Woody Allen, a brief astrological portrait of Ciro Discepolo.
My voice is cloned by AI. The quality is excellent, however, I note that it gets several accents wrong, even some dates wrong, and often varies in volume.
It’s truly difficult to separate the drama from the comedy served up by the greatest living comedians. They primarily bring to the stage their own anxieties, which we all laugh at because we recognize our own in them, but which we prefer to attribute to others. This explains, for example, the enormous success of the Fantozzi films, especially in Germany: our German cousins laughed out loud at the “Italian Fantozzi” to exorcise the fear of having to acknowledge the Fantozzian element present in each of them.
And then, I think, it’s also a self-defense effort to mask with irony the ancestral fears that lurk within us. I too am writing this on March 24, 2026, on the eve of important trials that will soon hit me.
Dear Dr Discepolo
I hope you are well.
I am reaching out in regard to my mother’s ASR, she was born on May 1st, 1956 at 2:45AM in Cecina (LI), Italy.
Given her age and the fact that she has ongoing back pain due to an earlier severe injury, I aim to protect her health, besides her job that is her pride and joy.
I selected 3 options for her upcoming ASR:
– Lisbon, Portugal (only issues are Saturn + Neptune in the 2nd house, as she is not in the most solid financial situation already);
– Ponta Delgada, Portugal (here the AS is in the tenth house: having checked her transits, the only negative one involving sun/moon is in the last couple of weeks of April 2027, when Saturn squares her natal moon. I wander if an ALR that month could be enough to protect her..?);
– Santa Cruz De La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain (a large stellium in the 3rd house include Saturn + Mars is the only concern here).
I would appreciate your insights over which option you believe to be the most protective and positive,
Thank you in advance,
Kind Regards,
Valentina
Valentina,
the best solution for your mother is certainly Ponta Delgada.
There are virtually no contraindications, and I remind you that, regarding rule 34, Mars and Saturn not only can fall in the third House, but they MUST FALL there.
Best wishes.
Dear Dr Discepolo,
Thank you so much for your prompt reply, sounds good, then we will proceed with Ponta Delgada.
Kind Regards,
Valentina
Hello Ciro, I have a technical doubt about Solar Returns. My Solar Return for this year is not problematic according to your 34 rules, so I have not planned an important trip, but I am considering a short relocation (about 200 km) that would change only slightly the degrees, about 1° on the Ascendant and half a degree on the Midheaven, without modifying the structure (same houses and same planets in the same houses). Now a practical example: in some months, if I stay in my city, my Lunar Returns present a dominant Saturn, sometimes very close to the Midheaven, sometimes to the Ascendant. My goal would be to carry out targeted Lunar Returns in the most critical months. My doubt is this: can a minimal relocation for the Solar Return, without structural changes (about 200 km, with variations of a few degrees of the Ascendant and the Midheaven), be considered sufficient in order to then carry out targeted Lunar Returns? Thank you.
Good morning, Lucia, since we’re only speaking theoretically, I can only answer you in the same way: yes, an ASR is such even when we move a few kilometers or when we don’t move at all: the result is always “aimed.”
Hello Ciro, I have a technical doubt about Solar Returns. My Solar Return for this year is not problematic according to your 34 rules, so I have not planned an important trip, but I am considering a short relocation (about 200 km) that would change only slightly the degrees, about 1° on the Ascendant and half a degree on the Midheaven, without modifying the structure (same houses and same planets in the same houses). Now a practical example: in some months, if I stay in my city, my Lunar Returns present a dominant Saturn, sometimes very close to the Midheaven, sometimes to the Ascendant. My goal would be to carry out targeted Lunar Returns in the most critical months. My doubt is this: can a minimal relocation for the Solar Return, without structural changes (about 200 km, with variations of a few degrees of the Ascendant and the Midheaven), be considered sufficient in order to then carry out targeted Lunar Returns? Thank you.
Hi Ciro, this is Rose. I’m writing to you regarding my upcoming RSM, and I’d like to propose two locations and have your precious tips.
