Grokking the Lunar Nodes
Plenty of astrologers out there never work with the Lunar Nodes.
But these points in the sky provide wildly useful insights into our relationship with our own past and future, making them invaluable when it comes to planning the future, releasing the past, decision making and increasing our own self-awareness.
And as a coach, I really love that.
What’s a Lunar Node?
These are hypothetical points in the sky, calculated using the three-way orbital relationship between Earth, Sun and Moon.
They represent the points where the Moon’s path crosses over ecliptic - the imaginary path of the Sun around* the Earth.
*Of course, we know the Earth moves around the Sun, but in this kind of astrology we’re observing everything from the perspective of Earth, so we look to that path taken by the Sun from where we stand on our own planet.
They’re most easily calculated using a computer since - unlike the planets - this is not an observation you can make with a telescope.
Everyone has a pair of Lunar Nodes in their natal chart - one North Node, one South Node - and they always sit exactly opposite each other in the chart.
That’s our first clue on how to think about these Nodes.
They come together as a set, a pair. You can’t have one without the other. And they are both equally important.
What they mean
Jungian astrologer Howard Sasportas created a beautiful metaphor for the Lunar Nodes, drawn from the idea of life as a train journey.
He says that at birth, when we embark on the trip, we have a suitcase half-filled with all our favourite things: the familiar and the comfortable. It might be our favourite comfy slippers, our teddy bear, the novel we like to re-read, our best playlist.
As we travel from station to station along the way, we find new things and add them to the suitcase, so we carry a blend of the familiar and the new.
We don’t fill the suitcase at the start of the trip, because we know we’ll need space for new stuff.
We don’t tip out all the old things to make way for the new, though we may choose to release some as they become superseded or outmoded.
Our suitcase becomes a blend of the new and the familiar. And we get to choose the balance of those things so that they please us the best, and serve us well.
Surfing the binary
North Node represents the new, South Node the familiar.
In practical terms, North Node represents where we push the envelope, our leading edge, the places in life where we learn new things, where we are brave and take bold new steps.
South Node represents the powers we came in with, the things we already have mastery over, the things we bring in with us and can teach others.
And we need a balance of the two.
We cannot perpetually ‘do’ North Node because it requires significant energy to get out there into the new. We need to be able to engage South Node as a way to regain our energy, recharge our batteries, reconnect to our feelings of mastery and confidence, recuperate.
We cannot perpetually ‘do’ South Node because we become stale and stagnant without the inspiration and adrenaline of the new. We engage North Node as a way to explore what we came here to achieve and to master, aspects of our own personal cutting edge. Sometimes we release aspects of South Node as the time is right.
The journey is not about being in full-on North Node 24/7, neither is it about rejecting all aspects of South Node. It’s not about avoiding the scary parts of North Node, neither is it about staying in the familiar territory of South Node all the time.
Where is mine?
Since the Lunar Nodes operate in pairs, it can be incredibly helpful to look at how the pairs of signs relate to each other.
You can gain some insights for yourself - go to astro.com and create a free account, then use their free chart service to generate your own chart. Or you can ask your friendly astrologer for some guidance if you need help.
Here’s a very brief rundown on the pairs of signs to give you a starting point to explore and contemplate further.
Aries-Libra
Aries knows how to do independence, standing on our own two feet, living our truth unapologetically. Libra knows how to see all sides of the story, to work well with others, to share and accommodate, and to value beauty and grace.
Taurus-Scorpio
Taurus knows how to value the physical - sensory comfort and delight - and how to take care of tangible resources. Scorpio knows how to relish the adrenaline rush of danger, and how to form deep and meaningful soul connections.
Gemini-Sagittarius
Gemini knows how to explore via intellectual curiosity, to read and listen, to learn ideas and concepts and pass them on to others. Sagittarius knows how to explore beyond the known, to go into uncharted waters and understand through a brand new, expanded perspective.
Cancer-Capricorn
Cancer knows how to nurture and to connect emotionally, how to engage the places where we are most vulnerable, our emotional home ground and our homes, for ourself and others. Capricorn knows how to wield authority and power, how to take things from a dream state to the mountaintop of ambition and achievement, and how to create one’s mark in the world.
Leo-Aquarius
Leo knows how to express and share creativity, to radiate light, warmth and beauty for all to share with joy. Aquarius knows how to explore and share valuable ideas and concepts, from a position of clear leadership, to be both the teacher and the voice of the collective.
Virgo-Pisces
Virgo knows how to bring order to chaos, to take things from the intangible to the real and tangible, to manifest. Pisces knows how to dissolve the boundaries and to reveal that we are all one, how to connect with and be of service to the unconscious collective.
Finding the sweet spot
North Node represents the future - what we need to learn in this lifetime (and often shows up as other people who are our teachers and mentors).
South Node represents the past - what we already know how to do (and often shows up as other people seeking our support and guidance).
Our work is to find the sweet spot where these two are in balance.
And that’s not automatically a 50:50 thing!
For each of us, at different times, the balance will shift and move.
This is one reason it’s useful to know your own Lunar Nodes.
For example, my North Node at 18 degrees of Sagittarius, my South Node at 18 Gemini.
That means my ‘new’ is exploring uncharted waters and creating a new perspective, while my ‘old’ is researching what’s already known, to relish non-judgemental curiosity.
Writing an article like this blends the two, as I source the knowledge and wisdom of other astrologers, then bring my own perspective and insights to the mix.
And of course, as planets move through the sky and form aspects to your North or South Node, especially the ‘gods of change’ Pluto and Uranus, you may find your attention being drawn to this deliciously creative binary in your chart.
It’s a fantastic opportunity to ask ‘how is the balance going here; and is there anything that needs to change?’
If you’d like any help exploring and understanding your own Lunar Nodes, contact your friendly local (ie Earth-based) astrologer for more info.