On July 18, the Moon's nodes shifted from Taurus - Scorpio into Aries - Libra. This is a pretty big deal, especially as it came on the heels of the New Moon in Cancer. So let's get a feel for this energy.
First, the Moon's Nodes are not heavenly bodies, but are points in the Moon's orbit. Without getting too technical, these points are where the orbit of the Moon around the Earth intersects with the orbit of the Earth around the Sun. The location of the Nodes determines which lunations are eclipses. If a New or Full Moon falls close to the Nodes, it is deemed an eclipse.
The North Node (aka Dragon's Head) is the intersecting point as the Moon is ascending or heading North; the South Node (aka Dragon's Tail) is directly opposite the North Node. The South Node is like a default setting. It is talents, perspectives, and reactions that come "prewired." Some serve you, some do not. The South Node is instinctual. Like the Dragon's Tail, it does not have a lot of awareness or volition. It's the comfort zone, and also the things you have already mastered. That is why they are in the comfort zone, after all.
The North Node is the next highest iteration of who you are. It is how to develop those mastered South Node abilities and take them to a new level. The Dragon's Head (North Node) requires deliberate effort to learn new patterns. Keep in mind that in astrology opposite signs are complementary, not antagonistic. Exploring the qualities of the sign of the North Node helps develop the untapped potential of the South Node qualities.
Since January 2022, the nodes have been traveling through Taurus - Scorpio. That is why the eclipses have been in Taurus and Scorpio for the past 18 months. The April 20 Solar eclipse was in Aries as it was close enough to the North Node to be considered an eclipse, even though they were not yet in the same sign. This is often the case as the Nodes are getting ready to shift to new signs.
So, besides determining which lunations are eclipses, why should you care? Anytime something that moves fairly slowly changes signs, it results in changes in how the energies are expressed and we all are affected. For context, the last time the North Node was in Aries and the South Node in Libra was 1986.
As the Nodes moved through Taurus - Scorpio, themes of right use of resources, values, and possessions (Taurus) and security, obligation, and power, especially within relationships, (Scorpio) were coming up to be addressed. The South Node is your default setting; as the South Node has been moving through Scorpio you were likely being shown how you self-sabotage, perhaps fall into defensive postures and get involved in control dramas. The path out is through the North Node in Taurus - highlighting your resources, your values, your worthiness, what you bring to the table. North Node in Taurus brought new ways of seeing yourself and valuing your presence on this planet. It tapped into the larger energies of Uranus moving through Taurus, which is challenging us all to explore new ideas about possessions and material expression, while freeing us from old concepts of what determines value.
Now the Nodes are in Aries and Libra, so the themes shift to the self (Aries) and others and how you relate to them (Libra). As the first sign of the zodiac, Aries is quite self-absorbed. Aries is the expression of the individual's spirit in the material world. Aries energy wants to see and do it all. It wants to know itself as an authentic individual. Aries is one of the most deeply spiritual signs, because it knows its own divinity. That is where the confidence comes from. It's not arrogance; Aries energy does not claim exclusivity of divinity. Aries views everyone as amazing. It will cheer you on and remind you of this. But at the end of the day, Aries energy refuses to carry you or indulge in your victim expression. The expectation is you are more than capable, you are unstoppable. So get to it. Show up for yourself first and your people will find you.
South Node in Libra will bring up old, often unconscious, patterns of self sabotage in relationships. Do you prioritize your important others at your own expense? Are their needs/desires/peace more important than yours? South Node is the default setting, and Libra is relationships, but more than that, it is fairness, trying to balance everyone's priorities so there is harmony. While this is noble and honorable, it's important to recognize if you are paying a high cost by dimming your light to make another comfortable.
The nodal shift is also connecting with Pluto as it retrogrades through Capricorn. (See the previous post on Pluto for details) These energies do not flow easily. They are forming a square, a tense aspect that causes frustration as there are competing goals; here the flavor is something like: trying to play by "the rules", even if the dawning realization is they are unfair and probably unsustainable because they are "the rules" (Capricorn energy) while also attempting to navigate important relationships in fair and supportive ways because, again, this is what we do for people we care about (Libra energy), but starting to rebel against feeling unable to assert yourself fully; denying your authentic desires, holding yourself back, or undermining your confidence by looking for someone to validate you. Damn.
We are going to be feeling this square through the rest of the year because neither Pluto nor the Nodes move all that quickly. It is a wonderful opportunity to delve deeply into ways to show up for both yourself and your important others. Notice your default settings. Be honest about what is not working for you. Try new approaches. Adjust as needed. Start by honoring yourself. Spend some time exploring what you really want. What opens your heart and calls to you? What lights you up?
"Being Happy and Feeling Good does not mean you have no compassion for the misery of those around you. It simply means you won’t dim your light to make them feel comfortable – instead, you’re going to help light the way. At first, your light may be a bit too bright for others and it may hurt their eyes, yet it’s far better to shine rather than to hide your light." ~Alaric Hutchinson