"What Kind of Astrology Reading Should I Get?"

As an astrologer, this is a question I hear often. Of course my initial response to this question is almost always to say, “The only thing you should do is stop using the word ‘should’.” But rather than discuss the obligatory approach to life that people who ‘should’ themselves to death are accustomed to, I’d like to attempt to answer the question at hand.

With astrology, there is a smorgasbord of possible consultations in which one could participate. There are many styles of astrology including Western, Vedic, Chinese, etc. But even within just Western astrology there are many types of consultations. The bottom line is that it really depends on the kind of information in which you are interested. But if you have previously never experienced an astrological consultation then a Natal Chart Analysis is a good starting point.

Natal Chart Analysis

A Natal Chart Analysis is a thorough and comprehensive overview of an individual’s core intentions, life challenges/growth and unique talents based on their birth time and place. This is often referred to as the ‘Birth Chart’ as well. My Natal consultations cover everything from personal inclinations to past life karma with the intention of uncovering your unconscious motivations and imparting you with wisdom so that you can regain empowerment over your own life choices. With this consultation you can walk away with a higher consciousness of your life intentions as well as a better grasp of the unconscious motivations that block you from achieving these intentions.

Learning how to gain control over your unconscious responses can be a very powerful experience toward aligning with your truth!

The information that you need for the most accurate and useful Natal Chart Analysis is typically found on your birth certificate and it includes the following:

-Birth date: (i.e. April 27, 1965)
-Birth time: (i.e. 6:38 PM)
-Birth location: (i.e. Seattle, WA)

Once you’ve experienced a Natal Chart reading and have digested the information enough to understand yourself from this new perspective, you may be ready to explore other types of consultations.

Sample Natal Chart from Astrodienst
(click to enlarge)


Astrology Forecasts

Forecasts are what most people typically think of when it comes to astrology. But if you want a forecast that is based on your own unique chart and valid only for you then you will need to dig a little deeper than the typical newspaper sun-sign forecasts with which most people are familiar.

Once you have experienced at least one Natal Chart reading to enlighten you with regards to your soul intention and unconscious blockages it becomes very valuable to assess where you are on your journey and what opportunities and challenges are on your plate and/or on your horizon. There is a plethora of forecasting methodologies available including transits, progressions, return charts, solar arcs etc. Depending on the astrologer, they will use some combination of methodologies like these in coming up with a forecast.

While some people want to hear about specific events that ‘will’ occur in their life during a forecast consultation, the reality is that astrology can only reveal the potentials and alert the client in terms of where their power lies relative to circumstances. A client open to the process learns quickly how they alone possess the power to make their own life choices. An astrology forecast simply arms the client with extra resources and alternative perspectives to help them welcome circumstances into their life as part of a continual growth process instead of trying to block out life circumstances that don’t fit into their expected mold for their lives.

I get plenty of feedback from clients regarding the accuracy of ‘predictions’ and how pleased they were to feel more equipped to handle their circumstances due to their consultations with me. These same clients will often ask me how long they should wait for another forecast consultation. Based on how I structure my consultations I usually recommend to ‘check in’ once per year. My forecast consultations typically cover a period from several years previous to the meeting through approximately 1-2 years into the future. So once per year is a pretty good measure of time in between forecasts.

In fact, the Solar Return Chart Analysis is a great ‘once per year’ chart consultation that reveals themes for the client for the measure of one entire birthday year. This is a chart derived for when the Sun returns to the same location in the zodiac it was when the client was born. This occurs once per year within a day or so of their birthday. One drawback to the Solar Return consultation is that timing is relatively non-specific with the chart. I personally feel that giving the client an accurate sense of timing for life circumstances on their horizon is more valuable to them and provides more opportunity for prognostic feedback. I will often recommend getting a Solar Return reading in conjunction with other forecasting modalities to better sync a sense of timing with the consultation.

While these once a year forecasts make great birthday and holiday gifts for New Years, sometimes there are situations that come up in between these time periods where an astrological perspective may be beneficial. Such is often the case with relationships.

Relationships

Whether it’s with a romantic partner, business partner, friend, or family member, relationships are pretty complex organisms. Based on the Natal Charts of two individuals, an astrologer can assess the dynamics between them in terms of attraction, projection and opportunities for growth. The connections between two charts, called ‘synastry’, can be very revealing in this regard.

