Things to know before you try and interpret Return Charts

There is a lot of different methods to astrological interpretation. So many people just accept everything they read without doing any real testing on their own to determine what really works. Unfortunately, that takes time and experience to figure out. If you don't want to do that, then you just have to rely on the knowledge of others.

I'm going to list a few important thoughts about return charts.

The biggest bull i hear all the time is that "well. if you don't like that chart just go someplace new in the world at the time of the return and it will all magically change". That sounds a bit arrogant to me. Space bodies have cycles that can't be changed with different location or wishful thinking. A return chart has to be read in the context of how it aligns with the person's birth chart. If you are trying to create an electional chart, to bring something into creation, then sure using time & location, relying on the horizon does work, just not in the context of a return for something that is already in existence. The alignments from one space body to another is what's most important in the return chart. Those aspect don't change by moving away.

House Systems 

House systems can't be trusted. Although, Whole sign tends to be most accurate in showing what area of life the energy is in. Remember, there is no house cusps in the sky, so using them is using your imagination which will vary from person to person depending on what house system is being used. There is so many different house systems, and they will totally change the interpretation of a chart, so how could you feel good about just "picking one" and trusting it to tell you what's really happening? Your accuracy will suffer if you don't have a good grip on this fact. Again, there is no house cusps in the sky.

However, If you do rely on those fake cusps, how close is the planet to the cusp, regardless of what side of the line it's on? If the planet is say at 12 deg in 9th house, yet the 10th H cusp is at 13 degrees same sign, that should be interpreted as conjunct 10th H cusp. Actually, any energy point within 10 deg on either side of a cusp should be interpreted as conj that cusp. House systems mess up peoples accuracy.

 Another thing to consider is that using only one house system for all people and all charts is foolish. Some systems might tell an accurate story about one chart, or even one planet in the chart while another system will be more accurate for a different planet in the same chart, etc. You are going to have to investigate the person deeper, fully understanding where their energy belongs in their own natal chart before even attempting to accurately determine what house is being activated in Return.

Remember, houses are only showing what energy is attached to each of the 12 areas of life. Nothing more. For this reason, i trust the Whole Sign house system more than any other to tell me what area of life a planet is in. A lot of astrologers with the most experience use Whole Sign as well, including Robert Hand. I'm not just making this stuff up.

Also, i don't even relocate progressed charts, although i use to, i find it a mistake now. Always trust the birth location, it's the most accurate. I don't even relocate the Return charts anymore. I might look at them relocated just to get an idea but i base everything on the person's birth location. This was suggested to me by Dawn Bodrogi (a very experienced astrologer ). I have found this to work very well.

 Some people have only seen their birth chart with one house system that came with it. Those folks are really missing out on deeper truths. There is no house cusps in the sky and in the beginning no astrologer ever used them. Whatever sign was Rising started the 1st house. Simple as that.

 If I want to factor in the horizon i also look at Equal Houses, relying on the degree of the Ascendant at time of birth to determine degree of each cusp. Equal houses seems to be second best to Whole Sign.

Natal chart, Progressed chart, transits.

With that said about houses, the next thing to really understand is the person's natal chart, progressed chart and transits before the SR chart. Those don't change by moving away. For example: I have transit Saturn Rising on my Ascendant this next year (30 year cycle). Saturn also showed up in the 1st house in one version of my SR. Someone asked me "do you want that?" Do i want it? umm, sure. There is no choice. No matter where i go, transit Saturn will be in my natal 1st house for a year. Even if i could change that fact, why would i want to? This only happens for a year every 30 years and marks a huge turning point and maturing phase for me on many levels. Why would i want to miss that boat? Yea, let's try and out run Saturn, sounds wise. Not really. Yes, this will be a tough year but anything that involves Saturn, you don't want to hide from, trust me. It will come back to bite you one day, most likely on Saturn Return. Face the energies in transit you are meant to experience regardless if it's tough or not. Not that you have a choice, i'm just sayin.

Placing the return chart inside the natal chart shows what aspects will be in place for that cycle, no matter where on earth you are - your natal chart always rules over everything else.

This shows the transits to the natal chart at time of solar return. Very important! 

After all those considerations above, then you can look at the return chart by itself, but don't take the houses too seriously! It's only giving you a rough idea. For example, the return chart below shows the house line up based on my birth location. This will make my SR chart 0 degrees Sagittarius Rising. And yet, if I relocate the chart to just an hour away, it would be Scorpio Rising, creating entirely different interpretation. Which one to believe?? Always trust your natal location! This will be the most accurate chart as for the areas of life being activated (houses).

Don't relocate your return chart and think you have control over what energies the universe sends you in that cycle.

Try and avoid basing your entire reading on the house information. Look at the aspects, rulers, etc. That info will have solid truths in it. Where is this person at in life based on their transits and progressions? Don't try and know what this person will get in return if you don't know who they are astrologically at birth and by progression. It's foolish and bad astrology. The aspects never lie, they can always be trusted, houses and time of birth cannot be trusted. People don't always really know their exact time of birth, but aspects usually will be correct just knowing the day. 

So by itself, a return chart won't tell you much besides how the planets are connecting to each other. Go deeper, do better work. Don't think you have control over the universe. 

Anyway, just some thoughts if you are trying to figure out how to read a return. It all depends on what type of return. Solar return can be a mini birth chart for the year, but only if you factor in everything i said above. Other returns are not read like a natal chart. Don't base anything off the Ascendant unless it's from birth location. The Ascendant is so important, but only if it's an accurate one.

Test out and experiment for yourself, over a long period of time before you decide on techniques.

I hope it was helpful.

Cheers.

Rik