*****************************************************************
Planets in Solar Return Report for:
Bruce WillisMarch 19, 19556:32 PMMunich, Germany
******
Solar Return calculated for:March 18, 200512:30:16 PMLos Angeles, California
*****************************************************************
Valkyrie AstrologyPO Box 58521Houston, TX 77258www.valkyrieastrology.com
*** INTRODUCTION TO SOLAR RETURNS AND THEIR INTERPRETATION ***
What is a Solar Return Chart?
A solar return chart is a chart erected for the time that the transiting Sun returns to the position of the natal Sun. Approximately once every year the transiting Sun goes through the entire zodiac, every degree, minute, and second of each sign. When you are born, the Sun in your natal chart has a specific position in the zodiac. This position can be measured exactly. At some point in time during each subsequent year, the transiting Sun returns to this natal position, conjuncting your natal Sun. The date and time when the conjunction occurs down to the exact second of arc is the time of the solar return chart. A chart is then calculated for that date, using the time (of the transiting Sun's return to your natal Sun's position), and your location (longitude and latitude) at the time of the conjunction.
Tropical, Placidus, Nonprecessed Solar Return
There are many different types of solar return charts: tropical, sidereal, precessed, and nonprecessed. This report is based on research using tropical, Placidus or Koch, nonprecessed solar return charts. Interpretations are very similar to natal interpretations and this should make the material more understandable to both the professional and amateur astrologer.
Solar Return Location
The solar return chart is generally calculated for your location at the time of the Sun's return. This may occur on your birthday, or the day before or after. During leap years, it sometimes occurs two days before your birthday. If you are going to be away or traveling near your birthday, calculate the time of the Sun's return before you leave so you can note your position the exact moment of the solar return.
You can also calculate the chart for your natal birth location even if you no longer live there. The natal location solar return chart is not as definitive as the relocation solar return, but it can give you good information. The natal location solar return is like a progressed or solar arc chart; you are born with it. Therefore, a natal solar return cannot and will not reflect any free will choices you might have made regarding where you live or where you are when the sun returns. It is a good chart, but it does not mirror the whole picture, especially if you have moved a great distance.
Some individuals prefer the chart calculated for their place of residence regardless of where they are located at the time of the Sun's return. This chart can be useful also, but again, it tends to be secondary to the chart of your actual location at the time of the Sun's return to its natal zodiacal position.
Some individuals relocate for a short period of time, usually about 24 hours, to adjust the house placements of the planets in the solar return. Those who calculate the chart for where they are at the time of the transiting Sun's conjunction to the natal position sometimes travel to other locations to change the yearly interpretation. The relocation adjusts the angles and cusps, orienting the planets into different houses. The zodiacal degrees and aspects of the planets remain the same, but because of the different planetary placements different areas of life are emphasized. The free will choice to make this adjustment seems to bring this chart closest to the truth.
Period of the Solar Return's Significance
The significance of the solar return runs birthday to birthday with a three month overlap at the beginning and end of each year. The symbolism of the new solar return can be felt as much as three months before the birthday by very intuitive people. Usually, at this time, one becomes aware of new directions, opportunities, and problems. Many times there is even an event exactly three months before the birthday which triggers awareness and signals the beginning of the new solar return. This event is usually very much related to the new solar return and very much out of context with the old one. If you have plans to travel overseas during the three months before your birthday, do not look for the event in the old solar return even if you have been planning to take the trip all year. The old solar return will probably indicate the planning stage, but the new solar return will indicate the trip. The trip itself illustrates change, and since it occurs in the three months before your birthday, it will most likely be indicative of the new solar return chart.
On the other hand, the significance of the old solar return may not feel passé until three months after your birthday. The old themes and issues which you have worked with for the year should begin to lose their importance just as the new solar return starts to manifest itself. As your attention naturally shifts to new themes and issues, previous concerns are phased out. This is especially true if you experience a sense of completion relevant to the old tasks. However, there are times when the old solar return drags on. If you are working on a major project for the year, it may be impossible to complete it within the one year time span. If you normally procrastinate and avoid making decisions, tasks associated with the old solar return can easily last past your birthday and into the first three months of the new solar return year. Unresolved issues carried over from year to year become stumbling blocks to further advancement and development. Individuals who consistently avoid facing the real issues in their lives accumulate major problems which are very difficult to handle.
The important thing to remember about solar returns, and life experiences in general, is that they are part of a cumulative process. The more attentive and productive you are this year, the greater your options next year. The less you accomplish now, the more limited you will feel as time goes by. Unlike transits which can seem disconnected and singular, solar returns are closely aligned and can easily be viewed as building blocks, one upon the other, year after year. For this reason, each year becomes important and each task has a history and a future. The rhythmic pattern of the solar return helps us to see this.
The main transitional month for the change from the old solar return to the new solar return is the month directly preceding the birthday. Issues related to the old solar return are resolved at this time unless they drag on (as explained above), or they are part of the new solar return as well. Issues related to the new solar return become more pressing during this transitional month and are certainly full blown by the birthdate. Sometimes the new solar return simply gains strength during the three months before your birthday and sometimes it comes in with a bang on or near your birthday. Rarely does it happen that a solar return chart starts to change manifestation later in the year. Themes in the chart usually persist for the entire year, but once in a great while one new theme will appear later than expected. In every case, the new theme can be seen in the solar return chart, yet it lay there inactive for some unknown reason. An external event is the triggering mechanism used to activate this inert awareness, and the event generally occurs within the three months following the birthday. It can be hypothesized that unconscious factors help to avoid full involvement with this new issue until such time as it is associated with an external event of importance and thereafter becomes very obvious.
Planets conjunct a house cusp within a few degrees may be read in both houses. It is especially important to read outer planets in both houses since they eventually transit or retrograde into the other house, indicating dual or shifting concerns during the year. The more planets that are in a solar return house, the more emphasized that area of life will be during the coming year, especially if the Sun is one of the planets present. Four or more planets in any one house indicate a strong need to be involved with those themes and issues. But the individual may become so focused on this one area of life that perception is distorted and these themes are overemphasized. He or she may not want to think about anything else or accomplish tasks in other areas. The overloaded house becomes a symbol for obsessive preoccupation or emotional overload.
*** Astrological Data of Birth ***
The birth chart is a map of the positions of the planets at the time and place of birth. For the benefit of students of astrology, these positions and other technical information is listed below:
Sun 28 Pis 20 Neptune 27 Lib 38
Moon 2 Aqu 31 Pluto 24 Leo 49
Mercury 2 Pis 23 Asc. 0 Lib 46
Venus 17 Aqu 19 MC 0 Can 58
Mars 14 Tau 48 2nd cusp 25 Lib 28
Jupiter 19 Can 54 3rd cusp 25 Sco 45
Saturn 20 Sco 53 5th cusp 6 Aqu 05
Uranus 23 Can 40 6th cusp 6 Pis 14
Tropical Placidus Standard Time observed
March 19, 1955 6:32 PM
GMT: 17:32:00 Time Zone: 1 hours East
Lat. and Long. of birth place: 48 N 08 11 E 34
Astrological Data of Solar Return:
Sun 28 Pis 20 Neptune 16 Aqu 36
Moon 9 Can 50 Pluto 24 Sag 30
Mercury 14 Ari 01 Asc. 19 Can 59
Venus 25 Pis 14 MC 6 Ari 20
Mars 28 Cap 38 2nd cusp 11 Leo 29
Jupiter 15 Lib 56 3rd cusp 6 Vir 09
Saturn 20 Can 24 5th cusp 11 Sco 50
Uranus 7 Pis 59 6th cusp 17 Sag 55
March 18, 2005 GMT: 20:30:16
Los Angeles, California 34 N 03 08 118 W 14 34
Aspects and orbs:
Sun and Moon only All other planets
Conj. : 8 Deg. 00 Min. 7 Deg. 00 Min.
Oppos. : 6 Deg. 00 Min. 6 Deg. 00
Square : 6 Deg. 00 Min. 6 Deg. 00 Min.
Trine : 6 Deg. 00 Min. 6 Deg. 00 Min.
Sextile: 5 Deg. 00 Min. 4 Deg. 00 Min.
ELEMENTS, MODES, QUADRANTS, AND RETROGRADE PLANETS
Five or More Cardinal Planets
This can show a year with a tremendous amount of activity (which usually amounts to too much activity). You may expend your energy in several different directions by working on a number of projects. Each of these projects will be well-defined and equated with a personal need; however, you will feel torn between all the things you want or need to do. You are trying to do too much. If you overload yourself with too many activities, you will begin to procrastinate, miss deadlines and be forced into crisis management. Your nervous system will be taxed and you will begin to make impulsive decisions with little forethought. You need to be better organized. Perhaps you should finish one project before starting another, or you should seek assistance. If you must juggle a busy schedule, learn to streamline your routine and optimize your use of time and energy.
Zero or One Fixed Planet
When fixed planets are lacking in the solar return chart, you may feel the need to initiate major changes and take greater risks. You will tend to welcome changes that come your way and actually see change as the natural way to improve your life situation. You have a desire for new experiences and can make major commitments to previously untried life-styles. You might move a great distance, have a first child, get married, or experience a similar major transition. An element of insecurity or a lack of attention to security needs is associated with this modal lack. There is a tendency to jump now and think later. Your resistance to change may be so low that you lack stability during this time and make some changes unnecessarily. Use this year to be open to new possibilities. Prepare for times of great change by planning ahead.
Zero or One Earth Planet
While the preponderance of earth is generally associated with attention to financial matters, the lack of earth is more closely associated with financial limitations. Implied is a lack of money, through a loss of income, mismanagement, or self-imposed limitations. If you usually have money problems, then the lack of earth in the solar return chart can indicate increasing or continuing economic difficulties during the coming year. You may find that you have reached your credit limit and can no longer spend money without planning. You will not necessarily have employment problems also, though sometimes that is the case. The lack of earth in the solar return chart suggests a lack of attention to financial concerns which can eventually lead to significant debt and overextension.
On the other hand, this is an excellent time to budget. Those individuals who are able to set their own limits use this time to become artificially poor and live on less money than earned. The lack of earth can indicate the desire to impose a strict system for saving money toward a large purchase such as a down payment on a home. In this case, the monetary pinch comes from your own savings program and not a lack of real funds or impinging debts. You can channel your money into various projects and expenses, leaving less to play with. If you are very concerned with your future financial security, vow to do something about it now.
For some individuals, the lack of money will not be a problem. You can place a greater emphasis on intangibles and therefore money is not a top priority. The quality of life is more important than the current financial state. If you are unhappy with your job, this is a good time to quit since career satisfaction will be more important to you than the salary you are paid. You are capable of living on less.