An astrologer can also analyze the couple in terms of their collective energy using what are known as Composite Charts and/or Davidson Charts. These charts look at the relationship as a 3rd entity; separate from the individuals that form the pair. A chart like this can be thought of as a ‘user manual’ for the relationship and can offer insight into the unique dynamics that exist within this pairing.

If both individuals are open to it, this can be a very powerful tool for growth and healing. This reading is NOT for finding out if someone is your soul mate but instead is a tool to assess how to work constructively with the existing dynamics within the relationships that you choose. Deciding on with whom to spend the rest of your life is always the choice of the individual.

While a relationship analysis is traditionally applied in terms of life partners and exclusive romantic relationships, this method can also be adjusted and applied to any interaction between two people including siblings, friends, roommates, parent/child, boss/employee, etc.

The feedback that I have received for my relationship consultations has been very positive. Couples that are looking to astrology to enhance their ability to understand each other and to communicate their differences find it very beneficial. Also, individuals that come to me regarding a relationship that they are questioning often receive the validation they are looking for to help them better make a decision regarding the future of the relationship in question.

Looking for an Astrology Consultation?

This article barely scratches the surface with regards to the types of astrology readings available and in terms of how astrology can be used. But my intention here is to introduce the basic make-up of astrology consultations and the value of forecasts and other astrological assessments in one’s life.

For more information on the personal consultations that I offer please visit my website at www.myastrochris.com and go to the Personal Consultations tab.

Thank you for reading!

Solar Return: “Ambition, Obligation, Healing”

When the earth makes one revolution around the sun we call that a ‘year’. From the perspective of the earth, the sun appears to be revolving around the earth. Even though we know this is not actually true, ancient people realized that knowing where the sun appeared to be in the heavens allowed for predictability of seasons and therefore reliable crop production and sustenance.

In astrology, we also recognize the solar cycle as it relates to people and events. When you were born, the sun was somewhere on the 360° circle of the ecliptic around the earth. When the sun returns to that same spot in the heavens, this is considered the ‘Solar Return’ for that person or event. Though most ancient ‘rites of passage’ celebrations have long been abandoned, most cultures have maintained at least one of them…the Solar Return.

The Solar Return is celebrated by us still today only now we refer to it as our ‘Birthday’ celebration.

As you would expect, the sun returns to the same spot in the heavens around the birthdays of individuals and events because…well, it’s the sun cycle itself on which our only calendar is based. Ancient cultures, such as the Mayans, had many calendars for many purposes. The solar calendar was their calendar for ‘commerce’ (i.e. crops & trade) purposes. But today we have only decided to retain the commerce calendar and to reject the calendars based on other cycles…as if commerce is our only purpose! No wonder our culture finds it hard to find significance and meaning outside of our ability to work and produce. However, that is another discussion altogether.

Astrologically, the Solar Return is an annual event usually occurring within 36 hours of our actual birth date and time and it represents a new round of growth, opportunity, and challenge on our continued journey through this life. The reason that the actual time varies each year and sometimes lands a day before or a day after the actual birth date is the same reason that we have a leap year every four years. It is because our calendar is relatively inaccurate…especially when compared to some ancient calendars. In any case, a chart is cast for the moment when the sun returns to its place in the heavens that it held at the time of the birth of the entity. This chart is then interpreted on its own which reveals themes for growth and challenge throughout the coming year. The Solar Return chart is also viewed relative to the Natal chart in terms of opportunities relative to the overall life path.

Below is a brief analysis of a Solar Return chart for a female who turned 27 back in March 2009. I am looking at both her Solar Return chart and her Natal chart to assess the potentials for this year which is almost halfway over as of now. Analyzing this chart at this point in time allows us to gain some verification for the previous 5 months and a conscious reorientation for the remaining 7 months of the year.

