#5 Tutorial: HOW TO READ YOUR SOLAR RETURN CHART AND ANNUAL PROFECTION
A step by step tutorial for beginners & enthusiasts
For this tutorial you will need a copy of your whole-sign solar return chart (either the last one or the one coming up). You can get one here.
The solar return and annual profection reading combined is a fantastic way to scry into the future, to understand the themes and potentials within it. The idea is to line up with what you truly want so you can make the best choices for yourself, and usually there are many. It can be very affirming.
Having said that, beware becoming fearful or anxious about the future or becoming too overly attached to specific outcomes.
This might seem like a big ask, but so much depends on your mindset. And of course intention. Faith, acceptance and a positive attitude will help you face the future with equanimity, even if there are challenges ahead.
In my solar return chart I could see the death of my dog. She was elderly and so it was not a big surprise, but all the same I didn’t feel ready for the grief I knew would follow.
So I had time to get prepare, to let her go, to send her sweet soul into the next world with the love and care she deserved. There is no good or bad, it is all a gift in some shape or form.
The solar return chart is basically an inception chart, the birth of your personal new year. It is a solar reset of sorts. Celebrate your birthday by releasing everything from the past year you no longer need or want, affirming what you want to continue with, and welcoming anything new.
The reading revolves around the symbolism of the Sun. Apart from defining our timelines into increments of 12 months each, the Sun is the powerhouse of life, it is golden life-force energy.
In the birth chart it can be interpreted as; the ideal self, the ideal image we aspire to, our sense of identity. It represents our sense of purpose, our heart’s desires, vitality and our destiny.
If the Moon is soul, then the Sun is spirit; the sacred fire that drives us and inspires us.
We are using Monica’s chart (below) as example, with permission. You will see that this is a methodical approach much like reading a normal birth chart, but with slightly different considerations. I like to keep things very basic and simple, and if I use any astro-jargon I will try to say what it means.
STEP 1 THE RISING SIGN
The rising sign will tell us about the physical self, appearance, health and wellbeing. It is like the soul of the chart, relating specifically to you and your experience of the year to come. It sets the tone of the entire chart.
In our example chart we have Pisces rising.
This is an emotional and highly sensitive sign, intuitive, creative and spiritual. To honour this, Monica might take care of her emotional needs with more sensitivity, perhaps a sanctuary we she can spend time alone when she feels overwhelmed, mediate or listen to the music she likes. Swimming, bathing and other water therapies, or sound healing could be beneficial.
As a mother this may not always practical or possible for her, but by being aware of the benefits she might feel inspired to include it in her life, even if that only means drinking more water.
Make as many notes as you can think of about the rising sign in your reading. Try to visualise it as a room or temple containing everything you need to flourish and succeed.
STEP 2 THE LORD (RULER) OF THE RISING SIGN
The ruler of the ascendent represents you (the subject of the chart). Its position (sign and house) and configuration (aspects, and dignity) will tell us about what area of your life will be your main focus and theme of the year.
Where, or on what, you will spend most of your time and effort?
In Monica’s return chart Jupiter is the lord of the rising, and is located in 3H Taurus.
Jupiter is expansive, optimistic, and is usually beneficial (a benefic) indicating a year or growth, opportunity and development. Jupiter tends to help and support the planets it aspects.
Taurus brings down-to-earth, practical themes. It is fertile and productive, and encourages beauty, nature and a love of simple pleasures. Farms, gardens and food production might be relevant too.
The 3H position is a sign-based sextile to the 1H. This is supportive of the 1H Pisces themes, suggesting the flow of opportunities, one thing leads to another fortuitously, and the relatively easy manifestation of her hopes for the year.
3H matters typically involve the local neighbourhood, neighbours, mobility, community, matters relating to learning and communications.
The theme of schools and learning is emphasised via Jupiter, suggesting a great deal of curiosity and a desire for knowledge, wisdom and truth.
STEP 3 ASPECTS AND DIGNITY OF THE LORD
What other planets are aspecting the lord of the rising? Are they supportive? Are they strong, applying angles or weaker and separating? And what of Jupiter’s dignity?
Here’s where things can get a bit tricky as we are essentially looking at the future movements of the planets through the chart. These considerations add another layer of detail about the direction you are heading and the flow of events.
Jupiter is stationing retrograde, which adds intensity, but which may translate as a loss of momentum. This also downgrades Jupiter’s dignity, but as most of the aspects are beneficial it may not be such an issue. With return charts, retrogrades relate to timing.
As Jupiter represents Monica the period of its retrograde points to a slow, steady development or a dormant phase, with a deeper development of her plans, which will take off once Jupiter turns direct.
There are several aspects to Jupiter that stand out.
The Luminaries are essential to the reading. If the Sun or Moon are configured to the ascendent or the ruler of the rising, this will tell you how easy, smooth, eventful or difficult your journey through the year is likely to be.
In our example chart the Moon in 1H applies to a sextile to Jupiter. Not only are the Luminaries a key part of the solar return chart, but the Moon has just completed an opposition to the Sun (a full Moon) and is in the 1H, the powerful angular house relating to the self. The Moon in this position is empowering and physically strengthening.
The Moon is ruler of the 5H, and as a mother it seems likely this is relating to Monica’s children. They will be front and centre in her life and her plans, dreams and purpose during the year. She might have a child starting school or graduating, or there may be some other significant event involving her children.
The 5H as the place of good fortune, brings a flow of good luck into Monica’s life, especially matters relating to motherhood, self care, appearance, joy and fun things.
The sextile opens doors, bringing opportunities and connections. The full Moon indicates the culmination or milestone of some sort.
For the timing of these Monica should look at transits and aspects to the position of the Moon.
