Draconic Timing Techniques: Transits, Progressions and Solar Returns

by María Blaquier

The first part of this article consists of an introduction to draconic astrology and the general principles involved. The second part deals specifically with draconic timing techniques.

I would like to acknowledge Argentinian astrologers Liliana Ortiz, Néstor Echarte and Jerónimo Brignone, whose teachings played a key role in my practice.

a) Introduction to draconic astrology

Different kinds of zodiacs

There are different zodiacs, each depends on a distinctive starting point and yields a unique perspective upon interpretation. In this article, I will be referring to the tropical and draconic zodiacs. The difference between them is that the tropical zodiac results from the crossing of the ecliptic and the celestial equator at the vernal point (0 Aries), and therefore is oriented to the Sun. The draconic zodiac, on the other hand, results from the intersection of the ecliptic and the projected orbit of the Moon, it takes the North node as 0 degree of Aries or starting point. It is impressed within the tropical, and both interact.

The draconic positions are measured from the North node of the Moon. Because it refers to the lunar dimension, interpretations tend to emphasize emotional, subjective, and even spiritual aspects.

Given that each zodiac results from the crossing of two different planes, symbolically one could say that they combine two dimensions of being. The tropical zodiac is about psychological traits; the draconic zodiac alludes to the unconscious motivations and emotional realm that influence the way one behaves.

The Nodes

The nodes are abstract points in space that result from the intersection between the solar and lunar orbits. There are two lunar nodes: the North node and South node; they are 180 degrees from each other and form the nodal axis.

All planets have nodes, which are the points of intersection of the orbit of each planet and the ecliptic. The Lunar nodes are related to matters concerning the Moon: they are about emotions, the past, unconscious motivations. Symbolically they combine two fundamental aspects of our being: the Sun, our active consciousness, with the Moon, our receptive awareness and emotional realm.

There are two kinds of nodes: the True node or the Mean node. They are never more than a few degrees from each other, and their difference depends on the way they are calculated. The Moon’s orbit makes a wobble, has a vibrating effect, and the True node is calculated taking this vibration into account. The Mean node, on the other hand, does not take in these minor perturbations and averages its position. While the former stations and even goes direct a couple of days a month, the latter is always retrograde.

There’s a lot of controversy on what node is the correct one.

For many years, my own observations led me to support the use of the True node as being more effective, and this is the one I have used in the draconic charts in this presentation. However, I intend to do further research on this since draconic solar returns change dramatically according to which node is used.

Psychological meaning of Nodes

In Western astrology the nodes were traditionally associated with benefic and malefic planets, but with the advent of psychological astrology in the past century, a new way of interpreting them arose, that related them to evolution.

French Astrologer Dane Rudhyar was one of the first to introduce the meaning of the nodes from a psychological perspective. He writes:

“From a more strictly biological and functional point of view, the North Lunar Node refers to the mouth of an animal and the South Lunar Node to the organs of evacuation..." (1)

According to this view, the South node describes the path of least resistance, it shows qualities we are already familiar with and express despite ourselves (as Rudhyar points out, as if one needed to get rid of it); it describes what is being decreased in this lifetime.

The North node, on the other hand, represents traits needed to be mastered as a counterbalance to the South node’s unconscious pull. It is what is being built in this life, what is being increased and incorporated.

From this perspective, the South node represents the past and the North, the future. Both nodes need each other to maintain a balance.

For example, the North node is in the 2nd house and in Aries. This 2nd house is about material and financial security and resources, and Aries is concerned with self-will. Attention is focused on developing resources, becoming more assertive and growing in self-confidence. To be able to achieve this, the person needs to decrease his dependency on others, especially in terms of money, and his inclination to give too much importance to other people’s demands. Or, as he becomes financially more independent, his need to rely on others diminishes.

The Draconic Chart

The draconic zodiac is associated with our motivations and purpose. It is engraved within the tropical zodiac, and charts interact: the draconic chart represents “memories, inheritance, habits and roots which influence present-day as described by the tropical chart.” (2)

It usually manifests as a sort of “behind the scenes” behavior. However, I have observed that in some cases, the draconic chart describes a person more accurately than the tropical chart. I have found this to be especially true when the person feels more attuned to his inner motivations, and therefore tends to express the characteristics of the draconic chart more openly.

In a draconic chart the planets have the same placements and form the same aspects as in the tropical, but signs and degrees shift. To calculate a draconic chart, the position of the North node is subtracted from the location of each planet and house cusp.

