Everything You Need to Know About the North & South Nodes
If you're feeling lost or directionless, it's always a good idea to check in with your nodal placements.
Today, we are talking about a hot topic - the North and South Nodes in your birth chart. The Nodes are not planets, but rather points within the moon’s orbit. They are represented by the horseshoe looking symbols in your birth chart (see diagram below). Not only are the nodes very telling of gifts and skills you already possess, but they also point to the qualities that you’re learning how to develop over the course of your lifetime in order to feel more fulfilled. Checking in with your nodal placements can be especially helpful if you aren’t satisfied or are feeling a bit directionless in your current life path.
Above, the North Node is circled in Virgo, the 2nd house. The South Node is the upside down horseshoe symbol circled in Pisces, the 8th house.
I don’t think of the South Node as being “negative” while the North Node is “positive.” Interpreting the nodes in your chart is more nuanced than that, and you will likely spend your life trying to strike a balance between the two. I view the South Node as feeling a bit more comfortable, and it represents skills that may come easily to you, that you don’t really think twice about. However, the South Node can be that security blanket that you fall back on, and it may keep you stuck in your comfort zone too much. Meanwhile, the North Node represents the traits that you’re being pushed to develop. What the North Node represents in your chart may feel scary or uncomfortable though, especially when you’re younger. However, you will notice that throughout your life you are repeatedly asked to lean into this side of yourself.
Throughout this newsletter, I will first be going over keywords to associate with the sign and house placements of the nodes, which you will want to cross reference with your own chart. Then I’ll be touching upon nodal cycles, like the nodal opposition and nodal returns, which you experience every nine years in your life. These nodal patterns mark pivotal turning points, when you are urged to reevaluate the direction you’re headed in next. Around these times, your life may feel kind of uncomfortable, like what you once enjoyed doing is no longer bringing you that same satisfaction. If there is a certain pattern you’ve been engaging in in the lead-up to these nodal cycles, it may feel like it’s no longer working for you. You’re being asked to switch things up and find meaning elsewhere.
Let’s first start by looking at the nodes through the signs and houses. Think of the signs in which your nodes fall as the qualities that you’re learning how to embrace, and the houses in which your nodes are located as the areas of life in which you’re carrying out these qualities.
Nodes Through The Signs
Aries/Libra Nodes
With the North Node in Aries and the South Node in Libra:
your life is geared towards developing your own independence and not falling back on codependency patterns
You may feel more comfortable being in a relationship or leaning on friends for support, but you’re meant to take initiative yourself
Rather than looking to other people for direction, you’re working to develop greater self confidence, and you may need to become more comfortable standing up for yourself
You’re also developing leadership skills and practicing being upfront and direct with people
With the North Node in Libra and the South Node in Aries:
You are learning not to be so stubbornly independent
It make take greater effort for you to be a part of a partnership and compromise with people, but these are skills you need to develop
Relationships may feel scary, like you’re giving up your sense of freedom - relying on other people or asking for help may feel uncomfortable
You are learning that relationships aren’t always restricting, and sometimes you can accomplish more with the help of others
It’s okay to rely on other people
Taurus/Scorpio Nodes
With the North Node in Taurus and South Node in Scorpio:
you may need to focus on building greater structure in your life and finding a sense of peace and calm in your everyday work and routine
You’re also developing more patience, and releasing yourself from controlling/obsessive tendencies
Channeling your challenging emotions into creativity may feel helpful, either through a hobby or a job where you can do this.
It’s also okay to want to make money and lean into the finer things in life, like well made clothing, dining out at amazing restaurants, and splurging on whatever makes you feel good. It doesn’t make you a shallow person.
You’re learning how to recognize value in your skills too, and that what you bring to the table at work is worth a certain amount of money
With the North Node in Scorpio and South Node in Taurus:
You may get too caught up in the material world or overly fixate on needing financial stability.
From time to time you need to be pushed out of your comfort zone and into situations that may feel slightly uncomfortable or that urge you to transform certain parts of yourself.
You’re also learning how to face your shadow side. By letting down your facade and opening up about difficult experiences and challenging emotions, you are able to grow closer to people.
