ASTRO*CARTO*GRAPHY
AND THE SOLAR RETURN MAP
©2000 By David MeadowsNOTE: The following is an excerpt from Meadows, David: Where in the World With Astro*Carto*Graphy, Tempe, AZ: American Federation of Astrologers, 1998.
The solar return chart is calculated for the date and time when the sun returns to its exact position in the natal chart. This occurs once a year, either on the birthday, the day before or day after.
Astrologers cannot agree on which location should be used to calculate a solar return chart. Some say that the birthplace should always be used, no matter which location a person lives. Others insist that the place of residence should be used for the solar return chart.
Then there is the theory that a person can change a solar return chart by being in a different location for their birthday. E.g. a person goes on holiday for two weeks in Spain and celebrates a birthday there. As this person was in Spain for their birthday, then the co-ordinates of the holiday location should be used for the solar return.
The problem of deciding which location to use for a solar return is avoided when Astro*Carto*Graphy is used. When a solar return is drawn on a map of the world the planetary influences can be found at any location. Prince Charles was 39 years old when the skiing tragedy happened at Klosters. His 39th solar return is drawn for 8:17:59 am GMT on November 15, 1987, in London. From this information it is now possible to draw an Astro*Carto*Graphy map for the solar return.
The next problem that an astrologer faces when calculating a solar return is whether or not to allow for precession. In astrology two types of zodiac can be used, the tropical zodiac and sidereal zodiac. Each year when the sun returns to 0 degrees Aries this is not the same place in relation to the fixed stars. The vernal equinox (0 degrees Aries) moves backward 50.25 seconds each year through the fixed stars. This movement is called precession.
The effects of precession become more noticeable when a solar return is calculated. At age 18, the difference between a solar return calculated with and without precession will be 6 hours! The difference is 12 hours at age 36 and an entire day at age 72.
Using Prince Charles' natal chart, this time I calculated his 39th solar return allowing for precession. When we compare the two types of solar return charts for Prince Charles the angles are in completely different positions. With precession, the Midheaven is at 14 Aries 11, and without it, it is at 27 Virgo 47. Likewise, the Ascendant with precision is 5 Leo 58, and without it, it is 1 Sagittarius 57. This will obviously make a tremendous difference when an Astro*Carto*Graphy map is drawn for both types of solar return charts.
The key question is which type of solar return chart is used in Astro*Carto*Graphy? Having used both types of Astro*Carto*Graphy solar return maps it was very clear to me which chart was the correct one. An Astro*Carto*Graphy solar return map with precession was the one that provided accurate information.
After I arrived at this conclusion I asked Jim Lewis if he had done any research with Astro*Carto*Graphy solar return maps. He told me that his research showed that solar returns with precession were the most effective when applied to Astro*Carto*Graphy.
The Astro*Carto*Graphy solar return map shows the temporary influences for one year. The information obtained should be added to that found with Cyclo*Carto*Graphy to get a broader view of the temporary influences. With the Astro*Carto*Graphy solar return map further information is found about the temporary influences at specific locations.
An Astro*Carto*Graphy solar return map is interpretated in the same way as the usual Astro*Carto*Graphy map, i.e. planetary lines and latitude crossings at a location. Quite amazingly, MA IC is exact at Klosters. This shows the possibility of accidents when pushing himself to the limit, especially in any kind of sports. It could also show family arguments and disagreements.
The Astro*Carto*Graphy solar return map for Charles' 39th birthday shows very clearly that it would be a dangerous time for Charles to visit Klosters. The potential danger shown at Klosters on his Astro*Carto*Graphy map was triggered by the solar return MA IC exact there.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: David Meadows is a British astrologer who lives in Munich, Germany. In March 1986 he attended a weekend seminar on Astro*Carto*Graphy by Jim Lewis. Shortly after, he passed Jim Lewis' exam and became an Astro*Carto*Graphy certified interpreter. Since then he has specialised in Astro*Carto*Graphy and relocation astrology. Working as a semi-professional astrologer he has clients all around the world and is recognised as one of the leading experts on Astro*Carto*Graphy. See his Blog on AstroMapping Here
Since moving to Munich in 1991 he has achieved more in life than during the rest of his time in England. Astro*Carto*Graphy has changed his life for the better, and now he wants to pass this knowledge on to other astrologers. He is the author of the book Where in the World with Astro*Carto*Graphy, which was published in Arizona. As you would imagine, he used his own Astro*Carto*Graphy map both for his move to Munich and to find a publisher for his book.
DAVID MEADOWS
Represents ASTROWELT
Phone: +49 01577 2022815
Bussardstr. 4
82008 Unterhaching
Germany
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CREDITS: The background tile came from ABC Giant. The maps are from a free geographic clipart collection at Graphmaps. The animated globe is by Iband.
