Advice for Teens, Part 3: Your Moon's North NodeReturn to article
By Natori MooreWelcome ashore, astro-mates! It's a good bet you've been out surfing the high seas of the Internet and are ready to relax for a while. If you're like me, you love to go on line to link up with friends, learn amazing new facts, and travel to imaginary worlds. If the signs Gemini, Sagittarius or Aquarius are prominent in your birth chart, you especially enjoy traveling in cyberspace as well as taking trips in person to places that interest you. (Sagittarians and travel go together like mice and cheese!) Yet no matter what astrological sun sign you are, you may have wished for a compass or road map to give you direction through life. Here's some good news -- there actually is a navigation point you can follow! It's the guiding light of your astrological chart, called your Moon's North Node.
We won't bother too much with a technical definition here. It's enough to say that the Moon's North Node is a point where the path of the Sun and the path of the Moon cross each other as they travel through the sky. Therefore, the Moon's North Node is not an actual physical planet, like Mercury or Venus, but a point in space. Even so, many astrologers believe this energetic point in the astrological chart holds a key to your life success and integration -- to bringing all the parts of who you are together. Whether you are well-acquainted with your astrological chart or are reading about astrology for the first time, you can develop the qualities of your Moon's North Node sign as a sure-fire way to make the most of what you've got.
To find your Moon's North Node sign, see Table 1. You will notice that the Moon's North Node has a somewhat irregular movement, yet usually stays in one sign for about one and a half years. This means that people born near you are likely to have the same Moon's North Node sign as you do. To find which Moon's North Node sign is yours, locate your birth date in the list in the first column. Then read across to the right to find your Node sign.
Table 1 If Your Birthdate is Between: Your Moon's North Node Sign is: April 20, 1969 - November 2, 1970 Pisces November 3, 1970 - April 27, 1972 Aquarius April 28, 1972 - October 27, 1973 Capricorn October 28, 1973 - July 10, 1975 Sagittarius July 11, 1975 - Jan 7, 1977 Scorpio Jan 8, 1977 - July 5, 1978 Libra July 6, 1978 - Jan 5, 1980 Virgo Jan 6, 1980 - Jan 7, 1980 Leo Jan 8, 1980 - Jan 12, 1980 Virgo Jan 13, 1980 - Sept 20, 1981 Leo Sept 21, 1981 Cancer Sept 22, 1981 - Sept 24, 1981 Leo Sept 25, 1981 - March 16, 1983 Cancer March 17, 1983 - Sept 11, 1984 Gemini Sept 12, 1984 - April 6, 1986 Taurus April 7, 1986 - May 5, 1986 Aries May 6, 1986 - May 9, 1986 Taurus May 10, 1986 - December 2, 1987 Aries December 3, 1987 - May 22, 1989 Pisces These dates signify one full revolution of the Moon's North Node through the signs. For those of you born on dates not listed here (and I'll bet some of you are peeking!), consult an ephemeris or your own birth chart to learn your nodal position.
If you have the:
Moon's North Node in Aries
You cooperate easily with people and make an agreeable friend and companion. You like harmony and beauty, though at times you can argue a point just for the fun of it. You probably have talent in music, art or public relations. There may be a flair for fashion with you, too! Watch out for a tendency to lean on other people and their opinions more than necessary. Don't get bogged down in bad romances. Be decisive, trust your judgment, and be willing to go first. You are here to develop enthusiasm, break new ground and be a pioneer in some important way. You probably hate the thought of sports and leadership positions, but they're good for you. Wear red, enter races, have courage. Your Glittering Prize: On a foundation of true cooperation, you step out on your own to start something truly new. Guess who has the Moon's North Node in Aries: Ashley Judd
Moon's North Node in Taurus
You are a demanding person with strong emotions. Your desire for intense experiences sometimes causes you trouble. You sense your potential to be content and stable, but you often find it hard to get there with your many passions. Learn to establish inner security and discover your own values. Set up your own bank account, get a part time job, or make your own money decisions. You have deep insights into people and life, but need to develop steady relationships so you can trust and share your insights with others. You're here to develop patience and learn to appreciate the reward in simple things. Let situations be without having to investigate, probe or consume them. Don't get bogged down in addictive behaviors. Nature and the outdoors are very healing for you. Guess who has the Moon's North Node in Taurus: Matthew Fox
Moon's North Node in Gemini
You can probably stand to improve your spelling. And I don't mean Tori Spelling. Education, especially in practical or technical skills, is very good for you. You have natural wisdom and can be a great teacher, yet you need to develop the tools of communication. Reading, writing, radio, television, telephones, the World Wide Web -- all the tried and true as well as new and emerging technologies that enable the spreading of a message -- are beneficial for you to learn in order to grow fully. You might be a little "rough around the edges" as far as social skills are concerned. Develop the social ease that will allow you to share your wisdom with others. (It's probably a good idea to go to that after-school gathering you've been wondering about, and say hello to someone.) You can discover whole new worlds right in your own neighborhood. Guess who has the Moon's North Node in Gemini: Keanu Reeves
Moon's North Node in Cancer