Learning how to trust people and merge your life with that of someone else may be a recurring theme you experience
Also, not everything has to be nice and pleasant all of the time, sometimes life is messy.
Gemini/Sagittarius Nodes
With the North Node in Gemini and South Node in Sagittarius:
You are learning how to develop a variety of different skills, and you may need to have your hand in many pots in order to feel satisfied
You are also finding ways to share your knowledge in an easily digestible way - leaning into things like creating online content, short form writing, or podcasting may feel good
Having super strong opinions and beliefs, or thinking that you need a lot of education and experience in order to do something is only holding you back in life. You need to be comfortable learning on the go and being open to changing your mind.
In addition, you are gaining practice with being out and about in the world, socializing and expanding your network
With the North Node in Sagittarius and South Node in Gemini:
You are seeking greater wisdom in this life
You may find your greater inspiration while traveling, or you may feel more at peace when contemplating bigger questions, like what is the purpose of life and why are you here.
You’re learning that you can’t get too caught up in everyday gossip and other people’s opinions. Developing a sense of spirituality and your own belief system is important too - these might be completely different from what you were raised with.
Sharing knowledge with people, either through teaching or writing are areas you will want to lean into
Rather being a jack of all trades, master of none, you are becoming someone who likes to go deep, doing a thorough investigation into whatever subjects pique your interest.
Cancer/Capricorn Nodes
With the North Node in Cancer and South Node in Capricorn:
You are creating a stable, home life for yourself
You are learning that you can’t always prioritize career over personal relationships
You are getting more in touch with your emotions and practicing being there for other people, instead of always taking on more commitments and responsibilities to distract yourself
Figuring out what family means to you is key too, and creating a family of your own, even if that means a circle of friends or a community who you’re super close to.
You’re also releasing yourself from hyper productivity or following a set structure of what life “should” look like. Creating an environment and a life that feels nurturing to you is so important.
With the North Node in Capricorn and South Node in Cancer:
You are working to push yourself out of your comfort zone and venturing outside of where you grew up and the relationships you’ve maintained your entire life
Family duties may hold you back from taking risks or putting your ambition first. You can’t let your family or long time friends overly influence what you should be doing with your life.
Developing confidence in your career and understanding what is worth your time and energy is what you’re working on.
Stepping into a bigger leadership role may be a theme that pops up, whether that’s in your career or another community that you’re a part of.
Becoming recognized for your hard work and finding your own goals and structures in life is important to you too.
Leo/Aquarius Nodes
With the North Node in Leo and South Node in Aquarius
Your life is centered around finding creative outlets and developing your unique point of view
Allow yourself to have fun and tap into spirit of your inner child
You’re also learning that you can’t deny your own hobbies and interests in order to follow what everyone else is doing
You’re developing greater confidence in yourself, rather than hiding behind groups or trends. You’re recognizing that validation can only come from within.
In addition, you’re working to overcome a fear of criticism that comes with putting yourself out there. You’re showing off your full self and what lights you up, and if other people don’t like you, that’s okay.
With the North Node in Aquarius and South Node in Leo
You are at your best when you’re doing things for the greater good of society, rather than chasing after fame or only focusing on yourself.
Establishing a community you wished you had when you were younger, especially if you felt like an outsider growing up.
Bringing your natural sense of creativity into what you provide for other people
Not isolating yourself or thinking you’re above others - instead, connecting with like minded individuals and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone with meeting new people
Embracing all of the traits that may seem “weird” to others and becoming a champion for people who also feel like they don’t fit in and conform to society.
Virgo/Pisces Nodes
With the North Node in Virgo and South Node in Pisces:
You are learning how to take better care of your physical body, and you may end up embracing holistic healing practices
Being of service to other people through the work that you do
Finding joy in your everyday routines and rituals - figuring out what type of schedule works the best for you, which may not be the norm.
