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Progressed Lunar Phase

Progressed Lunar Phase

by

Author: Alison Price   –   Published: March 2025

Working with the Progressed Lunar Phase

Once you understand how to interpret a natal chart, which can take a long time, you would then probably move onto astrological forecasting.

Direct Forecasting

Typically, you would maybe start with direct forecasting techniques like transits first, eclipses and then you’d move on to solar returns.

Symbolic Forecasting

Finally, you’d move on to the symbolic forecasting techniques, of which there are two that I generally use, which are, secondary progressions and solar arc directions. But within secondary progressions is a very important part which is the progressed lunar phase. By the way, if you don’t learn anything else in progressions, you really do need to know about the progressed lunar phase. So, let’s get started…

Transiting Lunar Phase

Definition

Let’s first consider the transiting lunar phases which occurs as the Moon goes round the Earth once a month. These phases begin at the New Moon where the Moon grows in light to the Full Moon. Then from the Full Moon, the light reduces back down to the next New Moon when the cycle begins again. In this way there are two weeks of growth and two weeks of reduction or holding. This is the transiting lunar phase that we all know and love. We can all see the Full Moon, which we have been able to since the day we were born, so it’s nothing new really, but now it is just about understanding the different phases.

The Principle of Phase

The Moon is not the only planet to actually phase. We do see phases of Mercury and Venus quite clearly with the telescope. On occasion there are phases of the other planets, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. We are only likely to see the superior planets when they’re in the full phase, and therefore they are opposite the Sun, because that is really the best time as we can view them from Earth. If the superior planets are on the other side of the Sun to us, we can’t even see them. We never see their full range of phases.

With the inferior planets, Mercury and Venus, we can look and view several of the phases, especially the quarter phases, but not all of the stages as we can see with the Moon. This really means that the Moon dominates when it comes down to phases.

The Lunar Phases

Eight Phases

Throughout the lunar cycle, there are eight Moon phases. The synodic cycle starts at the Moon’s conjunction to the Sun and finishes when the Moon once more makes a conjunction back to the Sun which takes about 29 1/2 days. 

The eight lunar phases in order are:

 

  • New Moon phase.
  • Crescent phase.
  • First Quarter phase.
  • Gibbous phase.
  • Full Moon phase.
  • Disseminating phase.
  • Last Quarter phase.
  • And Balsamic phase

Natal Chart

Natal Lunar Phase

In your natal chart, you will discover that you have a particular lunar phase and it will be one of the eight phases listed above. Personally, I was born during the Crescent phase, so this means that the Moon was slightly ahead of the Sun and is opening up (or waxing) the angle from the conjunction and thus gaining in light. Your natal lunar phase that you were born with stays with you for the rest of your life.

John Travolta

Example Chart

I just want to show you the difference between the two types of lunar phase. I will use the example of John Travolta’s chart shown below. In this bi-wheel, his natal chart is on the inner ring and his secondary progressed chart is on the outer ring.

Natal Lunar Phase

Travolta’s natal lunar phase is Full (marked in blue). You can see that the Moon has just passed the opposition to the Sun and so is in the Full Moon phase.

Progressed Lunar Phase

He secondary progressed lunar phase is Balsamic (marked in red) because the Moon is moving towards the conjunction to the progressed Sun. We can tell that in a year or two, he will have his very exciting, and highly significant, progressed New Moon. This conjunction will be in Taurus where the Moon is exalted and therefore well placed.

progressed-lunation-phase

Progressed Lunar Phase

Progressed Chart

The secondary progressed chart is calculated by taking one day to equal one year of life. Example, if you are 50 years old, you count forward 50 days in the ephemeris and that is your progressed chart. This sounds simple, but back in the day, when we had to calculate these progressed charts by hand, you really paid attention.

Progressed Sun

All the progressed planets will move. In general, the progressed Sun will move around 1° forward in the zodiac for each year of your life. This progression equates to 360° in 365 days a year, so it does vary slightly.

Progressed Moon to Natal Moon

Now the progressed Moon, because it moves a full cycle in around twenty-nine and a half years, this means that the progressed Moon will return to your natal lunar position at around age twenty-nine and a half. And if, for example, you are fifty years old, as we mentioned earlier, the Moon will then move once more off from the position of your natal Moon and will be somewhere else in your chart.

