| The Moon's Nodes
We can also understand the Moon's Nodes by their visible effects. The Nodes "cause" eclipses -- astronomically, eclipses only occur when the Nodes conjunct Sun and Moon -- and make the Sun or Moon appear invisible. The Nodes literally appear to gobble up the Sun or Moon. They carry, therefore, the themes of eclipsing and obscuring, and of illusion (after all, the Sun and Moon are not really "eaten up").
My astrology clients have confirmed these concepts. Those with, for example, the Nodes conjunct planets in the fourth house have felt unseen by and overshadowed by their parents. The Nodes deeply affect the expression of any planet they conjunct or house they occupy, often either severely weakening the planet or house themes, or creating illusions, distortions, or impulsive behavior.
Vedic astrology also associates the North Node (Rahu) with materialism, ambition, obsession, insatiable drives, and dissatisfaction, and the South Node (Ketu) with anxiety, withdrawal, relinquishment, and doubts. Rahu can give self-inflation and rebelliousness, while Ketu can give self-deprecation and timidity. People, for example, with Ketu in the first house (or conjunct an important planet) can be too self-effacing, while with Rahu there, over-confident and over-estimate their abilities. Woody Allen's North Node in the house of children, for example, is one of the indicators of the depth of his compulsion towards his wife's adopted daughter.
On the high side, Rahu can give one the drive to succeed and achieve, and Ketu a thirst for spirituality and enlightenment. Rahu teaches lessons about attainment, and Ketu about surrender. Karl Marx, born on a New Moon eclipse -- the North Node conjunct both the Sun and the Moon in the third house -- is an excellent example of a person with the drive to think incisively and speak out no matter what obstacles he encountered. His natal eclipse represents his exiles, poverty, hunger, suffering, rebellions, alienation, and relative obscurity during his life, as well as an unparalleled commitment to succeed at championing his new ideology.
For the Western astrologer who wants to know more, the literature of Vedic astrology (for example, Light on Life by Hart de Fouw and Robert Svoboda) gives deep and detailed attributes of the nodes, everything from their direction, distance, shape, height, metals and gems, professions, psychology, gender, temperament, and the people, illnesses, and sexual patterns that they represent. Vedic astrologers developed this detailed understanding of the nodes because they have always treated the nodes as planets in Vedic astrology, as significant as Venus or Mars.
The Eastern View of Planetary Influence
The Phaladeepika by Mantreswar also states that the "Planets are constantly favorable to one who is always calm, possessed of self-control, who has earned wealth through virtuous means, and who is always ethical and moral." PD 26:50 In other words, when a person lives in accordance with the natural world, their lives will progress sweetly, and their cycles will be benign.
I have often found, as have many others, that planetary transits manifest particularly intensely in our lives when we are mis-aligned with ourselves and others to begin with. On the other hand, when we're living a life of balance, even if larger life events do unfold, it becomes much easier to take them in stride.
Vedic astrology reminds us, then, that we have some "say" in how astrological influences express themselves, not just how we respond to them. It even offers methods of ameliorating challenging cycles, by using specific prayers, generous acts, gem stones and other "upayas" (planetary remedies), again prompting us to realize our actions and orientation can make things run more smoothly.
The Ancient Rulerships
We Western astrologers have used modern rulerships so often that we sometimes forget the deep value of traditional rulerships. Astrology has been practiced for millenia -- for most of its history �?in both the East and the West using Saturn's rulership of Aquarius, Jupiter's of Pisces, and Mars' of Scorpio.
Aquarius holds many of Saturn's attributes, including control issues, conservatism, disaffection, reserve, structures, firm boundaries, and separateness. Pisces carries Jupiter's generosity, tendency toward indulgence, openness and comradery, spirituality, and charity. And Scorpio is clearly Martian, with its passion, independence, intensity, strength, sharpness, industry, and capacity for pugnacity.
We can use traditional rulerships to better understand what houses are affected by the condition of each planet. For example, a debilitated Mars in Cancer (Western astrologers call this position Mars in its sign of fall) will destabilize the themes signified by the houses with Aries and Scorpio on their cusps. Patsy Cline's hopes and dreams (11th house Aries) were interrupted several times, by moves, children, and most traumatically by a disfiguring automobile accident (Mars in Cancer ruling the Scorpio 6th house: accidents).
Additionally, traditional rulerships can strengthen the indications of a planetary signature (chart emphasis). Shannen Doherty is infamous for her real life feistiness, and her exalted Mars combined with both Moon in Scorpio and Sun in Aries gives her a classic Mars signature.
Remembering traditional associations will keep us more conscious of all of the facets of each of the signs and the planets. |
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