One of the things I hear very often from clients is that they feel stuck. They don’t know which way is forward. They can’t get a wider view or greater perspective of their lives.
The beautiful thing about astrology is that it gives us the language to describe what we’re going through as well as a map to show us the landscape of our life. So when we’re stuck, we’re able to use astrology to help us understand where we’re trying to move towards … and what’s getting in our way.
Again and again in client sessions I return to something called the Lunar Nodes. While not well known beyond Sun signs, the are an important part to the birth chart, aka the snapshot of the heavens at the moment that you’re born. Depending on where they are in the birth chart and the sign that they are in, they reveal direction and purpose, which is to say nothing in this life is random. There is a reason. There is something that you’re trying to achieve. Your life — your soul — has a true north. Head towards it.
What Are the Lunar Nodes?
In astronomical terms, the Lunar Nodes are the point on the ecliptic where the Moon intersects as it rotates around the earth. While that may seem a bit technical, these two points become an axis — a powerful opposing axis that pinpoints when and where solar and lunar eclipses will happen. Quite simply, when a new or full moon lines up with the nodes, there is an eclipse.
If you know a little bit about astrology then you know that eclipses are powerful events. And when you place the Nodes in the birth chart, it forms a powerful current of energy that, when activated at different times in our lives, brings in events that feel fated and experiences that close as well as open doors. But when we take a wider view of the nodes we can see that they are connecting us to a greater story that threads its way through our lives.
The Nodes are the “why” of the chart. They give deeper purpose and language to what we’re experiencing. They help us to see the story of our lives. And if you believe in reincarnation, they speak to the soul’s journey throughout many lifetimes.
The Nodes also have two ends — the South Node and the North Node. They are always opposite from each other.
The South Node is the past. It’s instinct. There’s a deep groove there and a memory that runs deep. The South Node by sign and house speaks to what your soul knows on a deep level because you’ve lived it over and over again.
The North Node, however, may be an area that is completely foreign to us. Nevertheless, it’s our spiritual north point, the direction that we need to head towards in this lifetime because our soul needs to learn and grow. We can’t stay in the South Node. It’s a place where we can get stuck or stagnant if we forget about the new possibilities and discoveries of the North.
So, if we’re stuck, always go back to the North Node. It will point the way forward.
Where Are My Nodes?
First, you need to look up what sign your North Node are in. You can do so here. Your South Node is always the sign opposite that of the North Node.
When you know what sign your North and South Node are in, you have a basic idea of where you’re headed. Your North Node sign is what you’re moving towards. You’re bringing in new experiences that thematically or archetypically are expressed by that sign. You may feel instinctually connected to this sign or experiences in your life speak to this sign … or this sign is still a mystery. There are lessons here for you to learn.
The sign that your South Node is in is familiar — a little too familiar — on a deep instinctual or soul level. You unconsciously gravitate towards it. You sometimes get stuck in it. You’ve had many lifetimes expressing and learning this sign’s archetypes and themes. You have karma with this sign. Now it’s time for something new.
(Of course, there is more to this. If you know about your own chart and are at an intermediate level of astrology, you can get more information by the houses the Nodes are in as well as the where the rulers are and what aspects are being made to it. This type of astrology is what’s known as evolutionary astrology or karmic astrology.)
Nodes by Sign
This is a brief overview to give you a taste of the story behind your Nodes and the why of your life. Please note that if this doesn’t quite seem right for you, there is likely a more complex story in your birth chart that makes so that you have a deep groove with both signs of your Nodes.
North Node in Aries, South Node in Libra — Relationships and partnerships are something that’s comfortable for you. You instinctually try to cater to others or are overly diplomatic. This is a lifetime about striking out on your own, learning to individuate, and learning to be yourself in relationships without getting lost in one. You may face situations throughout your life that push you to find who you are and develop a strong sense of “I”.
North Node in Taurus, South Node in Scorpio — It’s deeply instinctual for you to not to trust. You deeply understand that life is short, that death is a part of living. You may always be waiting for the other shoe to drop, unable to relax. This is a lifetime about discovering the pleasure of life and that while death is a natural part of life, so is living and enjoying it. You may face situations throughout your life that push you to find solid ground and trust others.
North Node in Gemini, South Node in Sagittarius — Intelligence is something that comes naturally. You know a lot and you may even have strong opinions, believing that your way is the only way. This is a lifetime about opening up to new possibilities, new information, new ideas. You may face situations throughout your life that not only test your faith, but make you question whether you are right.
North Node in Cancer, South Node in Capricorn — Responsibility is something that is deeply instinctual. You naturally take on a lot and can sometimes feel overburdened or even imprisoned by duty. This is a lifetime where you have to open up to the softer side of life. You have to leave behind what weighs you down or what you’re negatively attached to, opening up to what your heart wants. You may face situations throughout your life that help you connect to your emotions.
