Jackie's chart is one of my favorite examples of how solar and lunar returns work according to location. My observations over the last six years (while Marion and I have been consistently having our solar returns away from LA) point to the following summary of where returns are effective:
- In theory, ANY astrological chart (whether natal or return chart) is effective where it occurs and then also is subject to relocation. For a natal, e.g., you never lose your birth chart and you do pick up angularities from a relocated natal.
- Solar returns operate for the location where they first set up. Their relocated angles have little to no effect - in contrast to the original location, the relocated angles are extremely weak (little to no effect; even transits to them are weak).
- Lunar returns, on the other hand, are highly adaptable. Perhaps they are stronger where they first occur, but they readily take up the symbolism of a new location when one moves.
- The difference probably relates to the fact that Sun is enduring (even with symbolism of eternity), whereas Moon is naturally shifting and adapting.
One can argue that her 1963 SSR took on Washington symbolism when she moved home - where her deep mourning occurred - but one
doesn't need this to be true for the chart to be entirely descriptive of the year: The Hyannis Port SSR totally nails it. OTOH, relocating her chart to Dallas gives a chart with wrong symbolism: The one foreground aspect is a
Venus-Jupiter square, with the three foreground transiting planets being Sun (3°05' from Asc), Jupiter (3°42' from MC), and Venus (5°55' from Asc) - as wrong as it gets. Venus squared her Moon within 1°. - Natal planets give a more complicated picture, suggesting she'd be in the spotlight and get enormous press - which was true no matter where she went - and did have natal Pluto (which
could be taken to show the Dallas events, but unlikely given transiting Sun, Jupiter, and Venus dominating).
Lunar Returns are a different story: Here SLR and Demi-SLR set up in Washington and the event occurred in Dallas.
THE SLR for Dallas has a mix of planets but it's basic meaning seems consolidated by its foreground aspects: Transiting Sun squared natal Pluto (2°55' mundo) and natal Sun (1°59'). She would have a Pluto event, something separative that would permanently alter her life, probably occurring under a bright spotlight of attention. (Foreground planets were transiting Moon, Sun, and Neptune + natal Moon, Sun, Mercury, and Pluto.) Among partile non-foreground aspects we find a Venus-Saturn square 0°08'
in mundo.
But for Washington, where it setup, the message was even clearer: Foreground aspects included
Mars square Saturn (1°06' mundo) and Saturn square Neptune (1°26'). That's about as clear as it gets! (This SLR lasted through the period of the funeral, too; after which she had a new SLR 11/28 primarily showing her life turned inside-out with changes.) The closest angular planets are Saturn, 2°40' from Ascendant and Neptune 1°18' from Zenith, plus natal Neptune 1°43' from WP. (Other foreground planets were transiting Mars - so she had all three transiting malefics angular - plus natal Sun-Mercury.)
THE DEMI-SLR (November 14) for Dallas again tells the story best by its foreground aspects. The closest is a
Venus-Saturn square (1°00' mundo), each planet about 5° off angles. The other close foreground aspects, in order of strength, were Saturn-Neptune, Sun-Neptune, and Venus-Mars - all fitting. (Transits to the natal were complicated: The closest was Venus opposite her Jupiter, but this was part of Venus, Mars, and Saturn all aspecting her Jupiter.) Partile non-foreground aspects were led by a violent Mars-Pluto square 0°05' and Venus square Uranus 0°56'.
For Washington, the Demi-SLR was a little stranger. Foreground
transiting aspects involved benefics (Venus square Uranus, both aspecting natal Jupiter). Instead, it was her
natal Venus-Saturn opposition on angles, with natal Saturn the most angular planet overall, 0°44' from Descendant. One might have missed the tone of this if relying on transiting planets only, since Venus-Uranus usually is much more fun than she had for those two weeks - though the foreground natal planets would have caused one to stop and wonder if it was going to be
that much fun, given that close natal Venus-Saturn dominating. With a public figure, I'd probably have predicted some uncertainty or distance in an important relationship, not having fun at one's own party. The partile non-foreground aspects are the 0°05' Mars square Pluto square and 0°18' Saturn-Neptune square. - The telling detail, I think, is that she went from Washington where
natal Venus-Saturn was the unmistakably strongest aspect to Dallas where
transiting Venus-Saturn was the unmistakably strongest aspect.
Wherever she was relocated, in this grievous year tragedy was scheduled to center on that approximate week in late November: PSSR Moon was 18' from square SSR Saturn. (This came exactly to the angles at the moment of her husband's murder.)
This is probably going to be a primary example of how location operates in Volume II of The Big Book.
PS - When you have a chance, calculate her Kinetic Lunar Return and Demi-KLR, both for Dallas (the demi set up early on 11/22/63). These are absolutely stunning charts that show well why the KLR would be the one technique I'd add beyond the standard SSR/SLR.
