North Node

The North Node ( ) and South Node (  ) of the Moon are points

that are directly opposite each other. Together, they form the Nodal
Axis.

They are not planetary bodies; rather, they are mathematical points that take
into account the relationship between the Sun, Moon, and Earth at the time of
our birth. More specifically, the Moon’s nodes are the points where the Moon’s
orbit intersects the plane of the ecliptic.

The Nodes of the Moon represent points of personal karmic imbalance.

The North Node represents the kinds of experiences that we must work to
develop in order to work with our karma and to grow spiritually. The South
Node represents those experiences and qualities that come naturally to us, that
are over-developed, and that we tend to fall back on.

The South Node can be a point of undoing unless we develop the North Node
experiences and qualities. Thus, consciously working on these “life lessons” can
bring us to increased happiness and fulfillment.
If we over-emphasize and fall back on the qualities of our South Node, at the
expense of developing our North Node, we may have a difficult time feeling
personally successful.

Chiron
 

Chiron is a comet with a unique and erratic orbit. In the natal

chart, Chiron is symbolized by the “wounded healer.” It
represents our deepest wound and our efforts to heal the wound.

Chiron was named after the centaur in Greek mythology who was a healer and
teacher who, ironically, could not heal himself.

Chiron was a wise teacher and healer, and was also considered a maverick who
went his own way.

C hi ron i n the Natal Chart

Chiron in our natal charts points to where we have healing powers as the
result of our own deep spiritual wounds. We may over-compensate in
these areas of life. Chiron, as a wounded healer, first must face issues of low
self-worth and feelings of inadequacy and learn to rise above these issues.

Because the wound goes deep, and we may work hard to overcome it, healing
powers are potent. As such, Chiron in our charts is a place of great knowledge,
experience, talent, and wisdom. Even if our own experience with the issues are
problematic, our experience informs us, and we can be excellent guides and
counselors in these areas of life.

Its sign and house placement show us our wound and how we go about
expressing it. Themes surrounding Chiron include how we might shoot ourselves
in the foot, figuratively speaking, damage ourselves, or nurse a wound. We go
our own way in Chiron-touched areas.

Chiron’s aspects show us other players in the Chiron story, and Chiron’s transits
serve as time triggers. Transits to our natal Chiron also time our ongoing work
with our Chironic issues.

Midheaven
 

The Midheaven (Medium Coeli)

The Midheaven (MC) is the cusp of the tenth house of the natal chart, and is
one of the angles of a chart. Very often, we find this astrological point near the
very top of the chart–it’s the most public point in our chart.

By extension, the Midheaven relates to our career or “life path” and can signify
our social standing and reputation.

The Midheaven is one of the four main angles of the chart. The other three are
the Imum Coeli (IC – directly opposite the Midheaven), the Ascendant (ASC),
and the Descendant (DSC).

While the Midheaven is usually found at or near the top of the chart wheel, its
direction is South.

Vertex
 

The Vertex is a point located in the western hemisphere of a chart (the right-

hand side) that represents the intersection of the ecliptic and the prime vertical.
In astrology, it is considered an auxiliary Descendant. The Anti-Vertex is the
point that is exactly opposite the Vertex. Some astrologers refer to the Vertex
as the “third angle” of a chart.

 
 The Meaning of the
Vertex in Astrology

Use and meaning of the Vertex in astrology is debated–those who use the
Vertex generally feel it is a point of karmic or fated connection. Some consider
it a point of “wish fulfillment.” It is perhaps most widely used in synastry. The
Vertex is said to be activated at major turning points in our lives, most notably
when we meet a significant other or end a significant relationship, and some
believe it is triggered when there is a birth or death.

I use the Vertex in all of my astrological work. In synastry, it is often prominent

in significant relationships: one person’s personal planet or ASC conjuncts or
opposes the other person’s Vertex, generally conjuncts. I use a rather tight orb
of 2 degrees. These interaspects are not present in all significant relationships,
but when they are present in romantic connections, there is a rather common
theme in place: the individuals meet and do not fall in love right away. In fact,
there can be some feeling of reluctance, and, unlike South Node connections in
synastry, they don’t feel an instant sense of recognition. When they do fall in
love, it is much like an “epiphany”(1) — sort of on the lines of “Wow, I really do
like you–I didn’t expect this!” The feelings come “out of the blue” and in a rush
of feeling.

Note that synastry contacts between the progressed Vertex in one chart and a
personal planet or the Ascendant in another’s chart are significant as well.