Five or More Water Planets
The emphasis on water in your solar return is related to an increase in unconscious impulses and psychological factors. You may be more psychic or intuitive, but some negative psychological traits such as fears, phobias, dependencies, obsessions, and compulsions may pop into your behavioral repertoire. These need not cause you discomfort, but you will have a tendency to react to life from a feeling level rather than from a clear avenue of conscious thought. This is a good time to work with your feelings and create a stronger bond of nurturing and caring with others.
You are apt to be more sensitive to emotional stimuli this year. A very positive manifestation would be a love relationship. Your feelings for family, parents, children, and friends may be more poignant. But a preponderance of water can also symbolize an overwhelming emotional nature. You can lead with your heart, refuse to see things logically, and ignore your own best advice. There is a tendency to be more anxious or worried. If you feel overwhelmed by your own emotions and the problems of others, this is an excellent time to see a counselor.
THE SUN IN THE SOLAR RETURN CHART
The Sun is the most significant planet in the solar return chart. Its position by house shows the most emphasized area of life during the coming year, how and where you expend the greatest amount of energy. The house placement of the Sun is reflected in the interpretation of the other planets, and may be the motivating force behind their symbolism.
Sun in 9th house:
The Sun in the 9th house of the solar return chart indicates the need to reassess beliefs. The 9th house is not limited to higher thoughts only, but includes all beliefs, mundane as well as philosophical, nonreligious as well as religious. This is also the house of prejudice, intolerance, and fanaticism. Beliefs that are erroneous, impractical or unsuitable need to be confronted and eliminated during the year.
Now is the time to reevaluate all beliefs, including those about yourself, your abilities, and relationships. If you have a long-standing belief in your ability to accomplish something difficult, this is the year to make the attempt. As you test your beliefs, one or more of them may prove to be a "misbelief" or misconception. Not all will be accurate or valuable. True beliefs must be proven so they can be built upon. They are the cornerstones of future actions. Misconceptions, on the other hand, can have serious consequences. They distort your perception of reality and stunt your emotional and spiritual growth. They must be corrected so that evolution will resume.
The spiritual philosophy which is the guiding force behind your everyday actions should be grounded in practical application. You should be able to live comfortably with your beliefs without the pain of continuing disillusionment. Some spiritual philosophies are too idealistic and self-defeating, encouraging the individual to remain in situations which are psychologically unhealthy. Turning the other cheek when you are being abused makes no sense. Your spiritual and religious beliefs should lead you toward fulfillment and peace. Philosophies which do nothing to improve the Universe and lack realistic manifestations may be meaningless mental exercises. A focus on coping with continuing disappointment shortchanges the individual. Use this time to find a philosophy that improves your life and the lives of others.
This is also the time to practice what you preach. If you are not aware of the inconsistencies in your beliefs, the contradictions will manifest themselves in your behavior. Others will notice the discrepancy between what you say and what you do. If you are truly hypocritical, you will tend to attract situations which accentuate this conflict even more.
This is a wonderful time for learning. If you have been out of school and wish to continue your education, do so now. Professional refresher courses will help you next year when the Sun moves into the 6th house of work. You can study any topic during the year and courses do not have to be part of a formal education. Concentrated study is likely and you may do this on your own or within a structured environment. Those who have completed their education may prefer to lecture or teach. As an alternative, you might sell a book proposal with writing and editing taking most of the year.
The Sun in the 9th can also indicate extensive traveling. You are more likely to travel outside the country and overseas, especially if there are other 9th house placements. Experiencing other cultures should make you more tolerant of others and their belief systems.
Sun Aspects Pluto
The nature of a planet aspecting the Sun in the solar return chart and the aspect between them color the interpretation of both planets. Pluto aspects to the Sun (which usually last for a number of consecutive years) indicate an increased awareness of power. Awareness can come through conflicts and struggle with yourself or others, but it is the awareness that is most significant. How people get, maintain and use power for personal goals or for the control of others is more important than the struggle itself. It is the awareness which gives you a greater ability to control your own life. Power usage in confrontations and everyday situations will become more obvious, but even subtle shifts in power will be evident to you as you learn to recognize psychological motivations and manipulations. For some individuals this is a time to study psychology; however, many will notice examples of obsessive, compulsive, phobic, or manipulative behaviors in themselves or others regardless of their educational background. Unconscious needs are intensified and life becomes more complicated. Ambition and self-control are the more positive manifestations. Learning to deal with life on a deeper level is the hallmark of the Plutonian consciousness.
Sun Aspects Mars
Mars symbolizes the energy necessary for successful accomplishments. When Mars aspects the Sun, it is a good time to work on a project that requires a great deal of energy to complete. Success can come in the form of personal or professional achievement, or with defense. Relationships tend to be competitive, and you need to balance self-centered drives with the needs of others. Learning to deal with aggression, conflict, and anger in an effective rather than detrimental way can enable the individual to handle negative situations positively. Less spiritual themes involve destructive or self-destructive urges. Prolonged anger creates blockages which waste energy in a cycle of negative emotions that have no real purpose or goal. It is better to direct efforts into positive endeavors.
Sun Aspects Venus
Just as in the natal chart, the solar return Sun is never more than 46 degrees from Venus, so it does not form any major aspects other than the conjunction. Venus conjunct the Sun indicates that personal reward or sacrifice in the form of money, self-esteem, values, or relationships is intimately tied up with the goals of the Sun. Laziness might be very detrimental, while one can reap great benefits from a personal best.
THE MOON IN THE SOLAR RETURN CHART
The solar return Moon seems to have two consistent themes throughout all of the houses. First and most simply, the Moon is associated with change and fluctuation according to its house position. Secondly, and probably more importantly, the Moon reflects the individual's emotional nature during the solar return year.
The Moon as an Emotional Indicator
While we speak of the Moon as simply an indication of one's emotional nature, the actual interpretation of the Moon is more complex than simple. The Moon is not just an indicator of feelings; one's emotional nature is a multidimensional conglomeration of feelings, temperament, needs, and unconscious responses. We cannot look at the Moon as one-sided; we must study its interpretation from a number of perspectives.
The Moon represents the individual's feelings regardless of whether or not they are expressed openly. The type of feelings you have during the year can be demonstrated by the Moon's sign, position, and aspects. The Moon's sign can be important even though the Moon has essentially only nineteen placements, because it is indicative of what the individual feels during the year and how he or she is most likely to exhibit those feelings.
The major difference between an individual's feelings and basic temperament is that feelings tend to make up one's basic temperament. The word temperament implies one's overall pattern of emotional response; it is an emotional factor that remains constant regardless of the circumstances. On the other hand, feelings imply a specific emotion in response to a particular event or situation. For example, moody people have emotional swings. Their feelings change depending whether or not they are experiencing happy or sad events; however, their proclivity toward emotional highs and lows remains constant regardless of their particular mood at any point in time. Despite feelings of joy or depression, they still have a moody disposition. The solar return Moon's sign is generally very descriptive of your emotional temperament. It can suggest an array of emotional characteristics including moodiness, sensitivity, coldness, or enthusiasm.
Emotional needs play a crucial role in the Moon's cycle of change and emotional maturation. As explained above, the Moon moves in an understandable pattern through the solar return. During each year, the individual knows certain emotional needs must be met in order to feel secure and fulfilled. These needs, which fluctuate from year to year, cause the individual to create the variety of situations necessary for emotional maturity.
Conscious or Unconscious Emphasis
The Moon also signifies the unconscious experience. While Mercury's placement will suggest what the person is consciously thinking, the Moon's placement will suggest what the individual is experiencing on an unconscious level. Together, the Moon and Mercury (and sometimes also the Sun) symbolize the balance between conscious and the unconscious processes. We like to think that our decisions are based on the integration of rational and emotional information, but during any given solar return year, one process more than the other can influence our decisions, perceptions, and motivations. The focus of attention shifts to accommodate fluctuations in individual patterns of growth. There will be years when you lean more heavily on your emotional responses, tending to trust your instincts and follow your intuition. But there will be other years when you depend more on a logical assessment of your situation.
The emphasis on the unconscious usually indicates a year in which the native will be interested in fostering emotional connections and unconscious insights. Logic and factual information may not be meaningful within the context of present situations, which will tend to be emotional. Example situations include (but are not limited to): involvement in counseling, therapy or self-help discussion groups; intense family situations (related to birth, child-rearing, sickness or death); and very nurturing social situations (e.g., communal living, helping the disabled, underprivileged or homeless). Emotional interactions and perceptions will naturally be more important if they are more likely to provide vital information needed to handle experiences during the coming year. An emphasis on the unconscious nature is conducive to emotional growth.
All forms of mental activity are associated with an emphasis on the conscious mind, including educational and informational activities. Teaching, learning, lecturing, and writing are several examples. An emphasis on the conscious mind is conducive to intellectual growth.
Solar Return Moon in 12th house:
You may not be very open with your feelings when the Moon is in the 12th house. This can be a time of intense emotions, but commonly they lack a clear avenue for expression. For one reason or another, you find it difficult to reveal what you are feeling or sensing intuitively. Even when you do make a revelation, you suspect you are misunderstood or ignored. Others may seem distant or detached, leaving you to cope alone with pressing emotional issues; or you might not have someone immediately available who truly understands what you are feeling. The Moon in the 12th house is common in the charts of those who have recently changed their environment and entered a new situation where they have not yet had the opportunity to foster strong emotional connections to the people around them. The perception of emotional loneliness may or may not be accurate; you could simply be more reluctant to disclose your emotions though others are willing to listen.
But there are certain situations associated with the Moon in the 12th house which typically warrant emotional restraint. If you are involved in a clandestine affair, the person you are seeing may not want to get involved emotionally. If you are dealing with the sick, disabled or dying, you might hide your feelings so as not to convey the full extent of their injury or illness. If you think that someone has purposefully tried to hurt you, you would not want him or her to see if they have succeeded. Consequently, this can be a time when you keep emotional secrets because of the anticipated reaction to their revelation.
The reasons for emotional restraint are very important. You must ascertain whether or not your situation truly prohibits emotional expression or if your own fears are limiting their expression. Even if your present relationships are restrictive, this does not mean that you cannot or should not find others to confide in. You can cultivate new friendships that allow a greater opportunity for expression. Learning to express your feelings quietly to those with whom you are most closely involved will be one of the tasks for this year.
You may be socially withdrawn and retiring, preferring to be left alone, withdrawing from the public eye. You might enjoy quiet moments at home with your family, friends or loved ones instead of social evenings out. You need extra time, and perhaps privacy, for your own interests. If you are normally an outgoing, active person, this may seem like a time of seclusion. If you are romantically involved with someone, you will want to be alone, or may have to be alone. The individual you are involved with might not want to be seen in public.
