The Head and Tail of the Dragon (or as they are modernly called “North and South Nodes”) are widely overlooked in Modern Astrology therefore I felt it appropriate to include some information concerning these points to help students who may not fully understand their influence or what they mean in the chart. The majority of Nativities only include the North Node (or Head of the Dragon). Know that the South Node (or Tail of the Dragon) is 180 degrees opposite to the North Node therefore with the placement of the North Node you can easily find the South Node by looking at the reverse. This polarity aspect between them also illustrates their dual nature, one being benevolent the other malevolent. According to John Partridge the Head of the Dragon has the power of benevolence as strong as Jupiter and the Tail the strength of malevolence of Saturn. He summarizes what the influence of the nodes are by stating; The Dragons Head and Tail are no stars, but nodes, or imaginary points in the Heavens and is no more but an intersection of the ecliptic and orb of the Moon, to which points when she comes, she changes the denomination of her latitude.
The Dragons Head is accounted a fortune, and doth increase the good of the fortunate stars, and abateth the force of evil ones.
The Dragons Tail is esteemed an infortune, and doth increase the evil of the infortunes, and abateth the good of the fortunate stars.
Further, there is another opinion which is worth adding to this which is slightly contrary to the one stated above. It is stated that when the Head of the Dragon is in conjunction with any Planets in the chart, it is to be observed that it increases the Nature of the Planet it is joined with. This means if the Head is conjoined with Jupiter, it increases the benevolence of Jupiter (if Jupiter is benevolent acting in the chart). If this conjunction occurs with Saturn, then it increases the malevolency of Saturn (if he be malevolent). The Tail of the Dragon being opposite in nature to the Head, has the reverse effects when conjoined with a Planet. This means that if the Tail of the Dragon is joined with Jupiter, it causes Jupiters influence to be made malevolent rather than benevolent (being that it goes against his nature). As with the Tail joined with Saturn will produce Saturns influence to be benevolent instead of malevolent. I believe this opinion to be stronger and more reliable than the above of Mr. Partridge. The Tail of the Dragon is also supposed to take on the Nature of Scorpio, which has rulership over pestilence and poisons. For example, if the Tail of the Dragon is found in the eighth House, it is likely that the Native shall die of some poisonous or pestilential thing.
To further illustrate the influence of the nodes on the Nativity I have included a list of traditional interpretations of the Head and Tail being placed in certain houses. It is also to be noted that the exaltation of the Head of the Dragon is 3° of Gemini, making the Tails exaltation at 3° Sagittarius and each of their Falls reverse. The Head of the Dragon being in his exaltation increases his benevolence and in his Fall decreases his benevolence.
1st House;
The Head of the Dragon in the Ascendant, gives honors, riches, and favors of great and honorable personages, chiefly in church affairs; also a fortunate and powerful life.
The Tail of the Dragon in the Ascendant always produceth much mischief and trouble, perplexity both of body and mind; continual dolor, sorrow, loss and tribulations; scandals and calumnies attend the Native; it vitiates his face; many times is dangerous to the eyes. If near the Ascendant, it imports but short life.
2nd House;
The Dragons head in the second, takes of all want and penury from the Native, and gives him great riches, and hereditaments, and possessions; Fortune and prosperity in the same: and this chiefly from things Ecclesiastical.
The Dragons tail, brings much damage, sorrow, and adverse Fortune to the Native; a certain destruction of his estate; and signifies, that he will still be in fear and danger (and not without reason) of falling below his ordinary condition.
3rd House;
The Head of the Dragon in the third, makes the Native religious, and prefers him by such mean; fortunates him in journeys; gives him fortunate brethren, and shows their birth to be Noble.
The Tail in the third, infortunates the Native’s journeys; threatens destruction to his brethren, and sisters, and kidred; and shows much quarreling and disagreement between the Native and them : they seldom agree; but are always jarring; yea, sometimes plotting, the destruction of each other, with much violence.
4th House;
The Dragon’s Head in the fourth, argues much gain and accrue unto the Native from Lands, Houses, Inheritances, & etc. oftentimes much gain unthought-of, or unexpected, as by things hid and obscured, and the like. It also shows, the family from whence he springs, to be noble, long lived, and durable.
