um, yeah - finally. Here's the info.
(sorry, I havent had much online time lately- dont have a computer at home)
*excuse any typosFrom AstroAlchemy - Making the Most of Your Transits by Joan Negus
Chapter 9 The Moon's Nodes
Function
Like the planets, the transiting mean node axis also has a function. The nodal axis is connected with relationships. In the natal chart the signs and houses in which the nocdes are posited, along with the aspects they form with the natal planets and points, provide clues as to how we interact with others. The transiting nodal axis informs us of what others are activation within us at a particular time.
Whether a transiting planet is aspecting your natal nodes, or the transiting nodes are aspecting a natal planet, other people will be playing an important role in current situations. The difference is that if a transiting planet is activating your natal nodes, YOU will be applying the energies ascribed to the planet in your associations. Whereas the transiting nodes aspecting a natal planet indicate that SOMEONE ELSE will be triggering the principles associated with that planet within you. For example, transiting Saturn aspecting your nodes could mean that you are examining responsibilities or commitments in a relationship. The idea to do this comes from you. You are the initiator. If, however the transiting nodal axis were aspecting your natal Saturn, another person is somehow influencing you to examine your responsiblities or commitments. The thought or situation is initiated by someone else, but how you respond is still up to you.
How you might feel with nodal transits
Perhaps it is inaccurate to say that the transiting nodes by themselves symbolize or elicit certain rumblings within us. What they do is highlight feelings associated with the planet or point they are activating, as illustrated above. The sensations experienced with the nodal axis transiting Saturn were Saturnian. In other words, another individual is responsible for your examining your commitments. Had it been Uranus, someone else would have been brought forth matters pertaining to Uranus, etc. The common denominator is that the stimulus is external when the transiting nodes are involved.
How Nodal Aspects May Be Used
In spite of the fact that transits from the nodes indicate that someone is affecting you, it is still possible to use them advantageously. Being aware of the aspects allows you to know what is going to be activated within you so that you can prepare before it occurs, or at least try to direct the situation as relevant factors arise.
The nodal cycle itself can provide strong evidence of the effect others can have upon us. The nodal cycle takes 18.61 years and makes a major hard aspect to its natal position every 4.65 years. The premise here is that some relationship would have an impact on the manner in which you interact with others. With an aspect of transiting node to natal node you would not wake up one morining and, for no apparent reason, decide that today you will start dealing with people differently. Instead, outward circumstances would seem to dictate this. A study on the nodal cycle and its significance in the lives of US presidents was conducted by Ken Negus corroborating the above premise. He concentrated on the conjunctions and oppositions and found that the transiting north node conjunct or opposite natal north node in most cases coincided with events important enought to be mentioned in biographical sketches. The events ranged from entering office and getting married on the one hand, to leaving office and death on the other. Obviously some occurrences were more desirable than others, but all inferred relatiing to people or society-at-large in a different way. This is even applicable in death since that is the cessation of worldly relationships.
Although none of my clients have the impact on the world that US presidents have, they still usually experience some kind of external change in their relationships because of others, when the transiting north node conjoins and opposes the natal north node. I have also found that the squares are significant, and interpret these as much as I do the conjunctions and oppositions. The nodal return, however does seem to be the most significant aspect of the cycle.
(she goes on with a lengthy example..)
This example made me think that there might be something we can do with node aspects. Even though others may be influencing us to relat differently (as with transiting nodes to natal nodes) or to get in touch with certain functions within ourselves (transiting nodes to natal planets), perhaps a little groundwork or research in advance might be helpful. It could be that we are given clues in advance of the aspect. If we know what is likely to be activated, we can seek out people who can help us express the appropriate motifs positively, or at least prepare us for the types of situations that might arise. If we understand the issues and are channeling our various drives positively, we need not have negative experiences. Since that time I have been using that approach with clients, and most of the feedback has been positive.
(she then goes into the effects of the nodes aspecting each planet, the angles and house cusps.)
Hope you found that useful, lioneye.