In Astrology, your birthday is known as your Solar Return—the time when the sun returns to where it was on the day you were born. We can run a solar return chart to give us insights into the year ahead.

Your Solar Return occurs each year on the day of, the day before, or the day after your birthday. Solar return charts give us insight into the energy and themes of the year ahead. They are best done on or around your birthday. 

It was my birthday last week, so I thought it would be fun to introduce you to this concept, how to run the solar return chart, and how to interpret it.

Your Sun sign will not change in a Solar Return chart, but you’ll probably have a different moon and rising signs. These new signs do not replace your birth chart’s moon and rising signs. Instead, these are the signs that you’ll express for the next year – similar to a progressed planet.

Astrologer Stephanie Gailling said about a solar return chart:

How to calculate the Solar Return Chart

The solar return chart is calculated based on several factors

1) your time of birth 

2) your birthday (month and day) 

3) the current year

4) and your location as you celebrate your birthday that particular year.

Using your actual location, not your birth location, is important.

I like this calculator from Astroseek because it makes it clear to put in the city you will be in on your birthday. It also has a fantastic tab to see the chart shape clearly.

However, if you want to use astro.com to create your solar return chart, go to extended chart selection. From the chart type dropdown select “Solar Return Chart” but make sure that the correct location is set.

Things to look for in a solar return chart

Here is my solar return chart for the next year so you can follow along with my interpretation.

My Solar Return 2025: A Year of Grounding, Growth, and Transformation

As I step into my Solar Return year for 2025, my chart reveals a year filled with grounding stability and transformative potential. The standout features include a grand trine that forms a kite and a secondary, weaker grand trine, setting the tone for opportunities and growth through collaboration, creativity, and resilience. Here’s a closer look at what this year may hold for me:

Placement of the sun by house

Of particular importance is where your sun is placed in your solar return chart – this is where you are meant to shine brightly for the year ahead.

Your sun will be in the same degrees and sign it was in when you were born; however, it’s not necessarily going to be in the same house or making the same angles to other planets and luminaries.

Sun in the 7th House: Collaborations and Leadership

The Sun in the 7th house creates a powerful grand fire trine with Mars in the 3rd and the North Node in the 11th. This configuration signifies a year of dynamic energy around partnerships and collaborations.

I sense this in my ongoing relationship with Hay House and its potential to expand. This is a year to take decisive steps toward writing my book, stepping into leadership roles, and guiding groups in a meaningful way. While publishing my book might not happen this year, I expect to make significant progress in the book deal and writing process.

Sun conjunct a solar return angle

If your sun is conjunct with one of the angles in the solar return chart, this is significant. This year, mine is not.

Your Moon Placement

Your moon placement in a solar return chart tells us “where your heart is” in the coming year.

Moon in the 4th/5th House: Family Focus and Emotional Growth

The Moon sits in Virgo in the 4th house, close to the cusp of the 5th, indicating my heart will be deeply tied to my family and children. The Moon’s placement reflects ongoing challenges related to one of my children’s health, bringing a sense of service and emotional focus to our home life.

An opposition to Neptune in the 10th house underscores feelings of uncertainty and waiting for clarity. However, the Moon’s trine to Uranus and Pluto offers the potential to balance family responsibilities with personal and professional transformation.

Aspects between the Sun & Moon

These are landmark years and will be particularly significant. I don’t have an aspect between the two in the upcoming year; however, they are complementary, focusing on home and partnership (4th and 7th house).

Aspects your sun makes to other planets

You can also explore other aspects your Solar Return Sun is making to understand the themes and energy of the year. For instance, in my 2025 Solar Return, the Sun in the 7th house forms a powerful grand fire trine with Mars in the 3rd house and the North Node in the 11th house. This aspect highlights a year of vibrant energy around partnerships and collaborations. Let’s break this down in a simple way:

• Sun in the 7th house in Sagittarius
  This year, the focus is on meaningful partnerships, whether professional or personal. Sagittarius energy adds optimism, expansion, and a desire to work towards shared goals.
• Trine Mars in the 3rd house in Leo
  This aspect encourages action and creativity in communication. It indicates a year to focus on writing my book, strengthening my relationship with Hay House, and fostering direct yet warm communication with my husband.
• Trine North Node in the 11th house in Aries
  This alignment suggests that my partnerships, particularly with Hay House or other collaborators, will significantly advance my soul purpose. It’s worth noting that the Solar Return North Node aligns with my natal North Node this year, amplifying the call to step into leadership and embrace my destiny.

This grand fire trine represents a harmonious flow of energy, motivation, and purpose. It weaves together creativity (Mars), destiny (North Node), and relationships (Sun in the 7th) into a dynamic support system for achieving my goals. This is a year to boldly pursue my soul purpose, with aligned collaborations and passionate action lighting the way forward.

Solar Return Ascendant (or rising) sign & ruling planet

You can also look at your Ascendant sign in your solar return chart to indicate your general temperament and attitude for the next 12 months. The ruler of the Ascendant also becomes the ruling planet for your year.

Taurus Ascendant: Grounded Growth and Stability

With a Solar Return Ascendant in Taurus, the year ahead emphasizes financial security and a steady, deliberate approach to my goals. These goals will likely come from advancements in my husband’s career and money through business partnerships. Taurus encourages me to take my time, build strong foundations, and avoid rushing, which aligns beautifully with my intentions for 2025.

