LUNAR NODES ENTER ARIES-LIBRA AXIS ON 17 JULY 2023

LUNAR NODES ENTER ARIES-LIBRA AXIS 

The transiting nodes are reality checks on our soul path…

On July 17^th, the Lunar Nodes will enter the Aries/Libra axis after having been in the Taurus/Scorpio polarity since January 2022. So, the modality will change from Fixed (Earth-Water) to Cardinal (Fire-Air). With the North Node transiting the sign of Aries this could be a good moment to learn about standing up for yourself and being more self-sufficient (in the area of your chart affected by the transit). You may fear that your own happiness depends on the happiness of those around you (SN in Libra). In short: stop being a people pleaser and learn how to become a “me” pleaser.

In the house where the North Node will be transiting in your chart you will be able to note the area of opportunity where rewards and happiness can be found, likewise in the Libra area of your chart you may note vulnerability or sacrifice as you work through issues there.

The nodes progress approximately 3’ of arc each day and are normally in retrograde motion with various stationary and direct periods. The nodes regress backwards along the ecliptic and employ 18.6 years to complete a full orbit spending about 18 months in each sign.

The last time the transiting nodes were on the Aires-Libra axis was between February 2014 and November 2015 when the North Node was in Libra and the South Node in Aries. We have to go back to December 2004-June 2006 to find the North Node in Aries and South Node in Libra.

South node ruler Venus, now in Leo, is preparing to station retrograde and will be in the sign until the 9th of October, Leo sextiles the sign of Libra so this aspect would provide the opportunity, for those not willing to move ahead, to stay anchored in the tried and tested rather than branching out into new territory.

Pluto will also be squaring the transiting nodal axis for a long time this year, it began with the planet’s entrance in Aquarius and will continue until the planet re-enters Capricorn on the 11^th of June and then again come into force as the nodal axis enters the Aries-Libra axis on the 17^th of July remaining in a 5° orb until the end of November this year. Pluto square the nodal axis usually hints at a block of power of some kind with people being unable to express their ideas and society at large suppressing whatever actions they might want to undertake. Ambition is huge but the audience isn’t willing to listen and people may see each other as a threat leading to disruption and destruction.

What was happening in your life during those periods?

The Moon’s nodes, also known as the Dragon’s Head (North node) and the Dragon’s Tail (South node), are the points of intersection where the plane of the Earth’s orbit around the Sun crosses the Moon’s plane of orbit around the Earth. Since the orbit of the Moon has an inclination of 5° 09’ to the plane of the ecliptic, there are thus two nodes in the Moon’s orbit around the Earth.

Some modern astrologers describe the nodal axis as the “Axis of Fate” with the retrograde motion suggesting that present day happenings have their roots in the past, The North node represents the future and therefore we require some courage to enter unknown territory whilst the South node represents the past and the things we feel comfortable with. North node traits (our mission if you like) are to be cultivated and developed throughout our lifetime and events and opportunities that we meet during our existence push us (more or less gently) towards these qualities (the transiting nodal contacts to planets or angles in our birth chart). To learn about this mission you must first identify the position of the nodes in your natal chart. Nodal qualities are investigated by looking at the sign and house they occupy in your chart¹.

Astrologer Pat Geisler (author of The Plain Vanilla Astrologer) ascribes to the nodes, among other things: “the nodes can indicate fame, recognition, success and opportunity as well as disgrace and public humiliation.” Talking about nodal contacts in relationships she adds “the nodes are particularly responsible for the ‘knots and ties’ of relationships. All enduring relationships have strong nodal ties from one chart to the other.”

In the natal chart the North Node in contact with any planet (energy) shows the area (house) where growth and beneficial future developments may occur. South Node/planet contacts indicate that the individual is anchored to the past in that area (house) and energy (planet). In short: the North Node sees the exciting possibilities and the South Node understands the responsibility of change.

The transiting nodes highlight the matters of the house axis that they are moving through and take on the flavour of any planet or angle they come into contact with but they work as a pair, one is open to the future, the other harnessed to the past. Particularly important are their contacts with the ASC/DSC and MC/IC which can indicate life changing events for you and these may occur on many levels, physical, emotional and spiritual.

So which area of your chart is now highlighted by the transit of the nodes? Where do you want to improve and where are you bogged down?

Bibliography

¹ For further reading about the nodes I suggest Celeste Teal’s book “The Lunar Nodes”, Llewellyn publications, Woodbury, MN, USA

Geisler P. (2013) “The Plain Vanilla Astrologer”, chapter 17, “The Moon’s Nodes” pp 99-104, ACS publications, Epping, NH, USA

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