Draconic astrology, also known as ‘nodal astrology’, points to a person’s life or soul purpose. While a regular (Tropical) chart describes the conditions of our current life, the draconic chart shows what the soul brings to the experience, both as gifts and challenges. The draconic chart is not an alternative to the Tropical chart, but rather invites us into a different dimension where we can examine themes raised in the Tropical chart on a deeper level.

Draconic astrology has its origins in the ancient city of Babylon, the centre of Mesopotamian civilisation, but didn’t rise in the modern astrological mind until the 1950s. Since then the most significant event in Draconic Astrology was the publishing of Pam Crane’s Draconic Astrology in 1987. I have the updated version of this book (titled The Draconic Chart published in 2019) and I have used it, along with Victor Olliver’s Chasing the Dragons: An Introduction to Draconic Astrology to study this most enlightening form of astrology.

The Tropical and Draconic Zodiac

Without getting too technical, the tropical zodiac is what gives us our 12 astrological (or Sun) signs neatly divided into 30 degrees each. The tropical zodiac begins when the Sun crosses the celestial equator at 0 degrees Aries and continues in 30 degree chunks through the other 11 signs, following the Sun’s apparent path through our sky (known as the ecliptic).

While the Sun is the key player in the Tropical Zodiac, the Moon is the key player in Draconic astrology. While the Tropical Zodiac resets each year when the Sun passes 0 degrees Aries, Draconic astrology places the north node of the Moon at 0 degrees Aries.

A Crash Course on the Nodes of the Moon

The Nodes of the Moon are not bodies in the sky, they are points. Specifically they are the two points where the Moon’s orbit crosses the ecliptic (the Sun’s imaginary path through the sky). The North Node is the point where the Moon moves into the Northern Hemisphere and the South Node is the point where the Moon moves into the Southern Hemisphere.

Symbolically the nodes of the Moon are said to represent a dragon, with the north the head and the south the tail. I liked that symbolism so much that I named by Draconic reading Seize the Dragon’s Tail.

There are almost as many approaches to interpreting the nodes of the Moon as there are astrologers. I take a psychological and evolutionary approach when reading Tropical charts which is appropriate for Draconic interpretation. In traditional and horary astrology, the South Node is interpreted as a malefic, a point where energy drains or dwindles. While I am not discounting these approaches, each to their own and all that, they are simply not appropriate for use in the Draconic chart.

So What Do The Moon’s Nodes Do?

The South Node is traditionally considered to represent past lives or early experiences in this life, that which you’ve brought with you and the areas/behaviours where you feel most comfortable. Think of the South Node as a safe home base to which you retreat when the waters of life get too rough.

The North Node is traditionally said to represent our destiny, or the way forward. It is a place we are either drawn to, or actively head towards via our life experiences. We are born to grow, to learn, to evolve, and the North Node is similar to the North Star when it comes to soul evolution. But just because we are drawn to it, doesn’t mean that the path to the North Node is easy. Other indicators in the chart will tell us whether our path is smooth or rough. But the fact remains, for those who seek liberation, individuation, or simply self-exploration in this life, the North Node is the guiding light.

And that’s where Draconic Astrology comes into its own.

The nodal axis is seen as a soul or destiny line. The general interpretation is that the soul comes in through the South Node, bringing with it both treasure and baggage, and sets off, via challenges, life experiences and the like, to the growth point of the North Node.

Which ever way you look at the nodes, astrologers agree on one thing: they indicate a life or soul purpose, unique to each individual.

And that’s where Draconic astrology comes into its own.

The Essence of Draconic Astrology

To understand the Draconic chart, we must begin with the Tropical chart. If you’re reading this article I’ll wager you have a copy of your chart somewhere and you’ll know where your nodes are by sign and house.

As I mentioned earlier, the Draconic chart sets the North Node at 0 degrees Aries. To do that, you simply rotate your entire chart wheel until your North Node is at 0 degrees Aries.

And you have your Draconic chart.

The simplest way to do this is to use your preferred astrology software, or go to astro.com, and in the dropdown box where you’ve selected “Tropical” scroll down until you see “Draconic”. Select that, hit “Calculate chart” and voila! Your Draconic chart.

What Does it all Mean?

When you cast your Draconic chart you’ll notice one thing immediately: your planets and points will remain in the same houses with the same aspects, but will have (more than likely) changed signs. The exception to this is where your natal north node is close to 0 degrees Aries.

An early reminder here: the Draconic chart does not replace your Tropical chart, nor is it an alternative to it. It is a supplementary chart, used to magnify and clarify themes of life or soul purpose, themes which may be hinted at in, or absent from, the Tropical chart. The two charts are ultimately read together, although a separate analysis first is critical.

