Lunar Nodes Explained: What Your Past Reveals About Your Future Path

What Are the Lunar Nodes?

When I first studied astrology, I assumed the Lunar Nodes were planets or asteroids that circled the Moon. Instead, they are mathematical points in the sky where lunar eclipses occur! Eclipses are astrology’s wild cards and are associated with fate. The Lunar Nodes are also associated with destiny. Like eclipses, they serve as cosmic wake-up calls. This is why they are often called the Nodes of Fate or Nodes of Destiny.

The Lunar Nodes come in pairs, known as the North Node and the South Node. In an astrological chart, the sigils look like little horseshoes.

What role do they play in your natal chart?

• The North Node, also called the Dragon’s Head, represents your karmic mission. This is the hard work you need to do. If you lean into this Node, you grow. Think of it as where you need to go.
• The South Node, also called the Dragon’s Tail, is associated with past lives and the skills you brought in from those times. It’s your comfort zone and where you prefer to go or where you are naturally talented. While this Node may feel good, you want to aim for the North Node if you wish to experience growth. After all, this is where you’ve already been.

Basically, the Nodes show what you’ve experienced before and what is possible if you take the higher (but harder) road.

Lunar Nodes in the Signs

The Nodes always come in pairs. They will be in opposite signs and houses in your natal chart. For example, my North Node is in Gemini in my 8th house, while the South Node is in Sagittarius in the 2nd. They’re easy to spot: the symbols look like little horseshoes.

Here are the different Lunar Nodes:

