Last month we took an in-depth look at The Moon in our Soul Astrology. Another way we can see the Moon's influence in our life is to look to the Lunar Nodal Axis. The Lunar Nodal Axis doesn't refer to the Moon itself but rather the Moon's passage through the sky and it's relationship to the Sun, most importantly the
two points where the Moon's path intersects the ecliptic (the path of the Sun). This is the point in the sky where
two paths cross (the path of the Sun and the path of the Moon).
The Moon's Nodes and Our Soul Path
When interpreting the Moon's Nodes in our Soul Astrology we need to be very clear which astrological system we are using because Indian or Vedic astrology ascribes a different meaning than Western Astrology. Even within Western Astrology, when we are studying Soul Astrology based on the teachings of the Tibetan Master in
Esoteric Astrology it is important to clarify the role of the Moon's Nodes. Some Western astrological schools teach the
Nodal Axis as an indicator of the Soul's Path, whereas
in Soul Astrology we use the Ascendant to indicate the Soul's path and purpose. So therefore, in
Soul Astrology, what significance do we ascribe to the Moon's Nodes?
First of all let's be clear what we are talking about. The Moon doesn't have 'nodes' as such, meaning they aren't physical, tangible, things! The lunar nodes are astrological points: points in space where the Moon's path crosses the path of the ecliptic (the apparent path of the Sun across the sky) so for me there is the first clue to how we should approach their interpretation (we are talking about an energetic path or direction, rather than an embodiment of energy). They can be regarded as “trailmarkers” pointing to a well-worn path. The second clue is they intersect the path of the Sun, meaning they want our attention.
The Moon's Nodes are a “heads up” for our spiritual journey, because they are showing us where we have recurring patterns that can potentially limit our experience to the mundane (worldly affairs) and keep our attention stuck at the personality level. The South Node is associated with the past, while the North Node is associated with the future. So depending upon whether we are talking about the South Node (SN) of the North Node (NN) we could be talking about either a well-worn path (SN) or a new direction (NN).
In short, the Lunar Nodes symbolise our choice between growth and stagnation - evolution or entropy.
Refresher - Personality vs Soul
Since Soul Astrology is all about the process of personality-Soul fusion as described by the Tibetan in Esoteric Astrology, before studying the
Lunar Nodal Axis, it is worth grounding back in with two fundamental questions so that we may understand if, and how, the Moon's Nodes can support that process. So before going further into the Moon's Nodes we need to stop and check in with ourselves:
Where do you now stand, in your understanding of these two questions:
- What is personality?
- What is Soul?
The answers to these questions will become important as you study the Moon's Nodes from a broader perspective, taking into account other astrologer's interpretations (as we discuss below). The clearer you are on the distinctions between personality and Soul, the clearer you will be in your understanding of the Lunar Nodal axis from a Soul Astrology perspective.
Important Differences in Interpretation Between Astrological Systems
If you search the internet there is probably more contradiction about the meaning of the lunar nodes than any other astrological significator, which makes it quite difficult for people who are learning astrology themselves using search engines as their main source of information. The reason we are mentioning this here is because, in your studies you will read articles and books from valid and respected sources suggesting that the
Lunar Nodes indicate your Soul's Path, whereas in Soul Astrology we use
the Ascendant to determine the Soul's Path.
First of all it is important to know which astrological system you are using, because not all schools of astrology agree with one another in terms of interpretation, and different cosmologies often don't mix. Until relatively recently, the lunar nodes didn't feature too highly in Western Astrology, although they had been used for many years in
Vedic Astrology as "Rahu" and "Ketu" the dragon's head and tail. In Vedic Astrology they have a specific meaning, and it is unwise to take an interpretation out of context from one astrological system and try to transplant it into another, where it is likely to become distorted.
In Soul Astrology we need to be very clear about how we are interpreting the lunar nodes, relative to our Soul's journey. The different interpretations of the Lunar Nodal axis could be potentially confusing, which is why it is important whenever possible to approach your Soul Astrology from the place known by the Tibetans as
clear light mind. This reinforces the importance of meditation to still the 'monkey mind' and access Higher Mind (clear light)! Once you have access to clear light mind, your intuition will be your guiding light.
From our current level of consciousness it is not possible to fully perceive the Soul, and we all have a tendency to project our ego onto the Soul, thinking of it as an extension of our personality. In an
earlier newsletter we discussed how, in the Tibetan system, they distinguish between
clear light mind, and
karmic mind.
