Nodes: The Themes of your Chart
Unpacking the North and South Node
I am often asked about the Nodes in my practice, and this is something that I personally have explored in depth over the last many years. To me, the Nodes bring so much to the table in astrology. They are a big part of the story of your chart, as they represent the themes. From the Nodes we gain perspective and can see the big picture of the why, how, and what. To me, everything in the chart supports these calculated lunar mathematical points. They are the spots where the Moon’s orbit intersects the plane of the ecliptic, represented in our charts as calculations and not actual celestial bodies.
So what are the Nodes exactly? They are often called the Dragon’s Head and Dragon’s Tail or Ketu and Rahu. They look like horseshoes and sit exactly 180º away from one another. They will only ever be in opposition to one another. They represent our fate, destiny, and purpose–– they are the points of past and future at the intersection of our present. Because of their opposing nature, they are often viewed as polarities, where we are told to ignore or release the South Node (the past, the comforts, the limitations) and solely embrace the North Node (the new direction, the future, the “purpose”). However, I believe that it is through the South Node we can embrace and find meaning in our North Node. We can’t simply ignore the South Node in totality, as it holds the keys to unlock the potential that is held in the North Node. Yes, there are areas in the South Node we must let go, but there are pieces we can celebrate there, too.
In short, the North Node represents the kinds of experiences we must work to develop for our own growth. It may feel uncomfortable, unfamiliar, or a bit difficult for us. This makes sense, as it will be a fresh start for us in some ways. From a soulful perspective, this is what we must do in order to apply what we have learned from past lessons. It can show us newfound insights, new successes, and new places of interest. It can deepen our understanding of ourselves and open doors where we thought none existed before. Of course, it isn’t easy to see the North Node in ourselves, as it is foreign. But by seeing it from where we stand at the South Node point in our chart, we can see the relationships they have to one another. It is a place to look to for our own expansion.
The South Node, in turn, represents those experiences and qualities that come naturally to us. Perhaps in some cases, they get too much attention or we fall back on them in moments of fear or uncertainty. Thus, it can be a place of stagnation and comfort. Traditionally, the South Node can be a point of undoing unless we develop the North Node experiences and qualities. So, we see the connection in the two. It isn’t so much an either/or, as it is a “yes, and.” It can be through the lens of the South Node that we can find journeying toward the North Node. They are the lessons of our soul’s past. We bring them into this incarnation to help us and remind us of where we have come from. Thus, consciously working on these life lessons is said to bring us a sense of fulfillment. If we rely too heavily on our South Node at the expense of developing our North Node, we may feel that we are repeating patterns. Cycles are meant to be broken, so new ones can be formed.
When looking at the Nodes, it is important to see what signs they occupy, as well as what Houses they reside in. Interactions or aspects to the nodes take more of a backseat, unless there is a strong conjunction/opposition to either. The signs will inform the “what,” while the Houses will tell you “where.” For example, if you have North Node in Sagittarius, you may be asked to step into your truth and learn to take risks. But to find where that may need to happen, then check the House it sits in. In contrast, the South Node in Gemini may require you to use your adaptability and flexibility to achieve your goals, but be careful of taking in too much information. Not everyone’s perspective or ideas are for you and vice versa. That can cloud your own personal truth or expression of said truth. To understand where you may get trapped in this behavior, look to the House that your South Node is in. The North Node in Sagittarius requires focus and taking chances on yourself. To live authentically, someone with this nodal placement will have to be willing to listen to themselves first and foremost, and seek adventure to better their understanding of the world and themselves overall.
As I mentioned, aspects are more of a secondary point for the Nodes. However, any planets/points conjunct or opposite the Nodes tightly will be important. For example, if your Moon is conjunct your South Node, you may find it hard to emotionally step away from the past. You could be nostalgic, thus, keep yourself in repeating patterns based on comfort and the fear of the newer experiences. The quote “it's better to deal with the devil you know than the one you don’t,” comes to mind here. However, the aversion to stepping into your power can keep you feeling limited. There can be a karmic or past connection with the mother or the nurturer in your life/the maternal line. You could feel stagnated by this energy or soothed to the point of inaction. They could be a big support for you but that may also lead you to feeling too comfortable to take any chances on yourself.
To see what themes may come up for you in your chart based on your nodes, look below at this simple breakdown.
Nodes By Sign
North Node in Aries – Embrace identity, new experiences, and autonomy. Find your fighting spirit and learn to go after what you want. Release indecision, losing boundaries, and lack of confidence. Celebrate your diplomacy and tact. Enjoy your ability to connect with others.
North Node in Taurus - Embrace stability, security, and self-reliance. Find your value and learn to stand in your worth. Release enmeshment, emotional chaos, and others’ pains. Celebrate your intimacy and intensity. Enjoy your ability to direct your power.
North Node in Gemini - Embrace curiosity, new information, and communication. Find your voice and learn, adapt, and integrate. Release singular mindset, outdated beliefs, and only believing one truth. Celebrate your sense of adventure and optimism. Enjoy the wisdom you have gained.