The Moon in the 12th house indicates that the emotional nature is more sensitive to those in need. This can be a year in which a lot of time is spent helping, nurturing or caring for others, especially if there is someone close to you who has a health problem. This Moon placement can suggest that someone close to you, and possibly a family member, is sick or requires hospitalization. If no one in your family is ill, you will still care for someone who is in need. You can be a Good Samaritan who willingly gives time and energy to assist others. The danger with this placement is the tendency to get involved with those who refuse to help themselves, e.g., the alcoholic, drug user, unhappily married person, or counseling candidate. You, yourself, could play victim. If this is the case, seek professional guidance in these matters.
Moon Aspects Uranus
Probably the most common activity associated with a Moon-Uranus aspect in a solar return chart is moving from one home to another. You may move yourself, or help someone either move in or out of your home. Domestic changes are likely. Usually, a certain amount of disruption transpires in the home. Expect breaks in your daily routine and habits. Most likely, relationships are also changing. You could be involved in a new relationship, or an old one may be going through a period of transition or separation. Either you or your partner initiates these changes.
Strong attractions are possible at this time, but this is not the most common manifestation. If you feel you are caught in an emotional rut, changes are more likely to occur. The external changes you experience in relationships are the direct result of internal restlessness. It stands to reason that if your situation and emotional needs change, you will be faced with new issues and problems, and be required to develop new ways of expressing yourself emotionally. This is one way to break inhibitions. The involvement in new situations will accentuate your ability or inability to handle emotions and relationships in a positive way. At the very worst, emotional control will be difficult and feelings will be erratic. You may be overwhelmed one day and detached or cool the next. You could say or do things without really considering the emotional consequences, but then, this might free you up to make necessary changes quickly and easily.
Moon Aspects Mercury
Moon-Mercury aspects emphasize the need for integration of unconscious feelings with conscious thoughts. If these two avenues for information and analysis are working together, they form a great combination; the integrated psyche is a powerful tool for intellectual and creative endeavors. You will be able to understand the total picture from your rational assessment combined with intuitive insight. When the conscious and unconscious are working together, you are more likely to make good decisions which satisfy your emotional needs. The conscious mind can be used to channel unconscious feelings into creative projects. Channeling can also be very therapeutic.
You can actively seek out more information about your feelings and motivations through discussions. But when the conscious and the unconscious function separately, the native experiences two distinct and contradictory pieces of information. It is often difficult to make decisions since you arrive at two mutually exclusive conclusions. You could consciously override or suppress your feelings and emotional needs. On the other hand, you may react without thinking. The key to using this aspect positively is to balance and integrate conscious and unconscious input and work toward a complete sense of self.
MERCURY IN THE SOLAR RETURN CHART
Mercury has two basic interpretations in the solar return chart: it symbolizes both your mental condition during the coming year and what you are thinking about. The first task involved in understanding Mercury's interpretation is to evaluate the indicators for mental conditioning and the possible sources of tension.
Solar Return Mercury in 10th house:
Mercury in the 10th house is associated with decisions that will channel the direction of your life over the next few years. During the year, you will be asked to make choices that will affect your immediate and distant future. Decisions may be career-related and directly involve your present job or professional goals. You might decide to attend school or take a refresher course. On-the-job training and work-related travel are also a possibility. On the other hand, decisions might pertain to major life transitions without an emphasis on career. Important decisions such as marriage, leaving home or moving to another country can be indicated by Mercury in the 10th house. People who decide to change their life-styles totally can have this placement.
Professionally, this can be a good time to communicate with your superiors. Networking can further your advancement. Make business connections now and plan for future career developments. You may have ideas that would improve business or streamline office procedure. These creative ideas can play a crucial role in career developments over the next year. If you are already in a position of authority or willing to accept more responsibility, you might be asked to play a greater role in the decision-making process at your place of employment. If you are not in a position to change office routines where necessary, work may become more tedious. Tasks may be predominantly detail-oriented or repetitive and involve a great deal of paperwork.
Mercury Aspects Neptune
Neptune in aspect to Mercury in the solar return chart suggests working with the less clearly defined psychological drives such as compassion, creativity, and spirituality. Your sensitivity to subtle emotional connections among all people increases your concern for certain individuals in particular and humanity as a whole. You are able to acquire information through intuitive and psychic insights. Dealing with these subtle themes can lead to some uncertainty and confusion in the thinking process. Increased intuitive or psychic awareness can precede the ability to weigh this information for its accuracy. It is sometimes difficult to discriminate between what is really psychic and what is more closely akin to worry, fear, or false hope. It is also difficult to find practical applications for idealistic concepts and inspirations which are represented by this combination. Therefore, stress can sometimes be associated with the more spiritual manifestations of Neptune-Mercury aspects.
Important factual information that you receive during the year may be partial, inaccurate, or vague. Sometimes secrecy and deception play a role. Your normal points of reference for evaluating information may be changing. Without adequate facts, you may be left hanging for most of the year. It may be impossible for you to make a decision at this time or to evaluate your circumstances. You may be easily confused or misled, especially if the information you receive is inconsistent or incomplete. In older individuals, confusion may actually be senility. Neptune's most negative interpretation is a loss of mental capabilities through drug and alcohol use or abuse. This tends to be an uncommon manifestation that is more closely associated with an individual pattern of consistent negative behavior. Most people will not fall into this trap.
Put your trust in the Universe during times of uncertainty. Focus on compassion rather than a search for mundane truth. Understand that in the end, all will be known. Be gentle with yourself when you are not as focused and detail-oriented as you used to be. Mercury-Neptune aspects can indicate a call to the right-brain, creative, artistic, intuitive, and spiritual processes. Go with the flow of consciousness and open to a whole new way of knowing and perceiving.
Mercury Aspects Jupiter
While Saturn-Mercury aspects are associated with pessimism, Jupiter, on the other hand, can imply optimism, and confidence. You may look forward to the future with great enthusiasm. But what you believe to be possible may differ from your actual experience. Optimism can lead to miscalculations and poor decisions if you overestimate your chances for success or underestimate the amount of time you will require to complete a task. Overscheduling is directly related to this inability to foresee possible future difficulties. You might assume that tasks are quite simple, when in fact they are very difficult. You may not be able to honor deadlines and promises you have made if they are unrealistic. The tendency is to overwhelm yourself with too many tasks or projects, too many details to remember. Stress results from these miscalculations.
For some, stress may also result from a lack of congruity between more philosophical beliefs (ruled by Jupiter) and daily experience (ruled by Mercury). You might find it difficult to believe what you see and hear. Situations you are involved in can directly conflict with long-held philosophical, ethical, and religious beliefs. You may not now practice what you once preached. Very narrow minds will steadfastly hold on to basic beliefs which are contradicted by personal experience. These individuals will be unable to make the philosophical adjustments necessary to accommodate new information. Do not allow intolerance and hypocrisy to limit your possibilities. This is a good time to expand your mind. Return to school, join a discussion group or study on your own.
VENUS IN THE SOLAR RETURN CHART
Venus is the key to understanding your relationships and financial situation for the solar return year. Many times these two areas go hand in hand; financial security tends to be coupled with secure relationships while financial difficulties are more likely to occur when close relationships are strained. Although this correlation is common, it is not the rule, and interpretations for finances and relationships should always be viewed separately. When assessing Venus in the chart, evaluate Venus twice, first with respect to the other relationship factors in the solar return and then with respect to the other monetary indicators. In this way, you can develop a clear picture of each area of concern.
Venus also indicates a need for comfort and it is informative to note what has preceded Venus in its present house position. If, during this year, Venus resides in a house which last year represented an area of conflict, Venus would imply an improvement in the conditions associated with that house and may indicate a healing process. Benefits commonly follow after much hard work. A Venus placement in the solar return chart following a more difficult placement during the previous year can indicate great reward. Your awareness of this possibility may encourage you to work harder in more problematic areas since you can see the rewards in the following year.
Relationships
Venus, by house, shows what relationships will be important during the coming year. For example, Venus in the 3rd house might indicate that relationships with neighbors or community involvement will be emphasized. With Venus in the 6th house, pleasant office conditions, and good co-worker relationships will be important. But the interpretation of relationships as they appear in the solar return chart involves more than an understanding of Venus' house placement. Look at the 5th and the 7th houses, especially if you are interested in a love relationship. The more planets in these houses, particularly the 7th house, the greater the need to relate on a one-to-one basis. Generally, the 5th house shows sexual affairs, while the 7th house indicates a greater commitment (though not necessarily marriage). Clandestine affairs or secret relationships are more likely to occur when Venus and/or the Moon appear in the 12th house.
One fact about marriage and the solar return chart is surprising. The solar return is not necessarily a good indicator of a marriage during the year. The beginning of a relationship might be easily seen, but the marriage itself is more likely to be reflected in other techniques. On the other hand, postponement of a marriage or the refusal to make a commitment can be easily seen with Saturn, Uranus or Neptune in the 7th house.
Finances
Venus also relates to money and finances, and can be used to evaluate these circumstances for the coming solar return year. The house placement for Venus may indicate how you are most likely to generate income. This is sometimes true, but not always. Venus in the 9th implies a teaching salary, but if you don't teach, the emphasis will be on your beliefs concerning relationships. Don't stretch your economic interpretation of Venus' house placement. If the house position applies, the situation will be obvious. If the house position does not seem to apply to finances in particular, Venus will be more consistent with relationship situations during the year.
For finances, it is perhaps more important to look at the planetary placements in the 2nd, 6th, 10th, and 11th houses, especially if you are interested in the amount of money you will be able to earn by employment. The 2nd house is the primary money house, but it also gives indications of spending practices. Any planets in the 2nd can reflect your salary and/or your spending practices (regardless of how much money you earn); it is always possible to spend more than you make or make more than you spend.
Solar Return Venus in 9th house:
With Venus in the 9th house, your beliefs about intimate relationships are being tested. You must support your intimate partnership with a philosophical concept of what that relationship is about and why it exists. Gut reactions and unconscious responses will now seem inappropriate. Relationships are no longer simple boy-meets-girl encounters. They are a crucial part of your present life situation, and issues concerning them need to be examined. One relationship in particular, usually, but not necessarily the marriage, must be validated as a worthy and understandable association.
It seems strange that Venus in the 9th house might be associated with relationship difficulties, but this is often the case. Perhaps one tends to dream the impossible dream and yearn for more than is reasonable. If you have this placement, you will naturally tend to review your immediate intimate involvements. You will consider your initial attraction, pains and joys through your years together, and your present feeling of fulfillment, anger or sadness. What you discover may reaffirm your commitment, or make you realize that your relationship is not living up to your expectations. (Expectation, as it is used here, is really a synonym for belief.)
