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Planetary Returns: How They Affect Your Life
An astrological chart consists of a Sun sign, Moon sign, and eight planets. Although the Sun and Moon are often mistakenly referred to as planets, they are more accurately known as luminaries. The Ascendant, or rising sign, is the sign which was rising on the eastern horizon at the exact moment of birth and has a powerful influence on one's personality. The Ascendant is important in astrology because it determines the overall theme of a birth chart, as well as the placement of each astrology planet.

Each planet and luminary, along with the Ascendant, rules a specific aspect of one's personality. For example, Venus rules the love life, so if you want to examine your love nature or the love nature of someone else, you would read about the Venus sign. Do you ever wonder why you hold anger inside until you finally explode? Check the placement of Mars in your chart for an explanation. Do you tend to encounter obstacles in a certain area of life for no known reason? Study the influence and placement of Saturn in your chart to find out why. Discover the significance of the Sun, Moon, Ascendant, and each astrology planet with the following guide.

Planetary returns happen when planets moving through the 12 signs of the zodiac return to the positions held in individual natal charts. The most obvious and well known planetary Return is the birthday. Once a year, The Sun returns to the position it holds in your natal chart. This happens to everyone, of course. Every day is a Solar Return, and someone's birthday. In fact, if you were born on Leap Year Day (February 29) you can still ascertain the date of your actual birthday you're your actual birthday, when the Sun reaches the position it held when you were born.

Professional astrologers draw up a special chart for the Solar Return, which will show significant events in the year ahead when the positions of planets on that day are compared to the positions of planets in the natal chart. For example, a chart drawn up for a birthday may show strong favorable aspects to natal Venus and the Sun, suggesting marriage.

To get a clearer idea of when these events are likely to occur, the astrologer may set up a series of Lunar Return charts. The Lunar Return occurs once a month, when the fast moving Moon returns to its natal position. Certain significant configurations in the Solar Return may be accentuated by a full or a new moon, or a repeat of planetary patterns, signifying which months the events in the Solar Return may occur.

Sun
The Sun determines how others see you. It represents your general personality and individuality. The Sun sign in your birth chart symbolizes your capacity to influence others as well as your ability to impress. Ego and willpower are also determined by the placement of the Sun in your chart. Your outer personality, or the side of your personality that is most apparent to others, is a blend between your Sun sign and Ascendant.

Outward demeanor, image and physical appearance are symbolized by the Ascendant (Rising Sign). The Ascendant is responsible for first impressions and is more immediately revealing than the Sun sign. It represents your distinctive style of interacting with people and characterizes the way you deal with others. Your physical characteristics - including mannerisms, body shape, and facial features - are determined by your Ascendant sign.

Moon
The position of the Moon in your birth chart is second only in importance to the position of the Sun. The Sun sign is the part of you that is most apparent on the surface - it is what others see. The Moon sign is the part of you that you see. The Moon sign signifies emotional responses and instinctive reactions. The moon is important in romantic relationships because it determines your emotional connection with another person and whether your emotional responses are compatible.

The Returns of Mercury, Venus and Mars come about at different times because their orbits take longer than the Sun or the Moon.

Mercury
Mercury returns can be erratic, because Mercury has a very erratic orbit, speeding up, slowing down and going stationary or retrograde (meaning that it sometimes looks as if it is standing still or going backwards). It may take less than a year to complete a tour of the zodiac and return to its natal position. As Mercury rules mental matters, communication and movement, it will accentuate whatever meaning and aspects Mercury already has in the natal chart. For example, a Mercury Return may show the birth of new ideas, a trip or an important message.

Learning and communication are represented by Mercury. The way you express thoughts and ideas is also symbolized by the placement of Mercury in your chart. In order to determine communication strengths

Venus
Venus also returns once a year, and accentuates her natal position and aspects. For example, if you have a very sociable Venus in Leo, you can expect the Venus Returns to be a time of social activity. Very strong aspects to a Venus Return may show significant life events, such as an engagement or marriage.

Venus rules the love nature and is extremely important in love relationships. Venus indicates how you express yourself in romantic relationships and marriage. The placement of Venus in your chart determines your attractiveness and sex appeal as well as how you go about attracting a partner. In a man's chart, the placement of Venus determines what type of woman he is attracted to. For example, if a man's Venus is in Scorpio, he will be attracted to a woman who has Scorpio traits such as a willful nature, a strong sexuality and an intense personality. In a woman's chart, Venus determines her view of femininity, as well as how she expresses her feminine qualities.

Mars
Mars returns to its natal position in a chart about every two years. Like Mercury and Venus, its primary purpose in a return is to show how the Mars energy in the chart is going to be expressed in the coming two years. A really significant return can see the person going into the army, taking up a sport or physical hobby, or entering a period of life when physical activity will be paramount. It all depends on how Mars is placed in the natal chart, and how it is aspected by other planets, both natal and transitional.

