Nature and Mythology of the South Node

The South Node, or Ketu in the Vedic tradition, is not a physical celestial body. It is a mathematical point — the intersection of the Moon's orbit with the ecliptic. In classical Western astrology, it represents the "dragon's tail," symbolizing what we have already mastered and what we must release for further growth.

Functions in the Natal Chart

The South Node governs everything that comes easily to a person, almost automatically. These are our innate talents, habits, and behavioral patterns. It shows:

• Karmic baggage: Experience of previous incarnations or the genetic memory of the lineage.
• Comfort zone: Spheres of life where we feel safe, but where development has practically stopped.
• Resource base: Tools that we can use as a "springboard" for movement toward the North Node.

Analysis via Houses and Dispositors

The position of the South Node in a house indicates the sphere in which the personality has already achieved a certain mastery but is prone to stagnation. A crucial element of the analysis is the dispositor of the Node (the ruling planet of the sign in which the Node is located). It is the dispositor that shows how we use past experience and what exactly keeps us in a familiar scenario. If the dispositor is afflicted, letting go of old habits may be accompanied by a serious psychological crisis or a sense of loss of identity.