North Node in Leo/South Node in Aquarius - The Leo North Node symbolizes a struggle with the will. In this incarnation the individual is learning to develop strength within himself. Conditions force him to stand alone, very often with the absence of shoulders to lean on. He eventually learns that if his life is to be better it must be created by himself. But before he can build any such creations he must overcome his lackadaisical carefree attitude. He still continues a past-life tendency to spend too much time feeling sorry for himself at his lack of friends when he feels they are needed most. Somehow in moments of stress, others always seem to be absent. Long periods of loneliness, isolation and in many cases a good part of the time spent as a hermit are not uncommon. Ultimately, when the mind is made up, there is little that can sway this individual from his destiny. He must learn that his isolation is a self-imposed prerequisite for gathering strength. Very capable of strong leadership in this life, he must learn to overcome all doubts within the self. The continuance of his past-life desires for friendships actually weaken him, as they do little to build his individual confidence. He must learn how to become more goal-oriented rather than following his accustomed tendencies to dissipate his energies. The interesting thing is that while he continues to think he needs others to answer his questions, he rarely takes their advice. The friends that he does have will be from all walks of life. In a sense this increases his scope for they bring to him now the awareness that he earned in former incarnations. Once determination takes root, there is no stopping the path towards success for he does not like to settle for second best. Much thought is given to the future. In fact he is used to living there, until one day he makes the realization that “today is yesterday’s tomorrow” and that nothing will exist in the future that is not created now! He is not the easiest of people to understand, for he will do anything to retain and emphasize his own sense of individuality. In past incarnations he developed a detachment from the majority of the world, allowing him to feel free to go his own way. Now he takes pride in being unique and different, caring not as much for the traditions of society as for whatever rules he has set up for himself. His main difficulty in this life is a lack of control. Without discipline he can generate his power into useless projects, until he realizes that nobody will stand over him with a whip. Many with these Nodes live a rages to riches life, the big change coming after the tendency to overlook is turned into an ability to oversee! Their greatest amazement occurs when they discover prior-life talents in themselves that they never thought they had. Happiness is reached once principles are found to dedicate the life to. Furthermore, these principles must be unshakable so that the individual feels he is creating something solid. He will then identify his life in terms of the size of the principles he has attached himself to. Disturbed by the scattered activities of others, which remind him of his own past incarnations, he feels the strong need to see life moving along a directed course towards a specific goal. Still, he wants to retain his complete independence. As a result, he finds it difficult to tolerate others cramping his style. When they do, they will find him constantly testing limits. The Aquarius South Node brings with it past life roots strongly embedded in the principles of fairness and equality. In the current life, the individual is given the opportunity to be on his own so that unhampered by others he may express his intrinsic beliefs. His job now is to show people as flamboyantly or as powerfully as he may choose, the ways in which the world can overcome its burdens.

His greatest achievements occur after he has surrendered his personal will to the service of humanity. There is no question but that this is good leadership material so long as the ingrained past-life Aquarian sense of fairness is never violated. This individual is capable of making revolutionary changes in what was once established tradition. Hi is first, last and always amazed and fascinated by all the possibilities man can reach. At the same time, he is offended when he sees people pitying their self-imposed limitations, for well he knows the experience of pulling oneself up by one’s bootstraps. He aspires to stand tall and not be ridiculed for those beliefs which he has struggled so hard to express. While his capabilities for love run deep, the rest of him is not too far below the surface. The continuation of his past-life attractions to momentary fascinations keep throwing him off the track, making it difficult for him now to see the core of his true self clearly. And so, he must identify with his achievements as the only real barometer of his worth. Though he may at times strongly wish to be alone, he could never live without people, for he thrives on their admiration of his achievements. He believes in firm justice, and yet he is quick to pardon once people have admitted they are wrong. He is never one to strike when a person is down. The sense of fair play has become such a part of his soul that although he feels he should be more competitive, it makes him uncomfortable to be part of any competition which involves foul play. Things which couldn’t have bothered him in the past incarnations suddenly become important as he starts to dig into life rather than dissociate from it. Although it is his present life karma to apply his Uranian ingenuity through practical and traditional Leonian outlets, he still struggles to maintain his unique character. Some with this position spend their later years of their life alone. Others who are married still hold onto such a strong streak of independence that they tend to keep other family members on the periphery of their circle.

