What to Expect: North Node in Aries + South Node in Libra
On the 18th of July the North + South Nodes will move signs for the first time in 18 months. This also marks their first time in the signs of Aries + Libra in 18 years. So here's what you can expect to unfold.
SO, WHAT ARE THE NORTH + SOUTH NODES:
The North and South Nodes represent your Dharma and your Karma respectively. They are points in your chart that show you what you are here to learn as well as what you are here to release. As a brief guide:
The North Node: Is the path your soul has ordained you to walk in this life, and will lead you to a new consciousness + greater awakening. It is bigger than your career (which is often how Soul Purpose is phrases) it's the direction of your entire life. One that often feels super uncomfortable and yet weirdly liberating.
The South Node: This holds the energy of Karma we have accumulated from past lives as well as soul mastery that lies hidden within us waiting for us discover. When the South Node is activated we can experience karmic relationships, chords of attachments as well as latent talents emerging out of nowhere (without study etc). This is an energy we feel comfortable in - even when it's painful.
These points are so potent because they have a level of immortality in your chart and they are designed to take you beyond the personality. They are asking you to embrace the fact you are a being who has incarnated many times and will in the future (most likely). These points are here to help you guide your life, and understand the pull of your soul.
THE TRANSITING NODES ARE CHANGING SIGNS
Now what I have described above relates to your natal North + South Node, but there is a second set of Nodes (so to speak) which are transiting. That means they are constantly moving in retrograde around the sky and changing signs. That is the energy we are stepping into as these transiting Nodes move into Aries + Libra. Depending where your Natal Nodes are these can have some pretty significant effects. As a rough guide if you are 17-19, 35-8, 54-56, 71-74 or 90-92 you will be having your Nodal returns. Which makes this shift very significant and marks the starting of a new chapter in your life + soul purpose.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE COMING 18 MONTHS
Regardless of if you are having your Nodal Returns of not, the movement of the Nodes will effect all of us. You might have been feeling it in the lead up to their shift. The weeks or months up to the 17th-18th of July can feel like a big purge - think relationship breakup, career shifts, conflict - and generally an energy of releasing what is no longer in vibrational alignment for the emerging consciousness within you. Now if you want to get some hints as to what the coming 18 months holds for you consider what you were doing around December 2004 - June 2006. If you can feel into the energies that were at play, what events were unfolding and how you were feeling (if you can get a sense of that). This is going to give you an idea of the energy which is going to be springing up. Now don't expect it to be the same circumstances, people or reactions - as you have progressed on consciousness since this time. Rather take hints and get really honest with yourself around where you know you still need to work on yourself (that was being brought out at that time).
WHAT DOES THE NORTH NODE IN ARIES MEAN?
Aries is the sign of new beginnings, individuality, and motivation. As such the North Node entering this sign is a time for you to embrace your path, to do something just for yourself which celebrates who you are in this lifetime. This is also a sign that can lead you into more respect for your body, a renewed sense of motivation and even the calling for you to walk on a new path. This is truely about embracing your individuality, standing in your power and really understanding the power you wield within yourself. The universe gives you whatever experience you need to further your experience - this is soley for you...not anyone else.
WHAT DOES THE SOUTH NODE IN LIBRA MEAN?
Libra rules our relationships (particularly anyone we have a contract with), our ability to give and take and ultimately divine destiny. As the South Node passes through this sign it can feel like we being called to release energy which is not aligned around our relationships - business and personal. To consider that this is simply because our Karmic contract is finished. On the other hand this can help deepen existing commitments, particularly if you are meant to work together (personally or through business). The people you have relationships with in this lifetime are all karmic - they are all soul contracts - which have a start, middle and end (as much as the ego would like this not to be). These people are here to help you let go of your lower nature (emotions like jealousy, greed etc) and realise a place where you are really centred within, not reliant on the movements of the external world.
HOW TO GROUND YOURSELF DURING THIS TIME?
This energy can feel a little chaotic, but as the Nodes move signs and particularly at the beginning of 2024 things should settle down a lot. My advice for work with this energy is to practice compassion for yourself + for everyone around you. We often see things as [personal or in our control, but what the Nodes teach us is that nothing is personal or in our control - it is all the movement of the higher self (you could call this source, god, goddess) through the world. I have a free Metta meditation, which can be a really helpful resource to help you cultivate this sense of deeper love within you (details here). Remember you can change the world simply through cultivating more love within.