Normally there is a perceived internal or external threat to your main relationship which triggers this review process. Your relationship may not be fulfilling, or you or your partner may be interested in someone else. Sometimes the threat is serious, many times it is not; occasionally it is imagined. It may be only coincidental to the review process. The planets aspecting Venus and the houses they reside in or rule may indicate the issues involved. The main goal for this placement is to establish realistic philosophical and moral guidelines consistent with your intimate experiences and needs. During this period, you might also formulate ethical codes of conduct with regard to professional business partnerships. These guidelines will help you better understand your present involvements while also setting up conduct standards for the future.
As your beliefs evolve, you may need help sorting through the changes. For this reason, many individuals join a religious or philosophical discussion group during the year. The group may not discuss relationships per se, but the discussions will help you focus on the important issues.
You are also more likely to take a course during the year, and the course might be relevant to the issues you are faced with. Educational pursuits may focus on religious or philosophical topics, new-age concepts or relationships themselves. If you attend a formal school, your relationships with professors, students, and fellow classmates should be warm and sociable, extending beyond the classroom experience. Benefits derived from your studies may be material, intellectual, emotional or spiritual. Academic awards and recognition are possible for those who do their best work, regardless of whether you are the student or the teacher.
You should travel this year since you will be fascinated by foreign places, cultures, and people. Travel overseas may be particularly enjoyable. If you do business with those overseas, foreign partnerships can be pleasant and profitable. If you cannot travel, study foreign customs, try out various ethnic foods and visit ethnic neighborhoods. Romance with a foreigner is possible.
Venus Aspects Pluto
Pluto-Venus contacts show intense emotional involvements and complicated financial situations. New relationships can be especially compelling, and like the moth to the flame, you are drawn to particular individuals without understanding why. Unconscious forces play a major role in this type of relationship. Eventually you may discover that you have met the perfect mate, but in the beginning, the perceived loss of control and diminished rationality is disconcerting. Regardless of what you think or plan, you end up reacting to situations in a spontaneous and revealing manner. Your usual psychological defenses don't seem to work, while all your unconscious complexes are laid bare for the world to see; consequently, a persistent sense of vulnerability becomes coupled with your growing need for intimacy.
In both new and old relationships, Pluto-Venus aspects can indicate considerable emotional growth, but not without a good understanding of the unconscious urges and psychological games that are impediments to intimacy. Awareness of these intimacy barriers is crucial to the Plutonian process, while learning to deal effectively with these influences affects the success of the relationship. Obviously, this is a good time for counseling of any kind.
Situational barriers include involvement with married, gay or bisexual partners, those living in a different locality, or those who realistically cannot be fully present or involved for one reason or another. These factors represent preexisting impediments to intimacy that were probably known or suspected before the relationship even began.
Psychological impediments to intimacy are those unconscious complexes which distort reality and destroy trust. These include, but are not limited to, possessiveness, obsessive thinking, sexual preferences, compulsive behaviors and controlling attitudes. Potential or existing partners can exhibit a new or troubling flaw (which may or may not be serious). For example, a very extravagant young lady was totally in love with her boyfriend, but troubled by his lack of wealth. She wanted him to meet her material expectations by earning more money; consequently, she sought to motivate (control and manipulate) his behavior.
Power can be an issue in both intimate and casual relationships. Individuals who learn to trust, compromise, and share power see their relationships deepen and strengthen. Accommodating the emotional needs of others breeds increased understanding. Those who are unable to reach compromises become locked in power struggles, and feel powerless to control their own destiny. They view their fates as dependent on the whims of others and resort to controlling behaviors as the only solution. Within this struggle, manipulative techniques are the main weapons; sex and money become the main issues.
Financially, Pluto-Venus aspects indicate strong financial changes or complex monetary arrangements. Salary changes are common and may be the result of a career move, relocation, leave without pay, cutback in hours, or retirement. Ambition can cause your salary to rise dramatically, especially if your earnings are based on commissions or profit-sharing. Those who are self-employed experience fluctuations in earnings. Relationship problems may directly affect your ability to concentrate and work, or your financial status may depend on the resources of others. Struggles over money are not uncommon. A college-bound student sought to manipulate her grandfather into paying for her education, while a married couple traded money for sex.
The emphasis here is on personal power in relationships and power over your own financial situation. By gaining insight into your behavior and the behavior of others, you can master both areas of concern.
Venus Aspects Saturn
Saturn aspecting Venus can have one of two different manifestations: the solidification of a relationship, or the inhibition of a relationship. Both processes involve the use of structure to define a relationship. Healthy relationships can strengthen and show a renewed sense of commitment to the future by both partners. The ability to accept more responsibility with or for each other is common. Marriage, raising children, and purchasing homes together are three common events that reflect this change. The relationship gains more stability because of a new definition of purpose and intent.
Partners who basically love each other and are committed to a relationship, but experiencing a period of change and adjustment, might do well to give each other a little space, understanding, and support. The distance needed can foster individual expression and achievement. For example, if you or your spouse wants to go back to school for a higher degree, time must be set aside for classes and study.
Relationship inhibition occurs when the structure and definition of the relationship is used to limit rather than give a sense of purpose. You may not be allowed to give and receive love in a relaxed manner since love is always controlled, defined, withheld, rejected or not accepted as it exists. You yourself may refuse to make a further commitment, or it can be your partner who backs off. Statements like, "We're just friends," or "This is only an affair and I could never leave my wife," are two examples of the kind of structuring associated with Saturn-Venus contacts. Very poor relationships may be defined by separation and divorce. One person may accept total responsibility for a second individual. The "parent" partner acts as the person in charge of the "irresponsible child" and the relationship loses all sense of balance and equality.
Financially, you will probably be working with less cash during the year. Your budget will be tight, either because you have limited funds or you choose to conserve money and build savings. If you are normally very free with your money, this is a time when you are more careful with spending practices. Even the very rich will want to know how much they have and where it all goes.
Some may experience a cutback in funds. These are the people who quit their jobs, cut back on hours or salary, become self-employed, or experience a dramatic change in their life-style which would naturally affect funds available.
Venus Aspects Mars
Mars-Venus aspects in a solar return chart imply that actions either support or conflict with a relationship's needs. It is important for partners to be supportive of each other's actions and to appreciate what is being done. For example, a couple combined their efforts and totally redecorated an investment property they owned. Each partner contributed his or her own talents and abilities. Their individual efforts complemented each other and got the job done.
Actions can be either conflicted or supportive. Relationships that are faltering to begin with become combative involvements in which the participants undermine independent or joint efforts and fight over money. Sexual attraction and satisfaction are important factors in both new and established relationships and contribute to or detract from their success or failure. Financial cuts are possible, but it is more likely that you must hustle for the money you do receive. The harder you work, the more you are likely to earn.
MARS IN THE SOLAR RETURN CHART
The planet Mars represents an outward thrust of energy in a solar return chart. It is an active energy geared toward producing an external manifestation brought about through interchanges with the environment. The arrow on the symbol for Mars illustrates this outward thrust and movement. The interplay with the environment and the area of greatest energy expenditure are shown by the aspects to Mars and its house placement. There can be a number of ways in which the outward thrust of energy and activity manifests in the external environment. Positive manifestations implied by Mars include self-motivation, independent action, initiation of new projects, assertiveness, fulfilling sexual encounters, and original or pioneering creations. But anger, aggression, and sexual abuses represent negative and wasteful expenditures. Energy lost in negative exchanges cannot be used productively.
Mars, by its very nature, denotes the spark of initiation and self-motivation. Original pursuits, independent actions and new projects are fostered during the year and are typically associated with those areas of life denoted by the house placement of Mars. Because of the new endeavors and the enthusiasm generated, these areas then become the focus of energy use as the level of activity increases and you begin to feel driven to work, accomplish, and complete. Sometimes ambition and competitiveness augment the need to excel, but an energetic attitude can flow without these personality traits since self-motivation tends to spring naturally from an inner source.
During the year, activities may be specifically tied to your ability or inability to be assertive. In its most positive manifestation, the planet Mars denotes an active force. Except for a few of the more subtle interpretations for Mars, the implication is an external thrust which affects other people, places, things or circumstances. For example, if you install a home office, you make a change in your living situation. If you start your own business, you do, in effect, change the environment. If you insist on control over your own finances, you create a more independent relationship style. In each of these cases, you are the individual initiating the activity and asserting your own needs which are essential to the task at hand. The inability to be assertive can only lead to frustrated desires and anger. Your efforts will be thwarted until you make adjustments in your thinking. When extreme frustration occurs, more energy is expended toward being angry than working toward correcting the problem.
The house position of Mars and its aspects to the other solar return planets provide information about the circumstances which will trigger angry responses in you. Anger may arise from a number of different circumstances, including, but not limited to, frustration at the inability to fulfill your own needs, aggression from others, stressful surroundings or unconscious resentment that has not been resolved. Anger is a signal that your attitude and/or environment need to change. Energy lost to anger cannot be used creatively. Anger that stimulates creative action can be recouped. Your task for the year will be to learn to deal effectively with these anger-producing situations. Do not allow anger to be triggered when insight coupled with assertiveness, tact or corrective action would suit your purposes better. As you focus on negative situations and gain understanding, you can begin to funnel your energies into the most positive manifestations.
Aggression is a distortion of assertiveness. Assertion is the defense and maintenance of your own rights; aggression is the infringement or attack on the rights of others. Anger is most likely the motivation for the attack, although psychological idiosyncrasies may provide other motivations (of which fear is the main culprit). All acts of aggression, by their very nature, should produce anger in the person attacked, though some individuals, because of their own psychological nature, respond in other ways. Where you find Mars by house position indicates where you are most likely to meet the aggressor during the coming year. Either you will have to deal with a hostile person in the environment or you will be confronted with your own acts of aggression. If you are able to meet your own needs through assertion and you know your own rights while conscientiously defending them, you are less likely to be the aggressor or allow aggressive actions to arise in others. You should be able to strike a balance between your needs, and rights, and the needs and rights of others. In this way, you maintain your position relative to the environment. But regardless of how fair you are in your dealings with others, you may still have to defend your own rights.
Mars as an indicator of sexuality is not consistent with the interpretation for every house position. There is the possibility that sexual intrigue can apply to the situations denoted by any of the planet's placements, but the connection is not always obvious. Themes of initiation, high energy output, anger, and aggression appear more consistently. For example, Mars in the 10th may mean a sexual attraction between you and your boss, but it is more likely for you to be extremely active in career endeavors. Your boss can be a prime motivator toward career success or he could actually be very offensive and thwart your efforts. Note the aspects between Mars and your other personal planets for further information. The sexual implications of Mars seem more obvious in the relational houses, but then individual differences apply. Sexual fulfillment is directly related to the appropriateness of sexual activity given the particular situation and any restraints or inhibitions involved.
