There are many different parts to a natal chart governing every facet of your life in astrology. You may get started focusing on things like which of the astrology signs your Sun or Moon fall in, or love and money, but most of us quickly start to ask if astrology can help us figure out what we should be doing with our lives.
What’s your purpose and potential, and where can you find your ultimate fulfillment and happiness? The answer is usually found with the Lunar Nodes.
To get technical, the Lunar Nodes in astrology are the points in the Moon’s orbit where the Moon crosses the ecliptic (the path of the Sun). They’re not actual physical bodies, and instead, are imaginary points on an imaginary line. There are two Lunar Nodes: the North Node and the South Node. These nodes both have identifiable zodiac signs, each being exactly opposed to the other one another in the zodiac, so if you know the position of one Lunar Node, you know the position of the other.
Here are the opposing astrology signs:
Aries opposes LibraTaurus opposes ScorpioGemini opposes SagittariusCancer opposes CapricornLeo opposes AquariusVirgo opposes PiscesSo, if your North Node is in Gemini, your South Node is in Sagittarius; if your North Node is in Pisces, your South Node is in Virgo; and on and on.
Here are the opposing astrology houses:
1st house opposes 7th house2nd house opposes 8th house3rd house opposes 9th house4th house opposes 10th house5th house opposes 11th house6th house opposes 12th houseClick here to get your free personalized birth chart.
So, if your North Node is in the 2nd house, your South Node is in the 8th house; if your North Node is in the 11th house, your South Node is in the 5th house; and on and on.
The Lunar Nodes spend about 1.5 years (or 18.6 months) in their signs. You can use a Lunar Nodes table to find the signs your Lunar Nodes fall in.
There are also two different positions for the Lunar Nodes, True and Mean. True Nodes are the exact position while Mean Nodes are the averaged-out position (since the movement can be a bit wobbly). They’re usually not far apart though; in the rare cases where they may be in different signs, you can assess both and see which fits best for you (I find the True position tends to be the one that does). You’ll often see the True Node position is the North Node position.
Read this next: The Ultimate Guide to Birth Charts
The problem with the North Node is this is energy that we haven’t learned yet. It’s the future, it’s what’s possible, which makes it the unknown and unfamiliar. This unfamiliarity makes the North Node uncomfortable, especially in your younger years. The goal is to start learning the North Node as you get older and manifest this position in your life to help you find the path you’re supposed to be on. You have to push through the discomfort first though, and force yourself into the unknown so your soul can grow.
The problem with the South Node is that the energy that is so familiar, so comfortable, that it can become an emotional crutch or bad habit that you fall back to in times of stress and emotional duress. When you’re in a bad spot in your life, you’ll most likely fall back to the South Node, but this can become an unhealthy cycle that has to be broken. There is usually baggage associated with your South Node from past lives or from early in this life.
The goal is to pull away from using your South Node as a crutch, and instead use it as a foundation to build toward your North Node.
Transit aspects to your Lunar Nodes can open you up more (sextiles and trines) or make clear blocks and challenges that need to be worked through in order to manifest your Lunar Nodes (squares). A transit planet conjunct your North Node can push you to embrace that uncomfortable energy and move toward your purpose, while a transit planet conjunct your South Node can push you to release baggage and confront bad habits or crutches that aren’t serving you in a positive way.
Aspects in your natal chart to your natal Lunar Nodes can also impact your ability to manifest your Lunar Nodes. The most important aspects will be planets conjunct either your North Node (which are a part of your potential) or your South Node (which are a part of your baggage and crutches). You’ll first assess the sign and house placements for your Lunar Nodes, and then consider the planets involved.
It’s easy for you to see both sides of things because of the influence of your Libra south node. You overthink things, and if you’re going to succeed in this life, you have to try to overcome that, and tap into the leadership potential that your Aries North Node is there to bring you.
Your Libra South Node shows that you’re someone who is likely very considerate of others—TOO considerate! This may get in the way of allowing yourself to go forward with what you really want because you don’t want to upset anyone. You may feel that you have to do everything with someone by your side, and are uncomfortable alone but you should focus on making sure the people around you are supportive of your dreams and help boost your confidence so you can fly on your own.