The Sun forms a trine to Jupiter. We can see this as a very supportive angle, the flow of Solar themes helping Jupiter deliver what the chart promises. More about the Sun in a minute.
Additionally, Jupiter receives a square from Venus, who is stationing direct, and is the ruler of Taurus. Mercury makes a trine to Jupiter and is also retrograde. The lord of the rising is favourably connected to four planets, including the luminaries and the other benefic, Venus. There are multiple choices and opportunities here.
If you are reading a return chart for someone else it can be a good idea to have a conversation about the potentials represented by these more complex significations, especially if you are new to astrology.
Venus Rx square to Jupiter in her domicile could be a caution about overdoing things. Aspects between these two benefics are usually positive, however the square traditionally means lack of moderation, or too much of a good thing. As Venus is in the 6H this could relate to her health, work or diet. Jupiter’s dignity is also effected by Venus retrograde as he resides in her domicile.
Venus is about to turn direct, so will become more obvious influence in the choices and obstacles that arise via this square aspect. Venus as ruler of 8H links matters relating to her Partner’s money, joint financial outgoings and debt. While these may present obstacles, they may also provide opportunities for funding and resources.
Themes of meaningful work or service involving the healing arts or animals (6H) relate to the solar themes (Leo) I already mentioned, such as a sense of purpose and developing her innate gifts and talents. It would be worthwhile for Monica to note any transits or ingresses of Venus over the year.
Mercury’s trine to Jupiter could also turn out to be significant. Although it is retrograde, it is dignified by domicile and exaltation, while ruling the angular houses 4 and 7. The angular houses are very important in any type of reading.
Mercury co-present and applying to the Sun, reinforces these Virgo themes.
With such strong 7H placements, we can say that her relationship with her partner/spouse is very important to her this year. And so are business relationships, relating to others and communication in general.
She may work for, or volunteer support for her partner (Sun, lord of 6H). Virgo themes relate to devotion, discernment, health and healing. Mercury says she will want to be busy and well organised.
Overall however the sign-based trine aspects between Mercury, the Sun and Jupiter seem very positive and bode well for her relationship in general.
Likewise the situation at home. Potentially the Sun and Mercury could represent relationships with members of her extended family, such as brother, sister, aunt or father, that become important in some way.
Monica could glean more detail from these aspects, for example timings, and the circumstances of events, by looking at the aspects these planets will make during the year.
For example Mercury’s retrograde cycle, and connections to Uranus, Neptune and the Sun’s monthly ingresses. Jupiter will transit Uranus mid-April 2024 and the Sun will transit Jupiter and Uranus next May.
STEP 3 THE LUMINARIES
In a solar return reading the Sun can tell us much about the timing of situations and events. From its current position we can look at the monthly ingress of the Sun on its journey around the zodiac, and investigate the nature of the house and the aspects to other planets and chart points along the way.
The Luminaries are essential to the reading. How the Sun and Moon are configured to the ascendent or the ruler of the rising will tell you how easy, smooth, eventful or difficult your journey through the year is likely to be.
Pay particular attention to the angular houses and aspects from the Sun and Moon to the lord of the rising and the 1H.
We have already looked at the significance of the Sun; the source of Monica’s drive, purpose and inspiration. Very simply described it is the ruler of 6H of meaningful work, service to others, pets and animals, health and healing. It is positioned in 7H and has set below the horizon so some of these 6H matters are completing or ending. It is her relationships (7H) with others, and support from them, that will help her achieve her desires.
The powerful full Moon strengthens the Pisces themes of the 1H that we discussed earlier. It is a very receptive position for the Moon. It reinforces relationship themes such as a powerful bond of love, shared dreams and mutual support between her and her partner.
She may find she needs protective boundaries more than usual to better manage the empathy and connection she feels for others. And as the lord of the 5H, looking after her children will be her priority.
This is culminating Moon too, where 5H matters have come to fruition and harvest as we have already mentioned. That the luminaries are connected to each other this way, as well as forming helpful aspects to the lord of the Ascendent says that overall this should be an easy, favourable, successful year.
As you can see this is already quite a long reading. We could delve deeper for more detail and nuance if we wish. For example Mars is ruler of 2H and 9H and is in detriment in Libra 8H. Saturn, lord of 11H and 12H is in 1H and is close to a separating opposition to the Sun. Uranus, Pluto and Neptune all have a role to play in this chart and some of these secondary influences look quite difficult.
STEP 4 ANNUAL PROFECTION
As the lord of the year changes at each birthday it seems like a good idea to include it with a solar return reading. It is based on one year per planet throughout life, around the zodiac. For more about annual profections go here.
Monica is in a 10H profection year. This is the house of career, public profile, recognition and aspirations. Sagittarius is sign on the 10H indicating matters relating to learning, teaching, education, religious or philosophical systems, beliefs and principles relating to achievement and fame, law, freedom and independence.
The lord of the year Jupiter, is also the ruler of Monica’s rising sign. So there is a double signification of this archetype, enhancing Monica’s ability to make the most of the opportunities which will no doubt manifest over the year. She will feel confident taking risks and being in the public eye.
Monica could keep her eye on Jupiter, its transits, ingresses and aspects, as indicating when those opportunities will manifest, and which ones will lead her to success.
Feel free to drop a question in the comments. I hope this helps you make the best choices and decisions that will lead to a happy life, full of joy.
I published four books to help you learn the foundations of astrology. Let’s Learn Astrology, for absolute beginners. If you know absolutely nothing about astrology, start here!
I know it’s a longer read. But it’s worth it I reckon💗
I was just looking at my SR since my birthday is next month. Thank you for some pointers!! I have been trying to figure out if I can see a pregnancy in the next couple years. I would be curious to know of your thoughts on reading the vertex and/or part of fortune in a SR chart?