Solar Return Mars in 7th house:
This is a time to be energized by another person who can get you to do something you would not or could not do alone. In its most positive manifestation, collaboration with another carries you towards the initiation and completion of a project or joint endeavor. If the two of you can agree on mutual goals, you both can make great strides together. Your partner's enthusiasm and drive become the primary motivating force. Most likely, it is the other person's character which provides the spark of inspiration and the encouragement necessary to begin the task, but it is the interactive qualities of the relationship which keep each of you at a high energy level, working towards completion.
Hopefully, you will be dealing with someone who has your best interests at heart. The problem associated with this placement is that you can be led down the wrong path if you do not choose your friends and partners carefully. If you are connected to individuals who are bad for you, their effect will be negative. For example, if you wish to start a food cooperative and your spouse feels you are too inept to succeed, his or her negative influence will hurt your chances for success. But if he or she is totally supportive, and in fact, leads the way, your chances are greatly improved. A lot depends on the partner's attitude. Since you are so susceptible to the influences of others, it is important to assess who the others are. Contacts can range from the most positive to the most detrimental, from successful achievement to damaging encounters. In the worst manifestation, involvement in a crime is possible. It is important to identify those relationships which are wrong for you and counteract their influence. Cultivate those more positive involvements which enhance your psychological health and soul qualities.
There is the possibility that you will be in a relationship which involves conflict. You may be angry with someone you see daily or this other person may be angry with you; anger in both directions is possible. It seems that every time you try to express your feelings to this other person, the two of you become involved in an argument. If this is your present situation, you could be involved in an ongoing conflict that continues throughout most of the year and colors your perceptions and attitudes.
Eventually, your frustration can spill over into other areas of your life and affect other relationships as well if you do not understand and contain the negative impact the conflict is having on your life. Disagreements may be poorly defined or specific, but generally involve a daily ongoing process. For example, a young man was to have inherited his grandfather's watch, but unfortunately, just before the grandfather died, another relative had him change his will and the watch went to an uncle instead. It just so happened that the young man worked with the uncle daily in a family-run business. The uncle spent much time talking about his good fortune. The young man constantly felt angry and tense at work because of the uncle's presence and actions.
The conflict may only involve a general dislike for a person you see on a regular basis, or it can be more. Interactions range from mild irritation to legal battles, personal vendettas, both sexual, and nonsexual harassment, and aggression of any kind. More than likely, another is an aggressor if you allow yourself to be the victim. Don't lose sight of your self-esteem and need for self-expression. Be aware of your rights in any given situation. Someone may be telling you what to do, what to wear and who to be. You need to learn to practice assertiveness this year and it could be necessary to learn to protect or defend yourself. In very difficult situations, you need to decide whether you will fight or retreat. Some situations can be ignored, or controlled; others require a more definitive response.
Learning to cope with angry people and angry situations may be part of the lesson associated with Mars in the 7th house of the solar return chart. Now is the time to deal with unresolved issues even if they have lain dormant for many years. Time is running out and you must act now. Learn to handle the curt responses and hurtful remarks and go for the heart of the conflict. Do not get sidetracked. Force the issues into the open so they can be discussed and understood from all sides. As long as anger remains denied or insidious, problems cannot be resolved. If resolutions are totally unattainable, learn to shield yourself from the barbs or retreat to more beneficial situations. Do not stay in situations which are detrimental or counteract positive growth and insight.
Mars is also the planet of competitiveness. Here in the 7th house, it shows that the spirit of competition spurs you to action. You will be motivated to work harder if you are competing with peers or even enemies. The "I'll show you" attitude can work in your favor. You are very sensitive to criticism from others this year, and anticipation of future criticism, either real or imagined, can motivate you to work harder now and get more done.
JUPITER IN THE SOLAR RETURN CHART
Jupiter has a number of possible interpretations in the solar return chart and any or all of the following meanings can manifest according to house position. First and foremost, Jupiter tends to imply a benefic event associated with its placement. How these benefits come about and the area of life affected are usually shown by the house position.
All opportunities will probably involve expansion into new areas of activity. The primary function of the Jupiter principle is to expand beyond the scope of previous experience. One is not to remain in a static condition; growth is not only implied, but expected. Jupiter's slow and consistent movement through the zodiac implies the steady growth needed to advance.
One of the most common activities associated with growth and expansion is the pursuit of an education. The impetus to learn is closely associated with any push to grow and our definition of learning in this case is not limited to a structured environment (school), but can include self-teaching and life-experience training. Although education is not always a consideration for every Jupiter house placement, it can be considered to have an impact on any of the houses.
Areas of expansion can easily become areas of excess and this is a problem with Jupiter. Growth can be uncontrolled and purposeless, dwarfing any push for real attainment or benefit. For example, overeating may supplant a desire for nutritious food when Jupiter is in the 6th house. The weight gain takes the place of education. Already existing situations associated with any house placement of Jupiter may boil over if extreme limitations were previously the norm. This is especially true when emotions overwhelm the individual after a long period of emotional suppression. Any Jupiter placement can signal a false god. One or more activities associated with Jupiter's house may be emphasized to such a degree that a distortion of perception results, creating the false god.
Perhaps excesses are directly and proportionately related to suppressed urges. We now zoom ahead where we previously lagged behind, making up for lost time. The overwhelming impetus enables us to grow and expand at a rapid pace. The task is to avoid restricting this growth, while staying in control. The best option is one of channeled and structured enthusiasm.
A question of ethics and morals is often associated with the house placement of Jupiter. Unlike Saturn, which is more representative of societal structures and expectations, Jupiter implies the need for a philosophical (or sometimes religious) consistency between what you are doing physically and what you believe you should be doing ethically or morally. The underlying belief is always at the center of any conflict, not the external expectation. Jupiter by house indicates a desire to review those beliefs commanding a strong influence over one's philosophy of life and code of behavior. Current beliefs may be limiting future growth or freedom. Within this perspective, hypocrisy and moral dilemmas are more commonly a problem than the frustration associated with Saturnian external laws.
Solar Return Jupiter in 4th house:
Jupiter in the 4th house indicates the need for increased peace and security in your home. It is important to feel rooted and protected physically, emotionally, and spiritually by the home environment. Many individuals choose to begin a beautification program to make their living quarters more comfortable. Although projects may be expensive, there is usually a minimum of disruption. Improvements are not necessitated by a need to make repairs, or the need to make major changes in the structure of the house. Projects tend to be minor, and generally the domestic situation is not disrupted by the improvements. Renovations or additions are not as likely as changing the decor with paint, wallpaper, and new furniture. The object here is to enhance the surroundings both inside and outside of the home, not to redo the entire house from scratch. Outside improvements include landscaping the grounds or creating a small garden for meditation. Individuals having this placement wish to create an environment which not only suits the physical needs and comforts the soul, but pleases the eye.
Security is also important; depending on the individual's age, issues can relate to present or future needs. Domestic security is the immediate issue, and you may be striving to purchase a home or secure your position in the present one. Other influences which might support or threaten your homelife. For example, after one man's parents died, he inherited the family home and for the first time owned a piece of property. As he settled into his new home and began to redecorate the interior, his future bride informed him that she did not care for the house and wished to live elsewhere. This man felt the need to balance his commitment to his fiancée with his desire for a sense of rootedness. The home had become very important to him, since for the first time in his life he was working steadily toward completing a major project without abandoning his goal prematurely. He needed to work during the year to balance his needs and the needs of his fiancée with the desire for rootedness. Married individuals with this placement who are in the process of separating need to find and secure a home for the future. This may be a complicated task.
For older individuals, issues concerning retirement and pension plans are important. The emphasis is on IRAs, mutual funds and retirement packages, but usually security issues do not apply to funds alone since included also is a concern for the home. You may pay off your mortgage, refinance your loan at a lower rate or purchase an insurance policy which will cover your payments should you become disabled or unemployed. This is the time to make changes in your home and in your financial planning which will insure the stability of your domestic situation both now and in the future.
Occasionally Jupiter in the 4th house indicates an increase in the number of people living in your home during the year. You expand your home by taking in another person, either a boarder, roommate, foreign exchange student or relative. Generally, the addition does not indicate an increase in responsibility. The other person is able to meet his or her own needs and contribute to household chores and expenses. It is likely you will enjoy his or her presence although it can cost you extra money to have this person around.
Domestic responsibilities tend to lessen as individuals gain independence from other family members. Children may enter school or go away to college. If you were saddled with a lot of responsibility during the previous year because either of your parents or some other family member was ill, it is likely that his or her health or situation will improve at this time and your duties will decrease. Parents who are very elderly could be placed in a nursing home, or outside assistance may be brought in to help. In cases where the death of a disabled person is imminent and could be considered a blessing, this is the reason why responsibilities lessen at this time. For one reason or another, the difficulty or demand for extra attention is no longer evident.
Feelings run high and emotional swings are likely. Excessive responses are the norm and both highs and lows are evident. You could seek to suppress emotional responses, fearing the strength of your feelings and the loss of control. Many times there is a situation during the year which heightens the emotional nature and forces you to deal with the adequacy or inadequacy of your responses and those of others. If you are not in a fulfilling life-style, emotions will tend to be negative as well as overwhelming. But if you are actively working toward a fulfilling life-style, emotions can be very pleasurable and the support you receive from others is reassuring.
SATURN IN THE SOLAR RETURN CHART
Saturn rules reality and the reality of any given situation is that we are all ultimately responsible for creating our own lives. The responses and choices we make to any given situation, together with the fears we avoid, form the backbone for our pattern of living. Only when we accept the responsibility for creating our own fate can we be freed from the necessity of living it. Only when we face our fears can we live unafraid. Saturn is the key to this change in orientation. It is the ultimate reality, the ultimate fear, the karmic avenger, and ruler of the universal laws of nature. It is through Saturn's house placement that we come face to face with ourselves, the structures, and limitations of reality, and the laws we must live by.
Growth is a complex process, occurring in a variety of ways. Saturnian growth begins by recognizing the existing structures we have incorporated into our lives, and possibly, the frustration or limitation caused by this edifice. It seems strange to talk about growth in terms of limitation, but astrologically Saturn rules structures which are at one point protective and at other times restrictive. Like the lobster or crab which sheds an outgrown, protective, hard shell in order to grow, individuals must periodically shed old structures grown restrictive with time. As with the crustaceans, the shedding process may be slow and laborious, followed by a period of extreme vulnerability until the new shell has formed and hardened into a protective structure. We often complacently mistake familiarity for security. We assume we'll be safe as long as we stick with the same old routine and keep doing what we've been doing all along. But what was once protective and safe eventually ends up inhibiting our evolutionary cycle of growth. Sometimes, only our frustration with things as they are awakens us to the need for change.
