An extract from Interpreting Solar and Lunar Returns: A Psychological Approach
by Babs Kirby and Janey Stubbs
As part of our commitment to showcasing thoughtful astrological writing, we’re pleased to share this extract from Interpreting Solar and Lunar Returns, written by Faculty Diploma holders Babs Kirby and Janey Stubbs. First published in 2013 and now being reprinted, the book is part of our Module 4 Reading List and continues to offer valuable insights for both students and practising astrologers.
In this excerpt from Chapter 8, Babs and Janey explore the symbolic meaning and interpretive potential of Mercury, Venus and Mars Returns, offering reflections drawn from decades of astrological practice. Their approach is grounded in psychological understanding, rich with example and nuance.
We’re delighted to highlight their work here, and to celebrate the enduring contributions of our Faculty alumni.
Mercury, Venus and Mars Returns, like Solar and Lunar Returns, are charts drawn up for the moment the planet in question returns to its natal position. With Mercury and Venus this will be once a year while Mars will return once every two years.
These planets can, however, be retrograde or stationary and this can complicate the setting up of a return chart. It is possible for there to be three returns for a particular period if the planet retrogrades over its natal position. In this case it will be the last one that gives the picture of the time ahead and the others will tell about the intervals in between. In other words, a chart lasts for the duration of a return even if this is only for two weeks. Of course, it is possible that this could be a very significant two weeks in your life so it is wise to look at all the charts. If the planet is stationary then it will not be possible to calculate an accurate chart and in these circumstances it will be of limited value, although something can still be learned from the aspects to the return planet.
The information given by Mercury, Venus and Mars returns is an extremely detailed picture of the way that the planet in question is functioning during the period being looked at. They tell the story of the year, or years, ahead from the perspective of the planet concerned. The house position will show in what area of life you will be using that planet’s energy – the kind of experiences and lessons that you will be involved in through its function. It shows what you have to learn at that particular time in order to develop the energy of the planet and use it in its most constructive way. The aspects will show what other energies have to be incorporated and how easy or difficult this will be to do.
In order to get a full picture it is important to work all round the chart as you would with a natal chart. Every detail will tell you something about how the planet is going to operate and how you can make the most of the opportunities and lessons it offers.
The angles of the return chart are going to be very important, especially if they are the same as your natal angles or if they fall on any planets in your natal chart. The Ascendant will show the way in which you express the energy of the return planet, how you go about using it at this particular time. The Midheaven will reveal what you are striving to achieve with this planet and how you will want the world to see you manifesting this planet’s energy.
Angular planets in the return chart will be of great significance, giving further information about the qualities you will want to incorporate into the expression of the return planet. For example, the Moon on the MC in a Mars Return will show that you want to be seen as someone who acts responsively and caringly and your aims concerning the expression of Mars will be emotional ones. Your goal will be to take action that gets your emotional needs met.
If the return planet is conjunct the Sun, then this will be a very important period. You will be seeking to incorporate the energy of the return planet more fully into your identity and it will play a very important role in helping to define who you are. Through the expression of your return planet you will strengthen and develop your creative energy, giving you a more solid sense of yourself and your purpose in life.
When looking at the other planets in a return chart it is important to bear in mind that in this chart they are functioning in relation to the return planet. So that, for instance, Venus in a Mercury Return will show how you seek to make loving contacts that stimulate your mind and enhance your communicative powers. Whereas, Mercury in a Venus Return will show your current state of thinking on love and relationships and how you will be communicating to those you love.
As you look at your return charts compare them with each other and to the Solar Return and look for any recurring themes. Important ones will show up in all the charts and often reflect unresolved issues from the natal chart. For example, if you have a difficult aspect between Venus and Pluto in your birth chart and all this year’s return charts have a Venus Pluto, Venus in the eighth or Venus in Scorpio theme, then this will be a time when you are drawn into something very deep which helps you to understand and resolve the difficulties of this powerfully transforming planetary energy.
Finally, always remember to refer back to the natal chart and especially to consider the condition of the return planet in question. The return chart will show how you go about developing the energy that you have and how your particular planetary pattern will be expressed. It will help you to understand the lessons to be learned and the ways in which you can work with the energy flow in order to develop its potential.