The Dragon’s Tail, shows much labor and sorrow to the Native; and confusion and waste of his Patrimony; loss of lands, buildings, and all kinds of edifices; trouble and anxiety in the life or lives of his ancestor, or ancestors : loss of estimation and credit.
5th House;
The Dragon’s Head in the fifth House, frees the Native from many troubles, calamities and dangers; gives unto him many children, and those long lived, and very fortunate : the Native receives some public employment or office; gains much thereby : he is delighted with civil recreations and pleasures.
The Dragon’s Tail in the fifth, doth either deny issue, or else portends the destruction of the Native’s Children, by violent deaths : much cruelty and adversity while they live, makes them cross, vexatious and disobedient unto the Native. IT destroys the Native’s pleasures and delights; indicates much evil unto him, to proceed from vain, irregular and voluptuous courses.
6th House;
In the sixth House, declares Good, and faithful, and honest servants; portends health of body, and a good constitution, or that very few diseases shall assault the Native : he will be fortunate in his Father’s kindred, and in beasts of the smaller sort.
The Dragon’s Tail in the sixth House, shows that the Native shall be afflicted with many mischievous diseases; and crossed, plagued, and perplexed with evil conditioned servants.
7th House;
The Dragon’s Head in the seventh, denotes very few enemies; but portends much good from women : and that he shall use their companies, and delights therein. It also denotes great riches with a wife, or wives; and shows her to be of an honest, prudent, and excellent carriage and behavior.
The Dragon’s Tail in the seventh, portends many public enemies unto the Native, and many prodigious calumnies, scandals, and disgraces from them; and that constantly : but my author says, it portends (also) their destruction. It declares a cross and unhappy marriage, always brawling and contentions between the Native and his wife; never quiet; continual discontents and murmurings, jealousies, & etc. many times, separations. It denotes also, the death or dissolution of the wife or wives.
8th House;
The Dragon’s Head in the eighth, prenotes a long and healthful life, and gives the Native inheritances and honors, and gifts and legacies, by the means of persons deceased.
The Dragon’s Tail in the eighth House, denotes a loss of goods; and threatens the Native with a violent death.
9th House;
The Dragon’s Head in the ninth, declares the Native to be Religious, and confers on him riches and honor, by such means : his dreams, and revelations, and visions, (to speak like an enthusiast) will for the most part prove true and certain : his sea voyages, or long land journeys, will prove propitious unto him, unless he shall be afflicted by the malignant beams of the Infortunes there.
The Dragon’s Tail posited in the ninth House of the Nativity, discovers the Native to be unstable and wavering in matters of religion : he will be suspicious, and of evil faith; he often proves a pestilent heretic
10th House;
If the Dragon’s Head shall be happily, and fortunately posited in the tenth House, it denotes honor and preferment unto the Native, (let his condition be what it will) and that he shall grow rich : it also shows him to be of a good and honest life.
The Dragon’s Tail in the tenth, declares loss of honor, reputation, credit and esteem unto the Native; a deprivation of all worldly honor and preferment : it throws or precipitates him from the chief pinnacle of Dignity, into the very jaws of the dungeon : sometimes he is condemned to perpetual imprisonment or exile : it also portends short life to the Mother of the Native; and the time she doth live, much infelicity.
11th House;
The Dragon’s Head in the eleventh, gives the Native much familiarity and friendship with Princes, and great persons; and denotes much honor and riches from them.
The Dragon’s Tail in the eleventh, separates between the Native and his friends; and portends many strife’s and contentions he shall have with them : he cannot obtain anything he hopes for, without much difficulty.
12th House;
The Head of the Dragon in the twelfth, imports many enemies unto the Native; subjects him to penury and servitude : it fortunates him in great beasts.
The Tail of the Dragon in the twelfth of a Nativity, denotes many oppressions unto the Enemies of the Native; yet the Native rarely escapes prejudice thereby : he is prejudiced by dealing in great cattle.
