Minderwiz
I've posted a new thread to deal with an issue arising in the Sticky on Predictive Methods. that Franniee raised in relation to her own Solar Return chart and the approach to interpreting it.
I've posted a bi-wheel showing Franniee's SR positions plotted against her natal chart.
Now there are a number of ways of producing the Solar Return chart, depending on whether we decide (if necessary) to relocate the chart to the native's current location and whether we want to allow in some way or other for the precession of the equinoxes over time.
I've kept the Solar Return location to the Natal location and simply used the Tropical Zodiac, which is the easiest (but arguably not the best approach).
The object here is to make a prediction about the coming year (that is the year from the last birthday). The predicitions may not identify specific events but will give an overall judgement for the year. Again there are various ways of proceeding but I'll start with a fairly traditional reading and we can take it from there.
Lilly's first test is to see if the signs on the Ascendant of the SR and Natal charts are the same. If they are then it is the first testimony to a good year ahead. The are not in this case.
Lilly's second step would be to look at the SR Ascendant ruler and it's condition, especially is it combust (within 8.5 degrees of the Sun). This is Saturn (Not Uranus - this is a traditional approach). Saturn is in Libra where it has exaltation, so it is essentially strong (a good sign) and it is not combust. It is placed in the eighth House which is a weak position in the chart. So a strong Saturn is weakened by position. An angular Saturn would have been a good indicator. Perhaps overall Saturn is either a weak positive or neutral testimony for the coming year.
Thirdly Lilly would look at the position of the Sun in the SR chart. In this case the Sun lies in the seventh House. It's angularity is reduced because whilst it rules the Descendant it is placed in Virgo. Still this is a positive testimony to a good year. There is likely to be some focus on relationships during the year
Fourthly Lilly would look at the position of the Moon in the SR chart. The Moon is important for the strength of any chart. If the Moon is in one of it's key essential dignities then it's a testimony for a good year. Here the Moon is in Scorpio, a water sign but as the Sun has not set in the SR chart, it is Mars who rules the Water Triplicity and the Moon has no essential dignity, indeed it is peregrine. Things are not all bad, the Moon is in a separating conjunction with Venus and is conjunct the ninth cusp but overall a testimony pointing to a weak year.
Lilly's penultimate test would be to look at the relationship between the SR Ascendant and the Natal Ascendant - in this case they are square to one another. That's an indicator that the coming year will not be good.
Finally Lilly looks at the planets in some detail. Firstly are the planets distributed in a totally different way between the two charts - particularly is one the reverse of the other - well in the natal chart only two planets are above the horizon, in the SR chart only one is below. So again testimony that things will not run well.
Continuing with the planets, Lilly looks to see if there are any conjunctions between SR and natal planets. Now the SR Sun will conjoin the natal Sun by definition of a Solar Return, so we are really looking at the others. We have two - SR Saturn conjoins Natal Moon and SR Saturn also conjoins Natal Mercury. As Saturn is an infortune, these aspects do not bode well. Lilly would say that they probably signify problems with children, and written/spoken communications (Mercury) and possible health issues such as coughs, depression, and generally feeling down (Moon). Clearly those would not be seen as positive in anyway. That Saturn is in exaltation will mitigate against these being serious but niggly issues could well typify the year.
Looking down the list it seems that the negatives outweigh the positives so it's not going to be a wonderful year but there's nothing seriously awful. On balance not an easy year and having issues relating to relationships (not necessarily romantic ones) children and health.
Saturn is clearly the dominant planet in this reading so the year will be restrictive. Saturn rules your natal MC, so you might find that what benefits there are during the year are more likely to show up through the areas of life ruled by Saturn in your Natal chart - spirituality, career and friends and hopes and dreams, rather than through material things. Saturn is also well dignified in both SR and Natal charts.
Some riders
Lilly would not see this reading as stand alone - he would also be looking at your Primary Directions and Profections and he would modify the reading in their light (these were his main predictive methods). I've not done those (maybe later on) so I can't qualify the reading as he would.
Secondly this is not the only traditional way of reading a Solar Return. Morin might well come up with a different emphasis though he too would want to put the SR chart in the context of Directions in force at the time. Lilly would not relocate the chart but Morin would always cast the chart for the location of the native, so the birth place would only be used if the native was still there or even was just on a return visit.