Understanding that you are a soul, but you also have a body that you need to take care of
Returning to practical everyday to-do steps, instead of getting overwhelmed by the bigger picture
With the North Node in Pisces and South Node in Virgo
Learning to be less self critical and more compassionate to yourself
Zooming out to understand the deeper meaning of what you’re doing, instead of getting lost in small details that don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things
Becoming more spiritual and in touch with your intuition
Facing your emotions and becoming comfortable with stillness, instead of occupying yourself with being productive all of the time
Finding a career or hobby where you can offer advice or be of support to others
Making your mental health a priority, but also realizing how the way you treat your body affects your emotional state.
Nodes Through the Houses
As a reminder, the house placements of your North and South Nodes show the areas of life in which you are carrying out the sign qualities of the Nodes. For instance, if you have the North Node in Leo in the 3rd house, you’re carrying out the Leo-like qualities of creativity, self expression, and staying childlike and playful in the 3rd house domain of life. So you might feel fulfilled with creative writing, experimenting with showing your full self through online content, or finding artistic inspiration through travel and connecting with people.
1st/7th House Nodes
With the North Node in the 1st house and the South Node in the 7th house:
You are learning how to shape your own sense of self and identity before you can show up effectively in relationships
You may need to become more comfortable being alone or finding interests that you do just for you
You are also learning how to stand up for yourself and be more assertive
Your life is a lot about self discovery, instead of relying on other people to give you direction or to hold you up
At the same time though, relationship experiences that you go through may be a huge catalyst for you learning how to love yourself and be more of your own individual.
With the North Node in the 7th house and the South Node in the 1st house:
You may naturally feel comfortable going at it alone and you could be someone who identifies with being independent and very much your own person
It may feel scary to share your life with someone else, like you may lose your identity if you do so
You are working on being a better partner though and showing up for people
You also may be gaining practice with choosing people who are actually available and want to be there for you
Relationships in turn help you to better understand yourself - you are not always sacrificing your freedom or sense of identity to be with someone
2nd/8th House Nodes
With the North Node in the 2nd house and the South Node in the 8th house:
You may feel comfortable receiving financial support from people - maybe you have an inheritance, or it’s easier to fall back on having someone else pay for you or bail you out
Creating your own wealth in this lifetime is important though, so you might be working to find ways in which you can build your own company or be your own boss
You can also bring your gifts of understanding human behavior and intuitively knowing what people want into whatever you build in your career
This is a great nodal placement for entrepreneurship
It could also be that close relationships/partnerships of different types find their way into what you do for business
With the North Node in the 8th house and the South Node in the 2nd house
It might be easier for you to be in control of your own money and always go at it alone
You may place work first or have trouble delegating or working as part of a team
Learning how to share finances or team up with people in business is a skill you’re working to develop
Also learning to be smarter with your money in general and putting money towards savings or investments, instead of spending it all on material goods every time you get a paycheck
You want to lean into work that holds a deeper meaning to you, or that has elements of psychology, human behavior, or mental health
3rd/9th House Nodes
With the North Node in the 3rd house and the South Node in the 9th:
You probably have a love for travel, especially going to faraway places and immersing yourself in a different culture
You may naturally have a more spiritual outlook on life too and you value your independence and freedom
However, there is a need to learn how to connect more with people in your immediate vicinity
Working on everyday communication skills and sharing the wisdom you have through easily accessible mediums - think like a newsletter, podcast, or social media is important
With the North Node in the 9th house and the South Node in the 3rd house:
You may be someone who is naturally social
You could also have your hand in many different pots at once - you like to learn about a variety of topics and keep your mind stimulated in this way
However, there may be a need in this lifetime to go all in on only a select few subjects
Leaning into your ability to teach, write books, or finding other ways to share bigger knowledge with people is key
Embracing travel more and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is also something you will want to lean into more
There could be a pull to go back to school and get a higher degree at some point
Or you may end up being a mentor or teacher or some sort
4th/10th House Nodes
With the North Node in the 4th house and the South Node in the 10th house:
You are figuring out what home means to you, and you may have to work to create a stable environment in which you can return to everyday
