Five or More Fixed Planets

        When there are five or more fixed planets in the solar return chart, this is an indication that change or the lack of change is a major issue during the year. Changes are frequently viewed as all or nothing routines which can intimidate individuals into fostering approach-avoidance issues. One train of thought will emphasize stability and conservative action, while another stresses the fear of being rut-bound. Situations often appear to be either/or combinations with no options in between. Security becomes equated with familiarity even when what is familiar is difficult. A lack of stability is associated with making dramatic changes. In this sense, there is a tendency to accept things as they are and not look for alternatives. Fear of making decisions that would greatly alter your life could keep you immobilized and stuck in stalemated conditions. If you are faced with impending major changes, but refuse to act on pressures and issues that are plaguing you, changes may be forced on you by external circumstances and these changes may be very dramatic.

        Commonly, a fixed preponderance indicates you are stuck in the same old situation again, particularly if you are involved in what seems to be a never-ending conflict or a deja vu relationship. The inability to look for alternative solutions to problems manifests as the inability to find new patterns of behavior. Stubbornness and a refusal to compromise are negative personality traits which can be particularly obstructive this year, especially if you refuse to see your own contribution to difficult situations. How easy it becomes to blame others! If only they would give in, give up or make changes for us, clearing the way for our own wants, needs, and ways of doing things. This is an unrealistic expectation. Positively, this is a time to draw on the creative insights associated with the fixed signs, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius, to develop new alternatives which optimize corrective action and change while minimizing instability. There are alternatives to either/or, uncompromising situations for those who are willing to be creative.

        If your life is already stabilized, then this is a time for building and maintaining resources. Further acquisitions can be had through creative use of what is already owned or known. It is an excellent time for finishing major projects that require plodding and sustained effort. But if major changes are occurring, this is also a good time to maintain a sense of stability and peace in the midst of disruption.

Zero or One Fire Planet

        A lack of fire can signal the need to work with your present possibilities and immediate issues. You may not have time for long-range plans because everyday needs must be met. For example, if you have just entered the armed services, you will be involved with training for most of the year. Where your skills will take you once you are discharged will not be a concern. Now is the time to deal realistically with mundane issues needing your attention. Focus on the here and now rather than tomorrow. It is difficult to be inspired and creative with your life when your basic needs are so important. This is a good time to handle those basics and form a firm foundation.

        You may not feel inspired. For some individuals, this is a year of disillusionment, lost enthusiasm, and depletion of energy. If your philosophy is not consistent with your experience or is impractical, you must give up false hopes. If you have strong philosophical beliefs, test them in real life situations to see their practical application. If you have plans for the future, stop dreaming, and start working. Get out of your head and into action. If you have no dream for the future, use this time to get your feet on the ground, and things in order. Your last dream may have been unrealistic, and now you are in a time meant for gaining experience and knowledge. Working with what is feasible will give you the sense of stability needed before you choose a new direction for the future.

Five or More Air Planets

        Years with five or more air planets are generally marked by an emphasis on rational thought and a lack of emotional expression. But there is the real danger that emotions are suppressed, and this possibility might be indicated by other aspects and placements in the solar return chart. On the other hand, perhaps emotions are just not a major concern. This is a good time for organizing and planning future events. Information can be acquired through greater objectivity. You will not take life too seriously, and can learn from everything that goes on around you.

        Having a large number of air planets in your solar return chart generally says more about your mental state than your mental ability. The emphasis is on rational analysis rather than genius traits. Sometimes the emphasis on air is associated with learning and attending school, but this is not the usual pattern. There is not an overwhelming love of learning or a thirst for new knowledge as one might suspect; in fact, these characteristics are more closely related to the lack of air. An emphasis on air indicates learning tends to be tedious, repetitive, or very concentrated. If you are in school, you may be studying only what you have to in order to graduate, or working on original and exacting research.

THE SUN IN THE SOLAR RETURN CHART

        The Sun is the most significant planet in the solar return chart. Its position by house shows the most emphasized area of life during the coming year, how and where you expend the greatest amount of energy. The house placement of the Sun is reflected in the interpretation of the other planets, and may be the motivating force behind their symbolism.

Sun in 2nd house:

        In general, the Sun in the 2nd house is not a sign of monetary gain; in fact, it is more likely that you will feel underpaid. This is the year to reassess your worth as an employee or business owner and decide how much you should be earning. You may find that your work is not fully appreciated and it is really worth more than you are presently being paid. This is a time to map out a plan to earn more money; however, your salary will probably not increase much this year. Usually, individuals with 2nd house Suns do not get a pay raise until the following year when their Suns move into the 11th house, the 2nd (money house) of the 10th (career).

        If you are running a business or a household, learn to budget your money or work with an accounting program. You need to pay attention to the way money is handled and spent; it may be slipping away wastefully. Financial practices that you incorporate this year can lead to money saved for future major purchases and projects. Lack of fiscal responsibility can lead to financial problems and limitations.

        Reassessing your sense of self-worth will also involve analyzing how you are being treated by others. You may find that you do not command enough respect. If you have very little self-esteem you may be involved in physically or verbally abusive relationships, but it is more common to have established a pattern of devaluing your own needs and abilities in comparison to the needs and abilities of others. If others come first in your life and you always come last, it is time to make adjustments. Although you have probably helped to establish this negative pattern, others have helped to reinforce it and now everyone needs to change consciously. Now is the time to stand up for yourself. Expect equal consideration; if you must, demand it.

        Learning to value yourself is just one side of this issue. All values need to be prioritized. What you once thought was desirable is now no longer attractive. You may grow more materialistic; or conversely, you may stress inner qualities rather than money. But in either case you will need to make decisions and set priorities during the year. A moral or ethical conflict is common. Usually there is a shift toward more traditional codes of behavior.

        Some individuals make a definitive moral or ethical statement. They feel compromised by their jobs, situations or relationships, and feel compelled to stand up for what they believe in, ignoring the physical, emotional or financial consequences their stand will bring. This is the placement of the whistle-blower.

        The 2nd house is also concerned with overindulgence, such as overeating, smoking, drinking, impulse spending and promiscuity. You are more apt to be aware of excessive behavior during the year, and consequently seek to control it.

Sun Aspects Pluto

        The nature of a planet aspecting the Sun in the solar return chart and the aspect between them color the interpretation of both planets. Pluto aspects to the Sun (which usually last for a number of consecutive years) indicate an increased awareness of power. Awareness can come through conflicts and struggle with yourself or others, but it is the awareness that is most significant. How people get, maintain and use power for personal goals or for the control of others is more important than the struggle itself. It is the awareness which gives you a greater ability to control your own life. Power usage in confrontations and everyday situations will become more obvious, but even subtle shifts in power will be evident to you as you learn to recognize psychological motivations and manipulations. For some individuals this is a time to study psychology; however, many will notice examples of obsessive, compulsive, phobic, or manipulative behaviors in themselves or others regardless of their educational background. Unconscious needs are intensified and life becomes more complicated. Ambition and self-control are the more positive manifestations. Learning to deal with life on a deeper level is the hallmark of the Plutonian consciousness.

Sun Aspects Mars

        Mars symbolizes the energy necessary for successful accomplishments. When Mars aspects the Sun, it is a good time to work on a project that requires a great deal of energy to complete. Success can come in the form of personal or professional achievement, or with defense. Relationships tend to be competitive, and you need to balance self-centered drives with the needs of others. Learning to deal with aggression, conflict, and anger in an effective rather than detrimental way can enable the individual to handle negative situations positively. Less spiritual themes involve destructive or self-destructive urges. Prolonged anger creates blockages which waste energy in a cycle of negative emotions that have no real purpose or goal. It is better to direct efforts into positive endeavors.

Sun Aspects Mercury

        Just as in the natal chart, the solar return Sun is never more than 28 degrees from Mercury so does not form any major aspects other than the conjunction. Mercury conjunct the Sun indicates that the intellectual mind is actively involved in the goals of the Sun. Reading, writing, learning, and communication in all forms will be important to the pursuit.

THE MOON IN THE SOLAR RETURN CHART

        The solar return Moon seems to have two consistent themes throughout all of the houses. First and most simply, the Moon is associated with change and fluctuation according to its house position. Secondly, and probably more importantly, the Moon reflects the individual's emotional nature during the solar return year.

The Moon as an Emotional Indicator

        While we speak of the Moon as simply an indication of one's emotional nature, the actual interpretation of the Moon is more complex than simple. The Moon is not just an indicator of feelings; one's emotional nature is a multidimensional conglomeration of feelings, temperament, needs, and unconscious responses. We cannot look at the Moon as one-sided; we must study its interpretation from a number of perspectives.

        The Moon represents the individual's feelings regardless of whether or not they are expressed openly. The type of feelings you have during the year can be demonstrated by the Moon's sign, position, and aspects. The Moon's sign can be important even though the Moon has essentially only nineteen placements, because it is indicative of what the individual feels during the year and how he or she is most likely to exhibit those feelings.

        The major difference between an individual's feelings and basic temperament is that feelings tend to make up one's basic temperament. The word temperament implies one's overall pattern of emotional response; it is an emotional factor that remains constant regardless of the circumstances. On the other hand, feelings imply a specific emotion in response to a particular event or situation. For example, moody people have emotional swings. Their feelings change depending whether or not they are experiencing happy or sad events; however, their proclivity toward emotional highs and lows remains constant regardless of their particular mood at any point in time. Despite feelings of joy or depression, they still have a moody disposition. The solar return Moon's sign is generally very descriptive of your emotional temperament. It can suggest an array of emotional characteristics including moodiness, sensitivity, coldness, or enthusiasm.

        Emotional needs play a crucial role in the Moon's cycle of change and emotional maturation. As explained above, the Moon moves in an understandable pattern through the solar return. During each year, the individual knows certain emotional needs must be met in order to feel secure and fulfilled. These needs, which fluctuate from year to year, cause the individual to create the variety of situations necessary for emotional maturity.

Conscious or Unconscious Emphasis

        The Moon also signifies the unconscious experience. While Mercury's placement will suggest what the person is consciously thinking, the Moon's placement will suggest what the individual is experiencing on an unconscious level. Together, the Moon and Mercury (and sometimes also the Sun) symbolize the balance between conscious and the unconscious processes. We like to think that our decisions are based on the integration of rational and emotional information, but during any given solar return year, one process more than the other can influence our decisions, perceptions, and motivations. The focus of attention shifts to accommodate fluctuations in individual patterns of growth. There will be years when you lean more heavily on your emotional responses, tending to trust your instincts and follow your intuition. But there will be other years when you depend more on a logical assessment of your situation.

