North Node in Leo, South Node in Aquarius

April 28th is an epic day for astrology in fire signs, as Venus direct re-enters Aries, Mercury retrograde exacts conjunction to Uranus in Aries, and most significantly, the mean lunar north node enters Leo. These three events are startlingly simultaneous- the chart in this article is cast for the moment the nodes cross from Zero Virgo/Pisces to 29 Leo/Aquarius.  Venus returned to Aries only 15 minutes before. Mercury crosses Uranus an hour and 20 minutes later.  This is sure to be a shocking snap of energy on Friday- fire, fire, fire.

The lunar nodes represent the points on the zodiac where the Moon passes above(north) and below(south) the ecliptic of the Sun.  The nodes can be calculated as “true” or “mean”.  The true nodes shift back and forth from retrograde to direct, and move eccentrically throughout the year due to the gravitational relationship between the Moon and the Earth, as well as the gravitational effect of the Sun on the Earth/Moon system.  The mean nodes represent the mathematically averaged location of the varying positions of the true nodes, and move in a steady retrograde motion around the zodiac.  Many astrologers feel that the true node is most relevant simply because it is “true” but there are just as many astrologers who feel that the mean node is the stronger point energetically.  At least I haven’t noticed that one view is more prevalent than the other, and there appears to be very little controversy between the two camps.  Neither is right or wrong.  They are never more than a few degrees away from each other.  Personally, as my astrology practice develops, I am feeling the pull towards using the mean nodes exclusively.  The true lunar nodes enter Leo/Aquarius on May 9th, but the synchronicity of the mean lunar nodes changing signs on April 28th, the same day as Venus and Mercury both making major moves, is far too fascinating.

Some other compelling factors about the mean lunar nodes changing signs on April 28th:  The Moon is in Gemini, transiting opposite Lilith, the mean lunar apogee- in other words, the Moon is transiting the perigee, the closest point to Earth in the Moon’s orbit.  Also, Ceres is at 29 Taurus, in an exact T-square to the shifting nodes.  Ceres is still connected by sextile to Vesta in Cancer and Chiron in Pisces.  For a discussion on Ceres and Vesta’s connection to Saturn in Sagittarius, see the chart in my previous article.  This chart is focused on the lunar nodes.

The lunar node axis is a karmic weathervane, metaphysically speaking it is a dragon or serpent- the south node is the tail, showing us where we come from, what is comfortable and familiar to us, the “been there and done that” of the human experience.  The north node is the head, representing the destiny that we must leave our comfort zones to pursue, if we are to grow and evolve as individuals, as souls.

Please visit Astrology Arena for what is in my opinion the best and clearest interpretation of natal north node in Leo, south node in Aquarius. To summarize- south node in Aquarius indicates a comfort zone of blending into the crowd, not wanting to be the center of attention, objectively observing other people rather than connecting, while the north node in Leo indicates someone’s karmic destiny to step out of the crowd, develop a healthy ego, make connections with other people, and for the first time in perhaps many lifetimes, to see oneself as beautiful and important.

The themes of this mission are echoed and amplified by Venus.  After her retrograde pulled her back into Pisces, the womb of the zodiac, Venus is now born again as she enters Aries, the newborn of the zodiac, giving us what could be considered a type of second chance at life.  In my article for Venus Station Retrograde, called Inner Child, I said “We can re-wire our brains.   We can re-develop our senses.  We can re-program our mindbodies.” For those of us who are actively engaged in the process of healing from complex post-traumatic stress, the journey of Venus in Aries can be used to put ourselves back in touch with our child-selves, and having arrived safely at our psychological bedrock, we can then raise ourselves.  Raise Our Selves.  I keep repeating that phrase over and over to myself because its meaning is interdimensional.  And it is beautifully, perfectly supported by the north node in Leo.  The north node’s transit through Leo and the Aries cycle of Venus are almost perfectly synchronized- the nodes change signs again during Venus’s next retrograde at the end of 2018.

Ceres embodies the principle of nurturing, and her sextile to Vesta advances our understanding of how the love and care we give to others is a reflection of our ability to love and care for ourselves- sometimes we ignore our own needs while heaping affection on others, sometimes we withhold our affection and withdraw from others when we feel empty inside.  However we express this, the sextile from Chiron in Pisces ties it to our wounds, and gives us access to repair the things that stand in the way of the robust inner flame and ebullient relational generosity needed to embark on the journey of the north node through Leo.

visionary art by Stuart Littlejohn

 

Mercury’s presence conjunct Uranus in Aries at the moment that the north node enters Leo begins a thread that will weave throughout 2017, as a series of trines form between the north node, Uranus, and Saturn in Sagittarius.  The retrograde conjunction is the second of three times that Mercury crosses Uranus this spring, activating deep revelations and ripping the lid off of what had been previously concealed.  The presence of Eris contributes to the new level of awareness by showing us how much of our suffering is a direct result of our denying who we are.  Uranus in Aries trine the north node in Leo, which exacts in June, is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make a quantum leap in personal evolution and change the direction of your fate. Mercury, Venus, Mars and the Sun all transit conjunct the north node and trine Uranus and Saturn in July and August, giving us the chance to build new habits in our daily lives, new cognitive schemata, that acknowledge, reflect and support these changes. And due to Saturn’s retrograde, his trine to the north node doesn’t exact until after he stations direct in September, which should be a boost (or kick in the pants) to develop these changes even further.  Saturn direct trines Uranus for the last time in November of 2017.  This is a powerful cauldron of fire energy, stirring our passions, dreams, sexual and creative urges, and life force expressions to come to life, live, breathe, exist, thrive.  We will need this for our foundation in 2018, with Saturn in Capricorn and Uranus enters Taurus, flipping the cosmic generational energy switch to earth signs.

As a native with north node in Leo and south node in Aquarius, I relate deeply to the reality of just wanting to live my little life, I am happy to have no ambitions, no desire to “be somebody”. Sometimes I feel like I literally go out of my way to avoid seeking attention.  Asteroids Sekhmet and Artemis flank my natal south node, making Aquarius a deeply rich and satisfying comfort zone for me to fall back to.  My partner has Aquarius Moon and Aquarius Rising. But he also has Mars in Leo, with a 3 degree orb to my north node. The future that we are creating together is the change that we wish to see in the world, and it begins with us.

This is from a climactic scene in the movie Ratatouille, and I offer it to you with love:

Dad: This is the way things are. You can’t change nature.

Remy: Change IS nature, Dad. The part that we can influence. And it starts when we decide. (turns to leave)

Dad: Where you goin’?

Remy: With luck… forward.