North Node (Rahu)

The North Node of the Moon — also called Rahu in Vedic astrology — is not a physical body but a mathematical point where the Moon's orbit crosses the ecliptic from south to north. In Western astrology, the North Node represents your soul's direction, the qualities and experiences you are growing toward in this lifetime. It feels unfamiliar and uncomfortable because it represents uncharted territory. The North Node by sign describes the traits you are developing; by house, the life area where growth awaits. The North Node is always exactly opposite the South Node, forming an axis of past-life comfort versus present-life evolution. The Nodes complete a full cycle through the zodiac approximately every 18.6 years, and the nodal return (around ages 18-19, 37-38, 56-57) marks pivotal turning points. In esoteric traditions, the North Node is the dragon's head — the point of spiritual hunger and destiny.