Solar Return Astrology Report for Madonna

INTRODUCTION to SOLAR RETURNS

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 fully played out, but old themes and issues you have worked with for the year will begin to lose their importance as the new solar return manifests 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.

WELL BALANCED MODES and ELEMENTS

When all of your elements and modes are balanced (meaning that there are no more than four planets and no less than two planets in any element or mode) this indicates that your thinking and actions are based on careful consideration of data from several sources of information. You are able to weigh physical, rational, emotional, and spiritual information when you are making decisions. You tend to be conservative rather than rash in making changes, even though you are open to change. At times you may be indecisive since you must take so much information into consideration; however, it is more likely that you will look at issues from all sides and not be overly influenced by any one personality factor.

AQUARIUS RISING

When the solar return Ascendant is in Aquarius, you need to be free to follow your conscience and to speak your mind. You travel to the beat of a different drum. Rules might not apply. Those in power are not held in high regard. You seek out like-minded individuals and others who think like you do even when your ideas are radical. You buck authority and can be a rebel either with or without a just cause. You function better as an advocate. Dependability is not your long suit. You vacillate between choices and might be downright erratic.

INTRODUCTION to the SUN

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 the 7TH HOUSE ☉ in 7th

The Sun in the 7th house indicates that relationships are more important to you than your own individual identity. You are more interested in relating to others (and possibly someone in particular) than pursuing personal goals or working alone. It is very likely that your Sun was in the solar return 1st house two years ago and in the 10th house last year. For these two years, you probably stressed independent action and self-sufficiency. This emphasis on self and self-motivated endeavors is over and now you have a strong need for companionship, sharing, and feedback. Focus on relationships, and spend time with those you love who may have been feeling neglected. Their needs seem stronger than yours and it feels right to support those who have supported you over the past two years. It may not be easy for you to shift from a self-centered orientation into a partnership commitment, but you will find that fulfillment comes from sharing and cooperation. Your greatest successes occur when working with others or through the assistance of someone else. Generally, this is not the time to do things on your own.

Relationship problems are possible. Renewing old relationships can be difficult because others may have established a pattern of getting along without you if you were too distant in the past. Hopefully, they appreciate the time you are now able to spend with them. An old and useless relationship might end during this time so that a new and rewarding one can form. Use this time for a transition to a new and exciting commitment. Generally, new relationships are of a personal nature, but occasionally the emphasis is on a business partnership. The 7th house is the house of marriage, partnerships, and strong relationships, and it is likely that you will be deeply involved in one of these types of relationships during the year.

Partnerships can be either supportive or restrictive. There isn’t a guarantee that relationships will be beneficial to you, but you mold them with your responses. This is an excellent time to work with someone on a project. Consult those offering objective feedback or expert information in your field of interest. You can accomplish more through cooperation or competition than you would have accomplished on your own.

Some individuals experience this placement as restrictive, especially if they always emphasize the needs of others without considering their own needs. The Sun in the 7th house can indicate a very consuming relationship, one which totally compromises your individuality and personal needs. In this situation you become too passive, refusing to assert yourself at all, while allowing a relationship to become everything as you become nothing. You accept limitations passively, are easily imposed upon, and tend to follow, never lead. You grow more insignificant the longer you remain in this type of relationship. Most likely, you are trying to hold together an impossible partnership, one that should be ended. If you continue to bite your tongue so things will run smoothly, your own needs will not be met and the strain of meeting the needs of others will drain you.

Unless your partner is physically ill, your dedication to another should not be so demanding as to be all-consuming. Should you choose to remain in a detrimental relationship with demands this great, be aware that the situation is probably psychologically unhealthy for you and may eventually involve verbal or physical abuse. Learn the fine art of negotiation. This is not the time for complete surrender. One hand washes the other and it is through cooperation that you progress and grow. The task is to learn to compromise and share within a meaningful and fulfilling relationship. Give willingly without allowing yourself to be used.

This is the time to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes and become more aware of different points of view. Be objective; most importantly, see yourself as others see you. Those with strong and difficult personalities will find it hard to relate until they correct their offensive behavior and irritating personality traits. If you are determined to get your own way, life will not run smoothly. You must consider the way you affect others. People will no longer make allowances for your behavior and it’s time to clean up your act. If you can’t learn to cooperate and share equally, you will have little chance for success and a greater tendency to create enemies. Correct those habits which block intimacy and sharing with others if you want to increase interpersonal gratification.

SUN CONJUNCT MARS ☉ ☌ ♂

Mars symbolizes the energy necessary for successful accomplishment. When Mars is conjunct the Sun, work on a project that requires a great deal of effort to complete. Success can come in the form of personal or professional achievement, especially if it involves original and creative work. First time projects or ambitious endeavors are also appropriate.

Relationships might be conflicted or competitive. You need to balance self-centered drives with the needs of others. When the Sun and Mars are conjunct, they can indicate considerable self-interest, and perhaps even a selfish attitude. Too much emphasis on self makes for tense relations. Others may view you as competitive when you should be a team player. You can motivate others in a positive and productive way, and that may be the best course of action.

Learn to deal with aggression, conflict, and anger in an effective rather than detrimental way. You may be stressed out and under the gun regarding tasks and responsibilities. Do not take it out on others. Think before you act. Handle negative situations positively with an eye toward fair play and productive changes. Defend you actions and decisions if need be. Defend others when you see injustice. Be an advocate, but remain calm and rational. If you let your temper flare, things can only get worse.

Less spiritual themes associated with Sun conjunct Mars involve 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 and also frustration into positive endeavors.

