Vedic astrology
The Lunar Nodes: North Node, South Node, Rahu and Ketu
The lunar nodes aren't planets at all. They're the two points where the Moon's path crosses the Sun's path, and they're where eclipses happen. Both Western and Vedic astrology give them great importance, in slightly different ways.
By Soul AtlasPublished 3 min read
The astronomy
The Moon's orbit is tilted about 5° to the plane of the Earth's orbit. The two points where it crosses the ecliptic are the nodes: the North Node where the Moon crosses heading north, and the South Node exactly opposite. Eclipses happen when a New or Full Moon falls near a node.
The nodes move backwards through the zodiac, completing a cycle in about 18.6 years and spending about 18 months in each sign pair.
In Western astrology
Many Western astrologers read the South Node as familiar ground, talents and habits that come easily, and the North Node as a direction of growth that feels less natural but more rewarding. The signs and houses of the nodes describe that axis in your chart.
Rahu and Ketu in Vedic astrology
In Jyotish the North Node is Rahu and the South Node is Ketu, treated as shadow planets (chhaya grahas). Rahu is linked with desire, ambition and the unfamiliar; Ketu with detachment, spirituality and letting go. Both have their own periods in the Vimshottari dasha: Rahu for 18 years and Ketu for 7.
Soul Atlas lists Rahu and Ketu in your Vedic chart, always opposite each other, in the sidereal zodiac.
Mean and true nodes
Astrologers calculate the nodes in two ways: the mean node (a smoothed average) and the true node (which wobbles slightly). They differ by up to about 1.5°, so occasionally the sign can differ between software.
Common questions
- Are the nodes planets?
- No. They're points where the Moon's orbit crosses the ecliptic. Vedic astrology treats them as shadow planets.
- What is Rahu?
- The North Node in Vedic astrology, traditionally linked with desire, ambition and the unfamiliar.
- Why do the nodes always appear opposite each other?
- Because they're the two crossing points of the same orbit, exactly 180° apart.
- How long are the nodes in a sign?
- About 18 months, moving backwards through the zodiac.
Astrology, numerology, Human Design and Kabbalah are symbolic traditions, offered here for reflection and entertainment. Nothing in this guide is a prediction or medical, legal or financial advice. Dates are calculated from planetary positions and given in UTC.
The Weekly Sky
Stay in touch with the sky, one Monday at a time.
A short, free letter each Monday: the Moon's phases and daily signs, planets changing sign or turning retrograde, and the week's numbers, with what they traditionally invite you to reflect on. No account or chart needed.