Celebrating Your Child’s Solar Return
So what exactly is a Solar Return? Its your birthday!
But more specifically, in astrology, it refers to the exact moment when the Sun returns to the same position it held at the time of a person's birth. This is not the same as a person natal chart, the sun will be in the same sign but not necessarily in the same house, the planets will also be in different locations. This annual event marks the beginning of a new personal cycle, shedding light on the important themes and energies that will influence the coming year.
To begin planning a solar return celebration to honor your child's sun sign, take a look at your child’s birth chart to find their sun sign, its element, the Ascendent, the moon and the element that shows up the most in their chart. Tailor some of the activities of the celebration to align with your child's sun sign traits.
Solar Return Activities
As you welcome another trip around the sun, there are enchanting ways to infuse your solar return celebration with a touch of magick, perfect for families looking to honor this special occasion together. Here are some witchy ways to celebrate a solar return together:
Sunrise Ritual: Start the day with a sunrise ritual to honor the birthday person and the new solar cycle. Gather as a family outdoors to greet the rising sun, express gratitude for the past year, and set intentions for the year ahead.
Birthday Altar: Decorate the altar with symbols of the sun, such as candles, sunflowers, and gold-colored objects. Invite family members to add their own offerings, blessings, or intentions to the altar throughout the day.
Decorate: Consider using decorations that reflect the elemental traits of the sun sign. For example, if your child is a fire sign like Aries or Leo, incorporating red, orange, and gold hues into the decor can evoke the fiery energy associated with these signs. For an earth sign like Taurus or Virgo, focus on natural elements such as plants, stones, and earthy tones.
Magical Breakfast: Prepare a special birthday breakfast infused with magickal ingredients and intentions. Serve foods associated with the sun, such as oranges, honey, and sunflower seeds. Light a candle and invite the child to make a birthday wish as they blow it out.
Sun Salutations: Practice a series of sun salutations or yoga poses with the child to honor the sun and awaken their inner strength and vitality.
Nature Walk: Begin the day with a nature walk to find unique treasures such as fallen leaves, stones, or feathers that can later be used in rituals or crafts.
Sun-themed Crafts: Create sun catchers, painting sun symbols on rocks, or crafting paper suns to hang around the house.
Bake a Solar Return Cake: Whip up a delicious solar return cake together. Decorate it with symbols representing aspects of the sun, like your child’s zodiac sign, or use yellow and gold frosting.
Candle Magic Ritual: Conduct a candle magic ritual to set intentions for the childs upcoming year. Choose a candle in a color that corresponds with their intentions (e.g., green for growth, yellow for joy, blue for communication).
Solar Blessing Ritual: Create a simple ritual where each family member takes turns offering blessings or well wishes for the solar return celebrant.
Astrology Reading: Look at your child’s solar return chart to gain insight into the year ahead.
Sunset Meditation: Reflect on blessings from the past year and visualize their goals and desires manifesting under the setting sun's gentle glow.
Divination and Reflection: Take time for divination and reflection on the child's birthday. Use oracle cards, runes, or other divination tools to gain insight into the year ahead.
Moonlit Stargazing: End the day with a magical night of stargazing under the moonlit sky. Try to find your child’s zodiac constellation.
Having a party?
These are a few idea for celebrations based on the element of the sun sign:
Fire Signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius): Fire signs love excitement and physical activity. Consider party activities like hiking, camping, obstacle course, visit an adventure park, bonfire, craft station, karaoke, and competitive sports.
Earth Signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn): Earth signs appreciate the beauty of the natural world. Consider party activities like a Nature Scavenger Hunt, Pottery, sensory exploration station, outdoor picnic, wood crafts, or gardening activity.
Air Signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius): Air signs enjoy intellectual stimulation, creativity and communication. Celebrate with activities like Kite Making, Science activities, charades, games with eye hand coordination (ring toss, archery, etc.), group art project and storytelling (or telephone game).
Water Signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces):Water signs are naturally drawn to emotional connections, and are dreamers. Celebrate with a pool or beach party, visit to an aquarium, mystery scavenger hunt with clues, fortune telling booth, watch a fantasy movie, dress up, craft with ocean materials, or magical tea party.
Gifts Based Zodiac Sign
Choosing zodiac-based birthday gifts for kids can be a fun and way to celebrate their unique personalities and interests. Here are some gift ideas tailored to the elements of the zodiac signs:
Fire Signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius):
Sports equipment
Cooking Class
Dress-up costumes
Performance sets with a microphone, stage, and props
Outdoor adventure kit with items like a compass, binoculars, and a magnifying glass.
Travel-themed kits with maps, globes, and travel journals
Adventure Experience such as skydiving, bungee jumping, or a hot air balloon
Earth Signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn):
Gardening tools
Sensory play kits with kinetic sand, and modeling clay
Cozy corner tent
Building blocks or LEGO sets
DIY pottery or woodworking kits
Organization kits with planners, markers and stickers
loose leaf tea subscription
Air Signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius):
Puzzle sets or brain teasers
Fantasy Books
DIY science experiment or invention kits
Creative Writing Workshop
Board games or card games
Musical Instruments
Water Signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces):
Sensory play kits
Aquarium Membership
Watercolor paints
Spa Day Package
Mystery-solving kits
Dream Journaling sets
DIY magic kits
Final Thoughts
Lastly, don't forget children won’t always embody their sun sign, their likes and dislikes with change over the years. Make sure to personalize the celebration to reflect your child's unique interests and preferences. Whether it's incorporating their favorite colors, music, or hobbies into the event, showcasing what makes them special will make the solar return celebration truly memorable and meaningful for your child.
