The above four examples exemplify Fagan’s important contribution to astrologers pertaining to progressed Solar Returns and particularly with Paran Quotidian Charts of a Solar Return. Fagan taught that Parans form when ‘two or more planets are simultaneously on the same adjacent or opposite angles and are the most powerful of all (astrological) configurations.’ The following is taken from Fagan’s book ‘Primer of Sidereal Astrology’, Chapter X1, ‘Progression of Solar Planets’:
“It should be possible to progress any valid map by any accepted method of progression. This could be a test for any of the many different methods of progressions which have been proposed in recent years. The Arabic system of progression, “day-to-year” or secondary method has proved its worth. It has recently been discovered that planets in the solar return or ingress (known as “Solar Planets”) can be progressed by the secondary rate with very accurate results. On this basis, it will be rare that solar planets, other than the Moon with an average motion of some 13 degrees a day-year, will close to an exact aspect during the year. It does happen with other planets, and it is this which, giving particular significance to that aspect, seems to give an important coloration to the events of the year. Experience has shown that the progression of the Moon to the conjunction or opposition of any planet during the solar year gives a very accurate timing for an event of the nature of the planet.”
The four cited examples above substantiate the worth of Jim’s/Fagan’s teachings for the progressed Solar Return. Also, it is very important for the astrologer to recognize the precise astronomical math involved with these cited examples pertaining to Precession! If the astrologer does not allow for Precession the four cited examples above will not compute to the exact day of the event with the progressed moon and the progressed angles! When the astrologer understands this Precession factor (s)he will understand there is a precise astronomical timing factor (Precession) involved for computing an ACCURATE timed Solar Return, regardless of the methods used to analysis a Solar Return. This is best explained by Jim’s words from his book, ‘Interpreting Solar Returns’ where Jim states:
“If an astrologer prefers to use the Tropical Zodiac, a regular correction for Precession must be applied to Return Charts. A second method of overcoming the effects of precession is to use a precession-free reference system, that is, a zodiac which by its very nature is unaffected by precession in the first place. Such an alternative framework exists. It is called the Sidereal Zodiac. Like the Tropical Zodiac, it is based on twelve equal divisions of the ecliptic circle. Unlike the Tropical Zodiac, it is not beholden to the equinoxes and is therefore totally undistorted by precession. The issue here is not so much one of zodiacs, as of something far more fundamental to the essence of things astrological. Therefore, one can achieve the desired effects with Return Charts by either (1) using the Tropical Zodiac and correcting for precession or (2) using the precession-free Sidereal Zodiac.
If neither of these two methods are used, a Solar Return will be six hours in error by age 18, twelve hours by age 36, and an entire day off by the time a person attains the age of 72”.
As far as I am concerned, Fagan's greatest discovery as an Astrologer was that astrologers for 2000 years were computing Solar Returns in the Tropical Zodiac which involved a mathematical error involving an accurate timed Solar Return because they were not accounting for Precession.
Regards, Steve
With all our modern knowledge and scientific equipment, and with the the great strides made in mathematics, we astrologers have done nothing to even remotely compare with the achievements of the astrologers of antiquity. Cyril Fagan