The movement of Saturn through the solar return chart coincides with an awareness of structure. Sometimes this awareness is associated with frustration, and the accentuation of restrictions now blocking evolution. It is through this realization process and frustration that we first become aware of the need to grow beyond our present structures. Therefore, the first step in the Saturnian process toward growth is recognizing structures, frustrations, and limitations imposed by our present patterns of living, particularly in those areas of life signified by Saturn's house placement in the solar return.
The second step toward growth is reassessment of the situation. A review of the facts yields further information, options, and understanding. Only by defining the inhibitors to the evolutionary cycle can we move toward resolution and continued growth. Self-criticism and constructive feedback from others may be appropriate at this time.
It is during the reassessment process that the reality of our situation becomes more obvious, as well as the laws by which we are governed. To succeed, we must deal with life realistically. We cannot twist nature to our own liking, nor can we expect others to compensate for our deficiencies and fears by solving our problems. Saturn rules the naked truth devoid of magical thinking. We must live within the laws of nature to succeed and survive. If you hate your job, quit. Do not wait for an act of God to find a new job. If you want to complete a major project, work on it. It is the only way it will get done. If you want to lose weight, diet, and exercise. Hard work and facing the issues head on will get you where you want to go. Wishful thinking will not.
These issues are all totally within your range of control and you are free to act upon them, but other problems may not be yours to control. You cannot make your husband stop drinking; you can only change the way you handle the situation. You cannot change hypocrisy in others; you can only reassess your own beliefs. During the reassessment process, develop realistic options which could feasibly lead to a resolution of the problem or to a change in the way you handle the problem. Successful solutions are those which are practical and realistic -that is, they conform to the laws of nature.
Once you understand the problem and the options available, you must assume responsibility for the outcome. Each man or woman contributes to his or her own fate. As the partial creator of any problem, you also have some control over the solution. But assuming responsibility for your present situation can be more threatening than blaming others. Some prefer to buck the system (defy the laws of nature) and complain, rather than take action. Remember, familiarity breeds a false sense of security and many prefer to hang on to their restrictions rather than venture into the unknown. They learn to live with their frustration rather than grow beyond it. Consciously making a decision implies assuming responsibility for your success or failure.
Facing your fears concerning success or failure is ultimately what Saturn is all about. At this point, you are very aware of the reality of your situation, and you have a list of options for the future, not all of which may work. You understand your own contribution to the situation and what you must do in order to move toward a resolution. You have seen your own shortcomings and become aware of your darker side. You comprehend the laws of nature relative to your situation and know everything is earned in this case, nothing is given, and nothing is guaranteed by the Universe. You now realize that you must stick your nose out and take a calculated risk. In order to progress, you must face your fears, and move toward your nightmare rather than back away. It is only by passing through a period of vulnerability that one can break out of a protective, yet restrictive structure and progress into a more suitable environment. You give up the security of the familiar and step into the unknown.
The test of any solution is that it works. Even chronic problems need to be solved and not just cosmetically concealed. Success requires much hard work and the systematic testing of solutions until the correct combination is found. Consequently, success may not come easily. If the first solution does not work, you must go on to test another and another. Thus with each failure begins a new cycle of awareness and reassessment, ultimately leading to a well-deserved success. There is plenty of room for hard work, discipline, and perseverance in the area of life indicated by Saturn's house placement. Eventually, every area of life will be touched by the need for reassessment and resolution. Chances are the time for reevaluation coincides with Saturn's placement in a particular house of the solar return. In that area of life, you must go above and beyond what is normally expected.
Solar Return Saturn in 1st house:
Saturn in the 1st house is a self-imposed limitation and it is likely you will restrict yourself or your behavior for one reason or another during the coming year. It may be that you are trying to complete a long-term task or you may take on a major responsibility. You will tend to do all of the things you have to do and none of the things you want to do. This is a good time to push yourself to finish a master's thesis, doctoral dissertation or book, or to start your own business. Any piece of work requiring long hours, discipline, organization, and perseverance can be completed while Saturn is in the 1st house of the solar return chart. The project is likely to take most of the year to finish and the earliest completion date is three months before your next birthday.
You want to assess the reality of your innate and developing abilities. To do this you can concentrate on a major project. Those who are not seriously involved with the completion of a specific body of work can instead assume extra responsibility which may or may not involve other people and can go beyond what is normally expected. For example, suppose you have a newborn baby (which is demanding enough by itself), and you also decide to be a nursing mother during the year. Anyone who has ever nursed a baby or been involved with a nursing mother knows how this can tie you down and seriously limit the amount of free time available. However, you are the person who is deciding to nurse the baby and therefore you are the one who imposes this limitation on yourself. This is also the case if you are involved in a major project. You are the one who limits your outside activities and social life in order to accomplish the task at hand.
The negative manifestation associated with Saturn in the 1st house is the ability to impose limitations because of an overriding fear. You might shy away from particular opportunities possessing great growth potential simply because you are afraid to repeat a situation reminiscent of the past. Events occurring during the year may mirror former events, allowing unresolved issues to surface once more. In the negative manifestation, self-imposed limitations have nothing to do with the successful completion of a task or progress toward the future, but they have everything to do with stagnation and avoidance behavior. You can restrict your activities simply because you are afraid to face your fears, grow beyond your limitations and take risks.
If you meet and conquer your fears during the year, the rewards can be great. You can free yourself from unnecessary restrictions and gain more control over your life and destiny. But if you avoid the fear within you and limit your behavior unnecessarily, you will not only maintain your present level of fear and limitation, you will also augment your conflict for the future.
In your quest to avoid a confrontation with your fear, you will also have to avoid certain people and certain situations. Isolationism in one form or another is associated with Saturn in the 1st house. In the negative manifestation, withdrawal is used to avoid that which you fear most. In the more positive manifestation, withdrawal is necessary if you are to complete a body of work or fulfill your responsibilities to others. You are capable of being self-sufficient during the year. You are the one who must take total responsibility for your own destiny and actions. You cannot depend on others to accomplish what you alone can do. Nor can you expect others to undo what you have done to yourself.
Minor illnesses are sometimes associated with Saturn in the 1st house, but usually these illnesses are minor chronic inconveniences. Some examples are perpetual sore throats, numerous colds, problems with teeth and bones, and back problems. These illnesses are annoying, but generally they are not incapacitating. They reflect stress on the body and emphasize the need to limit activities to those experiences which are truly important. It is unlikely that you can sustain your new level of responsibility and productivity while still maintaining your former commitments. It is essential that you take care of your body and reassess your level of activity. Minor illnesses are the body's way of telling you to slow down and lighten up.
If you ignore your body's needs, or refuse to direct your energy into meaningful and healthy experiences, it is possible that an illness can make it physically impossible for you to continue. This is especially true if you actively avoid certain situations and refuse to confront your own fear. Fear and tension patterns can directly coincide with patterns of illness. The stronger the fear and the avoidance behavior, the more likely you are to be ill during the year and the greater the possibility of that illness being serious. If you sensibly meet your responsibilities, realistically face your challenges, and get enough relaxation, you can maintain good health.
URANUS IN THE SOLAR RETURN CHART
Uranus is commonly seen as an indicator of change, and this is true for the solar return placements also. Conditions associated with the house position of Uranus are likely to evolve significantly over the year. Major changes or incessant fluctuations emerge as the pattern of manifestation, depending on how the individual copes with his or her situation and needs. Transformations may occur quickly and require a long period of adjustment, or progress slowly, possibly occurring late in the year and only after a long period of anticipation or restlessness. As a rule, most changes are expected, predicted, and initiated by the native him or herself. Many are carefully planned and well executed, involving a minimum of tension and anxiety. When working positively with the Uranian principle, the key is in the restlessness. Those who are very attuned to their own need for growth will feel the restlessness arising in outgrown situations and respond accordingly. They will welcome the opportunity for adjustment, and make all the necessary preparations for the coming change. They will not lock themselves into one particular situation or pattern of growth, but will allow changes and insights to develop and evolve naturally along the way.
Generally, it is only when the individual thwarts his or her own desires or tightly controls situations that tensions manifest in the form of anxiety and nervousness. This anxiety results from ambivalent feelings which develop in those who resist needed changes. These people get caught between their own fear of change and a strong desire for the very change being thwarted. An ambivalent mind-set takes over, one built on an approach to, and also an avoidance of, a set goal or change. Remember, Uranus is associated with conscious and unconscious choices for change. Its appearance somewhere in the native's solar return chart implies the area of life in which the individual desires to progress through change. When one is unable to face or effect needed and desired changes, the mind splits between two mutually exclusive goals and anxiety results. Eventually, the mental ambivalence and erratic commitments to two very different paths are reflected in fluctuating external conditions. Long overdue, yet still avoided changes, tend to manifest in the environment as disruption caused by others, or by neglected areas of attention.
Adding to the anxiety is a perceived loss of control over external situations. Eventually, the restlessness and tension rise to a feverish pitch until one finally agrees to make changes, or can no longer prevent their occurrence. When conditions reach this intensity, individuals usually make reactive changes, without careful consideration or adequate preparation. Sudden upheavals occur rather than welcomed transitions. If we would truly be in control of our own destiny, we should listen to the need for change and respond to the earliest hints of restlessness. We should give ourselves the freedom to work toward a conscious transition before a crisis arises.
Consistent with the desire for change is the need for freedom. You cannot maneuver if you are locked into a restrictive environment. Sometimes the push for freedom is a prerequisite for change. At other times, the change itself becomes the motivating force behind the process. Occasionally, both mechanisms are operating. For example, you may have to convince your boss to give you the freedom to make needed changes in the daily office routine; at the same time, the changes you make could streamline procedures, creating more leeway in your work schedule.
Freedom allows the process of change to occur smoothly. When we are functioning at our best and working positively with the Uranian concept, we move easily through a series of attractions, detachments and independent actions. We learn and grow from each of these encounters. While in the process of attraction, we are drawn to certain situations, persons or concepts. It is important to observe what experiences we are drawn to because they indicate conscious or unconscious needs and patterns of growth. By accepting different situations, interacting with different individuals, or listening to new ideas, we take in new information and learn to value various facets of life. We see that no one person, place or idea is perfect. The same is true of our existing circumstances, which we hold onto so tightly.
With this insight begins the period of detachment from those situations, persons, or concepts which restrict our growth or no longer have anything to teach us. We are able to step back and intellectually reassess our involvement and commitment. We can either choose to separate physically from difficult situations, or take the corrective action needed to adjust present circumstances to our needs.