There may be a tendency to avoid messy family matters, but you are creating your own family in this lifetime that might be drastically different from what you were born into
It could also be that you have a natural interest in real estate or home buying and decoration
You are learning to balance a sense of duty to your family and home with your many career commitments too
Also learning more about your ancestry or developing your own intuitive gifts
Not being so fixated on your public status and external achievements - when you can release control there, things will flow more easily
With the North Node in the 10th house and the South Node in the 4th house
You may need to break away from your family or the town in which you were raised to carve an identity for yourself
Becoming more comfortable with public attention and being in the spotlight for work may feel scary, but something you are working on
Following your ambitions and stepping into leadership roles may be a theme throughout your life
Figuring out how you want to show up in the world and what image you want to portray
You may feel torn between work and family a lot of the time though, or it could be that you will assume a leadership role within your family
5th/11th House Nodes
With the North Node in the 5th house and the South Node in the 11th house:
You are learning to prioritize your own interests and what brings you joy
Becoming comfortable being fully yourself, rather than following trends or fearing criticism
You are also creating and leaning into various outlets for self expression
Also having children or finding work that feels like it’s your “baby” will be so important
Becoming more comfortable with your sexuality too or sharing your full personality with people - not being sucked into group mentality or hiding behind other people is so key
When you embrace who you truly aware, you will naturally create a community around your work and attract like minded people
With the North Node in the 11th house and the South Node in the 5th house:
You are learning how to be more group involved
Doing things for the greater good of a community or society in general
Finding ways to collaborate with friends on projects or through work
Bringing your creative ideas into group events or community offerings
Venturing out of your comfort zone and connecting with all types of different people
Becoming comfortable being looked up to as a leader within a group setting.
6th/12th House Nodes
With the North Node in the 6th house and the South Node in the 12th house
You may feel more comfortable being alone or there might be self undoing patterns that you fall back into from time to time
You’re learning to find greater structure in your everyday routine
Being able to work well with other people, like coworkers for instance, may be something you’re developing
You may have a natural interest in spirituality, but the here and now is what is most important
Finding ways to be of service to other people through your work
Maybe even having a job in an industry that relates to wellness, health, or service in some way
Getting a pet or taking care of your body through exercise, eating well, or cutting back on negative drinking habits might be necessary for your mental health too
With the North Node in the 12th house and the South Node in the 6th house
You may have a hard time delegating or resting when it comes to work
Learning when you need moments to slow down and take care of yourself is important to learn
You need to pay attention to your emotions and mental health just as much as you have to take care of your body
Finding a sense of spirituality that resonates the most with you will be key for you
You’re also learning how to be comfortable spending time alone
Finding work that helps other people through their own struggles or where you can give your own advice or talk open about mental health concerns
Learning to trust in something bigger than yourself and releasing control over the smaller everyday tasks.
Bonus:
In addition to noting the sign and house placement of your North and South Nodes, you can take this exercise one step further by locating the ruling planets of each of the Nodes. Identify the sign and house in which each ruling planet falls to get further insight into what your North and South Nodes represent in terms of purpose and greater fulfillment.
Looking at the diagram below, you can see that this person has their North Node in Gemini in the 9th house and their South Node in Sagittarius in the 3rd house. The ruling planet of the Gemini North Node is Mercury, which is placed in Taurus, the 8th house. So in addition to leaning into 9th house themes of education, travel, teaching, and writing, this person may also find fulfillment in areas that relate to finance, self starting business ventures, psychology, or mental health - all 8th house themes. Meanwhile, the South Node is in Sagittarius, the 3rd house, so the ruling planet of the South Node is Jupiter, which is placed in Leo, the 11th house. They may already have natural skills as working as part of a group, and trading ideas with people (a blend of 3rd and 11th house themes), but they may need to be wary of shaping their opinions to please other people or always looking to others before voicing their ideas.
Nodal cycles
Nodal Returns
If what is written for your nodes, especially the North Node placement, doesn’t fully resonate, keep in mind that you will spend your entire life embracing those traits/areas of your life. Your birth chart represents your potential, and the placement of your nodes is awakened when transits come along and activate those placements for you. You get especially potent opportunities to lean into what your nodes represent at the time of nodal returns and nodal oppositions, which occur in nine year increments.