• North Node in Aries/South Node in Libra: You were focused on keeping the peace in past lives. You may have been responsible for harmony within your family structure or were a diplomat, solving world problems. You’ve been a supporting player for others. In this life, you might find it easy to play the role of second banana. Rather than taking the lead, you’re okay with putting your desires on hold to help others shine. It’s also possible you struggle to assert your needs or boundaries. After all, you prefer to avoid arguments, even if it means accepting poor behavior from others. Your challenge in this lifetime is to stand up for yourself, express your needs, and put yourself first from time to time. You must also be willing to create and enforce boundaries. Will that make some people mad? Perhaps. But stuffing your feelings to create comfort for others will only lead to resentment. Aries North Nodes are here to develop independence, courage, and assertiveness.
• North Node in Taurus/South Node in Scorpio: You may have spent much time managing crises in past lives. You’re excellent at handling people at their worst. In this lifetime, you may find yourself drawn to drama. There is an underlying need to take control, which could lead to a tendency to be over-involved in situations that are none of your business. You may have also experienced betrayal in past lives, which may have created trust issues or a strong b.s. detector. In this lifetime, you need to focus on security. That may mean developing your self-worth or putting energy into caring for your needs rather than managing everyone else’s problems. Taurus North Node people can be surprisingly impatient—learning to let go of the need for control and trust the Universe will help you find your Zen, even amid chaos. Other attributes to work on are forgiveness, jealousy, and a zest for revenge.
• North Node in Gemini/South Node in Sagittarius: Your past lives may have been spent in academia, spiritual retreats, or wandering the world in search of the truth. The need for honesty permeates this lifetime. You will continue to seek out truths and may also be rigid about ethics, morals, and philosophy. You may have a restless streak and prefer to roam rather than settle down too long. Why put down roots when you could become enlightened by trekking the globe or hobnobbing with intellectuals and fellow philosophers? At times, you can be self-righteous or hypocritical. What’s good for me is not for thee. In this lifetime, you must open your mind to new ideas. Learn to listen without plotting your response. Let go of the need to be ‘right.’ Instead, lighten up! It’s okay to be wrong on occasion! You must also maintain your curiosity through continuous learning and fresh experiences. The more studious you are, the more well-rounded your life will be. Lastly, you must understand that not everyone will operate with the same rigorous ethics as you—learn to live and let live.
• North Node in Cancer/South Node in Capricorn: In your past life, you might have been in a position of authority. Responsibilities meant you had work to do, which may have made it harder to tend to your feelings. Instead, ambition and control were your focal points, which may have led to great success. Sometimes, work becomes your god or a way to avoid intimacy. In this lifetime, you can still be ambitious but mustn’t lose sight of your emotional needs. This begins by creating a secure, safe environment so you can express your feelings. That may mean self-care or a support system. This could be your family or a chosen family of friends, peers, therapists, or neighbors. When you feel supported, you will be better able to nurture yourself—and others. You may sometimes have to take off your shell and get vulnerable. Uncomfortable? Yes. But that’s when the most significant growth happens—when you are real, raw, and willing to allow others in. Finally, you must learn to let go of your need for control. If you look within, you may discover it’s based on insecurity. If you acknowledge your fears, they lose their power. Once that happens, you’ll realize you don’t need to control anything or anyone.
• North Node in Leo/South Node in Aquarius: Past lives spent trying to fit in may have created a tendency to go along with the crowd just for a sense of belonging. Being accepted is important to you. However, your past lives may have also found you bucking the system. You may have had revolutionary or innovative ideals. Or you might have been a nonconformist, preferring to live on your own rules. This creates a sense of being an alien, even if you are part of a group. Some lifetimes may have been spent sitting in the wings like an understudy while others claimed the limelight. In this lifetime, you’re here to take center stage. No more worrying about what others might think! You must stand as an individual, ready to grab the mic and make all the noise! Confidence may not come naturally, but it can be developed. That begins by working on your self-esteem. If you are afraid to outshine others, this can also be traced back to being part of a pack. You can still run with your pack, but you’ll find greater happiness when you take the lead and set the trends. Visibility will be part of your life lesson. No hiding! Instead, you must risk being seen, even if you feel shy. Once you get used to the spotlight, you’ll discover something important: it’s fun.
• North Node in Virgo/South Node in Pisces: Pisces South Node people have spent lifetimes as martyrs or victims. They’ve been in situations where they felt helpless, which could have led to a lack of boundaries or escapist tendencies. Rather than face the issues, there is a tendency to withdraw, slip into addictive tendencies, or search for a savior. If this is you, you must look to the Virgo North Node’s need for routine, order, and service. Putting yourself in the here and now can transcend your past lives and serve the world. This is an excellent placement for learning compassion, caregiving, and humanitarianism. Many healers have this placement. You can find purpose if you decide to go into a healing profession. This is important to Virgo North Nodes. Boundaries will also be an essential lesson. In your past life, those were dissolved, perhaps through dysfunctional family dynamics. Now, you must assert strong but kind boundaries so you can create a secure, peaceful life.
• North Node in Libra/South Node in Aries: If this is your North Node, you might have spent lifetimes being selfish or self-sufficient. Perhaps you were a “rugged individual” and preferred to put your needs first. Or maybe you wandered the earth, blazing your own trails without concern for how others might think about you. These experiences allowed you to become independent. But now you must learn how to work and play well with others. Cooperation and compromise will be prominent themes—and it may be hard to find the “we” when you want to put your energy into “me.” This is a time of selflessness when you must put others first. Empathy, diplomacy, and restraint are qualities to develop as well. This doesn’t mean you’ll lose your edge. Instead, you’ll find the balance between doing your own thing while making space for others.
• North Node in Scorpio/South Node in Taurus: Your past life might have been swathed in comfort. Perhaps you had a cushy upbringing. Or you may have chased pleasure and security, accumulating material goods. This may have kept you feeling safe—but now it feels more like a trap. Instead of surrounding yourself with creature comforts, you must drop the possessions (including people you might want to “own”) and develop trust. You’re skeptical by nature, but this North Node says it’s time to open your heart to the Universe and other people. Intimacy could be a struggle, but you can find profound connections if you drop your shell. Shadow work will also be part of your journey. You may sometimes go to dark places or engage in risky behavior, but eventually, this will help you find your light.
• North Node in Sagittarius/South Node in Gemini: A Sagittarius North Node means a past life collecting information. This is the perpetual student who loves academia, books, and media. Past lives could have been spent as teachers or writers. The goal was to gather knowledge and share it. You have come into this lifetime with intense curiosity. You want to know how things work, why people think the way they do, and what makes everything tick. This can lead to impatience, gossip, or attempts to “read” people. In this lifetime, you must learn to trust your hunches, even if you don’t have the backstory. Your higher mind will find the information you need. At times, you may question your belief system. There is nothing wrong with that—provided you keep an open mind. This will help you to develop faith. Truth is also part of your mission. You must communicate transparently—and learn to listen as well as you speak. “Telling it like it is” rather than telling people what they want to hear will challenge you—but ultimately, it will help you create more authentic relationships, especially with yourself. Sometimes, this North Node produces a personality that loves to argue for the sake of arguing. While there is nothing wrong with a lively debate, frittering your energy on pointless conflicts will only serve to scatter your forces.
• North Node in Capricorn/South Node in Cancer: You may have spent many past lives with current family members; there may be ongoing karmic cycles deeply rooted in these former incarnations. Themes of dependency, caregiving, or control may repeatedly play out. You may also see these situations appear in other relationships, such as your circle of friends or coworkers. In this lifetime, you must let go of the past and develop self-reliance. Sometimes, you must assert your independence, even if it makes loved ones uncomfortable. That doesn’t mean you must sever ties with your family. Instead, you must find a way to take responsibility for your life without depending on their support or approval. This also means learning to nurture yourself as well as your goals. Take charge of your life, and you’ll find security and success.
• North Node in Aquarius/South Node in Leo: You may have been a royal or celebrity in past lives. The limelight was trained on you, which meant you felt special. This creates a tendency to think you deserve the goodies. When you don’t get what you feel you’re owed, look out—here comes drama! This sense of entitlement must be worked on in this lifetime. You must learn to support and encourage others and share the spotlight. When you put the collective first, you can truly shine. It’s also important to practice humility. While there is nothing wrong with being proud of your accomplishments, you don’t want to get stuck in prideful thinking. Lastly, you have talents for inspiring others. Lead from your heart, and you could change the world.
• North Node in Pisces/South Node in Virgo: Your past lives were spent in service. You may have been a doctor, nurse, healer, teacher, or servant. This created a tendency to want to fix situations…or people. An underlying anxiety makes it hard to relax. The desire to make everything perfect could create exclusive worry. In your past lives, you may have been subject to harsh criticism, making you feel you must always be right. In this lifetime, you must learn to let go of perfectionism. Instead, you must trust that you’re doing your best—and so are others. Compassion, empathy, and gentleness toward yourself and others will help you learn to go with the flow. Spiritual practices can be of great benefit. If you focus on connecting with a higher power, you may find it’s easier to release your worries. Trust the Universe’s wisdom instead of attempting to micromanage.