Mercury Returns
Before looking at the interpretation of Mercury Return charts it is helpful to consider the general principle of Mercury. Its function is one of linking and connecting and it represents the network which joins separate entities and brings them together. In the birth chart it shows our ability to communicate and make connections. Our ability to do this effectively defines how well or badly integrated we are with others.
It is the faculty by which we translate our imagery, feelings and experiences into words so that we can share them with others. It is also how we process and digest the information that we receive. Mercury brings people together, making dialogue possible but it also emphasises their separateness and difference.
A Mercury return then shows how you process and digest what you learn in that particular year. It shows what your mind will be focused on and how you will approach the whole process of assimilating and disseminating knowledge.
The house that Mercury is in will show where your attention will be directed, what will interest you, what you will be thinking and talking about and what it is you have to learn, and how you will go about these things, during the period of this return. The aspects will show which other qualities you will try to incorporate and how easy or difficult you will find this, and will greatly affect your mental approach. The planets involved will indicate some of the main lessons to be learned during the year. For example, with Mercury conjunct Jupiter you will learn how to communicate more freely and openly and will be pushed to be more broad minded and adventurous in your thinking. You will need to stretch and challenge your mind during this return. On the other hand, with Mercury conjunct Saturn, you will be learning to concentrate and discipline your mind. Your task will be to learn how to think and communicate in a more ordered and methodical way.
The Ascendant in a Mercury Return will show how you will want to express your ideas. In what way you will put yourself over to others and how you will connect with the world. If your return has Cancer rising, for instance, you will want to make an emotional contact with what you are interested in. You will need to feel strongly about subjects in order for them to interest you because you are looking for an emotional content in your mental activities. You will want to express yourself in a gentle and responsive way and may be reluctant to push your ideas forward.
The Mercury Return Midheaven is very important as it will show how you want to be seen as a communicator and how you go about achieving this.
It will show your current state of mind on what you want to achieve in life and where you are heading. For example, with Aries on the Midheaven, you will be thinking very clearly about what you want to achieve. You will want to put yourself over as an independent and decisive thinker. This will be a period when you are making plans and acting on them, a time of initiation and decision.
Venus Returns
Venus in the birth chart shows how we seek to make loving contacts with others in order to become more whole. It shows how and what we love, what we look for to make us happy, the things and people we value and what we find beautiful – our aesthetic sense. Venus defines what we need from others in order to feel loved and the way in which we express our love.
The Venus Return then shows how you will approach love and other relationships during that particular time. It shows what you are looking for from relationships and the sort of people you will be drawn to. It will show what will make you happy and how easily this will be achieved.
As in all return charts, the house containing the return planet will be the most significant factor. In this case then, the house position of Venus will show what you are looking for in love and what sort of relationships you are seeking to establish and the area of life where you seek happiness.
The aspects to Venus will show the way in which this happens and will colour your choices and the way you go about finding love and happiness. So that, for example, if Venus is in the fifth house, but forming a square to Saturn, then although fun and pleasure will be the avenue through which you seek love, the aspect to Saturn means that it may be a struggle to find. It can also indicate that when you do find it, it may be a rather more serious or burdensome relationship than you had wanted.
If Venus is unaspected then it may be difficult to bring love into your life and you may feel somewhat cut off and lonely. It will be hard for you to make close connections.
The Ascendant in a Venus Return will show the way in which you seek self-expression through love. If the Ascendant falls on a natal planet then this planet’s energy is going to be very significant in the way you relate and you will be developing the natal potential of this planet through your relationships this year.
The Venus Return Midheaven shows your conscious aims concerning the Venus principle. It reveals how you wish to be seen in relationships at this time and can also be a pointer to the kind of people who, through their relationship to you, will help to foster your career interests.
Angles which are the same as your natal ones are always significant and will indicate a crucial time in the growth of your ability to love and forge relationships.
Mars Returns
Before beginning to interpret Mars Return charts we need to remind ourselves of exactly what Mars symbolises in the natal chart. It is essentially the principle by which we seek to assert our individuality. It shows the way in which we act in order to meet the Sun’s needs. Mars is how we fight for survival as an individual in order to preserve our separate identity and resist the pressures put upon us to conform and compromise. It is how we express our energy and how we act; the way in which we actually do things. Mars also shows what, and who, we want and desire and how we go about getting these needs met. So that, for example, someone with Mars in Taurus will want stability, security and will need to build something solid and real and they will act in a methodical, thorough way in order to achieve this. Whereas, conversely, someone with Mars in Sagittarius will want space and freedom of movement and will act impulsively, spontaneously and enthusiastically.
