1. Integrating Solar Return Themes with Progressions & Transits Presented to the Network of Triangle Astrologers By Benjamin Bernstein of May 21, 2009

2.  Astrological practitioner, teacher, writer and lecturer  Host of This Week in Astrology, now in its second year as the #1 astrology podcast on iTunes  Lectured at three national astrology conferences (NCGR 2007, The Blast 2007, UAC 2008)  Astrology columnist for Aquarius and Natural Awakenings (WNC edition); published in Constellation (print and online) and online at sites including AstroDispatch.com Brief Bio

3.  Experienced, professionally certified counseling astrologer with clients worldwide  Professional member of the United States’ major astrological associations (including NCGR!)  Board member, retreat faculty and Marketing Director of the Organization for Professional Astrology (OPA)  Organizing founder of the Asheville Friends of Astrology Brief Bio

4. The Solar Return The moment that the Sun returns to its natal position each year Within two days of the birthday date The Solar Return chart describes major themes for the coming year Within that context, interpreted using the same basic principles as a natal chart

5. The Solar Return I have calculated these Solar Returns for the birthplace, without regard to where the person is living now or moving to during the solar return year. Yes, I know this is controversial!

6. Our Four Example Charts

7. Barack Obama 8/4/1961, 7:24 pm, Honolulu, HI

8. Obama Election Day Transits Mars (MC ruler) at top of chart Sun at top conjunct Neptune Pluto trine North Node in Leo (empowering leadership destiny) Neptune early in First House (a vision moving from dream to action) Saturn conjunct Mars (MC ruler): hard work rewarded with accomplishment

9. Barack Obama Election Day Transits 11/4/08

10. Obama Election Day Progressions P-Moon early in First House P-Moon opposed Uranus (the public delivers a surprise!) P-Moon applying to Nodal Axis (destiny fulfilled) P-Venus (ruler of 9 th House of politics) conjunct N-Node (destiny fulfilled) P-Sun sextile MC

11. Barack Obama Election Day Progres- sions 11/4/08

12. Obama 8/4/08 Solar Return Leo stellium (the king): Sun, Mercury, S-Node, Venus Moon (AS ruler) conjunct Mars (MC ruler) Jupiter (natural ruler of politics, and chart’s ruler of 9 th House of Politics) angular Uranus in 9 th (political surprise) opposing Moon (AS ruler) and Mars (MC ruler)

13. Barack Obama 2008 Solar Return 8/4/08, 3:51 am, Honolulu, HI

14. Albert Einstein 3/14/1879, 11:30 am, Ulm, Germany

15. Einstein 10/10/1922 (Nobel Prize) Transits Pluto conjunct AS!, trine Neptune (MC co-ruler) Uranus conjunct MC!, sextile Neptune (MC co-ruler) Neptune (MC co-ruler) trine Moon (AS ruler, the public), trine Venus in 10 th (virtual Grand Trine) Saturn biquintile MC, opposing Venus in 10th

16. Einstein 10/10/1922 (Nobel Prize) Transits

17. Einstein 10/10/1922 (Nobel Prize) Progressions P-Sun conjunct Neptune- Chiron midpoint P-Moon sextile Neptune- Chiron midpoint P-Mars recently conjunct Jupiter (MC co-ruler) P-MC semi-sextile Pluto (plutonium!)

18. Einstein 10/10/1922 (Nobel Prize) Progressions

19. Einstein Solar Return (3/14/1922) Neptune (natal MC co-ruler) at MC! Grand Trine Kite: Mars/Neptune, MC/Chiron, S-Node pointing to Moon/ N-Node! Grand Trine: Pluto/Uranus/AS! T-Square: Pluto, Chiron/S- Node, Saturn/N-Node/Moon/ Jupiter

20. Einstein 1922 Solar Return 3/14/1922 10:06 pm Ulm, Germany

21. Barry Bonds 7/24/1964, 5:13 pm, Riverside, CA

22. Barry Bonds 8/7/07 Transits Broke all-time Major League home run record Pluto opposing Mars (individual athletics, IC ruler) and Venus (MC ruler) and trine Mercury (DS ruler) Neptune square Jupiter (AS ruler), sextile AS Uranus conjunct Chiron, sesquiquadrate Sun Saturn conjunct Mercury, sextile Mars Jupiter sextile MC, square Uranus/Pluto Moon quincunx Neptune, square Chiron

23. Barry Bonds 8/7/07 transits (broke home run record)

24. Barry Bonds 8/7/07 Progressions Broke all-time Major League home run record P-Moon & P-Sun conjunct Pluto! P-AS opposing Sun! P-AS biquintile Mars (athletics, IC ruler) & Venus (MC ruler) P-Mars semi-sextile Venus P-Venus semi-sextile Mars

25. Barry Bonds 8/7/07 progressions (broke home run record)

26. Barry Bonds 7/25/07 Solar Return Uranus & N-Node elevated Neptune/Mars/Saturn T- Square Pluto trine Saturn @ Nadir, quintile N-Node, biquintile Sun Neptune quintile Jupiter Uranus sesquiquadrate Sun, trine Mercury (AS ruler), square AS Saturn (MC co-ruler) quintile AS Jupiter conjunct Moon & DS, square nodes, opposing AS

27. Barry Bonds 2007 Solar Return 7/25/07 2:20 am Riverside, CA

28. Sean Penn 8/17/1960, 3:17 pm, Burbank, CA

29. Sean Penn 2/22/09 Transits Academy Award for Best Actor (Milk ) Pluto square MC!, opposing Moon Neptune opposing Sun!, sextile Jupiter (AS ruler) Uranus square Jupiter (AS ruler), quincunx Uranus Saturn conjunct N-Node (most elevated), square Jupiter (AS ruler), AS Jupiter opposing Mercury (DS ruler), trine Mars (IC ruler)

30. Sean Penn 2/22/09 transits (Academy Award)

31. Sean Penn 2/22/09 Progressions Academy Award for Best Actor (Milk ) P-Sun square Saturn (2H ruler, natural career ruler), sextile Mercury in Leo (DS ruler) P-Mercury conjunct Neptune! P-Mercury trine Moon (public) P-Venus (MC ruler) quincunx Mars (IC ruler), square Mercury P-Mars conjunct Moon, semi-square Uranus

32. Sean Penn 2/22/09 progressions (Academy Award)

33. Sean Penn 2008 Solar Return Virtual Grand Trine!: MC, Jupiter, Saturn (DS co-ruler)/ Mercury/Venus (MC ruler) Sun (AS ruler) opposing Neptune/Chiron/N-Node, trine Pluto, conjunct AS Angular Pisces Moon conjunct Neptune in Aquarius Pluto in 5 th square Mars (IC ruler) Uranus opposing Venus-Mars midpoint (gay relationships)

34. Sean Penn 2008 Solar Return 8/17/08 5:38 am Burbank, CA

35. Do we have time to try this idea with the chart of an audience member?

36. Time to find out who won the free consultation!

37. Integrating Solar Return Themes with Progressions & Transits Presented to the Network of Triangle Astrologers By Benjamin Bernstein of May 21, 2009