Clear light mind would be the level of Soul, while karmic mind is our ego-personality.
In discussing the Moon's Nodes, some contemporary astrologers have noted that they are indicators of karmic patterns and conclude that because of this they must therefore be pointing to our Soul Path. For clarification, from a Soul Astrology perspective based on the Tibetan tradition and the teachings of the Tibetan through Alice Bailey, we could perhaps agree that the lunar nodes are significant indicators of our karmic patterns, but karmic patterns are not our Soul's true nature because they are not of the nature of clear light.
"karmic patterns are not our Soul's true nature
because they are not of the nature of clear light"
Indeed, if the Moon's Nodes are indicators of our karmic conditioning then (from a Tibetan viewpoint) they are revealing aspects of our ego-personality. They are therefore revealing the obstacles that distract us from our Soul's true nature! So from a Soul Astrology perspective it might be better to say that the Moon's Nodes indicate past-life patterns that we are here to heal and release so our pure Soul light can shine through.
Western astrologers are currently doing some very important work in clarifying the meaning of the lunar nodes and once we are clear about the distinction between our true nature (Ascendant), and karmic patterns (Moon's Nodes), we may then use this growing body of knowledge about the Lunar Nodes to bring us deeper understanding of our karmic conditioning, relative to the society we were born into.
The Nodal Axis and Collective Consciousness
The Nodal Axis takes about 18.6 years to complete a cycle, which means that the Moon's nodes remain in the same sign for roughly 17-18 months (the Moon's cycle is erratic so the nodal axis doesn't remain in a sign for an exact period of time). This means that a great number of people born within that timeframe, will all have their North and South nodes in the same signs. This suggests that the meaning is somewhat collective in nature. A group of Souls born with the same Nodal signs will have different individual Soul paths (Ascendants) however they will have some
shared karma on a collective level, indicated by their nodal axis.
North Node - Indicator of Dharma
According to Soul Astrologer Alan Oken the Nodal Axis always represents a person's relationship to the collective consciousness and, as such, it tells us something about our role in the society to which we were born. How the society sees us, and what the society expects from us, can be determined by the
sign and
house positions of the
nodal axis. The nodal axis itself is saying something about
our relationship with the society into which we were born, while the North Node is specifically indicating
how we may be of service to humanity, and something about
our "dharma" or spiritual purpose in this lifetime.
The Moon's Nodes and Karma Yoga
The nodal axis therefore seems to be what the society is asking from us: what the society is calling forth from us, in a sense what roles we are required to play. In some spiritual traditions this aligns with the principle of "
karma yoga" - the spiritual practice of
consciously meeting our karma head on, so that we become conscious of what we need to purify and heal in this lifetime, in order to advance spiritually. In terms of our Soul Astrology this can also be seen as a kind of
spiritual prescription that helps us to break free from old patterns of familial and societal conditioning.
The South Node - Your Familiar Comfort Zone
The South Node is often seen as the familiar old path. Old patterns and roles that you have become very comfortable with, even skilled and proficient. If you continue to follow that path you may still make a valid and valuable contribution to the world, but would you grow? Because it indicates an area of life that you are somewhat complete with, it is thought that there are few lessons left for you to learn. So following the path of the South Node could keep you stuck in your own past, like a virtuoso violinist who just keeps playing the same old familiar piece - so he or she is not pushing his own growth edge.
The South Node is sometimes called the path of least resistance. This is the familiar and well-worn path that you may have walked for many lifetimes.
The North Node - Your Spiritual Prescription
In contrast the path of the North Node is often called the path of resistance. If you choose this path it won't be easy, simply because it is unfamiliar territory and you don't yet have the necessary skills. Yet it may also be exactly where your Soul wants you to go. It is thought that if you do choose this path, if you do accept the challenge of your North Node, then you will be sent teachers and guides to show you the way.
If you choose this path, this is the path that could bring you new experiences, deep insights, and awareness that awaken you even more to your Soul's presence. As such, the North Node is like a spiritual 'prescription' indicating the 'best medicine' to support your healing, growth, and Soul Awareness.