The progressed Moon can be anywhere in the progressed chart. If you’re over 30, you will have had a full cycle, if you’re over 60 you will have had two full cycles, and if you’re over 90 you will have had three full cycles. But that is the cycle from your progressed Moon to your natal Moon.

 

Progressed Moon to Progressed Sun

When we look at the progressed lunar phase, we consider the progressed Moon and its relationship to the progressed Sun. As I mentioned earlier, your progressed Sun moves around 1° for each year of your life, so your progressed Sun has moved and the progressed Moon could be anywhere. The point is, that the progressed Moon will still be in a phase with the progressed Sun and this is known as the progressed lunar phase. Even if you were born, as I was with the natal Crescent phase or whatever phase you were born with, you are stuck with that phase for the rest of your life, but your progressed lunar phase changes all the time.

 

Current Progressed Lunar Phase

You need to find out what phase your progressed Moon is in today and you would do by looking at the position of your progressed Sun and calculating how far the Moon is away from the progressed Sun in the cycle. This will tell you which of the eight phases your progressed Moon is now.

Phase Changes

Timing

The progressed lunar phase will change every three and a half years. In general, there are no orbs with phase change, for example, it is either in the New Moon phase or it’s in the Crescent phase. The progressed Moon is never in two phases at once. Only as the Moon makes the exact aspect to the progressed Sun will the phase change happen. There will be frequent progressed lunar phase changes in your life. As I said, it’s around every three and a half years and you need to know when the next phase change is going to happen for you.

Duration

Phase Change Influence

Even though each phase lasts about three and a half years, the important period is the six months just after the phase has changed. Say for instance, you have a phase change on July 1st, 2025, and maybe your Moon is going from Balsamic to the New Moon phase, this would be a critically important time, and it is known as a progressed New Moon. And bear in mind that each of the phases in their turn will have an impact on your life. But in general, the critical time for the progressed lunar phase change is within six months of that change within the three and a half years. I generally consider this an important forecasting marker around when the progressed Moon is withing 8° of the phase change.

Forecasting

What to Do

As a good astrologer, not only would you find out which progressed lunar phase you are in at the moment, you also need to discover when the progressed Moon will enter into the next progressed lunar phase. The progressed lunar phases have the identical sequence as the transiting lunar phases, but now they are called the progressed lunar phases and I will list them here for clarity. I have some more general forecasting tips as well.

 

Progressed Phase Names

The eight progressed lunar phases in order are:

  • Progressed New Moon phase
  • Progressed Crescent phase.
  • Progressed First Quarter phase.
  • Progressed Gibbous phase.
  • Progressed Full Moon phase.
  • Progressed Disseminating phase.
  • Progressed Last Quarter phase.
  • Progressed Balsamic phase.

Important Phase Changes

Pecking Order

Not all progressed lunar phases are created equal and some phase changes are tremendously more important than others, allow me to explain.

One Conjunction

The progressed New Moon phase is the most important because it kicks off a fresh cycle for you. This happens once at the start of the synodic cycle at the progressed Moon’s conjunction to the progressed Sun

One Opposition

The next most significant phase is the progressed Full Moon phase because this shows the complete culmination of all your efforts over the last fourteen years since the progressed New Moon occurred. This happens once in the whole cycle at the progressed Moon’s opposition to the progressed Sun.

Two Squares

The 3rd and 4th most important progressed lunar phases transpire at the two quarters. The two square aspects are when the progressed Moon is square (either opening or closing) to the progressed Sun. The two square (tense) phases are the progressed first quarter phase and the progressed last quarter phase.

