Returns

WHAT ARE RETURNS?

A return is the moment that a transiting planet returns to the position it occupied at birth. For example, suppose that a person's Sun position is 14 degrees 20 minutes of Cancer. At about the time of the person's birth day each year the Sun will return to precisely this position of 14 degrees 20 minutes of Cancer. A chart constructed for this exact moment when the Sun returns to 14 degrees 20 minutes of Cancer is the solar return chart.

Similarly, the Moon will return to the position it had at birth approximately once a month. A chart constructed for this time is the lunar return chart.

The solar return and lunar return charts are used by many astrologers. Some astrologers have also experimented with charts of the times that other planets return to their natal position, so there is a Mercury return chart, a Venus return chart, etc.

Note that a return calculated with the sidereal zodiac occurs at a different time than a return calculated with the tropical zodiac. The reason for this is that the tropical zodiac and sidereal zodiac are moving in relationship to each other so that over the course of one's lifetime they have separated further. Some astrologers like to use a hybrid of the two systems in that they like to use the tropical zodiac signs but they wish to determine the time of the solar return as it would occur in the sidereal zodiac. This is known as a precessed return because it is adjusted for the amount of precession of the equinoxes that has occurred since birth.

SOLAR RETURNS

The solar return chart occurs once a year at about the time of one's birthday. In order for a solar return chart to be calculated precisely, it is necessary for the Sun to be calculated with extreme precision, to within 1 second of arc instead of the usual 1 minute of arc that is used in astrology. For example, if a person's Sun is known to be at 14 degrees 20 minutes of Cancer, this is not sufficient information to construct a solar return chart. The position needs to be known to the nearest second of arc, so that, for example, if the position is known to be 14 degrees 20 minutes 33 seconds of arc, then the solar return chart can be calculated (assuming that the Sun at the time of the return is also calculated to within 1 second of arc).

The solar return generally does not occur at the time of one's birth. If you were born at 8:10 AM, then it is unlikely that the solar return will also occur at 8:10 AM. It takes one year for the Sun to return to the its position at the time of birth and there are approximately 365 1/4 days in a year; the extra 1/4 day means that the solar return on the person's first birthday will occur about 6 hours later than the birth time. If the person's birth time is 8:10 AM, the solar return that occurs on the first birthday will be about 6 hours later, actually a little less than 6 hours later because the number of days in a year is a little less than 365 1/4 days. The solar return may also occur the day before or the day after the birthday.

Some astrologers prefer to calculate the solar return chart for the place of birth, but there are 2 other possibilities: the chart could be calculated for the place where the person is at the time of the return or it could be calculated for the place of residence. For example, suppose that Sally was born in Denver, Colorado, she lives in Orlando, Florida and at the time of her solar return on her birthday she is visiting her sister in Atlanta, Georgia. Many astrologers believe that the location where she is at the time of the return (in this case, Atlanta, Georgia) is the most important place for the chart to be calculated. Many others prefer that the return be calculated for birth place, and there are some astrologers who believe that the place of residence is very important. Note that if one uses the location of the person at the time of the return, it is difficult to calculate the solar return chart ahead of time because the precise location of the person at the time of the return may not be known ahead of time. This is also a problem with using the location of residence but people obviously do not relocate as often as they move around so the problem is not nearly as severe.

The solar return chart can be interpreted by analyzing it in similar fashion to analyzing a birth chart, or it can be compared to the birth chart. The solar return will affect a person from the time of one solar return to the time of the next one, so it lasts for one year, starting approximately on one's birthday and lasting until the next birthday.

LUNAR RETURNS

Some astrologers use the lunar return chart that occurs about once a month to make predictions for the coming month. Some astrologers feel that the lunar return chart especially influences matters ruled by the moon, such as one's moods, domestic life, etc.

OTHER RETURNS

Some astrologers analyze Mercury Returns (the time that Mercury returns to its natal position), Venus Returns, Mars returns, etc. These returns are sometimes referred to as planetary returns, to distinguish them from the more commonly used solar and lunar returns. Because the planets can turn retrograde, it is possible for a planetary return to occur several times within a relatively short time period as the planet retrogrades over the natal position. For example, Mercury and Venus returns typically occur either once a year or three times a year. If Mercury, for example, retrogrades over the position of the natal Mercury, thus making a second Mercury return, then it must also eventually turn direct and cross this position a third time. The same is true for the other planets. Mars will return to its natal position approximately ever 2 1/2 years, Jupiter every 12 years, Saturn every 29 1/2 years, Uranus every 7 years, Neptune every 14 years, and Pluto every 21 years. These are average numbers and the actual time period can vary considerably from this average.

Calculating the precise time of a planetary return can, in some cases, be impossible! The reason why this is a problem is that the slower the planet, the more accurate the calculations must be to determine the precise moment of the return. The greatest problem occurs when the planet is turning retrograde or direct because at this time the planet appears to be moving very, very slowly. When a planet changes direction from direct to retrograde, or retrograde to direct, it is referred to as being stationary because, for an instant, it is not moving at all, and for some time around this moment it is moving extremely slowly. The slower a planet is moving, the more difficult it is to determine when the return occurs. If a planet is stationary at the time of the return, it is impossible to determine the time of the return with great accuracy.

Some astrologers also like to calculate "half returns" or "quarter returns". A half return occurs when the planet returns to the point opposition its natal position; for example, about half-way between 2 birthdays, the Sun reaches a point that is opposition its natal position.

It takes Uranus about 84 years to return to its natal position, and Neptune and Pluto are even slower so outer planet returns are generally not used by astrologers. Very few astrologers use planetary returns.