The Moon's Nodes are virtual points that represent the intersection of the
Moon's orbit with the Earth's orbit around the Sun (the ecliptic). From a
geocentric perspective, the Nodes are the direct result of the motion
of the
Moon and the Sun around our planet.
The Sun is the Soul, our spiritual part. The Moon is the Body, our material part. Where these two, the Soul and the Body intersect, the Life on this physical level, in this universe, appears. The physical life cannot exist without the body, nor without the soul. The Nodes are from this perspective THE LIFE ITSELF !
We should consider them as waves, in a continuum that comes from our habit patterns (South Node) and moves towards an evolution of qualities we need to be developed (North Node), or as particles, considering them just as two points in space, the past and the future; maybe as a wave-particle duality as stated in modern physics.
Their influence relates to the spiritual dimension of our lives, the one that leads to our spiritual fulfillment, to the Divinity from ourselves.
They are considered as planets in the Vedic astrology, but I don't think that is correct, they are *different* from the planets as they represent the intersection between the ecliptic and the Moon's orbit. Also the Moon's Nodes exaltation is traditionally in Sagittarius and Gemini, and that's again somehow wrong because the nodes are virtual points therefore cannot be assigned a real zodiacal sign.
The maximum vibration axis for the Nodes is 0 Cancer - 0 Capricorn. The point of 0 Cancer is assigned to the South Node, while 0 Capricorn to the North Node. The Sabian Symbol of this degree is "AN INDIAN CHIEF CLAIMS POWER FROM THE ASSEMBLED TRIBE". When we look at the symbol for its antiscion, its counterpart (SAGITTARIUS 30), "THE POPE BLESSING THE FAITHFUL", we get to see the big picture, the real nature of this point. These degrees are in antiscia which acts like a kind of conjunction - so the entire story of this degree would be that "Someone (the Indian chief) claims its power WHILE being blessed by God (the Pope)".
So it means acting according to the Will of God ! That's exactly the meaning of the North Node.
The nodes are about spiritual evolution, evolution in general, they act like an axis of energy and information, of a very complex cosmic, spiritual nature that show us the direction of the Life flow through our natal chart. That's why the North Node's domicile is between Sagittarius (the deep understanding of life and all its manifestations) and Capricorn (the will and the power to enact) while the South Node's domicile is between Gemini (superficial, limited knowledge) and Cancer (traditions and customs).
Plato says that the soul comes into embodiment through Cancer and exits through Capricorn. The physical body of a child enters the world from the mother's perineum (ano-genital area) which is be associated with the South Node and exits this world when the brain's death occur, the head being associated with the North Node.
The 0 Capricorn - 0 Cancer axis is the solstice axis, an axis of symmetry of the Sun's declinations along its yearly cycle. Two points situated on one and the other side of the solstice axis are in considered in antiscia, relationship that acts similar to a conjunction only in a more subtle way. The points in antiscia are points where the Sun in its yearly transit has the same declination. The Sun is the Life giver, our source of light and energy and its declination is a measure of intensity of that light and energy.
There is a strong relationship between this theory on the Moon's Nodes, the declination theory and the traditional concept of antiscia.
When projected by the transiting Sun's declination on the solstice axis, the zodiac will become an axis with two ends in 0 Capricorn and in 0 Cancer, divided in 6 regions where the signs of the zodiac are projected (Capricorn and Sagittarius together, Aquarius and Scorpio together and so on).
It is not clearly established why, but it seems like the number 6 is very important in the life of the universe we live in. There is a Light-giver and 6 traditional planets that receive that light. There are 6 * 2 zodiacal signs.
A similar process as in the solar yearly cycle, would occur in the case of the Moon Nodes' cycle.
The 0 Cancer - 0 Capricorn axis is also the Moon's Nodes' vibration axis with six projection regions on it.
The astrologer may overlook the importance of the nodes, but when it comes to see the big picture, the cosmic implications of our lives, the use of the Nodes becomes irreplaceable. The classic interpretation of their influence is that the South Node (referred to as SN) is the karmic luggage that we carry in this life, while the North Node (referred to as NN) is the life path that fulfills us more than anything else. This is a simple interpretation however.
What misses here is an esoteric and spiritual insight as the one provided by the organized esoteric system of the traditional yogi of India, about the seven chakras, their energetic connections and their functions
Read more in the related article: Chakra system chart - original astrological insight on the chakras