Your Lunar Return: A Step-by-Step Guide

What is a Lunar Return Chart?

A Lunar Return Chart is a type of astrological chart used in the art of astrological prediction. It is drawn up for the exact moment the transiting Moon reaches the same degree that it occupied at the time of your birth.  For example if at the time of your birth, the moon was in 17 degrees Virgo then your lunar return will occur when the moon returns to 17 degrees Virgo again. This is a cycle that will repeat itself roughly once every 28 1/2 days. 

Location, Location, Location 

It is important to keep in mind that people don't always remain in the same place that they were born. Take myself for example. I was born in South Carolina but have resided in Washington state for the past 13 years. Therefore, when calculating your Lunar Return, you also have to keep in mind your present location or the location you plan to be at the time of your Lunar Return.   For instance, let us say that my Lunar Return will occur on May 8th and I planned to go on vacation to Myrtle Beach  that week. I look at my calendar and see that I actually will be in Myrtle Beach at the time of my Lunar Return --- so my lunar return chart will be calculated for that location. 

What Does a Lunar Return Chart Signify? 

The Lunar Return Chart will give an indication of your emotional outlook for the month and can point to events that may transpire or play themselves out over the course of the month in question. While some transits, such as the outer planets  may carry over from month to month the lunar return is thought to be valid for one month. 

Erecting the Chart(s) 

Please note that for the purpose of this blog entry, I am using the birth data of actor Chris Evans. First we must begin with the birth chart because the Lunar Return is always read against the backdrop of the birth, or natal chart.   Below, please find Chris natal chart. 

As you can see, his Sun Sign is Gemini, his Moon Sign is Scorpio and his Rising Sign is Scorpio.  Specifically, his Moon is in 12 degrees Scorpio. So his Lunar Return will occur each month when the moon return to 12 degrees Scorpio.  His next Lunar Return will occur on April 20th, 2019 at 4:56 am. Since Chris is an actor and his profession requires him to travel a great bit I have no idea where he will be on 4/20, so for the purpose of this blog entry I have set his Lunar Return to the city of his birth which is Boston MA. 

When combined on a bi-wheel the chart appears as below with the inner wheel being the birth chart and the outer wheel being the lunar return chart.  

Interpreting the Lunar Return: A Step by Step Guide 

The first thing I look at is the rising sign, or ascendant, in the Lunar Return Chart (LR). The Ascendant represents the mask you wear, how you are perceived by others, etc...despite your Sun Sign (the essence of who you are). 

As you can see from the above chart, Chris has Aries Rising in his LR.  We know that his Sun Sign is Gemini.  What this tells me is that whereas Chris is normally energetic, curious,  and vacillating (natal sun in Gemini) his energy this month will be more forceful, direct, and assertive (Aries rising). He may even use some of this focus and energy to start a new project (Aries rules beginnings).  

Because Chris is an actor who's profession requires him to change his appearance from time to time, he may even find himself working on a project that changes his appearance from his usual Gemini body type to that of something more Aries like.  Geminis are generally tall, strong, and energetic with a high forehead and long, straight nose. Aries men, however,  are generally more rugged with a prominent chin or mouth. They sometimes, but not always, have some type of mark such as a scar or mole on their face. 

The next thing I look at is what house does the Ascendant fall in the birth chart. Chris has Aries in the 6th house in his birth chart. This tells me that issues of work, health, and his daily routine will be major factors in his life this month. 

Next, we look at the chart ruler. The Chart Ruler is the planet that rules the Ascendant in any chart. Again, Chris has Aries rising in his LR which is ruled by Mars. Mars is in the 3rd House in his LR. This house rules communication, short journeys, and his near environment. 

At this point we can start to put together some of the information we have gathered thus far. For example, you might say something along the lines of the following:

"Your normally divided energy comes more into focus this month as you present yourself as more assertive, adventurous, and decisive.  You may stray from your usual routines and try things that are new and different. You may initiate a new project in your near environment which will require several short trips and more than your usual amount of communication with others such as trading more calls and emails, and taking more meetings than you normally do."

The next thing I look at are the angles. The angles are a term which refers to the Angular Houses in astrology. The Angular Houses are the 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th houses.  The Angular Houses are thought to be the most  important houses in astrology. 

