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Part 1 of this topic looked at the basics of interpreting the North and South Nodes.
Now, let’s take a step beyond the basics. Did you know that your natal Pluto and Mars can also be used as part of the interpretation? According to Evolutionary Astrologer Jeffrey Wolf Green:
- The house and sign position of Pluto in your chart describes the desires that drove you (in your past life and as fallback behaviour in this life) because of the situations described by the South Node.
- Pluto’s polarity point (the house and sign position directly opposite Pluto) represents the desires that need to be developed through your North Node.
- Because Pluto represents the subconscious, your Mars describes how Pluto’s desires will be consciously acted out. Remember that Mars used to be considered Scorpio’s ruler, and Pluto is a higher octave of Mars’ energy.
Going back to the planetary rulers of the Nodes (which I described in Part 1), they (the planets) manifest the situations of the North and South Nodes. Pluto manifests the desires that come about through those situations. So if you want to be firing on all evolutionary cylinders, work on developing your NN and Pluto’s polarity point.
Got that? It can get complicated if you start to juggle all these planets and points. If you want a general interpretation, stick to the Nodes and their planetary rulers. That will give you the Coles Notes version. Add Pluto and Mars if you want the full story.
There can also be some twisty scenarios when the ruler of the SN is conjunct the NN, and vice versa. What does that mean? It’s not as confusing as it seems. It simply suggests that your SN lessons need to be worked through more throughly in this life, in order to get to that NN. Basically, you’re not done with your SN yet.
If you’re interested in some advanced reading on Pluto, Mars and the Nodes, Jeffrey Wolf Green published two books that are available on Amazon. “Pluto: The Evolutionary Journey of The Soul” and “Pluto: The Soul’s Evolution Through Relationships” are the definitive texts on this subject. But some of the reading is quite dense. Only pick these books up if you’re into advanced astrology.
Thanks for recommending the book.
Okay…
My NN is in Cancer in the 4th house (Cancer), Natal Pluto in Libra in the 6th house (Virgo), Mars in Virgo in 5th House (Leo).
Since my moon (and saturn, which happens to be in Libra in the sixth, too) are my Nodal planets, I interpret this way…
It is in my best interest to develop my emotional nature through examining my power, intense desires in my relationships? My polarity house/sign would be 12th house/Pisces, which would mean that there is guidance in trusting in the bigger picture, nurturing my loving nature in unconditional and spirit ways? Since my Mars is in Virgo and Pisces happens to be my polarity house, would it mean that my immediate actions (Mars) and higher octave action/intentions (Pluto) should be in service of relating in a balanced and compassionate (versus critical) way in relationships? Taking a stab here!
I LOVE the nodes (and synastry) of astrology. My NN ruler is the most challenged planet in my chart so I value strengthening her (my moon). Thanks for any insights in advance! My Pluto is in conjunction with Saturn and Jupiter. I call it my “healing” stellium and I feel that as a natal Scorpio, if i can access the higher octave planets with grace…the sky is the limit!
“which would mean that there is guidance in trusting in the bigger picture, nurturing my loving nature in unconditional and spirit ways?” – Yes, and also transcending (12th House) the need to control another (Libra) by initiating (Mars) your own goals, action and identity. Doing your own thing. Pluto’s polarity point in the 12th House is also about simplification…dissolving the limits that come up through overanalysis, and just letting things play out. It’s a tough mix of energies to get a handle on because it blends agressive Aries with the 12th House. But if you can picture yourself as The Fool (from the Tarot)…just striking out, trusting that things will be ok, courageous and open to anything (no expectations) you’re on the right path.
Oooh, Nadia. You are good! I was really wondering how the Aries energy is best handled in the 12th house (because I assumed you looked at the polarity sign, too). Using the Fool archetype is SO helpful, because it can be terrifying to someone who likes an airtight plan (Mars in Virgo and loaded 6th house). But, there is something exhilarating and pure about striking out like the Fool.