1. Votkinsk (with the risk of having Mars in the 12th house, since I’m not sure about my birth time).
2. Fortaleza, unfortunately with Saturn and Neptune in the 12th house.
What do you think about that? Could you suggest other locations or indicate which parts of the world I should keep looking into?
My data: Rose, born in Nicastro (CZ) on 06.09.1962 at 12.46 (this is the birthtime I’m studying on at the moment)
Dear Rose,
Fortaleza is out of the question, and no further comment is needed.
Votkinsk, on the other hand, is excellent, and I recommend it.
However, I must point out that the time of birth you stated when we first met was 1:10 PM, which you changed, years later, to 12:56 PM, and most recently to 12:46 PM.
Furthermore, in my archives, I have three different birthplaces, though all in the same Italian province.
Given this, I urge you to be very careful, because you understand that if we consider your birth time with great freedom, it could happen that instead of planning a good Aimed Solar Return, we end up playing the lottery.
Many thanks, Ciro, as always, you’re clear and direct.
The correction of my birth time is the main huge problem…
Good morning Ciro, I’m arranging my trip to Votkinsk, the destination that you recommended.
A question: as you can see Jupiter is in the XII House, very near to the AS but not on the cusp I/XII.
So I ask you: can we take advantage of the Gauquelin zones even in the Solar Returns?
Thank you!
Rose, born in Nicastro on 06.09.1962 at 12.46.
Dear Rosina,
To fully exploit the power of a cusp, we should position the star we’re interested in within 1 degree of its circumference. In this case, we can’t do this because you’re already on your third attempt to correct your birth time in a few years. If we were to hold on too tightly, we’d risk having Mars fall into the twelfth House, and we can’t even accept that in theory…
Dear Master Ciro,
I repost my question in a complete and self-contained form and I apologize for my previous post being incomplete and for referring to earlier messages that were not visible to you or to the other readers.
I am a woman, born on July 31, 1970, in Milan, Italy. According to both the official birth certificate and my mother’s recollection, my birth time is 2:00 p.m. I am single and have no children. Some doubts remain about the exact birth time, as a past Solar Return (Sofia 2022) did not work as expected, leading to the hypothesis of a birth time approximately 10 minutes later.
For my upcoming Solar Return, the locations initially considered were Cebu, Shanghai, and São Paulo. From your previous explanation, I understand that Cebu and Shanghai are not suitable due to Venus too close to the Ascendant (12th House), and that São Paulo is also unfavorable due to Neptune on the Ascendant.
You suggested Fuzhou (China) as a corrective alternative, where Venus would be slightly moved away from the Ascendant and which could also serve as a first test for birth-time correction (with Saturn in the 8th House if I were born before 2:00 p.m.). Since there are two cities named Fuzhou in different regions of China, I kindly ask you to confirm whether you mean Fuzhou in Fujian Province.
I have also noted your remarks regarding Santa Teresita (near Buenos Aires), which would only be advisable with absolute certainty of the 2:00 p.m. birth time, due to the risk of violating the 34 rules.
Thank you for your attention.
Best regards,
Amanda
Okay, Amanda, but I already answered this yesterday, and my reply is still visible on this page.
Now I’ll write it again:
In reply to Amanda.
No problem, Amanda: the geographical coordinates of the city I recommend you reach are 119°18’ East and 26°04’ North.
Dear Ciro,
I’m looking for a place to spend my next solar return in 2026. What do you think about Cancun (Mexico)? Too many planets in the 12th, 8th, and 6th houses?
I’ve also looked at places like Calcuta (India) or Yakarta (Indonesia), but I’m a bit disillusioned with focusing on the love houses because it hasn’t worked for me in the past. I know that in Cancun I’d have Venus in the 12th house (maybe bad for love, but I don’t have a partner and I don’t think it matters much).
I don’t know if you have any better options.