• The first house represents your self, your ego, and outlook 
• The fourth house represents your private life. 
• The seventh house represents your relationships. 
• The tenth house represents your public life, reputation, etc... 

What I look at is what signs are in these angular houses and if they are occupied by any planets. 

In Chris's LR chart, the angles flow with the natural chart, so that he has Aries in the first house, Cancer in the fourth, Libra in the seventh and Capricorn in the tenth. He has Mercury and Chiron in the first house and Pluto and Saturn in the tenth house. He has the North Node in the 4th house, although I would not consider it when interpreting his LR, and he has no planets in his 7th House. 

A quick interpretation of his angles are as follows

• First House - Aries. The native comes across as forceful, assertive, adventurous, and eager. 
• Fourth House- Cancer. The native is very attached to his home and family. He needs roots and traditions from which he draws strength. 
• Seventh House- Libra. The native is open-minded yet careful and discriminating in who he chooses to enter into relationships of all kinds with.  He needs someone who is an equal and may have trouble finding someone who lives up the ideal he holds in his mind. 
• Tenth House- Capricorn.  The native is a hard worker who takes hi career, profession, and reputation very seriously.  

Any planets in these houses will be interpreted as being much more powerful than if they were in  the Succedent or Cadent houses. Their energy will carry more weight and their effects will be more powerfully felt. 

Then we move on to look at the individual placements of the Personal and Social Planets. The Personal Planets are the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars. The Social Planets are Jupiter and Saturn.  The Interpersonal, or Generational Planets, are not considered in the Lunar Return because they move so slowly and would not change from month to month.  The Generational Planets would be considered in the Solar Return. 

• The Sun's placement will give an indication of your focus or direction for the month. Whatever house the sun occupies will shine brighter and greater than the other houses. 
• The Moon's placement provides the emotional lens through which you view the world and your environment. 
• Mercury's placement describes your mind and thought processes for the month.  Not only what you are thinking about but how you are thinking. 
• Venus's placement will give an indicate of your attachments. What are you attracted to and who or what is attracted to you. 
• Mar's placement will describe your motivation(s) for the month.  Where and how you your energy will be spent. 
• Jupiter's placement indicates your inspiration. The house that Jupiter occupies will indicate the area of life where you can grow and what inspires you to grow and be better. This is what will help you achieve your goals and aspirations. 
• Saturn's placement represents your obstacles.  Saturn's house will indicate any challenges in your path to be overcome.  This is the area of life that will require discipline on your part. 

Of course I would also take into consideration the essential dignity of each planet as well as if they are retrograde or not. For example on April 20th and through August of 2019, Jupiter will be in retrograde and this will color my interpretation of Jupiter in Taurus and the 2nd House in his Lunar Return Chart. 

From here I look at the aspects, or relationships, between the planets in the lunar return chart. I personally do not look at all the aspect but simply the closest hard aspect and the closest soft aspect . Hard aspects are the squares and oppositions. They bring challenges and difficulties from which we can grow, learn, and evolve.  Soft aspects are trines and sextiles and they make things flow more easily. Conjunctions are more neutral and are thought to blend and amplify the energies of the two planets concerned. 

Looking at the above LR, Chris's closest Soft Aspect is the Sun Trine Jupiter and his closest Hard Aspect is Mercury Square Jupiter.  So it would appear that his personality and charisma will shine through and help him this month but he may struggle with how he exchanges thoughts and ideas with others. Therefore, when dealing with others it is important that he does not trade on his looks, personality, or reputation (even though that is what is going to get his foot in the door) but he needs to be able to voice his ideas, opinions and thoughts in a clear and understandable manner as well as learn with the intent to listen and not to respond. 

Finally, I look at the aspects between the planets in the lunar return and the planets in the natal chart. Again, I only look at the closest hard aspect and the closest soft aspect. Since this is a Lunar Return, the Transit Moon will always conjunct the Natal Moon and so this is not an aspect which I take into consideration. 

Once we have completed our examination of the chart, we take all the information that we have gleaned from the chart and organize it in a clear, concise, and easy to understand report. This process is known as astrological synthesis.  

Carolina Dean