Four Eighths

The final four phases are of slightly less importance because they are all set at the octile aspects of the semi-squares and sesquiquadrates. When the progressed Moon is semi-square, or sesquiquadrate, to the progressed Sun, is when these four phases come into effect, and they are as follows:

 

  • Progressed Crescent phase (opening semi-square).
  • Progressed Gibbous phase (opening sesquiquadrate).
  • Progressed Disseminating phase (closing sesquiquadrate).
  • Progressed Balsamic phase (closing semi-square).
moon

Forecasting Skills

Progressions

As a forecasting astrologer, you would do well to pay close attention to any progressed lunar phase change for your client in the upcoming twelve months for which you are forecasting. If your client happens to come to you during a time when you look one year forward and there is no progressed lunar phase change, then you are unlikely to be mention this at all. However, if in the next twelve months there is going to be a progress lunation phase change, it is critical that you comment on it.

Exact Day

There will be a specific day when the progressed phase changes as the Moon makes the exact aspect to the Sun. Generally, you don’t want to mention forecast shifts or things to-the-day because, of course, birth times are always slightly out. What you want to do is discuss the fact that during the third week of October, for example, there’s going to be shift in energy.

You don’t need to mention that it’s the progressed lunar phase that changing, we know that it is, but from your client’s point of view you only need to explain that there is going to be an energy shift related to the actual sign, house and phase unfolding for them.

Interpretation Steps

1. Progressed Moon Aspect Progressed Sun

Look for the exact aspect between the progressed Moon and the progressed Sun to find out exactly which day the phase change will occur. If you have the professional astrology software Solar Fire, it will calculate it for you. However, if you’re using Astra Gold, you can just step the progressed chart forward to find out which day this occurs.

 

2. Sign and Degree

You need to find out which sign the progressed Moon will be in at the phase change. With this sign, of course, you would pay attention to the essential dignity so that you can determine whether the Moon is well placed or not for your client in this progressed period.

 

3. Aspects

Pay attention to all aspects the progressed Moon makes into the natal chart. Particularly look for conjunctions, oppositions or squares to natal planets. Additionally, check the Moon’s connection to the nodal axis within the natal chart.

grow-your-astrology books

Book Recommendations

Secondary Progressions

Here are some secondary progressions and progressed Moon themed books which may interest you.

Overarch

Direct

When you start with forecasting, it’s best to begin with direct forecasting techniques and that means transits as you get a grip on what’s going on up there now. Next, I suggest you move on to solar returns because they’re just an extension of transits.

 

Indirect

Once you decide to move into symbolic forecasting the best place to start is with secondary progressions. And as I say, if you only do one thing, do the progressed Moon because it’s a fast-moving progression. You can monitor the progressed Moon in your own life and the lives of your family members. See how these phases unfold through the cycle and the critical phase changes which happen at the eight specific hard aspects to the Sun, which is around once in every three and a half years.

Starzlife

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Starzology Astrology Podcast

Listen to more podcast episodes on the Moon and related topics.

Author Bio

Alison Price: Professional Astrologer

Alison helps you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor. She offers Consultations for everyone and Coaching for Aspiring Astrologers.

If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email at starzology@gmail.com.

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Artists Charts: Venus and Neptune

Artists Charts: Venus and Neptune

Author: Alison Price   -   Updated: March 2025 Artists Charts I'm not just an astrologer, but I consider myself as a hobby artist and crafter as well. Being creative and expressing yourself (and myself) through art is a great interest of mine.   Art in a Chart When I...

Forecasting Tips

Forecasting Tips

by

Author: Alison Price   –   Published: October 2024

Information Overwhelm

Of all the questions I get from aspiring astrologers, forecasting is one of the more common ones. People want to know where to start, what to do first, what’s more important in a chart than other things and so on. And I agree, It’s overwhelming.

With forecasting there is no end to the amount of information that you can generate with your software and apps. The trick, really, is to sift through and decide what’s important, where to start and also what to not look at and what to dismiss that you can leave for another day. So, if you’re suffering farm forecasting info overwhelm, I’ve got some ideas on how to focus onto what you’re supposed to be looking at first. I just like to share some of my ideas about getting started in forecasting.

Get Started

I’m just going to cover the main forecasting techniques which are the ones that I use and the ones I recommend you start with. Please be aware that there are other forecasting techniques and you are certainly encouraged of explore them as soon as you like.

If you are just getting started with astrological forecasting, then focus on transits first. Every astrologer needs to know how to work with transit and they are the backbone of your forecasting data. Even if you never learn the other forecasting techniques, always focus on transits first.