Example: South Node in Virgo - North Node in Pisces
For example if you have your lunar south Node in Virgo, you may be very comfortable being hands-on and practical in your spiritual journey: flowing love into the world by running the soup kitchen and giving practical support to others, because you have played a similar role in society so often in many of your past lives. Nothing wrong in that, but you need to be careful that in this lifetime it isn't distracting you from what you need to do to progress, in terms of your current spiritual development and growth.
In this example the North Node in Pisces is calling you to walk a less familiar path by lifting your head up, and seeing the big picture: to have some real transcendental experiences of "spiritual awakening" through meditation or devotional practices, so that you experience Divinity for yourself, and realize your own true nature as a spiritually awake and aware being. Running the soup kitchen is very commendable, but will not in itself, lead you to true spiritual awakening.
Where is Your Life Calling You?
Now take a look at your own natal chart and see, by sign and house, where the nodal axis lies in your chart. Some charts show only the North Node, which looks like a horseshoe (see the picture above). The South Node is always exactly 180º opposite, so if your North Node is at 10º Gemini your South Node is 10º Sagittarius. Make some notes in your journal about how you experience your South Node (note the qualities and characteristics of the sign, and the life activities of the house). Now take a look at your North Node by sign and house. Jot down some ideas of where it may be calling you.
What might your life look like
if you followed your own 'spiritual prescription'
( the path of your North Node)?
When the Lunar Nodal Axis Shifts, Humanity Shifts.
The Lunar Nodes tell us about our spiritual journey. On a personal level they indicate a well worn path, patterns of behaviour that we need to change if we are to set ourselves free of karmic conditioning, and move towards spiritual liberation and enlightenment. On a collective level, they can tell us about the current values and priorities in the collective consciousness of humanity. When the Lunar Nodal Axis shifts, this can be reflected in a deep shift in values on a collective level.
Example: from Austerity in Virgo to Individual Rights in Leo
From November 2015 to April 2017, the lunar North Node had been in 'frugal' Virgo. During this time in the UK the governing Conservative Party forged ahead with a policy of 'austerity' (where there was tight control and limits placed on public spending) designed to boost the British economy. On May 9th 2017, the lunar nodes shifted from the Virgo-Pisces axis, to the Leo-Aquarius axis (where they remained until November 7th 2018).
On June 8th 2017, the lunar North Node had been in 'individualistic' Leo for just under one month (Leo always stands up for the individual, asking 'what about me?') when UK Prime Minister Theresa May called an election to demonstrate that she had public support for her Government's policies. Her strategy backfired. Not only did her government lose their majority (indicating a lack of public support) but the following 18-month period saw mounting public outcry and protest at the impact of austerity on individual health, rights and freedoms (Leo). In October 2018 UK Prime Minister Theresa May declared an end to austerity: one month before the North Node was set to shift again, this time from 'individualistic' Leo into 'nurturing' Cancer.
Collectively the Moon's Nodes are like a barometer, indicating the current condition of humanity on a collective level, and what we are working on balancing in our society so that we collectively shift to the next level, the next turn on the evolutionary spiral.
Our nodal axis is therefore also a reminder that, although we can act independently, we cannot act in isolation - our actions have a ripple effect throughout the consciousness of humanity.
What happens when the North Node and Ascendant are in the same sign?
[
This question was originally posed by Pat Paquette of RealAstrologers.com You can read my original response on her website HERE ]
In this case, there is increased potential for the individual concerned to transcend the personality vibration of the sign and shift into alignment, spiritual awakening and personality-Soul fusion. For this to happen, the individual still has to choose the path that is presented to them, shift their attention inwards, and be open to developing their senses and perceptual capacity. Again, just like a prescription, in this case it might have a faster effect, but only if you take all the medicine!
Once you choose a spiritual path or practice, as indicated by your North Node, this maximizes the potential for you to not only hear your Soul’s calling, but to transcend the personality attachments of the sign and give full expression to the Soul vibration of the sign. The North node in this position indicates that of all the possible spiritual paths and teachers available, one that invites the individual to develop these qualities would be most effective. However, our focus must always be one of going within, if we are to make spiritual progress.
For example, let’s say the North Node and Ascendant are both in Gemini. The personality ruler of Gemini is Mercury, but the Soul ruler is Venus. Both planets are said to have a lower and higher vibration. Well, to be more accurate, it’s the same energy but is perceived differently, depending upon the individual’s level of consciousness and perception. Depending upon your own degree of spiritual progress, you would be more influenced by the personality ruler or the Soul ruler of that sign.