        The emphasis on the unconscious usually indicates a year in which the native will be interested in fostering emotional connections and unconscious insights. Logic and factual information may not be meaningful within the context of present situations, which will tend to be emotional. Example situations include (but are not limited to): involvement in counseling, therapy or self-help discussion groups; intense family situations (related to birth, child-rearing, sickness or death); and very nurturing social situations (e.g., communal living, helping the disabled, underprivileged or homeless). Emotional interactions and perceptions will naturally be more important if they are more likely to provide vital information needed to handle experiences during the coming year. An emphasis on the unconscious nature is conducive to emotional growth.

        All forms of mental activity are associated with an emphasis on the conscious mind, including educational and informational activities. Teaching, learning, lecturing, and writing are several examples. An emphasis on the conscious mind is conducive to intellectual growth.

Moon in 5th house (within 3 degree orb of 6th house)

        The start of a new romantic relationship is the most common event associated with the Moon in this house. This new relationship can be viewed as a "first" in one way or another. If you are very young, it may be your very first relationship or first meaningful relationship. If you are a little older, it can indicate the year you begin having sex, especially if you are emotionally involved with one particular person. It might be the first time you live with someone or begin dating the person you are going to marry. If you are older and more established in these areas, it may be the first time in a long time that you are emotionally involved with a new person. Regardless of your marital situation, this can be a year when you feel an emotional connection to a new person, and usually this connection is very compelling.

        Unlike the Sun in the 5th house, the Moon is not necessarily associated with sexual attraction. The Sun seems to be more suggestive of a sexual affair. In fact, with the Sun in the 5th, the relationship may simply be a sexual fling with limited emotional contact. But the Moon is more closely associated with emotional needs in a relationship, and therefore the contact may or may not be sexual, though many times sexual involvement occurs. It is the desire for emotional sharing and expression that seems to be the main focus and motivation for the relationship. Then, as the relationship deepens and intimacy increases, sexual involvement develops. The need for emotional expression is probably the key to understanding the interpretation of the Moon in this house and romance is a wonderful means for expression. Though the give and take of a relationship is just one way to handle feelings, it is a way many people seem to choose.

        If you are involved in a relationship such as this, your feelings will be very intense. You are more apt to express yourself emotionally, and consequently it will be more difficult to hide what you are feeling. This may not be a good time to keep a clandestine relationship secret. You will be subject to emotional swings. At times you will be elated, while at other times you might feel depressed. Your feelings may depend on how well the relationship is going and whether or not you can see each other. An element of "need" is many times associated with these relationships and dependency is a problem. The individual you are involved with could need your help in one way or another. The situation need not be crucial, but you will have the opportunity to express nurturing and protective feelings. If you respond in a mothering or overprotective way, the relationship may involve dependency issues. On the other hand, you may be the one who becomes dependent.

        Your feelings are not necessarily stronger and deeper this year, but you are more apt to express them in an obvious way. This may include openly stating what you need or want. Being direct is probably the best way to express your feelings, but it is also common to seek secondary or alternative ways. Finding satisfying means for emotional self-expression is one of the tasks associated with this placement and may contribute to the romantic nature of the year. You may choose an artistic or dramatic means for emotional expression. You could, however, choose creative endeavors such as painting, writing, or acting. Or you might want to participate in intense situations which exemplify the drama of human life, such as being an emergency room nurse, or soup kitchen volunteer.

        Your strong need for emotional expression can lead you to intense personal situations. You may have a baby instead of a love affair. If you are aware of your emotional needs, you can consciously choose an outlet for this energy. There is no limit to the manifestations you can pick so long as the situation allows for emotional involvement and expression. If you are frustrated by your present circumstances and the people around you are unable to satisfy your emotional need for expression, look elsewhere. You need situations which allow for some external display of emotions. For a few, this may involve living life on the edge of an emotional crisis.

        One final avenue for emotional expression can be intense involvement with children. You may be especially concerned with their emotional well-being or creative abilities. If you have children of your own, this can be a good time to reach out to them. Focus on understanding their needs. Your children may be more emotional this year, especially if your relationship with them is changing or changes are occurring in the home environment. They may require extra love and attention if this is the case. The difficulty with the Moon in the 5th is that a parent might view his or her children as an extension of his or her own personality. As a parent you can have certain needs that you assume only your children can fill, and this places unnecessary pressure on them.

Moon within 3 degree orb of 6th house

        The essence of the Moon's nature is change and fluctuation. Its presence in the 6th house of the solar return can denote changes in working conditions and/or health and dietary habits.

        Job changes are usually minor. The Moon is more closely associated with adjustments rather than major upsets. Some appropriate examples of these minor changes might be: you change departments or offices within your company without changing your job per se; you drop your full-time hours to become a part-time employee; if you are self-employed, you may hire an assistant to help you keep up with the demands of your growing business; or if new policies and procedures are instituted at your office, your daily job routine changes. The adjustments that occur may or may not be within your control and may or may not be beneficial.

        With the Moon in the 6th, you are more likely to make decisions that either directly or indirectly cause job changes. You can consciously decide to make the changes yourself, or make changes in other areas of your life which eventually cause repercussions in your job. As an example of this, you could decide to move out of the city. Since you will now live farther away from your office, you convert a room in your house to a home office and do more work at home. It is possible that changes occurring in your job are truly out of your control. Your company may merge with another, reorganizing the offices and moving you to another department. All changes tend to be minor, even those that are beyond your control. Except in rare instances, it is unlikely that you would quit your job or get fired during this year; however, job security may be an issue. Even if the Moon is heavily aspected in the 6th house, it is more common to experience daily routine changes that are complicated and stressful rather than major career transitions.

        There is a tendency to become more emotionally involved with co-workers when the Moon is in the 6th house, and if you are in a helping profession and/or have daily contact with the public, you may become more involved with those you help. This interaction includes a greater sensitivity to the needs of others while on the job. Because of your dealings with the public and co-workers, you are more apt to develop a reputation. This reputation is dependent on the quality of your work and therefore may be either good or bad.

        The Moon in the 6th also implies health changes. These changes are generally minor and can be caused by physical changes in the body or adjustments in health habits or diet. Body changes are usually the result of natural biological cycles and processes. Included here are those changes resulting from puberty, pregnancy, breast feeding, aging, physical fitness, and hormonal balance or imbalance. Weight gain or loss is also possible. It is likely that you will be more mindful of what you eat even if you are not eating well. The body is more sensitive to the way food and exercise (or the lack thereof) affects you. This is not a good time to go on a strict health regimen. It is a much better time to learn health from the inside out. Be aware of what foods and activities make you feel better and which ones actually hurt your health or drain your energy. Develop a health consciousness. This year conscious changes in health habits are more likely to be made because of greater awareness of how unconscious habits affect health. Make your changes gradually and incorporate them into your new lifestyle permanently.

        Any illnesses you might have during the year can relate to emotional habits you refuse to change. It is very easy for psychological problems to manifest as physical illnesses. A healthy diet is not enough. You must also have a healthy emotional life, which includes fulfilling emotional involvements and psychologically healthy environments. Relationships and work habits can affect your health, especially if you experience a lot of stress, frustration, or anger in these areas. Look at your most intimate relationships. Are these relationships assets or liabilities, fulfilling or draining? Even if you find these relationships debilitating, you have recourse. Counseling can help you improve your situation or meditation can help you cope with the stress. It is also important to evaluate your working conditions and the effect they might have on your health. You should be able to make changes here also. If you are aware of your health needs and take corrective action, you do not have to be sick. The more you ignore the situation, the more difficult it may become. See a psychological counselor or holistic health practitioner if you should feel the need. It is a good time to acquire good emotional habits.

Moon Aspects Neptune

        Moon in aspect to Neptune can show increased sensitivity to life's subtleties. While Pluto-Moon contacts show a greater insight into psychological influences, manipulative games, and a need for self-control, Neptune-Moon contacts indicate a greater sensitivity to feelings and needs that are not expressed openly yet bind us all. There are both positive and negative manifestations suggested by Neptune aspects to the Moon.

        Negatively, you can be misinformed or even lied to, especially if someone is actively trying to deceive you. However, it is more likely that you will deceive yourself when there is someone important in your life whom you do not truly want to understand. This other person may be a family member or someone you are emotionally involved with. Neptune's house position will give you a clue. If someone's actions mystify you, making you feel the relationship is insecure, it's very likely that you do not have a realistic perception of this person, and possibly do not want to know the truth. The definitive truth might be more threatening than the mystery, so you allow the situation to remain clouded and do not challenge misconceptions. Since much is left unsaid and assumed, you try to fill in the gaps with your expectations rather than realistic assessments. Disillusionment is always built on dreams rather than the truth. You may not see things as they really are, but only as you hope they would be. This continuing lack of accurate information leads to further confusion and fantasy, and is compounded by emotional estrangement. You, yourself, may not be in touch with what you really feel. Anxiety and excessive worry can be signals that your perceptions are not an accurate reflection of reality. It is perhaps fair to say that intuitive insights were never meant to augment expectations. This may represent a misuse of this newfound sensitivity.

        Moon-Neptune aspects are meant to symbolize intuitive insights, spiritual ideals, and one's greater sensitivity to the commonalities we share. We all suffer from human frailty; Neptune symbolizes our ability to identify with others, and see their failings as well as our own. True understanding supersedes any judgmental attitudes and paves the way for a meaningful exchange. Idealism and putting others on a pedestal diminish realistic achievements which might have been accomplished in spite of human weakness. Idealism and unrealistic expectations are defenses used to avoid facing frailties and humanness we do not wish to see.

        Positively, Moon-Neptune aspects imply connections; connections to each other and to the Universe as a whole. We can foster and improve these connections by understanding, accepting, and helping each other to progress as a whole toward a better existence. This is a good time to accept people as they really are, weaknesses and all. You will probably be involved in situations which give you the opportunity to increase your understanding or insight into others. As long as you do not make demands or have unrealistic expectations, you should be able to retain honest emotional contacts with those around you.

        You may actually care for someone who is ill or disabled, or you could simply care for another person more than you care for yourself and your own welfare. Moon-Neptune aspects are a sign of self-sacrifice. It is common to see this aspect in the charts of new mothers. The demands of caring for an infant involve a certain amount of self-sacrifice. If you work full-time to put your spouse through school, you might also have this aspect.

        Self-sacrifice does not necessarily mean martyrdom. Moon-Neptune aspects in the solar return indicate that you are able to help others because you truly understand their situation. You are also able to handle emotional uncertainty. You accept relationships which are not clearly defined, and you are able to give without a guarantee of return. Going with the flow means accepting insecurity as a natural by-product of your situation. With Moon-Neptune aspects in your solar return chart, you need to be able to function during times of uncertainty and handle the insecurities that go with them. You need to develop trust.

