How to Use the Draconic chart with the Tropical Chart

The Draconic zodiac is a third valid zodiac, along with the Tropical zodiac, which is aligned with the Vernal Equinox; and the Sidereal zodiac, which is aligned with the Fixed Stars.

While the Tropical zodiac is aligned with the Sun, which represents the the active consciousness, that which is plainly obvious, here and now; the Draconic zodiac is aligned with the more subconscious, receptive, emotional awareness, and is related to the past and memory as well as the future and direction we have set out to move in for this lifetime. We will not generally use the Draconic zodiac on it’s own, but we will combine it with Tropical chart readings, giving an added layer of depth to the understanding of any individual’s chart, or combined synastry chart, layering the masculine active consciousness with the feminine, emotional consciousness.

By aligning the North Node with 0 degrees Aries - using any person's Tropical natal configuration - the Draconic chart is revealed. All the planetary positions will remain in the same number of degrees from the North Node, but once the North Node is positioned at 0 Aries, all other planets are moved to a new position in the zodiac - from their Tropical placement - unless the person has their North Node very close to 0 Aries Tropically. These "new" placements reveal an emotional residue of energy, and could be said to be related more to our past lives, rather than this current lifetime, however the Draconic placements are often felt by the individual. Many people even say that they “feel” more like their Draconic placements.

To start using the Draconic Zodiac, you can find it in most free online astrology apps - like astro.com or astro-seek.com. It will be listed with the other Zodiac options. The only challenge with the free online apps is that I don’t believe they allow you to overlay a Tropical chart with a Draconic chart, which is something you’ll want to do. You might need to do this in another way, perhaps by hand on paper.

Before getting started with using the Draconic zodiac in synastry, I’d recommend using it to get a sense of how the Draconic placements of an individual are influencing them personally, before proceeding with comparing the charts of two different people. It’s always important to understand each person individually before comparing their charts and determining their connection, because what an individual needs in a relationship (romantic or otherwise) is very personal to them. We don’t all want and need the same things. Our level of awareness about our own issues and how much responsibility we each take also need to be considered, as maturity is a huge factor in whether a relationship will suit us or not.

*Important note: I only use the True Node. I have found through much use that the True Node is the accurate placement. The Mean Node can be two or more degrees off from the actual placement of the Moon’s Nodes. I played with both Nodal placements until it became obvious to me that the True Node was the accurate Nodal placement. And after getting confirmation from trusted teachers - including Pam Crane and David Cochrane - with several decades of experience individually, I will only use the True Node. But of course, you may need to play around with both and decide for yourself.

The Draconic Zodiac is used right along with the Tropical Zodiac, and it adds to the reading of a chart by filling in the deeper purpose that we came into this lifetime intending to work on. We use it by overlaying the Draconic chart around the outside of the Tropical chart, and we see which houses the Draconic planets fall into in our Tropical chart, as well as seeing what aspects are being made between the Draconic planets and the Tropical planets. I personally choose to only use conjunctions and oppositions (within a 4 degree orb ideally), and squares with an orb of 2 degrees or less.

Examples of how the Draconic Chart can fill in details within the Tropical Chart - I’m just going to point out a few of the bigger aspects that stand out in each example.

Brad Pitt

Brad’s Draconic Jupiter is within 3 degrees of his Tropical Sun in Sagittarius in the 1st house - this blows up his Sagittarius qualities, making him a hyper Sag. And because these planets fall in his first house, it also highlights the Aries energies in him. This makes him very confident, magnetic, fiery, and very freedom loving. He probably doesn’t know his own limits. And, he probably thinks of himself too much of the time - with the Sun in the first house as well as the ruler of Sagittarius, Jupiter, in the first house. Jupiter also causes any planet it touches to expand (sometimes uncontrollably), so Jupiter is causing the Sun to get even brighter and potentially more self-focused.

He grew up in quite a strict Baptist Christian house in myopic area of Missouri. I think this type of belief system was too restrictive for Brad’s strong Sagittarian nature. He rejected religion earlier in his life, but he seems to have gravitated back toward it, or rather he acknowledges the value of having a spiritual life of some sort, though I’m guessing he would never adopt religion in a way that would limit his freedom too much.

Brad’s Draconic Sun is within 30 minutes (half a degree) of his Tropical Pluto, in the 9th house of Virgo. The Sun in the 9th is enhancing the Sag energy even more. He is basically the epitome of a Sag, highly expansive, warm, humor loving, adventure loving, probably very opinionated, blunt - he definitely sticks his foot in his mouth on occasion. His confidence may easily border on arrogance, and he may think his knows better than others - he’s probably pushy with his beliefs and opinions at times. This Pluto Sun conjunction will also highlight his need to feel expansive, to travel a lot, and to feel free and to feel as though life is an adventure.