SUN SEXTILE or TRINE JUPITER ☉ ⚹ ♃

The major task associated with the Sun sextile or trine Jupiter in the solar return chart is expansion of the personality into new areas of experience and expertise. This expansion should be consistent with the individual’s philosophical beliefs, spiritual goals, and career aspirations. Beneficial opportunities are associated with Jupiter sextile or trine the Sun; however, there is no guarantee of a positive return. You may have to create your own opportunities, augment the possibilities through enthusiasm, or take a risk to manifest the best results.

The main danger noted with the Sun sextile or trine to Jupiter is a tendency toward excessive behavior and a refusal to curb personal needs and desires in consideration of others. Excessive behavior can be associated with workaholic tendencies, spending practices, diet, health habits, or any other activity. A refusal to curb personal needs can overwhelm partners and family members who have their own preferences. Remember to keep a sense of balance.

SUN SEXTILE or TRINE SATURN ☉ △ ♄

When the Sun is sextile or trine Saturn in the solar return chart, it implies a sense of structure. Whether this structure becomes supportive or restrictive depends on the situation and the individual’s ability to handle Saturnian issues in a positive manner. Saturn rules hard work. The productive characteristics associated with Saturn include persistence, patience, organization, stability, practicality, and realistic expectations. When the individual’s behavior is consistent with these beneficial traits, progress and self-mastery result. When the individual shirks responsibility and does not put forth the effort, little if any progress is made. When the Sun is sextile or trine Saturn, nothing is given and everything is earned. .

Beyond those circumstances which one can control, restrictions, frustrations, and delays can plague the native. You must accept responsibility for your own life situation and work with limitations should they arise. There is a lesson to be learned this year.

The Sun sextile or trine Saturn is not meant to reflect a depressing time, but it does reflect stark realism. Accurate perceptions of existing situations are essential to either accept or alter future expectations. You must be both realistic and patient in assessing your options. Progress can occur, but it tends to occur slowly and involve careful planning, hard work, and discipline, so put in the effort. It is common to be involved with a major project or task during the year that requires your full attention. Focus on finding solutions to problems. Use your skills and talents in a productive manner or develop the expertise you need to succeed.

SUN SEXTILE or TRINE URANUS ☉ △ ♅

The Sun sextile or trine Uranus in the solar return chart suggests that the individual is making changes. Changes are usually major and sweeping, though sometimes a series of small changes in rapid succession is needed for a shift to occur. Changes are usually self-initiated and directed, unless a persistent problem or internal restlessness is ignored. When you avoid the obvious need for change, matters can be taken out of your hands, in which case, you become the passive recipient of change.

Generally, change is a part of any solar return year that has the Sun sextile or trine Uranus. Since Uranus transits can last for two or more years, you may be at the beginning of the change this year or near the end. If the degree for Uranus is less than the degree for the Sun, Uranus by transit is applying to the Sun and the change is probably about to begin. If the degree for Uranus is higher than that of the Sun, Uranus by transit is separating from the Sun and the change might be nearing completion. If the Sun and Uranus are in similar degree, you are probably in the midst of change.

Changes usually correspond to welcomed and significant life developments such as a pregnancy and birth, a job transfer, relocation, or the beginning of a new relationship. The native gravitates toward excitement, freedom, and growth. This is a good time to be creative, inventive and original. You can recreate your life.

INTRODUCTION to the MOON

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.

MOON in the 4TH HOUSE ☽ in 4th

A 4th house solar return Moon suggests an emphasis on two important areas: the physical home or domestic situation, and the emotional needs and perceptions of the individual. Usually these two major areas of concern parallel each other and changes manifesting in the home or home life are reflected in emotional changes the individual is experiencing internally. For example, if you do extensive remodeling of your home, it is likely you will also experience emotional disruption during the period of renovation. It can be argued that the emotional disruption is directly caused by the upheaval in the physical environment of the home; but, it is also possible that your emotional situation is changing rapidly and internal dissatisfaction actually caused the desire for renovation.

Perhaps a different example will illustrate this better. Whenever one moves into a new home, some amount of redecoration takes place. The priorities set at this time can be indicative of the individual’s emotional climate. Those who are withdrawn or recovering from a difficult emotional trauma might decorate the master bedroom first. The master bedroom suite is probably the most private part of the home and is not always seen by a visitor. Yet it is viewed as the most restful room in the home, a protective inner sanctum that revitalizes energies. Establishing a priority of redoing this room first may reflect a desire to soothe injured feelings before all else. In this manner, internal emotional needs lead to external choices made in regard to the home.

You are apt to either change your place of residence or change something about your home when the Moon is in the 4th house of the solar return chart. You can purchase a new home and move, but it is just as likely that changes will occur within your existing home or domestic situation. For example, you could have a household member come or go during the year, perhaps a new roommate moving in, or a grown child moving out to a separate residence. Feeling “at home” becomes very important and you need to make changes in your home or lifestyle to attain this sense of comfort. Your aim will be to create a place of retreat reflecting your individual emotional style and needs. There are a number of different ways to do this and changes can be either physical or emotional, radical or minor.

Occasionally, domestic needs affect career goals. Interest in providing a comfortable home environment may become a career concentration. It is possible to begin a career in real estate, home design or interior decoration during the year. Security issues related to your home or future retirement may lead you to plan a career move or to change your job.