Moon Aspects Jupiter

        Moon in aspect to Jupiter suggests that your ability to express your feelings within a significant relationship is important to your own emotional growth during the year, and also to the growth of the relationship. Jupiter symbolizes your ability to expand and the Moon symbolizes your feeling nature. Together in aspect, they emphasize the process of sharing emotions, having those emotions understood, and growing from the interchange. For example, if you are involved in counseling, this exchange is crucial to the therapeutic process. If you are involved in a serious relationship, sharing your feelings is very important for the development of greater intimacy. Problems expressing your feelings or reaching a level of understanding will cause emotional stagnation and eventually strain your relationships.

        Some real or imagined barrier to expressing feelings can exist with this aspect, and it is important that you break through this barrier and be understood if emotional growth is to occur. Sometimes the barrier is really no problem at all, but a wonderful opportunity for openness. Expansion through emotional interchange and relatedness is the key. It can come about by overcoming barriers or creating rewarding opportunities.

        Moon-Jupiter aspects sometimes imply overwhelming emotions. You do best with objective feedback from others. Your perception may be distorted if you keep your feelings isolated. It is just as important for you to convey cheerful emotions as serious feelings, especially if you are in a situation where enthusiasm could motivate others. For instance, if you are working on a humanitarian project and you need volunteers, your ability to inspire others with your enthusiasm will help your cause.

Moon Aspects Venus

        The Moon in aspect to Venus suggests that emotional security and domestic issues are tied to financial considerations. Your monetary situation can be affected either positively or negatively. If you are planning on pursuing an emotionally fulfilling goal, you will have to consider your financial situation before making any changes. Whether or not your goal is feasible at this time depends on how much money you have set aside. You might have to compromise your present income and take a pay cut to enter a more rewarding field. Ultimately, your salary will increase if you are successful in your new endeavors. Financial stability is also affected by domestic conditions. Moving, pregnancy, and birth are common events that affect the amount of money earned and spent. Occasionally this aspect can show a time when you are financially dependent on others for support for one of the reasons mentioned above.

MERCURY IN THE SOLAR RETURN CHART

        Mercury has two basic interpretations in the solar return chart: it symbolizes both your mental condition during the coming year and what you are thinking about. The first task involved in understanding Mercury's interpretation is to evaluate the indicators for mental conditioning and the possible sources of tension.

Solar Return Mercury in 2nd house:

        Mercury in the 2nd house is associated with financial planning and monetary decisions. Planning usually involves immediate financial needs rather than long-range retirement plans, which tend to be more closely related to placements in the 4th house of the solar return chart. More specific to Mercury in the 2nd house are conscious decisions about expenditures and income, and discussions about establishing a household budget. You need to discover how your money is being spent and may keep detailed lists of expenditures. If you have been an impulsive buyer in the past, you may decide that now is the time to carefully assess the necessity of each future purchase.

        You may also want to make decisions about the amount of money you are earning. It may be necessary for you to get a job if you are not already employed, or earn more through overtime or part-time work. For those who are already working, this is a time to reassess the amount of money you are earning in relation to the quality of work you put out. The 2nd house rules one's sense of self-worth. Mercury in the 2nd can indicate that you decide that you deserve more money (rarely less), not because you need more or less to live on, but because your salary should be commensurate with your value as a worker. You are apt to be very vocal about renegotiating your salary. This is a good time to get your facts straight and graphically illustrate your increased productivity. Keep a log of money-saving ideas you have generated for your company and the amount of money you were able to save. Be certain of your facts and don't overestimate your productivity or worth. If you are self-employed, run a cost analysis of your office expenses and raise prices accordingly.

        Self-worth issues are also common for those who are not employed or who only do volunteer work. You may feel that the services you offer to others are taken for granted. You need to hear how much you are appreciated. If you reassess what you do for others in regard to how well you are treated by these same people, you may decide that you should expect better treatment. Encourage others to appreciate what you do for them. Also learn to appreciate yourself. If time spent helping others drains away time you should spend on your own needs, it is essential that you prioritize tasks so that all the essential ones are completed first. Do not shortchange yourself. Your needs may be as important as the needs of others. This is a good time to make changes because you deserve more consideration and better treatment. Decide to limit your contact with people who do not respect your needs, to avoid situations that are not good for you.

Mercury Aspects Pluto

        Pluto aspecting Mercury in the solar return chart may indicate that your conscious mind is very aware of unconscious material and psychological complexes. This awareness may originate from naturally occurring insights into human behavior or educational pursuits. You are better able to perceive what is unspoken or hidden. Motivations will be clearer to you even when they are not stated. Manipulations and psychological games will also be more obvious. Most likely this awareness will not be one-sided. You will be as aware of your own unconscious nature as you are of psychological complexes in others.  Resurfacing unconscious material can spill over into everyday consciousness and distorting perceptions and thinking patterns.

        If you are involved in repetitious verbal battles over ideology, prejudice, or intolerance, realize that these confrontations are related to your own psychological tendencies. They are not the sole product of other minds. Being very aware of these psychological forces can be stressful, especially if you know more than you are capable of handling. This is an excellent time for counseling, should you feel the need. The implication here is that knowledge is power, and specifically in this case, it is knowledge about the unconscious mind which conveys power to those who are aware of it and able to gain insights from it. This information is as valuable as intellectual facts gained from school. The more you understand about the unconscious, the more you are able to control your own impulses or resist the manipulative behavior of others. Although initially this increased psychological awareness may be stressful in itself, the understanding and control you achieve in the end can actually lead to stress reduction.

Mercury Aspects Neptune

        Neptune in aspect to Mercury in the solar return chart suggests working with the less clearly defined psychological drives such as compassion, creativity, and spirituality. Your sensitivity to subtle emotional connections among all people increases your concern for certain individuals in particular and humanity as a whole. You are able to acquire information through intuitive and psychic insights. Dealing with these subtle themes can lead to some uncertainty and confusion in the thinking process. Increased intuitive or psychic awareness can precede the ability to weigh this information for its accuracy. It is sometimes difficult to discriminate between what is really psychic and what is more closely akin to worry, fear, or false hope. It is also difficult to find practical applications for idealistic concepts and inspirations which are represented by this combination. Therefore, stress can sometimes be associated with the more spiritual manifestations of Neptune-Mercury aspects.

        Important factual information that you receive during the year may be partial, inaccurate, or vague. Sometimes secrecy and deception play a role. Your normal points of reference for evaluating information may be changing. Without adequate facts, you may be left hanging for most of the year. It may be impossible for you to make a decision at this time or to evaluate your circumstances. You may be easily confused or misled, especially if the information you receive is inconsistent or incomplete. In older individuals, confusion may actually be senility. Neptune's most negative interpretation is a loss of mental capabilities through drug and alcohol use or abuse. This tends to be an uncommon manifestation that is more closely associated with an individual pattern of consistent negative behavior. Most people will not fall into this trap.

        Put your trust in the Universe during times of uncertainty. Focus on compassion rather than a search for mundane truth. Understand that in the end, all will be known. Be gentle with yourself when you are not as focused and detail-oriented as you used to be. Mercury-Neptune aspects can indicate a call to the right-brain, creative, artistic, intuitive, and spiritual processes. Go with the flow of consciousness and open to a whole new way of knowing and perceiving.

VENUS IN THE SOLAR RETURN CHART

        Venus is the key to understanding your relationships and financial situation for the solar return year. Many times these two areas go hand in hand; financial security tends to be coupled with secure relationships while financial difficulties are more likely to occur when close relationships are strained. Although this correlation is common, it is not the rule, and interpretations for finances and relationships should always be viewed separately. When assessing Venus in the chart, evaluate Venus twice, first with respect to the other relationship factors in the solar return and then with respect to the other monetary indicators. In this way, you can develop a clear picture of each area of concern.

        Venus also indicates a need for comfort and it is informative to note what has preceded Venus in its present house position. If, during this year, Venus resides in a house which last year represented an area of conflict, Venus would imply an improvement in the conditions associated with that house and may indicate a healing process. Benefits commonly follow after much hard work. A Venus placement in the solar return chart following a more difficult placement during the previous year can indicate great reward. Your awareness of this possibility may encourage you to work harder in more problematic areas since you can see the rewards in the following year.

Relationships

        Venus, by house, shows what relationships will be important during the coming year. For example, Venus in the 3rd house might indicate that relationships with neighbors or community involvement will be emphasized. With Venus in the 6th house, pleasant office conditions, and good co-worker relationships will be important. But the interpretation of relationships as they appear in the solar return chart involves more than an understanding of Venus' house placement. Look at the 5th and the 7th houses, especially if you are interested in a love relationship. The more planets in these houses, particularly the 7th house, the greater the need to relate on a one-to-one basis. Generally, the 5th house shows sexual affairs, while the 7th house indicates a greater commitment (though not necessarily marriage). Clandestine affairs or secret relationships are more likely to occur when Venus and/or the Moon appear in the 12th house.

        One fact about marriage and the solar return chart is surprising. The solar return is not necessarily a good indicator of a marriage during the year. The beginning of a relationship might be easily seen, but the marriage itself is more likely to be reflected in other techniques. On the other hand, postponement of a marriage or the refusal to make a commitment can be easily seen with Saturn, Uranus or Neptune in the 7th house.

Finances

        Venus also relates to money and finances, and can be used to evaluate these circumstances for the coming solar return year. The house placement for Venus may indicate how you are most likely to generate income. This is sometimes true, but not always. Venus in the 9th implies a teaching salary, but if you don't teach, the emphasis will be on your beliefs concerning relationships. Don't stretch your economic interpretation of Venus' house placement. If the house position applies, the situation will be obvious. If the house position does not seem to apply to finances in particular, Venus will be more consistent with relationship situations during the year.

        For finances, it is perhaps more important to look at the planetary placements in the 2nd, 6th, 10th, and 11th houses, especially if you are interested in the amount of money you will be able to earn by employment. The 2nd house is the primary money house, but it also gives indications of spending practices. Any planets in the 2nd can reflect your salary and/or your spending practices (regardless of how much money you earn); it is always possible to spend more than you make or make more than you spend.

Solar Return Venus in 2nd house:

        One might think that Venus in the 2nd house of the solar return would be associated with increased money and materialism. Certainly you pay more attention to finances with this placement. But rather than increased money, Venus in the 2nd house is more likely to indicate easy money, the kind that requires no extra work on your part. The epitome of this interpretation is money that comes to you through welfare or unemployment checks. This is a possibility, although usually not the case. The most common manifestation is that money comes more easily because you cut back on your hours at work or refuse overtime. You may earn a little less, but the quality of your life seems more important than the extra income.

        Venus in the 2nd normally indicates you are comfortable with the money you have or earn, so it is most likely that you anticipated this cutback in salary and either paid off your debts or made adjustments in your budget so the financial loss would not be noticeable.

        Another common manifestation for this Venus placement is an increase in salary or funds available. As a rule, pay raises will not involve a great increase in time or effort on your part. If you work as a salesperson, you may land a huge account, thereby raising your commission without increasing your work load. If you are employed at a steady salary, you may be given a raise or bonus.