How to Spend Your Forecasting Time

Each Hour

Let’s just have a quick look at how much time you should spend on each forecasting technique. We’re going to suppose here that you’ve already worked on the natal chart and probably spent an hour or two interpreting that. Now you’re turning your attention to the forecasting. Perhaps you’re going to put an hour into your forecasting. The diagram below shows that if you have 60 minutes available for forecasting, you want to spend half your time or 30 minutes on transits, 15 minutes on secondary progressions, 10 minutes on solar returns and 5 minutes on solar arc directions. Clearly the emphasis that you ought to put in your energy expenditure on each of the forecasting techniques. It is evident that transits are far ahead, by a long chalk, the most important technique you can do.

forecasting-time-and-percentage

Percentage

It doesn’t really matter if you spend one hour, one day or one week on your forecasting. And in the beginning certainly you will put in more than one hour and I certainly did when I was starting out. The important thing is to pay attention to the percentage of time you spend on each of the forecasting techniques. This diagram clearly shows that solar arc directions are not as important as transits. And you should carefully expend your precious forecasting energy on the right things to start with.

Direct Forecasting

Direct forecasting refers to what is happening up there right now. There are several ways that you can work with direct forecasting techniques, but here I’m going to talk about a couple which I use and they are transits and solar returns. Let’s take a closer look at them.

Transits

Planets to Consider

When working with transits, always start from the outer planets and work in. So first look at Pluto, Neptune and Uranus and then move on to Saturn and Jupiter.

 

Transit Orbs

For all transit work, use a 1° orb applying and separating.

 

Transits What to Look For

With transits, need to know which natal house the transiting planet is in. Next you are going to look for any aspects that the planet is making to planets in the natal chart. Always look at the aspects in this order:

  • Neutral aspects: conjunctions.
  • Hard aspects: oppositions and squares.
  • Soft aspects: the trines and sextiles.

I like to call this aspect set, my “Fab Five” aspects.

 

Planets Changing Signs

For personal natal chart readings, there is not much value in discussing when a transiting planets changes signs, it will change signs for everybody. Unless the transiting planet makes a direct contact to their natal chart, either via an aspect or by a house cusp change, I would tend to ignore this in personal forecast readings

 

Planets Changing House

When a transiting planet changes house, it is hugely important for the person. The energy that was expressed by the planet in the old house will shift onto the new area of life which the new house represents.

 

Retrogrades

Transiting planets will retrograde back and forth over the chart. Each contact is important to show a main theme.

Solar Returns

The technique of solar returns is the second indirect forecasting technique which I use.

How to Cast a Solar Return Chart

For each solar return chart that you calculate, your software will work out the exact moment (time) for the chart. So, solar returns come into effect for each person around one month before their birthday and definitely by the time the transiting Sun has entered the birth Sun’s sign. What you need to do is put in the current place. The solar return place depends whereabouts you are in the world at the moment of the return. So, if you were born in New York and now you are living in Hong Kong, you will cast the solar return chart for Hong Kong.

Travelling on Your Birthday

If you happen to be away from home for your birthday, as I was one year when I went down to Mexico, use that place. I celebrated my birthday in Cancun, Mexico and so Cancun was my solar return chart place for that year.

What to Look for in Solar Return Charts

Sun’s House

The first thing I look for is the Sun’s house, because that will show the trend for the whole year. Each year the solar return Sun will be in a different house. It cycles through the chart in a specific pattern. The solar return Sun’s house is an indication of the types of things that there will be a focus on for the individual that year.

 

Sun’s Aspects

The second step is to consider all of the solar returns Sun’s aspects. You need to explore each solar aspect as it will have something to say about the solar return chart. On a side note, I never look at the other planets positions or aspects within the solar return chart, although you can if you have time.

 

Solar Return Ascendant.

The solar return Ascendant is always an interesting position in the solar return chart. I would always put the solar return Ascendant position degree into the natal chart to see which house it is highlighting Additionally, if you have time, you can do this the other way around as well.

