An Astro-Tarot Solar Return Spread and Year Ahead Predictions

Discover how to read your solar return chart and use Tarot to dive deeper into the themes, challenges, and opportunities of your year ahead!
solar return chart

It’s my birthday, so I want to share what I have learned about how to read a solar return chart, how to use it to predict key events or lessons with the help of a combination of the solar return and natal charts, and also a special birthday Tarot spread that takes into account the key aspects of the solar return chart and allows you to go a bit deeper into what those mean for you.

Go to the Solar Return Birthday Tarot Spread

How to Read a Solar Return Chart

A solar return chart is an astrological snapshot of the exact moment the Sun returns to its natal position each year. This could take place either on the day of your birthday, the day before or the day after. In my case, this year, it happened yesterday during the 11/1 Portal.

Your solar return chart offers insights into the themes, opportunities, and challenges for the year ahead.

How to Draw Up a Solar Return Chart

  1. Gather Your Details:
    • You’ll need your date, time, and place of birth, as well as the location where you’ll be physically present during your solar return (the exact moment the Sun returns to its natal position). This is important because the house placements in the chart depend on your current location.
  2. Use astro.com to Generate the Chart:
    • Visit astro.com and navigate to the “Extended Chart Selection” tool. (It’s free to use this service)
    • Input your natal details and select “Solar Return Chart” from the chart type dropdown menu. The default House settings is Placidus so feel free to change that to Whole Signs like I did in the example below.
    • Enter the location where you will spend your birthday to ensure accurate house placements.
  3. Interpret the Chart:
    • The chart will reveal the planetary placements, house emphasis, and aspects for the year ahead, which can provide a detailed roadmap for the year’s themes.

You can see my chart from yesterday below:

solar return chart 2025

Key Elements to Focus On

  1. Ascendant and Chart Ruler:
    • The Ascendant of the solar return chart sets the tone for your year. For example, a fiery Ascendant like Aries might indicate a year of action and new beginnings, whereas a down-to-earth Virgo Ascendant is all about practical self-improvement, organisation, and service.
    • The planet ruling the Ascendant (the “chart ruler”) highlights your primary focus. For example, if it’s Venus, relationships and creativity may take centre stage. Or, if Mercury is the chart ruler, themes of communication, learning, and adaptability are in the spotlight. Look at the house placement and aspects of the chart ruler for deeper insights into your year’s main priorities and challenges.
  2. The Sun’s Placement:
    • The house the Sun occupies shows where you’ll feel most energised and focused. Aspects the Sun makes to other planets provide additional insight into your vitality and identity.
  3. The Moon’s Role:
    • The Moon reveals emotional priorities and areas of change. Its house placement and aspects can signal important shifts in personal life, family, or home.
  4. Stelliums and House Emphasis:
    • A stellium (three or more planets in a house) indicates significant energy and activity in that area of life.
  5. Angular Houses (1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th):
    • Planets in these houses carry extra weight, focusing on identity, home, relationships, and career.
  6. Outer Planets:
    • Look at the placement of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto for insights into long-term changes or growth opportunities.
  7. Nodes of the Moon:
    • The North Node shows where growth and opportunities lie, while the South Node highlights areas of release.

Your Big Three

Once you have an overview of your solar return chart, picking out the three Major Arcana cards that correspond to your Big Three (Sun, Moon and Rising) for the year ahead is a fun exercise. Lay them out before you and you will have a good overview of the Major players. Of course, your Sun is always going to be the same as your Natal Chart Sun Sign.

Using the chart above, we have The Devil (Capricorn Sun), The Lovers (Gemini Moon) and The Hermit (Virgo Asc/Rising).

You can lay out your Natal Chart Big Three under the solar return cards to get a feel for the energy shift.

Predicting Key Events with the Solar Return Chart

If you want to go deeper, you can compare your solar return chart with your natal chart:

  • House Overlays: See where solar return planets fall in your natal houses to identify areas of focus or challenge.
  • Transits and Progressions: Combine your solar return chart with current transits and progressions to refine timing and intensity.
  • Eclipses and Lunations: Pay attention to where eclipses occur in your solar return chart, as these often coincide with life-altering events.