Solar Return Mercury – What you are thinking about in the year ahead

Mercury in the 8th House: Deep Insights and Careful Scheduling

Mercury in Sagittarius in the 8th house points to a year of profound reflection and insight. The weak opposition to Jupiter in the 1st/2nd house warns against overcommitting, especially with writing deadlines for my book. Careful planning will be vital to maintaining a balance between deep intellectual pursuits and practical responsibilities.

Solar Return Venus – Your relationships, financial situation and what you value in the year ahead

Venus in the 8th House: Intensity in Love and Finances

With Venus in Capricorn in the 8th house, I see themes of transformation and shared resources in my intimate relationships and business. This aligns with my husband starting a new job and financial gifts from my parents. There’s also potential for joint financial gains, perhaps from a book advance or other partnerships.

Solar Return Mars – Where you may need to be assertive and take action in the year ahead

Mars in the 3rd House: Assertive Communication and Creative Drive

Mars in Leo energizes the 3rd house, enhancing my drive to write, learn, and communicate. As part of the grand fire trine, this placement supports productive and inspired action. While its opposition to Pluto in the 9th hints at potential stress around deadlines, it’s clear that the energy will ultimately fuel growth.

Solar Return Jupiter – Beneficial events & expansion in the year ahead

Jupiter in the 1st/2nd House: Personal and Financial Expansion

Jupiter’s placement in Gemini in the 1st house/ 2nd House cusp symbolizes a year of personal growth, confidence, and success. It brings optimism and a sense of spiritual support, though its opposition to Mercury reminds me to stay mindful of my limits. This is a year to create opportunities and embrace progress while remaining balanced.

Solar Return Saturn – Restriction and Structures in your life in the year ahead

Saturn in the 10th House: Professional Responsibility

Saturn in Pisces in the 10th house points to increased responsibilities in my career. It’s a year to reassess my goals and map out practical steps, even if some external limitations arise. This placement reinforces the importance of patience and persistence in maintaining a stable business foundation.

Solar Return Uranus – Where you’ll experience change in the year ahead

Uranus in the 1st House: Embracing Change and Freedom

Uranus in the 1st house hints at the potential for significant personal shifts, such as lifestyle changes or new approaches to work. While external circumstances may challenge my desire for freedom, this placement encourages me to create flexibility within my daily life.

Solar Return Neptune – Where you may feel confused in the year ahead

Neptune in the 10th House: Visibility and Fluid Goals

Neptune in Pisces influences my 10th house, reflecting my growing presence as a spiritual entrepreneur. At the same time, it acknowledges some ambiguity in my goals, balancing my public work with commitments to my family.

Solar Return Pluto – How you’ll experience power & transformation in the year ahead

Pluto in the 9th House: Transformative Learning and Publishing

Pluto in the 9th house suggests a deep transformation of my belief systems and philosophies. It also reflects my evolving identity as a published author, reinforcing the theme of growth and change through learning and creation.

Other things to look out for in a Solar Return Chart

Solar Return planets on solar return angles

You can also look for any solar return planets on solar return angles, as these will be highly significant in the year ahead. In 2025, I will not have any planets within a couple of degrees of the angles.

Critical degrees

If you have any Solar Return planets at 0 degrees or 29 degrees, these positions carry heightened significance for the year ahead. They represent critical transition, initiation, or culmination points in the areas they govern.

In my Solar Return for 2025, Pluto is at 0 degrees Aquarius in the 9th house, highlighting a year of profound transformation. This placement signifies a pivotal year for expanding my published work, evolving my belief systems, and potentially exploring opportunities connected to travel or international connections.

• Pluto in Aquarius: At 0 degrees, Pluto is freshly stepping into a new sign, emphasizing themes of innovation, disruption, and collective growth. In Aquarius, it may prompt me to revolutionize how I share my message, likely through my role as a published author and spiritual entrepreneur.
• 9th House Influence: The 9th House governs higher learning, publishing, philosophy, and travel. Pluto’s energy here suggests a year of profoundly transformative growth, reshaping my worldview and furthering my evolution as a thought leader. This could manifest through writing my book, engaging with diverse perspectives, or diving into new spiritual or intellectual paradigms.
• Themes of Initiation: With Pluto at 0 degrees, this is a year of beginnings, a foundational stage of stepping into my next professional and personal expansion chapter. It may bring challenges and opportunities, requiring me to let go of outdated beliefs or approaches to embrace a more aligned and empowered path forward.
• Publishing: This is a decisive year to focus on completing and refining my book, as Pluto in the 9th house supports transformative work that has the potential to leave a lasting impact.
• Learning and Teaching: Engaging in higher education or teaching others could further deepen my expertise and visibility as a leader in my field.
• Travel: While travel might not be a central focus, any journey—whether physical or metaphorical—will likely be transformative, offering new perspectives and insights.

Pluto at 0 degrees Aquarius underscores a year of rebirth and empowerment, particularly through publishing, belief systems, and intellectual pursuits. This placement invites me to embrace change and lean into my role as an agent of transformation for myself and the collective.

A Year of Balance and Momentum

Overall, 2025 feels like a year of steady progress, balancing family responsibilities with professional growth and creative pursuits. The grand fire trine energizes me to take bold, inspired action, while the Taurus Ascendant and Virgo Moon remind me to stay grounded and practical. By embracing the challenges and opportunities in my Solar Return, I can align my year with my higher purpose and soul-aligned goals.

Would you like to learn how to interpret your solar return chart?

Check out my solar return toolkit – just $49 – find out more here.

Create your Solar Return Chart