So through undertaking typical Gemini activities of writing, speaking, and communicating, a spiritually inclined individual could gradually experience a spiritual opening. There is the potential to experience a shift in their perception from the purely rational mind, with its lower Mercurial qualities of merely “passing along information,” to a place where they integrate their higher, intuitive mind and the higher purpose of Mercury: opening themselves more fully to intuition and creating a bridge to higher mind. As a result they will develop an ability to perceive, receive and convey the higher Venusian vibrations of transpersonal, unconditional, Love and right relations.
Our spiritual journey is one of exploring our inner world, opening our heart and mind to higher possibilities and recognizing Divinity, within ourselves. The very word “esoteric” derives from the Greek root “eso,” which means “within” (as compared with exoteric Astrology, derived from the Greek root “exo,” which means “inclined outwards”).
Soul Astrology and Esoteric Astrology describe the Astrology of our inner world, our spiritual journey. Given that our personality is a mask we wear to interact with the outside world, when we begin to move deeply inwards on our Soul Journey, it stands to reason that our Natal Chart takes on a deeper significance.
"I hope that you understand what the word “spiritual” really means. It means to search for, to investigate, the true nature of the mind. There’s nothing spiritual outside. My rosary isn’t spiritual; my robes aren’t spiritual. Spiritual means the mind, and spiritual people are those who seek its nature."
- Lama Thubten Yeshe
In Esoteric Astrology, it is said that, in terms of our spiritual development, each of us is either on the “Mutable Cross,” the “Fixed Cross” or the “Cardinal Cross.” [Read more about the Three Crosses in Chapter 1 of
Soul Astrology] The Mutable Cross means we are wholly personality-driven, with no experience of our Soul. The Fixed Cross means we are awakening, and although we are still largely personality-driven, we’re beginning to awaken and have some Soul Awareness. Those on the Cardinal Cross are fully awakened in that they have completed the process of Soul Integration; the fusion of Soul and personality is complete, and they are Soul-Centred Beings.
Few people on the planet are on the Cardinal Cross, and those that are, are highly enlightened spiritual teachers. However, many of us are beginning the journey from the Mutable Cross to the Fixed Cross as we go deeper into our spiritual journey and seek to experience for ourselves the truth of our Soul.
There is no way for an Astrologer to tell just by looking at a chart whether a Soul is on the Mutable, Fixed or Cardinal Cross. This can only be deduced by learning about the character of the person and through the use of intuition. For example we might deduce that someone like the Dalai Lama would be on the Cardinal Cross, because of his highly developed spiritual realizations, but in reality only he would know.
The purpose of our spiritual journey is to progress from the externally-focused Mutable Cross, with its emphasis solely on personality, to the internally-focused Cardinal Cross, in which we have full fusion of personality and Soul. It is a very gradual, inner journey, and the lunar North Node is acting as a pointer to steer us away from repeating habits that could keep us attached to personality and stuck on the Mutable Cross for longer than we need to be.
It is time to wake up and evolve. It is a challenge, and there are no guarantees. We can still get it wrong if we undertake North Node activity in a very externally-focused and personality driven way, with our attention “inclined outwards!” Your North Node is pointing the way to avoid repeating past habits, and this will be most effective if you also shift your focus and “incline inwards.” To benefit fully, you need to keep turning your attention inwards and familiarise yourself with your inner world.
The Moon's Nodes Through The Signs and Houses
In looking at the Moon's Nodes through the signs and houses remember that the signs are indicators of behavior patterns while the house positions show in which areas of your life these patterns will manifest. The south node shows repeating past-life patterns or tendencies that you are ready to leave behind, and the north node shows a path, antidote, or 'prescription' to help you break free from habitual patterns so you can grow and evolve. I have intentionally taken a more spiritual approach to the path of the North Node, that will hopefully support you in your journey of spiritual awakening.
As with everything to do with the Moon, you are invited to be gentle and compassionate with yourself when exploring these patterns.
They were formed in past lives when your circumstances may have been a great deal harsher than they are now.
You may be dealing with past life trauma and wounding,
which will require your gentle loving kindness
to facilitate your healing journey.