Natal chart (click to enlarge)

Solar Return chart (click to enlarge)

General Personality Tendencies for the Year (Taurus Ascendant/Leo Moon)

As someone with a natal Pisces Sun and Libra rising, you would expect her to be flexible and accommodating for the most part. And while this is probably true generally speaking, this year she can expect to experience herself as more stubborn and self-focused rather than her typical agreeable self. The affects of this year’s tendencies are relative to her natural style so that she will experience herself as more self-oriented and less compromising than usual but this does not necessarily suggest that she will turn into a tyrant, for example. For someone with a natal predisposition toward these characteristics, a year like this could very well bring out the inner tyrant. But for someone with a natal predisposition for compromising and bending to others’ wishes, like with this example, a year like this can allow her to experience a stronger push for self-expression that she may not experience in typical years. She may stand up for herself more and claim her place in the world rather than fitting into a space that allows her in it.

Getting Out There

There is a strong theme in this Solar Return chart toward focusing her thoughts and efforts on expanding her influence in the outer world. Mercury, Mars, Neptune, Jupiter, Chiron, and the north node of the Moon are all crowded at the top of the chart in the 10^th house of career, public opinion, reputation and ambition. Also the Sun and Uranus are conjunct in the 11^th house of individuality within groups and goals for the future. Her focus seems to rest primarily on her desire to head in the right direction, meet the right people and do the things she needs to do to realize her ideal ambitions. This does not mean that she will get there during a year like this, but only that this is where she is focused and the synthesis of all of her little decisions throughout the year will show a pattern relative to these themes.

This year, she is ready to separate from the crowd and the ‘rules’ and re-define her own self against her own desires and wishes and morality instead of weighing them against those of others. With Uranus conjunct the Sun in the 11^th house, there may even be some moments of explosiveness and impulsiveness when she feels hemmed in by the same old friends’ expectations and same old rules by which she has lived the last 27 years. She may appear more ‘selfish’ in the eyes of others but really she is just finally expressing her true self, which she may have hidden until now. With Mars in the 10^th house her overly ambitious energy could also rub employers the wrong way. She will want to work on things her own way. Complicating things further, Neptune in the 10^th house may indicate that even though she feels a strong urge to be her own person and to do her own thing…she may not even know exactly where to direct that energy! This vagueness and lack of direction and purpose can lead to frustration at times this year as her will seems blocked by circumstances…maybe by her own indecision!

With Mercury in the 10^th house, her mind will certainly be focused primarily on her own status, reputation, and ambitions which will be of the idealistic variety. Frustration over not being able to find a path or direction relative to these ideals may also cause issues throughout the year. But with Jupiter in the 10^th house as well, there may be new opportunities in the career realm or for providing her ambitions with an appropriate outlet. It is unlikely that she would actually experience any real sense of advancement until the end of the Solar Return year, if at all this year. This is a year of preparation and re-orientation toward new ambitions and the accomplishment of idealistic goals.

With Saturn in the 5^th house (self-expression, creativity, romance, and children) opposing the Uranus/Sun conjunction in the 11^th house, this new self-expression may feel squashed. It may seem to her that outside forces are preventing her self-expression but really she is coming to terms with her own creative blocks. She may want to express herself but fears about her own perceived creative lacking may prevent her from doing so. She may also focus more seriously on her creative outlets and put work hard toward accomplishing a big project. Also, since the 5^th house rules our children (I am aware that she recently had her first child), it may be the overwhelming responsibilities of motherhood that seemingly prevent her from taking off in new directions and doing the things she actually wants to do with her life.

The real essence represented by this opposition in the chart is an opportunity this year to find a balance between those responsibilities and the desires of the true self. This is done by coming to terms with the perceived imbalance in her life relative to these realms. Only in learning how to actively balance this in her life can she truly express her true self without neglecting her responsibilities and vice versa.

Healing Deep Within

As a compliment to the very ambitious energy mentioned previously, there is also a strong theme of very inwardly focused energy. The 24^th degree of Taurus serves as the Ascendant this year and brings her natal 8^th house (growth, transformation, release, and sharing) into focus. In addition, the ruling planet, Venus, is in the 12^th house, the Moon is on the 4^th house cusp, Pluto is in the 8^th house, and her natal Venus in the 4^th house is brought to the Solar Return Midheaven (top of the chart). This seems like a jumbled mess but my point is that the 4^th, 8^th, and 12^th houses are all strongly represented here. These three houses are the emotional houses which generally involve transformation, healing and extra-sensory perception.