North Node in Leo, South Node in Aquarius — It’s sometimes easy for you to get lost in the group. Feelings of otherness or alienation strike a chord in you. You often overanalyze or get stuck in your head. This is a life about discovering who you are as well as opening up your creativity and talents. You may face situations throughout your life that push you to be who you are and to be seen.
North Node in Virgo, South Node in Pisces — You often feel like you’re floating or that you’re not quite a part of this world. It’s easy for you to get lost or caught in illusions. Spirituality and the nonphysical realms are more real to you than others. This is a lifetime about getting grounded and getting disciplined. It’s about finding the balance between heaven and earth. You may face situations throughout your life that force you to get in touch with your body as well as reality.
North Node in Libra, South Node in Aries — It’s easy for you to go it alone or to think of yourself before others. You have a deep instinct to be a leader or to individuate. This is a lifetime about discovering relationship and partnership and connecting with others. You may face situations throughout your life that teach you about negotiation and compromise.
North Node in Scorpio, South Node in Taurus — Safety and comfort is something that’s deeply instinctual. You generally don’t like to make big changes and when you do, you have to feel that it’s on your own terms. In this life you’re learning to take risks, jump into the unknown and leave your comfort zone. You may face experiences in your life that deeply transform you.
North Node in Sagittarius, South Node in Gemini — You’re constantly learning and you’re perpetually the student. It’s deeply instinctual to write, speak, communicate, and even travel. This is a lifetime about gathering your ideas and everything you know, forging it into wisdom and knowledge. You may face experiences that test your faith as well as what you believe in.
North Node in Capricorn, South Node in Cancer — It’s deeply instinctual for you to stay close to home and rely on others. It may be hard for you to leave your comfort zone or what is familiar or what you’re emotionally attached to. This is a life about going out into the world and carving out a place for yourself. It’s about taking on responsibility and developing a career. You may face experiences in your life that push you to grow up, be more responsible, and to be more ambitious.
North Node in Aquarius, South Node in Leo — It’s easy for you to express who you are. You may naturally be talented, creative, or have a strong self of identity and self. This is a life about opening up to the world beyond yourself and developing a social conscious. It’s about learning to find consensus or even shine the light on others. You may face experiences in your life that help you to discover community and groups or become involved with humanitarian causes.
North Node in Pisces, South Node in Virgo — Work and responsibility is something that’s deeply instinctual for you. You try to control everything. You can sometimes get get too caught up in the real world that you forget to look up. This is a lifetime about opening up to things that are spiritual, magical, and mystical. It’s about letting go of the details, perfection, and even the things that overburden you. You may attract situations into your life that challenge your reality.
Recommended Reading:
Yesterday’s Sky by Steven Forrest
Astrology for the Soul by Jan Spiller
Photo by Samuel Chenard on Unsplash
So spot on, thanks for the post! My 7th house Leo NN inconjunct my Cap Sun in 12th house (the difference is 1 degree) and Mercury (3 deg) – sometimes it feels as if both my SN and Sun were conspiring against me getting to know Leo 🙂 What do I do to access this creativity in/and relationships – meditate? Do associative writing? Let things take their course?
Are relationships a blind spot for you? (Ruler of the 7th in the 12th) Do you need to learn to open up more? Yes, you can always meditate, but eventually we all have to get out of the 12th, which often holds us back or shows that something is unconscious. It may be that relationships are a place for you to find yourself and to express yourself. If you have Gemini on the 5th, that continues the theme of needing to open up the self, express your voice, your talents, take them seriously. This is just some ideas. I don’t have the full chart.
Absolutely yes, relationships are a mystery, as are my talents to be honest. I do have Gemini in 5th house, and so, appropriately, I’ve been pursuing a PhD for the past forever. But I have yet to find my less cerebral talents and see what happens when I do. Come to think of it, the fact that I want to quit the solitary lifestyle of an academic and work in a team makes so much more sense now. Thank you, Katie!
Katie- for the first 35 years of my life I totally identified with having a south node in virgo. I’m a cancer sun/pisces rising and moon. So, when I discovered that I should be pointing my life compass toward my NN of Pisces… I totally get it. I’m all into the mystical, meditation, i’m painting, i’m creating music, i’m in love with what astrology has brought me..i’m so grateful. question: since I have so much pisces already and my NN is pisces, do you recommend I truly pay more attention to pisces than cancer…. ?
It’s not about paying attention more to Pisces than your Cancer Sun, it’s about knowing that the great story of your life is bringing in experiences that are Pisces in archetype because that’s what your soul needs. But you’re a Cancer in this life and you, at the core of your being, are someone who expresses herself through emotional connection, care, and nurturing.
Excellent. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK.