Lunar Nodes
Our Past and Our Purpose
The Lunar Nodes, also known as the Dragon’s Head and Tail respectively, are one of the most significant placements in a person’s natal chart, and to me, it’s the single most fascinating part.
Reincarnation is a subject that has always captured my interest, and understanding your Lunar Nodes is like reading your own memoir spanning lifetimes: a story with themes you may have been playing out automatically. Luckily, the Nodes also provide guidance on how to work on our issues in order to evolve.
But what are the lunar nodes?
Rather than physical planetary bodies, the lunar nodes are two mathematical points calculated based on where the moon’s path crosses the earth’s path around the sun (also called the ecliptic plane). The moon’s orbit around earth is slightly tilted compared to the ecliptic, which creates two points where they intersect as seen below, and brings us the nodes’ next set of names: the point where the moon is above the ecliptic plane is the ascending node (the North Node), and the point where the moon is below the ecliptic is the descending node (the South Node).
Where the sun’s path, representing our life direction, intersects the moon’s path, our emotional instincts, a karmic journey unfolds. To truly understand the lunar nodes’ importance, you should understand the significance of eclipses, which happen when the moon is close to one of the nodes.
From an evolutionary astrology perspective, which is my chosen lens through which to approach astrology, the South Node represents our past lives. It is who we were, and in many cases, who we might still be. It’s not uncommon for people to deeply resonate with the description of their South Node, especially if their South Node touches other personal planets and makes strong aspects to the natal Sun. The South Node indicates a comfort zone; we’ve already been there, done that. However, it also represents an unresolved wound or stumbling block from the past that can disrupt our ability to fulfill our lessons in this lifetime.
The North Node represents where we’re headed. It shows the direction in which we should reach for our soul’s growth. It’s uncharted territory, so it may feel uncomfortable or scary to us. But ultimately, the North Node offers us a path to our greatest rewards. When we act in accordance with our North Node, we feel as though we’re living our purpose—that we are on the right path. The North Node, as evolutionary astrologer Bryan Colter says, “is nothing but a good idea for this lifetime,” offering growth and new lessons.
If you’re wondering how to find where the lunar nodes are in your chart, you can use Astro.com. Go to “Extended Chart Selection”, “Display and Calculation Options”, and click the boxes “Mean Node” and “Descending Node”, then “Show Chart”. If you’re fluent in Astrology and can read a natal chart, look for the horseshoe-like symbols and make note of what house and sign they’re in. If you’re still learning the language of the stars, look for their names and signs on the chart below the wheel.
To find your North and South Node:
- Go to Astro.com
- Click on “Extended Chart Selection”
- Scroll to “Calculation Options” and tick:
“Mean Node” → “Descending Node” - Click “Show Chart”
Once you’ve identified the sign and house placement of your North and South Node, read about your polarity below to give you a sense of the overall theme of what you’ve already mastered and what you’re meant to work towards. Read your South Node (SN) placement as who you were, and your North Node (NN) placement as who you’re meant to be. Note the North Node isn’t a rejection of the South Node but an integration path; we bring the gifts of the South Node into new form.
You’ll notice a slightly more negative spin on the SN placements descriptions. This is owing to the fact that we’re all human here, and, well, if we were perfect, there’d be no need to incarnate. When it comes to the lunar nodes, the evolutionary astrology perspective assumes we didn’t get everything right in the past, which is why we’re here to learn and do better. N.B: If you’ve ever read medieval astrology texts, they’re hilariously mean and sometimes downright rude. They certainly pull no punches and I have too much Sagittarius energy to coddle, so I’ve gone a similar route with my descriptions.