A nodal return is when the North Node and South Nodes return to the same sign in which they are placed in your birth chart. The first time this happens is at the age of 18-19, and then again around 36-37, and 53-54, etc. You can keep going every 18-19 years. At the time of a nodal return, you are being asked to more fully embrace the qualities associated with your North Node placement and push yourself out of your comfort zone there. You may come to realize that you can no longer fall back on the South Node traits, like you were doing before. Therefore, this time in your life can present tough growing pains as you venture out into unknown territory.
I want to give a personal example of what happened at my first nodal return at the age of 19 so that you can see how relevant themes pop up. I have my South Node in Gemini in the 11th house, and my North Node in Sagittarius in the 5th house. Like everyone, I had my first nodal return at the age of 19, and at that time I was in my first year of college. I wanted to join a sorority so badly, because that’s what everyone was doing at this college that I went to. Being part of a group and following what I thought I was supposed to do just because everyone else was doing it was what I was most comfortable with at that age - very 11th house South Node themes. Sorority rush came and went, and in the end I got dropped by everyone and felt like such a failure, like no one liked me and that I had nowhere to fit in at college. It sparked a several month period of depression. In hindsight though, this was the best thing that could have happened, because I realized I didn’t want to stay at that college, and instead I transferred to school abroad in Switzerland, where I could travel frequently and be immersed in another culture - very Sagittarius North Node coded. I also learned to lean into my own interests rather than looking to other people for direction, traits associated with the 5th house placement of the North Node. I ended up starting a fashion blog and finding new creative outlets. So while extremely difficult at the moment, the Nodal Return ultimately pushed me in a new direction that was a much better fit, represented by the Sagittarius 5th house North Node themes, and away from the Gemini 11th House South Node themes. I’m curious to see how similar themes arise at the next nodal return in my mid-30s.
Nodal Oppositions
The nodal opposition presents a similar crossroads in life, happening first around the age of 9, then again at age 27-28, and 46-47, again going in 18-19 year increments. The opposition occurs 9 years after the nodal return. The difference here is that the nodes are switched, so the current transit of the North Node is where your natal South Node is, and the South Node is transiting where your natal North Node is. I find that with this transit, you are being asked to embrace the qualities of your South Node in a healthier way and overcome certain limiting patterns you have there.
Returning to my 11th house Gemini South Node / 5th house Sagittarius North Node example, the nodal opposition I experienced at the age of 27-28 urged me to take a different approach to group involvement and the sharing of information (Gemini South Node qualities). I used the personal creativity (5th house North Node) I had spent the years leading up to that point developing and brought them into the work I was doing with other people (11th house South Node). I brought my love of astrology (Sagittarius North Node theme) into a podcast I started with a friend (Gemini and 11th House South Node theme). Widening my network (11th house theme) is something that came naturally at this time too, because by newly dating my now husband, I was introduced to all of his friends. I also quit drinking at this time in order to overcome social anxiety and be more fully myself at group events. My astrology community (11th house theme) also grew significantly during this period as I became more creative with the types of content I was putting out (5th house theme). During my nodal opposition, I learned that by being part of a partnership and collaborating with people, I didn’t have to lose my identity. Instead, I could create groups that I genuinely wanted to be a part of. I would be lying if I said this time wasn’t without its challenges though. Friendships felt like they were in a state of transition, as people moved away and certain friendships fell off during this time. So it was still a tough period, but it helped me to overcome certain limiting beliefs and patterns that I had associated with my South Node placement. It also helped me to find a greater balance between the two nodes, as activities associated with the North Node naturally found their way into the South Node’s themes.
I hope this has helped you understand your nodes more fully! If you want to share about how you’ve learned to embrace your nodal placements, please leave a comment below. The best way to understand how astrology plays out is by hearing from actual experiences people have gone through, so I always love when there’s a discussion in the comments.
I’m an amateur astrologer so I love to learn tips and tricks here and there. My north node is in Pisces. I am a Libra sun with a Leo moon and my ascendant in Capricorn. 🐐
I do find it to be complicated at times lol but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Thank you and I enjoy your channel. ❤️❤️
Astrology is so cool, thank you so much for being here and sharing what you do. You have truly been a blessing and an astrological angel that I’ve discovered this year. I am learning sooo so much and you really know how to inspire someone to learn. 💜✨🌚 so grateful over here!!!