The Nodes through the Houses

It’s also important to check your chart to see which houses the Nodes occupy. Remember: the houses show where the astrological action happens. Topics in the houses where the North and South Nodes reside give clues to areas where your karmic lessons lie.

The Nodes will be opposite each other, which means they’ll be in the house directly across from each other. Using my example above, my North Node is in the 8th while the South Node is in the 2nd. This means one of my life lessons revolves around managing other people’s money. Even so, the South Node in the 2nd house prefers to focus on building security for myself. I have had to take responsibility for my parents’ financial situation multiple times. Did I enjoy it? Nope. But I was able to get them out of serious debt more than once! I also learned to make different decisions to avoid repeating their mistakes. Cycle broken!

Here are the twelve houses:

1st - self-image, personal responsibility
2nd - money earned, security, values
3rd - mind, learning, siblings, neighbors, short trips, early education
4th - home, family, root
5th - creativity, children, romance, speculation
6th - work, routines, health, small pets
7th - relationships, public relations, legal issues
8th - joint finances, other people’s money, taxes, intimacy
9th - long-distance travel, higher education, spirituality, philosophy
10th - career, reputation
11th - friends, groups, community, goals
12th - self-undoing, hospitals, introspection, therapy, secret enemies

Nodal Return

The Nodal Return occurs when the North Node and South Node return to the same sign they were in when you were born. For example, suppose your North and South Node are Aries/Libra. In that case, you’ll experience your Nodal Return when the transiting Nodes return to those signs about every 18 years.

When this happens, you may experience a shift in your life or consciousness. For example, the first occurs at age 18, when many folks graduate from high school and enter the workforce or college. The themes associated with your Nodes become activated, allowing you to learn important lessons. In a way, it’s like a chance to take a cosmic test. Once you pass it, you’re on to the next level. Nodal returns last about eighteen months and happen around ages 18, 37, 55, 74, and 92.

Reverse Nodal Return

The Reverse Nodal Return (also called the Nodal Opposition) happens when the Nodes are in the opposite position of your natal Nodes. For example, suppose your North and South Node are Aries/Libra. In that case, you’ll experience your Reverse Nodal Return when the transiting North Node is in Libra and the South in Aries.

The Reverse Nodal Return brings challenges and compromises. Your South Node lessons are illuminated, allowing you to reflect on your destiny. Are you living your purpose? Or are you off track? It’s never too late to make a change—this is your time to take your fate in your hands. For example, at age 27, I was sick of working for “the man.” I started my own business (VERY 2nd house South Node!) and never looked back. Destiny called – and I answered the door. The Reverse Nodal Return happens around ages 9, 27, 46, 65, and 83.

Although the Nodes are not planets, their role in astrology is still essential. Once you understand them, you can better understand your karmic lessons and life purpose.

Further reading: Astrology For the Soul by Jan Spiller