Emotional feelings are the second major area of concern with the Moon in the 4th. Your emotional needs are stronger and more urgent at this time, probably because you are coping with an element of change or disruption. You are very aware of the understanding and emotional support you receive from others, or the lack thereof. You want to feel a strong emotional connection to those around you, and need greater intimacy. If others cannot or will not match your needs, you withdraw emotionally and physically from disappointing situations. You tend to be more protective of others and can draw dependent relationships during the year if you feel the need to mother or be mothered. If grown children are leaving home, it is possible to experience the empty nest syndrome. New mothers may experience postpartum blues. These feelings are all related to a maturing emotional nature and changing circumstances. Focusing on your own emotional needs at this time will help you to make the necessary adjustments.

Changes in your emotional circumstances can be more relative than actual. Your situation stays the same, but suddenly you have realizations which open your eyes to new possibilities and problems. Intuitively, you now sense much more than you are told. This ability can give you a wealth of new knowledge and insight, though you might be reluctant to trust it at first. What you sense intuitively may or may not be different from what you are told verbally. If there is a discrepancy, you’ll feel torn in two directions and not know what to believe.

Extreme sensitivity to issues related to the home is common, and what actually transpires in the domestic environment, physically and/or emotionally, tends to affect you deeply. If you are in a very difficult situation and your home life is disrupted, it is possible to feel homeless with this placement, but for those who work with their feelings, there awaits a new sense of roots.

INTRODUCTION to MERCURY

Mercury has two basic interpretations in the solar return chart: it symbolizes what you are thinking about and your mental condition during the coming year.

What you are actually thinking about is shown by the solar return house placement of Mercury. The important thing to remember about Mercury’s placement is that it is indicative of a mental exercise only. Alone in a house, Mercury can show mental preoccupation without psychological pain or physical consequences. It suggests the ability to make decisions only, and may not be a clear indication of action in any particular area. Mercury’s aspects to the other planets indicate how information is gathered, assimilated and integrated into attitudes that persist for most of the year. How easily this is accomplished, and in what manner, is suggested by the aspects themselves.

Conditioning is noted by solar return aspects to Mercury. Squares and oppositions to Mercury indicate possible sources of tension and conflict.  If Mercury is in an air sign, (Gemini, Libra, or Aquarius), rational thought processes are emphasized.  If Mercury is in a water sign, (Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces), strong emotional factors influence thinking. If Mercury is in an earth sign, (Taurus, Virgo, or Capricorn), the tendency is to be practical. If Mercury is in a fire sign, (Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius), the individual is motivated by self-interest, passion, philosophy, or spirituality. When assessing the conditioning of Mercury, it is also important to note the sign and conditioning for the Moon and whether the Moon is in an air or water sign. This will help you determine if the thinking process or emotions are dominant during the year and if integration is possible.

MERCURY in the 7TH HOUSE ☿ in 7th

A 7th house Mercury in the solar return chart can signal the importance of communication with others during the coming year. You may spend a lot of time discussing, explaining, negotiating, and even arguing with others, especially if you have a major project or issue that needs to be handled. Matters under discussion will not be finalized easily. Projects may require much communication among all those involved before completion; disputes may require lengthy negotiations before agreement can be reached.

On a personal level, communication within couples will be important. This is a good time to share thoughts and get in touch with one another. You may want to attend a marriage encounter. If you are having marital difficulties, see a marriage counselor and open up the lines of communication. Clarification and negotiation may be needed to improve or restore your relationship, especially if you are aware of contradictions and discrepancies. Professionally, you may negotiate and communicate directly with others or hire the services of a professional to act as a go-between. Mercury in the 7th house can be indicative of another person with a great deal of knowledge or expertise. This is a good time to seek the advice and professional assistance of someone who is viewed as an authority in your particular field of interest or problem area. It may be in your best interest to let this expert handle certain business matters for you, but it is still important that you oversee proceedings and discuss decisions being made.

Both personal and professional relationships may be valued for the information and intellectual stimulation they provide. You will be attracted to people who are bright and full of ideas. The mental interchange fostered can lead to great creativity and insight through combined efforts. These results may far exceed the intellectual abilities of the individuals working alone. This is a good time to share ideas with others or to join a discussion group for the purpose of intellectual growth.

The danger associated with Mercury in the 7th house is a tendency to let others dominate your thoughts with their own opinions and comments. Do not personally accept truisms without assessing their validity or practicality. Since you are very open to advice from others, you may lack conviction in your own mental competence. You may grow dependent on the decision-making abilities of others. Mercury in the 7th house can indicate that you are lied to during the year. There is no guarantee that the information you receive is accurate or helpful. Therefore, it is essential that you evaluate information and advice as you receive it. This is an excellent time to gather information from others, but it is still your responsibility to evaluate the information received and make your own decisions.

MERCURY RETROGRADE

Mercury is usually retrograde in the solar return chart every six years. When Mercury is retrograde, it is time to be introspective, especially about those things related to Mercury’s house placement. You should be doing a lot of your own thinking and learning rather than depending on others. Integrate previously acquired information into your own individualized mind-set. Think of your mind as an overloaded cabinet or closet seriously in need of filing and organization. It is time to process. You probably already know everything you need to know to handle a certain life situation. If you continue to depend on others for advice, you will find conversations meaningless within the context of your own intellectual needs and experience. Be aware that your mental processes are not very receptive to new information at this time. Your mind is like a cup that is filled to the brim. Any additional knowledge spills over and is lost. Work toward integrating what you already know.

You can experience this retrogradation as a certainty that you know you are right and only you can make the best decisions concerning your own future. What others tell you might clash with what you already know and you could tend to disregard their comments. You may be right, but the danger is that you may be wrong. You can be so in tune with your own thoughts that you are totally on the mark; then again, you might be totally off the beam. Take the time to reorganize information by focusing inward. You might find that your own opinions, thoughts, and decisions truly work best for you. But be aware of the feedback others give you, which may be particularly valuable if you have missed the mark.