Example of how to calculate draconic positions of the planets manually:

North node = 28° 10' 30'' Cancer (118° 10' 30'')
Tropical Sun = 9° 39'47'' Virgo (159° 39' 47'')
Draconic Sun = 159° 39' 47''- 118°10' 30'' = 41°29' 17'' = 11° 29' 17'' Taurus

Example: Margaret Atwood

Canadian writer Margaret Atwood is a prolific poet and novelist who has won numerous awards for her writing. Power politics and the theme of totalitarian governments are central in her work. From an early age, she showed interest in myths and fairy tales, which have inspired her work.

She is the inventor of the LongPen, a remote signing device that allows a person to remotely write in ink anywhere in the world via tablet PC and the Internet and a robotic hand.

Gemini rises in the tropical chart with Mercury, ruler of the ascendant, in exile. The happy conjunction between Mercury and benefic-in-sect Venus is startling in face of her dystopian style of writing, her treatment of power issues and, above all, the utter lack of hope she transmits.

Saturn, the traditional ruler of her MC, is quite weak in terms of essential dignity, since it is in fall, and retrograde. With this Saturn it is surprising that she became famous, especially because it is also out of sect. Uranus, the modern ruler of her MC is in 12th of isolation although this position of the MC ruler is often seen in people whose profession involves being isolated, as is the case with writers. The Moon, ruler of her 3rd of writing is strong on the MC but has very little essential dignity by sect.

The draconic chart has Scorpio rising and Pluto, one of its rulers, placed in the 3rd of writing. Draconic Mars, the traditional ruler of her draconic ascendant, is conjunct tropical Pluto, reflecting her interest in power and control themes. The conjunction of draconic Mercury to tropical Uranus is consistent with her ability to invent LongPen, a device associated to technologies that facilitate remote robotic writing of documents. The conjunction between Neptune and Moon describes her ability to tell stories and her interest in fairy tales and mythology.

b) Draconic timing techniques

Draconic transits

The nodes move retrograde through the zodiac and take about 18 years and 6 months to return, this means that draconic planets, that depend on the movement of the nodes, move at a different pace than tropical ones. For instance, as one can see form the ephemeris pages below, draconic Uranus transited through Aquarius from March 2020, to May 2021. Uranus spent only thirteen and a half months in this sign instead of the seven years it usually takes in the tropical zodiac.

The estimate movement of draconic planets is:

• The Sun: returns every 11 months and 11-13 days.
• The Moon: takes about 27 days to return.
• Mercury: returns every 11 months and 12 to 19 days.
• Venus: returns every 10 to 12 months.
• Mars: returns every 24 to 25 months.
• Jupiter: returns every 7 years and 6 months.
• Saturn: returns every 11 years approximately.
• Pluto- Uranus- Neptune: return every 15 to 17 years.

Because the North node acts as a starting point for the draconic zodiac, to calculate draconic transits, simply subtract the North node from the current position of the planet or cusp. For example, on May 4th, 2020, at 8:00PM in Argentina, the True node was at 0º Cancer and tropical Venus was at 20º degrees of Gemini; this means that Draconic Venus was at 20º Pisces.

Draconic transits can be used on both the draconic and the tropical charts, tropical transits work on draconic charts. Conjunctions and oppositions are mainly used, and orbs should be kept tight (up to 3 degrees).

They are often felt as life altering events that have a major impact during a person’s existence. They bring to the present issues pending from the past, can give closure to problems from former experiences and are often felt as inevitable. (3)

Although the draconic transit is faster than the tropical, it is felt very strongly when it touches a planet or angle. The draconic transit triggers subjective issues that will have repercussions on the external behavior for a much longer time. The tropical transit on the draconic chart is interpreted as an external condition that impacts or triggers emotional experiences.

Draconic planets are usually direct. If the tropical planet is retrograde and the True node has recently stationed and is slower than usual, then the draconic planet decreases in speed and can turn retrograde. For a draconic planet to turn retrograde the planet needs to be retrograde in the tropical zodiac. (4) When using the Mean node, the planet can also retrograde, but it will do so in different dates.

It has been my observation that retrograde draconic planets when transiting are especially powerful because they are much slower and impact a degree for longer.

Draconic solar returns and secondary progressions

Both techniques are interpreted in the same way as their tropical counterparts, although of course a different zodiac, the draconic, is used.

The draconic solar return is calculated for the moment that the draconic Sun returns. Because this happens every approximately 11 and a half months, the draconic solar return does not fall on the day of the person’s birthday. Draconic returns vary according to which of the nodes, True or Mean, is used. Although there’s disagreement about which of the nodes yields more accurate results, I have used the True node in this article.

