The Lunar Nodes Change Sign
With an astrology practice guide
If you’re new to my blog; I mainly write about how astrology themes have helped me on my healing journey. I don’t usually go in for prediction or world astrology.
So, the lunar nodes. What the heck are they?
I mostly think of them as eclipsing places. A new Moon or full Moon within 13 degrees of a node is an eclipse.
Sundesmos — is an old Greek word meaning bond or fastening. The nodes symbolise the where the Luminaries are bound together. They can be thought of as the shadow of the Sun and Moon relationship.
And that is like the relationship between the King and Queen of the cosmic order of things.
Transiting nodes bring a special kind of drama and intensity to situations, sometimes even profound turning points in your life during eclipse seasons. I’m not going to talk about how many and amazing systems of astrology use the nodes, such as Vedic, Evolutionary or Draconic Astrology.
I do love the dragon symbolism connected the path of the Moon, a serpentine journey across the Sun’s ecliptic, always hungry, always searching and sometimes devouring the Luminaries in the process.
There’s something powerful about the supernatural force of the dragon and how we might relate to it in the here and now, in our karmic, sublunary existence. Perhaps that’s why eclipses have been an ill omen since time immemorial. They show us the chthonic power of the cosmos that us tiny humans must eternally abide by.
Shape Shifting
The nodes take on different flavours and shapes depending on the sign they’re in. Some ancient texts even say that they can influence the planetary ruler of that sign.
What do you think about the north node’s transit of Aries for the past 18 months?
Do you think Mars has been boosted by its journey through this red hot sign? I wonder if things will cool down and smooth over when it moves into Pisces — a feminine/yin water sign, ruled by Jupiter. Quite a contrast.
And the south node wraps up its journey through Venus ruled Libra, and moves into Virgo. Considering how a deficit of those Libran qualities could look, those old texts might be onto something.
I’m thinking of the agreements that come from seeing both sides, both points of view. The sacred contracts of justice, fairness and equality.
And what of Virgo? The devil is in the details they say. The south node traverse of this Mercury-ruled landscape points to finding ways to keep things clean and tidy, organised and tended with care.
It’s the earthiest Mercury place, where food is medicine and thoughts become things.
The Nodes transiting your chart
You will probably notice the shift more if the nodes are moving into an angular place such as first-seventh houses or tenth-fourth houses, especially so if you have any planets in them. The nodes will also impact any planets or important points when they transit them.
When the north node rolled over my first house and rising degree in 2021 I was in the midst of one of the most profound and dramatic transitions of my life, one that had permanent life changing consequences. I was also struggling with some health issues.
These pradigm shifts tend to come in nine and eighteen year cycles — the time it takes for a full cycle. Have you noticed any nine or eighteen year changes?
Then more recently the north node rolled over my 11H Aries Jupiter. Thinking back, I have only been interested in growing opportunities that line up with my ethics and need for freedom.
And with the south node transit of my Libra 5H there has definitely been an absence of friends (I really miss the friends I had before I moved), and the other things I do for fun. It’s all been far too serious.
Ancient astrologers knew this
In Hellenistic times the nodes were used more in electional astrology (the timing of events), and in birth charts, and were mostly considered to be malefic.
If either of the Luminaries were in proximity to the nodes it was a bad omen.
The nodes in proximity to any planet in a birth chart is problematic yes, yet in Vedic astrology there are silver linings. I mention that to remind you that there are layers and complexity in your birth chart that only you can figure out.
The commonly accepted view of the nodes in Hellenistic and Traditional versions of astrology (8th to the 16th Century roughly) is very simple; the north node increases and the south node decreases (Brennan, Hellenistic Astrology).
The north node is the ascending node, moving upward and expanding into visibility. The south node is the descending node, sinking below the horizon, shrinking into darkness. Whatever is near them is also thus tied to this idea of ascending and descending, growing and shrinking, dark and light.
The north node is beneficial when it is with a benefic, expanding, elevating and strengthening its influence. The south node is beneficial when it is with the malefics, diminishing or decreasing the power of the malefic to cause harm.
Obviously then when it’s the other way around it’s not so helpful. And it’s a good example of how context is everything in astrology.
Here are some dates to note in your journal
With all of this in mind, let’s take a look at the nodal ingress on 30 January. I’m using the mean node here, the true node is a couple of weeks ahead and is maybe more precise in terms of timing. Its ingress is 12 January.
The north node is within range of Neptune as soon it moves across the threshold of Pisces.
On 1 February Venus transits Neptune and the following day the Moon transits Neptune, Venus then the north node.
Venus in Pisces makes me think of Liz Taylor in the role of Cleopatra, floating up the Nile in her golden gondola. You could not conjure up a more dreamy, romantic, melodramatic vibe as Venus crosses Neptune and the north node. It looks like a Hollywood film set.
On 4 February Venus transits the north node before moving into Aries, where she loses dignity. And the bubble pops.
Two weeks later on 18 February the north node joins Neptune and while they are slowly separating, Mercury transits them both on 2 March.
Note Mercury is debilitated in this sign, and under the beams. Very nice for our intuition, internal dialogue and creative writing, but not so great for clear heads and decisive intentions.
Then on 14 March there is a full Moon Lunar Eclipse with Saturn, Sun, north node, and Neptune in a very tight stellium. The Moon being in Virgo with the south node.
For you this stellium combined with an eclipse could be the culmination of years of effort and commitment, probably since Saturn moved into Pisces in March 2023.
And it’s Neptune’s swan song in Pisces, another big planet getting ready to change signs. What unfolds for you personally between now and March promises to be a very Pisces-themed chapter of your soul’s journey.
Saturn has been there for a while, bringing you adversity, austerity, responsibility, duty, limitation and effort. And shuffling around your ethical, emotional and spiritual boundaries.
This first proper eclipse with the nodes in Pisces-Virgo deserves its own article. As does Neptune’s ingress into Aries. I would love to know what your thoughts are.
This eclipse season looks like a powerful little whirlpool of energy, a portal of change, and a marker for a paradigm shift that will define the entire year.
Try This At Home
On a large piece of paper (or an A4 pad) and with your chart in front of you, make a list of themes, key words or phrases relating to Pisces. This is the area of your life that will be activated.
Now make another list relating to the house where Pisces is in your chart (beginners; start from your rising sign H1 and count anti-clockwise).
Use these key words, phrases or doodles and pictures, journal your thoughts, imaginings and intuition. Write down everything that comes up while you ponder on it.
Note any planets, stars or chart points you have nearby. Add as much detail as you can. Get out the paint and coloured pencils even.
Then observe! Signs, dreams, synchronicity and omens, and keep journaling. And especially if you sense a narrative unfolding, journal this too.
This is a process that weaves together imagination, observation and enquiry — I do it often. It’s lovely internal soul conversation, delving into your own inner wisdom and guidance.
I hope this helps you on your healing path ~ Anna Marie x