Secretiveness is also associated with Mercury retrograde. There is a tendency to withhold information and sometimes lie. Generally, there are two major reasons for doing this: one is that you really do have secrets which need to be kept; the other is that expressing your opinions or thoughts openly causes tension in your relationships. Retrograde Mercury is associated with biting your tongue and swallowing your own words in order to keep peace. Your true opinions may not emerge until the start of the next solar return.

This time is excellent for putting your thoughts down on paper and writing original material. You will be able to see things differently when your thoughts are written down and this is a good way to get organized. Old opinions and beliefs may be outdated so you need to reassess your thinking, reformulate ideas, and shed new light on a subject area.

MERCURY SQUARE or OPPOSITE NEPTUNE ☿ ☍ ♆

Mercury square or opposite Neptune in the solar return chart can indicate that important factual information 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.

This is not the time for detailed, factual information and left-brain processes. You may be more in touch with compassion, creativity, and spirituality than rational thought. Your sensitivity to subtlety increases and you acquire information through intuitive insights. Dealing with subtle experiences can lead to uncertainty and confusion. Increased intuitive awareness can precede the ability to weigh this information for its accuracy. It is sometimes difficult to discriminate between what is really intuitive or psychic and what is more closely akin to worry, fear, or false hope. Seeking practical applications for idealistic concepts and inspirations common with this combination can also cause stress.

Put your trust in the Universe during times of uncertainty. Focus on compassion rather than a search for mundane truth. Inconsistencies and confusion may not be resolved this year. 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. Focus instead on right-brain, creative, artistic, intuitive, and spiritual processes.

MERCURY SEXTILE or TRINE PLUTO ☿ △ 

Mercury sextile or trine Pluto in the solar return chart can indicate that your conscious mind is very aware of unconscious material and psychological complexes. This awareness may originate from naturally occurring insights into human behavior or educational pursuits. You are better able to perceive what is unspoken or hidden. Motivations will be clearer to you even when they are not stated. The body language of others can be very revealing. Attempts at manipulation and psychological games will also be more obvious. Most likely this awareness will not be one-sided. You will be as aware of your own unconscious nature as you are of psychological complexes in others. Your close attention to detail, subtleties, and nuances is empowering. You become a better negotiator, manager, and teacher. You are able to address distortions related to ideology, prejudice, or intolerance. The implication here is that knowledge is power, and specifically in this case, it is knowledge about the unconscious mind which conveys power to those who are aware of it and able to gain insights from it. This information is as valuable as intellectual facts gained from school. The more you understand about the unconscious, emotions, and complexes, the more you are able to control your own impulses or resist the manipulative behavior of others.

INTRODUCTION to VENUS

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.

VENUS in the 6TH HOUSE ♀ in 6th

You would think that Venus in the 6th house would be a sign of good health, and often this is true. It is possible to experience beneficial changes in wellness, diet, and exercise. Healthy individuals can make nutritional changes or establish exercise routines to maximize their energy and physical condition. If you have been ill, Venus may indicate a return to good health, or at least an improvement in your present condition. However, instead of an improvement, Venus can be associated with a tendency towards overindulgence and a susceptibility to its related diseases. The most common problems include, but are not limited to, weight gain, alcoholism, and skin problems. Women can have problems with the female organs. Perhaps the best strategy to use during the year is to practice those health routines which truly make you feel healthy.

The 6th house is also the house of work, and Venus placed here emphasizes the importance of good working relationships and a pleasant work environment. One relationship in particular might be especially important, and you may be romantically involved with a co-worker. All employees will want to have cordial relations with their office mates, while managers will seek to find pleasant ways to motivate their staffs.

Regardless of your position, you can benefit from the use of negotiation techniques, tact, and diplomacy in office situations. Your physical work environment is as important as the emotional climate. Your productivity can be increased by beneficial changes in your daily routine. New machinery, such as a computer, may be brought in to facilitate your job; scheduling may be altered to fit your personal needs; nonsmokers may be moved to a smoke-free office; you may be given a raise; or your work could be noticed and appreciated. If Venus is heavily aspected, there will be both positive and negative qualities to your job. Issues will be more complicated, as illustrated by the emphasis in the solar return chart.

VENUS SQUARE or OPPOSITE JUPITER ♀ □ ♃

When Venus is square or opposite Jupiter in the solar return chart, you can benefit, either directly or indirectly, through the influence or assistance of another. Relationships can be rewarding and you reap what you have sown. If you have been helpful and understanding to others in the past, you can expect the same treatment now. Your lover, business partner, or spouse should be actively supportive of your goals, either financially or emotionally. Indirect benefits can also come to you through your partner. For example, your spouse accepts a job transfer to Colorado and you always wanted to live in ski country.

Although you may benefit direct or indirectly through another, this does not necessarily mean you are a match made in heaven. When Venus is square or opposite Jupiter, there tends to be a philosophical difference between you and your partner. The two of you may not feel the same way about each other or the purpose of the relationship. Issues and conflicts regarding morals, ethics, and monogamy are possible and lead you to discuss whether your relationship is open or closed. The two of you may have different religious backgrounds and find it difficult to integrate beliefs. You might want children while your partner does not. Independent activities may limit time together as priorities can be different and conflict. One person’s needs might overwhelm the partner and dominate the relationship.

The same is true of spending practices. The tendency is to overextend the budget and spend more than you make or can afford. This can cause friction in any relationship. Gambling, risk taking, and addictions are possible, but less likely. The goal for the year either in regard to relationships or finances is one of balance and integration.