The Moon's Nodes Through The Signs
(read more about the Zodiac Signs HERE and HERE)
Aries North Node
With an Aries North Node you would benefit from spiritual paths and practices that support you in cultivating your independence. You are here to create your own spiritual pathway – to learn to trust your own intuition and follow your heart. This is extremely important so that you understand the deeper significance of individuality, within the Divine Order of Nature.
Libra South Node
In past lives you may have become overly dependent on others by avoiding difficult choices and letting others make decisions for you. In this life you're beginning to see how this habit can lead to dependency, and are learning to make choices that lead you to greater independence.
Taurus North Node
With a Taurus North Node you will benefit from spiritual paths and practices that encourage you to let go of desire, including ‘spiritual seeking’ and invite you to recognize spiritual truth right here and now, in your everyday life. An important part of this path is to cultivate your own resources so that you have a solid foundation and aren’t overly dependent on the resources of others.
Scorpio South Node
Past life patterns may include covetousness, lust and seduction, misusing one's personal magnetism to bend others to one's will. In this life you're releasing this 'grasping' energy as you realize the truth that everything you need is already within you and that, in terms of your spiritual nature, it is not possible for others to have something that you do not.
Gemini North Node
With a Gemini North Node you would benefit from studying a broad range of wisdom traditions, knowledge systems and going deeper with spiritual and/or psychological methods that give you experience of resolving dualities and polarities. Practices such as Zen which use the practice of riddles and koans, to confound the mind are beneficial because they loosen fixed ideas, reduce any tendency toward fixed opinions or mental arrogance, and open us up to experiences of going beyond mind.
Sagittarius South Node
Past life patterns may include mental arrogance, dogma and blind pursuit of religious ideals. In this life you're learning to question your beliefs and to understand higher truth by having diversity in your activities and life experiences.
Cancer North Node
With the Lunar North Node in Cancer this indicates that you would benefit greatly from spiritual paths and practices that expand your perception, increase your capacity for ‘sensing’ your spiritual energies and your Soul, build up your reserves of spiritual energy and bring you into deeper experience of your own spiritual nature.
Capricorn South Node
Past life patterns may include the ruthless pursuit of one's own ambitions with little regard for others, and an attitude of dominating or stepping on others in order to reach your goals. In this life you are learning the importance of developing compassion for others you meet on your journey.
Leo North Node
With a Leo North Node you would benefit from spiritual and/or psychological methods which encourage you to seek your true self and find your own way. Ramana Maharshi sat in meditation for many years simply asking of himself this one question: “Who Am I?”
Aquarius South Node
Past life patterns may include self-absorption, entitlement and distancing oneself from others due to feelings of, and a mistaken belief in, one's own superiority. In this life you are realising the innate value of every individual as a spiritual being.
Virgo North Node
With a lunar North Node in Virgo this indicates that you would benefit from spiritual and/or psychological methods which have a practical, methodical or ritualistic component to them that supports you in becoming more aware of how you flow your energy. Keeping your focus on flowing spiritual energy into the world in practical yet loving ways.
Pisces South Node
Past life patterns may include victimhood whereby one blames others rather than taking personal responsibility. There can be feelings of entrapment and strong tendencies towards all form of escapism, through alcohol, drugs, movies, games and/or other fantasy pursuits. In this life you are learning to take personal responsibility by developing awareness of your own needs and cultivating the skills to get them met.
Libra North Node
With a Libra North Node you would benefit from spiritual and/or psychological paths that invite you to explore relationship, as a spiritual path. The essence of Libra is right relationship, and artful use of harmonics.
Aries South Node
Past life patterns may include extreme self-assertion to the point of selfishness and/ or aggression. In this life you are learning to take other's needs into account to break past-life patterns of self-absorbtion and self-centeredness.
Scorpio North Node
With a Scorpio North Node you would benefit from releasing attachment to material wealth and power, and following a spiritual path that encourages you to deepen your Quest for Self knowledge. Indeed it is the very nature of your mind, the nature of Self and the true nature of your Soul that you would gain most benefit from understanding.
Taurus South Node
Past life patterns may include an over-emphasis on materialism, attachment to possessions and to securing one's position through material wealth. In this lifetime you are learning that you won't die if you release your grip on material 'things', and that your true wealth is within.
Sagittarius North Node
With your Lunar North Node in Sagittarius you would benefit from choosing one spiritual practice or method and going deep, staying with it to the end of the line. This position indicates that in past lives you have studied with many different teachers, and explored many different paths.