 

Indirect Forecasting

Indirect forecasting covers all techniques where the chart is extrapolated through a time-based count forward. Secondary progressions are equal to one day per year. There are many ways of calculating indirect forecasted charts, but we’re just going to concentrate on two here today. They will be the secondary progressed chart and the solar arc directed chart.

Secondary Progressions

How to Cast a Secondary Progressed Chart

Your computer software will calculate your secondary progressed chart for you. You do not have to enter the time, but make sure the chart is set for the natal place of birth. For all progressed chart interpretations please use a 1° orb.

Note

And for more certainty, this means use 1° of for all the aspects, whereas in a natal chart you would use an 8° orb for a conjunction, when working with forecasting, you’re going to be using a 1° orb both applying and separating.

Progressed Chart What to Look For

There are three main things to look at in the secondary progressed chart, and they are:

  • House ingresses
  • Sign ingresses
  • Aspects

Progressed Planets to Consider

Typically, with progressed charts, you start with the inner planets at the Sun and work your way out through the five personal planets. So that would be the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars in order. Now you can if you wish, work on the outer planets too, but you would have covered those energies already in the transits section.

Progressed Planets Changing House

Look for progressed planets changing houses. When they are within 1° orb of the actual house cusp. In general and loosely, the personal planets will be moving at about 1° year, so one if you use an orb of 1° it will give you a run up to the actual house change as well. These are important as some planets are better placed in some houses than others.

Progressed Planets Changing Signs.

With a bi-wheel, look for any progressed planet changing sign in the natal chart. And again using 1° or applying and separating.

Progressed Planet Aspects

With progressed planets play attention to the aspect starting in sequence with the conjunction, opposition, square, trine and sextile. If you have time, you can work on to the lesser used aspects as well, but I never do.

Progressions Overview

Usually there is not much information that comes through in a progressed chart. You may have 3 or 4 planets changing sign or house and you will definitely consider those.

Solar Arc Directions

How to cast a Solar Arc Directed Chart

Your computer system will cast the solar arc directed chart for you. Make sure the place is set for the natal birthplace.

 

Directed Charts What to Look For

The directed Sun’s position will be the exact same position as the as the progressed Sun’s position. Directed planets only move forward, there is no retrogradation in a directed chart. With the directed chart, you are again looking for the three main things:

  • Directed planets changing signs
  • Directed planet changing houses
  • Directed planet aspects to natal planets.

 

Directed Planets Changing Signs

Look for any directed planets changing signs. Use a 1° orb.

 

Directed Planets Changing Houses.

Look for any directed planets changing house and again use a 1° orb to the house cusp.

 

Directed Planet Aspects

Look for any directed planets making aspects to the natal chart. You will use it 1° orb for this. Look at the aspects in sequence of conjunctions, oppositions, squares, trines and sextiles. Again, you could look at the lesser used aspects if you wish and if you have time, but I never do. Typically, there is not much information that pops up in a solar arc directed chart, but what does come forward is gold.

Overarching

Transits First

Forecasting is a vast subject and there’s always something new to learn, but if you’re just getting started, then begin with transits and fully understand them because this knowledge will benefit you even if you’re doing horoscope work in general as well. For every client’s chart which you ever look at, you will always consider their transits. Getting to know where each of the planets currently are placed is always a great thing for an astrologer.

Starzlife

Premium Astrology Newsletter

This piece originally appeared in our Starzlife premium astrology newsletter. As with every issue, subscribers received a complimentary PDF download related to this topic.

For those interested in receiving such in-depth articles directly upon release, we encourage you to join our Starzlife premium astrology newsletter.

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Author Bio

Alison Price: Professional Astrologer

Alison helps you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor. She offers Consultations for everyone and Coaching for Aspiring Astrologers.

If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email at starzology@gmail.com.

More Articles

If you enjoyed this post, you may like some more astrology related articles from our blog.

 

Artists Charts: Venus and Neptune

Artists Charts: Venus and Neptune

Author: Alison Price   -   Updated: March 2025 Artists Charts I'm not just an astrologer, but I consider myself as a hobby artist and crafter as well. Being creative and expressing yourself (and myself) through art is a great interest of mine.   Art in a Chart When I...