You take life seriously and are often mature for your age. Your home environment in your growing up years may have required you to be more responsible than many of your friends. Your natural discipline will help you accomplish your own goals when you set your mind to them. You will make a good parent once you've learned how to be a good parent to yourself first. Comfort yourself in positive ways, ask for help when you need it, and develop a career that will enable you to support a family. Deep down you tend to be impatient with yourself and consider emotions a waste of time. Learn to define and express your feelings. Spend time with people, especially women (since Cancer is the "mother" sign of the zodiac) who are caring and can show you the good side of letting your feelings show. Guess who has the Moon's North Node in Cancer: Britney Spears
Moon's North Node in Leo
You secretly want to be a star! But you act like a rebel or outsider. You're afraid stardom wouldn't be fair to everyone. You do have a knack for keeping things equal between your friends. But you also have a warm heart, a generous spirit, and a likely love of drama, dance, music, art, or confident business leadership. Whatever your special talent is, you'll need to step out and express it to be content. Don't try to figure out all the details ahead of time. People are inspired by your standing forth and expressing joy, as much as by going along for the good of the group. Sign up to perform in a school play or assembly. Take in the applause! Experiment with giving speeches or trying on costumes. Focus your energy on being creative and developing a powerful personal appearance. Have fun! It's okay to step out and be noticed. Guess who has the Moon's North Node in Leo: Christina Ricci
Moon's North Node in Virgo
I see you munching on a Moon-Pie right now. Imagination and daydreams fuel your soul. You enjoy movies, poetry, fantasy and the world of romance. Your friends may easily tell you their problems and you are a born counselor. You need to become more practical, focused and discriminating. Perhaps you have been disappointed or betrayed, so that you learn to choose more carefully next time. It's not that you deserve to be let down in love and friendship more than anyone else, it's that you're not truly paying attention to the relationship problems that eventually cause you heartache. Use your dreams to make other people's lives meaningful. You may do well creating movies, a flower delivery business, a creative accounting business, any goal in which you combine imagination and technical skill. Give attention to your health and personal grooming. Guess who has the Moon's North Node in Virgo: Clare Danes
Moon's North Node in Libra
A friend of mine with the Moon's North Node in Libra was arrested for fighting against government nuclear bomb testing in Nevada. That gives you some idea of the lengths to which you folks are willing to go to defend your views. You are a fighter who is used to relying on yourself. Active and accomplished, you are inspiring to others but may often be lonely. Others may find you pushy or unnecessarily brash. Develop a balanced viewpoint and consider the idea that tact, charm and understanding may be useful in getting people to see your side of things. Someone really should bring you flowers or candy. You need some soothing sweetness in your life. C'mon, doesn't that make you melt just a little? Creating long-lasting, loving relationships may be your greatest achievement. Guess who has the Moon's North Node in Libra: Fiona Apple
Moon's North Node in Scorpio
You know what you like and take pleasure in simple things. You may have grown up in a family or small town in which most people held common beliefs. The "stuff" you own can help you feel secure. Though your stability is quite valuable, you'll grow when you take some risks and merge your ideas and talents with other people. You tend to think in black-and-white, all-or-nothing terms. Try to see the middle ground. You can get stuck in a rut, too, and feel that your life is boring. What do you really want? Take some time to build your desire, then allow others to help you get there! Treat the great mystery of sexuality with reverence. You're likely to learn tremendously from it when the time is right. When you look for meaning and not just security in your relationships, they give you strength and energy. Guess who has the Moon's North Node in Scorpio: Alicia Silverstone, Kate Winslet
Moon's North Node in Sagittarius
What a charming trickster you can be! Intelligent and talkative, you move this way and that, not wanting to miss any opportunity. You love mental puzzles and probably watch too many TV game shows. Trouble is, by not choosing a particular goal and sticking with it, you can miss out on long-range accomplishments. More than anyone, you can benefit from a college education. Don't let circumstances keep you away from this worthy goal. Traveling or living in a foreign country may also be great for you. Learn to weigh your words before you talk and share understanding, not just information. You cast a wary eye toward religion, but you'll need more than your "I do what I can to get by" philosophy to be happy. Learn to see the big picture of your life, set long-range goals, and get help from wise people in staying on track toward achieving them. Guess who has Moon's North Node in Sagittarius: Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio
Moon's North Node in Capricorn
You are sentimental and relationship-oriented. You easily grow attached to people you love, and they usually appreciate you for it. You are sensitive, close to your family, and a bit of a homebody. Whether your home life is happy or troubled, you may have a hard time distinguishing your needs and feelings from those of the people you live with. Try not to take things people say personally. Develop regular routines (walking the dog, brushing teeth, doing homework at a certain time each day) that you stick to no matter how you are feeling. You have great potential to be a leader in any career, but you will need to work hard to carve out your own path. Spend time with people, especially men (since Capricorn is the "father" sign of the zodiac) who are accomplished and can show you the good side of setting and achieving goals for yourself. Guess who has the Moon's North Node in Capricorn: Gwyneth Paltrow