You may feel you need to push things until you learn how to stay calm. Your Taurus north node will enable you to really appreciate the finer things in life.
Your Scorpio south node might be tempting you into taking shortcuts, or perhaps using people for your own gain and of course this needs to be overcome. A Taurus north node is beckoning you to learn who you are, to understand your emotions, and to find some stability.
Your Scorpio South Node shows that you’re someone who is likely deeply passionate and intense, at times obsessive and controlling, and you throw yourself into everything with gusto. There can be difficulty in learning how to take a step back, calm your extreme emotions, and not feel so wrapped up in what you’re doing or who you’re helping. The goal for you is not to get rid of the passionate energy inside of you, but rather to calm yourself enough to channel that passion in productive ways, controlling it rather than letting it control you. This can make you a powerful force!
A Gemini north node is often thought to carry more than average luck with it. Gemini is a very intellectual and mercurial sign, and brings this to your North Node and the path of your destiny. You’re good at multitasking, but responsibility doesn’t come easy for you.
Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it’s food for the Gemini North Node! You’ll have to learn to blend your many interests with a sense of commitment, so that you don’t come over as superficial or too independent. In previous lifetimes, or maybe earlier in this one, you’ve been a bit of a loner, or an outcast, thanks to your Sagittarius South Node.
Your Sagittarius South Node shows that you’re someone who already knows how to think big and see the big picture, but you may get lost in that big picture at times, and have a hard time seeing the smaller picture, the details, and life in the short-term. That prevents you from being able to accomplish much, and you may be all talk, no walk at times because of it. Get into the smaller picture and don’t be afraid of shrinking your world. In your case, it may be what expands it.
You’re someone who can take care of the needs of others, and feel good about yourself in doing so. This can go two ways, and the support you give to others can come back to you, and help you feel confident and secure in your life.
As long as you remember it’s okay to regulate ideas and events, but people have to have the freedom to be who they are, you’ll go a long way both in your profession and as a valuable family member.
Your Capricorn South Node shows that you’re someone who knows how to focus on the external, on your goals and ambitions, and how to take responsibility and do things yourself. This can become an issue when you don’t know how to rely on others, how to trust others, and when you’re going through life all alone because you’re afraid of connecting emotionally and feel others won’t get things done right anyway. You have to learn how to connect more to your emotions and the emotions of others, and how to be vulnerable.
Don’t be so fixed on your goals that you alienate yourself from others who could help you achieve them.
Your Aquarius South Node shows that you’re someone who is highly independent, a unique spirit, who isn’t afraid of being different and unconventional but this may be used as a way of keeping people at a distance, worried about them breaking your heart. You’re someone who is capable of being all heart, leading a heart-centric life, and this is where you can find your happiness. Don’t worry so much about what others think and focus more on what makes YOU happy.
You’re probably very creative in some way, and might even be able to apply that creativity to your profession.
There may be temptations to do the same this time around, for often a Pisces South Node brings a tendency to self-medicate. Instead of allowing yourself to become over-sensitive, focus on creating a detailed path to your success, then follow it towards your life’s fulfillment.
Your Pisces South Node shows that you’re someone who has a strong spiritual side, an active imagination, and can get lost in daydreams. This can keep you from getting down to business and getting things done, so you wander from one thing to the next aimlessly and may be easily pushed around by others as a result. Don’t just let your life be nothing but dreams and fantasies. Take some control and make them real.
Commitment often comes hard for the Libra North Node, but that’s what it’s here to teach you. You’ve got fantastic mediation skills and can use them to your advantage to get what you want.
Let yourself be drawn to aesthetics and the philosophies of beauty and balance, and you’ll find a life that is very rewarding indeed! s. The Libra Sun sign represents an appreciation for luxury and beauty, and it’s the same with a Libra North Node.
