Orbital intersection points
What Are the Lunar Nodes in Astrology?
The lunar nodes are the two points where the Moon’s orbital plane crosses the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun. The North Node marks one crossing direction and the South Node lies exactly opposite. They are mathematical points, not physical planets. Eclipses occur near the nodes because the Sun, Moon, and Earth align close to those orbital intersections.
01
Mean Node and True Node are not identical
Astrology software may offer a Mean Node, which smooths the node’s motion, or a True Node, which includes short-term oscillation. The two are usually close but can differ by degree and sometimes by sign near a boundary. A calculator should state which one it uses rather than labeling a result simply ‘the Node.’
02
The nodes always form an axis
If the North Node is at 12° Aries, the South Node is at 12° Libra. They are not two independent placements. Interpretive systems often read the axis as a tension between familiar patterns and developmental direction, but the exact language varies widely by school.
03
Node symbolism is interpretive, not astronomical destiny
Modern astrology frequently gives the North Node a growth-oriented meaning and the South Node a familiar or inherited meaning. Traditional approaches can assign different significations. None of those symbolic models proves a predetermined life purpose. Treat node language as a framework for reflection, not a command about what someone must become.
04
Why Velvet Zodiac does not calculate it yet
The Astronomy Engine Body enum used by Velvet Zodiac includes the Sun, Moon, and planets through Pluto but does not expose a True Node body. Rather than inventing a shortcut or hiding a second ephemeris source, the current full birth chart leaves nodes out and states the limitation clearly.
05
A practical way to keep the term precise
When comparing node readings, note whether the chart says True Node or Mean Node and whether the zodiac is tropical or sidereal. Those settings can move the displayed degree. For close aspects or sign-boundary cases, the calculation setting is part of the interpretation and should be visible to the user.
06
Everyday example
The lunar nodes are the two points where the Moon’s orbital path crosses the ecliptic. A birth chart may show a North Node at one longitude and a South Node exactly opposite it. Because they are calculated points rather than physical planets, a chart engine needs a specific node algorithm—often true node or mean node. If a tool does not implement that calculation, leaving the nodes out is more accurate than inventing them from a planet list.
07
Common misunderstanding
A common misunderstanding is to treat the North Node as a guaranteed destiny and the South Node as something bad that must be abandoned. That is one modern interpretive story, not an astronomical fact. Traditional and modern schools use the nodes differently, and true-node versus mean-node calculations can differ slightly. Keep the calculation method visible and use nodal symbolism as a reflective framework rather than a command about what a person must become.
Common questions
What Are the Lunar Nodes in Astrology? FAQ
Are the lunar nodes planets?
No. They are mathematical intersection points between the Moon’s orbital plane and the ecliptic.
Why do websites give slightly different node degrees?
One may use the Mean Node and another the True Node, or they may use different ephemerides or calculation settings.