Solar Return Charts in Astrological Forecasting

Solar Return Charts in Astrological Forecasting

by

Solar Return Charts

A solar return chart is a chart cast for the exact time that the Sun reaches the same longitude (degree, minute and second) that it was placed at the time of your birth as shown in the natal chart.

Solar Return Place

A solar return chart is cast for the city you are in on your solar return date and not your birthplace. It is known as you solar return place or location.

Every year there will be a different solar return chart for you as the Sun will be in the same degree and sign, but the planets and angles will have moved.

Each of your solar return charts (year after year) will have the same sign, degree and minutes for the placement of the Sun as it is in your natal chart. In other words, your solar return Sun position on the zodiac is always the same as your solar return Sun every year.

When to Cast a Solar Return Chart

A solar return chart is cast every year on your birthday, or thereabouts, and can be used to predict the trends coming up for you each year.

A solar return chart is a direct astrological forecast method, which means it is based on transits, but it is crafted for you individually based on your natal Sun’s position.

If you can read a natal chart you can quickly interpret a solar return chart.

 

Solar Return Annual Forecasting Period

It is usual, and advisable, for clients to have a chart consultation on or near their birthday because of the power inherent in the solar return chart.

If you do a client consultation midyear you have to print the current and the next solar return chart.

Solar Return Charts can Stand Alone

A solar return chart is one forecasting technique that can be done alone and not combined with the other methods.

A solar return chart is useful for forecasting one year ahead which is a typical length of time for an astrological forecast for someone.

Relocate the Chart

Your birth chart is calculated for the town or city where you were born.

When the transiting Sun perfects the conjunction to its natal position you could be anywhere on Earth.

When using a solar return chart, it is necessary to cast the chart for the place that you are living in on that birthday.

As the potentials for the year are inhaled at the exact time of the Sun’s return.

If you move from your birthplace, each year’s solar return place can be different if you continue to move.

For example: If you were born in Toronto and now live in London then you would calculate the solar return chart for London for that year..

If you were born in Toronto and now live in London and are on vacation in Los Angeles on your birthday, then you would calculate the solar return chart for Los Angeles.

Solar Returns: Podcast Episode

Learn how to cast a SOLAR RETURN chart, what to look for and intrepret it.

In this episode, I (Alison) chat with Arwynne and discuss the direct forecasting technique of solar return charts.

We explain how to cast a new solar return chart, solar return travellers, and three key interpretation steps to understanding the message in the chart without being overwhelmed by too much data.

Date and Time Changes

All good astrology software such as Solar Fire and Astro Gold will calculate a solar return chart for you.

Check that the Sun’s position is the same as the natal Sun’s position and check the new location.

Solar Return Date

If you move extremely west or east of your birthplace then the solar return chart may end up being dated on the day before, or the day after, your actual calendar birthday.

Solar Return Time

The birth time for the solar return chart will be different to the natal time and different each year.

Pin this image to your Pinterest board.

Solar Return Chart Interpretations Interpretations

Interpretation of the solar return chart is not as complicated as re-analyzing a whole new chart.

There are specific details to look for and not every solar return chart will provide as much information as the next one.

How Often to Cast a Solar Return Chart

The solar return chart may come into effect one or two months before your birthday and last up to ten to twelve months after your birthday.

I find that it is best to start using the next solar return chart one month before your birthday.

That is when the Sun is at thirty degrees to its natal position, or one sign before.

This can be variable, and it depends on the placement of the planets that year.

 

When to Use a Solar Return Chart

You don’t just wake up one day under the effects of the new solar return chart.

It is a gradual process.

However, when the transiting Sun is in orb of a conjunction to your natal Sun (8 degrees) then the solar return chart begins its effect for sure and last year’s solar return chart fades away.

  

Using Two Solar Return Charts at Once Two Solar Return Charts

A situation may arise when you have to cast two solar return charts at once.

This would typically be the case if you were looking at the yearly forecast for someone and it was six months from their last birthday and therefore six months until their next birthday.

Previous Solar Return

You can use the previous year’s solar return up until the month before your next birthday.

Current Solar Return

The current solar return is cast for your last birthday and can be used for twelve months. You may begin to feel the effects of the next solar return chart when it is under one month to your next birthday.