Not only has this post been insightful, but the specific description here is ILLUMINATING. I appreciate it very much!
You’re welcome.
Glad it helped…
Absolutely fascinating and that added information actually brings clarity rather than confusion to this avid reader
I have pluto in early virgo at the end of my 10th house in placidus, and exactly opposed my chiron in early pisces at the end of 4th house, so having a 3rd passing of my chiron return just now. My mars is in leo at 26, my nth node in leo at 29, my south node is therefore aqua 29 and my uranus is also in leo at 22. I was gifted with spiritual and emotional strength since birth which were put down and i was trained to hide, yet my family has so many problems because of this denial of those areas, that they are logically trapped into the mundane and eventually i chose to go with my intution and be me going through a very long healing process which resulted recently in my birth family and one of my children challenging me to get back in line and do it the way they do because they are so ashamed of me, or be evicted, I love my family, but felt strongly driven to not “buckle under” the controlling ultimatum they issued and they did indeed shut me out, or at least almost, there is the occasional communication that is as if nothing happened but it feels false? Anyway, I am a spiritual healer and I feel i have been given huge opportunity to heal myself, and this in turn gives opportunity for the deep wound passed on from generation to generation to also be healed if they choose to see it at some point. My sedna (victim) is conj desc and she has also helped me to be and see the victim and as saturn just finished conjuncting my asc at 26 libra, I stood firm in believing that I am not a victim, I dont have to pay for being me and am able to be successful regardless of what my family believe and have finally let go of that very hidden mindset that has created the feared outcome. So yes, see my, ascendant is square my mars in 10th, so I can lead by example, the one who overcomes the victim and able to supply what they need to help them if they manage to see it, I love my family and dont judge them for the way they are as i was once there too, and I have faith (chiron in pisces) that I got through it successfully and so can those I love, if they choose, there will be no I told you so from me, because I dont believe myself to be “right” or an authority on their lives, but i do know my own stuff, well and am living it, which although has been very tough materially and mentally, i actually feel freer than ever before.
Once again Nadia, I have myself a lot of wisdom learned from experience access to the unseen and quite a good grasp on the occult area of life, (moon in 12th and neptune in 1st in scorp) however, some parts that just didnt seem to sink in or digest, have done so from reading your writings on the topic and I am not trying to fluff your ego, I really am grateful, cudos, namaster and keep up the good work!
Thank you, Debbie. Feedback is always appreciated.
I do strive to write with clarity (that’s my ultimate goal with this blog) so it makes me very happy when people tell me that my posts have increased their understanding.
Wow, Nadia! These articles about the Nodes have really made me open my eyes to their importance in my chart. As a humble 4th house Capricorn Sun, I never really wanted to rock the boat by being too different. BUT…my twelfth house natal Pluto at 26 degrees Virgo opposes natal Chiron at 28 degrees Pisces (exactly conjunct my descendant). My natal Moon at 00 degrees, 28 ‘ Aries gets in on the action, and then here comes my Aries North Node at 4 degrees, opposing natal Jupiter (4 Libra) and Uranus (5 Libra) in the first house. I am a homeschooling mom of two great special kids who would probably be considered “short schoolbus special” in the school system. Natal Mars in Libra in the second house and natal Venus in Aquarius in the fifth round out the story of my life, with organic herb garden, pumpkin patch, 12 pets, and lots of weird art projects filling my days. The point of all this TMI: thank you for this info, which has helped me to see how my many unconventional choices have some correspondence in my natal chart. Astrology and Fate wink at each other all the time.
You’re welcome.
And thanks for sharing. I always love reading how someone has managed to integrate their chart.
Wow, this is really interesting information, thanks so much!
