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==Astronomy==

The Moon's Nodes are not physical planetary bodies but the points of
intersection between the Sun's apparent orbital path around the Earth, the
[[ecliptic]], and the Moon's orbital path around the Earth. There are
two points of intersection which are situated directly opposite each other,
forming the nodal [[axis]]. These points of intersection occur because
the plane of the Moon's orbital path is inclined to the Sun's (in reality the
Earth's) at an angle of 5 degrees and 9 minutes. The Moon can be located
either north or south of the plane of the ecliptic. The point at which the
Moon crosses the plane of the ecliptic when moving in a northerly direction
is called ascending Moon's Node or North Node. Two weeks later the Moon
intersects the ecliptic plane going in a southerly direction and this point
of intersection is called the Moon's South Node.

The series of Moon's Nodes move in a clockwise (i.e. retrograde) direction
around the zodiac and take 18 years, 7 months and 9 days to make one complete
revolution. Eclipses occur when either the new or full Moon occurs close to
the nodal axis. In the past it was thought that either the Sun or the Moon
had been (for a short period) swallowed by a dragon. This idea gave rise to
the terms Dragon's Head (ascending Moon's Node) and Dragon's Tail (descending
Moon's Node).

[[Ephemeris|Ephemerides]] often give two different values for the Moon's Node
- for the so-called mean Moon's Node and the true Moon's Node. The former is
an average value and is always [[Retrograde Motion|retrograde]]. The true Moon's
Node, on the other hand, continually changes direction, although it also
usually moves in retrograde motion through the zodiac. The true Moon's Node -
contrary to its name - is not always an accurate value because the Moon does
not follow an exact ecliptic path around the Earth.

Astrologers have various preferences: Some prefer to work with the true
Moon's Nodes, while others are happy to use the mean value. In any case, the
two are never separated by more than 1.5 degrees of arc.

In some horoscopes only the ascending node is shown, although the descending
node is always situated opposite.

==Interpretation==

The Moon's Node, being the point at which the paths of the Sun and the Moon
cross, represents a symbolic merger of the Sun and the Moon, or in other
words, the meeting of two (masculine and feminine) poles. The descending node
is associated with the past, whether in the [[Karmic Astrology|karmic sense]]
of things brought over from past lives into the present one, or in the sense
of the past in the present life, i.e. childhood. It is therefore not
necessary to believe in the concepts of karma and reincarnation to work with
the Moon's Nodes. The descending node also shows inherited traits. The
ascending node stands for the future or direction in which is person should
develop. The ascending node is sometimes associated with Jupiter and the
descending node with Saturn. This makes no sense if these planets continue to
be viewed as the Great [[Benefic|Benefic]] and the 
Great 
[[Malefic|Malefic]]. However, it could be claimed that there is some
validity to the idea that Saturn is related to the South Node which is often
associated with difficult topics ([[Shadow]]) and compulsive patterns
of behaviour, whereas the ascending node is associated with opportunities to
grow - after facing up to the themes associated with the South Node. The
challenge is not to leave behind the South Node but to achieve a balance
between the two, whereby the experience gained at the south Node can be used
to further the development of themes represented by the North Node. There is
another possible analogy which could be applied to the nodal axis, namely
that the North Node equates to the solar principle and the South Node to the
lunar one.

The Moon's nodal axis can be seen as symbolising an overriding central theme
in the horoscope. For an individual person the house positions of the two
nodes are more significant than the signs they are in.

The descending node reflects childhood experiences, particularly those
present from an early age. A child may sometimes give the impression of
coping with them in an almost dreamlike state which can give rise to the
impression that they have been brought over from a previous life. And because
they are so taken for granted that when confronted with new challenges the
individual may be tempted to fall back into familiar and at times obsessive
behaviour patterns. This behaviour may also lead to negative experiences
which can leave the child - or later adult - with feelings of inadequacy.
When this happens the behaviour pattern can have addictive traits while
offering only apparent but not real security. At the same time the themes
symbolised by the North Node may appear to be a shining ideal which, however,
requires great effort to achieve. With increasing age the individual usually
becomes more aware of the calling to achieve this, particularly between the
ages of 18 1/2 and 37 when the transiting Moon's nodes return to their
positions in the natal chart. An individual remains largely unconscious of
the themes associated with the South Node while striving (at least he/she
should strive) to achieve those associated with the North Node. However, this
can only be achieved if a balance is achieved between the two poles. The
ascending node shows an individual's desired goal in life.

Planets which are conjunct the descending node or in square aspect to the
nodal axis are generally difficult to cope with and are often experienced as
deficits. The challenge is to find new and creative ways to express them. The
Swiss astrologer Claude Weiss has stated that: "The person who is able to let
go of the past is the one most able to find constructive ways of expressing
planets conjunct the descending Moon's Node, and with this he transcends the
apparent contradiction between the descending and ascending Moon's Nodes.
He/She then experiences planets conjunct the descending node as if they were
conjunct the North one because he/she has managed to free him/herself from a
linear understanding of time."

Planets which are conjunct the ascending Moon's Node or in harmonious aspect
to the nodal axis can help an individual to rise to the challenge represented
by the South Node and explore those new aspects of life symbolised by it.

http://www.astro.com/im/wiki/18a_154.png

''Illustration 1: The Moon's Nodes are those points at which the Moon's orbit of the Earth intercepts the Earth's own orbit around the Sun.'' 

http://www.astro.com/im/wiki/18b_154.png

''Illustration 2: This is how the Moon's Nodes appear as seen from the Earth. The arrows show the direction of the Moon's movement.''
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