Aries–Libra polarity
SN in Libra: A doormat–er, diplomat, someone who prioritized the needs of others over themselves
NN in Aries: Learning to prioritize yourself and step into leadership positions
SN in Aries: A bossy leader of the pack who leapt before looking, likely straight off a cliff
NN in Libra: Learning to be part of the pack and work cooperatively with others
Taurus–Scorpio:
SN in Taurus: Hoarded material wealth like Smaug, but was too comfy to ever leave your mountain
NN in Scorpio: Learning to let go of outward attachment and gain spiritual depth
SN in Scorpio: Machiavellian control freak because everything felt out of your control and you feared vulnerability
NN in Taurus: Learning stability and grounding can be reached from within
Gemini–Sagittarius:
SN in Gemini: Mentally scattered jack-of-all-trades, master of none, eternal student
NN in Sagittarius: Learning the difference between knowledge and wisdom, thinking deeper
SN in Sagittarius: Self-righteous philosopher preaching unquestioned beliefs across at least six kingdoms
NN in Gemini: Learning to become a student, listen more, and find truth in the everyday, right where you are
Cancer–Capricorn:
SN in Cancer: Mommy dearest, so loving and sensitive you drowned in your own tears, dependency
NN in Capricorn: Learning to toughen up and use emotions constructively, nurture in a productive way
SN in Capricorn: Workaholic absent dad who valued career ambition over their loved ones
NN in Cancer: Learning to be in touch with your battle-hardened emotions and heal emotional wounds
Leo–Aquarius:
SN in Leo: A dramatic King/Queen who demanded attention and applause (or heads rolled)
NN in Aquarius: Learning humility and to be invested in the collective good over personal glory
SN in Aquarius: Pretended you weren’t a weirdo so you could hide among the masses you tried to help
NN in Leo: Learning to be comfortable in the spotlight and let your unique talents shine
Virgo–Pisces:
SN in Virgo: Practical Remo-esque healer who served others nonstop, mostly to distract from your own incessant worry
NN in Pisces: Learning to accept the arcane, find artistic outlet that helps you glimpse the divine, and let go
SN in Pisces: Wanted to be anywhere except where you were, escape artist reaching for the divine
NN in Virgo: Learning to ground yourself in the human experience, to be of service as an act of worship
Now that you know the overarching theme of your story, the house placements can tell us where these themes are playing out and offer deeper insight into the circumstances of your past life.
1st House–7th House
1st House SN: excessive independence or responsibility, wasn’t able to develop cooperative relationships
7th House NN: look towards equal partnerships based on mutual respect
7th House SN: defined by co-dependent relationships, no autonomy
1st House NN: develop independence and live life on your terms
2nd House–8th House
2nd House SN: issues around money, survival, or insecurity
8th House NN: shadow work, explore your trauma and insecurities
8th House SN: issues around sexual intimacy, intense, tumultuous emotions
2nd House NN: build your confidence and self-worth to feel secure in yourself
3rd House–9th House
3rd House SN: overextended yourself, too busy for big picture thinking, immediacy in your environment demanded your attention
9th House NN: find a belief system and broaden your perspective/world view
9th House SN: issues around cultural displacement, belief systems
3rd House NN: ask more questions and be comfortable in uncertainty
4th House–10th House
4th House SN: defined by family and your role in it, inner life concealed from world
10th House NN: go out into your world and share your rich inner life, present your value/mission
10th House SN: pressures from high status/high powered career, public role, fame
4th House NN: establish a sense of home, love, family
5th House–11th House
5th House SN: issues around pleasure, addiction, children
11th House NN: decide what you want to accomplish in this life and delay gratification, achieve goals
11th House SN: identity defined by group/community, no individuality
5th House NN: self-expression, leave evidence of your creative processes in hands of world
6th House–12th House
6th House SN: under orders, hierarchy, your will subdued by another persons’
12th House NN: need time to yourself, deepen your relationship to the divine, meditate
12th House SN: dedication to spiritual development, experienced great loss
6th House NN: pass on your gifts to other people, heal yourself through healing others
For more advanced practitioners, look to see if there are any natal aspects touching your north or south node for more surrounding details on your nodal story, particularly any conjunctions, oppositions, or squares. Any planets conjunct the south node add more information regarding the character and energy of who you were in past lives, whereas squares and oppositions act as challenging external circumstances or people that negatively impacted you.
While no cheat sheet can replace the depth you can get from a one-on-one consultation with an astrologer, getting the basics down is helpful in giving you an understanding of the energies at play and can inspire further contemplation on what your lunar nodes indicate about you.
I’ll leave you with the words that began Remo’s journey to self-discovery in the hopes that they stir something in you too; a flicker of recognition, a longing to remember what your soul already knows, and the courage to follow where the dragon’s head leads:
You have done this many times
You’ve mastered these lessons
You’ve served for your crimes
But at the opposite, you’ll always fail
If you chase the dragon’s tail
The opposite does not come easily to you
You may even fear it
It is completely new
Now you’re where you’ve never tread
If you chase the dragon’s head
The dragon’s head
The dragon’s tail
Chase the former in this life
And lest you fail
You must not in the next
May you prevail on the eternal quest