3/8/2018 Aspects of Nodes

Wendy Vasicek Aspects of Nodes More Articles

Published Article (PGA 2002)

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Aspects of Nodes
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Home True or Mean Nodes
>VedicAstroAdvice< is in breach of copyright - see text of plagiarized
material *highlighted* below. The Effects of 10th Lord
J.V. Articles
Cosmic Counterparts
House Significations
*There are many controversial topics within the jyotish community today. I Ruby - The Sun Gem
Significations of Planets daresay this has always been the case and not unique to our time. The Vedanga
correct/incorrect ayanamsha (as discussed in previous article) pales into
Online Library insignificance beside the hotly debated question of nodal aspects.* Navamsha
Download Books Srinkhala
Maharishi Parashara, the father of Vedic astrology, is quite specific about
Healing Power of Gems the planets aspects but nowhere does he attribute any (specific) aspects to House of Father
and Mantras the nodes...one cannot for a moment imagine the omission of such an The Point of Deepest Fall
important dictum to be an oversight by Parashara.
Medical Astrology Length of Year - Dasa
As per the dictates of Parashara, all planets, except the Nodes (Rahu and Identical Charts of Twins
Directory of Astrologers Ketu), cast a 100% or full aspect on the house opposite their natal position.
This is known as the 7th aspect. The outer or superior planets (Mars, Jyotisha
Horoscopes
Jupiter and Saturn), having some extra values, also cast a full aspect on Jaimini or Parashara
Holy Tradition 4th & 8th, 5th & 9th and 3rd & 10th (respectively) from their natal
(Parampara) The Untold Story
position...see following table:
Tradition v/s non-tradition
Biblical Astrology
(Parampara) Maharshi Parasara (Graha) Aspects Proof that I'm a Rogue

Planet Aspect Authenticity of BPHS

Mahamrtyunjaya
Sun 7th from itself The 27 Nakshatras
Gayatri Mantra
Moon 7th from itself The Use of Divisionals
The Process of Karma
Mars 4th, 7th, 8th from itself Bhavat Bhavam
Recommended Links 27 BirthYogas
Mercury 7th from itself
Visitors Comments Combust/Retrograde
Jupiter 5th, 7th, 9th from itself
Recommend Reading Venus 7th from itself Role of Dispositors

Saturn 3rd, 7th, 10th from itself

As per BPHS Ch.26:2-5

All physical planets (including the inner or inferior planet) cast minor According to mythology the
aspects as per the below table. nodes are two halves of a
rakshasa (demon) who
Degree of aspects for all physical planets concealed himself in the
Aspecting 3rd & 10th 5th & 9th 4th & 8th midst of the planetary
Planet aspect aspect aspect beings when they drank the
amrita of immortality
Sun 25% 50% 75% distributed by Lord Vishnu.
Moon 25% 50% 75%
Mars 25% 50% 100%
Mercury 25% 50% 75%
Jupiter 25% 100% 75%
Venus 25% 50% 75%
Saturn 100% 50% 75%
Again, it's important to note that nowhere does the great sage attribute
any aspects, full or otherwise, to the Nodes (Rahu and Ketu).
We should understand that any references (in BPHS) to these so-called
aspects is in relation to Jaimini system where it's the signs (not the
planets) that aspect.
He was discovered by the
luminaries (Sun & Moon)
only after he'd drank of the
*We need to consider also the fact that, although there are certain nectar, thereby becoming
immortal (along with the

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3/8/2018 Aspects of Nodes
avasthas that state a planet is harmed when conjoined a Node (or Saturn other divine planets) with
or Mars), these same group of avasthas do not even assign Rahu and Ketu the same ability to manifest
an aspectual value in virupas as they are shadow planets--not planets with each time a being is born.
a form (avasthas are ways to measure planetary strength).
Upon his discovery Lord
In the classics Rahu and Ketu are mainly ignored in this way. No doubt the Vishnu immediately
planets affect (by aspect) the houses occupied by the nodes (obvious logic) severed the demon's head
but the Nodes themselves neither cast nor receive any aspect directly. with his chakra. The head
The reason for this is very simple and is due (primarily) to the physical became Rahu and the
nature of the planets. A planet casts (or throws) it's aspect/influence as do bottom half became Ketu
all physical objects in the universe. The nodes however, having no physical (the headless trunk).
body, are incapable of casting any aspect. Their influence, according to the A rakshasa (in general) is a
wise sages, as well as the laws of nature, is confined to their own type of demon who has the
(mathematical) position...this, after all, is just what they are...a power to change into any
mathematical point on the ecliptic where the Moon intersects as it orbits the form including animals and
earth. monsters or, in the case of
Since the plane of the Moon's orbit is tilted at an angle to the earth's orbit, a female (rakshasi), into a
the planes intersect at a line called the line of nodes. The node where the beautiful woman.
two intersect as the Moon is crossing the earth's orbit traveling northward is In this way the rakshasa,
called the ascending, or north, node. The opposite node is the descending, who was to become Rahu
or south, node. and Ketu, concealed
Any planet conjunct (either) point at birth is greatly influenced by this himself amidst the
phenomena...an eclipse, for instance, occurs when either Sun or Moon is planetary beings.
conjunct a node.*
More Pictures of Rahu
*Without a doubt the nodes do have a very strong and specific
influence on the planets they conjoin and, because of this, they're
treated as planets in Vedic astrology. However, as they have no
physical body, they're known as the shadowy planets and, unable to act
independantly, their influence is confined to the house they occupy, the
planet(s) they conjoin and their dispositor (the planet who's house they
occupy).*

Rahu as the Protector of Dharma

*The north node (Rahu) is compulsive and extroverted by nature and will
draw us strongly towards the significations of the planet he conjoins and
the affairs of the house he occupies. Rahu draws us to the things of the
world and in the 10th house, if other factors support it, can indicate great
fame...*
Mahatma Gandhi's horoscope is an example of this with Rahu conjunct
10th lord Moon in 10th...see chart below.