Draconic progressions work in a similar way as tropical secondary progression, but the draconic positions of the planets after birth are used. In the same way as with transits, draconic secondary progressed planets can be retrograde. As the draconic progressed planet slows down, its influence becomes stronger.

Example 1: Rami Malek

The following graphics show the tropical and draconic charts for award winning actor Rami Malek, who was born on May 12, 1981, at 8:41AM (Rodden rating AA).

The draconic chart describes Rami’s success much better than the tropical. As an actor, he became known to a wider audience for his role in the hit show “Mr. Robot”. In this show, Malek played a reclusive computer programmer with social anxiety who turned hacker. Aquarius, the sign of robots and eccentrics, is rising in the draconic chart. Pluto, one of the rulers of the draconic MC, is in the 5th of entertainment.

An interesting fact is that before working as an actor, he had voice roles in video games, a kind of activity that is compatible with rising Aquarius (video games) and Pluto, ruler of the draconic MC, in Gemini (communications). Mars, the traditional ruler of the 10th, is exalted, depicting a person likely to achieve success in terms of career. In fact, he has received 14 awards from 46 nominations. The suggestion of such career success was not evident in the tropical chart.

Using transits for timing events

Rami was awarded the Oscar for Best Actor on 02-24-2019.

Tropical transits on the tropical chart, 24 February 2019

• Transiting Neptune, a planet associated to the film industry, was conjunct the tropical MC, the place of the chart that describes career and professional achievements.
• Transiting Jupiter was conjunct Neptune, ruler of the MC, producing beneficial events that allowed him to expand in terms of career.

The transits on the tropical chart but fail to express the paramount quality of the events of this day, perhaps one of the most important of his life. On the other hand, the transits on the draconic chart are far more illustrative.

Tropical transits on the draconic chart, 24 February 2019

• Transiting Saturn was conjunct the draconic Sun, showing hard earned achievements.
• Transiting Jupiter was opposite Pluto, ruler of the draconic MC. Jupiter was exerting its benefic influence towards affairs related to career.
• Transiting Pluto, ruler of the draconic MC, was opposite Uranus, ruler of the draconic ascendant. His impressive career achievements probably impacted on his personal life and sense of self.

Draconic transits on the draconic chart, 24 February 2019

• On the day that he was awarded the Oscar, the transiting draconic Sun was conjunct the draconic MC, bringing light prestige and visibility to his social and professional standing.

Draconic solar return, 2018

The True node was used in the draconic solar return for 2018.

• The draconic return ascendant falls on draconic Mars, traditional ruler of the MC, linking the focus of that year to his profession.
• Mars, the planet that rules the 5th house of entertainment in the draconic return, is angular on the return MC. Angular planets have strength to produce results; in this particular case, the area of life involved is the profession and fame.
• Benefic Jupiter is angular and opposite draconic natal Mars, traditional ruler of the MC. Jupiter brings benefits and opportunities, helping him expand in terms of career.
• Uranus was transiting exactly opposite draconic natal Pluto, modern ruler of the MC. In his draconic chart, Uranus rules the ascendant, and the transit to Pluto emphasizes the connection between his temperament, his personal interests, his more intimate outlook on life with his professional achievements.

Draconic secondary progressions

These have been calculated for 2-24-2019. The True node was used.

• Progressed draconic Mercury, ruler of the draconic natal 5th house of entertainment and art, is highlighted:
• It has just changed signs, gaining dignity.
• It is retrograde, moving very slowly (therefore extending its influence) on the draconic ascendant.
• The draconic progressed MC is in the degree that Mercury was transiting in the draconic solar return that was active that year, connecting his career to 5th house themes.

Example 2: Laverne Cox

The following graphics show the tropical and draconic charts of Laverne Cox. She was born on May 29, 1972, in Mobile, Alabama at 11:15AM (Rodden Rating A).

Laverne is an actress and LGBT advocate who rose to prominence with her role as Sophia Burset on the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black, becoming the first transgender person to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in any acting category. (5)

She has often spoken about the impact discrimination and harassment had on her growing up. At age 11 she attempted suicide, when she noticed that she had developed feelings for her male classmates. For several years she had been bullied for not acting "the way someone assigned male at birth was supposed to act." (6) which led her to internalize a lot of shame about who she was as a child. (7)

I decided the symbolism of the draconic chart was more consistent with Laverne’s life choices and experiences, mainly because Venus, ruler of the ascendant, is placed is in its sign of fall. As astrologer Charlie Obert points out,

a planet in fall is said to be not respected, not heard or listened to, accorded little honor…it feels out of sync with the world, misunderstood. (8)

Laverne’s interest in helping America have “real gender freedom” (9) is compatible with the draconic Moon in Aquarius. The Moon rules the draconic MC and is placed in the 5th of movies and entertainment: she makes use of her popularity as an actress to help enhance awareness of gender issues. Her ability to cause an impact in society can be related to the draconic Sun that rules the 11th of groups and social interacting: the Sun has essential dignity by domicile in Leo and accidental fortitude for being placed in an angle, the 10th of status and fame.