Gemini South Node
Past life patterns may include dissipating your energy through a lack of focus, and engaging in too many diverse projects at a superficial level. In this life you are learning to focus on one project at a time in order to stabilize the energy and build up your power.
Capricorn North Node
When the North Node is Capricorn you would benefit from following a specific path, methodically, and studying Ancient Wisdom in depth. Patience, discipline, and single-pointed focus are your allies as you slowly and surely progress up the mountain to spiritual enlightenment.
Cancer South Node
Past life patterns may include acquisitiveness, clinginess and an emotionally needy self-centeredness. In this life you are developing emotional resilience, and learning the inner strength that comes from the deep understanding that other people cannot meet your emotional needs.
Aquarius North Node
When the Lunar North Node is in Aquarius you will benefit from spiritual and/or psychological methods that invite you to dedicate your personal energies for the benefit of humanity, without draining yourself.
Leo South Node
Past life patterns may include misuse of power, pomposity, ego-centricity and self-aggrandizement. In this life you are learning deep lessons of interdependence so that you understand how your greatest power is really the power of the collective, that comes from the brotherhood and sisterhood of humanity.
Pisces North Node
With a lunar North Node in Pisces, you would benefit greatly from methods that introduce you to personal experience of oneness and deep connection with Divinity. This might mean first using visualization and meditative techniques that bring you to an understanding of the power of your imagination to change your feeling state, and thereby your perception of reality. This allows you to connect with the real tangible essence of life that flows through everything.
Virgo South Node
Past life patterns may include perfectionism, overwork and excessive judgement and/or criticism. In this life you are learning to accept life in all it's imperfection, and realising the deep spiritual truth of what is known in the Tibetan tradition as The Great Perfection: that all really is already perfect, just as it is.
House Axis Themes
(read more about the houses HERE)
When we speak of a nodal axis, we are speaking about a pair of opposites. Just as the 12 Zodiac Signs are arranged in six pairs of opposite signs, so the houses are also arranged into six dynamic pairs. So for example the first house is directly opposite the seventh, the second house is opposite the eighth and so on. As with all opposites, we are always dealing with the same energy, just at different ends of the spectrum. Each pair on a house axis is therefore dealing with a specific theme, and the individual house will tell us where we stand in relation to that theme.
For example, with the second-eighth house axis the theme is resources. If my focus is on the second house, my attention is on my resources, whereas if my focus is on the eighth house it is on other people's resources. Same theme, different perspective.
A foundational concept in Soul Astrology is the integration of polarities, or opposites, as part of our journey to wholeness through personality-Soul fusion. So when we start to study the Lunar Nodal Axis in our horoscope, in addition to considering the meaning and significance of the North and South lunar nodes individually, we should never lose sight of the fact that we are always dealing with a polarity that is ready to be healed and integrated, as part of our ongoing journey of spiritual awakening. (read more about the integration of polarities in Soul Astrology Chapter 4: "The Integration Process")
The house axis where your Lunar Nodal Axis falls, is therefore indicating a major karmic theme that you are working on healing in this lifetime.
The Table Below Indicates the Theme for Each House Axis:
Houses 1-7 = identity
Houses 2-8 = resources
Houses 3-9 = intellect
Houses 4-10 = security
Houses 5-11 = expression
Houses 6-12 = service
The Moon's Nodes Through The Houses
North Node in the 1st: South Node in the 7th
Life's circumstances will create the conditions for you to release past-life patterns of dependence on others, so you can discover and cultivate independence.
North Node in the 2nd: South Node in the 8th
Life's circumstances will create the conditions for you to release past-life patterns of relying on other people's money and resources, so you can develop your own powers of attraction.
North Node in the 3rd: South Node in the 9th
Life's circumstances will create the conditions for you to release past-life patterns of dogmatic belief, dreaming, and blind faith, so you can cultivate logic, reason and a realistic attitude to analysing your immediate surroundings and problems.
North Node in the 4th: South Node in the 10th
Life's circumstances will create the conditions for you to release past-life patterns of outwardly seeking achievement, ambition and public recognition, so you can go deeper in your spiritual journey and quietly find your sense of contentment and inner peace at home, within yourself.
North Node in the 5th: South Node in the 11th
Life's circumstances will create the conditions for you to release past-life patterns of dependence on others, so you can discover your own willpower and find fulfilment in your own creative self-expression.