North Node in Cancer - Embrace home, your emotional foundations, and vulnerability. Find your sanctuary and learn from the past. Release rigidity, the barriers you’ve built, and personal limitations. Celebrate your strength and goals. Enjoy the ways in which you provide for yourself and others.
North Node in Leo - Embrace creativity, playfulness, and heart’s desires. Find your fire and learn to create your joy. Release groupthink, caring too much about what others say, and the fear of the spotlight. Celebrate your inventiveness and humanitarianism. Enjoy your unique talents.
North Node in Virgo - Embrace routines, organization, and being good to your body. Find magick in everyday life and learn to live in the present. Release the victim/savior mentality, dissociation, and lack of focus. Celebrate your spirituality and compassion. Enjoy your intuitive gifts and profound understanding.
North Node in Libra - Embrace perspective, new relationships, and receptivity. Find yourself through your connections and learn to give yourself grace. Release brash behavior, the inability to compromise, and the need to do everything on your own. Celebrate your individuality and leadership qualities. Enjoy fresh starts.
North Node in Scorpio - Embrace intimacy, your power, and your magick. Find your will and learn to break cycles. Release stagnation, the need for material security, and the refusal for change. Celebrate your resourcefulness and sensuality. Enjoy your ability to find value in anything.
North Node in Sagittarius - Embrace adventure, reaching for possibility, and sharing your wisdom. Find where to take leaps of faith and learn to listen to your heart and soul. Release fickleness, only listening to others, and lack of commitment. Celebrate your communication style and social graces. Enjoy your talents for writing, speaking, or learning.
North Node in Capricorn - Embrace structure, being the mentor, and your ability to provide. Find your inner strength and learn to build the life you want. Release fears around change, getting trapped at home, and wanting to hide away. Celebrate your nurturing side. Enjoy your ability to nourish others–– it is time to nourish yourself.
North Node in Aquarius - Embrace your originality, new friends, and receiving what unfolds. Find your unique talents and learn to help others through your power. Release the need to fend for yourself only, selfishness, and lack of seeing someone’s point of view. Celebrate your creativity and child-like playfulness. Enjoy your ability to make others smile and to have fun.
North Node in Pisces - Embrace spirituality, the occult, and compassion. Find forgiveness in yourself and learn to let go to receive. Release perfectionism, losing sight of the big picture, and the confines you place around yourself. Celebrate your detail-orientation and tactility. Enjoy your ability to see what others can not.
Nodes by House
North Node in 1st House - A journey of self-discovery, where purpose is found through embracing your authentic self. You can align with what you truly want and let go of the needs of others. Find who you are and don’t compromise pieces of you for anyone else. Relationships are karmic.
North Node in 2nd House - A journey of self-reliance, where purpose is found through discovering your self-worth. You can align with what brings your security and let go of anything that holds you back. Find what you stand for and don’t compromise your value for others. Personal stability is key.
North Node in 3rd House - A journey of mastering communication, where purpose is found through interaction. You can align your thoughts with words and let go of the need to master one skill. Find purpose in your ability to bring everything together and don’t run from commitment. Dialogue creates new experiences.
North Node in 4th House - A journey of finding your roots, where purpose is found through healing your past and/or family. You can embrace your emotional nature and let go of self-imposed limitations. Find comfort in sharing yourself vulnerably and don’t create walls. Nurture the potential within you.
North Node in 5th House - A journey of heart, where purpose is found through allowing yourself to take up space. You can embrace your creativity and let go of the need to please others. Find what brings you joy and don’t compromise that at any cost. You create your own happiness.
North Node in 6th House - A journey of understanding your needs, where purpose is found through living life in the mundane. You can find faith in yourself and let go of your lack of boundaries. Find the beauty in the here and now and don’t lose yourself in others. The body and soul are connected.
North Node in 7th House - A journey of seeing the world differently, where purpose is found through relationships and connections. You can see yourself differently through others and let go of singularity. Find peace in yourself and don’t throw off the scales of equilibrium. You are here to restore a balance.
North Node in 8th House - A journey of healing, where purpose is found through discovering your own power. You create shared intimacy and let go of outdated values. Find beauty in the shadow and don’t limit what you are capable of. Hidden potential rises like a phoenix.
North Node in 9th House - A journey of personal truth, where purpose is found through sharing what you’ve learned. You can align with something bigger than yourself and let go of placating others. Find and seek adventure and don’t limit yourself to your surroundings. Experience life to the fullest.
North Node in 10th House - A journey of personal success, where purpose is found through living your goals. You build the life you want and let go of the past and family pain. Find power in leaving your comforts and don’t shy away from being seen. You create your success and stability, leaving a legacy for others.
North Node in 11th House - A journey of living your dreams, where purpose is found through networking and connections. You can ask for help and let go of the need to do everything on your own. Find power in your community and don’t let pride stand in the way. There is strength in numbers, and the universe wants to support you.
North Node in 12th House - A journey of understanding your soul, where purpose is found through embracing your intuition. You learn from energy, past lives and spirituality and let go of the need to control. Find yourself in the liminal and don’t lose sight of your magic. Go swimming in the sea of your own spirit.