VENUS SEXTILE or TRINE NEPTUNE ♀ △ ♆

If you are already involved in a stable emotional relationship, Venus sextile or trine to Neptune may be more relevant to financial concerns than romantic interests. Financial circumstances will exhibit a degree of uncertainty, but this may work to your advantage. A break from work can be a leave of absence without pay, but it is more common to experience other reasons for financial uncertainty. You can be self-employed or have an income based on commissions, incentives, or profit-sharing; your hours may fluctuate or you might work on an “on-call” basis. Under these conditions, you will be unsure of the amount of your pay until the check arrives.

Changing circumstances might affect the amount of money available, (e.g., relocation, job change, large purchases, or major sales), and it is impossible to predict the effect these changes will have, especially if several variables are involved. For example, if you must sell your home and relocate to a different state, you will not know the final sale price for your present home, how much your new home is likely to cost, how much you will be able to earn at your new job, and how expensive it will be to live in the area. You must be careful with your funds until the figures are worked out. If you are expecting money from others in the form of a loan, gift or inheritance, you may not be sure how much you will receive or when you will receive it.

This is a good time to foster a strong appreciation of the nonmaterial side of life. Since monetary and external indicators are so uncertain, focus on the inner qualities. What makes you happy? Spend time with family or friends. Appreciate the beauty of a walk on the beach or in the woods.

Venus sextile or trine Neptune can also be relevant to understanding your relationships during the coming year. Significant emotional relationships can be very spiritual and compassionate. In strong relationships, the partners are more likely to be sensitive to each other’s needs. Empathy increases and inner qualities are the focus of attention and appreciation. You can be more aware of the subtleties of other’s unspoken preferences. This is also a good time for charitable endeavors and volunteering. The ability to be self-sacrificing is seen with this aspect.

If you are not already married, you or your partner may not wish to make a legal commitment at this time. You may prefer unbounded relations that are not defined by a stereotypical role. The lack of definition suits you or you prefer to keep your relationship secret.

At best, relationships possess a sense of compassion and sensitivity. You are able to foster spiritual development in each other. You have lofty ideals and are committed to making the world a better place. Uncertainty does not bother you. You take life one step at a time.

VENUS SQUARE or OPPOSITE PLUTO ♀ ☍ 

Venus square or opposite Pluto in the solar return shows 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 infatuation. 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, Venus square or opposite Pluto 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 impacts the possibility for success of a 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 intimate, casual, familial, and professional relationships. Individuals who learn to compromise and share power see their relationships deepen and strengthen, but this is not always possible. Major power struggles are not uncommon. You can feel powerless to control your own destiny, like your fate is dependent on the whims of others. Attempting to control others might seem like the only option. It’s not. Within this struggle, manipulative techniques are the main weapons; sex, money, and power become the main issues.

Financially, Venus square or opposite to Pluto indicates strong financial changes or complex monetary arrangements. Salary changes are common, both positive and negative, 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, especially if your earnings are based on commissions or profit-sharing, but your tactics might be questionable. Relationship problems can directly affect your ability to concentrate and work, or your financial status may depend on the resources of others. Struggles over money or finances are seen with these aspects. Plan to be fiscally conservative. You might need to handle unexpected costs.

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.

INTRODUCTION to MARS

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.

MARS in the 7TH HOUSE ♂ in 7th

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.

MARS SEXTILE or TRINE JUPITER ♂ ⚹ ♃

Actions which directly support or contradict belief systems are associated with Mars-Jupiter aspects in the solar return chart. Jupiter rules beliefs and philosophy while Mars rules actions. When Mars is sextile or trine Jupiter, personal ethics and morals tend to be respected and acted on accordingly, though this is not always the case. Regardless, you are acutely aware of the role your beliefs play in controlling or directing behavior.

The task associated with Mars sextile or trine Jupiter is to seek moderation in all things and behave in a manner that is consistent with your ethical, moral, or philosophical beliefs. To do this, you may have to discriminate between what is an impractical belief, given your behavior, and what is a hypocritical action, given your beliefs. The greatest success comes from the choices you make which truly reflect your beliefs and priorities. Your beliefs are reflected in the solar return house placement for Jupiter. The actions you wish to take are reflected in the house placement for Mars.

Because Jupiter is known as the greater benefic planet, when Mars is sextile or trine Jupiter, reward, recognition, advancement, expansion, and benefit are possible. Take advantage of opportunities as they arise and even create opportunities for yourself. Expect success. Luck is on your side.

MARS SEXTILE or TRINE SATURN ♂ △ ♄

Mars sextile or trine Saturn implies a need for well-planned activity which is strongly based on a realistic assessment of the situation. If you are involved in a major project, personality characteristics such as discipline, perseverance, and organizational ability may be needed for the hard work ahead. This is a good time to work toward completing long-term goals, especially if you appreciate the amount of effort that is required. You are able to accomplish according to your strengths and acquired skills.

As you strive to succeed in any endeavor, you have to maintain an awareness of societal structures, norms, and institutions. Those who are able to work within set guidelines will be highly productive. Certain requirements will be expected of you as a member of society. For instance, if you wish to borrow money to purchase your first home, you must deal with a bank or mortgage company and meet their requirements for loan customers. This is a good time to push carefully for success, but it is also a good time to cut back on activities if a realistic reassessment of your feelings and life situation tells you to do so. For instance, if you are a young mother wishing to quit work because you have small children, budgeting finances might be a must. Careful planning can make things possible.

