Last summer, a woman I know underwent a couple of major life changes. Within the space of a few months, she embarked on a strict diet and exercise regiment, lost a significant amount of weight, and launched her first business. As I stood washing dishes one evening, musing on the radical changes in this person whose life had been fairly static for decades, I had what Oprah would call an “ah ha” moment. I ran to my computer, pulled up the chart and progressions, and sure enough: just a few months before took steps to radically remake her life, her Progressed Sun had moved into take-charge Aries.
By secondary progression, the Sun moves at a rate of about one degree of the zodiac per year. Unless you were born with the Sun at the very end of a sign, it’s unlikely you’ll experience more than a few Progressed Sun sign changes in your life. Since they’re rare, they represent profound opportunities – in this case, to reboot your life and move in a new direction.
Since the progressed Sun moves at the rate of approximately 1 degree per year, a quick and dirty way to figure out the current position of your progressed Sun is to find the degree of your natal Sun, and deduct it from 30; the resulting sum correlates to your age when the progressed Sun first changed signs. Approximately every 30 years thereafter, the Sun will enter the following sign. The progressed Sun’s exact rate varies, so while this gets you in the neighborhood, you may end up “off” by a half a year or so.
It’s easy to find the current placement of your progressed Sun online at astro.com. If you’re not exactly sure how to find the progressed Sun’s exact placement, or the years when it changes signs, this video gives you a couple of easy methods. Click the “expand” icon (four arrows pointed outward) in the bottom right-hand corner to view full size:
Ultimately, the progression of my natal Leo Sun into Virgo (during my senior year in high school) marked the beginning of the Craftsman era of my life, the era of refining Leo’s creative urges. Indeed, during the pr. Sun in Virgo years I killed every hobby I had by turning each one into a job, and then picking on myself mercilessly when I didn’t do the job well enough. Ah, the Virgo years.
Since my progressed Sun entered Libra last year, I’m beginning to feel that my long, difficult apprenticeship is over. Libra, and the seventh house, represent the marketplace, the process of exchanging goods and services with others; and just as the progressed Sun entering Virgo marked a progression from creating (Leo) to refining (Virgo), the focus of my work (and to some extent, of my life) is shifting again – from the pursuit of elusive perfection to the simple joy of sharing with others what I’ve spent nearly a half century (gah!) learning.
Have you experienced the Progressed Sun moving to a new sign? What important shifts in focus and consciousness took place for you?
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Great post. I had a similar experience when mine changed a couple of years ago. Although I have to say now that it is 3 years into Taurus, the weight is becoming a lot harder to shift! The days of taking charge & fighting fires are easing away & more concrete goals are taking their place.
Jo, the shift from Aries to Taurus must be a shock to the system – like a steam train running into a brick wall at high speed!
More like running out of steam completely. As an aries native I was always quick to start off and quick to move. I just underwent the shift last June and I can feel my body be more slow and my mind plod as compared to before. I guess taurean energy needs lots more time and conviction to build up. I’m stumped at this change and actually very uncomfortable going from type A to tranquil. Hence came looking for information
Mine shifted from Gemini to Cancer in my 7th house…I’ve been more geared towards securing a “home” again, and more involved in family issues. Focusing on where I want to live out my life, put down roots, and community.
Hi April,
My progressed Sun is in Libra also- been there for 6/7 yrs now…when it was in Virgo I had a job that required A Lot of details so it definitely helped. Now it’s in Libra I don’t even want to think of going back to that..although I think the fact it is now in the 12th house makes a big difference too because I can really feel that one.
Pamela.
My Sun progressed from Aries to Taurus over 20 years ago. It’s been so long, the only thing I can say is that I’m much more patient than I was as a child.
AstroFix – There should be special karmic medals of honor for the parents of Aries children!
My secondary progressed Sun changed from Virgo to Libra back in August 1998. I kept anticipating I’d feel a change, but never saw one. If I look at my solar arc progressions, it changed signs back in September 1997. At that time I definitely saw a sharp change. I wrote two great stories, in a style that was highly poetic. Something certainly shifted at that time in a big way.
Maria, something isn’t adding up. The positions of the secondary and solar arc Sun are always exactly the same, because solar arc directions are based on the secondary progressed Sun’s movement, or “arc,” since your birth. That arc is added to every natal planet to derive the solar arc placements. We should put our heads together by email, because we were also coming up with different dates from your progressions on another comment thread…
I can’t wait until mine changes to Aquarius in 2013. I’m a Sag who has been stuck with a progressed Cap sun (burdened by work) for so long. I’ll enjoy the Aqua energy so much more, as my natal rising, Moon & Mars are there. I will finally be me!
“M,” that’s kind of how I feel about the pr. Sun in Libra. I mean, I could relate to pr. Sun in Virgo – I’ve got two planets and the Midheaven in that sign, and I actually really love Virgo. But the “self perfection” motif started to wear on me! Signs adjacent to each other are just *so* different that it’s very noticeable when progressed planets, especially the Sun, shift from one to the other. Enjoy Aquarius!
Kent,
You’ve got mail!
^M^
It’s one of my favourite predictive tools to use!! When mine shifted from Pisces to Aries, I learned how to say no, and finally got some direction. Right now I’m trying to learn patience as the Prog Moon takes its time in Taurus. Great post April.
Good luck with the patience, Kel. I’m looking forward to my progressed Moon entering Aries so I can become very *im*patient!
My progressed sun went from pisces to aries a few years ago, still in 12th. The biggest change has been people say I much meaner, they miss the old me. I was so much more patient and had rose colored glasses on.
Amandria, I always warn people against underestimating Pisces people and assuming they will be endlessly gentle and forgiving – because eventually, that Pisces Sun progressed into Aries!
my progressed sun is in Leo just moving into the 8th house conjunct Uranus in the 7th. Would this sparkly conjunction now be expressed in the 8th house? What to expect? thanks for your insight.
Hi April,
great post… I decided to be a singer when my sun moved to Leo. I also craved for creativity and got rid of my family myths to admire hard rock and heavy metal “art”. I can’t say that it was only a “teenage” matter because at the same time my Pr Mars stepped inside the 1st house (was and is conjunct my ASC and Mars/Pluto midpoint).