Using transits for timing events

On September 20, 2015, Laverne won a Daytime Emmy Award in Outstanding Special Class Special as executive producer for Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word, making her the first transgender woman to win the award.

Tropical transits on the tropical chart, 20 September 2015

• Transiting Saturn was opposite tropical Mercury. Because Mercury is placed in the 10th of social standing, this transit suggests a hard-earned achievement that came after a long struggle.
• Transiting Pluto, a planet that brings about drastic changes, was separating from an opposition to Mars, producing alterations in her way of asserting herself.

None of the transits to the tropical chart are representative of this momentous career event, a fact that supports my choice of the draconic for Laverne.

Tropical transits on the draconic chart, 20 September 2015

• Jupiter is the benefic in sect and one of the most powerful planets in the chart because it is in domicile, well placed in the 5th of good luck and is also the exalted ruler of the draconic MC. Because of its strength, when transiting it is likely to have a positive impact. On the day of the event, it was transiting conjunct draconic Venus, ruler of the ascendant, therefore bringing about opportunities and happy events to her life.
• Transiting Neptune, a planet linked to publicity (especially in the form of pictures and videos), was applying to a conjunction to draconic Jupiter, placed in the 5th of entertainment and exalted ruler of the MC.

Draconic transits on the draconic chart, 20 September 2015

• Draconic Uranus was retrograde, an event that slows down the planet and strengthens its impact. It was very near the draconic ascendant, setting off radical changes to her life and outlook on life.
• Draconic Mars, a planet that tends to trigger events, was conjunct the Moon, ruler of the draconic MC, helping activate emotional as well as status related issues.
• Draconic Venus, ruler of the draconic ascendant, was receiving the transit of draconic Neptune, which was also retrograde and therefor extending its effect. Dreamy Neptune contributed its romantic aura to her outward style and the way others perceived her.

Draconic solar return, 2015

• The rulers of the 4th and 10th houses in the draconic return, are almost exactly in the same positions as in the draconic birth chart. This “perfect return” emphasizes the planets involved and increase their influence.
• The solar return ascendant coincides with the draconic ascendant. According to Volguine, in his book The Technique of Solar Returns, when the return ascendant is the same as the natal ascendant, the person is in a position to manifest the natal potential if they choose to. (10)

Conclusion

Draconic astrology gives a powerful lens of timing and triggers in our everyday life. Timing techniques such as draconic progressions, draconic transits and draconic solar returns provide incredibly accurate information.

References:
 1 Rudhyar, 1966, How to Interpret Lunar Nodes, Horoscope Mag.).
 2 Pamela Crane, The Draconic Chart, 2000 Flare Publications, Kindle Edition.
 3 Rev Pamela Crane, The Draconic Chart, 2000 Flare Publications, Kindle Edition
 4 Liliana Ortiz, Camino al Origen, Ed Gárgola, p.129
 5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laverne_Cox#Early_life
 6 https://outalliance.org/laverne-cox-talks-about-suicide-attempt-as-a-bullied-child/
 7 https://outalliance.org/laverne-cox-talks-about-suicide-attempt-as-a-bullied-child/
 8 https://studentofastrology.com/2016/01/detriment-and-fall/
 9 Laverne Cox Wishes America Had "Real Gender Freedom" https://www.cosmopolitan.com › entertainment › news, August 18, 2014
 10 Alexandre Volguine, La Técnica de las Revoluciones Solares, Ed Kier, Cap.3, p.35.

Author:
Maria Blaquier, born in Argentina, has been involved with astrology since 1987. She is the founder of the online astrology school Academia de Astrología Avanzada MB (at www.mariablaquier.com).
Maria holds the STA’s Practitioners Level Certification in Horary, the STA’s Advanced Level Diploma, the STA’s Medical Astrology Certification and is currently completing the Master’s Horary Level Program. Her studies also include Psychological, Draconic, Hellenistic and Medieval Astrology. Her publications include several articles in The Astrological Journal, Stellium, IAMINFINITY, MidHeaven, astro.com; a book on Traditional astrology and Time Lord techniques (Astrología tradicional: Técnicas predictivas de los Señores del tiempo: ed. Kier, Bs. As.); and YouTube tutorials at Maria Blaquier Astróloga.

© María Blaquier, 2022