What is a Solar Return Consultation anyway?

I get this question a lot—along with: How is a Solar Return Consultation DIFFERENT than a Birth Chart Consultation?

My goal is to answer both in this week’s article! If you have questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below.

In my previous article, I shared why it’s helpful to have an Astrology Birth Chart consultation with me.If you’d like to read the full article, click this button:

Take me to the article

Summarizing that article:“An astrology birth chart reading offers personalized insights into your strengths, challenges, and life path. It serves as a cosmic map, helping you understand your energy patterns and guiding you toward self-awareness and growth. Such readings can also assist parents in supporting their children's unique needs.”

So why would you want a Solar Return Consultation as well if a Birth Chart Consultation already gives you all of that?

Fair question.

While your Birth Chart offers the cosmic map for your entire life, a Solar Return focuses on birthday to birthday—giving you insight into just this year’s journey.

Why is that helpful?

Because as we grow and evolve, life throws in twists and turns that shape us. These experiences not only challenge us but show us our strength. A Solar Return Consultation can offer insight into:

• What are the possibilities for this next trip around the Sun?

• What energy might flow easily—and what might feel more challenging? (Remember: easy and challenging aren’t good or bad—they’re just energy.)

• How might I approach this year differently than the last?

• What timing might best support my goals?

Here’s what I do in a Solar Return Consultation that’s different from a Birth Chart Consultation (also called a Natal Chart):

First, I ask where you'll be on your birthday. That location helps me cast your Solar Return chart. Why does this matter? Because your location can shift the house sizes in the chart, which influences where certain energies show up more strongly. This is especially useful for timing and focus.

Next, I look at your Rising Sign for the year. In your Natal Chart, your Rising Sign is the first impression you give others—it’s sometimes called the “mask” you wear. In a Solar Return chart, it shows the impression you'll give in the year ahead—how you might present or reveal yourself to others.

Then we turn to the Moon. The Moon reflects your emotional temperament and is always shifting. I look at its sign and phase at your birthday to understand where your emotional energy may focus in the coming year.

From there, we check where the Sun lands—this shows where your light and vitality want to shine—and we explore how the other planets interact in this annual snapshot of your life.

Last (and my favorite part!)—we meet your Time Lord for the year.

What’s a Time Lord?

It’s a planet that will be especially influential for you based on your age and your Birth Chart.

For example, I'm 49 as I write this, and I'm in a 2nd House year. My 2nd House is ruled by Gemini (using Whole Sign), which means Mercury is my Time Lord.

So anything Mercury’s doing from birthday to birthday? It matters!

Spoiler: it’s definitely mattered for me. I usually breeze through Mercury retrogrades since I was born with one. But this year—especially the last one, when Mercury was right next to Venus—I’ve felt every single shift.

As an added gift, when you book a Solar Return session with me, you’ll receive a special meditation I created just for this purpose—meeting and connecting with your Time Lord for the year.

This guided meditation will be included at no additional cost in the email I send after your session. It's a beautiful way to reflect and check in with your Time Lord’s energy throughout the year—whether you're seeking insight, grounding, or gentle guidance.

Bottom line, why is this helpful to know?

Because when you’re aware of the energy available to you, you can work with it. That makes planning ahead easier, knowing when to ask for help clearer, and identifying your "helpers" a whole lot smoother.

Does this predict the future?

Yes and no.

Yes—because it highlights the energetic themes of your year based on planetary influence.

No—because you still have free will. You can always choose differently. That’s true for any consultation, whether it's with me or someone else. My job is to show you what’s possible. What you do with that is entirely up to you.

In closing: A Solar Return Consultation might share a few tools with a Birth Chart reading, but it’s not the same. It helps you tap into the energy of right now—this year of your life—not your whole life path.

If it’s your birthday month, I offer 15% off all my services, including this one.To get your special code, email me at: sarah@writteninthestars.me

You can check out all my services on this page

Book a Session today