Planetary returns

Planetary returns: what they are and how they are computed

A planetary return is the moment a transiting planet comes back to the degree of its natal position. The chart of that moment, cast for the place where you live, describes a new cycle: the lunar return — a month, the solar return and the returns of Mercury and Venus — a year, the Mars return — two years, Jupiter — twelve years, Saturn — about twenty-nine. The Saturn return at 29–30 and 58–59 is the best known of them: the time when the structure of one's life is tested.

DestinyKey computes the exact return moments with Swiss Ephemeris, including retrograde passes (Saturn and Jupiter may have three), casts the return chart for your current city and shows the house of the return planet, where the return Ascendant falls and which aspects it makes to the natal chart. The dates of all Jupiter and Saturn returns across a lifetime are free.

The free preview says a few words about each return; the paid readings open the cycle fully: the Saturn return — what closes and what begins, three passes with dates; the Jupiter, Mars, Venus and Mercury returns — the stage of the cycle, the key contacts and what to do in the coming months. The lunar return lives in the My Moon section.