Moon's North Node in Aquarius
You're the cat's meow. At least you like to think so. You have natural "people skills" and a big heart. You're a born leader who likes to be the "star." You're a marvelous inspiration when you're feeling generous. Trouble is, you can get a wee bit too attached to your position, Miss Scarlett. There are no more slaves to serve you on this plantation. You're here to learn that friendship is just as important as romance, and that treating all people with equal concern will open up a fascinating world beyond your own personal interests. Join a group at school and see what you can contribute without having to be the star. Allow others their freedom and their moment in the spotlight. Relax and let someone else take charge. Lovable as you are, you're not the king or queen of everything. Guess who has the Moon's North Node in Aquarius: Mia Hamm, Ricky Martin
Moon's North Node in Pisces
I can tell right now you're picking your teeth. Or picking on someone. Or figuring out math problems! Your talent for hard work and keeping busy knows no bounds. It's only because of you that we survived the Y2K scare and are now happily functioning in the 21st century. But guess what? You're here to learn to relax! Sometimes it's not necessary to worry as much as you do. Pack a picnic and head for the park. Take up swimming. Learn to meditate. Watch movies and do nothing for a day. Knowing you, you'll be right back out there at bat the next day anyway! You're learning to develop greater awareness of the emotional and spiritual sides of your nature. Take time to remember and record your dreams. Find the meaning in things that seem impractical. The happiest moments in your life occur when you combine your mind with your imagination. Guess who has the Moon's North Node in Pisces: Matt Damon
Following the direction of your Moon's North Node sign is quite a bit like being a sailor in ancient times. To keep their boats on course toward their destination, sailors kept looking for the North Star (one of the brightest stars in the sky) to get where they were going. They encountered many obstacles on their journeys -- pirates, fog, thunderstorms, marshy swamps and more -- yet they kept their focus on the North Star to guide them safely to their goal. Perhaps you have pirates, fog, thunderstorms and other distractions in your life, too! Whether it's irritating people, confusion about relationships or goals, or your own strong emotions, when you get thrown off course by situations and events in your life, you can look to your Moon's North Node sign to help you get back on track. Learn as much as you can about your North Node sign and try to develop its best characteristics. Make friendships with people born under the Sun sign that matches your Moon's North Node sign and see what you can learn from them.
Here's a surprising example of two people who did just that. By teaming up to star in the hit movie Titanic, Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio were able to grow and learn from each other. Even through playing movie roles, Kate and Leo benefited from their association through a link between Kate's North Node Sign in Scorpio and Leonardo's Sun Sign in Scorpio. The character Jack Dawson (played by Leonardo) naturally influenced the character Rose De Witt Bukater (played by Kate) in developing qualities of the Scorpio sign. These qualities include passion, risk taking, experiencing strong emotion, admitting deep desires, working as a team in a crisis situation, developing trust, even rebuilding a new life after death. Though Rose's family didn't understand her need to grow beyond her familiar surroundings, she knew there was something more for her beyond her experience and was willing to take a risk to discover what it was. When we do this in a way befitting the sign qualities of our Moon's North Node, we are usually exhilarated and happy!
What about Leo, you ask? He learned from his participation in Titanic too! His Moon's North Node sign is Sagittarius, sign of the adventurer and wise person. Leonardo's role as Jack Dawson exposed him to upper class people and their habits, took him on a long-distance trip, and portrayed him as developing skill in drawing and art (all Sagittarian themes). He also gambled his way onto a BIG boat in a BIG movie (more Sagittarian ideas) and began to find direction for his vagabond life through his love for Rose. (Of course a sinking ship helped focus his attention, too!) The real-life Leonardo might do well to make friends with Sagittarian people. By doing so, he can further develop wisdom, focus and adventure-with-purpose -- all key traits of the Sagittarius sign.
Now all of the above is just the "tip of the iceberg," if you know what I mean! Next comes putting it to use in your life. Astrology can be even more exciting than sea journeys, soap operas, movies or romance novels. It's a great adventure with interesting characters (the planets) who wear intriguing costumes (astrological signs) and move through fascinating terrain (constellations in the sky). There's often a new plot twist (new positions of the planets) around every corner. The way the planets move presents wonderful changing pictures of beauty and mystery -- like looking into the kaleidoscope of life at a Great Design. And you’re part of the action! I hope you'll continue to learn more about your Moon's North Node sign and how to use the stars to guide you. Here's to the best of success as you reach for your dreams!
© 2000 Natori MooreOriginally appeared in Dell Horoscope, April 2000
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