June 3, 1972. Denia (Spain) 14.48
Thank you
Dear Carolina,
I’d say Calcutta is almost perfect…
Best wishes.
Dear Mr.Discepolo , I’m writing to ask a question. You often express yourself verbally with a phrase that I don’t think can be correctly translated into English: “The stars tell us dove vogliono andare a parare.”
I had a good RSM, traveling on my last birthday, and I’ll do it again on my next one. However, as I’m now approaching my new birthday, I realize I have a series of very bad RL, some intercepting my birthday and the 20 day after and before it (which, as mentioned, will still be a birday with a trip for a good RSM as usually for me).
I’d like to say that the current transits are very good and are expected to improve further (Gemini).
Is this perhaps a case where the stars “ci dicono dove vogliono andare a parare”? Can a series, therefore more than one, of very negative RL overturn a good RSM, even in a periode of positive transits? Thanks for your reply.
Good morning, Luca.
You ask me:
“Is this a case where the stars are “telling us where we’re going”? Can a series, therefore more than one, of very negative RLs overturn a good ASR, even during a period of positive transits?”
No, even a series of bad Lunar Returns can’t overturn the outcome of a good ASR.
But the point is another: who decides whether the Aimed Solar Return we’re talking about was good?
The crux of the matter lies in the fact that there are many amateurs out there who claim to be experts in this field and, perhaps, despite having positioned, for example, Saturn and Neptune in the First House, or other such precious elements, are convinced that everything is OK, when in fact their choice is not OK at all…
So, to summarize, if we talk about my 34 rules, written and explained by the person answering you, then we can say what you stated at the beginning of your speech. If, however, we refer to 34 rules revised by Mario Rossi of Varese or John Smith of Cincinnati, then anything and even the opposite of anything can apply.
Thank you Ciro.
Dear Ciro,
At this stage of my studies, there is one particular issue that is not clear to me. As I am learning, active astrology operates on two fronts: solar returns and the exorcism of the symbol. To exorcise the transit of a planet through a natal house, one should behave ‘as that particular planet dictates’ (and to be more precise, try to follow the guidelines you set out in your book ‘Active Astrology’). What I am wondering, and what I am asking you, is:
if a person finds themselves with a favorable solar return (with no indications of houses 1-6-12, or a stellium in the eighth house, etc.), but inevitably some mischievous planets are found in certain solar return houses (for example, Mars or Saturn in the 7th house), would it be effective to use the symbol exorcism for the entire year, as if the planet were transiting the 7th house? Or is the exorcism effective only with regard to transits and aspects between planets?
Thank you in advance,
Antonio
Good morning Antonio,
I’ll try to clarify a few important things for you.
The rules/advice I wrote for exorcising symbols are found both in the book you cited, “Active Astrology,” and in the book “I Simboli Planetari”
Then you say: “Let’s say you have a good ASR even if there’s a stellium in the eighth House: this is a contradiction in terms because to have a good ASR, it must not violate any of the 34 rules, and placing a stellium in the eighth House is a serious violation of the 34 rules.
Then you ask me if exorcism should be attempted, for example, through a single action: no, the exorcism of symbols, whether of negative natal positions or transit positions or ASRs or ALRs, must be attempted every day and always, as long as they remain active. Without ever stopping.
So, if I wanted to exorcise a planet in one of my natal house I should do it for all my life, if I have a planet in a specific house of SR I should exorcise it for 12 months, and if I have a planet transiting a radix house for the whole period of transit? Is that correct?
Thank you in advance,
Antonio
Yes, that’s exactly right. Stars never shoot blanks and never go on vacation.
Good evening dear Master Ciro,
I have a question about cusps.
In Rule 31 of your book “Transit and solar returns”, you write that if a planet is within 2.5 degrees of a cusp, it will influence both houses. On this basis, a planet is stronger at the beginning of a house, or its influence is the same whatever position it will have in the house? And in any case, such rule works at the same magnitude also for ascendant and midheaven?