Uranus does not always imply a complete and total separation. We are capable of detaching from the original attraction while still maintaining the experience, relationship, or train of thought. It is the independent action we ultimately take which defines the degree of separation.
We learn as much from separation as we do from attraction when we define what we don't like as well as what we do like. The changing environment, the comparisons and contrasts, accentuate what is important and what is not. One should remember that this process of change through attachment, detachment and independent action is ongoing, occurring on many different levels simultaneously. The process can be either quick, occurring numerous times in one day, or drawn out, requiring a year's time span. For example, suppose you are building a new home. This is a year-long project and during this time you will be drawn to many different construction plans, ideas, and subcontractors. But as you begin to work with the possibilities, you will accept, reject, or change options to suit your needs. This process takes place over months, but also simultaneously many times in one day.
The exposure to various ideas, situations and people stimulates creative thought through sudden insight into changing situations. All planets represent a creative process. Venus is the planet of creativity experienced through beauty, while Uranus is the process experienced through change. Because of the changing panorama of people, ideas, and situations, one becomes accustomed to looking at life from different perspectives. The multifaceted approach encourages the mind to create still newer ideas. In this way the individual begins to participate in the process of attachment, detachment and independent action by creating his or her own original options, and change becomes a process of perception, integrated into the pattern of growth.
Solar Return Uranus in 9th house:
Uranus in the 9th house is a sign of radical changes in beliefs, either because you recognize discrepancies in your own thoughts or because you are directly challenged by others and situations you are involved in. You may have recently received new information which specifically contradicts your former beliefs, making them obsolete. Sometimes there is a rude awakening followed by a sharp transition; at other times, a slow transition may result from a constant series of small challenges. You can no longer depend on old axioms.
Mundane as well as religious, spiritual and philosophical beliefs are now in a state of evolution or turmoil. The 9th house is not only the house of all higher thoughts, but also the house of beliefs about yourself, your abilities and other people. You must reassess your position on a number of issues and be ready to make adjustments accordingly. You must also be ready to defend your position against the challenges of others. Disputes over philosophical differences are possible and one person in particular may be an agitator.
Consistent with philosophical differences are cultural distinctions. An awareness of practices in other cultures may be necessary if you plan to deal regularly with foreigners during the coming year. (Examples: a businessman dependent on foreign exchange, support or commodities; a foreign exchange student; or one who plans to marry someone of a different ethnic background.) Ignorance is not bliss in this case and can lead to conflict if you do not make the effort to accommodate the beliefs and customs of others. In very negative manifestations, you may not be able to weather the cultural distinctions easily. Ignoring the differences in customs may make it difficult for you to establish trust and understanding. Practices and beliefs in your own culture or religion will not be accepted readily by others and need to be explained or defended.
Quick trips and hectic travel are more likely than leisure pleasure cruises. If you have dealings in foreign countries, you generally travel for business reasons. The trips are more commonly stressful, especially if you are having problems with your foreign counterparts. If you travel for pleasure, chances are you try to pack too much into one trip, in which case travel can become more nerve-wracking than fun.
Legal problems or dealings with lawyers are possible during the year, but this interpretation is not the norm and occurs only occasionally. Understanding the legal system is like dealing with a foreign culture and generally involves learning to cope with the peculiarities of justice in America.
If you are in school, it is likely that your education will be disrupted by distractions or unexpected events. The college or university you are attending may not be offering the course you want or need to graduate. Your time may be split between two different campuses, or between employment and school. Your study hours may be repeatedly interrupted and your concentration broken by situations in the classroom or at home. It is difficult to think in a stressful environment. What you are learning may make you anxious if it contradicts your existing beliefs. If you are teaching others, your schedule may be changed or broken up. Changes (e.g., renovations) occurring in the classroom or home force you to shift from one place to another or suspend teaching for a period of time. This is a good time to be self-taught. Independent study may prove more rewarding than a structured learning environment. You may elect to study on your own or take a correspondence course during the year.
NEPTUNE IN THE SOLAR RETURN CHART
Neptune is many things on many levels, but first and foremost it is the aspiration for a higher manifestation as opposed to a lower one. The distinctions between higher and lower influences are not limited to the spiritual plane alone, but can occur on the emotional, mental and physical levels also. At all times, it is up to the individual to steer his or her consciousness toward the highest manifestation possible. For example, Neptune on the spiritual level is associated with Universal Oneness, Karmic Laws, Ideals, God, and higher beliefs which form the backbone of spirituality. A strong sense of trust in God and the Universe supports the growth process on the spiritual level, but has ramifications on the other levels as well. Each level of experience supports and triggers the others. It is all the insights on all of the levels which eventually help us toward a more rewarding and fulfilling life-style. The lower manifestation of Neptune on the spiritual level is disillusionment with higher principles. Here the individual falls off the true path and becomes entangled in fanatical beliefs or outright fantasy. Spiritual despair rather than enlightenment is the result, and the support needed for growth on all levels is thwarted.
The same dichotomy of higher and lower is present on the emotional, mental and physical planes also. At the emotional level, the individual is capable of great compassion and sensitivity to others. This is a time when empathic understanding strengthens the bonds between loved ones. The lower manifestation of Neptune is a susceptibility to anxiety and worry. The sensitivity which is meant to foster true understanding instead heightens a sense of vulnerability to life, others and the future. There is no trust in God emanating from the spiritual level to support decisions. In negative situations, true understanding of others does not develop because the individual is too involved with personal feelings and issues to focus on others.
At the mental level, creativity and inspiration help to expand the individual's intellectual capacity. Neptune is more closely associated with the right brain than the left, and indicates the ability to let the mind float free to new and better insights. The lower manifestation is confusion and deception. What you are told is different from what you intuitively feel. Thoughts contradict insights and you are unable to comprehend the truth. There is no trust of the higher right brain inspirational or spiritual processes. Creativity is thwarted. Without an understanding of the big picture, mental energy is wasted through a lack of cohesiveness as one begins to focus on the insignificant, confusing details.
And finally, Neptune on the physical level is service to others. Principles which have filtered down from the various levels and have been understood in each of the higher manifestations begin to flow into daily practices on the mundane plane. There is a consistency; as above, so below. It is possible to physically manifest the spirituality to which you aspire. When only lower manifestations have filtered down to the physical level, confusion, disorganization and exhaustion are most apt to occur. You lack a total concept necessary to unify your actions and prioritize tasks according to their importance. Neptune at its highest level of manifestation on the physical plane is a direct reflection of the enlightened promise made at the spiritual level.
In all of the houses, either the higher or lower manifestations will be operating. The more the individual focuses on the higher energies, the more cohesive and insightful actions will become. The more the individual is sensitive to spiritual insight, the easier it will be to deal with issues on every plane. The unifying principles of the spiritual level and the higher manifestations combine to focus energy and understanding right on down the line.
Solar Return Neptune in 8th house:
The most notable mundane manifestation associated with this Neptune placement is confusion or uncertainty surrounding resources and finances you share with another person. A variety of situations can arise. Your partner or roommate may be laid-off, unemployed or too sick to work. If he or she has a steady income, other circumstances including wage freezes, delayed promotions, or salary negotiations might make the future income unclear. You may hear that more funds will be made available eventually, but wait much of the year for the money to materialize. If present earnings or holdings are very diverse or in the process of changing, your partner's income might be incalculable. If you yourself are dependent on parents or others for funds, money might be given to you only occasionally or as the need arises. There will not be any schedule of receipt or determined amount, so you cannot depend on a steady allowance. The giver may only give when he or she remembers and forgetfulness is a problem. If you had been receiving money in the past, the flow could stop without your understanding why. Uncertainty about money due you is also possible. If you are waiting for a suit, debt or insurance claim to be settled, the issue may go on for most of the year.
You might be totally dependent on someone else, or another person might be totally dependent on you. If you are the one totally dependent, your future financial situation may be very iffy since others tend to be undependable to begin with. If the other person is totally dependent on you, you can be taken advantage of, sacrificing your own financial security to assist someone else.
Giving away money to charitable organizations is a positive trait associated with this placement. You might wish to consider tithing some of your income to a church, synagogue or charity.
You could become more aware of subtleties in human nature. New information can come to you psychically or intuitively, but you are most apt to be aware of psychological idiosyncrasies. You can grow more tolerant of human frailties and other people's problems, or you can totally lack understanding and compassion. Psychological issues may be so confusing to you that you cope by withdrawing. Experiences might include coming into contact with those who suffer either physically or mentally. If you are considering volunteer work, try visiting the sick or working at a hospital.
Sexuality can be combined with spirituality. If you have been promiscuous in the past or generally indiscriminate, you might reconsider your criteria for involvement. Occasionally, questions of sexual orientation might arise, but the realization of the beauty associated with a totally loving sexual relationship is the most positive manifestation. An openness to tantric sexual practices might be advantageous. Explore your own sexuality and learn to listen to your own body. Foster sexual practices which are more consistent with spiritual endeavors and principles.
PLUTO IN THE SOLAR RETURN CHART
In the solar return chart, the interpretation of Pluto includes an understanding of the issue of power and its various manifestations, which can be directed toward three different points of focus and through three different life processes. Complications are associated with all of these orientations and processes since each manifestation is multidimensional and complex, occurring not only on the physical level, but on the intellectual, emotional and spiritual levels as well. Within these complex situations, power can be focused on three different targets: the self, others, and/or circumstances. As a rule, the power to control oneself is mostly beneficial, the power to control others is mostly detrimental and the power to control situations varies according to the circumstances involved. By studying Pluto's house placement in the solar return chart, you can assess in which areas of life these control issues are most likely to arise. The scope and effects of the power issues are seen through the connections to other solar return planets.
Power also manifests through three different processes. One may choose sameness, elimination or transformation. When you choose to keep things the way they are, it is implied that there is some force urging you to change and you are resisting this force. A possible power struggle might ensue. When you choose elimination, you relinquish control over some facet of your life or refuse to have further contact. When you choose change, you may be either yielding to an outside power or actively seeking transformation of that which already exists. Let us explore the power orientations and processes further.
Three Different Points of Focus
Generally, the focal point of self is beneficial. As long as you are using Plutonian insights and techniques to control yourself, to own your own power and to further your own growth, the process will be a positive learning experience, unless you overcontrol yourself, succumbing to hair-shirt asceticism, taking self-denial to absurd extremes. The greater your awareness of yourself and Universal principles, the more likely you are to make good decisions. You become the captain of your own destiny. Enlightenment leads to power and power leads to enlightenment as a rewarding cycle of manifestation is set in motion.
