by Robert Wilkinson
Because of a lack of texts on Solar Returns, there are a lot of questions about how they fit into the bigger picture of our lives as shown by our progressions and the transits we’re dealing with. Today we’ll explore some possible ways to approach how the Solar Return fits into everything else.
We’ll begin with a fundamental fact. The Solar Return chart is a snapshot of the transits at a certain moment. It is a chart showing the transit patterns in an exact moment of time.
So a Solar Return chart indicates a set of on-going patterns within which our Solar Return Sun finds itself. Just like any other transit, it shows the larger gestalt and circumstances within which other primary factors in our charts demonstrate.
The Solar Return is a snapshot of our "view of the field of circumstances" relative to the return of the Light to our Light. However, the Solar Return cannot override or replace our natal factors and how these elements of Self have progressed. These are as they are regardless of whether a transiting planet has returned to its natal position or not.
The Solar Return shows the “Light of circumstances” we will see in the course of the next 12 months. It can show specific emphases and the requirements of the seasons to come, but we will still BE who we are regardless of those circumstances, and act according to our State of Being.
In my counseling sessions over the years I've helped thousands find an ideal Solar Return chart within the limits already discussed. Still, a Solar Return chart cannot be considered "more important" than the natal or progressed charts. They cannot indicate something contrary to what the natal indicates, nor can they be used to bring forth a result not in alignment with our Dharma.
The Solar Return chart must be related to what is already indicated by the natal factors, as well as our progressed Sun, progressed Moon, progressed ruler of the Ascendant, natal and progressed dispositors of our Sun, and so forth. Then what we put into motion at the Solar Return corresponds to elements of our existence which we can work and play with. This can be related to how we are responding to the transits, since in fact it is a "frozen moment" of transits relative to our natal Light/Life.
Some astrologers have the idea that a SR chart exists on its own, and read it like a natal chart, as though magically the natal and progressed factors are of less influence than the SR. Again, It can help us identify our "Light" response within the larger external patterns for the next year, but regardless of the sign on the SR Ascendant, our natal or progressed Ascendant tendencies are not altered, nor the power of the rulers of the natal and progressed Ascendant.
What Is Its Influence, and How Long Does It Last?
The influence of the Solar Return chart lasts only one year. It indicates the activities and experiences of that span to be incorporated in our Life Mythos, the arc of the narrative of our “Hero’s Journey.”
Each Solar Return shows us a new way to view and live our Light. While any given year brings us important information, we will still reference everything to who we are. That is indicated by our natal and progressed tendencies, since those indicate the unbroken experience of our evolving inner Self in life.
Here I’ll reiterate an important point I offered at my Solar Return articles a month ago. Since the Sun is the ultimate point of reference in a Solar Return chart, everything indicated by the Solar Return must in some way serve to bring forth that Light of the True Self, the Light of the Heart. That’s why the house position of the Sun, and how it aspects the Ascendant, are very important in a Solar Return chart.
It is said the moment of the Solar Return, the transiting Sun exactly conjunct our natal Sun, opens us to our Solar Self, the Limitless Light that illuminates us. As we are illuminated, so we illuminate others. That's why the Sun in a chart is the single most important indicator of our true Self.
The Sun shows us our Light/Life that continually integrates and re-integrates us with the source of all vitality. The return of the Light with our Light offers us a chance to re-identify our lives with its incredible power and radiance. You can see how this is an important recurring moment in our evolution toward "Sun-ship."
A Glimpse at Other Factors
On a final note for astrologers, according to what I learned from older sources about the precepts for reading the Solar Return chart, it must be interpreted in a very different way than a natal chart. Everything in the SR must be referenced to the natal houses and their rulers, to which I’ll add the progressed planets. And yes, how the SR chart “fits into” our natal chart (and vice versa) does offer us important clues about our current focus, since they are the transits we’re living within.
While we can find important factors standing on their own in the SR chart, everything relates directly to the rulerships of the natal houses. Also, I believe the SR chart should be done with Equal Houses for very important reasons. I can't really go into the nuances of SR chart interpretation here, since that's an entire course of study.
Because of some interesting questions I’ve been asked related to this subject, I’ll be publishing one more article on the subject.
© Copyright 2018 Robert Wilkinson
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