why are the nodes important?

When the moon is near one of its two nodes, passing each node each month, there is the potential for an eclipse to happen—for the alignment of the moon to the Earth-Sun plane. Even though Luna passes its nodes monthly, for an eclipse to take place we need more specific timing—a new or full moon a this same time. This places the moon not only at (or near) the ecliptic (Earth-Sun plane), but also in direct alignment with Earth’s view of the Sun.

We know that each zodiac sign will experience one new and one full moon each year. Therefore, when the axis of signs that are housing the nodes have their new and full moons, they will experience eclipses.

For example, if the nodes are on the Taurus-Scorpio axis, during Taurus Season there will be a Taurus Solar Eclipse at its new moon and a Scorpio Lunar Eclipse during the season’s full moon. Six months later, in Scorpio Season, Scorpio will have a solar eclipse and Taurus a lunar eclipse—four eclipses a year (typically).

Why are eclipses important?

Let me back into this a little, but we’ll get there.

Eclipses tie into what is called the Draconic Zodiac, the zodiac of the Dragon. In myths, it is said that the north node, the node that is the portal for the moon to rise above the ecliptic, is the head of a dragon. This is a hungry point—a mouth that needs to feed.

In the Draconic Zodiac, the north node always indicates where 0° of Aries is, or more simply, the Aries Point. It’s a moving zodiac, a devouring zodiac, a zodiac that is so uniquely tied to the Earth experience—a deep conversation between Earth, Luna, and Sol. I think of this zodiac as holding the keys to our soul curriculum. Many interesting and elegant patterns can be found in layering the Tropical and Draconic Zodiacs, which I dive into in the paid section, Astrology’s Sacred Patterns. If you want to explore your deeper place and quality of curriculum in this life, I would offer the mentioned section as one to spend some time with.

Because the nodes precess through the Tropical Zodiac, a cycle plays out. Throughout (just under) 19 years, the north node, the head of the dragon, the Draconic Aries Point, will devour each degree of our more static Tropical Zodiac. As the head reverses through our zodiac, it is eating the degree ending a 19-year journey. That degree is transcending and passing through its shadows and baggage. What we are surrendering out of our lives is what this mouth of this dragon zodiac is eating up to feed a new and transcended path, or destiny, ahead. The mouth is a portal to a new world.

The north node, dragon head, in my opinion, shows where a life cycle is done and a new path awaits. In the Draconic Zodiac, we move from the end of the zodiac, Pisces, to the start, Aries. Solar and Lunar eclipses on the north node bring shadow work and rebirths. This is the Ouroboros.

The south node, called the dragon’s tail, shows the halfway mark, or you could say, in the Draconic Zodiac, 0° of Libra. This point shows where we are facing karma. If an eclipse happens just before the south node, there is more of a Virgo energy—edits, pruning, cutting dead weight (it can feel like a bit of a mess and critical sorting, even crisis, are upon you). If the eclipse takes place after moving across the south node, the Libra energy kicks in: karma, justice, harmonizing, balancing—a time of accepting what is and easing into life transitions.

Why are eclipses important? We contain all of the zodiac within us, and eclipses show where our energy for a given year is most engaged due to the never-ending cycle of endings and beginnings, refinement and karma. The headlines each year are filled with themes of this for the axis of signs highlighted by the dragon. Notice the themes of the headlines and reflect upon how these themes may also be present in your own life’s challenges (hunger and karma) in how you are growing and evolving.