Saturn rules reality and practicality. It is not enough to be organized; your plans cannot be implemented if they are unrealistic or impractical. Be rational and logical. After assessing the situation, develop a plan, perhaps have a dry run. Hone your skills. Gain experience. Take your time and do not rush. Know that delays can work to your advantage.

INTRODUCTION to JUPITER

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.

JUPITER in the 8TH HOUSE ♃ in 8th

The 8th house is commonly associated with the earnings of others while the 2nd house is more indicative of your own earning power. Therefore, Jupiter in the 8th primarily focuses on the money made available to you after someone else has already earned it. During the year, your financial situation may improve specifically because you are now able to share resources with another person. If you have already been sharing resources up to this point, the dollar amount of the shared funds is likely to increase. This placement commonly shows money coming to you through others, possibly in the form of a lump sum. For those who are interested in making a large purchase such as a home, combining incomes and savings makes the goal a reality.

Besides shared resources, you may acquire money through other means. These other means include an inheritance, gift or monetary settlement from an insurance claim or legal case. Funds from profit sharing, royalties, and advances for books or inventions are also more commonly seen in the 8th house, even though one would think they would be more consistent with 2nd house earnings. Because of the extra money coming in, this may be a good time to place some funds in an investment account or hire a broker to manage your money. In this way your money works for you, creating extra funds through means other than salary.

Most likely, if you share incomes with another, you must also share his or her debts, and unfortunately, this person can be a big spender. The negative interpretation for financial concerns associated with this placement is that you are just as likely to experience increased expenses and debts caused by the other person as you are to have more money available. The pendulum can swing either way.

Ethical questions relevant to sexual morality are important and must be addressed. Situations you face this year are meant to force you to further define your own moral code. Therefore sexual opportunities you encounter, regardless of whether or not you take advantage of the experience, must be understood within the context of your own religious or philosophical ideals. Issues concerning sexual freedom, preference, and practices are most noteworthy. Regardless of your age, the cycle is such that either you must look at these concepts for the first time or you must review what now can be considered preconceived notions. For example, a young teenager was faced with the possibility of her first sexual encounter, while a much older woman who had always defined her relationships as “open” now began to desire a monogamous relationship with her lover. Each of these people dealt with the philosophical aspect of the dilemma as well as the actual feelings, thoughts, and  events.

For those who have the training or innate ability to make the leap to psychological understanding, the sexual and/or monetary situations and issues encountered during the year become a springboard to greater knowledge of the inner motivations and unconscious complexes of others. The intensity of relationships in these two areas of concern fosters great insight when one is able to read the subtleties of the mind.

INTRODUCTION to SATURN

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.

SATURN in the 11TH HOUSE ♄ in 11th

Saturn in the 11th house indicates a need to reassess goals for the future. The goals you presently hold are no longer practical in light of new situations you are moving into or new information you are receiving. They are outdated either because of external changes in your environment or internal changes in your personality. Perhaps they are now inconsistent with your present or future needs for fulfillment. A lack or loss of goals can be implied by Saturn in the 11th house, but generally as old goals prove unworkable, new ones will arise to take their place. It is only rarely that the individual decides to take a year’s vacation. Working mothers who take a year’s leave of absence from work to care for a child sometimes have this placement.

Now is the time to rethink your future and take corrective action where necessary. A new college graduate, also a new army wife, followed her husband to Germany where she discovered she was not allowed to work in her chosen profession despite her degree. She had to rethink her goals for the coming year while overseas. Those who are newly divorced must also rethink their goals in light of their single life-style. This can be a year of great accomplishment for those who settle on a direction quickly and move steadily toward achievement. The new goals you develop tend to suit you better than the old ones, but they need a great deal of work to become a reality. Saturn is the ruler of hard work, practical applications and realistic ventures.

Working with a group of people may give you a better sense of discipline and organization than you would have on your own since you are more likely to take on extra responsibility. You can work harder for the sake of group goals and the extra push might prove ultimately beneficial for all. One astrologer with this Saturn placement taught a group of other astrologers a particular astrological technique and eventually used his organized notes to publish a complete course. However, group dynamics can be cumbersome. You might feel that your individual opinions and identity are lost because of the democratic process and the need to conform. There will be times when you disagree with group leadership or direction. Even if you are the leader, your ideas and opinions can still be watered down by the need for agreement. But working with a group might help you to get off the ground and push you toward making your goals a reality.

Friendships can be lost during the year and there are several possible reasons why this might occur. Most commonly, either you or your friend move, relocating at a great distance away. If you and your husband, wife, lover or partner are splitting up, friends will tend to fall into either camp. They drop away if they were primarily connected to your mate or set on seeing the two of you as a couple. Serious or older friends are also indicated by this placement. Those friends who were mere playmates tend to be less prominent as the year wears on. Your focus is more on business relationships geared toward making connections than on casual friendships. Obligatory friendships (more commonly seen in the business world) are possible.

Money from your career may decrease this year, especially if you are pursuing a goal that cannot be financially lucrative, at least in less than one year’s time. Long-term goals tend to be more consistent with this placement than short-term goals or immediate compensation. In this sense, you may work harder for the same amount of money or even less. Wage freezes are rare but possible; raises may be delayed during the year. For any promotion, you may have to assume extra responsibility to receive any monetary increase. Volunteer work can also be implied by this placement.

INTRODUCTION to URANUS

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.

