For friends, we need to look at the 11th house. The 7th is relationships in general, how we balance with others (Libra)... But this is a general sort of relating... When considering an actual functional relationship, we need to consider the 7th and another house.
So, a relationship with a friend would be a 7th/11th combination... Here we have Sun (Leo on 7th cusp) and Saturn (Capricorn on 11th cusp).
The first indicator of hardship is Saturn's influence present in both houses.. Placed in the 7th, ruling the 11th. Then comes that Sun and Saturn, the house rulers, are in square aspect, in the mutable signs. This sets an underlying tension pattern in friendly relations. This is not an easy area of function for you, you feel an overarching tension that you may not even fully recognize, as astrological influences work beneath the surface. The midpoint of the square falls in Cancer, exactly on your 6th house Placidus cusp. So you are likely not just worried about
commitment to demanding (Saturn) relationship, you also feel if you continue the relationship, or let it get too deep you'll have to
take care of and "nurse" (Cancer) all their
little problems and nuances that require adjustment on their part (6th).
Ruler of the 6th, Moon, is conjunct the ruler of the 11th in the 7th - This further amplifies the 7th/11th rulers midpoint on the 6th cusp. This seems to indicate you feel the need to provide a service in your friendships, as if you are not on equal grounds with your friends. Unconsciously you may feel the need to play the role of the servant, rather than placing yourself on equal ground, which would then be amplified by Saturn's 7th/11th placements to solidify the "servant" reality into a truly burdensome commitment.
You have your Sun on your IC, the place of inner security. This puts your conscious (Sun) focus on the internal self, giving you the hermetic nature. The placement of the Sun shows were our light comes from, where we shine the brightest, and for you that is
inside yourself, in a safe, secure place where others cant touch you (IC). Mercury here, conjunct Sun, also shows that's where your mental facilities are focused.
Not too surprising to hear you have had older friends, Saturn/Capricorn after all does rule over elders. Perhaps this is actually beneficial for you, that you will work through elders in your quest for successful friendships? Older folks are wonderful, they have such immense wisdom to share and many have broken down the "walls" and "fronts" that us younger folks have yet to defeat. It would seem Saturn's influence in your 7th/11th would make you feel more comfortable in friendships with your elders, so don't shy away from that, you can use those experiences to build up your ability to form friendly relationships. In building up one's ability to relate on any level, we must go for the relationships we feel the most comfortable in, and learn from those experiences, and apply that experience to other relationships.
Relating is a Venusian thing, so it's also warranted to have a look at the position of Venus in the natal chart whenever considering relationship issues, of whatever level of relating in question. Most obvious is the opposition to Uranus, which shows you demand an unusually high level of freedom within (and even from) relationships. You want to maintain your separateness from others, even as you try to forge relational ties. With this aspect, getting too close might make you feel as if your separateness, and thus personal freedom, is encroached upon. If one can establish defined personal boundaries, and form relationship ties without the need to cede one's personal freedom, this aspect can be quite positive; allowing one to engage in unusual relationships that shed much light upon the self. This, however, is made difficult by your 7th/11th situation which pushes you to potentially unrealistic levels of commitment in what is supposed to be a casual, lighthearted relationship of friends.
To that end, it would be most beneficial for you to better define friendships for yourself. From your chart it seems you take them way too seriously.. While true friends are always there for eachother, part of the nature of a friend is to allow the other to be individual, separate, and unique. This is what separates friendship from family, romantic and intimate relationships, and why friendship is ruled by the "collaboration of unique individuals" Uranian 11th house. To experience true friendship is very liberating, although it is a rare happening in today's society obsessed with polarization, me-versus-you, control, sex, and lack of friendly boundaries. To be a friend is to respect the other, even if you don't agree... To have someone to lean on, but not tip over... To share your troubles with, but not trouble them personally, To have someone you can talk to and disagree with; yet still respect... To have someone you can vent to, but not burden or bring down. Someone who you may even loathe in aspects for their ways, yet love at the same time for their good intentions. As with all things Uranian, it's a bit of a paradox, with both sides in contradiction, but forms a beautiful balance.
True friends are hard to find. If you can find one, hang on to that person like they're your last breath. If you find 3 true friends in life, you're doing good. I've found two so far, and I've met
alot of people. There's a big difference between a friend and an acquaintance, and it's a rare thing, and it's even rarer for it to stand the test of time. You'll know you've found a real friend if 10 years later and through heaven and hell you still respect eachother, even if you wonder why you still even know this person.
As far as the nodes go, I've come to the conclusion they are horribly misunderstood by most astrologers. You are your south node. This is where you've been, who you are, what you will continue to be without active and conscious work through the north node. The south node is familiar, successful, stable and rooted in many lives of experience. The north node, it's polarity point, shows how you balance against what you already are to evolve and further your soul. You don't so much become the north node as you have north node experiences to further your existing self (SN). This is the basic nature of evolution.
So in essence at this point in your soul growth you are a fairly self (1st) oriented person, but through relating to others (7th) you will gradually grow away from that, and through relating you will expand yourself. We tend to reach out to the north node for new experiences, and the north node is essentially uncharted territory. People often feel a bit out of context when working with the north node, but will grow more accustomed to it as they grow in this life.
I should point out it's more dangerous to neglect your south node than to not experience your north node. I have Mars conjunct my North Node, so my natural course of
action (Mars) is towards uncharted experiences, yet at my most recent nodal reversal I started to understand how much I had neglected my south node, that I was throwing away so much of my existing self in a relentless persuit (Mars) of my north node. The nodal reversal worked to show me how important it is to claim, experience, and build upon who you already are, not run off headlong into the unknown with no plan to bring the rewards and new experiences home. You can seek out your north node for your whole life, but if you have no method of integrating those experiences into your soul (south node) they can be quite fruitless. So don't beat yourself up for being a "self oriented" person and enjoying your time to yourself. It's just your nature, and where your Sun is focused as well. Security (Sun in the 4th) with the self (1st house SN). Just make sure you venture into your 7th house when you have the desire and circumstances allow, and bring those experiences back into yourself. In time you'll find the 7th will be more comfortable and a larger part of yourself.
I hope I haven't confused you, and keep in mind these are just some of my observations and ideas, and you will need to digest them and apply them accordingly to your actual life experience
