It doesn’t take an astrologer to tell you that 2025 has been off to an intense and rocky start. But what we can assure you is that a softer, more compassionate era is officially underway. As of January 11—and for the first time since December 2007—the fateful lunar north node has drifted into Pisces, the sign of empathy, dreams, and soulful healing.
Could the world become a kinder place? Potentially, at least while this transit is in effect until July 26, 2026. We’ve already seen some evidence: In Los Angeles, locals are mobilizing to provide water, clothes, and food to neighbors affected by the wildfires.
Maybe it’s safe to exhale, at least a little, with the knowledge that there’s still work to be done.
What are the lunar nodes, exactly?
The lunar nodes aren’t planets. They are mathematical points in the sky that move in connection with the eclipse cycles. To put a finer point on it, the lunar nodes are where the moon’s orbit around the Earth intersects with the Earth’s path around the Sun. Astrologically, we interpret them as the markers of our collective destiny and evolution.
There’s a north node and a south node, which are always positioned in opposite zodiac signs. For approximately 18 months, the lunar nodes transit through a pair of signs, marking a collective cosmic theme.
The north node reveals humanity’s stretch goal: Where are we meant to grow and evolve? The zodiac sign that the north node is moving through—Pisces as of January 11—gives us the map.
Across the horoscope wheel, the south node reveals the outdated habits and destructive patterns that we need to move away from. The sign it’s in points us to our karmic clean-up work. Virgo (the opposite sign of Pisces) is now dictating that mission until July 26, 2026.
What do the Pisces-Virgo nodes have in store for us?
Although Pisces and Virgo are opposite signs, they share a few traits. One is a profound level of generosity. Boundless Pisces is not afraid to make a sacrifice in the name of an enlightened goal. As the 12th (and final) sign of the zodiac, Pisces can carry the weight of the world on its shoulders. Ultimately, it must learn to surrender and let go in order to experience ultimate freedom.
Practical, no-nonsense Virgo likes to live lean. As the sign of selfless service, it teaches us to give without expecting anything in return. The shadow of this analytical earth sign is perfectionism. Virgo’s vibe can be critical, sanctimonious, and judgmental—something we will all need to watch out for now.
Giving back and being of service could become the new flex, an arc that could shift humanity after decades of influencer marketing and extreme consumerism. We could see a move away from overconsumption and a refreshing embrace of minimalism.
With dreamy Pisces directing our collective fate, the apertures of our imaginations widen. This nodal cycle could bring some major movements in art, music, and a return to romance—but that journey could also take us deeper into the surreal realms. From voice to video, A.I. continues blurring the line between the virtual and sentient worlds. Celebrities from A$AP Rocky to Kristen Bell openly tout the benefits of psychedelics. In his memoir, Spare, Virgo Prince Harry admitted to using ayahuasca to process the trauma of his mother Diana’s death.
It’s true that the majority of humans won’t become BFFs with their chatbot or travel for a plant medicine ceremony. But the esoteric realms will become more intriguing than ever this year.
Pisces rules the subconscious mind and our mental health, prompting a wider embrace of meditation and mindfulness practices, which have been proven to help with everything from anxiety to depression. According to The New York Times, even five minutes of meditation in the morning can have a notably positive effect.
Earth sign Virgo governs natural health and wellness. Alarming news about microplastics has created a fresh wave of concern about everything from tea bags to bottled water. The climate crisis—and its detrimental effects on the Pisces-ruled oceans and Virgo-guarded vegetation—will be an unavoidable topic during this nodal cycle. Will we finally ditch the not-so-fantastic plastic that’s causing so much environmental damage? This nodal cycle might bring some sustainable innovations in packaging and food production.
We can also expect interesting developments in the area of pharmaceuticals and substance abuse, which these two zodiac signs rule. On January 15, the FDA proposed lower nicotine requirements in cigarettes, which could effectively minimize the addictive power of the puff. A fentanyl vaccine is slated for testing in 2025.
How to work with this energy
No matter how unpredictable the world outside your bedroom window feels, your permission slip to daydream has been stamped by the Pisces north node. Let yourself be inspired by art, music, nature, or whatever makes your soul sing. Cultivate compassion, both for yourself and others. Think less “grind culture” and more “soft life.”
But don’t completely abandon Virgo’s logic and spreadsheets. Channel that south node’s teachable energy to streamline your life, ditch perfectionism, and set up structures around self-care and time-management, so that you can actually relax into a creative headspace.
When the nodes shift, so do you. Whether you’re manifesting a soul goal or fine-tuning details of your day-to-day life, this cycle is here to remind you to add a healing, helpful touch to everything you put out there. Dreaming and doing are not mutually exclusive—they’re magic when they flow together.