Could someone provide an example of how to progress a solar return in Solar Fire using the PSSR rate? Can this be done directly or are there some additional calculations necessary?

Thanks,

Bob

Hello Bob,

Not quite sure exactly what you are asking, but here is an example to show the steps.

I decided to use my own chart to demonstrate.

July 3, 1962
6:16:44 am CDT
Mount Vernon, IL
Asc: 18 Can 31

If we calculate the non-relocated, precessed Solar Return for the year Jul '87 - Jul '88, we see that Mars will progress (by secondary motion) to conjoin the Moon during this solar return year.

To get the Progressed Sidereal Solar Return for the date, Mar 9, 1988; use the following steps...

In Solar Fire, take the Radix and choose Returns... and then choose Progressed Solar Return. Click OFF relocation and click ON precessed. Now, enter the date and (optionally) time for the event. Once the chart is generated, it is useful to look at it with the Synastry wheels, so that you can see the PSSR planets/points around the Radix and also you have a listing of the inter-chart aspects. For PSSR aspects, be sure to use very tight orbs. You will notice that Mars has indeed moved to a conjunction (within 0? 2') with my Natal Moon.

This is the only (current, progressed) PSSR aspect (within orb) and occurs simultaneously with the death of my Mother.

PSSR positions surrounding Natal shown below (to cross-check your usage of Solar Fire with the PSSR function)...
I do have an important comment concerning the use of PSSR in Solar Fire. Solar Fire will only show the progressions from the Solar Return, it will not show the regressions. I have no idea why half of these particular aspects were left out, since both are obviously valid (from experience). Additionally, it is only showing the current PSSR, don't forget that the pre-natals are equally valid, both progressed and regressed.

The best program for seeing all of these aspects quickly in one list remains Alexander Marr's Astro program. (Still available FREE from my website at http://www.jamesalexander.de/astro.zip) If you're running it on a newer machine (likely), then you'll need some type of dos-wrapper, such as DosBox (highly recommended).

Hope this helps!

Peace

Atlantean

I was able to duplicate your results.

Let me verify that your instructions actually progress the chart at the PSSR rate, as presented in Eshleman's book, for example. The reason I ask is that some other sources I have seen state that you have to do some arithmetic before you can do the PSSR. I would think that if SF will do the PSSR directly these people would know about it, SF being such a popular program.

BTW, I had no trouble doing a converse progressed return. You just check both buttons.

I have Astro, so I can check the results there, if I can figure out how to use it!

Thanks,

Bob

I just tried to use Astro, but it's too much trouble to figure out. That has to be the worst designed program I have ever seen.

Bob

Hello Bob,

I am sorry that you don't care for Astro.

It does take some getting used to, but (to me) it works just fine.

If you've already entered and saved the birth info, then you just press 2 from the Main Menu to get to the "second half" of the program and then press 5 to get the PSSR aspects. From this point, just enter the events/dates that you are checking for and press A (for aspects) and give it an orb (in minutes of arc).

Remember that this is an old Dos program and the author died in 2000, some time after writing this program.

It is still around because it does some special functions, albeit in a roundabout manner.

When doing rectifications, I need Astro in order to corroborate the correct birthtime through the (reliable) PSSR aspects. I guess because I have used it so much, it is second nature to me to go through the steps of the program.

If you do get it figured out and can stand to use it, it makes several things (timelines for Topocentric Primary Directions, direct and converse Transits, and PSSR aspects (current-progressed, current-regressed, prenatal-progressed, prenatal-regressed)) much easier. With Solar Fire, one gets only half the aspects.

Take care and I'll help out any way I can in making Astro easier for you.

Peace

Atlantean

Your message arrived literally in the knick of time, as I had just decided to give up on calculating the PSSR due to the complexity of the calculations involved.

I also jus received a PSSR worksheet that might help organize the calculations a bit, but it's still a laborious process. I'll send a copy to anyone who wants one if they pm me with their email address.

I called Solar Fire yesterday and talked to Madalyn. She doesn't know what method SF uses to progress the SSR, and neither does anyone else. It seems that the guy who wrote the code is no longer with the company, so no one knows what the method is!

On a slightly different topic, maybe you can explain Marr's use of co-transits as mentioned on p. 63 and 64 of Fagan's book? I just found this yesterday, and am very interested in anything relating to regressions. Pity Fagan didn't supply a clear example.

Now I will try Astro, following your instructions.

Thanks,

Bob

Atlantean:

You're the expert on Astro, so maube you can explain this:

I used it yesterday, and it was OK.
I just tried to run it again, the two windows come up, but if I click anywhere in the menu window the cursor vanishes and everthing is frozen. If I do a ctrl-alt-del the cursor comes back, but astro still won't work. Tried a restart, same result.

Any ideas?

Bob

Hola Bob, I hope this is not too much to ask, but I like to use relocated charts, I want to replicate this one and study it. Is the native still living at the birth place or have the moved.....if they have moved do you mind at least giving me the coordinates?
Thanks
Bibi/Maria

What an idiot I am! I'm so used to clicking on things with the mouse that I forgot it was waiting for a keyboard input! Idiot!

To Bibi: if you mean for the chart above, you'll have to ask Atlantean, as it's his chart and I don't know where he is now.

Bob

Sorry Bob,
Atlantean, would u mind sharing the relocated coordinates with me?

Bulletbobb wrote:Could someone provide an example of how to progress a solar return in Solar Fire using the PSSR rate? Can this be done directly or are there some additional calculations necessary?

Thanks,

Bob

There are 2 methods of progressing the solar return. The SQ (Solar Quotidian) method progress the return 1 complete revolution of 360 degrees while the PSSR (Progressed Sidereal Solar Return) method progresses the return about 1 and 1/4 revolutions so that the progressed angles dovetail with the angles of the next solar return.

Solar Fire uses the Mean Sun in its calculations but stumbles when the return is progressed to a time very near to the start of the following year's return. Do 2 consecutive solar returns, input the date and time of the second return as the date and time to progress to, then click on "Progresed Solar Return". Compare the resulting angles with those of the second return. Also check the position of the progressed solar return Moon. It should have only moved about 13?. Further, Cyril Fagan preferred the use of the Apparent Sun's right ascension in calculating the progression. With a little innovation, this can be done using Solar Fire.

Follow the steps in the image below to progress a solar return by either or both methods.

Once the clock time of the progressed solar return has been computed edit the solar return chart replacing the clock time of the solar return with the calculated clock time to do the progressed chart complete with progressed planets. In figuring the clock time for the progressed planets, the 9.856 Sec/Hr acceleration may be skipped, if desired, as it will only change planetary positions by about 4 minutes of time in a whole year of progression, about 2 minutes of arc in the Moon's position (the fastest moving object in the chart). But remember that will leave the MC about 1? short of its true position if progressed for a full year.

Bob

Hello Bibi,

Sorry that it took so long to answer... I just noticed your question!

I was in Tucson (Arizona) at the time and that was my residence. This is also where she was when she died...

Take care

Atlantean