However, those who use psychological insights to control and block their own growth waste precious energy. They set up a negative pattern of stagnation wherein insights are not accepted as they are, but twisted to fit previously conceived notions about life and self. Rather than progressing through enlightenment, the individual uses insights as weapons against growth and understanding, opting for sameness despite new information. Contradictory realizations are not allowed to surface; instead they are either suppressed or misinterpreted. In very negative situations such as these, the power associated with increased Plutonian awareness and its creative potential is never realized.
The same thwarting of personal growth is evident when you shift your attention from self to the need to control others. By and large, this is not a good focal orientation. The symbolism of the planets exists in your consciousness so that you can grow and prosper from insight. Since growth begins at home, the main thrust of the focus should always be toward self, and it is generally unnecessary and also counterproductive to shift the emphasis to an external struggle. The most efficient use of power exists on the internal plane because it takes much less energy to control your own reactions than to seek power over someone else. Once power is removed from the inner self and used to control others, the effectiveness is reduced. Stalemated power struggles are particularly detrimental because they deplete resources. It is conceivable that there are life situations where it is essential to control another person. For example, children, disabled or elderly loved ones may not be able to make informed decisions. In these situations you might be asked or forced to wield power over another. You are meant to grow from all your experiences. Even in these instances, self-awareness and insight are crucial to the decisions you make. Start with yourself first, then work your way outward. Blaming others for your problems distorts the perception of self and the realization of your own personal involvement. Always be aware of the interactive process and the role you play in it. This internal perspective is of primary importance, much more so than the process of controlling someone else.
Trying to control life situations can lead to power struggles, but at some point in your life it may be essential to make a stand for the good of your own growth or that of world consciousness. Ultimately, it is much better for you to control yourself, but this is not always possible. Someone can be seeking to control you, your family or your livelihood. Certain injustices must be corrected for everyone to progress, and sometimes the only viable option is to work for change. Always be aware of the struggle you take on. It is usually easier to correct a situation than to convince your opponent he or she is wrong. It is easier to get forgiveness than permission. Go for the simplest task that gets the job done. For example, your office routine might be very inefficient and next to impossible to accomplish in a day's time. Perhaps you see where improvements can be made, but your immediate boss disagrees with you or thwarts your efforts. As long as you continue to try and convince your immediate boss of the need for change, you will get nowhere. If you can easily go over his or her head to a higher boss, this could be an effective way to handle the stalemate. Seek the quickest solution to a problem if one is available. Do not get locked into long, drawn-out struggles if they are not necessary.
Ultimately, power struggles can have either beneficial or detrimental results, depending on your perspective. In the external environment, you may or may not win, assuming there can be a victor. More than likely, victory, if it comes, involves compromise for all involved. But the inner process of awakening one's own ability to effect a creative change in the environment is usually beneficial. You can make a difference. The creative potential associated with Pluto comes from a penetrating insight into the hidden worlds of the unconscious and an understanding of the Universal laws of Karma. Powerful insights should spring spontaneously from the situations associated with Pluto's placement in the solar return chart. Suddenly you can become aware of new forces, subtle and previously unnoticed, which seem to influence personal decisions and situations you are involved in. Once you have the insight, what you do with the information becomes crucial to the creative process.
The primary goal of the Plutonian process should be growth through awareness. Therefore it is essential, no matter what your focal orientation, to use information and insight gleaned from experiences to foster a new understanding of self and Universal principles. The main growth process begins and ends with the self.
Three Different Plutonian Processes
Plutonian power is associated with three different processes: keeping things the way they are, usually by resisting an internal or external force; changing the form of what already exists, i.e., transformation; or eliminating what is no longer useful or essential, a form of death. Any of these powers can be either beneficial or detrimental to the user or others involved. It is the purpose and intent of the process that is important.
The power to keep things the way they are can sometimes be an awakening to personal power. Implied here is a resistance to a force seeking change, and sometimes the intent of change is negative. The pressure can come from an external or internal source, and the changes desired may be either external or internal also. For example, if you are a recovering alcoholic facing a difficult life situation, you might feel the pressure to start drinking again. The pressure could come from your own wish to avoid major decisions, or from a person you are associating with.
In actuality the internal and external sources are really one and the same, a reflection of each other since internal needs draw external situations. In the situation given above, the individual seeks to remain a recovering alcoholic despite internal and external pressure. This is a positive goal and if attained, implies personal power. It is also beneficial to remain the same when others seek to control your actions and thwart free will. Pluto represents the insight necessary to perceive manipulative efforts as they arise and avoid ploys whenever possible.
In some instances, the power to remain the same can be a negative manifestation, actually causing the stagnation of growth. If you resist all new internal and external insights which would enhance your growth or cause you to make changes, little progress will result. You will stall. When your purposes are not in keeping with Universal Good or personal benefit, you are more likely to be involved in a negative use of Plutonian power.
The process of elimination can be very cleansing, even though a symbolic death is involved. If you streamline your business or office procedures, letting go of compulsive and unnecessary activities, this is a death of sorts, but much to your benefit. So is a budgetary review which eliminates the fat from your spending practices and allows you to cut back on your work schedule. In more serious circumstances, perhaps all you can do is release a situation that is detrimental to your progress. Letting go can be a positive choice, but it might also be a negative one if you cut someone out of your life without resolving or releasing the conflict. If this is true in your case, avoiding persons or situations will consume your energy. Transformation is the process whereby a situation, thing or level of consciousness is changed into a new, and hopefully higher, manifestation. Careers, marriages and self-images can all be transformed for the better. Commonly, though, we think of the transformation process in terms of psychological insight and level of consciousness. Information from subtle sources or the unconscious is gradually or suddenly made available to either the rational mind or the Higher Self, and subsequently a change occurs on the mental, emotional or spiritual level. Information that was previously unavailable becomes understandable through the process of insight, and power is released through new awareness. This can be a very enlightening and beneficial transition, but naturally it is what you do with the information that is important. If intellectual, emotional and spiritual growth are triggered by the new awareness, the process continues to be positive; however, if instead you use your newfound insight to control others or block growth, you have used your knowledge in a negative way.
Misuse of the Plutonian process creates an inability to continue on the life path until issues are resolved and lessons are learned. Stagnation occurs as the individual fails to progress to the next level of comprehension or misinterprets the task at hand. Power struggles can be the cause of such stagnation, and should be taken on only after careful consideration of the issues and implications. Power struggles are expensive in terms of time and energy. Some are essential to growth, others are self-inflicted. Know the source. Ideally, if you avoid a conflict in Pluto's solar return house placement, you should have more resources available for higher awareness. Conflicts consume energy and sap the strength necessary for the ascent. Without opposition, one can move quickly when concentrating on insight and awareness. Barriers can be torn down and the connections among all things become apparent.
But a world without struggle is the ideal, and not necessarily the reality. Your situation may require that growth be attained through struggle. The resistance may stimulate your awareness and creativity. Real progress might only occur after the resolution of conflict or during respites in the battle. However, within a long-lasting, stalemated struggle, one is more likely to get caught in a circular argument going nowhere. Nonproductive battles can be avoided by those who work toward increased awareness.
Solar Return Pluto in 6th house:
Pluto in the 6th house of the solar return implies changes in both the daily work situation and personal health practices. Changes in physical health are also possible, but generally not as likely. In regard to employment, your work environment could change dramatically. The most common manifestation involves an office which either totally reorganizes (e.g., computerization), or moves to another location. This causes a great upheaval in the daily routine until everyone learns the new procedures, or figures out where everything is located. Preparation, implementation and resolution time may take almost a year. In lieu of this, you alone may change bosses, or departments, or be given a new assignment or job description. Daily working conditions are likely to become more complicated until the period of transition ends.
This is a good time to eliminate unnecessary daily tasks. Obsessive-compulsive tendencies may have you doing more work than is necessary. You can get hung up on details, or feel pressured to stay on the job longer than your normally scheduled hours. In these situations, work begins to have power over you, and you are no longer in control. You can become a workaholic this year if you are not mindful of the need to balance your workload. If you analyze your productivity, you may discover that your time is not efficiently organized. Learn to streamline your day by creating more efficient daily routines. It is possible that tasks can be completed in less time and with less effort. Take corrective action in those problem areas. If you are self-employed, hire someone to help you with the clerical work so you can be free to work on other projects. If you are working for a company, develop a plan of action and present it to your employer or manager. This is a time when even the lowliest employee will seek some power within the work environment. Positive use of this desire can lead to improvements on the job.
Power in the workplace becomes an issue, and you can use personal power as a lever for success. For example, one employee with a wealth of valuable information negotiated a higher salary and a position of authority. He was then able to use his position and abilities to transform a failing business into a successful enterprise. On the more negative side, power struggles with co-workers or lower level managers are possible. Someone may have a lot of power over you, watching what you do, when, and how. You may feel like you must be on your guard. Backbiting, gossip, and underhanded manipulative tactics can be the norm if you choose to participate. Undercurrents and back-room maneuvers dictate policy. Sources of contention are difficult to discern or confront since nothing is ever truly out in the open. Power over your own schedule or working habits might be totally out of your control as you are forced to conform to inane rules. If you wish to quit, you are likely to do so. Differences of opinion, conflicts with authorities and disputes over the implementation of new ideas can make it impossible for you to continue in the same position. If, however, you choose to remain on a job you sincerely hate, be forewarned that health problems will most likely arise.
You are capable of having a lot of control over both your physical and psychological health; however, early in the year it may not seem so. Instead, you may be struck by how compulsive your habits have become. A few of you may be locked into serious addictions to alcohol, drugs, or cigarettes, but most will only experience the need to control a craving for a particular junk food, or a resistance to an exercise routine. During the year, poor health habits can be a problem, and usually these habits do not arise suddenly; rather, they are long-standing patterns which only now demand corrective attention. The push for control is indicated by Pluto's presence in the 6th house. This is a good time to make conscious, rather than unconscious, choices about health practices. You can break addictions or bad habits, especially if you also treat the underlying psychological issues.
It is important to understand that your state of health or disease is directly related to your psychological diet. The more you are in tune with your inner self, the better you will feel; the more you are in touch with your environment and the people around you, the more likely you are to feel emotionally nourished. A healthy emotional climate breeds a healthy mind and body. On the other hand, the greater the stress in the environment and the more you are suppressed or manipulated by others, the greater the chance of health problems arising. Emotional upsets can directly affect your health, especially if you are caught in "damned if you do and damned if you don't," no-win situations. The emotional diet is as important as the nutritional diet, and even though you take care of yourself physically, mental-emotional stress or abuse can make you ill. If you are in a difficult situation, consider these three options. You can walk away from unending conflicts or spiritually unhealthy environments. Secondly, recognize psychological games and refuse to be manipulated. Protect your unconscious from damage. Thirdly, use relaxation techniques and spiritual insight to alleviate stress. Realize your power to grow healthy, both inside and out.