| Anatomy of a Solar Return |
| astrologyfreecharts.com |
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| The Solar Return chart is erected for when the Sun reaches the exact degree and minute you were born on any age birthday. This happens to be my Solar Return for this year. It is very interesting to me because it is so "right on" that it is scary. I learned this method of doing a Solar Return over 30 years ago from Doris Hebel in Chicago. She is a fabulous teacher and always willing to share her vast knowledge. After one sets up the Solar Return chart, you move the Sun ahead in the chart throughout the year as a transit in the SR (Solar Return). As it hits certain places, events may occur within the realm of the original Sun placement and the aspects of the chart. My Sun happens to fall in the 6th house of health this year and the last aspect it made was a square to Neptune. The first aspect it makes on its journey around the chart is a sextile to Mars. We use the original Ptolemy aspects of sextile, square, trine, and opposition. We do use the conjunction, however, and the minor aspects as well as the parallels, if wanted. The black lines are where the Sun makes a conjunction/opposition to a planet and when the Sun reaches 28 degrees of any Sign (the degree of my natal Sun). Squares, semisquares, quincunxes, etc. can be added to your notes because any more black lines and the chart would be impossible to read. You can see the dates written next to the black lines when the Sun makes contact. Some lines have no dates, but they are when the Sun reaches 28 degrees at the end of a Sign. I like to note the last aspect the Sun made before the SR as well as the first aspect it makes after the SR. In this example I'll note Sun square Chiron on the 7th of May as well as square Neptune on the 14th of May. Below are notes of the significant dates of my experience: Here we are on June 26th, looking at the next aspect for tomorrow (which is Sun opposite Pluto) and wondering what will be significant about the pet/ct scan I have scheduled to see if the cancer has grown anywhere else. Do I have any feelings about it? No. June 30, 2007 Ok, I lied. I do have feelings about it. I will find out the results on Monday the 2nd of July and I try not to dwell on it, but quite a few times a day the thought pops into my head which makes me know that there is a bit of a fear lurking there in my subconscious. Being in the field of complementary health care (Reiki Master, Bach Flowers Consultant, etc.) I know how powerful the subconscious is when body, mind, or soul feels threatened. Like a child it tugs on the hem of one's consciousness asking, "Are you sure everything is going to be alright? You promise?" What bothers me a bit is that my progressed Midheaven is conjuncting my natal Ascendant and there is a transiting Yod formed between natal Sun sextile Pluto quincunxing transiting Pluto in the 12th which conjuncts the Galactic Center. Ye gods. This has turned out to be more of a diary. I kind of like it; I was never very good at diaries. At least I will have a record of the experience. But, of course, I hope someone will enjoy the experience of solar returns and make use of them along with all the other tools; progressions, transits, etc. July 17, 2007 This cancer is all it's cracked up to be; nasty, painful, and the cure seems worse than the disease. It is important to look for little blessings and joys throughout each day; something to be grateful for. I'm grateful for being able to sleep in my bed instead of a contour chair, pain pills, Bertolli's 10 minute complete meals, Canada Dry diet ginger ale, Edy's Swiss Orange sherbet and, of course, my dear family and friends who help me, e-mail me, write to me, think and pray for me, and keep me sane. On July 14th the new Moon in Cancer is exactly conjunct the 8th house of the SR chart and like a small "death" it has been. 21 degrees Cardinal squares Venus in my natal chart and Venus rules nearly everything in my chart: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 9th houses and ruler of my Sun, Moon, and decanate of my ascendant. By the way, transiting Sun made a quincunx to SR Nuptune immediately upon entering the 8th house at 22 degrees. There shows the bite of chemotherapy (Neptune) which creates a little death. This is truly a transformational time in my life. July 23, 2007 Here I am 8 days later from my last entry and feeling totally normal again! Whew. The mouth sores started to heal on the 19th and I've felt progressively better and better since then. I have started Tai Chi again, ate my first great big bowl of chili (Cincinnati style) made with Savina peppers from my yard. I've made 3 jars of fig preserves since my nurse, Jen, told me I simply can't afford to eat figs from the tree. The seeds carry bacteria that could be dangerous to someone on chemotherapy. I'm going to enjoy the next 10 days until Chemotherapy session #2 on August 1st. AHO |
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| Right on schedule with Sun conjunct Mercury opposite Jupiter. |
| close enough to Sun square Neptune through the 16th |
| SR Sun sextile Mars, coruler of my natal 3rd house. Was a wonderful visit. |
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| July 26, 2007 |