The general sense is that she is digging down deep and finding the source for her unconscious emotional reactions and tendencies. This year, she is letting go of a lot of things that no longer serve her and coming to terms with what she must accept. She is laying a new foundation for herself on an emotional level which may translate to changing arrangements in the physical home as well ( a move perhaps). She is allowing things that have been buried deep to come up for resolution and true healing.

With her natal Venus in the 4^th house being brought to the Midheaven of the Solar Return chart, she may be made aware of her strong need for her mother’s approval in her life’s decisions and direction. This year may put her in situations where she feels unsupported my her mother figure and her only way out is to learn how to accept her own choices without her mother’s approval and to heal her wounds related to these needs once and for all. For example, she may be taking action towards her future career in a way that her mother perceives as irresponsible in light of her daughter having a child to care for. But, in this example, it would be up to my client to claim her place in the world and balance it with her responsibilities on her own terms and not on anyone else’s terms.

Timing

Solar Returns are great for providing themes for the upcoming year but when it comes to timing, these charts usually fall short. However, there is one piece of the Solar Return chart that can be used for timing: the progressed Moon. I won’t get into an explanation of progressed planets but just note that the Moon moves through this chart from its starting point at a rate of approximately 1° per month. Here the Moon starts at about 2.5° Leo and will move to approximately 15° Leo by the end of her personal year.

Along the way it will make different aspects to planets in the chart. These aspects made by the progressed Moon signify important time periods for the themes involved. The effects of these aspects are relatively weak compared to transits to the Natal chart from the other planets, however.

In any case, here are some significant time periods and the themes involved (the general time period is (+/-) 1 month from the date stated):

Progressed Moon Quincux (150°) Pluto in the 8^th house (exact March 24) signifies a period of quick release and letting go. Possibly a heated discussion ending/straining a friendship or other relationship.

Progressed Moon crosses 4^th house cusp (exact April 20) signifies a change from a mental focus to an emotional focus…can also indicate a physical move.

Progressed Moon conjunct the south node in the 4^th house (exact August 16) signifies an awareness of an imbalance between work and home life with an urge to correct it.

Progressed Moon Opposite (180°) Jupiter in the 10^th house (exact December 30) signifies a time of opportunity for the career or reputation that may need to be balanced by tending to responsibilities at home. It could be an opportunity that would take her away from home for longer periods, for example.

Progressed Moon Trine (120°) Venus in the 12^th house (exact January 31) signifies a time of healing and pleasant interactions. Also, there is the potential for a brief sense of financial well-being.

Summary & Natal Implications

This is a year for her to re-orient her life direction. In order to do this, she must first lay down a new foundation by releasing what is no longer needed and becoming her own source of approval. From there, she can take off in the new directions that she has conjured up and begun to aim toward this year. With this she can better understand how to express her true self within a group and find a way to balance her ambition and goals with her responsibilities.

In her Natal chart she has the north node conjunct the 10^th house cusp in Cancer. This suggests that there is some perceived guilt related to neglecting family obligations in her past life experiences. In this life she is challenged to find a balance between ambition and family and this year in particular brings up just this theme to be worked out. Because of her sense of guilt, she has likely found herself leaning toward family obligations rather than her own ambitions to this point in her life. This year challenges her to take the first real step toward achieving that balance.

This year is a foundational year that will pave the path for future ambitions. Transiting Saturn enters her natal 12^th house in early September 2009 and stays there until early October 2011. This echoes the themes of digging deep and letting go shown in this year’s chart. Whatever ambitions are conjured up this year they are likely to remain in ‘the oven’ for the next couple of years until Saturn crosses her Ascendant in October 2011. At the tail end of that time period, Saturn will return to its natal position. This is known as the Saturn Return and it is the same concept as the Solar Return with the exception that one Saturn cycle is equal to almost 30 earth years. The first Saturn Return is a time a deep maturity and considered the threshold to true adulthood.

If she lays a solid emotional foundation for herself this year and at least mentally creates a framework for her future ambitions, the next couple of years will be a time for ‘cooking’ these ingredients together. Then in 2012 when her Saturn Return is complete and Saturn conjuncts her natal Pluto in her 1^st house, she will be moving forward according to her own authority and power. Patience, preparation, and purging is the name of the game until then.

And so it is…

Readers, this was just a taste of what type of information a Solar Return reading can offer you. If you’re interested in a complete analysis for your next birthday or your current one, please contact me at www.myastrochris.com!