 

Next Solar Return

The next solar return chart will come into effect around your next birthday. But the influences may start to develop at around one month before your next birthday.

If your birthday is in the next month use the next solar return chart.

Instances When to Cast Two Solar Return Charts

If you had a client who came for an astrological consultation and required a forecast between their two birthdays, then you would cast two solar return charts, the previous one and the next one.

 

Angles in the Solar Return Chart

Solar Return Angles

When reading a solar return chart, the four angles are very important.

The natal sign over the solar return Ascendant clues you into the year ahead.

Any planet conjunct an angle in the solar return chart will be prominent that year.

Planets Conjunct the Angles

  • Ascendant – A planet conjunct the solar return Ascendant may play a role in how your project yourself.

  • Descendant – A planet conjunct the solar return Descendant may play a role in your close personal relationships.

  • Midheaven – A planet conjunct the solar return Midheaven may play a role in the public persona you can project that year.

  • IC-A planet conjunct the solar return IC may play a role in what your private life looks like.

Solar Return Ascendant Sign

The Ascendant sign in the solar return chart indicates the way you will present yourself this year.

It may be that same as your natal Ascendant, but in years when it is truly different, it offers you a chance to express yourself through a different lens, or filter.

Solar Return Ascendant in Your Natal Chart

The natal house which contains your solar return Ascendant needs close inspection for it is through this portal that you will express yourself in that year.

The Solar Return Sun

“Happy Birthday and Many Happy Returns”

The Importance of the Solar Return Sun

The whole concept of solar return charts hinges on the Sun.

The Sun’s position in the natal chart dictates the Sun’s position in the solar return chart every year.

It follows that the Sun is the most important feature to be considered, not by sign (as it is the same as the natal) but by house and aspect.

Pattern of the Sun’s House Placement in Subsequent Solar Return Charts

Astrologers love patterns.

Having a pattern somehow makes astrology seem like it is part of a big plan.

Whose plan, we may not be sure, but a plan anyway.

The Solar Return Sun by House

Each year the solar return Sun will be in a different house of the solar return chart.

The solar return Sun moves through the houses in a particular pattern by type of house.

After around ten years, moves into the next kind of house (angular, succedent and cadent), eventually placed in each of the twelve houses in turn.

The pattern is loosely the angular houses (first, tenth, seventh and fourth), then the succedent houses (second, eleventh, eighth and fifth) and then the cadent houses (third, twelfth, ninth and sixth).

In this way the Sun may cover the whole twelve houses over a thirty year stretch.

This pattern is reliant on you not moving place.

The Solar Return Sun’s House Shift Pattern

This Sun house shift pattern works perfectly under three specific criteria:

  • If you live on the equator.
  • If you use the equal house system.
  • If you never move place.

But, if you use Placidus house system (which I do) or many of the other house systems, then the solar return Sun’s house shift pattern may be slightly out.

This is because the house widths are skewed by many house system cusps.

 

Relocating from Year to Year

Note: If you move place from one city to another for your solar return (that is your birthday) the pattern will be interrupted.

For around ten years the Sun is in angular houses and then it moves to succedent houses.

For example: You may have three returns with the Sun in the first house or only two returns.

It depends on your chart.

 

Solar Return Travellers

Therefore, the Sun could feasibly be in your solar return twelfth house for three years out of ten.

This twelfth house’s retiring and private position may or may not suit you.

For this reason, people travel for a better solar return Sun house position. 

 

First the Angular Houses

Sun in first house.

Sun in tenth house.

Sun in seventh house.

Sun in fourth house.

The Succedent Houses

Sun in the second house.

Sun in the eleventh house.

Sun in the eighth house.

Sun in the fifth house.

The Cadent Houses

Sun in the third house.

Sun in the twelfth house.

Sun in the ninth house.

Sun in the sixth house.

 

The Sun in the Solar Return Houses

The Spotlight is on Each House in Turn

The Sun’s house is very important as it shows which house has a spotlight on it for the forthcoming year.

It is where you can shine in your life.

 

First House

When the solar return Sun is in your solar return first house it is a year to:

  • Focus on self-improvement.
  • Expect physical changes.
  • Let people get to know you.

