Contrary to popular belief, doing what feels natural is not always the best choice for our highest evolution.
The south node in astrology is the point that feels most natural to us. It represents our default behavior and the patterns we are moving away from in this life. The reason is because we don’t need to develop qualities that we’ve already mastered in a past life.
The south node is equivalent to our Sun sign in a previous life, and this is why it feels so comfortable to us now. It’s also why many of us spend the first half of our lives living out our south node sign rather than our Sun sign!
Without the understanding of the south node in our birth charts, we often default to doing what’s familiar instead of doing what’s beneficial.
This familiarity is what makes our instinctual behaviors hard to break, and why some people never recognize their true purpose. Our true purpose is found in the north node sign – just opposite the south node in your birth chart. Thus, it’s through adopting the personality traits of the north node sign that we actually evolve.
Living out your south node point may seem fitting for a while, but it won’t be fulfilling. Though it's also fair to say that sometimes we aren’t looking for fulfillment, we just need joy. Herein lies the biggest difference between the south and north lunar nodes: The south node has the potential to bring us joy because it’s familiar, while the north node has the potential to bring us joy because it’s fulfilling. Fulfilling in the sense that it’s lasting; it provides us with feelings of accomplishment and self-satisfaction that aren't fleeting.
While our south node behavior is okay to express once in a while – like when we want to reminisce about the good old days or just feel relaxed – it won’t provide us with lasting happiness. It’s a temporary pleasure, kind of like that old pair of jeans we keep around because they fit so good, yet they are sorely worn out and unsuitable to wear in public. The north node, on the other hand is our compass – our “true north” that will lead us to our ultimate purpose, our reason for being, and awakened consciousness.
At first, when we look at this sign and read about its behavior, it may seem foreign to us – like a career we never imagined ourselves in – but this is natural. If it were familiar, how could we evolve!? The trick is to align our behavior with this sign’s dominant tendencies and hone the skills required to act and serve effectively out in the world as this sign would.
Back to the south node… if it weren’t for this point, we wouldn’t know what we were moving away from and why it does feel so familiar to us. Once we have this recognition we can easily see why the north node is so important. As we strive to develop new and unaccustomed north node traits, we can lean into the south node sign when we need a break, a release, or some familiar joy. But in doing so, we must act responsibly and focus on drawing out the positive qualities of the south node sign.
Every zodiac sign has both positive and negative tendencies, so we want to be mindful that we are expressing the best of our “past selves” when we feel the urge to act out of character for the sake of emotional enjoyment. This is understandable. Life is not always easy, and sometimes we just crave the familiar, something uncomplicated, and something fun.
My south node is in Sagittarius, so I can attest to how good it feels when I take a solo quest, hit the open road, and seek out new experiences. The first part of my life was definitely lived from this Sagittarian perspective. I traveled, discovered different faiths, and kept an open mind (most of the time). Having freedom was my number one priority. I even became a flight attendant after college so I could travel internationally and gain as many “new experiences” as I could! Alas, I did what felt “natural” but not what was ultimately fulfilling.
It is human nature to seek the meaning of life - to find something that will bring us lasting joy - so isn't it comforting to know that through your birth chart, you can learn how to adopt the behaviors that will make your life most meaningful? Then once you’ve found your sense of meaning, your purpose will find you.
Following the south node will offer you a life of least resistance, but it will never allow you to grow. While we want to embrace all parts of ourselves, there is a time and a place for each part to come out. Ultimately, you get to choose. The north node is the challenge for growth, while the south node is the comforting, unchanging known. My suggestion is to use them both but dedicate the majority of your time to developing the north node qualities for your highest personal evolutionary growth.
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