Thank in advance and happy Easter,
Antonio
Dear Antonio,
the “power” of a star within a House is the same at the beginning, middle, and end of the House itself. This also applies to the principal angles, namely the Ascendant and the Midheaven, but I urge you not to confuse the 2.5 degrees that mark a House cusp with the Gauquelin zones, which have completely different meanings and can encompass up to 10-15 degrees after rising and culminating, as I’ve explained so many times in my books that I don’t even remember if I published this explanation three times or ten times…
Happy Easter to you too.
Dear Ciro, I am hoping you can help me with solar return advice.
In 2006 an older friend started advising me to go various places for my birthday as NYC was bad for my health in that period . It really changed everything for me. Then she fell ill and passed and after some trial and error I found someone in nyc that is very good but now declining as he is in hospital upper 80’s . I fear that Solar return astrology with progressions is maybe a lost art. If you are able to help me that would be wonderful. But if you do not have time or interest perhaps you could recommend someone who can help me . My birthday is January 9th 1970 New York New York at 1:10 pm USA
Welcome, Joanna.
I recommend MAHÉBOURG, MAURITIUS, but before you decide, I invite you to read one of my most important books on this topic: “Transits and Solar Returns,” by the American Federation of Astrologers.
Good Morning dear Ciro,
I would like to have your suggestion regarding my next 2026 SR, because the base SR can be dangerous with Mars in 6th house. However, even though in the new SR (in Sevilla, Spain) there is a good Venus at the midheaven, I am worried about the stellium in the 7th house, with particular emphasis on Mars and Jupiter in such house.
Birth: 6th October 1992, 9:03 AM, Lanciano (Ch), Italy.
Thank you in advance,
Antonio
I don’t like the crowding in the seventh House and the possible presence of Neptune in the second either. If I wanted to opt for an easy and very economical ASR, I’d choose Dakar, which, among other things, is accessible with a direct, fast, and inexpensive flight from Milan.
Dear Ciro,
I’m very curious why you are afraid about Neptune in the 2nd. May it be because I have my birth Neptune in my 2nd radix? Or because, for Sevilla, the asc of revolution would fall in the 2nd?
As for Mars, in Dakar it will fall in the 7th anyway. So I wonder, it’s less dangerous Mars, alone, in the 7th?
Thank you again, Ciro.
Antonio, not me, but many, fear the effects of Neptune in the second House.
You didn’t ask me which ASR I would choose for my birthday. You asked me if placing a stellium in the seventh House would cause problems, and I said yes, and I told you how you could alleviate that stellium. However, if you study my last thousand ASRs and ALRs from the last 56 years (they are all public), you will understand my priorities.
But your question was about your priorities, not mine.
Dear Ciro, I hope this note finds you well. Given the latest news about the war in the middle east and the potential implications of an energy-lockdown I am starting to consider the possibility we won’t be able to fly anywhere over the summer. If this scenario materialises and I won’t be able to fly anywhere do you have any recommendations for a ASR in Piacenza.
Thanks in advance
Andrea C born in Piacenza on 17th July 1971 at 10.50 am
Hi, Andrea C.
I don’t think we won’t be able to fly next summer. Meanwhile, I remind you that while almost everyone in the world thought Armageddon had begun, I was flying to Columbus and returning to Milan a few hours later.
However, to answer your question specifically, I remind you that in my book “Active Astrology,” which is available in both Italian and English, there’s a chapter titled “What to Do When You Can’t Travel.”
Best wishes.
Ciro, thanks a lot for the suggestion I will have a look at it
Dear Master,
Would you see in these two Lads the end of a relationship?
I would not, but actually it came:
Her 01/09/1983 4:45 pm Florence
LR 24th March in Florence Italy
SR 2025 Kaohsiung
Him 06/08/1995 3.00 am
LR 6th April Moscow
SR2025 Florence, Italy
Chiara,
If you want, write this post again tomorrow, repeat the whole question, add his birthplace, and also include the Couple score indicated by MyAstral, and I’ll let you know what I think.
good morning Ciro., j am Jessica ,
Born in nocera Inferiore on junior 16, 1983 at 8.40 a.m.