The Draconic Analysis in a Nutshell

The following is simple step-by-step breakdown of the Draconic analysis:

Chart structure – begin by reviewing the structure of both charts. Note the signs, elements, houses and modalities of each planet, as well as the house modalities. Note if any planet gains or loses dignity/detriment/exaltation/fall. Note if any elements increase, or vanish. Note the movement of planets to different house modalities.

Delineation of each chart – assuming you know your own chart, this involves delineating the changes in sign, element, modality and any promotions/demotions of planets in the draconic chart.

Comparing the charts – create a bi-wheel with the Tropical chart on the inner wheel and the Draconic chart on the outer wheel. This is where you create a “synastry of the self” as Victor Olliver calls it. Note which Tropical houses your Draconic placements fall into, paying particular attention to the Nodes and the angles. Look for conjunctions, squares and oppositions from the Draco chart back to the Tropical chart for dynamic aspects that indicate the tensions and challenges in living the life or soul purpose.

Synthesis – this is the most challenging part of the analysis. You have accumulated/created a great deal of data in producing both charts, then comparing them. But throughout the process you will have seen recurring themes. Look for patterns that link the separate parts of the process. Those are your greatest clues to confirmation of the life, or soul, purpose.

Interpreting Your Draconic Chart

Explaining the value of the Draconic chart is best done via the use of an example, so I’ve included my own natal and draconic charts here. I hope they are of some use to you if you choose to do your own Draconic analysis.

First step: Analysis of my Tropical chart

My natal chart is a mixture of cardinal/fixed and earth/air planets primarily located in angular/succedent houses. I have stelliums in Capricorn and Aquarius and my North Node is in Leo in the 8^th house. I only have one planet each in fire and water signs, and both are generational. All my personal planets sit below the horizon (Mars is so close to my ASC I treat it as a first house planet).

When interpreting a Tropical chart as part of the Draconic analysis, I start with the Moon. Draconic Astrology is lunar-centred so it stands to reason that the Moon’s importance is elevated in the Draco reading.

My Tropical Moon is in Gemini in the 6^th house. I am happiest and most comfortable when communicating either by writing or speaking. I am also something of an eternal student, signified by the trines to Mercury/Jupiter/South Node, a configuration that suggests past life patterns and gifts.

So a basic interpretation here is: good communication skills combined with discipline, drive, leadership and originality with a self-starting, entrepreneurial style and preference for stability.

As an aside, this is a necessarily brief assessment of my Tropical chart. While I haven’t included anything about my natal North (or South) Node to this point, I always hold the nodal axis in the back of my mind while doing this analysis. After all, the purpose of a Draconic reading is to provide clarity on the evolutionary journey in this life, represented by the placement of the nodal axis of the Moon in the Tropical chart.

Enter the Draconic chart

The first thing that jumps out with my Draconic chart is the emphasis of Virgo – 6 planets to be exact – and the disappearance altogether of water. The traditional water planets (Moon, Pluto, Neptune) are in air and fire signs, so water is entirely absent from this chart. This could be an area of struggle, with feelings of disconnection from others, feelings that I overcame by training myself to “read” people and situations to gain a connection with them. The Draco chart is heavily mutable with a greater emphasis on earth. This suggests that a part of my life purpose is to be adaptable, flexible, and to develop practical communication skills.

The Draco Moon moves to Aquarius which signifies a need for objectivity and a desire to break free from conditioning. As the Moon is the major driver in the Draco chart, its Draco placement takes on elevated importance. My Gemini Moon’s need for communication radiates through, and benefits from, Aquarian themes of originality, authenticity, and individuation. A key part of my life purpose is to find my authentic voice and communicate original ideas.

A Quick Note (or Reminder) Before Comparing the Charts

When comparing the Draconic chart with the Tropical chart it’s important to remember that the Draconic chart lays out a road map for growth potential. It is not an alternative to your Tropical chart. Think of the planetary sign changes as new qualities to embrace, or ways to operate. For example, if your Tropical Sun is in Pisces and your Draco Sun is in Leo, you don’t stop being a Pisces and suddenly become a Leo. Your Pisces characteristics are the core of who you are, and with a Draco Leo Sun you may be asked to direct those Pisces characteristics (compassion, mysticism, service) through creative self-expression (Leo). Similarly, if a planet in your Draconic chart makes an aspect to a planet in your Tropical chart, it doesn’t change the way that Tropical planet operates. Instead, it provides a deeper layer of analysis to perhaps help understand the evolutionary path and purpose of that Tropical planet

Comparing the Tropical and Draconic Charts

When comparing the Tropical and Draconic charts, I first create a bi-wheel with the Tropical chart in the inner wheel, and the Draconic chart on the outer wheel. Many Draco astrologers stop there, but I like to then flip the script and examine the charts with Draco on the inner wheel and Tropical on the outer as well. I do this at the very end, and what I find almost always confirms and highlights the most important findings of the Tropical/Draco analysis and further embeds themes relevant to the life purpose.