URANUS in the 3RD HOUSE ♅ in 3rd

Uranus in the 3rd house is associated with rapid thinking processes and changing thought patterns. The mental acceleration can work to your advantage if you are in a pressured situation where decisions must be made quickly or information must be learned in a short period of time. This is an excellent time to take a crash course or intensive which forces you to learn a lot of material in a fast-paced classroom situation. Independent learning and correspondence courses are also possible since you have the ability to study on your own and move ahead at your own pace. The information under study should be unusual in some way, geared toward stimulating creativity, insight and free thinking. Do not limit your thoughts because of preconceived notions.

It is very likely that during this time you will receive or learn information which could have a very strong effect on your perception of reality and your pattern of thought. This information may come to you through your studies, through conflict with others, or through intuitive insights, but the effect of the information will be transformational, causing your perception of reality to go through a period of adjustment.

During the year, your opinions will change sequentially as the weeks go by; therefore, this is not the time to make irrevocable statements. You may end up eating your own words later on. A better course of action is to allow the mind complete intellectual freedom for the purposes of investigation and insight. Do not limit your thoughts to what is already known, what is rational, or what you are told. Allow your thoughts to form intuitively, creatively or unconsciously. Work with information from many levels of experience to gain a better understanding of your true reality. You can gain great insight if you read between the lines and accept all information that comes your way without judgment. Let the final say occur toward the end of the year after all the information is in.

There is a propensity for anxiety and nervousness with Uranus in the 3rd house. Mental problems are associated with a fixation on what is desired or expected rather than an openness to new possibilities for the future. Anyone who experiences acute anxiety or panic attacks should seek counseling. But most individuals will find this placement somewhat nerve-wracking unless they are able to channel mental tension into productive pursuits such as learning, insight, creativity, etc. A lot of the tension arises from the sequential changes in thinking that occur during the year, but daily disruptions, constant interruptions and hectic schedules also contribute. It is difficult to plan a routine while Uranus is in the 3rd house. At the very least, you may be attempting to do too much in too little time. The tendency is to work with scattered thoughts and many activities, scattering your energy in several directions even on a single day.

Crisis situations rather than well-organized routines are the norm, since your daily activities generally demand more time than you actually have available. If you are trying to do five different things on any one day, and realistically you can only schedule in four, each day will have a different rotating schedule so that you can fit everything in on a weekly basis. Your hectic schedule leaves little room for adjustments when problems occur, and of course, problems do occur. Imagine ad-libbing your daily routine for a year because you and everyone and everything around you are changing. Daily life just does not run smoothly enough for you to stick to a schedule.

Uranus can be indicative of original thinking and creativity. You need time to create. Ideas can be close to the surface, yet just out of reach. This is why disruptions can be especially annoying when they interrupt the creative process. It is important to establish some quiet time to allow insights to manifest. Find a way to retain your thoughts and insights. If you are on the go a lot and creative insights are developing quite rapidly, you can use a tape recorder to preserve your thoughts. Allow erratic energy to flow out freely and come to the surface. This is not the time to limit your mental wanderings simply because you question their logical implications. The thought processes are not very organized or directed this year. There is the tendency to go around and around to get to a simple truth. Play with ideas and concepts. Restricting your erratic insights could mean limiting your creativity.

Conflicts are not directly associated with Uranus in the 3rd house, but a bad temper can be. The stress of daily life can make you snap at people and make rash statements you later regret. The connotation here is more akin to, “Open mouth, insert foot,” than argumentativeness, but you can only make faux pas so many times before you enter a verbal battlefield. Learn to think before your open your mouth. Do not jump to conclusions. Remember that anything you say can get back to others and can be used against you.

Problems with brothers, sisters or neighbors may arise during the year. These people may not be especially dependable or predictable and a conflict of interest may occur. This is not the more common interpretation for this placement. The emphasis seems to be more on the mental changes and creativity. You can work things out through discussions, but be careful what you say. Neighborhood problems can be addressed through involvement in the community association. It is possible that rather than disagreeing with a neighbor, a close friend in the neighborhood needs your help during the coming year.

INTRODUCTION to NEPTUNE

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.

NEPTUNE in the 1ST HOUSE ♆ in 1st

In its very highest manifestation, Neptune in the 1st house is associated with a renewed commitment of the self to a higher force or principle. This placement implies spirituality in being and in action. It is not enough to believe in higher forces-you must also act accordingly, practicing what you preach. During the year, the individual is seen as a part of the Universal Whole, possessing both personal insignificance and great spiritual importance at the same time. Insignificance occurs when the individual tries to stand alone. Self-centered needs and egotism are dwarfed in comparison to the spiritual process, and do not matter in the long run. If the will is not in keeping with the Divine purpose, it is limited and meaningless. Purely personal endeavors tend to get sidetracked before completion since the needs of others are more pressing, understandable, and important within the context of the Whole. For this reason, one tends to be egoless at this time, giving unselfishly to others and subjugating the self to a higher purpose.

Even though this is a time of personal insignificance, it is also a time of great spiritual importance for the individual. If you choose to view yourself and your soul within the realm of Universal consciousness, you will become aware of the role you play in the spiritual process and your ability to affect another soul’s growth and potential. This is a time when you might understand some truth others miss, and if you are willing to give unselfishly, you can be a beacon for those who are blind. Situations may be subtle or blatant, commitments passing or definitive. In less obvious interchanges, compassion is increased, and you naturally want to help others. You become the Good Samaritan giving your time and energy to those in need whether family, neighbors or friends. In blatant interchanges, there is a definite request followed by a firm commitment to a cause, task or individual. You know what you are getting into. Some will chose to help many; others, only one particular person. As a rule, the process of assisting others comes easily and naturally when there is an awareness of a principle higher than one’s own ego. During these times of giving, you will be encouraged to grow spiritually. Tasks usually exceed previous understanding and capabilities, and you must rise to the occasion through further enlightenment.