        Another alternative is changing jobs and getting paid more for doing the same work. Your salary may remain the same, but funds become available through other means. Suppose you sell your home at a great profit and decide not to buy another home, or purchase one at a lower price. This leaves more money available without any extra work. Even if you do not get a raise, or do not work, small checks may come in the mail from unexpected sources (dividends, refunds, interest, etc.). Probably none of the checks will be large, but you will find them helpful. During the year, you should feel comfortable with the amount of money you have available to spend. You are unlikely to feel impoverished.

        You are in the process of reassessing your value system. Priorities may be changed or even reversed. What may have been important before is no longer crucial; what you once took for granted is now cherished. Usually the shift is toward an appreciation of inner beauty and the quality of life, but some people experience Venus in the 2nd house as a surge in materialism. You may not want to do extra work to increase your cash flow, so you will try to think of less taxing ways to get more money.

        You might also experience a moral or ethical conflict at this time, especially if Venus is heavily emphasized. Venus in the 2nd shows that moral issues will be reassessed, especially the issue of monogamy or loyalty to one person. Contrary to what one might think, traditional concepts are not always stressed. The interpretation of Venus in this house seems to be most closely related to proclivities shown in the natal chart and the rest of the solar return. Ethical issues focus on monetary practices such as accurate expense account reporting, appropriate fees for services rendered, and the disposition of funds. Several aspects to Venus in the 2nd can indicate mixed feelings with regard to these moral or ethical issues.

Venus Aspects Jupiter

        Aspects from Jupiter to Venus have several possible interpretations. You can benefit, either directly or indirectly, through the influence or assistance of others. Relationships can be very rewarding and you reap what you have sown. If you have been helpful and understanding to others in the past, you can expect the same treatment now. Your lover, business partner, or spouse may be actively supportive of your goals, either financially or emotionally.

        Indirect benefits can also come to you through your partnerships. For example, your spouse accepts a job transfer to Colorado and you always wanted to live in ski country. You may buy a house or expensive ski equipment when you get there since large purchases and expenses are commonly seen with Jupiter-Venus solar return aspects. Possibly you spend more than you can afford.

        What you believe to be true about most relationships can either be consistent with your experience, or in conflict with the reality of your situation. As would be expected of anyone, it is more common to notice the conflicts than the periods of consistency. Issues concerning morals, ethics, and monogamy are important and you may discuss whether your relationship is an open or closed one. Either one of you can be involved in a second relationship which causes this issue to be raised. Defining the ethics of relating becomes a goal during the year.

MARS IN THE SOLAR RETURN CHART

        The planet Mars represents an outward thrust of energy in a solar return chart. It is an active energy geared toward producing an external manifestation brought about through interchanges with the environment. The arrow on the symbol for Mars illustrates this outward thrust and movement. The interplay with the environment and the area of greatest energy expenditure are shown by the aspects to Mars and its house placement. There can be a number of ways in which the outward thrust of energy and activity manifests in the external environment. Positive manifestations implied by Mars include self-motivation, independent action, initiation of new projects, assertiveness, fulfilling sexual encounters, and original or pioneering creations. But anger, aggression, and sexual abuses represent negative and wasteful expenditures. Energy lost in negative exchanges cannot be used productively.

        Mars, by its very nature, denotes the spark of initiation and self-motivation. Original pursuits, independent actions and new projects are fostered during the year and are typically associated with those areas of life denoted by the house placement of Mars. Because of the new endeavors and the enthusiasm generated, these areas then become the focus of energy use as the level of activity increases and you begin to feel driven to work, accomplish, and complete. Sometimes ambition and competitiveness augment the need to excel, but an energetic attitude can flow without these personality traits since self-motivation tends to spring naturally from an inner source.

        During the year, activities may be specifically tied to your ability or inability to be assertive. In its most positive manifestation, the planet Mars denotes an active force. Except for a few of the more subtle interpretations for Mars, the implication is an external thrust which affects other people, places, things or circumstances. For example, if you install a home office, you make a change in your living situation. If you start your own business, you do, in effect, change the environment. If you insist on control over your own finances, you create a more independent relationship style. In each of these cases, you are the individual initiating the activity and asserting your own needs which are essential to the task at hand. The inability to be assertive can only lead to frustrated desires and anger. Your efforts will be thwarted until you make adjustments in your thinking. When extreme frustration occurs, more energy is expended toward being angry than working toward correcting the problem.

        The house position of Mars and its aspects to the other solar return planets provide information about the circumstances which will trigger angry responses in you. Anger may arise from a number of different circumstances, including, but not limited to, frustration at the inability to fulfill your own needs, aggression from others, stressful surroundings or unconscious resentment that has not been resolved. Anger is a signal that your attitude and/or environment need to change. Energy lost to anger cannot be used creatively. Anger that stimulates creative action can be recouped. Your task for the year will be to learn to deal effectively with these anger-producing situations. Do not allow anger to be triggered when insight coupled with assertiveness, tact or corrective action would suit your purposes better. As you focus on negative situations and gain understanding, you can begin to funnel your energies into the most positive manifestations.

        Aggression is a distortion of assertiveness. Assertion is the defense and maintenance of your own rights; aggression is the infringement or attack on the rights of others. Anger is most likely the motivation for the attack, although psychological idiosyncrasies may provide other motivations (of which fear is the main culprit). All acts of aggression, by their very nature, should produce anger in the person attacked, though some individuals, because of their own psychological nature, respond in other ways. Where you find Mars by house position indicates where you are most likely to meet the aggressor during the coming year. Either you will have to deal with a hostile person in the environment or you will be confronted with your own acts of aggression. If you are able to meet your own needs through assertion and you know your own rights while conscientiously defending them, you are less likely to be the aggressor or allow aggressive actions to arise in others. You should be able to strike a balance between your needs, and rights, and the needs and rights of others. In this way, you maintain your position relative to the environment. But regardless of how fair you are in your dealings with others, you may still have to defend your own rights.

        Mars as an indicator of sexuality is not consistent with the interpretation for every house position. There is the possibility that sexual intrigue can apply to the situations denoted by any of the planet's placements, but the connection is not always obvious. Themes of initiation, high energy output, anger, and aggression appear more consistently. For example, Mars in the 10th may mean a sexual attraction between you and your boss, but it is more likely for you to be extremely active in career endeavors. Your boss can be a prime motivator toward career success or he could actually be very offensive and thwart your efforts. Note the aspects between Mars and your other personal planets for further information. The sexual implications of Mars seem more obvious in the relational houses, but then individual differences apply. Sexual fulfillment is directly related to the appropriateness of sexual activity given the particular situation and any restraints or inhibitions involved.

Solar Return Mars in 11th house:

        Mars in the 11th house shows an intense desire for freedom of action and the aggressive pursuit of goals. You will not allow or accept limitations on options. You do not want your present short-term goals or your future long-term goals to be dominated, controlled or restricted by others. You will protect your right to proceed in any area of personal or professional endeavor. The goals you set during this year can generally be accomplished without the support or assistance of others and despite any objections. To accomplish your goals, you may have to bend a few rules or break a few family traditions. You are not afraid of independent action and it may be necessary for the task at hand. For some individuals, goals will be very self-oriented and self-serving, perhaps even selfish.

        For example, a woman about forty years old had worked at her husband's side in a family-run business for twenty years. When Mars was in the 11th house, she discovered a great love for another professional field while pursuing a hobby. She decided to quit her current job, but her husband objected, saying he needed her to manage the office. Eventually she did quit despite his objections and began working for herself. She initiated the business on her own despite the family objections and continued to pursue a goal only she was interested in.

        The goals you seek during the coming year will normally be in keeping with your personal needs and abilities and are the product of your own mind and not an offshoot of someone else's ambitions. This is a time to feel both self-sufficient and self-possessed. External manifestations are meant to reflect inner qualities. The active creation of dreams will help you to discover your own ability to function independently. Your range of future activities will no longer be restricted by a need for help or agreement from others. You are capable of initiating things on your own and following through. Focus on your own unique individuality and value your abilities, whatever they may be. Develop and pursue talents and ideas that may have been lying suppressed for many years. This is a time meant for reviving those dreams lost when they seemed, at the time, too selfish to pursue. You can now accomplish projects abandoned in deference to others, but you must be assertive and ambitious in your desire for fulfillment.

        From the perspective of others, family, and friends, you may be somewhat unpredictable and undependable. Others may be concerned about your newfound independence, but assurances should be enough to calm their fears if you maintain a measure of stability. More difficult is the total disregard you might have for the needs of others and your responsibilities to them. You are capable of making decisions impulsively and without consultation. You are also capable of forming goals without adequate research or reflection. Some individuals will truly not handle their newfound freedom wisely, and consequently, they become the cause of great concern to others who find the increasingly aggressive and independent behavior threatening and out of control.

        Rather than choosing to work alone, you may become involved in a group effort or work on a project with a number of your friends. But even in this situation, you will most likely gravitate toward leadership positions. You can be a great motivator for others and you, yourself, will also be energized in return. If you act as an independent within the group setting, others will resent your preoccupation with personal needs or fulfillment. Conflicts within the group are possible, and you can be drawn into any power struggles.

        Conflicts with one or more friends might also occur. For example, a young college woman was involved in a very difficult friendship with two close friends who were using drugs. Eventually, the woman withdrew from her friends because of the drug use. She returned to her studies and went on alone. During the year, you and a friend may be at cross-purposes and this will cause contention, but you can instead be motivated by common interests and shared goals.

JUPITER IN THE SOLAR RETURN CHART

        Jupiter has a number of possible interpretations in the solar return chart and any or all of the following meanings can manifest according to house position. First and foremost, Jupiter tends to imply a benefic event associated with its placement. How these benefits come about and the area of life affected are usually shown by the house position.

        All opportunities will probably involve expansion into new areas of activity. The primary function of the Jupiter principle is to expand beyond the scope of previous experience. One is not to remain in a static condition; growth is not only implied, but expected. Jupiter's slow and consistent movement through the zodiac implies the steady growth needed to advance.

        One of the most common activities associated with growth and expansion is the pursuit of an education. The impetus to learn is closely associated with any push to grow and our definition of learning in this case is not limited to a structured environment (school), but can include self-teaching and life-experience training. Although education is not always a consideration for every Jupiter house placement, it can be considered to have an impact on any of the houses.

        Areas of expansion can easily become areas of excess and this is a problem with Jupiter. Growth can be uncontrolled and purposeless, dwarfing any push for real attainment or benefit. For example, overeating may supplant a desire for nutritious food when Jupiter is in the 6th house. The weight gain takes the place of education. Already existing situations associated with any house placement of Jupiter may boil over if extreme limitations were previously the norm. This is especially true when emotions overwhelm the individual after a long period of emotional suppression. Any Jupiter placement can signal a false god. One or more activities associated with Jupiter's house may be emphasized to such a degree that a distortion of perception results, creating the false god.