Now back to the chart comparison

Firstly, I eye-ball the charts, in particular the house placements. My heavily angular/succedent Tropical chart takes on a distinctly cadent flavour with the Draco wheel added, further emphasising the themes of learning and communication. Importantly the North Node moves to the 3^rd house of communication, cementing this as a life purpose theme. 

The 9^th house/Virgo emphasis brings learning/communication and discrimination/analysis to my Tropical 1^st house/Capricorn (self-starting, leading with authority, discipline, focus) and 2^nd house/Aquarius (urge to be different, originality, rebellion). I can be naturally very much “my way or the highway” which reflects these Tropical Capricorn/Aquarius 1^st and 2^nd house energies. By adding the Virgo qualities of humility, service, consideration of others and discrimination, I become a far better leader, and indeed, a much more likeable person. The cadent house energy of learning and communication, particularly in the 9^th house, adds the potential for openness and expansiveness to my thinking, beliefs and communication style, something that is lacking in my Tropical chart.

As with Tropical chart analysis, I look for conjunctions, squares and oppositions to show me where strengths, challenges and blockages lie. Conjunctions are the most prevalent aspects when comparing these two charts. My Draco Sun goes to the same degree as my Tropical Pluto, Draco Neptune goes to Tropical Moon, and Draco Moon wedges itself between my Tropical Sun and Saturn. My Draco Pluto also makes a square to Tropical Mars/ASC/Venus/Sun. Simple analyses of these aspects are below.

Draco Sun conjunct Tropical Pluto amplifies and deepens the power of my Tropical first house Capricorn Sun. I am called to develop a sense of my personal power, intensity and transformative powers as part of my life purpose.

Draco Neptune conjunct Tropical Moon brings themes of compassion and spirituality/mysticism to my communications.

Draco Moon conjunct Tropical Sun & Saturn is an interesting one for me. While the practice of Draconic Astrology focuses on the Moon and its themes of emotion, conditioning and the past, my Draco Moon is in detached Aquarius, conjunct my Tropical authoritative Capricorn Sun and hermit oriented Saturn in Aquarius. It seems that my life purpose involves remaining objective, and to a certain extent detached, from what I am experiencing so as to properly analyse and communicate it.

Draco Pluto square Tropical Capricorn planets magnifies the importance of Pluto in both my Draconic and Tropical charts. The square to my Tropical Sun in particular repeats the earlier Draco Sun conjunct Tropical Pluto placement.

There is so much more to comparing the Draconic and Tropical charts but the above will hopefully give you an idea of the process and the value of engaging in it.

Synthesis

Remember to look for repeating patterns across the Tropical, Draconic and comparison charts. The value of this approach cannot be over-stated. By identifying repeating themes you are essentially reading the soul’s blueprint for this life. This allows you to elevate the importance of those themes in the natal chart, and ensures you are focusing on the most important elements of a chart, which of course translates to the most important areas of someone’s life.

The following are the key takeaways from my chart analysis:

Sun/Pluto/8^th house – the repeating themes of self-expression (Sun & Node), power (Pluto), destiny (North Node), and the psyche (8^th house) form the fulcrum of my life purpose. The Sun/Pluto/Node/8^th house signature indicates that I am a transformer and a pioneer. I was born to transform myself and lead others down their own transformative path.

Moon/Nodes/3^rd house/9^th house – the theme of communication runs strongly through my analysis. Tropical Gemini Moon and Draco Node in the 3^rd house are clear indicators that communication is key to my life purpose. The 9^th house stellium in the comparison chart also points to learning and communication being major themes in my life purpose.

Virgo/9^th house/Pluto – the search for meaning is a major theme in my chart, and my life. With 5 of my 6 Tropical planets going to Draco Virgo in the 9^th house, it clear that themes of meaning, religion, philosophy, study or travel are essential to my life purpose.

This is only a brief summary of a more comprehensive analysis, but hopefully it will give you an idea of something to move forward with in your own chart.

Finally, The Inside Out Analysis

I mentioned before that I also like to compare the charts with the Draconic in the inner wheel and the Tropical chart in the outer wheel. Mine is reproduced below.

Doing this may help you embed themes, and sometimes it gives you something new to think about. In my case it’s a sign of cosmic elegance that confirms everything I already know.

I’ll leave this with you to look through, but suffice it to say, there’s very little in this final chart that isn’t a repeat of something in one of the earlier charts. If anything, it only serves to emphasise the life purpose themes discussed in the synergy above.

Seize the Dragon’s Tail Readings

If you’d like to book a Draconic reading with me, you can do that here. As I’ve mentioned, I don’t recommend this as your first chart reading, but if you have even a basic knowledge of your birth chart, a Draconic reading will not only illuminate aspects of yourself it will shed light on that most coveted prize – the life or soul purpose.