Your Aries South Node shows that you’re someone who knows how to do things on your own, is independent, assertive, takes initiative, and pushes for what you want. This may mean you do everything alone and have difficulty connecting with others. You may fear losing your independence and the inability to pursue your own desires. Interdependence is the key for you and cultivating relationships that are balanced and rooted in mutual respect. Having that gives you the ultimate sense of satisfaction in life.
The problem lies in finding out what those goals truly are! Scorpio North Nodes have a lingering sense of material gain, and perhaps wanting what is tantalizingly out of reach.
You do have a tendency to make things more complicated than they need to be, and that is something that has to be overcome if you’re going to be successful. The South Node in Taurus has a preoccupation with material gain, and in past lives or earlier in this one it’s been a focal point. Find your passion, your power, and your intensity.
Your Taurus South Node shows that you’re someone who knows that you want to accumulate things but may not know how exactly to do that, or may lack the motivation to get up and get moving to make it happen. In part, this may be because accumulation isn’t supposed to be your sole goal in life. You’re meant to go beyond that, but you may have to let go of being stubborn and stuck. Holding on to everything might feel comfortable and safe, but it won’t make you feel fulfilled.
It calls you to pursue the truth and to find a sense of maturity by constantly learning and keeping an open mind. You were born to seek, speak, and embrace authenticity, including finding and welcoming your authentic self.
Your Gemini South Node shows that you’re someone who knows how to process the details, the facts, and the information, but may have a hard time putting that together with the big picture. You can become interested in lots of different subjects and ideas but may not stick with anything very long to gain real expertise. You may keep your life small, wanting to live in a little world, but you won’t find fulfillment that way. You need to be bold, daring, and GO!
Your Cancer South Node often means emotional issues are difficult for you. Earlier, or perhaps in other lifetimes, you’ve struggled with emotional attachments and relationships, perhaps sticking with them long after it was good for you.
Your Cancer South Node shows that you’re someone who is connected to your emotions and can crave lots of emotional support and encouragement from others. This may get in the way of focusing on what you want to achieve in life, and you may shy away from pushing toward your goals out of fear of the responsibilities that would come with it. Yet you can handle the responsibilities if you believe in yourself. Focus on moving forward, and don’t get stuck in the emotional past.
Perhaps you’re a natural philosopher, or you have a passion to champion a cause. You’re intelligent with a sharp wit and an active mind, and there’s humanitarianism around you that inspires people. Be the rebel!
They see your devotion and your dedication and want to be like you, full of purpose, full of goals and ambitions. It’s possible to be too dedicated, though. With your Leo South Node, you may come over as being superior and aloof, and that will alienate people rather than draw them close.
Your Leo South Node shows that you’re someone who is highly creative and can express yourself through creative avenues. You may be more focused on your ego needs, and this may keep you from going against the grain, afraid of what others may say. You need to focus more on what’s right and what your purpose is. Allow yourself to stand out by being yourself and allow others to be themselves too.
This placement has the potential to be such an enigma! You want to be creative, to appreciate beauty, to be dreamy and romantic and fanciful, but then the Virgo South Node rears its head with a harsh dose of reality, practicality, and criticism. Finding a balance between the two may seem hopeless, but it is possible with a bit of diligence—one of Virgo’s more positive aspects!
Your Virgo North Node shows that you’re someone who is detailed, always focused on the little things, and wants to stick to a rigid schedule. You have to learn to let go, let loose, and go with the flow more. If you don’t, you can stress yourself into sickness. Try not to put so many rules around your imagination or intuition, and this can help you feel more fulfilled.
Look to Virgo to anchor you, then spread those Pisces wings as wide as they want to go, and know that with some dedication, you can make any dream a reality.
Related Article: The Lunar Nodes: Spiritual Life Lessons
Your 7th house South Node shows that you’re someone who can strike a balance, keep the peace, and maintain harmony in your life, but this may be because you’re afraid of disruption. You don’t want to cause any problems for anyone and may be desperate for company, which makes you sacrifice your own wants and needs. You already know how to operate in partnerships and with others, so you need to learn how to operate alone.