        Perhaps excesses are directly and proportionately related to suppressed urges. We now zoom ahead where we previously lagged behind, making up for lost time. The overwhelming impetus enables us to grow and expand at a rapid pace. The task is to avoid restricting this growth, while staying in control. The best option is one of channeled and structured enthusiasm.

        A question of ethics and morals is often associated with the house placement of Jupiter. Unlike Saturn, which is more representative of societal structures and expectations, Jupiter implies the need for a philosophical (or sometimes religious) consistency between what you are doing physically and what you believe you should be doing ethically or morally. The underlying belief is always at the center of any conflict, not the external expectation. Jupiter by house indicates a desire to review those beliefs commanding a strong influence over one's philosophy of life and code of behavior. Current beliefs may be limiting future growth or freedom. Within this perspective, hypocrisy and moral dilemmas are more commonly a problem than the frustration associated with Saturnian external laws.

Jupiter in 5th house (within 3 degree orb of 6th house)

        The overall interpretation of Jupiter in the 5th house is expanded self-expression. There are a number of ways you might seek to manifest this growth. Most people begin by letting their inner personalities show more in daily-life situations, but then go on to branch out into new fields of interest. For example, one woman took flying lessons and learned to love flying. She subsequently took a job selling airplanes at a small local airport. She left a job in a family-run business which had always stripped her of time and energy. For her, flying became the symbol of her own breaking away. Being free to express yourself naturally is an issue with this placement, and you will tend to seek out those situations which allow for greater latitude and fewer restrictions. Then, as you grow to express yourself more and more during the year, you not only gain self-understanding, but you also learn to accept who you are as a person.

        Artistic endeavors and creative or inventive pursuits can help to foster the externalization of inner traits and the expansion of personal expression. This is the time to experiment with new techniques and media. The freedom and risks associated with a new creative endeavor parallel the freedom and risks in an evolving and expanding personal expression.

        The possibility of a love relationship exists with Jupiter in the 5th house and this is another way individuals seek greater freedom. You may be attracted to those who are already free themselves and can therefore help you to become freer to grow into new areas. Sometimes the focus of growth is not in a specific field of interest, but a pervasive desire to be free of inhibitions. Youth can be a factor in the attraction, though not always. Relationships may or may not be sexual in nature, but ethical-moral or spiritual concerns commonly affect your involvement, and monogamy or loyalty to one person might be the issue. Regardless of sexual involvement, the moral right to free self-expression takes precedence. No one has the right to control and stifle another's personal or artistic creativity, and those individuals caught in a restrictive partnership are more likely to look for a way out and somebody to assist in their escape. Spiritual connections between lovers could enhance the attraction and love, regardless of whether or not both have an interest in the spiritual realm. Relationships sometimes function on this level with one or both lovers intuitively understanding the other, and one or both generating philosophical insights and concepts leading to a spiritual connection.

        Children also require greater freedom and this can be the year they go off to daycare, school, camp or college. This change affords parents more free time as well. If you have experienced difficulties relating to your children in the past, conditions may improve this year and it is a good time to open up the lines of communication. Large expenses associated with educating or supporting your children are possible, and one might wish to save for this expenditure if it is anticipated. Your children have some very positive opportunities and they should be encouraged to apply for scholarships and awards, or to place themselves in positions for advancement or recognition. This interpretation is contingent on their age, qualifications, and field of expertise.

Jupiter within 3 degree orb of 6th house

        Generally, your job tends to get both easier and more enjoyable while Jupiter is in the 6th house. How this comes about varies. Working conditions can improve and good co-worker relationships are possible. Friendly interchanges with clients, customers, fellow employees, and the cultivation of a helpful attitude could prove very beneficial to you personally and the general climate of the office. During the year, physical as well as attitudinal changes specific to the environment can enhance your surroundings, making them more pleasurable. For instance, your office might become smoke-free, you might move to a bigger or nicer location, or new procedures could streamline your workload.

        You function at your best when you are given the freedom to handle tasks in your own way and at your own speed. Flexible schedules might be instituted, allowing you to set your own hours. This flexibility may arise because of your position, seniority, or changes in office policy. You may want to take time off or cut back on hours, which should not be a problem unless Jupiter is heavily aspected, implying a complicated situation. With this placement, the workload is often shared with co-workers who cover for you while you are gone. It is also possible that the job situation is such that you can easily take time off. You might need to do this to handle other pressing responsibilities.

        Job benefits, incentives or awards are possible with this placement, and you can benefit directly or indirectly from your position as either boss or employee. Rewards can be monetary, as in a promotion or raise, or otherwise (e.g., travel). Opportunities arise for advancement or on-the-job training. Watch for these and take advantage of them.

        The daily running of the office either competes with or contributes to career goals. The problem here is that you will not be pushed to complete long-term projects and daily short-term projects will interfere. Motivation is a problem when a laissez-faire attitude exists.

        Health improves as long as you do not overindulge or make excessive demands on your body. The possibility of your health improving is most noticeable immediately following a difficult year punctuated by health problems. New or old difficulties arising during the year are generally directly associated with present or past overindulgences. Excesses of all kinds are a danger, even sudden and excessive exercising since you may push yourself to the point of injury. Included also are alcoholic and dietary excesses. Because of the tendency toward overeating, you can gain weight, but it is just as likely, and perhaps even more so initially, to try to eat a nutritious well-balanced diet. This is the time to pay more attention to what you are eating. Becoming mindful and better informed will make you an educated consumer. Since Jupiter rules higher education, you may be less likely to eat junk food and more likely to eat foods that are good for you.

        Unfortunately, Jupiter's negative manifestation is the inability to exist for long in a state of moderation. Jupiter in the 6th is a perfect set-up for "yo-yo" dieting. You may lose a lot of weight, only to gain it all back if you have not assimilated the knowledge which originally created the loss. It is knowledge that supports your most positive actions and establishes a sense of balance and moderation leading to good health. Creating natural limits through educated responses to stimuli is the task of this placement.

SATURN IN THE SOLAR RETURN CHART

        Saturn rules reality and the reality of any given situation is that we are all ultimately responsible for creating our own lives. The responses and choices we make to any given situation, together with the fears we avoid, form the backbone for our pattern of living. Only when we accept the responsibility for creating our own fate can we be freed from the necessity of living it. Only when we face our fears can we live unafraid. Saturn is the key to this change in orientation. It is the ultimate reality, the ultimate fear, the karmic avenger, and ruler of the universal laws of nature. It is through Saturn's house placement that we come face to face with ourselves, the structures, and limitations of reality, and the laws we must live by.

        Growth is a complex process, occurring in a variety of ways. Saturnian growth begins by recognizing the existing structures we have incorporated into our lives, and possibly, the frustration or limitation caused by this edifice. It seems strange to talk about growth in terms of limitation, but astrologically Saturn rules structures which are at one point protective and at other times restrictive. Like the lobster or crab which sheds an outgrown, protective, hard shell in order to grow, individuals must periodically shed old structures grown restrictive with time. As with the crustaceans, the shedding process may be slow and laborious, followed by a period of extreme vulnerability until the new shell has formed and hardened into a protective structure. We often complacently mistake familiarity for security. We assume we'll be safe as long as we stick with the same old routine and keep doing what we've been doing all along. But what was once protective and safe eventually ends up inhibiting our evolutionary cycle of growth. Sometimes, only our frustration with things as they are awakens us to the need for change.

        The movement of Saturn through the solar return chart coincides with an awareness of structure. Sometimes this awareness is associated with frustration, and the accentuation of restrictions now blocking evolution. It is through this realization process and frustration that we first become aware of the need to grow beyond our present structures. Therefore, the first step in the Saturnian process toward growth is recognizing structures, frustrations, and limitations imposed by our present patterns of living, particularly in those areas of life signified by Saturn's house placement in the solar return.

        The second step toward growth is reassessment of the situation. A review of the facts yields further information, options, and understanding. Only by defining the inhibitors to the evolutionary cycle can we move toward resolution and continued growth. Self-criticism and constructive feedback from others may be appropriate at this time.

        It is during the reassessment process that the reality of our situation becomes more obvious, as well as the laws by which we are governed. To succeed, we must deal with life realistically. We cannot twist nature to our own liking, nor can we expect others to compensate for our deficiencies and fears by solving our problems. Saturn rules the naked truth devoid of magical thinking. We must live within the laws of nature to succeed and survive. If you hate your job, quit. Do not wait for an act of God to find a new job. If you want to complete a major project, work on it. It is the only way it will get done. If you want to lose weight, diet, and exercise. Hard work and facing the issues head on will get you where you want to go. Wishful thinking will not.

        These issues are all totally within your range of control and you are free to act upon them, but other problems may not be yours to control. You cannot make your husband stop drinking; you can only change the way you handle the situation. You cannot change hypocrisy in others; you can only reassess your own beliefs. During the reassessment process, develop realistic options which could feasibly lead to a resolution of the problem or to a change in the way you handle the problem. Successful solutions are those which are practical and realistic -that is, they conform to the laws of nature.

        Once you understand the problem and the options available, you must assume responsibility for the outcome. Each man or woman contributes to his or her own fate. As the partial creator of any problem, you also have some control over the solution. But assuming responsibility for your present situation can be more threatening than blaming others. Some prefer to buck the system (defy the laws of nature) and complain, rather than take action. Remember, familiarity breeds a false sense of security and many prefer to hang on to their restrictions rather than venture into the unknown. They learn to live with their frustration rather than grow beyond it. Consciously making a decision implies assuming responsibility for your success or failure.

        Facing your fears concerning success or failure is ultimately what Saturn is all about. At this point, you are very aware of the reality of your situation, and you have a list of options for the future, not all of which may work. You understand your own contribution to the situation and what you must do in order to move toward a resolution. You have seen your own shortcomings and become aware of your darker side. You comprehend the laws of nature relative to your situation and know everything is earned in this case, nothing is given, and nothing is guaranteed by the Universe. You now realize that you must stick your nose out and take a calculated risk. In order to progress, you must face your fears, and move toward your nightmare rather than back away. It is only by passing through a period of vulnerability that one can break out of a protective, yet restrictive structure and progress into a more suitable environment. You give up the security of the familiar and step into the unknown.

        The test of any solution is that it works. Even chronic problems need to be solved and not just cosmetically concealed. Success requires much hard work and the systematic testing of solutions until the correct combination is found. Consequently, success may not come easily. If the first solution does not work, you must go on to test another and another. Thus with each failure begins a new cycle of awareness and reassessment, ultimately leading to a well-deserved success. There is plenty of room for hard work, discipline, and perseverance in the area of life indicated by Saturn's house placement. Eventually, every area of life will be touched by the need for reassessment and resolution. Chances are the time for reevaluation coincides with Saturn's placement in a particular house of the solar return. In that area of life, you must go above and beyond what is normally expected.