I, ve hard a lot a solare revolution too
thanks for anche advice
Good morning, Jessica.
You didn’t ask any questions in your post.
I assume you’re asking for advice on a good Aimed Solar Return. OK, then I recommend you go to Kunming, Yunnan Province (China), where you can place both Venus and Jupiter in the sixth House and Venus on a perfect fifth/sixth House cusp.
Best wishes.
Good morning, Ciro. I’m Jessica, born on June 16, 1983, in Nocera Inferiore at 8:40 am. You recommended Rs in China. The time is missing. Thank you.
Jessica
Jessica, for the birthday we are talking about, the return time to China will be midnight between June 15th and 16th, 2026, China time.
Dear Master,
Would you expect the officialisation of a couple or the end of a relationship based SR 2026?
Her 01/09/1983 4:45 pm Florence
SR 2025 Kaohsiung
SR 2026 Florence
Score couple 16
Him 06/08/1995 3.00 am
SR2025 Florence, Italy
SR Empoli 2026, Italy
Interesting are both SR2026 and LR of hers 18th May Florence Italy + his 4th May Moscow Russia.
Kind regards,
Chiara
Chiara, this seems like a very complex question, with too many elements at play, and where, for the second time, you haven’t indicated the male subject’s place of birth.
If you think you can reduce the number of variables and include the key data we need, then post again tomorrow.
Dear Master,
Would you expect the officialisation of a couple or the end of a relationship based SR 2026?
Her 01/09/1983 4:45 pm Florence (birthplace)
SR 2025 Kaohsiung (Taiwan Island)
SR 2026 Florence
Score couple 16
Him 06/08/1995 3.00 am Empoli (birthplace)
SR2025 Florence, Italy
SR Empoli 2026, Italy
Kind regards,
Chiara
Chiara, in my opinion, the question isn’t well-posed, judging by the four Aimed Solar Returns that frame it. In fact, they speak primarily of many problems for both of them, destructive ones, such as Mars in his first ASR in the current ASR and also the zero-degree conjunction of Saturn and Neptune in his seventh House of the SR currently underway. With these positions, the last question I would ask myself is “has an ongoing love story strengthened?”
The same goes for your next ASR with Mars at zero degrees on the Ascendant and Saturn and Neptune in the tenth House, which, especially for a woman, could mean anything but an improvement in a relationship.
Even his future ASR, on August 5th, with Uranus in the seventh and Saturn in the fifth, doesn’t lead me to foresee a solid romantic relationship, unless he intends to try this approach to exorcise other things that are currently unstable in his life.
Dear Ciro,
I am looking for a place where I can spend my next Solar Return in July. I am coming out of a very difficult year in which I had to take care of my father, who sadly passed away in February.
I had considered Cuba, where I would have an Ascendant in the 10th house and also Venus, but I am not sure it is a good idea. I also looked at Bangkok, where I would have the Sun and Jupiter in the 5th house and Venus on the Descendant. What do you think about it?
If you have any other option to suggest, I would be very grateful.
28 July 1972, Crema, 15:15
Diego, Cuba isn’t a good choice because Venus would be glued to the Ascendant there, which would mean potentially triggering trials and/or suffering for loved ones.
Also, remember that Cuba has been designated a “rogue country” by the US, and if you were to go there, you wouldn’t be able to enter the US without a special visa, which isn’t easy to obtain.
Bangkok, at the very least, might be a good option, but I personally always consider it a last resort to purposely place Saturn and Neptune in the first, sixth, or twelfth House.
Instead, I’d consider Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, which is served by a direct daily flight of about five hours from Copenhagen.
Best wishes.
Dear Dr. Discepolo,
I am writing regarding the Solar Return of May 1st, 2026 for my mother in Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal (DOB May 1, 1956 at 2:45 a.m. in Cecina (LI), Italy.