Second House

When the solar return Sun is in your solar return second house it is a year to:

  • Improve your self-esteem.
  • Improve your personal and core values.
  • Earn a good income.

Third House

When the solar return Sun is in your solar return third house it is a year to:

  • Focus on short courses and learning skills.
  • Participate more in the neighborhood.
  • Allow self-expression to become important.

Fourth House

When the solar return Sun is in your solar return fourth house it is a year to:

  • Spend time at home.
  • Stamp your personality on your home.
  • Identify with your family.

Fifth House

When the solar return Sun is in your solar return fifth house it is a year to:

  • Fall pregnant
  • Enjoy children and play
  • Give birth to your creative projects.

Sixth House

When the solar return Sun is in your solar return sixth house it is a year to:

  • Begin your own business
  • Go back to work
  • Attend to your heart health.

Seventh House

When the solar return Sun is in your solar return seventh house it is a year to:

  • Consider marriage.
  • Feel an individual within a partnership.
  • Experience legal matters.

Eight House

When the solar return Sun is in your solar return eighth house it is a year to:

  • Possibly inherit from your father.
  • Acquire individual debt.
  • Spend time on personal inward looking.

Ninth House

When the solar return Sun is in your solar return ninth house it is a year to:

  • Expect to travel.
  • Be attracted to and identify with foreign things.
  • Begin a self-improvement courses.

Tenth House

When the solar return Sun is in your solar return tenth house it is a year to:

  • Finally get your career to take off.
  • Gain public accolades for any previous endeavors.
  • Become known and have a reputation in the public domain.

Eleventh House

When the solar return Sun is in your solar return eleventh house it is a year to:

  • Identify with a cause close to your heart.
  • Become humanitarian and concerned about humanity.
  • Begin a self-interest group.

Twelfth House

When the solar return Sun is in your solar return twelfth house it is a year to:

  • Retire and withdraw from life.
  • Reflect on your life path.
  • Recharge and replenish your inner self.

Planetary House Emphasis

Any house in the solar return chart that has more than three tenants needs special attention.

The areas of life indicated by the house will be of importance in the following year.

 

The Importance of the Solar Return Sun’s Aspects

The aspects the solar return Sun makes in the solar return chart (and therefore to the transiting planets at the time) are very important is showing the year’s identity and ego for the individual.

At the exact solar return, the Sun will be transiting the natal chart and triggering all the natal solar aspects that are in the natal chart.

This transiting Sun conjoined the natal Sun tends to recalibrate the meanings of the solar aspects.

The most important Sun aspects in the solar return chart in sequence are:

  • Conjunctions

  • Other Ptolemaic aspects; the square, trine, opposition and sextile

  • Minor aspects; the semi-sextile, quincunx, semi-square and sesquiquadrate

  • Lesser used aspects such as the quintile, septile and novile

  • Tip: I usually only consider the conjunction and the Ptolemaic aspects.

Transiting Sun Reinforces the Natal Sun’s Aspects

As the Sun moves into its natal position each year it remakes all the solar aspects that are in the natal chart.

For instance, if you have a natal Sun square Moon, then you will have a transiting Sun square natal Moon at the solar return.

Solar Return Videos on YouTube

There are 3 videos in this series.

 

Part 1: How to correctly cast a solar return chart

This gives you some specifics about the correct time, date, and place for your solar return chart.

 

Part 2: The solar return Sun’s house and the solar return Sun’s aspects.

This video explains what each house position of teh Sun means in your solar return chart.

It also explains the importance of the Sun’s aspects and which aspects to choose.

 

Part 3: Solar return chart retrograde planets and other planetary returns

This video looks at retrograde planets in your solar return chart. It also covers other types of planetary return charts that you may wish to use someday.

There is a checklist for when you work with solar return charts.

 

Have a prosperous day,

Alison ⭐️

 

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Author Bio

Alison Price: Astrology Coach

Alison specializes in guiding Aspiring Astrologers. Her aim is to help you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart, often sprinkled with a touch of humor.

To learn more about Alison’s journey, visit this page.

If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email at starzology@gmail.com.

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