Certain cautions are necessary. Be sure the person or people you assist respond to your help in one way or another. Either their condition should improve, or they should learn new patterns of behavior, possibly responding with love and kindness toward you or someone else. It is not essential that you personally receive a return. This placement is associated with selflessness and what you are doing may specifically require an unselfish act of love. However, don’t repeatedly waste your energy when there is no improvement at all. There are exceptions to this rule. Certain conditions are degenerative by their very nature, and do not lend themselves to improvement. For example, you may be caring for a person with a debilitating or progressive illness.

The manifestation of giving is meant to be helpful to the receiver, not draining for the giver. This is a year when you may be drawn to people in constant need, and in very negative interchanges when your help is not accepted, appreciated or effective, you will be drained. Do not become victimized by alcoholics, drug addicts or those who really require professional help, but refuse to seek it. Do not become so enamored of another person’s problems that you close your eyes to your own welfare. It is possible to enter or remain in a situation which is personally difficult for you and has no easy ending or way out. You adapt so easily to those around you that you might adapt yourself into a psychologically unhealthy situation. Maintain a sense of spiritual purpose. Regardless of your circumstances, whether you are involved in a positive or negative gift of love, push for insight and growth.

While you are focusing on higher thoughts, you may have more difficulty with personal direction. You may not always understand your own actions, and can feel confused, indecisive, or lacking in ego definition. Surefootedness and stubborn opinions are unlikely because you are easily swayed. Self-knowledge will be elusive as you continually discover previously unknown facets of your personality. Preferences and abilities are in a state of flux. Unfortunately, it may not be easy to relate to your own quirks, or see your own contribution to problems and issues. This is especially true if one is not working toward spiritual enlightenment. Instead, you can be evasive or deceiving, lying when pressured. If the future appears uncertain, this is a time to go with the flow of events even though you are not sure where it will lead. Perhaps you are choosing to wait for another person to make a move or decision and this contributes to your uncertainty.

In rare instances, drugs, alcohol or personality aberrations can be the cause of your confusion or weakened vitality. Ongoing addictions can be particularly detrimental this year since this is a time when your body would tend to be overly sensitive to all medications, even prescription drugs. For this reason, alternative medical treatments might be more beneficial.

When living on the higher Neptune level, confusion, indecision, and drug-related problems are unlikely. You are much more likely to act on intuition, instinctively flowing with the Higher Self.

INTRODUCTION to PLUTO

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.

PLUTO in the 12TH HOUSE  in 12th

The 12th house rules things that are hidden, behind-the-scenes, and/or not easily recognized. When Pluto, the planet associated with unconscious and hidden forces, is in the 12th house, the interpretation is particularly subtle, but also especially important. What is happening behind-the-scenes may be more important to growth in consciousness than what is happening in the public environment. Use this time for backroom negotiations if it is to your advantage not to be very public about what you are doing. For example, you might be designing and testing a new product, or having a love affair. The power of this placement lies in what you know, but do not say or make others aware of. A son comforted his father during his illness with massage and holistic techniques. Because the father had strong religious beliefs, the son never talked about what he was doing or the holistic concepts behind the techniques. It was enough to comfort his father. This can be a time to deal with behind-the-scenes issues in a quiet, rather than confrontational, manner.

A more negative interpretation might emphasize manipulation and underhanded tactics rather than a positive use of discretion. Motivations are not necessarily noble. Undercurrents might be ignored and not discussed. Sometimes you are not aware of the problem yourself. If Pluto doesn’t cross the Ascendant by transit into the 1st house during the year, a hidden focus will remain; however, as Pluto crosses over, the personal urge will be to reveal or deal with what was previously hidden.

The same is true with major changes that are waiting in the wings. When Pluto is in the 12th, but close to the Ascendant, there is usually a change of significant magnitude being formulated. It is more likely to occur during the year if Pluto actually crosses. If Pluto comes close, but never actually transits into the 1st house, look in the following solar return chart for an indication of change. You may not quite make the change, or only partially make the change this year.

Psychological complexes are very important with this placement, but they are also less controllable and more difficult to recognize. You may try to ignore your own issues. It is easy to point the finger at someone else and declare that the other person has the problem without being aware of how you, yourself, contribute to their difficulties with your own psychological idiosyncrasies. Compulsive tendencies are common. For example, you may feel compulsively drawn to a new love relationship. There is an interplay here between the compulsion, your urge to control the unconscious, and the frank realization that this is hard to do. The past comes back to haunt you, and present situations may be of a deja vu nature, making control especially difficult. If Pluto stays in the 12th, you are less likely to confront your own psychological complexes; however, if it crosses, you should feel the need to do so.

The higher concepts associated with Pluto, or any planet for that matter, are not always readily understandable to the individual. There are levels and degrees for all interpretations. You must work for the higher manifestation and there is a price to pay. You cannot be focused on personal power or gain and be in touch with Universal consciousness. Personal motives and true spirituality are the antithesis of one another, like oil and water. The oil (personal gain) covers the water (Universal consciousness) so that it cannot reach the surface and is drowned out by the oil. If you try to reach down for the water, your finger will come up greasy and barely wet. Personal motives must be put aside to truly understand the Plutonian process and work with it in its purest form. The point of focus for Pluto in the 12th is the ability to draw Universal power through the unconscious mind. The free-association and visualization capabilities of the unconscious are the perfect vehicle to enlightenment and growth. Those who are pure of heart and mind and soul become universal receptors, receiving information that needs to be on the earth plane. For this, there is no need for compensation or glory; it is enough to know.