This isn't an easy subject. That is, a really complicated system could be possible that would power even a commercial interpretation service weighing opposing qualities against each other, but this isn't that sophisticated. By copying the samples here, later on I'll be able to remember what I was thinking at this point (and perhaps think of something better). Also, better text needs to be written, customized to this need: At the moment, I'm using the hodge-podge of interpretations around the site to fill in the text. It should at least be clear enough for an astrologer who needs a starting point and, potentially, clear enough for a client.
This thread is here for discussion, expansion, revision, and whatever we want to do with it.
Identifying data
Chart label and data as identifying information. Of course should include natal identifying data. Straightforward.
Summary Assessment
State the effective period. For lunar returns, these should be one day before they occur through the day on which the successor chart occurs. For demi-lunars, the half period.
State briefly whether it would be good or bad overall (this is the main thing people want to know more than anything else): Add angularity scores of two Venuses and two Jupiters vs. two Marses and two Saturns. Have simple sentences for (1) benefics win, (2) malefics win, (3) neither group is strong, (4) both groups are strong but lean slightly one way or the other. If score of benefic or malefic is over 300, a different sentence stated in more extreme terms. If natal and transiting scores go opposite ways, have an additional sentence for each possibility. [Scores will run from 0 to 400 with 200 the cutoff. Scores 300+ would exist if three malefics or three benefics were near 100%, or if all four were foreground at all (4 x 75% = 300).]
- Ben > 300 & Mal < 200: This is an unusually positive period with many advantages and good feelings.
- Mal > 300 & Ben < 200: This is an unusually difficult period with likely conflict and unhappy feelings: You need to work hard to get a positive result.
- Ben > 200 & Mal < 200: This will be a good period with blessings outweighing difficulties.
- Mal > 200 & Ben < 200: This will be a difficult period with frustrations, blocks, or grievances outweighing comfort and ease.
- Ben & Mal > 200 & Ben > Mal: This period is positive on balance, with a few difficulties to overcome.
- Ben & Mal > 200 & Mal > Ben: This period is more difficult than easy, but with redeeming features.
- If Ben > 250, R Ve+Ju < 100, & R Ma+Sa > 150, add: In fact, the world is kinder to you right now than you are to the world and the people around you.
- If Mal > 250, R Ve+Ju > 100, & R Ma+Sa < 150, add: In fact, you may feel that the world is unreasonably hard on you, that you're bringing your best and not getting as good back in return.
- Where Change (Uranuses + Plutos) > 325, add: Expect significant changes as important pieces of your life shift (some of them permanently).
- ...or, where Change > 250, OR Change > 200, > Ben, > Mal: Circumstances in your life are shifting.
- Where Spotlight (Moons + Suns) > 325, add: You will be much more in the spotlight now, particularly receiving special attention from someone important to you.
- ...or, where Spotlight > 250, OR Spotlight > 200, > Ben, > Mal, add: Events now feel more personal to you, including receiving unusual attention from someone important to you that you value.
- Dignity (Suns + Jupiters) > 250 & Indignity (Saturns + Neptunes) < 200, add: Dignity, esteem, and respect for you increase along with a general sense of well-being.
- Indignity > 250 & Dignity < 200, add: Loss of dignity, esteem, and respect is likely as your general sense of well-being is threatened.
- T Jupiter + T Uranus > 180 and Mal < 100. You're due for some unexpected luck or other delightful surprise.
- If ONLY natal planets are foreground, add: You have more control over outcomes than usual because your words and actions are the main energies of the time.
- If ONLY transiting planets are foreground, add: Energies seem to come from the world around you, more or less indifferent to your involvement; nonetheless, you likely will echo those behaviors and reflect the energies back into the world by your actions and responses.
- If there are NO Class 1 angularities, add: This return chart is not too important, though: It will color the time, but its events have little long-term consequence.
- If two planets are in Class 1 angularity AND partile aspect with each other, add: This return chart is unusually important, with a likely pivotal event of unusual consequence.
Simple statements of the foreground planets (or at least the strongest ones). This just gets the cast of the play out on the stage without saying what action is going on. These two-liners are in this post: https://solunars.com/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=202#p22089
Probably these should be cut off at some threshold, such as: Always include all Class 1 angularities. If not at least three (for example), then list Class 2 angularities. If not the threshold number yet, add Class 3. In the unlikely case of none at all, say None.
SSR Moon
In a solar return, transiting Moon's aspects would come next. Though these should be rewritten for this purpose (stylistic consistency), my interps are here: https://solunars.com/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=2805 - If they are foreground, skip them here and let them flow into the next section instead.
Dynamic Expressions
The meat of the interpretation: All aspects among foreground planets, ranked in strength order. (Eventually, maybe ranked by strength order weighted by closeness of angularity.) I have standard interpretations for transit-to-transit and transit-to-natal aspects (stylistically inconsistent; and they all could benefit from sharpening).
https://www.solunars.com/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=206
https://www.solunars.com/viewforum.php?f=24
I think putting LONG natal-to-natal aspect interpretations here unbalances it. However, I think they should be listed last (in order of strength) with my one-line "aspect principles" from https://www.solunars.com/viewtopic.php? ... 089#p15282
. I'm not happy with the results, though, on testing a few big known events. Let's see how it shakes out in current SLRs.