Guide
Antisolar Return: A Chart for the Middle of the Year
An antisolar return is a chart cast for the moment when the transiting Sun passes through the point opposite the natal Sun, exactly halfway between birthdays. It refines the second half of the yearly cycle begun by the solar return.
The idea behind the antisolar return
The yearly solar return is cast for the moment the Sun returns to its natal degree and covers a full twelve months. To break this period into more manageable segments, some astrologers use the antisolar return — a chart for the moment when the transiting Sun passes through the zodiac point opposite the natal one, that is, exactly 180 degrees away from it. This moment falls roughly in the middle of the yearly cycle, about six months after the birthday.
How the antisolar return is calculated
The calculation is similar to that of the solar return: first, the exact degree of the natal Sun is determined, then the point opposite it is calculated, and finally the moment when the transiting Sun passes exactly through that point is found. A separate chart is cast for this moment — with its own Ascendant, houses, and planetary positions.
Location for the chart
As with the solar return, in Maria Stern's academy the antisolar return is cast for the coordinates of the birthplace. If you calculate it using the current-location method, keep in mind that changing city or country will change the chart's houses and angles, and the reading will come out differently.
Why use the antisolar return
- Refines the second half of the yearly cycle begun by the solar return
- Helps identify the moment when the year's emphasis may shift
- Provides a separate Ascendant and houses for the second half of the year
- Useful when the events of the first and second halves of the year differ noticeably
The yearly solar return sets the overall tone, but over twelve months circumstances and mood often change. The antisolar return helps reveal this shift in emphasis, especially if one set of transits was active in the first half of the year, and a completely different set becomes active in the second.
How to read the antisolar return
The logic for reading the antisolar return is the same as for the solar return: you look at the sign and house of the Ascendant, the house occupied by the Sun, the planets near the chart's angles, and their aspects to the natal planets. The difference is that all of these observations apply not to the whole year, but only to its second half.
| Chart | Period covered |
|---|---|
| Solar return | The whole year, birthday to birthday |
| Antisolar return | The second half of the year, about six months |
The antisolar return in the bigger picture
The antisolar return doesn't replace the natal chart, the solar return, or progressions. It's an additional tool best used alongside these other forecasting techniques, not instead of them. It works best once you already have a yearly solar return chart and want a more detailed picture specifically for the second half of the yearly cycle.
Frequently asked questions
What is an antisolar return?
An antisolar return is a chart cast for the moment when the Sun reaches the degree opposite the natal Sun — that is, shifted by 180 degrees. This moment occurs roughly halfway between birthdays and splits the solar return's yearly cycle in two.
How is the antisolar return different from the solar return?
The solar return is cast for the exact moment the Sun returns to its natal degree and describes the whole year, while the antisolar return is cast for the opposite point and applies only to the second half of that year — from the halfway mark to the next birthday.
Should the antisolar return always be considered?
No, it's an optional technique, not a required one. It's useful when the yearly solar return shows different, and sometimes conflicting, themes for the first and second halves of the year, and you want to clarify that second part of the cycle specifically.
Which location should the antisolar return be cast for?
Just like the solar return, in Maria Stern's academy the antisolar return is cast for the birthplace. Other schools may suggest using the coordinates of your current location instead — in which case the houses and angles of the chart will be calculated differently.
Can the antisolar return be used without the solar return?
Technically yes, but in essence the antisolar return is a complement to the yearly solar return, not a standalone system. It's best understood as the second half of the same story that the solar return begins.
Related articles