Your 8th house South Node shows that you’re someone who understands power, control, and using the resources of others, and this can create intensity, struggles over power and control, and a tendency to get sucked into the drama. This position tends to come with some early life trauma that needs to be addressed before you can move away from the darkness of the 8th house and toward the lighter energy of the 2nd house.
Your 9th house South Node shows that you’re someone who loves freedom, space, travel, and expansion, but this may become a crutch. You may run away from situations or people you don’t want to deal with instead of staying put, and staying put is what you need to do. Use your knowledge and wisdom to come up with solutions and find ways out of problems instead of running away from them.
Your 10th house South Node shows that you’re someone who may search for success in life, and while you may find it at times, it can feel empty and meaningless without the rich personal connections that you need. You likely have to stop looking externally for validation, for recognition, for security, and turn inward. This can give you the true security that you’re looking for.
Your 11th house South Node shows that you’re someone who feels very comfortable in a crowd, but this may come at the expense of showing yourself as an individual. You may worry about what others think of you too much, and have to focus more on what you think of you. Focusing on yourself isn’t selfish if you use your own light to light up the lives of others. This is something you can do for the world.
Your 12th house South Node shows that you’re someone who is deeply connected to your subconscious mind, imagination, and spirit. This can make you prone to escapism, and you may struggle with the daily realities of life. You need to use your intuition to your advantage, and trust your instincts as you get out into the physical world. The 12th house also likes to hide energy, so you may not be fully aware consciously of baggage, crutches, and bad habits that are tied to your South Node. You have to eliminate the fog to see what’s hiding there.
Your 1st house South Node shows that you’re someone who is independent and feels that having a solid sense of self is important. It is important, but this may be used as a defense mechanism to keep people at a distance. You need to learn to embrace your identity in every way, not just by yourself but within your relationships as well, and find all of the different sides to you.
Your 2nd house South Node shows that you’re someone who knows how to relax, take your time, and not push for anything, but this may give you an inability to really find solutions to challenges or to approach serious matters with the right attitude. You may focus more on yourself, what you have, and not share with others, but you should share what you have. Sharing, transforming, and finding passion can help you to evolve.
Your 3rd house South Node shows that you’re someone who is connected to your immediate environment and may feel that life is safest spent that way. You may not find fulfillment until you open your life up to the world, and not get so caught up in the little details. Think bigger, think brighter, and be an adventurer.
Your 4th house South Node shows that you’re someone who may lean back on your personal life, wanting to spend your time focused on the home, family, comfort, and support. Having a good personal life and being a nurturing person aren’t bad things, but you may rely on them too much because you’re afraid of sharing your talents and goals with the world. You may feel that’s being selfish, and that you should only focus on others but for you, focusing on your goals is what allows you to feel fulfilled.
Your 5th house South Node shows that you’re someone who is creative and heart-centric, which are good things until you use them as an excuse to not pursue a higher purpose. You may crave praise and approval, always in search of love and acceptance, but you’re someone who needs to be more independent. Don’t rely on others to fill your heart so much. Make yourself whole by benefiting the whole.
Your 6th house South Node shows that you’re someone who strives to be practical and get things done. This can be helpful, but not if you’re ignoring your imagination and spiritual needs as a result. You may be too critical, especially of yourself, and need to learn to go easier on yourself. Connect to your subconscious, to the quiet space within, and let the nagging voice fade away.
Home time! Here’s your overview of the astrology houses.
Let’s review the planets conjunct your Lunar Nodes:
Learn more: What’s My Purpose? An Exploration of Your Karmic Axis
Your karmic lessons are what give this incarnation direction and purpose and studying the node – what planets influence them with aspects and transits, what houses they fall in your natal chart – all help you find your way forward, and turn your life into a wonderful adventure to be lived, and not a problem to be solved.
The Lunar Nodes can be complicated, full of challenges, but ultimately are one of the most important aspects of astrology you can focus on. So much can be learned about your baggage, potential, and purpose from your Lunar Nodes. Let them be the start of your astrological journey of growth!
Take the Quiz: What is Your Karmic Lesson?