North Node in the 6th: South Node in the 12th
Life's circumstances will create the conditions for you to release past-life patterns of isolation and separation, so you may discover the deep insights and understanding that only come through authentic self-less service to others.
North Node in the 7th: South Node in the 1st
Life's circumstances will create the conditions for you to release past-life patterns of excessive independence by providing opportunities for balance through partnerships, collaboration, and co-operation with others.
North Node in the 8th: South Node in the 2nd
Life's circumstances will create the conditions for you to release subconscious past-life patterns of excessively acquiring personal wealth and resources (as a form of self-protection) by providing opportunities for you to support others in developing their own resources.
North Node in the 9th: South Node in the 3rd
Life's circumstances will create the conditions for you to release past-life patterns of narrow-mindedness and attachment to the lower intellect through familial conditioning, by providing opportunities for you to experience higher mind and higher consciousness through travel and exposure to people from vastly different cultures than your own.
North Node in the 10th: South Node in the 4th
Life's circumstances will create the conditions for you to release past-life patterns of lifetimes spent in spiritual retreat, so you may bring your mastery and spiritual wisdom out into the world for the benefit of others.
North Node in the 11th: South Node in the 5th
Life's circumstances will create the conditions for you to release past-life patterns of hedonism and avoiding responsibility, by providing opportunities for you to work with groups where you may experience the sense of satisfaction and community that comes from pursuing shared goals and humanitarian ideals with like-minded people.
North Node in the 12th: South Node in the 6th
Life's circumstances will create the conditions for you to release past-life patterns of disease due to worry and obsessive thinking, by providing opportunities for you to clear the subconscious karmic patterns within your own psyche that are the root cause of such disease. You may then be of service and reduce the suffering of others by teaching them how to do the same.
Are You Approaching Through Personality or Clear Light Mind?
When it comes to your personal journey of spiritual awakening, you cannot measure your progress by astrology alone. This is why I keep emphasising how important it is to make meditation and mindfulness an integral part of your life. Your deepest insights will come from within, which is what esoteric (inner) astrology is all about.
I mention this important point here because, as with everything else in astrology, if you approach the subject of the Moon's Nodes
purely from the perspective of the personality,
it will not advance you in your spiritual journey one bit.
For example, if you do have South Node in Pisces, and North Node in Virgo, as we discussed above, your past lives may have been dominated by Piscean themes: slavery, addiction, victimhood, and escapism. The key to breaking the habits of the past, are to move towards the Virgo North Node, but if you do this mindlessly, purely from the materialistic view of the personality, you could just become distracted by Virgo themes: striving for perfectionism, excessive criticism, overwork, bogged down in minutiae etc.
There is nothing inherent in a Virgo personality that will catapult you into spiritual enlightenment, in fact you can just as easily be distracted from your spiritual path by Pisces OR Virgo activities. Simply replacing a Pisces personality with a Virgo personality is not spiritual! Remember that the Lunar Nodal Axis is another polarity, to be integrated on your journey to personality-Soul fusion. So you don't want to find yourself stuck at either extreme, but rather by integrating the pair you can shift to the highest expression of both signs.
In moving toward the path of your North Node then, the best way to prevent it from becoming another distraction from your path, is to consciously choose to take a spiritual approach (which is why I described the North Node descriptions above within a spiritual perspective). Thanks to the internet, we now have open access to information more than any other previous generation. This means you can thoroughly investigate all the various spiritual paths and traditions. You are in a position to be able to consciously choose spiritual paths and practices that will support you in shifting to the highest octave of your North Node.
In making choices, the best way is to access your intuition by connecting with what the Tibetans call the "mind of Clear Light". This clear light mind is your true nature. It is the pure awareness that is beyond thought. It is not something you have to go and get from somewhere, or something you have to work hard at creating. It is already there within you, but mostly we don't notice it because we are busy following our thoughts. The more we meditate and allow the thinking mind to settle, the more the clear light mind becomes apparent. It is the part of you that is always aware. The part of you that is aware that you are reading this.
Spending some time each day, accessing clear light mind and simply resting
in that pure awareness, will greatly enhance and accelerate
your understanding of your Soul Astrology.
It is from there that you should approach your studies of the North Nodes, then your own inner light will illuminate your path through the confusion.
