Using Interpretations
Contents
Solar Fire has the ability to provide interpretative text for a large variety of astrological topics. The possible categories of interpretations are...
•Natal
•Progressed
•Return
•Combined
•Prenatal
•Synastry (Natal to Natal)
•Transits to Natal
•Progressions to Natal
•Directions to Natal
•Transits to Natal (Calendar)
•Firdaria
•Midpoints
•Sabian symbols
The interpretative text, is a set of interpretations contained in an interpretation file (which has an ".int" extension). Each of the interpretation categories above can have a different interpretation file associated with it, which is used whenever a chart (or charts) of that category is/are selected. It is possible for all of the categories to use the same interpretation file, although ideally each category would have its own separate interpretation file, containing text that has been written specifically for that chart type.
When you first install Solar Fire, there are interpretation files supplied for natal charts, transits to natal charts, progressions to natal charts (which also includes progressed charts), synastry, firdaria, midpoints, and sabian symbols. However, if you have created additional interpretation files with the "Interpretations Editor", or purchased and installed any additional interpretation files, then it is possible to also select one of these other files.
When Solar Fire is first installed, all the categories use the same interpretations file (standard.int) apart from Synastry (synastry.int), Transits to Natal (transits.int), Progressions to Natal (progress.int), Firdaria (Firdaria.int) and Midpoints (midpoints.int).
In order to change which set of interpretations (interpretation file) Solar Fire will use for each of the possible interpretation categories, you must change the appropriate settings via the Interpretations Files option of the Interps menu. See Changing the Interpretations File for instructions on how to do this.
You can use any set of interpretations with any type of chart if you wish to, for example using the natal interpretations (file) for a progressed chart, return chart or composite chart. However, if you do so, then you will need to bear in mind that some of the interpretations may not apply in the same way as they would to a natal chart. It is also possible, in the future, that you will be able to purchase alternative sets of interpretations (i.e. files) which are written in different styles, or which apply to different chart types. You can also edit the existing text in a file, see Editing interpretations for how to do this.
The interpretations text files which are supplied with Solar Fire are all installed into a single folder, which is the "Interpretations" subfolder of the Solar Fire User Files folder. For the technically minded you can change this (see Interpretation Files).