In predictive work, I have found the Vertex prominent when important

connections are made. For example, in my own life, each of my significant
romantic relationships featured the following: the Venus Return for the years
that I met these people had the Vertex and Moon’s Node in tight hard aspect
(conjunct and square), and transiting Venus in hard aspect to those points on
the day that I met them. (Read more about Venus Return charts here).
Secondary progressions and solar arc directions involving progressed or directed
Vertex and progressions or directions to natal Vertex were also prominent. The
Vertex-Node connection in the Venus Returns in my life are perhaps especially
meaningful and striking because Venus rules my seventh house (and Vertex).

Every now and again, I speak with people who have had two (and sometimes
more) “significant others” with the same birth date, but different years. This
means that the people they were partnering with had roughly the same degree
and sign of the Sun. With the exception of one whose birth time is uncertain,
each of these people were meeting more than one significant other whose Sun
was conjunct their natal Vertex.

It is important to note that when romantic partners have conjunctions between

one person’s Vertex and the other person’s personal planets (and/or going both
ways), it doesn’t necessarily mean the relationship is a blissful, “happily ever
after” one. That is hardly the case. However, it does suggest a powerful
connection.
Ascendant
The Ascendant (also known the “rising sign”) is the sign on the cusp
of the first house of the natal chart. It is the sign (and degree of that
sign) that is rising on the Eastern horizon at the moment of birth, with respect
to the place of birth.

The Ascendant is one of the four angles of the chart. The other three are the
Descendant (directly opposite the Ascendant), the Imum Coeli (IC), and the
Midheaven (MC).

The Ascendant defines, in part, the first impression we make on others in a

personal rather than professional sense. It represents our physical appearance,
our physical bodies and overall health, and the body ego. The Ascendant is
often referred to as the mask we wear, although I don’t consider it to be as
superficial as this might suggest. What it does represent is our natural and
personal defense mechanisms that we use to adapt to, and cope with, our
environment.

The Ascendant also shows our first impressions of the world around us, and
reveals our expectations of the world around us–whether we are naturally
hesitant or enthusiastic, for example. How we begin new projects, and our
attitude towards new experiences come under the rule of the Ascendant.

The Ascendant in the Signs: Rising Signs

The Ascendant is the cusp of the first house, and is often represented
in its abbreviated form: ASC.
Eros
 

The Asteroid Eros can shed some light

on some of our erotic turn-ons. In mythology, Eros was the god of sexual love
and desire. He was considered irresistible.

In Roman mythology, Eros was known as Cupid. “In Greek art Eros was
depicted as a winged youth, slight but beautiful, often with eyes covered to
symbolize the blindness of love. Sometimes he carried a flower, but more
commonly the silver bow and arrows, with which he shot darts of desire into the
bosoms of gods and men.” (Encarta Encyclopedia)

Eros the asteroid mostly travels within the orbit of the planet Mars.

Eros overpowers the mind with love and sex. In astrology, Eros represents
sexual objectification, passion and desire, and creativity. Eros was the god of
passionate and physical desire, and similarly, represents these things in an
astrological chart. With Eros, the desire for something can come on suddenly
and overwhelmingly. Eros can sometimes be a little reckless in pursuit of its
desires.

Note that Eros is not always sexual, per se, as Eros alsorepresents creative
passion  and  creative joy. In the chart, it can point to areas into which we pour
a lot of passion–things that excite and invigorate us.

For example, someone with Eros in Virgo might be excited by nutrition, health
foods, organization, sorting, and editing. However, the sign of Eros is more
descriptive of how we tend to pursue our passions than it is of what excites us.
Eros in Aries, then, would pursue its passion rather directly and singularly but
not necessarily for a long time, while Eros in Taurus would do so more
consistently.

The asteroid number assigned to Eros is #433.

Juno in Astrology
 

The asteroid Juno was the third discovered asteroid or minor planet found

between the orbits of the planets Mars and Jupiter. Juno is considered one of
the four major asteroids.

The Roman goddess, Juno, was the protector and counselor of the state who
held watch over women. The Greek goddess counterpart was Hera, although
Juno and Hera didn’t have equivalent roles.
 In astrology, Juno represents:

 commitment,
 marriage,
 betrayal,
 give-and-take in partnerships,
 the partnership itself (where it involves the effort to balance the
power between two people),
 infidelity,
 fairness,
 and compromise.