Another example (below chart) is of a young astrology student who,

during dasa of 10th lord Mercury (dispositor of moolatrikona Rahu), has
had a phenomenal rise in recognition via the internet. In just 18 mths this
native has overtaken most, if not all, Jyotish Groups in terms of
membership. Although young and relatively inexperienced, Rahu has
catapulted him to the top. Mercury signifies writing/communicating and
certainly this native is a prolific writer/communicator with several articles to
his credit.
NB: although the example charts used throughout this site were all
previously given willingly for public scrutiny/study, their identity and
personal information have been withheld to respect privacy.

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Of course the charts of famous figures such as Mahatma Gandhi and
Donald Trump, very much in the public domain, are available to all for open
discussion.

*The south node (Ketu) is diametrically opposite in nature; secretive and/or

shy, introverted and restrictive. In 10th Ketu may well indicate an
extraordinary or unconventional career, however the native is likely to
remain relatively detached from the fruits of his actions. Ketu's basic
tendency is to restrict/obstruct the significations of the planet he conjoins
and/or the affairs of the house he occupies...such obstructions can be
difficult to define due to Ketu's secretive nature.*
Donald Trump (horoscope below) is an excellent example of the effect of
both Nodes as they influence the two luminaries (Sun and Moon).
2nd lord Sun conjunct Rahu occupies 11th house of 'Gains' (income and
profits) whilst debilitated lagna lord Moon conjunct Ketu occupies 5th house
of 'Mind' (judgment, discretion, romance etc).

Generally speaking Rahu's influence on (any) planet intensifies/magnifies

the significations of the conjoined planet whilst Ketu's conjunction can
indicate unusual/unconventional behaviour and/or ill-defined obstruction to
the significations of the conjoined planet and the houses ruled by that
planet.
In Trump's case there can be no doubt that he, a flamboyant character fond
of the limelight, is extremely egocentric...his way or the highway! This is
accentuated, of course, with SU/RA in fixed sign of Taurus whilst Sun's
nakshatra lord (Mars) occupies the fixed sign of Leo.
*Because of Ketu's quality of non-attachment he is known as Moksha
Karaka... moksha means enlightenment and karaka means significator.
Ketu therefore is the significator of enlightenment. The significance of this
can be seen in the following <horoscope>*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Two of the most prominent (newly formed) schools of today; Systems
Approach (S.A.) founded by professor V.K. Choudhry, and SJVC founded
by Sanjay Rath (as well as a handful of other modern day astrologers)
propagate nodal aspects. These schools have large followings and, as the
novice students trust implicitly in their teachings, it's fast becoming the
accepted rule that the nodes aspect the 5th, 7th and 9th houses from
themselves. Some also state that they aspect the 12th and 2nd (from their
position). This was never taught by the great sage, Parashara...it's a "new
vogue" concept that is spreading throughout the jyotish community.

Frequency of Eclipses:
(source: flycapers.com)
As the Moon orbits the Earth, the Sun, Earth and Moon approximately line
up about every 29.5 days. At this time the Moon is either at New Phase
(when the Moon is between the Earth and Sun) or Full Phase (when the
Earth is between the Moon and Sun). However, the Moon usually does not
pass in front of the Sun (causing a solar eclipse), nor does the Moon pass
into the Earth's shadow (causing a lunar eclipse) since the Moon's orbit is
inclined about 5 degree to the plane of the Earth's orbit around the Sun.

Solar and lunar eclipses can only occur when the Moon is near (±18°) one
of the two points where the Moon's and Earth's orbits cross (called nodes).
This allows the Moon to pass at least partially in front of the Sun (a solar
eclipse), or at least partially move into the Earth's shadow (a lunar eclipse).
That is, for eclipses to occur the Moon must be at New or Full Phase and
the line of nodes must point toward Sun (as in points 1 or 3 below).
Otherwise the Moon will not lie in the plane of the Earth's orbit and eclipses
will not be possible (such as point 2).

Lunar Nodes and Eclipses:

The Moon's orbit is inclined about 5° to the plane of the
Earth's orbit around the Sun.

Every six months the nodes line up with the Sun's direction and solar
eclipses become possible at the time of New Moon. Likewise lunar eclipses
become possible at the time of Full Moon. These two intervals of time when
solar and lunar eclipses are possible are called eclipse seasons.

NOTE:
The eminent jyotishi, *Pandit Gopesh Kumar Ojha, in his book "Predictive
Astrology of the Hindus" states categorically that;
"Rahu and Ketu neither aspect nor are they aspected. Certainly, if the
house they occupy is aspected, the quality of that house is influenced by
the aspecting planet and in this way, according to traditional astrologers,
we say that Rahu or Ketu are aspected by a benefic or malefic but they do
not themselves come under the realm of aspects as do the other (physical)
planets."*
I am in full agreement with this!
*Strictly speaking Rahu and Ketu are affected by conjunction only. They
show their effect through their dispositor and the conjunct planet. Rahu
often indicates a compulsive attraction to the significations of the conjunct
planet, whereas Ketu can indicate restriction and/or unusual behaviour of
the conjunct planet.
The effect (nature/disposition) of the Nodes is also greatly influenced by
the lord of the nakshatra (constellation) they occupy.*

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