#15: Annual Profections
And some other highly recommended Solar Return rituals
Energy of the Moment:
Mind: Knight of Swords
Body: Judgement
Spirit: 9 of Pentacles
While the mind is often full of tricks…you can trust yours right now. Especially with the Mercury Cazimi moment yesterday, you’ve likely had some clear revelations this weekend. Note the powerful conversations you’re having now (not just with others, but with yourself) and listen for them continuing to unfold throughout the week.
You’ll be able to feel it in your BONES when something reaches a breaking point and while it might elicit some power struggles initially, these conversations are clearing space for some sparkly new ideas. Your higher self is reminding you that you were born to be independent, financially and otherwise, so keep doing the work. Stay focused on the road ahead and you will fly.
PS: Try eating some brain healthy foods this week like strawberries, walnuts, and kale. Your body will thank you!
Hi angels,
I’ve missed you! I began July deathly ill with the big C and recently emerged from the abyss. Because I’ve just been trying to SURVIVE lately and have been in a reset mode since— I thought it would be ~fun~ to talk about some easy, approachable ritual practices I do around my birthday.
If you’re looking to tap into your own spirituality, these intentional birthday rituals are a beautiful way to honor another year around the Sun and add a little magic to your sPeCiAl DaY:
Casting your “Solar Return Chart”
Figuring out your “Annual Profection”
Booking my “Solar Return Birthday Tarot Reading” or doing it yourself!
First thing to note: the Solar Return is not the same thing as a birthday.
When I was but a little baby grasshopper girl hoping to become an astrologer, I thought it was *super cute* to tell people “happy solar return!” instead of happy birthday, thinking that it meant the same thing. Well, that’s not exactly true (but it’s still cute).
The Solar Return is when the Sun returns to the EXACT SAME BIRTH DEGREE you see in your natal/birth chart. And it’s important to know that this may or may not occur on the same day as your birthday. Mine happened the evening before my birthday this year- the same day as the Full Moon!
Pulling up a birth chart for your Solar Return is just like your normal birth chart, but it’s only active for that specific year around the Sun.
It’s extremely helpful to be able to look at your Solar Return chart and be able to understand some general themes that are likely headed your way. Calculate yours here!
The next thing I like to look at for my clients at any point during the year, is the Annual Profection.
Annual Profections are an ancient timing technique. While the practice is a bit more advanced than beginner level astrology, I guarantee that once you start observing them you’ll find the themes EERILY ACCURATE in your life from year to year.
What’s really cool to me about this ritual is it reminds you that you’re not alone in whatever season of life you’re navigating. While people of your same numerical age can have radically different lives than you, of course, they’re also probably learning more than a few similar lessons.
Finally, the other main ritual I do around my birthday each year and for clients is my Solar Return reading. I started pulling this spread several years ago and was, in a word, SHOOK at how the cards aligned with the unfolding of my year.
This one specifically gets me excited to see the magic of the Universe at work, because I usually have one thing in mind about what the cards “mean” but then seeing how they actually play out IRL is an endlessly enlightening and humbling process.
If you’re trying to learn Tarot, this ritual option is so smart to perform around your birthday. It helps you build a visceral rolodex of relationships with the cards by connecting specific experiences with each one. No Tarot guidebook can give you this kind of deeply personal understanding.
Don’t just take it from me, though. I had a client reach out recently singing the praises of one of my other Tarot offerings.
“I wanted to let you know how UNBELIEVABLY accurate what you sent me has been. Everything you laid out for me has happened - almost to the letter. Given recent events in my life, I went back to look at what you wrote and was blown away. This last quarter has been extremely difficult to say the least! However reading what you have predicted moving forward has been a huge source and inspiration in getting me through the challenges!”
I can’t (and won’t ever) take credit for what these readings dictate; I’m almost always as astounded as my clients! But something especially powerful is definitely happening, and if you’ve been considering getting into Tarot…let this be your sign that it’s time!
Alright. That’s all this time around, folks. If you have a birthday/solar return coming up, drop me a comment about how you’re ritualizing the day. I’ll be there in spirit!
Through time and space,
Erin River Sunday