Solar Return Saturn in 1st house:

        Saturn in the 1st house is a self-imposed limitation and it is likely you will restrict yourself or your behavior for one reason or another during the coming year. It may be that you are trying to complete a long-term task or you may take on a major responsibility. You will tend to do all of the things you have to do and none of the things you want to do. This is a good time to push yourself to finish a master's thesis, doctoral dissertation or book, or to start your own business. Any piece of work requiring long hours, discipline, organization, and perseverance can be completed while Saturn is in the 1st house of the solar return chart. The project is likely to take most of the year to finish and the earliest completion date is three months before your next birthday.

        You want to assess the reality of your innate and developing abilities. To do this you can concentrate on a major project. Those who are not seriously involved with the completion of a specific body of work can instead assume extra responsibility which may or may not involve other people and can go beyond what is normally expected. For example, suppose you have a newborn baby (which is demanding enough by itself), and you also decide to be a nursing mother during the year. Anyone who has ever nursed a baby or been involved with a nursing mother knows how this can tie you down and seriously limit the amount of free time available. However, you are the person who is deciding to nurse the baby and therefore you are the one who imposes this limitation on yourself. This is also the case if you are involved in a major project. You are the one who limits your outside activities and social life in order to accomplish the task at hand.

        The negative manifestation associated with Saturn in the 1st house is the ability to impose limitations because of an overriding fear. You might shy away from particular opportunities possessing great growth potential simply because you are afraid to repeat a situation reminiscent of the past. Events occurring during the year may mirror former events, allowing unresolved issues to surface once more. In the negative manifestation, self-imposed limitations have nothing to do with the successful completion of a task or progress toward the future, but they have everything to do with stagnation and avoidance behavior. You can restrict your activities simply because you are afraid to face your fears, grow beyond your limitations and take risks.

        If you meet and conquer your fears during the year, the rewards can be great. You can free yourself from unnecessary restrictions and gain more control over your life and destiny. But if you avoid the fear within you and limit your behavior unnecessarily, you will not only maintain your present level of fear and limitation, you will also augment your conflict for the future.

        In your quest to avoid a confrontation with your fear, you will also have to avoid certain people and certain situations. Isolationism in one form or another is associated with Saturn in the 1st house. In the negative manifestation, withdrawal is used to avoid that which you fear most. In the more positive manifestation, withdrawal is necessary if you are to complete a body of work or fulfill your responsibilities to others. You are capable of being self-sufficient during the year. You are the one who must take total responsibility for your own destiny and actions. You cannot depend on others to accomplish what you alone can do. Nor can you expect others to undo what you have done to yourself.

        Minor illnesses are sometimes associated with Saturn in the 1st house, but usually these illnesses are minor chronic inconveniences. Some examples are perpetual sore throats, numerous colds, problems with teeth and bones, and back problems. These illnesses are annoying, but generally they are not incapacitating. They reflect stress on the body and emphasize the need to limit activities to those experiences which are truly important. It is unlikely that you can sustain your new level of responsibility and productivity while still maintaining your former commitments. It is essential that you take care of your body and reassess your level of activity. Minor illnesses are the body's way of telling you to slow down and lighten up.

        If you ignore your body's needs, or refuse to direct your energy into meaningful and healthy experiences, it is possible that an illness can make it physically impossible for you to continue. This is especially true if you actively avoid certain situations and refuse to confront your own fear. Fear and tension patterns can directly coincide with patterns of illness. The stronger the fear and the avoidance behavior, the more likely you are to be ill during the year and the greater the possibility of that illness being serious. If you sensibly meet your responsibilities, realistically face your challenges, and get enough relaxation, you can maintain good health.

URANUS IN THE SOLAR RETURN CHART

        Uranus is commonly seen as an indicator of change, and this is true for the solar return placements also. Conditions associated with the house position of Uranus are likely to evolve significantly over the year. Major changes or incessant fluctuations emerge as the pattern of manifestation, depending on how the individual copes with his or her situation and needs. Transformations may occur quickly and require a long period of adjustment, or progress slowly, possibly occurring late in the year and only after a long period of anticipation or restlessness. As a rule, most changes are expected, predicted, and initiated by the native him or herself. Many are carefully planned and well executed, involving a minimum of tension and anxiety. When working positively with the Uranian principle, the key is in the restlessness. Those who are very attuned to their own need for growth will feel the restlessness arising in outgrown situations and respond accordingly. They will welcome the opportunity for adjustment, and make all the necessary preparations for the coming change. They will not lock themselves into one particular situation or pattern of growth, but will allow changes and insights to develop and evolve naturally along the way.

        Generally, it is only when the individual thwarts his or her own desires or tightly controls situations that tensions manifest in the form of anxiety and nervousness. This anxiety results from ambivalent feelings which develop in those who resist needed changes. These people get caught between their own fear of change and a strong desire for the very change being thwarted. An ambivalent mind-set takes over, one built on an approach to, and also an avoidance of, a set goal or change. Remember, Uranus is associated with conscious and unconscious choices for change. Its appearance somewhere in the native's solar return chart implies the area of life in which the individual desires to progress through change. When one is unable to face or effect needed and desired changes, the mind splits between two mutually exclusive goals and anxiety results. Eventually, the mental ambivalence and erratic commitments to two very different paths are reflected in fluctuating external conditions. Long overdue, yet still avoided changes, tend to manifest in the environment as disruption caused by others, or by neglected areas of attention.

        Adding to the anxiety is a perceived loss of control over external situations. Eventually, the restlessness and tension rise to a feverish pitch until one finally agrees to make changes, or can no longer prevent their occurrence. When conditions reach this intensity, individuals usually make reactive changes, without careful consideration or adequate preparation. Sudden upheavals occur rather than welcomed transitions. If we would truly be in control of our own destiny, we should listen to the need for change and respond to the earliest hints of restlessness. We should give ourselves the freedom to work toward a conscious transition before a crisis arises.

        Consistent with the desire for change is the need for freedom. You cannot maneuver if you are locked into a restrictive environment. Sometimes the push for freedom is a prerequisite for change. At other times, the change itself becomes the motivating force behind the process. Occasionally, both mechanisms are operating. For example, you may have to convince your boss to give you the freedom to make needed changes in the daily office routine; at the same time, the changes you make could streamline procedures, creating more leeway in your work schedule.

        Freedom allows the process of change to occur smoothly. When we are functioning at our best and working positively with the Uranian concept, we move easily through a series of attractions, detachments and independent actions. We learn and grow from each of these encounters. While in the process of attraction, we are drawn to certain situations, persons or concepts. It is important to observe what experiences we are drawn to because they indicate conscious or unconscious needs and patterns of growth. By accepting different situations, interacting with different individuals, or listening to new ideas, we take in new information and learn to value various facets of life. We see that no one person, place or idea is perfect. The same is true of our existing circumstances, which we hold onto so tightly.

        With this insight begins the period of detachment from those situations, persons, or concepts which restrict our growth or no longer have anything to teach us. We are able to step back and intellectually reassess our involvement and commitment. We can either choose to separate physically from difficult situations, or take the corrective action needed to adjust present circumstances to our needs.

        Uranus does not always imply a complete and total separation. We are capable of detaching from the original attraction while still maintaining the experience, relationship, or train of thought. It is the independent action we ultimately take which defines the degree of separation.

        We learn as much from separation as we do from attraction when we define what we don't like as well as what we do like. The changing environment, the comparisons and contrasts, accentuate what is important and what is not. One should remember that this process of change through attachment, detachment and independent action is ongoing, occurring on many different levels simultaneously. The process can be either quick, occurring numerous times in one day, or drawn out, requiring a year's time span. For example, suppose you are building a new home. This is a year-long project and during this time you will be drawn to many different construction plans, ideas, and subcontractors. But as you begin to work with the possibilities, you will accept, reject, or change options to suit your needs. This process takes place over months, but also simultaneously many times in one day.

        The exposure to various ideas, situations and people stimulates creative thought through sudden insight into changing situations. All planets represent a creative process. Venus is the planet of creativity experienced through beauty, while Uranus is the process experienced through change. Because of the changing panorama of people, ideas, and situations, one becomes accustomed to looking at life from different perspectives. The multifaceted approach encourages the mind to create still newer ideas. In this way the individual begins to participate in the process of attachment, detachment and independent action by creating his or her own original options, and change becomes a process of perception, integrated into the pattern of growth.

Solar Return Uranus in 7th house:

        The primary interpretation for Uranus in the 7th house focuses on changes to relationships. Depending upon what you are used to, relationships can change in a number of different ways. If you are not in a major relationship or have not been up until this point, this can be a milestone year for you, one in which you change your style of relating and push for greater intimacy. Sudden attractions are possible and the person you have your eye on may be quite different from what you would normally expect. Attractions can be very exciting, but also unpredictable. Patterns of relating tend not to be soothing, but somewhat disruptive. It may be difficult for you to depend on the person you are involved with, since he or she will not want to be tied down at this time. Freedom is an issue for both of you and togetherness may be on-again, off-again. Marriage is probably not an option during this year, though you may live together.

        Existing relationships may go through a period of transition because one of you wishes to make a major change or needs more freedom of movement. Usually the freedom to make a major change is sufficient, but sometimes the push is stronger. Although separation may be indicated by Uranus in the 7th house, it is more commonly associated with Uranus in the 4th house square to the Ascendant-Descendant axis. Separations in consciousness are frequent with Uranus in the 7th house. If your partner is working on a major project, he or she may seem detached and preoccupied, or extensive travel may be a job requirement, taking him or her away for part of the year. On the other hand, you might be the preoccupied or busy person. It is common to be separated for short periods of time for one reason or another. Perhaps one of you is married, lives out of town, or is busy with school, work or other activities. Changes directly affecting you can come through the spouse, lover, or business partner. For example, the person you are living with relocates and you must decide to move also or separate. It is also possible for you to instigate changes on your own.

        In both new and old relationships, a lack of true intimacy is a frequent complaint. Connections might seem distant, commitments erratic. A conflict of interest is possible, especially if there are squares or oppositions to Uranus in the 7th house. It is normal to experience some relationship oscillation during the year. Changes sometimes necessitate a disruption of the intimacy routine and flow, but some couples move closer as they grant each other greater freedom of movement or expression. This is a time to become a friend to the person you are closest to. Distances will be more evident and serious in difficult relationships, but good relationships will survive and grow from the transition.

