Astrology’s “shadow planets” — the nodes of the moon
When lookin
g at a natal chart for the first time, people new to astrology often ask about the two horseshoe-shaped symbols. These symbols convey the position of the moon’s nodes. Unlike the symbols on a chart showing the positions of planets and asteroids, nodes are not physical objects in space, but they do hold astrological meaning.
Dragon’s head and tail
If you think of the orbital path of the moon around the earth and that of the earth around the sun as two ovals in space, the nodes are the two points where they overlap each other. The point where the Moon crosses the plane of the ecliptic while moving north is called the North Node, and is symbolized in the chart by an upright horseshoe. The point where the moon crosses the ecliptic plane while moving south is called the south node, whose position on the chart is indicated by a downward pointing horseshoe. Sometimes called shadow planets, the nodes are always 180 degrees from each other, holding the same degree in opposing signs. While the planets move counterclockwise around the zodiac, the nodes move in a clockwise direction, taking roughly 18.6 years to complete one revolution.
When either a new or full Moon occurs close to the nodal axis, we see this event on earth as an eclipse. Ancient myth interpreted eclipses as a dragon trying to swallow the sun and moon. The north node is sometimes called the head of the dragon, while the south node is often referred to as the dragon’s tail.
Karmic meaning of the nodes
Indian astrology views both nodes as potential sources of discord in the chart, harboring old negative patterns. Western astrology, however, tends to see the north node as a positive influence, its sign and house combination in a natal chart pointing the way to situations, environments and choices which will benefit the individual, enabling her/him to grow. The south node, by contrast, is seen as the burden of past karma which we may act on in unconscious, even compulsive ways, usually to our detriment. The flaws of the south node are those we act upon unconsciously and even represent a kind of negative comfort zone of bad habits. The north node on the other hand, is what we have to grow into, although we may resist or resent the form of maturity it offers.
Astrologers often interpret planets which are conjunct the south node, or which have a challenging aspect the nodal axis (see article about aspects), as colored by this negative energy. Planets conjunct the north node, of with harmonious aspects to the nodal axis, are seen as offering possible solutions to the karmic challenges we may face.
Transits
Transits to the nodal axis, particularly by Saturn and Jupiter, may have a strong resonance in life events, or mark a turning point in the individual’s inner development. The nodal return, when the nodes revisit the position they were at when we were born, is another of the astrological markers of personal growth, like the Uranus opposition of the Saturn return. Nodal returns tend to deliver the results, for better or worse, in terms of how we successful we are in moving towards our highest self, assimilating the lessons of the past without wallowing in either resentment or nostalgia.
Some astrologers place a strong emphasis on the degree of the nodes, feeling that this numeric degree holds significance in every sign of the chart. For example, if your nodes are at 12 Aries/Libra, the 12th degree of every sign is sensitized in your chart, so that transits to this degree may be experienced as if you had a planet there even if that sector of the chart is empty. A planet sitting on the nodal degree in any sign is considered more powerful.
An astrology reading of your natal chart will reveal the karma you are working with in this lifetime. A good astrologer can help you look at your life in terms of moving toward the maturity of the north node.