With the Sun shining it’s light on Pluto, in a close conjunction, Brad be obsessive about his beliefs and ideals, and perhaps nitpicky about the finer details related to his beliefs, which may trip him up or could be difficult for other’s to deal with at times.

This nitpicky, detail oriented way of Brad’s is enhanced even more by having Draconic Pluto going overlaying in the Tropical 6th house, flavoring the 6th with an obsessive, intense focus.

Brad’s Tropical Stellium is in the 2nd house, but in the Draconic Zodiac, it overlays into the Tropical 10th house in Libra. This stellium, including Venus, the Moon, Mercury, the South Node and Mars, has given him the ability to stand out and attract public recognition, with easy charm and charisma, in Libra - the sign that knows how to appeal to others and is very geared towards partnership. Brad has rarely ever been single. He always has someone, and he comes across as a major romantic.

Pope Francis I

Draconic Neptune - a planet associated with higher inspiration, ideals, and the removal of boundaries between the material and spiritual worlds - conjuncts his Tropical North Node - life’s purpose or direction in life - and Sun - the light that brings our attention right into the here and now - in the 6th house (of service, daily chores and routines) in Sagittarius (beliefs, often of a religious nature). His life purpose is to be of service, to shine his wisdom in a humble way in which he is staying at a level with “the people”(by giving service rather than acting as a leader above others), and the wisdom of Neptune, with Neptune’s way of dissolving boundaries (which could also be seen as creating unity). Draconic Neptune inspires Pope Francis to dissolve the boundaries between people, in love and acceptance, in kindness and service and noble beliefs (Sag).

His stellium of Sun, North Node, Jupiter and Mercury is in Aries in the Draconic zodiac and overlays into his Tropical 9th House! The 9th house is the house of religious leaders and teachers of higher knowledge or wisdom. He was destined to be a religious leader and he is also a pioneer, as Aries is the pioneer, and he has changed many things during his time as Pope, bringing in much more acceptance and kindness into the Catholic Church. He is leading the way into a new way and new “rules” within the Church.

Pope Francis also has his Draconic Saturn (in Gemini) in the 12th house of the highest mysteries and the culmination of all other houses, is conjunct his Tropical South Node (our talents and skills developed in the past). Pope Francis is channeling Saturn through his South Node, as a natural talent. Pope Francis is generally considered humble, not flamboyant or enjoying luxuries. He has been known to travel in very inexpensive vehicles and has chosen to live in a way that is much less opulent than past Pope’s, who have vast wealth at their disposal. Saturn likes a very stripped down lifestyle, which is simple, plain, and with just the essentials as the focus.

Edgar Cayce - The Sleeping Prophet

Draconic stellium in Aries overlays into his Tropical 8th House - planets North Node, Mercury, Saturn, Venus and the Sun. The 8th House is a very psychic house with a deep understanding and interest in psychology and the subconscious mind, so this overlay is no surprise. Edgar would have been a person who lived from a place of great depth and interest in diving ever deeper. This is called a Moksha house in Vedic astrology, a house that can lead to higher spiritual experiences. Edgar tapped into the information from a place that he couldn’t access while in the waking state. He “slept” and then talked, while his secretary recorded him and them transcribed the recordings. The 8th House is one of the primary houses of the occult, of hidden knowledge, and psychic abilities.

Draconic Uranus conjuncts at a 14 minute orb in the first house to his South Node. Edgar had a natural ability to pull flashes of insight, or to have sudden visions, and have instant understanding - as Draconic Uranus is being channeled through the South Node, the area of life he has already developed, has skill or talent in already.

Draconic Moon, Neptune and Pluto overlay to his Tropical 10th House.

Edgar was known publicly for his incredible psychic abilities, he is one of the most renowned psychics even decades after his death, and his readings, which were performed while he was unconscious (sleeping), were all recorded. His readings have been saved and people are allowed to look in the library of his readings and study his predictions. He is known to be quite accurate. The Moon, Neptune and Pluto all stand out as very prominent as far as what he was known for. The Moon is tapping into memory, Neptune removes boundaries and is expansive and well as inspired, while Pluto causes an deep impulse that seems to come from another time, or at least the impulse is coming from some place that can’t be pinpointed, but it must be followed, though the impulses of Pluto don’t necessarily make sense, it’s from instinct, not from the head.