~ The Dragon of the Skies ~

King Sun circles the zodiac domain in one year, lighting up a sign each month. Swift Queen Moon makes the same journey in just one month. Their dance is the rhythm of lunations: New Moons and Full Moons through the signs and around your chart. Every six months or so these lunations fall near to the nodes of the Moon, and we have eclipses.

Eclipses are often hallmarks of sudden change. Much of life is plateau - maintaining and supporting patterns and habits, yet weeks of eclipses are when the deck gets reshuffled. Some doors abruptly close and others open.  As long as people have been watching the skies, eclipses have been important omens. It is an event of note for the Sun, always shining above, to suddenly dim out in broad daylight. And if you are used the Moon lighting your way at night, seeing her turn dark when she should be full is bound to have meaning for those skilled in sky interpretations.

"So what are these nodes of the Moon?" you ask. "I can understand planets, and once I get used to the idea of 'as above so below' can accept a connection between planetary movements and events in life, but nodes? What on earth is a node?"

First the conventional view. The North node is the point on the Moon's orbit we are moving towards. This is why the North node has a future connotation, a moving ahead, a force that brings what we think is far off into current reality. Conversely the South node is the point on the Moon's orbit we are moving away from; hence associations with the past, dissolving and not seeing, yet also where we've been, our roots.

In my own adaptation of the current neuro-scientific view of the three levels of mind - neocortex, limbic, and reptilian - the Sun and Mercury make up the I am and I think of the neocortex; the Moon and Venus make up the feelings and memories, desires and longings of the limbic mind; and the autopilot, our default assumptions of where we've been and where we're going, the forces that run us yet those we cannot even see because they are below the threshold of conscious awareness, these reptilian forces are the nodes.

In symbolic terms, in western astrology the North node is known as the Dragon's head. A head thinks, sees, hears, smells and tastes. The North node shows where we have existential thirst, where we are impelled to seek out new experience. The South node is the Dragon's tail - where we've been, our past that both stabilizes us, what we return to and yet what we are compelled to leave behind. 

Now we can understand why Indian astrologers see the nodes as the pathway of life. We come in with emphasis on the South node and gradually move towards the North node. In Indian astrology these nodes are considered as important as planets. Some people even think of them as the most powerful factors in the chart. Monica Dimino, full time astrologer of 35 years, agrees: "They are the most important piece of information you can find in any horoscope. Some people will say: 'As important as the Sun, as important as the Moon?' I think so." [1]

Now we can understand a bit more of what eclipses are about. The Moon was eclipsed by the South node two week ago, so we were emotionally brought back to our past, our unconscious assumptions, the reptilian mind of default starting point. The Sun will be eclipsed by the North node this Wednesday, and our essential life will be brought forward, our future suddenly here. At a South node eclipse we re-align ourselves with what is past, and at a North node eclipse we orient ourselves with our future. It makes sense why Tibetan Buddhists say eclipses are times when karma is amplified (both strong, but Sun eclipse more so than Moon).

So why aren't these nodes listed in the astrology calendar? Why do people who know a fair bit of astrology not pay attention to the transiting nodes? These are good questions. It could be the influence of the modern materialist view on Western astrology which prevents consideration of points that don't have an actual physical reality. Or it could be the nature of the nodes themselves - lacking light, they are not easily seen. If you know some astrology and want to learn more about the nodes, here are a few ideas.

Start with your own chart. Does your South node describe your unconscious assumptions? Does its house position say something about your early orientation in life? Does the North node accurately tell something about where you are driven, where life has brought you over time? Like all real astrology, interpretation is complex. We consider sign, house placement, rulership, aspects, orientation of the other planets around the nodes, even antiscia for the advanced.

Pay attention to the transiting nodes. The North node has spent over a year in Aries - has this house in your chart been juiced? The South node for the last year has been in Libra - is there something about this house that has been left behind? Just like planets have stations and emphasize one degree for weeks or months at at time, weeks around eclipses are the stations of the nodes. The Dragon has been at 4 Aries / 4 Libra for several weeks now. If you have a planet or cusp at these points they are getting effected.

We can also learn about the nodes from the transiting lights. As we do with other planets, watch the Moon transiting the position of the nodes in your own chart as well as the current position of both nodes. The Sun joined the North node on Friday evening. Did you notice almost a blind push into new experience Thursday and Friday that has since calmed down? If so you have gotten a glimpse into your direction that will continue to unfold through time, especially twice a year at eclipse season when King Sun or Queen Moon both take a ride on the dragon of the skies.

And more:

1. Saturn & Lunar Nodes, a talk given by Monica Dimino at ISAR 2005, available from Steve Pincus at 650-968-4513.

2. Crisis and Redemption by Komilla Sutton. Suitable for all students of Western and Indian astrology.

3. The Key of Life by Prash Trivedi. This is more advanced - suitable to more advanced students of Western and all students of Indian astrology.

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I'm giving a talk this Thursday! Return to the origins of astrology with the traditional technique of temperament, a method of examining the balance of elements in the chart. Details here.

Rush ahead in Aries with even more juice. Ideas here.

I'm a full time astrologer dedicated towards passing on the wisdom of this venerable tradition to help you live your life. Full readings are available on weekday afternoons and some early evenings. For information on a life or update reading, please visit the Services page. Contact me for an appointment.

