What is a Solar Return?
A Solar Return is when the sun returns to the exact degree it was in the sky at the moment of your birth; a once-a-year occurrence also known as your birthday! If you’d like to infuse your birthday with some sacredness, intention and magic this year, here are the perfect solar return rituals for you to indulge in.
In the past, my birthdays were something I filled with way too many social events, with friends I kept in contact with just because. I’ve spent many years stressed, rushed or even ill on my birthday – waking up with the flu because my body had been running on empty for months without me realising.
Now, I choose honour this sacred day with beautiful self-care rituals that make me feel nurtured, intentional rituals to review how I really am and want I really want, and a whole lot of rest.
We all want to feel nurtured, special and sentimental on our birthdays: but we rely on others to make us feel this way (which sometimes, they don’t) and forget to gift those feelings to ourselves.
The Rituals
Here are exactly the solar return rituals I gifted myself this year on my birthday.
1. Listen for divine guidance
On your solar return, the universe will send you messages and signs about what’s to come during your new year, so it’s time to be mindful and observant.
The day before your birthday, the day of and the day after, take note of how you’re feeling, your thoughts and what’s happening around you. Write everything down in your journal, including any signs or omens, so you can see what themes come up for you in the next year of your life.
2. Intentional birthday walk
On the morning of your solar return, set an intention to receive divine messages about your coming year and go for a walk in nature. Spend this time in quiet contemplation and keep your senses open for anything that seems significant: a bird’s night, a piece of lost jewellery, rain.
Note down your observations when you return, so you can revisit on your next birthday to see what has played out for you. You don’t have to make sense of what the signs mean for now; just keep an open mind.
3. Solar Return Candle
Since our birthday is the return of the Sun to the sign and exact degree in our natal chart, a candle spell is the perfect way to boost all things represented by the Sun: joy, confidence and vitality.
TOOLS Yellow candle or tealight | Fireproof candle holder | Runny honey | Ground cinnamon | Sweet orange essential oil | Matches | Carving tool, like a small knife | Small ceramic dish
- Find a sacred space. You may like to cleanse it with incense or sage.
- Take 3 deep breaths to ground yourself. On each inhale, imagine white light energy entering your crown chakra from the divine above. On each exhale, imagine it purifying your workspace.
- Sit in stillness and consider your intention for the year ahead. It can be something specific you want to call in (confidence to speak your truth) or simply whatever is meant for you and your highest self.
- With your intention in mind, carve seals of your choice on the sides of the candle (the Sun symbol ☉︎, your personal Sun sign symbol, a heart symbol, or rune).
- In the small dish, place a dash of honey, a sprinkle of cinnamon and a drop of orange essential oil Blend with the Jupiter (index) finger of your dominant hand.
- Rub the enchanted mixture over the candle, focusing on the seals.
- Place the candle down and as you light the wick, speak out loud the following:
May my birthday wishes be taken up in the light,
May my inner light burn bright,
In a year that I flourish,
And am continually nourished.
I welcome abundant blessings supporting and guiding my path in the year to come.
And so it is. - As the candle burns, sit with your attention centred on your heart, imagining it filling with joy like sparkles or champagne bubbles. Visualise them floating out from your body into the space around you, knowing they’ll return to you in the form of your wishes and desires this year.
- Sit with the candle in meditation, watching the flame, until it burns out completely.
4. Write a birthday wishlist
This is an intention-setting ritual to give some direction to the universe about what desires you’re calling in for your next trip around the Sun.
On the day before your birthday, write a list of everything you’d like to leave behind – habits, people, obligations, stories, beliefs and identities.
On the day of your birthday, write a list of everything you’d like to manifest in the next twelve months. This is for you to revisit on your next birthday; I can guarantee you, you’ll be amazed at how your wishes are granted.
You could even write a letter to your future self, to be opened on the following birthday, about where you’re hoping you’ll be or what you desire to come to you.
Hoping that these solar return rituals bring you deep nourishment and start your next birth year off with a dose of magic. Happy Solar Return to you!
Love,
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