As I’m not an astrologer, I prefer to use the Tarot to go deeper and that is what we will do with the Solar Return Birthday Tarot Spread below:

A Solar Return Birthday Tarot Spread

To complement your solar return chart, here’s a seven-card Tarot spread to help you dive deeper into the themes and guidance for your year ahead:

solar return birthday tarot spread
  1. The Year’s Main Theme — Reflects the overall energy or focus for the year, echoing the Sun’s placement.
  2. Key Challenge — Reveals obstacles or growth areas, tied to the Ascendant or hard aspects.
  3. Emotional Focus — Offers insights into emotional priorities, echoing the Moon’s position.
  4. Opportunities for Growth — Highlights areas for expansion, often linked to Jupiter or the North Node.
  5. Relationships and Connections — Explores dynamics in love and partnerships, tied to Venus or the 7th house.
  6. Career and Ambitions — Illuminates professional themes, reflecting the 10th house or Mars.
  7. Chart Ruler Guidance — Provides deeper insight into the main focus for the year, reflecting the planet ruling the Ascendant and its position in the solar return chart.

Solar Return Birthday Tarot Reading

a solar return birthday tarot reading with the bee tarot
Bee Tarot

1. The Year’s Main Theme — Judgement

With Judgement representing the main theme and corresponding to the Sun in Capricorn in the 5th House, this is a year of transformation, self-awareness, and stepping into my purpose. The 5th house governs creativity, joy, and self-expression, suggesting that I will experience an awakening in how I pursue my passions and share my gifts with the world. This card invites me to reflect on past choices and embrace a rebirth.

Capricorn’s disciplined energy encourages structure and commitment to my creative projects. This year is about combining spiritual alignment (Judgement’s calling) with practicality (Capricorn’s influence) to fulfil my personal mission.

2. Key Challenge — 3 of Swords

The 3 of Swords as the key challenge highlights themes of heartbreak, emotional pain, or difficult truths to confront. Paired with Virgo Ascendant and Saturn in the 7th House, this suggests that challenges may arise in relationships or partnerships. Virgo’s critical nature could lead to overanalysing or being overly self-critical, while Saturn in the 7th house underscores lessons in commitment, boundaries, and patience.

The challenge lies in acknowledging and processing these emotions rather than repressing them. Use Virgo’s practical energy to approach relationship difficulties constructively, finding healing through honest communication and self-reflection.

3. Emotional Focus — The High Priestess

The High Priestess, aligned with the Moon in Gemini in the 10th House, emphasises inner wisdom and emotional intuition in my public and professional life. The Moon in Gemini encourages flexibility and communication, but the High Priestess reminds me to trust my inner voice rather than rely on external information.

I need to balance the intellectual curiosity of Gemini with the wisdom and depth of The High Priestess. Emotional intelligence will guide me toward success.

4. Opportunities for Growth — The Devil

With The Devil relating to Jupiter in Gemini in the 10th House, growth opportunities involve breaking free from limitations, unhealthy attachments, or patterns of overindulgence. Jupiter’s expansive influence in Gemini suggests intellectual and professional growth, but The Devil warns of being trapped by distractions or limiting beliefs.

It’s important to identify areas where I feel stuck or controlled by external pressures, particularly in my career or public image. Growth lies in taking responsibility for my choices and leveraging Jupiter’s optimism to transform challenges (such as limiting beliefs) into opportunities.

5. Relationships and Connections — 9 of Wands

The 9 of Wands, signifying my relationship sector, highlights perseverance and resilience in relationships. This suggests that I may encounter trials in close partnerships but that I have the strength to endure and overcome them. Venus in the 7th brings a focus on love and harmony, while Saturn asks for accountability and emotional maturity.

This card urges me to maintain healthy boundaries and stay committed to resolving conflicts. Relationships may require effort and patience, but the rewards will be long-lasting if I stay the course.

6. Career and Ambitions — Ace of Wands

The Ace of Wands, relating to my career sector, suggests a year of new beginnings and creative inspiration. Mars in Cancer brings a protective energy that encourages pursuing ambitions aligned with your emotional values. This card signals an exciting opportunity to start fresh, whether through a new project, role, or career path.

It’s best for me to focus on projects that ignite my passion and align with my deeper purpose. Mars in Cancer’s energy is a reminder to act with intention, balancing drive with sensitivity to my own needs and those of others.

7. Chart Ruler Guidance — Ace of Swords

With Mercury as the chart ruler, the Ace of Swords symbolises mental clarity, truth, and decisive action. This card encourages cutting through confusion and embracing a sharp, focused mindset to tackle challenges. Mercury’s influence highlights communication, analysis, and strategic planning as key tools for success.

It’s safe to trust the guidance of my intellect and intuition. I can use Mercury’s gift of clarity and the decisive energy of the Ace of Swords to make choices that align with my goals. Honesty and truth will be my guiding principles this year.

Final Thoughts

Using a solar return chart in tandem with a Solar Return Tarot spread offers a powerful way to align with the energies of your year ahead. By exploring the astrological themes and diving into the deeper guidance of the Tarot, you can approach your solar year with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Happy birthday to all my fellow solar return explorers! May your year ahead be filled with magic and meaningful transformation.

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