To understand the lunar nodes, it’s helpful to first imagine the Moon orbiting the Earth. As it makes its way around the Earth in 29.5 days, it crosses the ecliptic (the apparent path of the Sun) in two places. There is a north point which is the north node, and a south point which is the south node. Wherever these two points cross the ecliptic on the day of your birth is where you have the lunar nodes listed in your chart.
The lunar nodes are mathematical points in the sky where the Moon crosses the ecliptic moving from a northern latitude to a southern latitude and vice versa.
In evolutionary astrology, however, they mean so much more than that. They symbolize the growth and ongoing development of the personal self and the evolutionary progress of a soul. Without the evaluation of the north and south nodes of the Moon, evolutionary astrology would not be what it is today. For it is from these two points that the past personality and the present self-trajectory can be assessed.
When examining your chart, recognize that the lunar nodes generally move in a retrograde fashion (because of complications in the way the Moon orbits the Earth and the Earth’s tilt along its orbit about the ecliptic). Thus, it is very common to find these points in retrograde in your chart.
In astrology, the Moon’s north node points to our potential for growth. It does not mean, however, that this growth will come easily or feel natural. This is because what feels natural to us is our south node. Yet this is the point we are moving away from. Why? Because the south node is who we've already been in a past life. It shows us the qualities we've already developed, and if we only embody what we already know – what feels most comfortable to us – we will not experience growth. And growth is the ultimate reason our soul is here for another time around.
The transiting north node (the north node moving in the sky right now) is a reflection of the attitude we should carry that would best assist us in a particular area of life. That specific area is determined based on what house the north node is transiting. If you don’t have your exact birth time, you will not be able to calculate the house placement of the lunar nodes, however, you will still be able to determine their signs.
In determining the sign and house placement of each lunar node, it's important to recognize that every sign has a shadow side. At this time in October 2023, the Moon’s north node is in Aries. Therefore, Aries is the archetype or energy we are being asked to embody. But, in the negative, Aries can be self-serving, domineering, and abrasive, so we have to guard against these pitfalls too. The qualities we do want to embrace are:
-Greater independence
-Self-confidence
-Self-directedness
-Leadership skills
-Assertiveness and the ability to stand up for oneself
-A healthy self-regard (ensuring you are taking care of yourself as much as you are others)
-Courage
What About the South Node?
The south node is always the sign directly opposite the north node. It tells us what karma we have brought in from past lives and what gifts are inherent to our nature. We do not have to develop this sign or focus too strongly on this area of life (unless we have planets in this house or sign) because we’ve already been there and done that.
The south node transiting in the sky tells us all collectively where we need to avoid falling into old ruts, old ways of thinking, and acting out the shadow sides of whatever sign the south node is in.
Currently, the south node is in Libra, the opposite sign of Aries. So, let’s unpack that for a moment. Libra’s shadow side has to do with being co-dependent, indecisive, neglecting one's own needs for another’s, over-giving, debilitating selflessness, judging oneself through another’s eyes, and an obsessive attachment to fairness. Thus, we are all learning how to move away from caring what others think, giving too much of ourselves away, and not standing in our power courageously.
When we think about Aries, it's easy to view this cardinal fire sign as less loving and nurturing than Libra, so we must challenge ourselves to recognize the positive aspects of this sign (see list above) and learn how to develop these qualities within ourselves. It is helpful to locate where you have Aries in your natal chart, as this will give you a point of reference for directing your energy. Ultimately, we want to act more like an Aries in whatever house the north node shows up.
The Lunar Nodes' Transit Time
The lunar nodes take about 18.5 years to make it through all 12 zodiac signs. This means, every 18.5 years, you will have your nodal return. But prior to that, the nodes will make many aspects to other planets and significant points in your chart, so it is wise to pay attention to the transiting lunar nodes to see what areas of life and parts of your personality are getting “activated.” Just to give you a heads up, the next date that the lunar nodes will be changing signs (the north node will be moving into Pisces and the south node will be going into Virgo) will be January 28th, 2025. Until then, we can all collectively work to embody the strengths of Aries and minimize the downsides of Libra to experience the best results.
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