Your Surest Path to Success

North Node Emails rule! Love Tuesday mornings – @LipDesign, Twitter

LOVING my North Node weekly emails. You just can’t put a price on personalized inspiration! So worth the price of a pair of cheap shoes! Thanks Jen. -  Monica, California

Oh, I can’t get enough of those North Node emails… Can you please make a thunderstorm of them for me?- Christiana, Greece

I needed my north node email today. Thank you. ♥ ♥ – Mel, Italy

Thank you @JenniferShelton for today’s Taurus North Node advice, believe it or not I actually save them and re-read’em! - AZD, Twitter

Have you ever tried to adapt someone else’s “formula” for success, whether it be in your career or relationships or spirituality, and have it fail miserably? Have you tried the advice of many different experts and gurus? Tried to follow the same path as a successful friend or family member? Do you ever wonder what it is you are doing wrong?

There’s no shortage of “experts” who want to sell you the “secret to their success.” I took a year-long class, in creativity and entrepreneurship, with an online “super star.” She had great advice, and the 70 or so people in her program endeavored to apply it. It worked for some; it failed miserably for others. When we fail at implementing the advice of someone who is more successful than us, we tend to blame ourselves. The “teacher” is successful. Some of her followers are successful. The problem must lie with us and our execution. We must have forgotten some crucial step. And, we beat ourselves up, or look for internal flaws, to such an extent that we want to just give up.

When I first started studying astrology, I was STUNNED by the fact that one person was wired to be successful being organized, while another was wired to be successful by letting disorder reign. Seriously. Organization and order do not work for some. It can actually make things worse! Some people need to take more charge of their lives. Others need to learn to go with the flow.

I examined the chart of this “online superstar” with whom I studied. (She didn’t want an astrological reading for herself but she graciously provided the details needed for me to cast her chart.) Sure enough, she was doing, what I call, “working her chart.” Although she’d never had a reading before, through her own spiritual exploration, she had discovered what worked best for her. Furthermore, she was “set up” to be someone who excelled in business, as an entrepreneur. Not only was she going about success in the right way, her definition of “success” fit her personality as well.

Which brings me to another point – what is “successful” to one person may not be successful for you. We are all unique individuals. I know we are TOLD that over and over again but the examples provided for us do not back this up. We all get herded into one or two definitions of what it means to be successful and provided one or two formulas of how to reach this success. Individuality be damned.

I’m here to say that the only way you are going to be truly successful, and truly at peace, is to pursue your own version of success, in your own way. How do you do that? That varies from person to person as well but I have many clients who find that their astrological charts provide a long sought-after “user’s manual” for their lives.

When I read a person’s chart, I always start with her North Node. I’ve written about the North Node a few times but as a refresher, I’ll repeat this quote from Bob Mark:

The Moon’s nodes are not planets. In fact, they are not even material objects! Just two points in space where the Moon’s orbit crosses the plane of the Earth’s orbit. The North Node simply shows the general area that you have to develop. The opposite point, the South Node, shows the place where you feel comfortable. Too comfortable. If you stay there, you get into a rut. And worse. Your life can stagnate.

Picture the South Node as your roots and the North Node as your leaves and branches. You have to grow in the direction of the leaves. If you spend too much time on your South Node roots, you get root rot. Ironically, it is only when we concentrate on our North Node sign that we get what we want from our South Node placement.

I gave this explanation of the North Node to one client, and she said, “ok, so the question is whether to stay where I am, or grow.” I’ve seen this many times in the lives of friends, of clients, and well, myself. We are wired to be successful if we follow the path of our North Node, so the Universe will keep throwing opportunities at us that lead us down that path. If we refuse to go, though, out of fear or a desire to stay comfortable, we become miserable. We have limited success or outright fail. This is often when we try to follow the path of someone else. Unless that someone else happens to have the same North Node as us, however, we are again faced with a less than successful outcome (or failure).

Another client that I regularly coach has been consciously following the path of her North Node for over a year now. She had embarked on a new endeavor, and it wasn’t working out the way she’d hoped. She described to me what she was doing, and I said, “sounds to me like you are embracing your South Node behavior.” This client happens to be a Leo North Node, which means she is an Aquarius South Node. Her South Node wants lots of group support and to think and plan for a long time before taking action. She is wired, though, to be successful by jumping right in and by taking the spotlight. When I brought up her South Node behavior, she said, “I can’t believe this is still an issue after all this time!”

For an analogy – you know how you might work really hard to lose weight and once you’ve reached your target weight, it’s all too easy to slip back into old eating habits? It might not happen overnight, but statistically, people who lose weight usually gain it all back. It’s not impossible to maintain a new weight, and it gets easier with time, but you must remain vigilant. Following your North Node also gets easier over time but it’s very easy to slip back into South Node habits. I find that it takes vigilance to stay on path. But, if we do stay on path, the results are, as astrologer Jan Spiller would say, “magical.”

Are you ready to commit to YOUR life’s purpose?

For a while now I’ve been contemplating how to support people in embracing and following their North Nodes. After much discussion with others, I’ve come up a weekly email program.

Simply use the chart below to find your North Node, and then, purchase either a 2 month ($15) or 6 month ($37) package. (And, you know you’re more likely to commit and follow through with this if you’ve invested money in it!)