As I’ve been looking at it, my NN is in Libra, just barely in the fourth house conjunct my IC. So my SN is in Aries conjunct my MC and just inside the 10th house (these conjunctions are within a minute!). The rulers of both Libra and Aries (Venus and Mars) are in Virgo in the 3rd house. I’ve been thinking along these lines, that in my past experiences I have been very independent and career driven, so in this life I need to focus more on partnership, especially domestic partnership (kind of nice that my husband also has his NN in Libra!). So with my natal Pluto also in Virgo, but in the second house, I would take it to mean that I was focused in the past on the desire for material security, and would have pursued that through work and career.
So I’m trying to sort out how the polarity point in Pisces in the 8th house fits in here, in a healthy way. I’m thinking that the Libra NN would help me to have a more balanced approach here, and would keep me from falling too much to the other extreme of Piscean sacrifice into 8th house matters.
Thanks also for the book suggestions. I may check those out!
Pluto’s polarity point (in 8th House Pisces) would also mean merging (Pisces) your resources with another (8th House). Sharing and trusting. Supports a 4th House NN in Libra quite nicely.
Yes, that makes sense, now that you mention it. I’m really trying to make the most of this time. Thanks again for your added insight!
I’m not sure if I understand. My NN is in Cancer in 10th house, my SN in Cap in 4th house and I have a tight Mars/Pluto conjunction on the cusp of my 12th house. Would I be looking at my sixth house (Pisces) which is where my Chiron is located? Could I interpret this as healing my wounds and providing service as a means to succeeding in my career and improving my public profile (NN in 10th house)?
Yes, look at your 6th House as the polarity point of your Pluto. Your public image/career (10th House NN) should be driven by service to others (6th House). Chiron is the teacher (once he’s healed) so you can lead by example…help others because you’ve been through the pain and have come out the other side.
Hi Nadia, thought I would take the info I picked up from this post and the FM Aries post and carry on here with the nodal stuff
. So I have NN Pisces on the IC (so I blend the 3rd/4th) and of course SN in Virgo on the MC (9th/10th). Pluto is in Virgo 10th, polarity point in Pisces 4th. I have Mercury(trine Pluto) in the 6th conjunct Saturn/Sun (all Taurus) (They all sqaure moon in Leo 9th). Neptune in Scorpio conjunct the Asc in the 1st. Pisces rules 4th. I’m so into details that I have the”can’t see the forest for the trees” take on just about everything it seems. I criticize and nitpick and (anal)yze and drive myself, and many around me, crazy! I also am very hard on myself in just about any department, grew up with low self esteem, anxiety issues in social situations. The good news is that I know that about myself (since getting into astrology many years ago) and have been trying to work on it over the last several years. I try to adopt the “go with the flow” attitude whenever I can, work on what I can and need to change in my life even though it’s tough to do.
In the my other post you replied to you said to also look at Jupiter. It is in the end of the 11th in Libra. Since I started looking at my chart using Koch, the little changes I’ve noted seem to be telling a different picture than when I used Placidus! I do tend to notice that friends get me jobs or hep me in some way financially, but never felt the big urge to be social?. (Sag on 2nd house)
I wonder how many others have noticed having a planet on the cusp of 2 houses give a blend of those houses in their lives!?
Any other thoughts or insights that I didn’t mention?
Thanks for your articles Nadia, I have been enjoying them and look forward to more!!-Kim
You’re welcome. And that’s another way to figure out what house system works best for you….if a natal planet makes more sense in one house (based on your life experiences) then that’s the house system to use.
Hi Nadia, I’d appreciate your clear insight on my case.
All the significators that you refered to on your post make sense in my chart, just don’t know how to put it together…
NN in Libra ( conj Asc)
Venus R in Aries(6)opposite Pluto(12)
Mars in Piscies (5) applying to conjunct retro Venus in Aries
( both planets rise together and they are in mutual reception as well!)
Plus shall I follow my NN ruler: a detrimented Venus in her terms but saved only by SN ruler Mars in her exaltation and the Sun in Taurus…
All the significators you mention are tide up together! Don’t really know where to go or if to act Aries or Libra, be independent or attached!?! What a mess lol