I've posted a bi-wheel showing Franniee's SR positions plotted against her natal chart.
Now there are a number of ways of producing the Solar Return chart, depending on whether we decide (if necessary) to relocate the chart to the native's current location and whether we want to allow in some way or other for the precession of the equinoxes over time.
I've kept the Solar Return location to the Natal location and simply used the Tropical Zodiac, which is the easiest (but arguably not the best approach).
The object here is to make a prediction about the coming year (that is the year from the last birthday). The predicitions may not identify specific events but will give an overall judgement for the year. Again there are various ways of proceeding but I'll start with a fairly traditional reading and we can take it from there.
Lilly's first test is to see if the signs on the Ascendant of the SR and Natal charts are the same. If they are then it is the first testimony to a good year ahead. The are not in this case.
Lilly's second step would be to look at the SR Ascendant ruler and it's condition, especially is it combust (within 8.5 degrees of the Sun). This is Saturn (Not Uranus - this is a traditional approach). Saturn is in Libra where it has exaltation, so it is essentially strong (a good sign) and it is not combust. It is placed in the eighth House which is a weak position in the chart. So a strong Saturn is weakened by position. An angular Saturn would have been a good indicator. Perhaps overall Saturn is either a weak positive or neutral testimony for the coming year.
Thirdly Lilly would look at the position of the Sun in the SR chart. In this case the Sun lies in the seventh House. It's angularity is reduced because whilst it rules the Descendant it is placed in Virgo. Still this is a positive testimony to a good year. There is likely to be some focus on relationships during the year
Fourthly Lilly would look at the position of the Moon in the SR chart. The Moon is important for the strength of any chart. If the Moon is in one of it's key essential dignities then it's a testimony for a good year. Here the Moon is in Scorpio, a water sign but as the Sun has not set in the SR chart, it is Mars who rules the Water Triplicity and the Moon has no essential dignity, indeed it is peregrine. Things are not all bad, the Moon is in a separating conjunction with Venus and is conjunct the ninth cusp but overall a testimony pointing to a weak year.
Lilly's penultimate test would be to look at the relationship between the SR Ascendant and the Natal Ascendant - in this case they are square to one another. That's an indicator that the coming year will not be good.
Finally Lilly looks at the planets in some detail. Firstly are the planets distributed in a totally different way between the two charts - particularly is one the reverse of the other - well in the natal chart only two planets are above the horizon, in the SR chart only one is below. So again testimony that things will not run well.
Continuing with the planets, Lilly looks to see if there are any conjunctions between SR and natal planets. Now the SR Sun will conjoin the natal Sun by definition of a Solar Return, so we are really looking at the others. We have two - SR Saturn conjoins Natal Moon and SR Saturn also conjoins Natal Mercury. As Saturn is an infortune, these aspects do not bode well. Lilly would say that they probably signify problems with children, and written/spoken communications (Mercury) and possible health issues such as coughs, depression, and generally feeling down (Moon). Clearly those would not be seen as positive in anyway. That Saturn is in exaltation will mitigate against these being serious but niggly issues could well typify the year.
Looking down the list it seems that the negatives outweigh the positives so it's not going to be a wonderful year but there's nothing seriously awful. On balance not an easy year and having issues relating to relationships (not necessarily romantic ones) children and health.
Saturn is clearly the dominant planet in this reading so the year will be restrictive. Saturn rules your natal MC, so you might find that what benefits there are during the year are more likely to show up through the areas of life ruled by Saturn in your Natal chart - spirituality, career and friends and hopes and dreams, rather than through material things. Saturn is also well dignified in both SR and Natal charts.
Some riders
Lilly would not see this reading as stand alone - he would also be looking at your Primary Directions and Profections and he would modify the reading in their light (these were his main predictive methods). I've not done those (maybe later on) so I can't qualify the reading as he would.
Secondly this is not the only traditional way of reading a Solar Return. Morin might well come up with a different emphasis though he too would want to put the SR chart in the context of Directions in force at the time. Lilly would not relocate the chart but Morin would always cast the chart for the location of the native, so the birth place would only be used if the native was still there or even was just on a return visit.