The Planets and the Nodes

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THE PLANETS AND THE NODES

Dane Rudhyar

In concluding this condensed study of the nodes I should say a few words concerning the significance of finding a planet close to one of the Moon's nodes; but I should mention the fact that the position of these nodes given in ephemerides is a "mean" position - just as the position of the Sun actually is. The reason why these mean positions seem valid is that astrology deals basically with cycles of motion rather than with celestial bodies as material masses. In this sense astrology is definitely a study of abstract factors, and this is why in my book The Astrology of Personality (1936) I spoke of it as "the algebra of life." Of course, it could be, and it has been considered differently and we have seen that claims have been made to its being, and having been since its assumed beginning(?) in Egypt and/or Chaldea, an "empirical science" concerned with exact events and precise celestial positions. If this claim is accepted, then many things in current astrological use have certainly to be given up, and one of these is all "mean positions" and much that relates to the Houses of a chart. Also the positions in latitude of the planets should be considered, especially in relation to the natal horizon, for a planet below the horizon in terms of its zodiacal longitude may already have risen above this horizon because of its latitude. (1)

Nevertheless what is probably the most important thing in astrology is the way one approaches it and how the use of its language of symbols may broaden the mind and establish a new consciousness of one's individual relationship to the universe. As one seeks to relate the basic functions represented by the planets to factors which divide the birth-chart and thus the whole universe in two-dimensional projection - such as horizon, meridian, nodal axes, and even the axes constituted by the. equinoxes and the solstices - one may learn, in the attempt, to interpret everything in terms of polarity and complementary factors.

Thus one can give a broad meaning to the fact that all, or all but one, planets are above or below the horizon, or east or west of the charts' meridian line - or also on one or the other side of the Moon's nodes. The nodal axis of the Moon establishes two half-circles, one which in some way has a north-node character, because it begins with this node; the other, a south node ambiance. The point is, however, what portion of the chart is it that "follows" the north node?

In the past I have accepted the statement that the north node hemisphere was constituted by the 180 degrees of the zodiac after the north node, following the natural order of the zodiac. If the north node is at say, Scorpio 6°, then the north node section of the zodiac would be between Scorpio 6° and Taurus 6° where the south node would be found. However, it has occurred to me recently that this was not logical, for the nodes' motion is retrograde! Everything in which the Moon's nodes are an active and basic factor should therefore be interpreted in the direction of the nodes' motion.

As a result the example I gave in The Astrology of Personality (page 405 and 409, hardbound edition) should be interpreted in a reverse manner. Mussolini had all his planets above the horizon and, as the north node nearly coincided with the Scorpio 11°40' Ascendant, in the north node hemisphere, counting clockwise or in retrograde fashion.

The half-circle below the horizon is said to be that to which the Ascendant gives its meaning, because after birth the Ascendant will move through this below-the-horizon half of the natal chart. In Mussolini's chart in which all planets are found above the horizon Scorpio-Taurus they are said to refer to the life of relationship, because the Descendant pervades with its meaning the 180 degrees of the zodiac from Taurus to Scorpio in the order of the signs, i.e., counterclockwise; the Descendant begins this zodiacal half because it is moving into it. But as the Moon's nodes axis is nearly identical with the horizon and the north node is just above the Ascendant, this North node after Mussolini's birth moved clockwise away from Scorpio into Libra, then Virgo, etc. All the planets are therefore in the north node's, and not in the south node's hemicycle, as I had stated. (2)

I also said in The Astrology of Personality that the north node's hemisphere "refers to the power of developing new spiritual faculties" while the south node's hemisphere "refers to the working of past tendencies," but the term "spiritual faculty" is rather confusing, even if it befits the type of approach characterizing Jung's psychology and his "individuation process." In this early book of mine (written in 1934-35) I followed much of the so-called esoteric tradition, more do than I do now; for I feel that the present time requires a more "cosmic" and less archaic type of symbolism. This is why I am developing in this essay the concept of orbital astrology. What the Moon's nodes tell us is not so much something about the relationship of the Sun and the Moon - with special attention placed on eclipses - but how the essential nature of the Moon symbol affects Earth-beings. The basic factor is the Moon itself, not as a "Light" as much as a satellite of the Earth.

The Moon's north node is the gate of "intake" of this basic lunar nature. In the north node's hemisphere the Moon's power is absorbed and (hopefully) assimilated. Planets placed in that hemisphere tend to be used a great deal in connection with the process of development of a greater or new capacity for adjustment to existence. They may be made to serve this process. Thus in Mussolini's chart all planets are enlisted for the development of the individual capacity to deal with immediate problems, opportunities or emergencies. On the other hand, the organic functions represented by planets in the hemisphere which begins (in a retrograde sense) with the south node may be called upon to give a certain coloring to the release of whatever is automatically required for the fulfillment of a specific destiny, or the working out of karma.

However, unless all or nearly all the planets are located in one of the nodal hemispheres, it seems unnecessary to give much attention to this factor. What is usually more important are situations in which a planet, or a group of planets, is located very close to one of the Moon's nodes and also to the nodes of the larger planets, beginning with Jupiter. Such a situation indicates that the planet affects in some manner the absorption or release of the Moon's, or of some other planet's force.

I mentioned already the cases in which the Moon itself is located at its own nodes. This is by far the most important situation, psychologically speaking. When the Sun is close to the Moon's nodes a strong effect can be expected; and this most often means a birth near an eclipse. In the case of the Persian Prophet, Baha'u'llah, the Sun at the Ascendant is two degrees further than the Moon's south node in longitude, and also on the heliocentric position of Mars' south node which is moreover the longitude of the star North Scale. As Mars is retrograde and completely isolated and forming a T-square with Neptune and Pluto, a powerful release of power is in evidence, the key to which may be the star Regulus exactly on the Mid Heaven, H. P. Blavatsky, initiator of the Theosophical Movement, and Karl Marx, inspirer of the Communist Movement were born with the Sun near the Moon's north node, Marx (it seems) during a solar eclipse.

In Chief Justice Earl Warren, under whose chairmanship the U .S. Supreme Court made crucial decisons, Pluto was exactly on the Moon's north node in his fifth House. This perhaps indicates the depth to which he sought to meet absolutely basic social issues. General Marshall who was Army Chief of Staff in World War II had Mercury one degree away from his Moon's north node, stressing his capacity for planning and organization, and he was born the day of a partial solar eclipse. J. Pierpont Morgan had also Mercury in conjunction to his ninth House north node, with the Sun close by. The pioneering composers, Schoenberg and Charles Ives had birth-charts with Neptune (often related to music) at their north nodes.

A planet at its north node is powerful, perhaps in an insidious or compulsive manner. The function it represents is focused upon the consciousness of the individual person as sunlight through a lens. With the planet at its south node its function may become wasted or negatively applied, though in some cases an intense release of energy may be experienced at some crucial moments of the person's life.

1) A now departed French astrologer, Neroman, who founded the College Astrologique de France, devised a very beautiful gadget "le Cosmographe" thanks to which one can see at once where a planet stands in latitude when close to the horizon. Unfortunately his remarkable work seems not to have been kept alive.

2) Mussolini's chart has been reproduced in the preceding essay, First Steps in the Study of Birth Charts, as an example of the Cluster Pattern.

Person-Centered Astrology