NEPTUNE IN THE SOLAR RETURN CHART

        Neptune is many things on many levels, but first and foremost it is the aspiration for a higher manifestation as opposed to a lower one. The distinctions between higher and lower influences are not limited to the spiritual plane alone, but can occur on the emotional, mental and physical levels also. At all times, it is up to the individual to steer his or her consciousness toward the highest manifestation possible. For example, Neptune on the spiritual level is associated with Universal Oneness, Karmic Laws, Ideals, God, and higher beliefs which form the backbone of spirituality. A strong sense of trust in God and the Universe supports the growth process on the spiritual level, but has ramifications on the other levels as well. Each level of experience supports and triggers the others. It is all the insights on all of the levels which eventually help us toward a more rewarding and fulfilling life-style. The lower manifestation of Neptune on the spiritual level is disillusionment with higher principles. Here the individual falls off the true path and becomes entangled in fanatical beliefs or outright fantasy. Spiritual despair rather than enlightenment is the result, and the support needed for growth on all levels is thwarted.

        The same dichotomy of higher and lower is present on the emotional, mental and physical planes also. At the emotional level, the individual is capable of great compassion and sensitivity to others. This is a time when empathic understanding strengthens the bonds between loved ones. The lower manifestation of Neptune is a susceptibility to anxiety and worry. The sensitivity which is meant to foster true understanding instead heightens a sense of vulnerability to life, others and the future. There is no trust in God emanating from the spiritual level to support decisions. In negative situations, true understanding of others does not develop because the individual is too involved with personal feelings and issues to focus on others.

        At the mental level, creativity and inspiration help to expand the individual's intellectual capacity. Neptune is more closely associated with the right brain than the left, and indicates the ability to let the mind float free to new and better insights. The lower manifestation is confusion and deception. What you are told is different from what you intuitively feel. Thoughts contradict insights and you are unable to comprehend the truth. There is no trust of the higher right brain inspirational or spiritual processes. Creativity is thwarted. Without an understanding of the big picture, mental energy is wasted through a lack of cohesiveness as one begins to focus on the insignificant, confusing details.

        And finally, Neptune on the physical level is service to others. Principles which have filtered down from the various levels and have been understood in each of the higher manifestations begin to flow into daily practices on the mundane plane. There is a consistency; as above, so below. It is possible to physically manifest the spirituality to which you aspire. When only lower manifestations have filtered down to the physical level, confusion, disorganization and exhaustion are most apt to occur. You lack a total concept necessary to unify your actions and prioritize tasks according to their importance. Neptune at its highest level of manifestation on the physical plane is a direct reflection of the enlightened promise made at the spiritual level.

        In all of the houses, either the higher or lower manifestations will be operating. The more the individual focuses on the higher energies, the more cohesive and insightful actions will become. The more the individual is sensitive to spiritual insight, the easier it will be to deal with issues on every plane. The unifying principles of the spiritual level and the higher manifestations combine to focus energy and understanding right on down the line.

Solar Return Neptune in 6th house:

        Neptune in the 6th can mean working at a job when your heart's not in it, or when you really have no sense of direction or purpose. Most commonly, you are in a period of transition between jobs. You are in the process of finishing up an old job, business or career, and moving toward a new professional endeavor. Usually there is an overlapping period when you are not physically through with your former job even though you are mentally finished. Mentally, you are now involved with your new position even though the physical transition has not yet begun or been completed. So you are just marking time, picking up a pay check, or existing in limbo until everything is set for the transition to be accomplished. It is unlikely that this will occur until the end of the solar return year, or until Neptune transits out of the 6th house, unless your new position is as probationary or "iffy" as the transitional period itself. Becoming self-employed generally falls in this category. A need for job fulfillment pushes you to find a more suitable position. The job you are leaving might fall short of your abilities. You may not feel as helpful or as effective as you could be if given more opportunity. Misunderstandings between you and your employer are possible. A few individuals might be unemployed or drifting from one job to the next during this time.

        Assuming you are happy with your present employment situation, this can be a time of job confusion or uncertainty. New office procedures might turn your workday upside down if inadequate training leaves you unsure of what to do. Job security in your present position can seem precarious. Rumors of layoffs, mergers, relocations, or shift changes are possible. Poorly defined threats to your job are likely, but generally there is no loss of position or employment time. Coming reorganization plans leave future responsibilities undefined and you might be unsure where you will be in one year's time. Or you could be involved in a project which has an indeterminate outcome. You and the others could risk your time and effort on a long shot project you are not sure will pan out. If you are the owner of a business, you may be considering a merger, buyout, partnership or stock option. You will find it difficult to make concrete business plans for the future until certain issues are settled. Misunderstandings with others can occur during the year regardless of your level of employment. It is to your advantage to communicate directly with business associates. Do not rely on intermediaries to convey your messages.

        Illnesses and diseases, if they occur, tend to be more difficult to diagnose while Neptune is in the 6th house. Generally you are the person seeking diagnosis, but if you are responsible for a child or an elderly adult during this year, it is possible that the vague and undiagnosed health problem is his or hers rather than yours. The health provider may be baffled by the symptoms and recommend several different courses of treatment. He or she may not be sure exactly what will work. The tendency is to try one method first, and then move on to another form of treatment if needed. A second opinion might be advantageous. You can be successfully treated without ever really knowing what you had. The origin of an illness needing diagnosis and treatment may not be clearly understood for most of the year, or until Neptune transits out of the 6th house. Symptoms are generally vague, conflicting or intermittent. Complaints of tiredness are common. A case of the flu might hang on longer than expected, or leave you feeling less than "right." Allergies to smoke, aerosols, pollutants, medications, and foods are more likely to affect your life-style or diet during the year.

        The increased sensitivity associated with Neptune is apparent in the physical body's acceptance or rejection of certain daily work, living or eating habits. Emotional upheavals and stress are more apt to affect your physical form and aggravate existing illnesses, causing symptoms to reappear or multiply. If stress is coming from your job, realize that health is more important than work. Spiritual beliefs and attitudes need to become a part of your daily routine while certain detrimental habits fall away. If you cannot maintain a spiritual perspective during your daily routine, it may be time to change the routine. Cultivate serenity.

PLUTO IN THE SOLAR RETURN CHART

        In the solar return chart, the interpretation of Pluto includes an understanding of the issue of power and its various manifestations, which can be directed toward three different points of focus and through three different life processes. Complications are associated with all of these orientations and processes since each manifestation is multidimensional and complex, occurring not only on the physical level, but on the intellectual, emotional and spiritual levels as well. Within these complex situations, power can be focused on three different targets: the self, others, and/or circumstances. As a rule, the power to control oneself is mostly beneficial, the power to control others is mostly detrimental and the power to control situations varies according to the circumstances involved. By studying Pluto's house placement in the solar return chart, you can assess in which areas of life these control issues are most likely to arise. The scope and effects of the power issues are seen through the connections to other solar return planets.

        Power also manifests through three different processes. One may choose sameness, elimination or transformation. When you choose to keep things the way they are, it is implied that there is some force urging you to change and you are resisting this force. A possible power struggle might ensue. When you choose elimination, you relinquish control over some facet of your life or refuse to have further contact. When you choose change, you may be either yielding to an outside power or actively seeking transformation of that which already exists. Let us explore the power orientations and processes further.

Three Different Points of Focus

        Generally, the focal point of self is beneficial. As long as you are using Plutonian insights and techniques to control yourself, to own your own power and to further your own growth, the process will be a positive learning experience, unless you overcontrol yourself, succumbing to hair-shirt asceticism, taking self-denial to absurd extremes. The greater your awareness of yourself and Universal principles, the more likely you are to make good decisions. You become the captain of your own destiny. Enlightenment leads to power and power leads to enlightenment as a rewarding cycle of manifestation is set in motion.

        However, those who use psychological insights to control and block their own growth waste precious energy. They set up a negative pattern of stagnation wherein insights are not accepted as they are, but twisted to fit previously conceived notions about life and self. Rather than progressing through enlightenment, the individual uses insights as weapons against growth and understanding, opting for sameness despite new information. Contradictory realizations are not allowed to surface; instead they are either suppressed or misinterpreted. In very negative situations such as these, the power associated with increased Plutonian awareness and its creative potential is never realized.

        The same thwarting of personal growth is evident when you shift your attention from self to the need to control others. By and large, this is not a good focal orientation. The symbolism of the planets exists in your consciousness so that you can grow and prosper from insight. Since growth begins at home, the main thrust of the focus should always be toward self, and it is generally unnecessary and also counterproductive to shift the emphasis to an external struggle. The most efficient use of power exists on the internal plane because it takes much less energy to control your own reactions than to seek power over someone else. Once power is removed from the inner self and used to control others, the effectiveness is reduced. Stalemated power struggles are particularly detrimental because they deplete resources. It is conceivable that there are life situations where it is essential to control another person. For example, children, disabled or elderly loved ones may not be able to make informed decisions. In these situations you might be asked or forced to wield power over another. You are meant to grow from all your experiences. Even in these instances, self-awareness and insight are crucial to the decisions you make. Start with yourself first, then work your way outward. Blaming others for your problems distorts the perception of self and the realization of your own personal involvement. Always be aware of the interactive process and the role you play in it. This internal perspective is of primary importance, much more so than the process of controlling someone else.

        Trying to control life situations can lead to power struggles, but at some point in your life it may be essential to make a stand for the good of your own growth or that of world consciousness. Ultimately, it is much better for you to control yourself, but this is not always possible. Someone can be seeking to control you, your family or your livelihood. Certain injustices must be corrected for everyone to progress, and sometimes the only viable option is to work for change. Always be aware of the struggle you take on. It is usually easier to correct a situation than to convince your opponent he or she is wrong. It is easier to get forgiveness than permission. Go for the simplest task that gets the job done. For example, your office routine might be very inefficient and next to impossible to accomplish in a day's time. Perhaps you see where improvements can be made, but your immediate boss disagrees with you or thwarts your efforts. As long as you continue to try and convince your immediate boss of the need for change, you will get nowhere. If you can easily go over his or her head to a higher boss, this could be an effective way to handle the stalemate. Seek the quickest solution to a problem if one is available. Do not get locked into long, drawn-out struggles if they are not necessary.

        Ultimately, power struggles can have either beneficial or detrimental results, depending on your perspective. In the external environment, you may or may not win, assuming there can be a victor. More than likely, victory, if it comes, involves compromise for all involved. But the inner process of awakening one's own ability to effect a creative change in the environment is usually beneficial. You can make a difference. The creative potential associated with Pluto comes from a penetrating insight into the hidden worlds of the unconscious and an understanding of the Universal laws of Karma. Powerful insights should spring spontaneously from the situations associated with Pluto's placement in the solar return chart. Suddenly you can become aware of new forces, subtle and previously unnoticed, which seem to influence personal decisions and situations you are involved in. Once you have the insight, what you do with the information becomes crucial to the creative process.

