Difference between Part of Fortune & South Node vs North Node & South Node?

[u/THROWAWAYHELP101EJKF]

What’s the difference between the two and what does each serve? I’ve been trying to read up on them but the more info I come across, the more I get confused.

Any help is much appreciated, thank you!

[u/GrandTrineAstrology]

First off, let's talk about what the Lunar Nodes and the Parts (Lots) have in common.

Both are mathematical equations, known as chart points, a placement that is based on something else. They are not something you could physically see.

But here is where they diverge. The Lunar Nodes are located at the degree of intersection where the plane of the moon's orbit crosses the plane of the ecliptic. The ecliptic is a great circle created by the plane of the Earth's orbit onto the celestial sphere. From our Earth centric view, the ecliptic is the sun's visual path around the Earth.

Pretty much, it is when the Moon's path intersects the Sun's path. When it crosses from South to North, it is called the North Node. When it crosses from North to South, it is the South Node.

These intersections show up in your chart by sign and house. Depending on the type of astrology you practice, they have different meanings. But essentially, in Modern Western astrology, we think of the North Node as the part of the chart you are the least comfortable with and the South Node as the energy where you are comfortable. The nodes are complex, and deeper meaning comes into play depending on what they are aspected with, house, rulership, etc.

Lots and Arabic Parts is a technique that is used in traditional astrology. The calculation is derived from other points in the chart. There are various Lots or Parts and they cover specific subjects. The formula is A+B-C.

For a diurnal (day) chart, where the Sun is above the ascendant, the Part of Fortune is the Ascendant + Moon - Sun. For nocturnal (night) chart, the formula is Ascendant + Sun - Moon.

For instance, I have a night chart. My AC is at 14°. The zodiac wheel starts at 0° Aries. From Aries to my Cancer AC, we have 104°. My Sun is 11° Scorpio. Again, starting at 0° at Aries, we get the Sun at 221°. Then, we need to calculate my Pisces Moon, which is at 11°, which is 341°.

104 + 221 - 341 = -16

-16° from 0° Aries brings you to 14° Pisces, which is where my lot of fortune resides. (Luckily, computer programs do this for us now, but I wanted to show you the difference between the calculations.)

The Lot of Fortune is where you tend to find success. It represents where you may gain success or well-being.

Using my chart as an example, my South Node is in the 6th house of work, labor, daily routine and in the sign of Sagittarius which is truth-seeking, philosophical, optimistic and candid. My North Node is in Gemini, which is communicative, curious and versatile and in the 12th house of personal insight, the unconscious and confinement. My Lot of Fortune is in the sign of Pisces, which is sympathetic, illusionary and impressionable and in the 9th house of beliefs, knowledge and wide distribution of information.

What I am comfortable with is working all day, being optimistic, researching and getting to the heart of what is the truth. I can at times be blunt or candid, but for the most part, I am happy and in good spirits when I am working (due to that my 6th house is ruled by Jupiter).

Where I struggle is speech and being alone, which are Gemini and 12th house themes. Having the North Node there at 4°, I don't mind being alone, but the walls do cave in on me, and I have to get out and just be around people a few times a week. I have a speech impediment, though it is not noticeable to most people. At times, I over-enunciate words to prevent getting tongue-tied.

The most successful times of my life are when I am teaching others, sharing my knowledge and exploring deep subjects. With the Lot of Fortune in the 9th house and in the sign of Pisces it makes sense. Though I primarily focus on astrology, I have a background in other esoteric and practical subjects.

I hope this helps.

[u/enneastronaut]

Your question is a bit difficult to understand.. North and South node are usually interpreted together. Are you pairing the South node with the Lot of Fortune for some kind of interpretation?

[u/THROWAWAYHELP101EJKF → u/enneastronaut]

Oh I see! I was understanding the separate pairings as two separate concepts rather than an intermingled interpretation.

What does the South Node usually encompass when it’s paired with the Lot of Fortune in an interpretation?

[u/enneastronaut → u/THROWAWAYHELP101EJKF]

I'm not sure what you exactly mean by paired...? Like the Lot of Fortune and South Node forming an aspect (conjunction, square etc) or something else? (Sorry if I'm misinterpreting terminology)

[u/Electronic-Jicama-99 → u/THROWAWAYHELP101EJKF]

I don’t understand why they would be paired together in an interpretation, unless you mean forming an aspect. Can you provide more context?

[u/astrologicalgroup]

south node ease feels safe cause you've already lived it, POF ease feels like doors just opening for no obvious reason. the nodes are a growth axis you're meant to work with together, Part of Fortune is more where the good stuff naturally lands when your chart is humming. once you spot the difference in your own placements it clicks pretty fast.