Solar Return Aspects #

Aspects in your Solar Return chart reveal the internal dialogues and dynamics operating throughout your year. While house placements show WHERE energy flows, aspects show HOW different parts of your psyche interact.

The aspects between planets in your Solar Return describe opportunities for integration, areas of friction requiring growth work, and the overall psychological flavor of the year.

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Understanding Solar Return Aspects #

The Major Aspects #

How Aspects Work in Solar Returns #

Unlike natal aspects (which describe lifelong patterns), Solar Return aspects describe THIS YEAR’s dynamics. A challenging natal aspect might be softened by supportive Solar Return aspects—or intensified by difficult ones.

Pay special attention to:

• Aspects to the Sun: Define the year’s core themes
• Aspects to the Moon: Color the emotional experience
• Aspects to the Ascendant/Midheaven: Impact personal and professional life strongly
• Tight orbs (within 3°): Most powerful
• Aspects repeating natal aspects: Trigger lifelong themes

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Sun Aspects #

The Sun in the Solar Return is always at its natal degree, so its aspects to other Solar Return planets reveal how this year’s core themes interact with various life dimensions.

Sun-Moon Aspects #

Conjunction: Powerful year of unified purpose and emotion. What you want and what you feel align. New Moon energy—good for new beginnings.

Sextile/Trine: Harmonious year where identity and emotions support each other. Relatively smooth flow between will and feeling.

Square: Dynamic tension between what you’re trying to become and what you feel you need. Growth through integrating conscious and unconscious.

Opposition: Full Moon energy—illumination and awareness, but potential tension between self and others, or head and heart.

Sun-Mercury Aspects #

Conjunction: Year of mental focus on identity and purpose. Communication about self matters. Ideas and identity merge.

Sextile/Trine: Mind supports purpose. Communication serves goals. Thinking clearly about direction.

Square: Tension between what you want and how you think. Mental agitation may require integration.

Sun-Venus Aspects #

Conjunction: Year where identity involves love, beauty, and pleasure. Attractive year. Values central to purpose.

Sextile/Trine: Harmonious self-expression in relationships. Appreciation flows. Pleasant year for love and creativity.

Square: Tension between what you want and what you value or love. Potential relationship friction serving growth.

Sun-Mars Aspects #

Conjunction: High-energy year. Identity involves action and assertion. Courage available. Potential for conflict if not channeled.

Sextile/Trine: Energy supports goals. Action serves purpose. Productive, active year.

Square: Tension between will and drive. Frustration motivates change. Anger needs conscious handling.

Opposition: Projection of drive onto others. Potential conflicts with assertive people. Integration requires owning your own Mars.

Sun-Jupiter Aspects #

Conjunction: Expansive year of growth and opportunity. Optimism high. Potential for overconfidence or overextension.

Sextile/Trine: Growth supports purpose. Faith flows naturally. Opportunities available through effort.

Square: Tension between identity and expansion. Restlessness. Growth available through addressing the friction.

Opposition: Growth through relationship or external opportunity. Expansion may come through others.

Sun-Saturn Aspects #

Conjunction: Serious year of responsibility and maturation. Hard work required. Lasting structures can be built.

Sextile/Trine: Discipline supports purpose. Achievement through steady effort. Maturity serves goals.

Square: Tension between purpose and responsibility. Frustration with limitations. Growth through perseverance.

Opposition: Authority figures or circumstances test you. Responsibility may feel imposed. Integration requires owned discipline.

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Moon Aspects #

The Moon’s aspects in your Solar Return reveal the emotional dynamics operating throughout the year.

Moon-Mercury Aspects #

Conjunction: Thinking and feeling merge. Processing emotions verbally. Mental approach to emotional life.

Sextile/Trine: Mind and emotions cooperate. Can communicate about feelings. Emotional intelligence flows.

Square: Tension between thought and feeling. Difficulty integrating head and heart.

Opposition: Awareness of split between thinking and feeling. Integration through conscious attention.

Moon-Venus Aspects #

Conjunction: Year of emotional pleasure and loving feelings. Harmony sought. Comfort and beauty matter.

Sextile/Trine: Love and emotion flow together. Relationships nurture. Pleasant emotional year.

Square: Tension between what you feel and what you love. Emotional-romantic work required.

Moon-Mars Aspects #

Conjunction: Emotional intensity and reactivity. Passionate feelings. Anger close to surface.

Sextile/Trine: Emotions fuel action productively. Can express feelings through doing.

Square: Tension between feelings and drive. Emotional frustration. Anger requires healthy expression.

Opposition: Emotional dynamics with others intensified. Relationship conflict potential.

Moon-Jupiter Aspects #

Conjunction: Emotional expansiveness and optimism. Generous feelings. Potential for emotional excess.

Sextile/Trine: Faith supports emotions. Optimistic feeling. Emotional growth flows.

Square: Tension between emotional needs and growth. Restless feelings.

Moon-Saturn Aspects #

Conjunction: Emotional seriousness and responsibility. Potential for emotional heaviness but also maturity.

Sextile/Trine: Emotional discipline supports rather than restricts. Mature feelings.

Square: Tension between emotional needs and responsibilities. Potential for emotional difficulty requiring growth work.

Opposition: Emotional limitations may feel external. Authority figures or circumstances challenge emotional security.

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Outer Planet Aspects #

Aspects involving Jupiter and Saturn to each other or to personal planets carry particular weight in Solar Returns.

Jupiter-Saturn Aspects #

Conjunction: Year of realistic expansion. Growth with structure. Building with vision.

Sextile/Trine: Expansion and discipline cooperate. Productive growth. Faith grounded in effort.

Square: Tension between growth and limitation. Friction between optimism and realism. Breakthrough through persistence.

Opposition: Balance between expansion and contraction. Year of finding equilibrium.

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Aspects to Angles #

Aspects to Solar Return Ascendant #

Planets aspecting the Ascendant significantly color your personal experience and how others perceive you:

• Conjunction: Planet’s energy is immediately visible and personal
• Square: Tension involving personal expression
• Opposition (to Descendant): Impact on relationships and partnerships
• Trine/Sextile: Supportive influence on personal expression

Aspects to Solar Return Midheaven #

Planets aspecting the MC significantly affect career and public life:

• Conjunction: Planet’s energy central to career and public role
• Square: Professional tension and growth
• Opposition (to IC): Tension between career and home
• Trine/Sextile: Supportive influence on professional life

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Working with Challenging Aspects #

Squares and oppositions in your Solar Return aren’t problems—they’re growth opportunities. They indicate where this year asks you to develop:

1. Identify the tension: What two energies are in friction?
2. Look for integration: How might both be honored?
3. Expect timing: The aspect may manifest at different points during the year
4. Use the energy: Tension creates motivation for change

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Working with Flowing Aspects #

Trines and sextiles show where gifts flow naturally, but they require conscious use:

1. Don’t take for granted: Easy energy can be wasted
2. Develop deliberately: Natural gifts grow when cultivated
3. Share the flow: What comes easily can benefit others
4. Balance with challenge: Seek growth in other areas

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