Rodden Rating AA: BC/HR IN HAND.
I have read dozens of astrology books and hundreds of astrological articles. With my astrological experiences, Jim Eshelman’s book ‘Interpreting Solar Returns’ offers important astrological Keys for the astrologer to seeing/understanding the methodology/techniques Cyril Fagan used for Solar Returns. According to Cyril Fagan, he learned many important astrological principles from fact finding tours to Egypt, paying close attention to the most ancient cultures of Egypt. Most astrologers don’t realize Fagan was an accomplished Egyptologist. He deciphered the ancient Egyptian symbols/hieroglyphic writings for the 7 known planets and also their 5 degree pentad star groups. A careful reading of ‘Astrological Origins’ by Fagan will prove to the astrologer; the astronomers/astrologers of ancient Egypt knew more about astrology’s art that history acknowledges. Jim Eshelman has penned an important book for any astrologer, regardless of their astrological schooling disciplines, for seeing and understanding certain timing factors for important ‘intrinsic’ meanings of planetary symbolism. It is important to understand, the astrologer must have an accurate timed birth chart and precession must be accounted for Fagan’s Solar Return methods to be seen/understood. Fagan relocated his return charts to the native’s residence and placed little emphasis on Sign/Constellations meanings. Precession is accounted for by either using the Tropical Zodiac and accounting for Precession or using the Sidereal Zodiac that needs no adjustments for precession. For this post about Tiger Wood’s 08 & 09 Solar Return symbolism, I will use the Tropical Zodiac corrected for precession. Without allowing for the Time factor of precession the astrologer gets the wrong time for the all important placements of the Solar Moon & Solar Angles inside the Solar Return Wheels.
Eshelman states in Chapter 7 under the heading Timing:
“A Solar Return describes the life circumstances an individual experiences during the period of its effects. We have seen how it can be interpreted as an alternative birth chart for the course of the year. At the same time, the Solar Return is the basis of the most powerful forecasting system presently known to astrological technology.”
Looking at Tiger’s 08 SSR (located to Orlando, Fl.) we see a Solar Return Moon at 14 Aq., a Solar Return Neptune at 22 Aq.., and a Solar Return Venus at 25 Aquarius. Most astrologers would pay little attention to this wide orb conjunct aspect of SR (Solar Return) Moon to SR Neptune & SR Venus. Quoting from Jim’s book the following:
“…This, then, isolates the Moon as the most crucial agent in a Solar Return, after the angles. Lunar aspects to natal and solar planets can never be treated lightly, even when rather wide in orb. So remarkable is this single factor that, if lunar aspects are nearly exact while the foreground planets are not exceptionally close to the angles, the solar Moon can be the primary theme-setter of the chart for the year ahead, bar none.”
The average annual motion of the secondary progressed Solar Moon is 13 degrees per solar year. A quick mental scan tells us this important progressed rate of the Solar Moon will make exact conjunct and exact conjunct Midpoint aspects to SR Venus & Neptune in the last quarter of Tiger’s 08 Solar Year. Jim’s book teaches pertaining to Solar Return progressions that:
“These figures will be useful in approximating when Solar Return progressions will mature.”
Cyril Fagan considered exact secondary progressed Solar Moon aspects to be very important. From Fagan writings:
“The secondary progressions of the Solar Moon to the conjunction or opposition of any planet during the solar year gives a very accurate timing for an event of the nature of the planet.”
Since Jim’s book clearly tells us the Solar Moon aspects with natal and solar planets will offer the astrologer the ‘primary theme-setter’ for a Solar Return, let me quote the intrinsic meaning from Ebertin’s book (another excellent book) ‘The Combination of Stellar Influences’ pertaining to all 3 combinations of aspects with Moon/Venus, Venus/Neptune, & Moon/Neptune:
“Moodiness, impressionability, the tendency to be tempted or seduced easily, misguided or misdirected feelings of love, an unnatural behavior. Love expressing itself in the wrong way, an unhappy love, the necessity for renunciation. Over-enthusiastic love and adoration, peculiar and strange tendencies in the expression of love, odd or perverse inclinations. A chaotic emotional life, a dreamy nature, an inclination to be influenced or led easily by other people. A renouncing, unhappy or disappointed woman.”
It should also be noted Tiger’s 08 SR features a foreground tight conjunction of Mars & Pluto with SR Moon applying (1.38) to a semisquare to SR Pluto. This adds a drive (Mars) and intensity (Pluto) to possible manifestations with Tiger’s SR Moon. This is also consistence with Eshelman’s book teachings.
Also note the exact Saturn-Uranus opposition in Sept 09 fell ‘partile’ (less than 1 degree) on Tiger’s natal Ascendant-Descendant (relationships) axis. Ebertin’s ‘principle’ on the intrinsic nature of Saturn-Uranus symbolism:
“Irritability and inhibition, tension”
Taking a brief look at Tiger’s December 09 Solar Return, we note the secondary progressed SR Moon will put on partile, exact dynamic aspects (0,90,180) to SR Pluto, Saturn, and Venus. For brevity sake, I will not quote Ebertin’s delineative quotes for these Stellar Combinations but by the frenzy of current news by the media, there appears there is high probability Tiger’s 09 SR will mark the solar year for execution of the prenuptial agreement!
Jim’s book also clearly teaches if the astrologer is looking for symbolism to tell us possibilities on how the native will react to their Solar Returns—look for important natal aspects falling close to the angles of a Solar Return. Jim states:
“Natal planets conjunct Solar Return angles essentially show how an individual is reacting personally to the Solar Return.”
We note Tiger’s natal Mercury-Saturn opposition falling tightly on the relationship axis of his 09 Solar Return Ascendant-Descendant! Ebertin states with the intrinsic meaning of the combination of Mercury-Saturn-Ascendant:
“The tendency to seclude oneself from others, going one’s own way in life…separation.”
Francis Bacon was quoted as saying: “Some books are to be tasted, others are to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.”
No astrologer could have predicted Tiger’s 09 News Event, but any astrologer who ‘chews & digests’ Eshelman’s book ‘Interpreting Solar Returns’-- will absorb important astrological knowledge for themselves and their clients, perpetuated by Cyril Fagan teachings!
Regards, Steve