New! I’ve created a private Facebook group for all the North Node subscribers. It is free and optional but if you choose to join, you’ll be able to interact with others who have the same Node as you, and ask me questions!

Note: If you purchase a FULL CHART READING from me, you will get two  months of the Life Purpose Email Program FOR FREE!

1 – Every Tuesday, you will receive an email specific to your North Node. These will not be long articles but an affirmation, or a question for meditation, or a writing prompt or a relevant poem. Something succinct, to the point, and ON PATH.

2 – Each month, I will also remind you about the upcoming new moon, and provide the date and time. This reminder will include a suggested wish applicable to your North Node.

So, look through the chart below, and then, make your choice! As an illustration of each Node, I’ve described the way each would need to approach typical goals such as “losing weight” or “saving money.” Note: I’ve included the accompanying South Node to each North Node. It may be useful to read your South Node information in order to know what kind of behavior to avoid while working on your goals.

You need a firm schedule. If trying to lose weight – schedule your meals, schedule your times to exercise. If you resolved to work on a creative project, schedule times for that. Have the discipline of a warrior and be sure to congratulate yourself for every success, no matter how big or small. (Aries North Nodes have a South Node in Libra)

“Slow and steady wins the race” was written for this Node. Gradually build up to the exercise routine you want. Plan it out – this week I’ll walk one mile. Next week, I’ll run 10 minutes of the mile and walk the rest. The next week, I’ll…you get the idea. Or, gradually cut back if dieting, “this week I’ll eat 2000 calories. Next week, 1900. 1800 the next.” (Please be healthy and don’t cut back too far on calories!) Anything involving nature is also good for the Taurus North Node. Exercise outside. Write/paint/create outside or in front of a large window. Let nature encourage and inspire you. (Taurus North Nodes have a South Node in Scorpio)

Journal. Write about your goals. Write about your daily accomplishments. Write about your frustrations. Write about how you hate goals, why you love goals. Journal about any and everything in your life. Goals or not, if you’re a Gemini North Node, you need to keep a journal! (Gemini North Nodes have a South Node in Sagittarius)

You’ll want to be very goal oriented but that’s your South Node talking. If your North Node is in this sign, stay focused on the process, not the goal. Resolve to eat healthier but don’t set a goal of a specific weight. Resolve to exercise more but don’t set a goal for how far to run/walk, etc. Counter-intuitive, I know, but from my experience, it’s necessary for this Node. (Cancer North Nodes have a South Node in Capricorn)

Figure out how to make your goals fun! Let your inner child guide you. Exercise more by playing games, or running around with your kids. Make a game out of improving your eating habits. Even have a contest with friends/co-workers. Leo North Nodes need to play! (Leo North Nodes have a South Node in Aquarius)

Organize, organize, organize. While the Pisces North Nodes will want to organize (but shouldn’t), you’ll likely want to “play it by ear.” Don’t. You need the organization and structure. Plan out your meals for the week. Make a budget. Set up an exercise schedule. Buy a planner. Organization is more useful to you than most any other sign. (Virgo North Nodes have a South Node in Pisces)

Get help! Find other people who have similar goals and help each other out (if there’s an Aries North Node in the group, though, gently tell her that she’ll be more successful going it alone). Teamwork is key for this Node. (Libra North Nodes have a South Node in Aries)

Self-discipline and constructive change is important for this Node, so goals can be very useful for you. It’s also important for this Node to enjoy things without needing to own them. If exercising, don’t invest in expensive equipment. Go for hikes, run in your neighborhood, work out with a TV fitness program. Partnerships and support from others is also important. Team up with other Scorpio North Nodes or a Libra North Node, as they need teamwork too! (Scorpio North Nodes have a South Node in Taurus)

Let your intuition guide you about how to meet your goals. Let you intuition guide you about which goals to set for yourself. Actually, make a goal to spend some quiet time every day (preferably in nature), to listen to your intuition. Trust what you hear. (Sagittarius North Nodes have a South Node in Gemini)

Goals were made for you! In fact, you should set goals for yourself all year long. Write them on post-it notes and stick them all around your house and office. The symbol for Capricorn is the goat. Think of your goals as the top of the mountain, and your life purpose is to steadily climb your way up. Don’t worry, you were born with balance and sure-footedness. Just keep your eye on the goal and don’t look back. (Capricorn North Nodes have a South Node in Cancer)

You are going to be the most successful if you make goals that are good for Humanity at large. Resolve to help the environment or volunteer at a local shelter. If setting personal goals, frame them in ways that help others. You want to save more money to help your family or so that you can donate more. You want to be healthier so you can have more energy to clean up trash at the park, or coach a youth team. In fact, get in shape by coaching or cleaning up trash! (Aquarius North Nodes have a South Node in Leo)

Like the Cancer North Node, goals aren’t particularly healthy for this Node either. (I have a Pisces North Node in the house ruled by Cancer, so I try to avoid goals!) But, if you have goals that you really want to make and keep, turn them over to a Higher Power. Pray about them. Write them on a slip of paper and make a ceremony out of burning them and sending them out to the Universe. Then, trust the Universe will show you how to achieve your wishes. (Pisces North Nodes have a South Node in Virgo)

With these weekly email packages, you will receive an email, specific to YOUR node, each Tuesday. People who purchase the “6 month” option will also receive a free document with guidelines for wishing on each new moon.