Divorce and Breakups in the Solar Return Chart (Applied Astrology)
If there’s a sure sign of impending divorce or breakups in astrology, it’s in the Solar Return chart. I’ve been pursuing astrology as a hobby to learn about myself and my friends long enough now to note certain patterns. If you look ahead at your Solar Return charts for the next few years, you can see the trouble spots. That’s trouble spots, spelled P-L-U-T-O and its conjunctions with either the Descendant or ImumCoeli (or, as I like to call it, your inner core) aka IC. Pluto in the Seventh House of your Solar Return chart is trouble, too, though that one seems more attached to structured partnerships.
I went through my significant database of astrology charts, looking at charts of friends and family who’ve been through breakups and divorces over the last decade-plus and found an interesting trend. It’s anecdotal, sure, but these are my anecdotes. Take it for what it’s worth.
Here are my findings, from mildest to worst:
- Pluto in the Seventh House of the Solar Return chart
In some cases, this was just the nail in the coffin, the year the divorce finally took place and the couple was legally severed. In some, this was actually a year when a new love arrived on the scene and blew apart what they thought a relationship had to look like. In others, there was a big build up toward a divorce or breakup but matters were calmed and the couple made it through the year–I can’t say whether they’re happy but they are still together.
- Solar Return Pluto conjunct Descendant
Whether Solar Return Pluto is conjunct the Solar Return Descendant or Solar Return Pluto is conjunct the Natal Descendant, this spelled a legal untangling and end of a committed relationship in every chart I examined. Some had already been through the decision of the heart to separate, even a year or so before, but didn’t finally end the legal partnership until this Solar Return year. Note that the exactness of the degree was a significant factor.
- Solar Return Pluto conjunct IC
Whether Solar Return Pluto is conjunct the Solar Return IC or Solar Return Pluto is conjunct the Natal IC, this conjunction always meant a big emotional breakup. In cases of marriage, it meant divorce. Note that the exactness of the degree was a significant factor. In a few cases, the Solar Return Pluto conjunct Solar Retun IC at the exact degree fell in the Natal Seventh House, such as the graphic above.
On a sad note regarding the graphic above, this young friend asked me to read her solar return chart for the next year or two. I did and saw her continued relationship with her mate, but I accidentally looked ahead one year too far to the Solar Return year above. I never told her (she didn’t ask for this particular information that many years ahead) that I saw her Solar Return Pluto/Descendant/Moon conjunct her Natal Uranus in her Natal Seventh House as the end of her relationship. I learned much later that they had indeed split up, almost a year after this Solar Return chart, and that they had been tearing themselves and each other apart for the entire Solar Return year in a game neither could win. They finally, months after this chart’s end, decided it was time to call the time of death on the relationship and move on. The exactness of Pluto conjunct IC was again very obvious in her chart as it is in others where a deeply emotional breakup takes place.
- Solar Return Pluto conjunct IC andDescendant
This trifecta was pretty much the kiss of death. No other way to say it.
The one that popped up several times in horrific emotional breakups followed by moving out of each other’s lives was Solar Return Pluto conjunct Solar Return Descendant to the exact degree and conjunct the Natal IC within 3 degrees. That’s a severing at the legal/partnership level and at the inner core/heart level.
Other thoughts
Two last things I noted in these patterns:
- The exactness of Solar Return Pluto to the Descendant in the Seventh House (Sixth didn’t carry the same weight) and the exactness of Solar Return Pluto to the IC in the Fourth House (Third didn’t carry the same weight) was key to the effect of Pluto on the relationship. After about 3 degrees, the “burn” lessened. In the cases where Pluto was in the Fourth House and not within 3 degrees of the IC, the effect was more about big changes in the home or in the location of the home.
- Some breakups and divorces took places in years where Pluto did not aspect the Descendant, IC, or Seventh House. There were other things going on in those charts, however, and in some cases, the trauma and drama had been going on for a long, long time.
- Solar Return Uranus showed up sometimes in the Fourth or Seventh houses or conjunct the Descendant or IC in times where the relationship underwent a lot of turbulence. This didn’t usually mean it broke up that year, though sometimes these little bumps contributed to the final split.
- Yes, I looked ahead for myself. The worst I have to worry about is at age 76…long before my Sun conjunct Pluto at age 91.
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I’ve a friend whose SR Pluto has been in conjunction to his natal Descendant for the last couple of years but he did not divorce. However, I know his marriage is over in the emotional sense. I’m just curious why it didn’t happen?
Four years ago, his SR Pluto in 7H conjunct natal Dsc at 2°. SR Uranus conjunct SR South Node and exactly oppose natal IC. This is probably the year his marriage starts to go south.
A year later, his SR Pluto in 4H conjunct natal Dsc exact (falling into natal 7H now). This year he met someone whom he would later have an affair with. His SR Mars was also conjunct natal Venus, and SR Vertex/South Node conjunct natal Vertex.
The next year he had the affair. His SR Pluto in 1H still tightly conjunct his natal Dsc. SR Venus was conjunct his natal IC/NN at 3°.
Last year, his SR Pluto 10H STILL conjunct natal Dsc (still falling in natal 7H) but a little further away (3°) so the effect seemed to be waning, but his SR Venus was tightly conjunct SR North Node and both conjunct natal Venus which indicated a significant new love. True enough, he met someone new and had a second affair (which is still continuing).
Despite these he’s still married. And now his SR Pluto in 8H has moved quite far from natal Dsc (5°). Does it mean he has “escaped” the divorce fate or the effects sometimes play out post-SR like you mentioned?
I forgot to mention that his current SR chart also shows SR Venus opposite SR Uranus exact. Does this mean he will end his affair instead?
I’ve seen separations mostly with Neptune in 7th house SR, as it is the planet of dissolution it does make sense to me.
If a person is not in a committed relationship, how would these aspects you describe be different?
My 2021-2022 SR Pluto is conjunct both the SR Descendant and natal MC, and opposite the natal Moon (which is now, of course, conjunct the SR Ascendant)…. what might that mean? Pluto is not even one degree shy of being on the ASC, so I don’t know if I should think because, technically, it is still in the 6th house.
I know that’s a lot going on. I don’t know if I should be nervous or excited. Thank you for any response you may give.
I had SR Pluto conjunct the SR Descendant in my 2018 solar return chart. I wasn’t in a relationship but about a year prior I developed strong feelings for an acquaintance that I carried for the entire year. About two weeks before my birthday in 2018 I had to finally face the reality that it wasn’t going to work with this person and it was pretty devastating! This was at the exact time that my 2018 SR chart was beginning to take effect. Even though for me this didn’t signify a breakup it does fit the theme of heartbreak and loss of a love interest. It was actually one of the most difficult romantic situations I’ve ever been in. Whether you’re in a relationship or not Pluto making theses aspects in the SR chart is nothing to take lightly!
when Pluto transited exact onto my 7th I met and fell deeply in love with an 8th house Scorpio with his 8th house packed with other planets as well. Very and I mean VERY Plutonian man. He was extremely life changing for me! We were both 50 years old at the time!
My whole existence became riddled with plutonian experiences. But in my progressed chart the moon was conjunct Pluto as well.
He was the love of my life.. an extraordinary person!