Introduction : Solar Return Sun in the First House
This is where it begins: the solar return Sun in the first house. I recently had this solar return placement and what it seemed to suggest to me was a year in which I really needed to think about who I was – and who I wanted to be. I felt I had to assert my own interests, or -at least – not lose sight of them. All of those are common responses to having the solar return Sun in the first house. however I appreciate it’s a highly personal placement, so how it works out is more subjective than many solar return placements tend to be.
So, in this post, I’m presenting you with a draft from my forthcoming book, Solar Returns: Planets in Houses, where I’ve set out my thoughts about this solar return Sun placement. I’m aiming to release this book in 2024, and what I hope you will gain from this post is an idea of how the solar return sun in the first house prompts a process of personal appreciation, awareness and – often – a sense of personal renewal. You touch base with yourself – and that’s and important part of being reminded of who you are.
From Solar Returns: Planets in Houses | Solar Return Sun in the First House
When you have the solar return sun in the first house, it’s shining on you. This is an important year for you – or at least you will perceive it to be so – for a variety of reasons. You may feel that this is the year (or one of those years) where you begin to feel in charge of your own life or this year will represent a fresh start for you as the first house of your solar return chart is associated with new beginnings,
The Sun represents your inner motivation, your sense of who you are and your sense of purpose. You may feel re-invigorated and develop a fresh approach to life. You feel that things are going to be different from now on; you may decide to draw a line between the past and the present. This year is the first year of the rest of your life and you may be determined to make it a major improvement on what has passed before.
So, what’s making the difference? After all, you’re the same person you were last year – or are you? You may have experienced changes that affect your identity. For example, a client was married as this placement in her solar return chart took effect; it affected her personal identity not only because she changed her name, but she also recognised that the way she presented herself – as part of a married couple – had fundamentally changer her perceptions of who she was.
Major changes in the way you see yourself are not uncommon with this placement – and they often coincide with significant life changes. This is quite distinct from the ‘public identity’ shifts we experience with placements in (or major planetary transits through) the tenth house – though they may (in some instances) be related; when your public identity is affected (marriage, divorce, retirement etc.) a personal shift in consciousness almost always occurs as a result of having the solar return Sun in the first house.
‘Personal’ is a word that’s always prominent with the solar return Sun in the first house. You become self-critical. This may mean you struggle with personal habits or behaviours that have come to your conscious awareness. They may be detrimental to your health and wellbeing, or you recognise them as being unflattering to your self-image. The Sun represents your conscious self – and when it rises in the first solar return house, it shines its light on things that you may have been keeping in the shadows.
You may feel that you have been in a shadow – or overshadowed – for too long. This is a good time to take action to present yourself in a new light; the solar return Sun in the first house represents the sunrise; it presents you with the opportunity for a fresh start at both an inner and outer level.This re-set can arise for many reasons other than the ‘identity change’ that I’ve already mentioned. Some of you may have had difficult experiences in the year or two leading up to this placement.
Life changes may be planned or unplanned, but it’s often the unplanned variety – such as illness or other personal difficulties – that prompt us to renew our approach to life. Sometimes such occurrences affect your appearance. With the solar return Sun in the first house, you may be coming to terms with a physical change – or you may initiate a change in the way you look as part of your personal ‘make-over’.
This year – for most of you – changes in appearance are something that you will engage with in a positive fashion, as inner personal renewal is often matched by a conscious desire to re-vamp your exterior too. So, you may purchase a new wardrobe (especially if Venus accompanies the solar return Sun in the first house) or you may have cosmetic treatments or visit the hair salon or gym more frequently than usual.
One reason for this may be a desire to be seen. A desire to shine is something that is shared by us all – in fact it’s a core solar trait – yet sometimes we fail to realise how important it is to be acknowledged. Many people will have been taught not to draw attention to themselves. Unfortunately, this attitude can overshadow your right to assert yourself – especially in terms of your own needs and desires. This year, the solar return Sun in the first house may mark the moment when you wake up to this – and decide to make a stand.
Personal empowerment may underpin your motives. Defining who you are may be a theme that appears in your life when you have the solar return sun in the first house – and it may appear in many forms. You may define yourself by changing your personal style, but that’s not the only form of personal statement you may be required to make. You may be required to provide evidence of your identity – perhaps by a public authority or other organisation.
Making a declaration that involves affirming who you are – and what you’re about – may occur during this year. For example, you may write (or re-write) your ‘CV’ or resumé, or you may write a personal statement in connection with an employment or educational opportunity. When you undertake such an exercise, it focuses your attention on who you are and what makes you a good candidate. The solar return Sun in the first house prompts you to define where you want to go in life, what your aims and objectives are – and how you plan to get there.
If you hadn’t thought about those issues in detail before this year, you’ll certainly be more familiar with them by the year end. The solar return sun in the first house enables you to feel a sense of empowerment and revitalises your sense of who you are. This is vital if you’re going to be able to capitalise on any new opportunities that may come your way, or if you need to make a new beginning in any area of your life.
The solar return Sun in the first house enables you to focus on yourself and express yourself with new-found confidence, and it’s confidence that makes a difference in the way that you approach life during this solar return year – and beyond. Often the influence of a solar return placement lasts only for the duration of the year, however, it’s likely that you will retain the positive outlook that marks this year as one of the pivotal moments in your life.
Further Reading
Solar Returns: The Houses in Your Solar Return Chart
Solar Returns: The Planets in Your Solar Return Chart
Saturn in the Solar Return Fourth House
Mars in the Solar Return Eighth House
Sara Shipman | Solar Returns: An Introduction
Sara Shipman | Solar Returns: Planets in Houses
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© Sara Shipman 2023
Picture Credit: Image by Avi Chomotovski from Pixabay
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