Mars rules energy and sex drive and is also an important factor in love relationships. The placement of Mars suggests where your energies are directed. In a woman's chart, the placement of Mars suggests what type of man she is attracted to. For instance, a woman who has Mars in Libra will be attracted to a man who has Libra characteristics such as charm, a friendly disposition, and a romantic nature. In a man's chart, Mars determines his view of masculinity, as well as how he expresses his masculine qualities.

Jupiter
A Jupiter Return occurs about every 12 years or so. Jupiter's orbit is similar to Mercury, it can seem to rush forward, hesitate or stop altogether quite frequently, so the actual length of its passage through the 12 signs can be considerably longer or shorter.

Jupiter has a reputation for benevolence and expansion, but it really does depend on how it is placed in an individual's chart. When there are poor aspects to Jupiter, the negative side can come out. This includes an over abundance of Jupiterian confidence in gambling, speculation and generosity. You can over speculate during a Jupiterian Return or be taken in by grandiose get-rich-quick schemes which will not prove fortunate in the long run, so it is always wise to get an astrologer's advice.

Jupiter is the planet of success, generosity, and luck. The position of Jupiter in a birth chart indicates where fortunate experiences are likely to occur in life. For example, a person who has Jupiter in the first house will likely benefit from being in the spotlight and is usually popular and likeable, since the first house represents image and first impressions.

Saturn
Saturn Returns occurs about every 30 years or so, and unlike Jupiter Returns (which are usually fun) they are a very serious matter. Saturn is not known as the ``planet of Karma'' for nothing.

The first Saturn return occurs at around the age of 30, a significant period in most lives. This is the first time you will feel the reap-what-you-sow side of Saturn, as you take stock of what you have achieved - or not - how your youthful dreams have been fulfilled - or not. It can be a time of serious navel gazing, and stock taking. Depending on the position and aspects of your natal Saturn, you may change direction altogether, or choose to consolidate on what you have already gained. Career, relationships and social connections can all come under the microscope.

The second Saturn Return occurs at about age 60, and once again the focus is on taking a searching look at what life has dealt you, and what you have dealt yourself. This can be a time of really sobering reflection as you consider retirement and the years ahead. Can you afford to retire? Have you sufficient other interests to look forward to a life without work? Or are you considering another venture, something that uses your accumulated skills and wisdom? What goes around comes around, that is the real meaning of a Saturn Return.

Saturn represents responsibility, self-discipline, obstacles and limitations. Saturn's influence can be restrictive, cold and severe and is usually noticeable in your life when you are faced with obstacles. How you deal with obstacles and limitations is represented by the characteristics of your Saturn sign. Saturn's position in your chart determines how well you accept responsibility, as well as which types of delays and opposition you can expect to encounter in life.

The following planets are slow-moving, spending more than seven years in each sign. These planets have a generational influence as well as an individual influence. While the characteristics of your Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto signs are still expressed to some degree in your personality, their influence is not as strong as the above-mentioned planets.

Returns of the planets, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, do not have the significance of returns of the inner planets because they move extremely slowly. But as they move, they will aspect natal planets in transit and at these times can point to periods of significant changes in the life.

Uranus
The planet Uranus spends 84 years traveling round the zodiac, so the astrologer is not so much concerned with its return as with its transits. When Uranus aspects a natal planet by transit, there can be sudden changes and upheavals in the life.

Uranus is the planet of change and originality and is responsible for the element of surprise in your life. Its placement in your chart determines where your originality and self-expression are best utilized.

Neptune
Similarly, Neptune will create periods of confusion, although it will also offer the opportunity to pursue a dream when it makes a close aspect by transit.

Mystery and illusion are represented by the planet Neptune. Neptune's influence determines the breadth of your imagination and whether you have an active fantasy life. The ideals and goals you have are indicated by the position of Neptune in your chart.

Pluto
Pluto, the slowest moving of all, and now downgraded to a dwarf planet by astronomers, seems to have an affect on deep seated attitudes, overturning them when it aspects. But research continues on Pluto, and on the larger planets, in astrology.

Pluto represents transformation and destruction. The transformation that takes place in your life due to Pluto's influence can be good or bad, depending on the position of Pluto in your chart. If you experience sudden, dramatic shifts in life, Pluto is likely to be prominent in your birth chart.

So when it comes to returns, the inner planets are the most significant - especially the Solar Return. Studying the influence of each astrology planet in a birth chart is essential when attempting to understand a person's true nature. The placement of each planet can provide clues to everything from a person's sex drive to obstacles he or she is likely to encounter in life. Understanding how each planet's energy impacts everyday life is important, however, learning how to use that energy is essential.