A Mars Return, then, will tell you how you will use your energy to go about getting what you want over its two-year period. It shows what you most need to do in order to feel vital and alive and how you can act most effectively. It will also show the kind of people you are likely to be sexually attracted to at this time. This will be directly related to what you most need to develop your Mars energy. These people will have something to teach you about how successfully, or otherwise, you are using Mars.
Generally speaking, a Mars Return can be interpreted in much the same way as a Solar Return except that you need to bear in mind that it is telling you how you act and direct your energy. Because Mars symbolises action and doing, a Mars Return tends to be very clear and concrete. It is quite straightforward and direct compared with the subtler influences of Venus and Lunar Returns and this makes it simpler to interpret.
The house that Mars is in will show the main focus of your energy, where you need to take action and what you most want to do – what it is that will stimulate your energy most. It shows where you have to fight for what you want and the field of battle at that particular time. It is the area of life where you may be forced to fight for survival as an individual. The house of Mars tells where you can most effectively direct your energy and what you need to do in order to feel most alive. If you feel that you are not fully in touch with your Mars energy, then it would be helpful to make a conscious effort to concentrate your energy on the affairs of the house that Mars is in. This will stimulate the Mars principle and help you to get more in touch with it.
The aspects to Mars will show the qualities that you need to incorporate into the functioning of Mars at this time. For instance, if you have a Mars-Uranus aspect, you will need to develop your independence of action and are likely to be attracted to Uranian people and situations which help you to do this. The type of aspect will show whether this will be a smooth transition or a struggle.
The Ascending sign in a Mars Return will show the way in which you actually express your Mars energy during its duration. It will also indicate how you act in new situations, in what way you meet challenges at that particular time and the way in which you initiate new courses of action. For example, with Sagittarius rising, you will be full of enthusiasm and daring – leaping to meet challenges and taking everything on with optimism and enthusiasm. You will feel most alive when you are doing what you enjoy and may express your energy through sport, travel or study. It will be vital for you to have plenty of freedom of movement and to be physically active. In contrast, with Scorpio rising, your energy will be much more intense and inwardly directed and you may put a great deal of energy into self-transformation. You will need total involvement in what you do and will want it to have a profound effect on you. Your energy will be very concentrated at this time and you won’t waste it on anything superficial. It can be a period of working obsessively on one particular project.
The Midheaven in a Mars Return reveals your aims for the period – what you want to achieve by your actions and how you go about achieving it. It also shows the image you wish to project to the world through the Mars principle. With Libra on the Midheaven, for example, your aim may well be to get into a relationship but you may find it hard to know exactly how to go about it. Libra is too concerned with its relationship to others to combine comfortably with Mars. It will be difficult for you to be direct about what you want as you will be trying to project an image of someone who acts very reasonably and rationally, so you will tend to be very diplomatic in your actions. On the other hand with Leo on the Midheaven, you will want to make your mark as an individual and will put your energy into achieving that with vigour and directness. You will know exactly what you want to do and how to get it and will want to project an image of dignified and authoritative action.
If the Angles of your Mars Return are the same as in your natal chart then this will be an extremely significant period for you during which Mars will be instrumental in developing the potential of the natal angles.
A return with Mars on one of the angles will also be a very important time for you but now it will be the development of your Mars energy itself that will be very much emphasised.
Written by Babs Kirby and Janey Stubbs
Babs Kirby and Janey Stubbs met in a Faculty Diploma class back in 1983 and both gained their diplomas in 1984. They began running workshops together and out of these workshops, wrote two books together, originally published by Element books, which is no more. Interpreting Solar and Lunar Returns – A Psychological Approach is being reprinted by The Wessex Astrologer https://www.wessexastrologer.com/product/interpreting-solar-and-lunar-returns/ and Love and Sexuality – An Exploration of Venus and Mars which has recently been reprinted by Veneficia https://www.veneficiapublications.com/product-page/love-sexuality
Babs continues to see astrology clients www.babskirby.com but Janey has now retired.