Discovering why we’re on the planet is a big question, and one that plagues all of us. What are we really supposed to be doing with our lives? Where should we put our energy and attention? Should we focus on the things that are easy and come naturally, or should we concentrate on something more demanding?

The good news is that this year, I discovered one really easy way to get a little closer to living your purpose, and it all comes down to astrology!

You might remember that in April, I headed to Tulum with the AstroTwins. A week spent with the sand between my toes, learning about astrology with an absolutely incredible group of women was exactly what the doctor ordered.

We learned so much in our lessons, and the whole week was a refreshing and fun insight into what made us all tick. But one segment really stood out to me, and that was learning about the South and North nodes. The nodes are your destiny points, and they show you what comes naturally, and what you should put more effort into.

The nodes are really easy to study: you don’t even need to know your birth-time! The nodes change signs every 18 months, so everyone born within a year and a half period is here to learn similar lessons around a specific theme.

So, what are the nodes all about, and how does it relate to your life purpose? Sometimes we look at the things that come easily or naturally to us and think that this is what we should be doing with our lives, but often, that doesn’t feel very satisfying. We want a bigger challenge, something to sink our teeth into, and that’s what the nodes show us.

As the AstroTwins say,

“The North Node is the exact opposite zodiac sign of the South Node. It illuminates the terrain that’s calling your name, but climbing to the peak of this mountain is like trekking up Mt. Everest. You’ll have to lighten up your baggage and enlist a proverbial Sherpa to get you up that hill. It’s your learning curve. North Node activities require you to stretch out of your comfort zone. Once you do, you’ll be amazed by how fulfilled you feel. It’s like the activation of your life’s mission. The sooner you align yourself with this path, the more purpose-driven your life will become. However, you will often return to your South Node as that “ace in the hole”—kind of like returning home to your roots, even after you’ve made your way in the world.”

Once you discover your South and North nodes, you’ll see via the handy chart below what to release (or let go of) and what to embrace in order to make the most of your natural predilections. The things to release are your “home zone” — the things that come easily and naturally to you, but may not be particularly satisfying. The things to embrace are modes of being that are more challenging to adopt, but are extremely rewarding.

ARIES South Node/LIBRA North Node
Release: The “me first” mentality, aggression, fighting, solitude
Embrace: The power of partnership, the peaceful warrior, socializing
Dates: Jun 17, 1958 – Dec 15, 1959 / Jan 8, 1977 – Jul 5, 1978 / Aug 1, 1995 – Jan 25, 1997 / February 19, 2014 – November 11, 2015

TAURUS South Node/SCORPIO North Node
Release: Attachment to luxury, earthy appetites, small talk, being overly practical, sticking with what you know
Embrace: Soulful simplicity, spiritual fulfillment, unspoken connections, mystery, allowing others to help you financially, passive income
Dates: Oct 5, 1956 – Jun 16, 1958 / Jul 10, 1975 – Jan 7, 1977 / Feb 2, 1994 – Jul 31, 1995 / Aug 30, 2012 – Feb 18, 2014

GEMINI South Node/SAGITTARIUS North Node
Release: Gossip, fixating on details, going for what you know, dishonesty or distorting the truth, talking out of both sides of your mouth
Embrace: Fundamental truth, the big picture, higher learning, travel, honesty, adventure, leaving your comfort zone
Dates: Apr 3, 1955 – Oct 4, 1956 / Oct 28, 1973 – Jul 9, 1975 / Aug 2, 1992 – Feb 1, 1994 / Mar 4, 2011 – Aug 29, 2012

CANCER South Node/CAPRICORN North Node
Release: Caretaking/enabling, insular relationships, emotional responses
Embrace: Teaching ‘em to fish, living a public life, cool-headed vision
Dates: Oct 10, 1953 – Apr 2, 1955 / Apr 28, 1972 – Oct 27, 1973 / Nov 19, 1990 – Aug 1, 1992 / Aug 22, 2009 – Mar 3, 2011

LEO South Node/AQUARIUS North Node
Release: Attention-seeking, the desire for drama, materialism, making it all about you, focusing too much on the external
Embrace: Team spirit, collaboration, a humanitarian cause, a sense of purpose, sustainable living
Dates: Mar 29, 1952 – Oct 9, 1953 / Nov 3, 1970 – Apr 27, 1972 / May 23, 1989 – Nov 18, 1990 / Dec 19, 2007 – Aug 21, 2009