I realized that when placing an ASC of ASR in the 10th house, besides the transits, the aspects to the sun/moon/angles should also be considered — and had not flagged these to you when writing earlier to verify this choice.
In 2026, my mother’s ASC will receive a square from Uranus in July and November.
Based on this new information, would you discard Ponta Delgada as an option, and opt for Lisbon, Portugal instead?
Or would you say that in the context of such positive ASR as the one in Ponta Delgada, the aspect of Uranus square the ASC should not be considered an issue?
Thank you so much for your guidance.
Best regards,
Valentina
Don’t worry, Valentina, because even if you didn’t specify this, I’m not only an astrologer, but I’m also the same astrologer who wrote the 34 rules, so my brain hadn’t gone on vacation when I replied to you.
I’ve described the conditions under which an AS of SR shouldn’t be placed in the root tenth House many times and in many books.
It would be enough for you to read them once and reassure yourself, if you want to be reassured and not be influenced by clumsy prompters.
However, if you’d like to read some more comments on this rule, I recommend you refer to the third Italian edition of “Transiti e Rivoluzioni Solari,” where I’ve added many notes, I believe, to support people who always have the same type of doubt, especially on this specific topic.
And since, from what I understand, your mother is neither the regional president nor the CEO of a major multinational, the risk in this regard is virtually zero, and you can proceed with the destination I confirmed to you, which won’t bring her “total luck and salvation,” but rather a good ASR.
Best wishes again.
Dear Dr. Discepolo,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to you because, after years of studying your method, I consider you the greatest living authority on Active Solar Returns, and there is truly no one else whose opinion I would trust on this matter.
I was born on July 28th, 1972 at 15:15 in Crema, Italy, and I am currently planning my upcoming Solar Return.
After careful research, I have narrowed my options down to two destinations:
– Havana, Cuba
– Bangkok, Thailand
I have done my best to analyse both charts, but I feel I lack the experience and depth of knowledge to make such an important decision on my own — and this is precisely why I am turning to you.
Dr. Discepolo, which of these two locations would you consider the most appropriate and protective for my Solar Return? Even a brief indication from you would be immensely valuable and would truly make a difference.
I am aware of how precious your time is, and I am deeply grateful for any response you may be able to offer.
With great respect and admiration,
Diego
Dear Diego,
but I already answered your questions on April 24th.
I’m writing you again the text you find published on this page:
In reply to Diego.
Diego, Cuba isn’t a good choice because Venus would be glued to the Ascendant there, which would mean potentially triggering trials and/or suffering for loved ones.
Also, remember that Cuba has been designated a “rogue country” by the US, and if you were to go there, you wouldn’t be able to enter the US without a special visa, which isn’t easy to obtain.
Bangkok, at the very least, might be a good option, but I personally always consider it a last resort to purposely place Saturn and Neptune in the first, sixth, or twelfth House.
Instead, I’d consider Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, which is served by a direct daily flight of about five hours from Copenhagen.
Best wishes.
Dear Ciro,
In this current SR I have Saturn in the 9th house. If I stay for my last LR ( May 10th ) in Madrid ( where I live) I will travel to Calcutta to spend my SR 2026 with Saturn, Mars and Neptune in the 9th.
Can Jupiter in the 12th protect me? May be I should get good travel insurance and not leave the hotel…
Because I don’t see that making a simple and close trip for my LR on may 10th will solve the problem.
3 june 1972. Denia (Spain). 14,48
Carolina, the problems related to the placement of Mars, Saturn, and Neptune in the ninth house are numerous, ranging from suitcase theft to flight cancellations or even total flight disruptions for a day or two.
They can also include traffic accidents involving pedestrians (for example, a bicycle hitting you). In short, the risks are numerous, all listed in my books, and far lower than those you would face if you chose to place those three in houses other than the third and ninth.
Regarding insurance, that’s a decision only you can make: I absolutely don’t believe in insurance and avoid it.
In my experience, the best insurance in the world is to position the stars in the right place in the sky that observes us.