Someone recently asked me what the difference is between the Mean and True Nodes, and they also brought up Lilith while we were at it, so I thought, why not just explain it here for everyone? It’s one of those topics that tends to trip people up, especially when they first start diving deeper into their birth chart.
If you’ve ever looked up your chart on two different astrology sites and noticed they list different placements for your North Node (or Black Moon Lilith), this is probably why!
First, What Are the Lunar Nodes?
The Lunar Nodes, aka the North Node and South Node (or Rahu and Ketu), aren’t physical celestial bodies like planets or asteroids. They’re actually points in space: where the Moon’s orbit around Earth intersects with the apparent path of the Sun (called the ecliptic).
The North Node points to your soul’s evolutionary path—highlighting the lessons you’re here to learn, the growth you’re meant to embrace, and the direction your life is naturally pulling you toward in this incarnation. For example, if your NN is in Scorpio, your path is all about going deeper, embracing transformation, emotional intensity, intimacy, and even the shadow aspects of life.
On the flip side, the South Node, which always sits directly opposite the North Node, reflects past life themes, familiar patterns, and traits you’ve already mastered or possibly relied on too heavily. If your North Node is in Scorpio, that means your South Node is in Taurus. This suggests that in past lifetimes (or earlier in this one), you were more focused on material security, comfort, stability, and perhaps even money or possessions. While those Taurus traits aren’t bad, they can hold you back if you cling to them too tightly.
In this life, you’re being called to lean into Scorpio’s depth, transformation, and emotional honesty—even if it feels uncomfortable at times. That’s where your soul growth lies.
The nodes are super important in karmic and evolutionary astrology, so knowing their accurate position is a big deal. I’m personally very sensitive to the nodes and their transits, especially now, in July 2025, as the North Node is exactly on my Pisces rising, and I can feel it deeply.
Mean Node vs. True Node
- Mean Node is a mathematical average of the Moon’s motion. It smooths out all the “wobbles” or fluctuations in the Moon’s actual path. It gives you a nice, steady calculation that astrologers can easily work with.
- True Node, on the other hand, takes into account those real-time wobbles and fluctuations. It reflects the actual movement of the Lunar Node, including its natural speed changes and even its occasional retrograde motion (yes, the nodes move backwards most of the time, but they do go direct sometimes too!).
So basically:
- Mean Node = averaged-out, smoother calculation
- True Node = exact, real-time position with all the fluctuations
The Mean Node is a smoothed-out, averaged calculation, while the True Node shows the Moon’s actual, real-time position. Sounds straightforward, right? But they can differ by up to 1.5 degrees in your chart. That might not seem like much, but it can really matter, especially if your North Node falls near the edge or cusp between two signs.
Which One Should You Use?
Ah, the age-old debate! Some astrologers swear by the True Node because it reflects the Moon’s actual movement. Others prefer the Mean Node because it creates a steadier, less erratic framework, especially in predictive work.
Here’s my take as an astrologer: both are valid, but they bring slightly different flavors to the table. The True Node can offer a more exact glimpse into the karmic energy present at the very moment you took your first breath. The Mean Node offers a more consistent karmic trajectory. Some even say the Mean Node speaks to your life-long karmic lesson, while the True Node reflects the karmic energy of the moment you entered this life.
If you’re a beginner, I suggest checking both and seeing which one resonates more deeply with your life experience. Many chart calculators default to the Mean Node unless you specify otherwise, so always double-check!
What About Lilith—Mean vs. True Again?
Now let’s talk Lilith, because it often comes up in the same context. When people talk about “Lilith” in astrology, they’re usually referring to Black Moon Lilith, another point in space, not a planet or asteroid. It represents the Moon’s apogee (the furthest point from Earth), and it speaks to themes like power, sexuality, repression, shadow work, and the parts of us we’ve been taught to hide.
Just like with the Lunar Nodes, we have:
- Mean Lilith, which is the average position
- True Lilith, which accounts for the Moon’s irregular orbit and shows its exact position
Lilith’s orbit is even more erratic than the Nodes’, so the difference between Mean and True Lilith can be quite significant, sometimes more than 10 degrees. That can shift her into a totally different sign or house.
Again, neither is right or wrong. Mean Lilith gives you the more consistent, archetypal energy of your shadow self. True Lilith can point to more raw, fluctuating, in-the-moment energies around feminine rage, sexuality, and hidden power. Some astrologers even work with both Liliths in chart readings for a fuller picture.
The Choice Is Yours
Whether you resonate more with the Mean or True Node (or with Mean vs. True Lilith), trust your intuition. Astrology isn’t just about numbers and orbits…it’s a symbolic language, a mirror reflecting your soul’s unique path.
Sometimes the Mean placement brings a quiet “aha” of recognition. Other times, it’s the True position that strikes like a lightning bolt, stirring something deep within. In my experience, both offer meaningful insight and are worth exploring, but if I had to choose one, I’d go with the True Node.
