Keys to Interpreting Solar Returns Pt.

2
On page 1 of our Solar Returns Feature, we offered our preferred techniques and
key points to consider when interpreting Solar Returns, as well as an example Solar
Return.On page 3 of our Solar Returns Feature, we discuss more techniques for
fine-tuning a Solar Return analysis.On page 4 of our Solar Returns Feature, we
offer interpretations of the Ascendant sign in the Solar Return chart, as well as the
natal house brought to the Solar Ascendant.On page 5 of our Solar Returns
Feature, we offer interpretations of the Solar Return Sun in aspect to other Solar
Return planets and points.On page 6 of our Solar Returns Feature, we discuss the
importance of the Moon in the Solar Return chart, by sign, house, and aspect.On page
7 of our Solar Returns Feature, we compare books and suggest resources for
interpreting Solar Returns.
On this second page of our Solar Returns Feature, we offer a second real-life
example of a Solar Return.

Example #2:

The natal chart in question:

The following is the Solar Return chart for the year in question, with the natal chart in
the outer ring so that we can easily see which natal planets are brought to the fore in
the SR chart:

One day after this Solar Return occurred, the native had a freak accident that caused
her to break her neck, fracturing her C2 bone. She effectively escaped death by a hair,
and with treatment, managed to survive the accident without any nerve damage,
paralysis, or any other serious consequences. However, recuperation time was lengthy,
and she suffered from post-concussion syndrome as well as other side effects related
to the accident.
As we have seen, the first things I look for in a Solar Return chart are planets that are
conjunct the angles. These include natal planets and Solar Return planets. We can see
the following standout features of this Solar Return chart:
1.

2.

The Sun is tightly conjunct the SR Midheaven. The natal conjunction of the Sun,
Uranus, and Pluto are also brought to a conjunction with the SR Midheaven.
Natal Mars is tightly conjunct the SR Ascendant.

3.

The Solar Return Sun and Solar Return Moon form a tight square. Both are in the
foreground, in prominent positions in the SR chart.

4.

Solar Return Venus is tightly conjunct the natal Descendant (and effectively
opposite the Ascendant).

We also note that SR Pluto is in the first house and loosely square the Sun as well as
loosely opposing the SR Moon.
We can see from these astrological statements that this was going to be a significant
year for the native! The Sun tightly conjunct the Midheaven suggests it would be a
public year, so to speak. Remember that public will mean different things for different
individuals. It does not necessarily mean one is elected to office! Certainly, the native
was receiving tremendous personal attention, as family members and friends flocked
around her, helping to care for her, her home, and her family while she was unable to.
When natal Mars conjuncts the SR Ascendant, we would expect Mars issues to come to
the fore. Generally, we would expect that this would be a busy year. We might expect
confrontations with others, although since Mars is at the Ascendant rather than the
Descendant, we would also expect some enterprise and independence. However, what
played out was a different side of Mars altogether. In fact, the native was less active
than she ever had been as a result of the accident. Later in the year, when she resumed
normal activities, she felt her life to be bustling too fast ahead of her, simply because
she didnt have the energy to keep up. She did confront powerful and personal issues of
anger that seemed to surface out of nowhere, but in fact these issues were coming
from within. The accident only served as a catalyst for their discovery. The sides of Mars
that the native experienced were its anger, its sense of autonomy (although she had
help, when it went away, she felt some anger that she was left to defend herself with
less personal resources than ever), and its tendency to instigate a burnout.
Of course, this highlighted Mars can signify the accident itself! Mars is definitely
associated with accidents. The ascendant represents ones physical body. Note that SR
Jupiter squares the natal Mars. In Cycles of Destiny, Ronald C. Davison writes, with
reference to afflictions to and from Jupiter occurring at the time of an accident, that the
native may suffer through lack of judgment or through over-confidence that may be
prejudicial to his safety(1).
Note also that SR Mars and SR Uranus are conjunct and opposite SR Jupiter. This
configuration is in direct relationship with the prominent natal Mars. Note that SR Mars
and SR Uranus are conjunct in the 3rd house. These are important astrological
statements. Perhaps even more interesting is the fact that Mars, Uranus, and Jupiter
are all in critical degrees. Mars is at 0 degrees, Uranus is at the very end of Aquarius,
and Jupiter is at 4 degrees of Virgo (a classic critical degree). As such, this
configuration becomes more weighty and significant, and it certainly does appear to
be a signature of an accident. In fact, the Solar Return Ascendant is in a critical degree

at 4 degrees Sagittarius, and its ruler, Jupiter is exactly square it and also in a critical
degree!
The square between SR Sun and SR Moon is tight and angular, which in and of itself
promises that the year will be a critical and transitional one. Indeed it was. Issues that
were signified by the other standout features of the chart were evocatively expressed
as well, but, for the purpose of brevity, we will stop at the issues surrounding the
accident for this study.