Solar return
A solar return is the chart cast for the moment the Sun comes back to its exact natal degree each year, read as a portrait of the year ahead.
The return rarely falls on the birthday to the minute, and the place it is cast for matters: the same return read for two cities gives two different Ascendants and house structures.
Traditional practice compares the return to the natal chart rather than reading it alone, and pairs it with profections to see which house the year activates.
Frequently asked
Does it matter where I am on my birthday?
In the traditional method the return is cast for where you are, so location changes the angles.
How far ahead does a solar return read?
One year, from one return to the next.