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Star*Watch
All times Pacific Standard Time. Visit www.alabe.com for the view of the chart for your current location, and www.astro.com also gives planet positions. See below for comments on other visible planets.

The Sun and Moon together set the tone of the time. The Sun is our fundamental orientation for the month; Moon signs and aspects are the energetic pulls of the day, and tell us how we approach the truth of the Sun. Planet aspects influence the energies for several days and sometimes weeks before and after the aspect depending on the planets involved.

Sun * in Aries. Happy Spring! Sun in Aries means new life, motion, raw energy. We are called to be brave, to stand up, speak out, get on with life. Our adventure begins! Hopefully you took some chill time while in Pisces so you know where you are headed. If you didn't, the Aries ram charges blindly. The trap of Aries - not caring (or even seeing) anyone else. With ruler Mars in Gemini and soon Cancer, our new adventures will focus first on learning and communication and then on feelings, family and the inner life.

Moon * days 22 - 28 with Last Quarter on Wednesday. 

Monday 3/27 * Moon in Pisces. Did you get to dreamland over the weekend? Hope so, because many will be feeling like raw meat today through Wednesday. This morning our minds and feelings may be oriented towards the past, and our mood improves in the afternoon. The evening is for animated talking, learning and movement.

Tuesday 3/28 * Moon in Pisces, into Aries 12:30 pm. Are you having unpleasant dreams? Are people you know in breakdown? It's Pluto, going retrograde early tomorrow. With Moon in Pisces we'll be feeling our fears and hurts; with Moon in Aries we can de-stress by working out to the max. A night for calming herbs.

Wednesday 3/29 * New Moon Solar eclipse, Moon in Aries. The eclipse is in the wee hours, not visible here. Still we have an important alignment between the Earth, Sun and Moon that brings us to our future faster than usual (see column above). Pluto complicates the scene, which means the step we take towards our future depends on the degree we've integrated the deepest layers and experiences of our being. New Moon in Aries brings fresh starts of all kinds. Read up on way to go with Aries energy here.

Thursday 3/30 * Moon in Aries, into Taurus 1:00 pm. Things will begin to calm down. Though Sun and Moon have both been recently eclipsed, today and tomorrow both lights are in their exalted signs. This is positive for life which will be quite welcome after the past few days. This evening we might feel like a vegging out after a favorite meal, but if you like astrology check out my talk at Ft Mason in SF.

Friday 3/31 * Moon in Taurus. A happy Friday. Physical pleasures will restore us after a stressful week.

Saturday 4/1 * Moon in Taurus, into Gemini at 3:50 pm. In the morning we'll want to get a dose of organic nature, but the late afternoon brings us the best sign for foolin', the have it both ways Twins!

Sunday 4/2 * Moon in Gemini. What was it we found so traumatic earlier in the week? We now approach our deep down selves with more tenderness. Motion energy tonight, so go for an evening walk or read a book before bed.

Have a stellar week!

Peace and love,
Jonathan Pearl

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Wandering Stars - the planets

Mercury * in Pisces, now direct! Our mind is compassionate, intuitive and creative. We sense our connection with others and the all. We more easily recognize spiritual truth. And yet ... the details are dropped like an umbrella falling from your 4th frou-frou drink in the Bahamas. Go with the flow, but don't expect the same level of productivity. 

Venus * in Aquarius. Venus in Aquarius means innovative ways in romance like the couple married twenty years yet living in two different homes or the woman willing to be a single mom. The traditional structures of Capricorn get revised. Venus in Aquarius also loves connecting with people, learning and knowledge that benefits humanity. Venus in Aquarius through April 5.

Mars * in Gemini. We are driven by thinking, curiosity, words and wit. Even our arms and hands have more motion. The good: we can read more, learn more and flirt up a storm. The bad: them's fightin' words and an inflamed mind. Gemini delivers both the light and the dark. Mars in Gemini through April 16.  

Jupiter * in Scorpio. Now retrograde, so some prosperity on hold while we pursue inner wisdom and riches. Jupiter in Scorpio blesses therapies, healing modalities, joint finance arrangements and amplifies our sexuality. Jupiter wants to do good, but in Scorpio functions by responding to others with some kind of attack. The energy: This might hurt, but it is for your own good and my own protection! Great regeneration and power is possible if we find the positive side of our deepest emotions. Jupiter here also benefits Aquarius (by antiscion) and sister water signs of Cancer and Pisces. Jupiter in Scorpio through November 2006.

Saturn * in Leo. Now retrograde, so developments in some long term structures in life are on hold. Essential challenge to self expression. Color feels a bit much; we prefer black. The people revolt against the leaders. Anti-authoritarianism in many guises. A positive vision of this energy: we know the work we need to do and do it. Saturn in Leo September 2007. 

Dragon's Head * in Aries. We gain by new adventures and physical vigor, yet are more prone to hostility. Ruler Mars in Gemini means an extra strong drive for learning.

Dragon's Tail * in Libra. Relationships seem troubled by unseen or past murkiness. Art explores the unseen. Ruler Venus in Aquarius means our past is informed by new takes on knowledge.