angle with the Solar Return Moon. This is also
true when the Sun is conjunct a Solar Return angle.

10. A consideration that I have found to be particularly significant is critical

degrees. The most significant critical degrees in Solar Return interpretation
are 29 degrees and 0 degrees of any sign. When found in the SR chart, there can
be significant events surrounding the energy of the planet/point itself, and/or the
house it rules in the chart. I do look at the classic critical degrees as well, but as a
secondary consideration.
11. For an insightful and rather thorough analysis of the Solar Return chart, look to
Planets in Solar Returns: Yearly Cycles of Transformation & Growth by
Mary Fortier Shea.

Example #1:

Lets look at an example. The following is the natal chart of Ann:

The Solar Return chart for the year we are studying is presented below, along with
Anns natal chart in the outer wheel so that we can easily see which natal planets
conjunct the Solar Return angles.

Immediately, I honed in on a few standout features involving the angles:

1.

Solar Return Jupiter is conjunct the Ascendant (rising) in the Solar Return chart,
and it opposes a conjunction of Mars and Neptune on the Descendant. Mercury
squares this opposition, forming a T-square. All planets involved are in the
foreground (angular), in prominent positions in the Return chart.

2.

The natal Moon conjuncts the Solar Return Midheaven.

3.

Solar Return Mercury is conjunct the natal Midheaven.

We also note that there is a conjunction of the Moon and Pluto in the Return chart, and
that it trines SR Jupiter, and sextiles SR Mars and Pluto.
Many different issues came to the fore in the year in question. Most notably, her good
friend with whom she maintained a friendship with for a few years, committed suicide
and a murder on the same day. This, of course, came as a complete shock, and the
violent act rocked Anns world. She had no clue that this man who seemed to be quite
together could have committed such acts.

Ann, of course, struggled with this tragedy for some time after it happened. She
struggled with guilt (did she ignore signs he may have been displaying?), loss (of a
friendship), shock, and anger. If we had looked at the Solar Return chart before the
events happened, we would not have been able to predict what actually happened.
However, we may have easily seen that Ann would confront some powerful emotional
issues, perhaps in a public manner (natal Moon conjunct the SR Midheaven), and that
she would struggle with illusion/guilt/anger/excess with regards to her personal
relationships (Mars conjunct Neptune at the Descendant). Mercury rules her natal 11th
house of friendships, and it also rules her Solar Return 11th house. Mercury (both natal
and Solar Return) is found in the 10th house conjunct her natal Midheaven, effectively
bringing 11th house issues into the fore in a public manner.
The SR Moon conjunction to Pluto suggests an emotional crisis of sorts. James A.
Eshelman, in his book Interpreting Solar Returns, describes this aspect as Sharp,
intensive alterations in life situations; dramatic transformationsExperiences elicit a
profound, climactic emotional response (crisis, shock)Encountering the unlikely,
improbable, unbelievable. (1)
Of course, we cannot expect something as dramatic as what happened in Anns life to
occur as a result of the individual factors found in the Solar Return chart and noted
here. For example, Neptune conjunct the Descendant in a Solar Return chart, taken
alone, can very certainly represent the encountering of disillusionments in close
relationships. It can also suggest a year in which the native looks for new meanings in
relationships, for example.
It is interesting to find Jupiter prominent in Solar Returns and transits when, for
example, a person has had an accident, or goes through something like Ann did. At
first, it seems counter-intuitive because we consider Jupiter the planet of luck. Indeed,
it does have a protective influence. Perhaps prominent Jupiter suggests a level of
protection in the sense that the person survived the incident or crisis. Another way of
looking at it is that Jupiter is the planet of expansion and excess. Effectively, it does
represent some level of drama. Involved with Neptune and Mars, and we can easily see
that it expanded or emphasized the Mars/Neptune issues of disillusionment. When in
difficult aspect especially, Jupiter can suggest over-confidence and recklessness or
misjudgment as a result.