        The primary goal of the Plutonian process should be growth through awareness. Therefore it is essential, no matter what your focal orientation, to use information and insight gleaned from experiences to foster a new understanding of self and Universal principles. The main growth process begins and ends with the self.

Three Different Plutonian Processes

        Plutonian power is associated with three different processes: keeping things the way they are, usually by resisting an internal or external force; changing the form of what already exists, i.e., transformation; or eliminating what is no longer useful or essential, a form of death. Any of these powers can be either beneficial or detrimental to the user or others involved. It is the purpose and intent of the process that is important.

        The power to keep things the way they are can sometimes be an awakening to personal power. Implied here is a resistance to a force seeking change, and sometimes the intent of change is negative. The pressure can come from an external or internal source, and the changes desired may be either external or internal also. For example, if you are a recovering alcoholic facing a difficult life situation, you might feel the pressure to start drinking again. The pressure could come from your own wish to avoid major decisions, or from a person you are associating with.

        In actuality the internal and external sources are really one and the same, a reflection of each other since internal needs draw external situations. In the situation given above, the individual seeks to remain a recovering alcoholic despite internal and external pressure. This is a positive goal and if attained, implies personal power. It is also beneficial to remain the same when others seek to control your actions and thwart free will. Pluto represents the insight necessary to perceive manipulative efforts as they arise and avoid ploys whenever possible.

        In some instances, the power to remain the same can be a negative manifestation, actually causing the stagnation of growth. If you resist all new internal and external insights which would enhance your growth or cause you to make changes, little progress will result. You will stall. When your purposes are not in keeping with Universal Good or personal benefit, you are more likely to be involved in a negative use of Plutonian power.

        The process of elimination can be very cleansing, even though a symbolic death is involved. If you streamline your business or office procedures, letting go of compulsive and unnecessary activities, this is a death of sorts, but much to your benefit. So is a budgetary review which eliminates the fat from your spending practices and allows you to cut back on your work schedule. In more serious circumstances, perhaps all you can do is release a situation that is detrimental to your progress. Letting go can be a positive choice, but it might also be a negative one if you cut someone out of your life without resolving or releasing the conflict. If this is true in your case, avoiding persons or situations will consume your energy. Transformation is the process whereby a situation, thing or level of consciousness is changed into a new, and hopefully higher, manifestation. Careers, marriages and self-images can all be transformed for the better. Commonly, though, we think of the transformation process in terms of psychological insight and level of consciousness. Information from subtle sources or the unconscious is gradually or suddenly made available to either the rational mind or the Higher Self, and subsequently a change occurs on the mental, emotional or spiritual level. Information that was previously unavailable becomes understandable through the process of insight, and power is released through new awareness. This can be a very enlightening and beneficial transition, but naturally it is what you do with the information that is important. If intellectual, emotional and spiritual growth are triggered by the new awareness, the process continues to be positive; however, if instead you use your newfound insight to control others or block growth, you have used your knowledge in a negative way.

        Misuse of the Plutonian process creates an inability to continue on the life path until issues are resolved and lessons are learned. Stagnation occurs as the individual fails to progress to the next level of comprehension or misinterprets the task at hand. Power struggles can be the cause of such stagnation, and should be taken on only after careful consideration of the issues and implications. Power struggles are expensive in terms of time and energy. Some are essential to growth, others are self-inflicted. Know the source. Ideally, if you avoid a conflict in Pluto's solar return house placement, you should have more resources available for higher awareness. Conflicts consume energy and sap the strength necessary for the ascent. Without opposition, one can move quickly when concentrating on insight and awareness. Barriers can be torn down and the connections among all things become apparent.

        But a world without struggle is the ideal, and not necessarily the reality. Your situation may require that growth be attained through struggle. The resistance may stimulate your awareness and creativity. Real progress might only occur after the resolution of conflict or during respites in the battle. However, within a long-lasting, stalemated struggle, one is more likely to get caught in a circular argument going nowhere. Nonproductive battles can be avoided by those who work toward increased awareness.

Solar Return Pluto in 4th house:

        Pluto in the solar return 4th house is the single best indicator of moving from one home to another. Uranus in the 4th house can also indicate relocation, but when Uranus is in the solar return 4th you are more likely to have changes or disruption within the domestic environment, particularly involving family members or roommates. Pluto, on the other hand, is more representative of moving from one home to another, or major renovations to the living structure itself along with a disorientation or upheaval that lasts for a period of one year. These are fine-line distinctions, and of course, variations will occur. If you purchase a home during this year, it may need a lot of work. Redecoration is likely, and the repair of unforeseen problems a possibility. It is in your best interest to have an engineer inspect any home you are seeking to purchase. Hidden or unanticipated difficulties can then be made known before any transaction takes place.

        Relocation complications can arise for a number of reasons, though, and are not limited to repair problems. If you are building a new home, construction can take longer than expected. You may have to live in several temporary residences or stay with relatives for a period of time. Once you finally move in, you must decorate from scratch, purchasing everything an established home is already likely to have. Moves over great distances are very complicated in and of themselves, and generally require a full year's time for preparation and settling in. The hassles of adjusting to a new state, climate, culture, or environment can take the place of problems with the house structure itself.

        Major renovations are also seen while Pluto is in the 4th house. These kinds of renovations necessarily cause a prolonged upheaval in the domestic situation. Large additions, modernizations, or construction which involves moving walls or piping is likely, and the disruption caused by the dust and building will probably last for most of the solar return year.

        If you do not move or renovate, it is still likely that changes in the domestic situation will occur. Commonly, someone either moves in or out, and living arrangements must be adjusted accordingly. New situations will take a while to get used to. All changes involve the consideration of many different factors, and simple decisions are not likely. In addition, transitions are likely to be complicated by psychological issues, and may even be unconsciously motivated. For example, your mother moves in and you must make arrangements for her to get to the senior citizen center during the day. She is somewhat incapacitated and needs daytime care. She also requires a living space on one floor and you must rearrange rooms and put in a new bathroom for her use. Psychologically, you must make the adjustment from living alone to caring for an elderly parent. Certain childhood issues might arise as you search for new patterns of behavior.

        It is true that complications and struggles are associated with domestic situations when Pluto is in the 4th house; however, the complications and struggles are inherent in the project or transition you wish to complete and not the planetary placement itself. This is a time when individuals naturally seem to choose to make major changes in their home and/or living style, and it is unlikely that a transformation of this caliber could be made quickly and easily, without some hassle.

        The desire to make strong and sweeping changes in the physical home is accompanied by corresponding emotional transformations. Sometimes the two manifestations are directly connected; sometimes they are totally separate; commonly, they are at least symbolically related. For example, during a long period of domestic upheaval, you could feel disconnected or not grounded, without a sense of "home," or a base for operations. If you are living with others, caught in a limbo between residences, you might be forced to subsist for a while without your own space, possessions, privacy, personal control, or sense of organization. You might feel stripped to the essence of your being, devoid of any external trappings, left to exist as you are, without the familiarity of what you own or can accomplish. Without the inner sanctum of your home for protection, you could feel exposed, and it is true that you are vulnerable to the idiosyncrasies of temporary housemates. Emotions are bound to fluctuate under such conditions. Old behavior patterns break down quickly as new patterns and coping mechanisms are necessitated by changing circumstances. In this way, Pluto in the 4th house usually indicates an emotionally unsettled time, as well as a physically unsettled time.

        Sometimes this emotional upheaval can occur because of a coincidental physical change in another's situation, but a transition in the native's own consciousness is essential for growth. Suppose your parents decide to sell your childhood home and move out of state. If you are still attached to your parents' residence, you must make adjustments in your thinking. You can still visit your parents, but you can never go home again if the trip involves one particular building or location. Perhaps it is time for you to think of your own residence as "home."

        When Pluto is in the 4th house, emotions are not only the motivating force behind physical changes, but also the end result. The purpose and desire associated with this placement is the need to establish an emotionally fulfilling environment, both on the internal and external planes. This is why moving or changes in the physical home (external) are as important as evolutionary growth in the feeling nature or unconscious (internal). The two levels of manifestation go hand in hand during the year, and you can be sure that if your physical surroundings are in a state of transition, corresponding changes are also affecting your emotional level.

        By the same token, the inability to make wanted and needed external changes probably indicates the presence of internal blockages and external resistances. A search is underway to form stronger roots in the physical and emotional environment. Shallow connections will not do. One must either dig deeper or move on; reaffirm the commitment to the existing structure (renovation), or begin anew (move). The same process is occurring on the emotional level. Individuals must reaffirm a commitment to family members and roommates, or seek support elsewhere.

        Unlike other 4th house placements which also indicate changes in the physical and emotional home, Pluto generally indicates that not only are changes long overdue, but there are also some inner and outer resistances which must be overcome to fully realize the internal potential in the external world. Consequently, a power struggle with oneself and others is likely, both before and during change, and the arena for this struggle takes place in the home and among family members. Conflicts arise when others do not want the same home environment you envision. In the best of circumstances, negotiation and compromise may be all that are necessary to resolve differences. However, in some families the word "negotiation" is really a cover for manipulative tactics and controlling influences. Nothing is ever resolved, issues remain unsettled, and decisions are not finalized. Within this domestic milieu, the creative urge toward rootedness and its resultant manifestations on the physical and emotional planes are stifled before they can be realized. For this reason, you should consciously work to undo old, existing response patterns which allow others to psychologically control your emotional nature and rob you of its creative potential. Being emotionally controlled is generally synonymous with also being physically controlled, and therefore unable to create the home and home life you desire.

        This is a good time to enter therapy, especially if unconscious manifestations (fear, guilt, negativity, power struggles, etc.) are blocking new and old commitments, or stifling your urge toward growth and change. Repetitive issues, unfulfilling emotional interchanges, and the inability to cope with your home and necessary changes signal the need to reassess response patterns for power leakages. During the year, heightened sensitivity will cause you to become aware of psychological games which rob you of personal power in the emotional arena. At this time, even an intellectual interest in psychology can give you great insight into domestic and familial patterns.

        Because of the issue of creative emotional power and its manifestation on the physical plane, life seems more crucial, decisions more important, problems more complicated. Everything leads to something else and you have a vested interest in how matters finally turn out. Commonly, the meaning of life is discussed, and within this climate the issue of death arises, causing you to face the issue of your own mortality. There may be a death in the family during the year, but more often you are merely acquainted with someone your own age who must deal with a potentially life-threatening illness. His or her situation calls you to consider the possibility of your own death, and the reason for your existence. The interplay between the creative emotional nature and the issue of mortality leads you to understand the extent and limitations of your own power. One does not have control over death; all living things die. However, one does have power over the emotional response to death, and for that matter, all emotional responses. The need to direct your own emotions toward a rewarding and fulfilling expression is at the root of this Pluto placement.