Solar Returns
Your Personal New Year
(And What It’s Telling You About Your Next Chapter)
📌 The Gist: Your Solar Return marks the beginning of a new personal year. Instead of relying only on January 1st for fresh starts, your birthday is the real energetic reset.
Why Your Birthday Is More Powerful Than New Year’s Eve
Most people make resolutions on January 1st, but what if your real fresh start happens on your birthday? The Solar Return is your personal New Year—your unique energetic reset for the year ahead.
Every year, when the Sun returns to the exact degree it occupied at your birth, you enter a new cycle of growth, challenges, and opportunities. Instead of setting arbitrary goals based on the calendar year, what if you aligned with your cosmic timing instead?
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🔎 Your Solar Return chart is a snapshot of the sky at the moment the Sun returns to its natal position. It reveals the themes and focus of your next 12 months.
How to Read Your Solar Return Chart
This is VERY important. When you create a Solar Return Chart, ensure it is the first wheel. Sure, you can read it as a bi-wheel with it on the outside, but it will make reading it more challenging. The purpose of this chart is to see your Ascendant for the year and where the Sun, Moon, and personal planets fall without having to shift things around in your head. (Not sure what I mean? See below.)
This is my solar return chart for 2024. You only want one wheel showing.
I know, it’s 2025 now, but I haven’t had my birthday yet this year so 2024 is the “active” chart.
1. The Ascendant: The Theme of Your Year
The sign and house of your Solar Return Ascendant describe the energy you’ll embody and how others will perceive you. This can be a significant shift from your natal chart’s Ascendant.
Fire Ascendant (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius): Confidence, bold action, and self-discovery.
Earth Ascendant (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn): Grounding, stability, and material focus.
Air Ascendant (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius): Communication, networking, and intellectual expansion.
Water Ascendant (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces): Emotional growth, intuition, and deep transformation.
Take a look at my 2024 chart above. My Ascendant this year is in Leo, a fire sign. What does this mean for me? My natal Saturn is in Leo and the 5th house, which means that I have to work hard on learning to be confident and express myself and my creativity. Leo tells me this is the year to take the stage—it’s time to be seen!
2. The Sun’s House Placement: Your Core Focus
Wherever the Sun lands, your Solar Return chart shows the main growth area, energy, and visibility for the year ahead. Which house is it in?
1st House: Reinventing yourself, stepping into leadership.
2nd House: Financial focus, self-worth transformation.
3rd House: Communication, learning, new connections.
4th House: Home, family, emotional security shifts.
5th House: Creativity, pleasure, self-expression.
6th House: Work, health, routines.
7th House: Relationships, partnerships, commitments.
8th House: Deep transformation, shadow work, finances.
9th House: Travel, education, expansion.
10th House: Career, reputation, public presence.
11th House: Community, social influence, big-picture goals.
12th House: Introspection, rest, spiritual development.
The Sun is in my 11th House in my chart above. I can tell you that the themes of community, social influence, and big-picture goals are prominent for me this year. For me, one big question mark is how and where do I work towards “social influence.” I am not a big fan of the social media game and I don’t support the direction social media companies are headed. TBD where I find myself. This is particularly important because it impacts where I find community and bring to life my big-picture goals.
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🔎 If your Solar Return Sun lands in a different house than your natal Sun, expect a shift in focus for the year ahead.
My natal Sun is in the 3rd house. There is an “Air” theme to both houses with the natural ruler of the 3rd being Gemini and the 11th Aquarius, but the 11th house has a more external energy.
How to Use Your Solar Return to Set Goals
Your Solar Return chart offers insight into the themes, priorities, and challenges you’ll experience over the next 12 months. Think of it as your cosmic reset button—a chance to align your goals with the energy of the year ahead.
Recognizing Major Transits in Your Solar Return
While outer planet transits shape long-term growth, your Solar Return personal planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars) give insight into how you’ll think, feel, and act in the upcoming year.
🌞 Solar Return Sun: Your Core Focus for the Year
The house placement of your Solar Return Sun shows the main area of growth for the year.
The sign can offer insight into how you’ll approach challenges and opportunities.
Example: SR Sun in the 10th house → This could be a career-focused year where visibility, leadership, and long-term goals take center stage.
🌙 Solar Return Moon: Your Emotional Tone & Needs
The House of the Moon reveals where you’ll be emotionally invested.
The sign shows how you’ll process emotions and seek comfort.
Example: If your SR Moon is in the 12th house, you might crave more solitude, rest, or deep inner work.
Personal Example: My SR Moon is almost directly opposite my SR Sun, meaning I need to balance my outward goals (Sun) with my need for introspection (Moon)—otherwise, burnout is inevitable.
🗣️ Solar Return Mercury: Thinking, Communication & Mental Focus
The house shows where your mind will be most active.
The sign influences how you process and share information.
Example: SR Mercury in the 3rd house → This could be a year of learning, networking, writing, or public speaking.
💖 Solar Return Venus: Relationships & Personal Desires
The house shows where love, pleasure, and harmony will be most significant.
The sign gives insight into your approach to relationships, money, and self-worth.
Example: SR Venus in the 5th house → Romance, creativity, and joyful self-expression could be a major theme.
🔥 Solar Return Mars: Motivation & Where You’ll Take Action
The house shows where you’ll feel driven and where challenges may arise.
The sign influences your energy levels, ambition, and how you handle conflict.
Example: SR Mars in the 6th house → You might focus on health, fitness, or work routines this year.
Using Your Solar Return for Growth
Once you’ve examined the key planetary themes, here’s how to make your Solar Return actionable:
🔄 Reflect on Last Year’s Solar Return
What themes emerged?
Did your actual experiences align with the house placement of your Solar Return Sun?
Example: If last year’s SR Sun was in the 9th house, did you experience a major shift in your beliefs, education, or travel?
🌀 Compare Your Natal and Solar Return Chart
Look for patterns and repeated themes.
If a particular house is highlighted year after year, it’s an ongoing area of growth.
Example: If your SR Sun has been in your 7th house multiple times, relationships and partnerships are a major life focus.
🎯 Set Intentions Based on Your Solar Return
Use the house of your SR Sun as your main area of focus for the year.
Support it with insights from your SR Moon (emotional needs) and SR Mars (where to take action).
Example Goal:
SR Sun in the 2nd house → Focus on building financial stability and self-worth.
SR Moon in the 8th house → Explore deeper emotional connections and financial partnerships.
SR Mars in the 11th house → Take bold action in networking or community projects.
📌 Take Action
1️⃣ Journal Your Solar Return Themes – What house themes are most prominent?
2️⃣ Set 1–3 Core Goals – Align them with your SR Sun’s house placement.
3️⃣ Check in Quarterly – Adjust as transits activate different parts of your chart.
By working with your Solar Return, you can align your goals with the energy of the year ahead, making growth feel more natural and less forced.
📌 Feeling a little untethered? Read “You’re Not Lost—You’re in the Gap” to understand how transitions shape your path.