An answer of sorts.
Adele, I specialize in predictive astrology and have been doing Solar Returns for some 25 years. I do not use a tropical return based on the Sun being at the identical degree-minute position as in the birth chart. I do precess the chart, a sort of tropical zodiac version of sidereal practices. As many researchers have found, the precessed chart is more effective -- although anyone can argue over that.
In any case, your precessed Solar Return, calculated for the Sun at 11:43:00 Leo, timed at 8:16:19 am on August 4th, 2003, has an Ascending degree of 7:36 Virgo with Mercury at 7:01 Virgo.
Your natal Mercury was at your IC angle: You think and talk a lot about basic values, your ideas and beliefs. You have your own standards and seem to need others to recognize that. With Sun in Leo/3rd and Moon in Cap/8th, you value understanding and knowledge and work hard to apply what you learn.
Your focus this year is that natally angular Mercury. In the return chart that I cast Mercury is again angular, this time on the S/R Ascendant. Some 5 or 6 days prior to your birthday, the very end of July, you probably experienced Mercury's symbolism quite strongly -- sudden news from a family member, an argument or a presentation to a public service group, making plans for travel, etc. Whatever the specific experience you had then, look for it to again show up around a week into December -- perhaps as a consequnce or a reply of some sort or a challenge. If it does, it will be resolved early next May.
You may want to consider how you incorporate Uranus symbolism into your life. Natally, Mercury is conjunct Uranus. In the S/R chart Uranus is opposite Mercury at 1 Pisces. Are others surpising you with their demands or intrusions? Is inspiration a big thing now -- perhaps leading to a career change, perhaps encouragement by a friend to take up a new direction? This is the core issues I'd focus on for this year. Let me know how this fits for you. Dave.
