Hello Friends,
This is the third in my series of short tutorials on reading your birth chart. It really is quite simple and easy, once you strip away all the fluff and astro-jargon to get the core of the topic.
Since the Lunar Nodes are about to shift signs, now seems like the perfect time to show you a very simple, easy way to read them.
The word node comes from the Greek Sundesmos, which means bond or fastening, because it is where the path of the Moon and the path of the Sun intersect at regular intervals. They are the points where the luminaries are bound together.
Astronomically, the nodes are the two points where the Moon’s path (its orbit, also known as the ecliptic) intersects the Sun’s path.
As extensions of the Moon, they can intensify experiences and point to pivotal, karmic or fated events in a persons life, or in world events.
Reading the Lunar Nodes in a Birth Chart
So, the nodes of the Moon are chart points that have a variety of symbolic interpretations depending on what school of astrology you follow.
In Evolutionary astrology the nodes have special significance. They are said to represent the soul’s karmic evolution through lifetimes; the south node represents the previous incarnation, while a person grows toward the fulfilment of the north node. If you want to learn more about this branch of astrology start here.
Vedic (Jyotish) astrology has an interesting story illustrating how the lunar nodes came into being, to allegorically explain the role the nodes play in a chart. You can read the story here. The nodes are interpreted as being powerful indicators of the role of karma in the birth chart, and how a person develops spiritually in the materialistic life.
Ancient Hellenistic astrologers (as far as we know) had a very simple way of interpreting the nodes in the birth chart. The north node, also called the ascending node, represents increase and is of the nature of Jupiter. The south node, or descending node is of the nature of Saturn, and represents decrease.
North node = Ascending, Increase, like Jupiter
South node = Descending, Decrease, like Saturn
A full Moon or new Moon occurring near the lunar nodes indicates a solar eclipse (new Moon) or a lunar eclipse (full Moon). The nodes will need to be within 11 to 18 degrees (approximately) to the luminaries for an eclipse to happen.
An eclipse in a birth chart is a powerful signature. The house and sign it falls in will usually point to defining circumstances surrounding the birth, for example events or situations affecting the parents, or the place of birth, which may have a profound impact on the person’s life, or in some way define who they are. They may feel as if fate plays a role in the things that happen to them, which can seem extraordinary or fortuitous.
Ancient astrologers believed that someone born with the Sun or Moon close to the nodes, or configured by a square aspect, would be affected by wanderings or disturbances, or by harm to the parents, or the place of birth, or suffer adversity and struggles in life. I have not studied this enough to be able to confirm it.
Much depends on the houses where they are located, and to some extent the signs, as well as the condition of the rulers of their respective signs. When reading the nodes in a birth chart:
Look for conjunctions with other planets, especially the Luminaries as noted above, and stellia (groups of planets).
Look for conjunctions to the ascendent or the ruler of the ascendent.
Also look for any planets or chart points at the bendings— an aspect of 90 degrees, to the nodes. The other angles, such as the trine and sextile aspects are not so important.
The nodes are usually significant in the angular houses (houses 1,4, 7 and 10), but will be more so if there are planets nearby.
For all placements as above, use this formula:
If the north node is configured to benefics then it enhances and increases their benefit.
If the north node is configured to malefics then it increases their harm.
If the south node is with benefics then it reduces or even negates their benefit.
If the south node is with malefics then it decreases or negates their harm.
Reading Transiting Nodes
The same principles apply when transiting nodes are configured by square or conjunction to planets or chart points such as the angles (for example the ascendent, MC, IC or Dsc.).
The ascending node, the north node, can increase or elevate whatever it passes over, for better or worse. This can be noticeable within a 3 degree orb of influence. It may influence the themes relating to that house and sign during its 18 month transit.
In the same way the south node can negate or reduce the usual significations of the transited planet or chart point during its transit, for better or worse.
The main point to note is that transiting nodes will indicate the house and sign where eclipses will fall in a given 18 month cycle.
Transiting eclipses can point to important endings and beginnings in a person’s life, or major turning points. And often these events are part of an evolving 18 year cycle, or half-cycle of 9 years, where these circumstances are repeated, with variations. So if you have a nodal transit coming up consider what was occurring in your life 9 years ago, or 18 years ago.
If you have any questions please drop a comment, and don’t forget to heart this if you liked it. I really appreciate any feedback, thanks for reading!
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Thank you Anna. It's great to read your astrological pondering