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| I may have felt normal on the 23rd, which was the Leo Ingress, but I started losing my hair that day. Today I'm wearing a cute, pink, denim fedora with breast cancer pin in back. Also, today I found a great web site www.breastcancer.org. There was more info on this site than any other I've seen. Tonight I'm going to a charity function, "bunco" doing with wine and ordoves (ok, YOU spell it, lol!) It's for our local symphany orchestra, SINFONIA conducted by our great maestro, Demetrius Fuller. Should be a fun time as well as a good cause. It will be outside so I'm wearing my fedora. |
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| July 30, 2007 Today the Sun opposed my SR part of fortune at 7 degrees of Aquarius. This is also the fixed degree of my natal Midheaven and Nadir. I have felt tired and down all day. It is the first time I have felt this way throughout this ordeal. I'm hoping it is a fast passing transit. Perhaps I could be subconsciously dreading the 2nd chemotherapy session? My projected chemotherapy dates: July 11 August 1 August 22 September 12 One thing I think very important for new chemotherapy patients to have on hand is the medicine for mouth sores. If you'e going on TC protocol, the 4th day you could be really unhappy with not being able to eat. I didn't know about this medicine until my daughter-in-law told me about it. It really made a difference when I had the prescription filled. It says on my bottle: CP LIDO DIPH MAALOX By ALB. |
| 7/31 to 8/16 |
| 8/04/07 August 1st on Wednesday I had my 2nd chemotherapy and yesterday I had 1st neupogen shot to bring up my white blood cells. Today my body aches from the hips to the knees, but no mouth sores as yet. Yea!!! The Solar Return Chart shows aspects from the transiting Sun from July 31st through August 16th in opposition to the Aquarius placements. Then, on the 22nd of August, the transiting Sun will square my natal Sun. If one is superstitious, that could be rather scary as it is the date of my 3rd chemotherapy session. But, I will look at it as a beneficial energy that will blast out any remaining cancer cells in my body. That day the transiting Sun is conjuncting the fixed star Regulus in the Sign of Leo. That is a super-powerful energy especially when squaring the fixed star, Alcyone, at 29 degrees of Taurus where my Sun is located. I expect good things. Already done. |
| 7/22 |
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| September 2, 2007 I've become rather lax with this diary. I think the chemo is winning. In a way, that is good news. I'm starting to feel more like what I thought a cancer patient should feel like; tired, achy, and depressed. I had the 3rd chemotherapy session on August 22nd. I forgot to take the steroid meds the night before and the morning of the treatment so they gave it to me in a little bag intravenously. YUM! I had so much energy that I cleaned house all day, went for a 20 minute walk, and didn't go to sleep until 3am. Haven't been the same since! A list of complaints include stomach aches, food tastes horrible, always hungry, but never satisfied, no enthusiam or motivation, crabby, impatient, and bitchy. I know that, "this, too, shall pass," but I need to be truthful here. I don't feel very good and I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!!! THERE! My next and LAST chemotherapy is September 12th. In the SR chart that includes the Virgo opposite Pisces planets. September 6, 2007 Ok, pity party is over for now. That last tantrum was written the 12th day after the 3rd chemotherapy session and, actually, the most difficult time of the treatment (according to SR) is between September 4th and 12th with the T-square to Mercury opposite Jupiter on the 8th of September. The last time that opposition was hit, I had the mastectomy. Perhaps this T-square indicates a total healing coming through the healing Sign of Virgo. I'd like to think so. I believe that healing is in the air and many good things will be coming with the Solar eclipse on the 11th of September. That eclipse hits my solar return Uranus and is the day before my last chemotherapy session. Uranus usually brings surprises and of a nature not so nice. However, I'll keep thinking positive and believing that energy is neutral and intention guides it. My intention is to be healed; body, mind, and soul. |
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| September 15, 2007 Chemotherapy is OVER! I'm still here; I'm still ok; I'm still me. I can't say, "it didn't hurt a bit," but it sure wasn't as bad as I imagined it could be. The nurses had a hard time finding a vein to stick this time...between taking blood and getting the intravenous needle in, I bet I was stuck 20 times. So, Wednesday the 12th was my last chemotherapy and it was right on time according to the Solar Return Chart. The next date to look at will be the 26th of September; give a day or two. That's when Sun opposes Mars in the SR chart. I have a consulting appointment with the oncology radiologist on September 19th and a consult with my cardiologist on October 1st. Since I would be receiving radiation on my left side, the heart and lungs could be damaged in the process. I want to find out the possible extent and what might be expected in the future. Radiation could begin in 5 weeks; about the 17th of October. The Cancer Center here in our town is the finest. The nurses and doctors are exceptional. I've never met any finer people in the medical profession anywhere. My wig off to Jen, Stephanie, Linda Fay, Tammy, Donna, Linda, and all the ladies who didn't wear their badges so I could memorize their names. I remember your faces and your kindness. I am so grateful to you and I send you many blessings. |
| 10/22 |