The Nodes of the Moon

In Astrology- the Nodes of the Moon are indicators of our past and present lives.

We are born with a North and South Node and the signs and houses they straddle indicate our karmic destiny.

The North Node, also known as the dragon’s head, indicates our mission and purpose in this lifetime.

We are drawn to the work it requires, but it’s not easy. It feels right when we move towards our North Node, but it is unknown territory and can also feel like “a lot”.

The South Node, also known as the dragon’s tail, indicates what we got up to in our prior lifetime.

We feel pretty comfy walking the South Node paths. We can use the talents we picked up in the prior lifetime of the South Node, but we are not supposed to stay there.

This is a very big simplification of the Moon’s Nodal Axis but it was the way I started learning it in astrology and it’s enough for beginners to work with!

Evolutionary Astrology takes this a lot further with its unpacking of the Nodes, which is metaphysical as all get out (and I love it).

For the purposes of this post, I wanted to talk about my North Node being in Aquarius and incredible Aquarians who have influenced me in this lifetime.

They all have taught me big and small things about the wisdom of Aquarius:

My mom looking happy at the cottage in her 30's. She taught me that I don’t have to travel across the world to help people because there are plenty of people to help in my own backyard. I went to her and Dad when I was around 12 and told them I wanted to give up all my worldly possessions and go to Ethiopia to help the starving children there and mom was like "What worldly possessions?" and "Shannie, there are hungry people right here in our community." This is a lesson I have learned many times over. 

A recent pic of my gorgeous sister Starr. She taught me all suffering is relative and one of her favourite bits of advice is "You can't change another persons behaviour."  I am incredibly fortunate to be best friends with my sister, because I know some people get sh*t siblings. However, Starr and I did war as children. She is the eldest and I am the baby so- you get it. Haha. She'd try to tell me what to do and I was having none of it. However, none of our wars lasted for more than 24 hours. I learned rupture & repair with Starr. One of my most valuable relationship lessons. 

I knew the minute I laid eyes on Dawn, the first day of junior high, she had to be my best friend. And I pursued her with vigour, calling her every night after school! Dawn taught me the power of true friendship. She is my chosen sister and we continue to earn our strong bond. You have to work at friendship if you want it to deepen. It's the best kind of work, in my estimation. I count my riches in friends and this beautiful Aquarian is pure gold. I don't often solicit advice, but when I do? Dawn is the person I usually call. She knows my history and my heart and she is such a smarty pants. 

Kim was my neighbour growing up, and having grown up in a village of 273 people- that means I was super lucky. I used to drive my dirt bike to her house and we would take off into the woods behind our homes and smoke butts and build lean-to cabins. Kim is a couple of years older than me and that was significant when I was 12 and she was 14! She taught me to protect my heart. She was like "Don't lose your virginity in Pictou County!" Lol. God bless you Kim! Friends Forever! 

Alice Walker- She taught me the profundity of words. The Temple of my Familiar and The Secret of Possessing Joy took me so long to read b/c I'd read a page and have to sit thinking for 15 minutes. Her poems in Her Blue Body Everything We Know often left me breathless and crying and moved on a soul level. Alice was the catalyst for me to start write poetry. When Hard Times Require Furious Dancing came out, everyone got a copy for Xmas. Other Aquarian authors I adore: Richard Yates, Toni Morrison and Lynn Coady. 

My soul mate kitty, Virginia (named after Virginia Woolf who incidentally was also an Aquarian). She taught me that loving one being well is enough. A very Rilke lesson:) Her Scorpio Moon heart had a society of one and I was lucky to be that one. Virginia lived for 20.5 years and I wish we could have had a few more. I told her she should set a world record and she tried her best. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to have another cat. She was the ultimate Bushkie Boo. Ginger Pants. Kitsilano. My Bubbah. Gin.

My best male friend (besides Harrison of course, but he predated H and I think helped prepare me for him) who I met at work 25 years ago. Keith taught me that I could be sincerely "gotten" by a man. By the time I was in my 30's, single AF (as per usual), I told him I had accepted that I was going to be alone in life. I'll never forget him saying "There is nothing wrong with you, but you are (and he said this gingerly) "complicated" and will need a strong man (as in, a sorted man)." Harrison loves Keith and is pretty sure he's a Highlander who's been alive for thousands of years. Our phone calls last for hours...

Christine taught me to keep my game tight & take big swings. I admire this woman so much, and think of her more often than she knows. She is the wife of one of my husbands best friends. When said friend was offered a transfer in his work, Christine said "Let's do it!" and she up and moved their young family to Hollywood. There, she has become a screenwriter and continues to be the most incredible mom to their three wonder girls. I highly value Christine's opinions- especially the way she expresses them- and I am grateful to have her in my life.

Richard Idemon- He taught me how to “do” astrology. His book The Magic Thread is my chart interpretation bible. I have taught workshops about his work because it helped me to find my footing in the actual practice of astrology. In my opinion, he was the first astrologer to interweave astrology and depth psychology masterfully. Anyone wanting to deliver natal chart interpretations should read both of his books (the other one being Through the Looking Glass). A brilliant man. By the way- Aquarians rule astrology. & I have often noticed that the most naturally gifted astrologers have strong Aquarian/Uranus/Saturn placements.  

Thank you to all you amazing Aquarians!! You are all my teachers. 

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