The house position of the South Node indicates the area where past-life needs for originality and freedom are still seeking expression. The house position of the North Node shows the area through which all the chart energy can be focused into a new shining creation of substantial size and worth, a gift of generosity to the world. Truly these are the Nodes of the “inventor.”

from: Schulman, Martin, Karmic Astrology - Volume 1, 1975, Samuel Weiser, Inc., New York

North Node in the 7th House/South Node in the 1st House -- Here the individual has many lessons to learn in the areas of partnerships, marriage and cooperation with others. In past incarnations he had to account only to himself for all his thoughts and actions. Now, in the current life, his soul remembers all the individualism and independence he enjoyed. While he may pretend to be a good listener for the sake of society's acceptance, he rarely takes advice given to him. Instead he spends most of his energy developing whatever abilities he has, while constantly seeking approval for the efforts he has made. Although he will be the last to admit it openly, he never quite notices others as much as himself. He has great apprehensions about being outdone, and will go far out of his way to secure for himself a position where his dominion will not be challenged. If the rest of the horoscope shows strength, then this is truly the individual who wishes to be "King of the Mountain." Although his experiences in this incarnation teach him to sacrifice for others, he never truly sacrifices himself for he has spent lifetimes building to a point where he has now become an independent spirit. He can relate to others so long as they don't shackle or bind his sense of freedom. If he feels someone close to him is inhibiting his self-expression, he will do all he can to extricate himself from the relationship. Thus, the marriage state is not one that comes easy for him. Individuals with these Nodes are either single, divorced, or at least separated in consciousness from their spouse. They find it difficult to believe that the continuance of their own past-life selfishness is creating all the problems for which they are now blaming others. They must learn how to give with a whole heart, rather than symbolically throwing a bone here and there just to keep the pack quiet. This individual is usually so out of harmony with himself as being part of a greater universe that he is prone to develop a chronic impairment or impediment either physical or emotional, which he ultimately uses for sympathy. The last thing he is willing to accept is a sense of failure, for he constantly feels the need to prove his own self-sufficiency. Sometimes he is seen by others as a battler, well guarded against any threats to his ego. Since he truly doesn't like to be dependent on others, his loyalties are questionable. Underneath it all his past incarnations have taught him to be faithful to himself, and therein his allegiance ends. For those who wish to join him he will be their patron, but rarely will he go out of his way to join them. He is a "loner," conscious of his own unique individuality, and proud of the ways in which he knows he can retain it. His karma is to learn consideration for others, for in his desire to be the center of attention, he projects himself as more important than he usually is, thereby shutting out the very love he claims he is being denied. Still, he desires to control others, and in this ability to control he bases his security. He is capable of great achievements, but he rarely reaches the levels of his capabilities because he is so wrapped up on self that he fails to see the cosmic scope of his personal ideas. He must learn to view the reflections of his thoughts and actions and to realize that there are always two sides to a coin.

Eventually he comes to understand that while both sides of an issue may be totally different, neither is better or worse than the other. His major growth occurs when he can detach from himself and impersonally laugh at all the ego-centered ideas that ruled him in the past. He must ultimately come to the point at which he is willing to take all the power, strength and confidence that his prior incarnations have built and give it away to others who need it more. He must do this wholeheartedly without a sense of martyrdom for if his giving becomes ego-involved in any way then he remains on his lonely island. But if his generosity is truly dedicated without pride in giving, then he has an infinite blessing to offer as he inspires confidence and strength in others. He can give others the will to live where there was none. He can make others aware of their own self-worth. But all the while he is not to ask for anything in return, for if he learns to focus his energies on helping others, then he will be amazed to find how God keeps providing all his own needs. In this Nodal position, there is a guaranteed built-in unhappiness every time he focuses his energies on himself. If married, he will have much to learn from his second child, as well as his relationships with nieces and nephews. He is destined to devote his life to others. Actually he has been preparing for many lifetimes to meet now the person or persons who need him the most. In some cases the spouse is an escapist who must be given the strength and confidence to face reality. Whether married or single, this individual eventually comes to learn that his life is a mission, dedicated to another soul or in fact many souls needing more than he does. His karmic lessons are in developing kindness and an understanding nature. As soon as he does this, he is rewarded a thousand to one for all he gives.

The sign which contains the South Node shows the ways in which too much residue of past-life concern for the self can hamper progress. The sign which contains the North Node shows the ways in which the individual can reach fulfillment through sacrificing the self for others.

from: Schulman, Martin, Karmic Astrology - Volume 1, 1975, Samuel Weiser, Inc., New York