Juno is enraged by inequalities and shows us, through its position in our charts,
where we seek to make things balanced, fair, and right. She counsels, alerts,
advises, and warns.

Juno has definite shades of Pluto, Venus/Scorpio, and Libra energy. We’re
triggered where Juno is in our charts, but it’s also a place of potential power and
empowerment. Juno was a woman scorned, and issues of balance of power,
infidelity, and betrayal are some associations. She was fiercely loyal but stayed
in an unhappy marriage.

Look to Vesta for devotion or commitment to a person or cause, but look to

Juno for clues as to how we make the most of our connections. Juno tells us in
what way or in which area we are deeply bothered if we’re not treated with
respect and fairness.

Most notably, Juno is the master of multi-tasking. She does so very many
things well, and people with Juno strong in their charts are similar. She’s
connected to marriage and union, in general, but she is complicated, powerful,
and political–she is not only defined by her partnerships, even if she’s skilled at
balancing and moderating them.

Sun/Moon Midpoint
 

The Sun Moon Midpoint in astrology, and more specifically in the natal chart,
is a highly sensitive and personal point. It is a mathematical point–the point
midway (or exactly halfway) between the Sun and the Moon.

Inherent in the symbolism of the Sun/Moon midpoint is the desire for

companionship. The Sun/Moon midpoint represents a point of “inner marriage”
and symbolizes close personal relationship. This point is very important in any
kind of relationship analysis, in addition to natal chart work.

Note that with midpoints, it is customary to consider other planets and points
that form the following aspects to the midpoint: conjunction, opposition, square,
semi-square, and sesquiquadrature. When a planet makes any of these aspects
to a midpoint, the notation looks like the following (where, for example, Venus
is the planet forming one of these aspects with the Sun/Moon midpoint):

Venus=Sun/Moon

or:  =

In synastry, the Sun/Moon midpoint is very often activated by the other

person’s personal planet in significant relationships. If another person’s personal
planet, and especially the Sun or Moon, forms an aspect such as the ones
referred to above, that person represents some kind of promise of integration to
the Sun/Moon midpoint owner.

Whether or not integration actually happens, this synastry connection offers a

promise which can be difficult to resist. Therefore, it is a strong indicator of
attraction. Many astrologers assert that significant relationships that lead to
marriage or a similar commitment contain at least one of the following
interchanges in synastry: one person’s Sun aspecting the other’s Moon, and/or
one person’s personal planet aspecting the other’s Sun/Moon midpoint.

No te Abo u t Mi dpo i n ts :

In order to understand the symbolism of the Sun/Moon midpoint, one must

understand the symbolism of midpoints in general. Ebertin, respected as an
authority on midpoints, defined the midpoint as a sensitive point in a chart
where the influence of the two planets involved combine  together.

Black Moon Lilith in the Natal

Chart: Signs and Houses
 

THE ASTROLOGY OF BLACK MOON LILITH

Black Moon Lilith is not a planet or body, but rather a point, and should not be
confused with the asteroid, Lilith. You can look up your Black Moon Lilith sign
here, and to find its positions through the years, see the Black Moon Lilith
ephemeris (along with White Moon Selena, Lilith’s counterpart).

In your natal chart, where Lilith is by sign, house, and aspect is where you may
have felt ashamed, shamed, ridiculed, stifled, deeply misunderstood, or
repressed in some manner. For whatever reason, you are wary of expressing
those traits or parts of your personality freely and unapologetically, and you can
feel quite uncomfortable with people who are doing so.

There can also be a binging and purging cycle involved with the traits of Lilith’s
sign or house wherein we overdo or go all out, expressing these traits in
extreme, then feel bad for doing so. This leads to a purging stage in which we
reject or deprive ourselves of the traits. Eventually, the need for them is strong
and we go to extremes again, perpetuating this self-destructive cycle.
For example, with Lilith in Aries, the discomfort may be about asserting oneself.
When a person with Lilith in Aries feels the need to assert themselves, it feels
so wrong and unnatural that they do it in a choppy, extreme, and messy way.
Afterward, they feel ashamed for this display and vow to not do it again. The
cycle repeats until they’ve worked on accepting that self-assertion is their right.

To work through this, we need to learn to accept these traits in ourselves and
express them in ways that we’ve transformed or made to fit our lives without
fear or guilt. We may have too-high expectations of ourselves in these areas,
and we can convince ourselves we don’t care. It’s difficult to go there since fear
and shame can be mixed in, but it’s also empowering.