VIRGO South Node/PISCES North Node
Release: Perfectionism, being the helper, analysis paralysis, escaping stress through vices, worry and anxiety, doing things the hard way or by yourself
Embrace: Creative freedom, being the healer, imagination, intuition, developing your psychic abilities, faith in the universe, allowing support and divine guidance, surrender
Dates: Jul 27, 1950 – Mar 28, 1952 / Apr 20, 1969 – Nov 2, 1970 / Dec 3, 1987 – May 22, 1989 / Jun 23, 2006 – Dec 18, 2007

LIBRA South Node/ARIES North Node
Release: Hiding out in partnerships, taking the comfortable path, avoiding challenges, being the peacekeeper, making compromises, putting others first, passive-aggression
Embrace: Stepping out as a leader, prioritizing your own goals, being comfortable alone, the rewards of risk, fighting for your beliefs, expressing anger in an open and healthy manner
Dates: Jan 27, 1949 – Jul 26, 1950 / Aug 20, 1967 – Apr 19, 1969 / Apr 7, 1986 – Dec 2, 1987 / Dec 27, 2004 – Jun 22, 2006 *

SCORPIO South Node/TAURUS North Node
Release: Seducing, manipulating, strategizing, the nomadic lifestyle, sex as a weapon, being overly secretive or superstitious, relying on other people’s money and resources
Embrace: Simplicity, truth, grounding yourself with daily habits and routines, living in the moment, pure human connection, telling it like you see it, making your own living
Dates: Aug 3, 1947 – Jan 26, 1949 / Feb 20, 1966 – Aug 19, 1967 / Sep 12, 1984 – Apr 6, 1986 / Apr 15, 2003 – Dec 26, 2004

SAGITTARIUS South Node/GEMINI North Node
Release: Ungrounded wanderlust, fixating on the future, righteous zealotry, being a jack of all trades, biting off more than you can chew
Embrace: Community activism, the power of now, playful exploration, one thing at a time
Dates: Dec 14, 1945 – Aug 2, 1947 / Aug 26, 1964 – Feb 19, 1966 / Mar 17, 1983 – Sep 11, 1984 / Oct 14, 2001 – Apr 14, 2003

CAPRICORN South Node/CANCER North Node
Release: Cool detachment, workaholism, “it’s lonely at the top,” head over heart, drive for materialism
Embrace: Emotional sensitivity, “we are family,” homespun sensuality, compassion
Dates: May 12, 1944 – Dec 3, 1945 / Dec 24, 1962 – Aug 25, 1964 / Sep 25, 1981 – Mar 16, 1983 / Apr 10, 2000 – Oct 13, 2001

AQUARIUS South Node/LEO North Node
Release: The need to be liked, hiding out in a group, emotional detachment, being overly intellectual, people-pleasing
Embrace: Unbridled self-expression, collaborating with the elite, leading by example, following your heart
Dates: Nov 22, 1942 – May 11, 1944 / Jun 11, 1961 – Dec 23, 1962 / Jan 6, 1980 – Sep 24, 1981 / Apr 10, 2000 – Oct 13, 2001 / May 10, 2017 – November 6, 2018

PISCES South Node/VIRGO North Node
Release: The rose-colored glasses; scattered, nomadic living, making too many sacrifices, not paying attention to details, being easily seduced or charmed
Embrace: Solving problems with facts, grounding routines, supporting individuals, paying attention to details, reading the fine print
Dates: May 25, 1941 – Nov 21, 1942 / Dec 16, 1959 – Jun 10, 1961 / Jul 6, 1978 – Jan 5, 1980 / Jan 26, 1997 – Oct 20, 1998 / November 12, 2015 – May 9, 2017

What are your South and North nodes? I’d love to hear!

If you’d like to learn more about the nodes and how you can use them to decode your life, join Ophira of the AstroTwins for the Decode Your Destiny webinar! It happens September 28th from 7pm EST. Enter the code galadarling for 10% off! Click for more details!

Speaking of which, next year’s retreat in Tulum is filling up! Get the details here, and I’d love to see you on the beach!

Love always,

All information from the AstroTwins, used with permission. Art installations by James Turrell.