What is the purpose of my life? What has my soul come here to seek? Where should I focus my energy? These are just a few questions that many of us ask ourselves about life. Can astrology provide insights and answers? I think it can vis-à-vis the Draconic Square.

The Draconic Chart, derived from our natal horoscope, has perhaps been overlooked and underestimated. Its origin, mysterious: the first traceable records go back to Babylon and little is mentioned until the beginning of the 20th century. Its perplexing meaning is believed to reveal the patterns of our higher self or our true identity, the state of our soul at the time of its incarnation in this present life.

The dragon graphic remains elusive today. We may never know exactly what it represents, however, when we start working with it, its meaning becomes clear. Discovering our draconic card is sure to elicit a huge “aha!” The complex variables of who we are start to make a lot more sense.

In a nutshell, the Draconian chart is derived from the natal horoscope by transferring the North Node of the Moon back to 00 degrees Aries, known as the Aries Point. In other words, take the natal position of the North Node and see how many degrees it takes to move the North Node back to 00 Aries. That difference in degrees is then subtracted from the natal angles, the Sun, the Moon, and the planets to bring them to their draconic position: a new degree and sign of the zodiac. Nothing has changed in terms of horoscope gestalt. The planets still remain in the same houses. Nothing has changed in terms of the planetary patterns in their relationship to each other. The aspects between planets and points remain the same. However, what has changed is its location within the zodiac, in terms of degrees and signs.

Software programs like Solar Fire and Matrix Win*Star Plus will automatically calculate the draconian chart from the natal chart. The Draconic Card can also be accessed online at http://www.astro.com under the option, Extended Card Selections.

People born with their natal North Node very close to 0 degrees Aries will see virtually no difference between their draconian chart and their natal chart. This happens roughly every 18 years for those born around December 1931, July 1950 and April 1969. What you may suggest is that these people ‘walk what they preach’ or ‘what you see is what you get’. Certainly the door remains open for further understanding.

Much can be intuitive by studying only the draconic card. The housekeeping dynamic changes as the Draconian horoscope reflects a new set of angles, a new degree and sign on the Ascendant and Midheaven. The Sun-Moon Draconic Mix introduces a new ingredient to the mix. The final device in the draconic box poses another strong dimension. The draconian planets and midpoints that now fall on the Aries Point bring intensified patterns of our higher selves forward in this lifetime.

Let’s study the draconic card of someone with whom we are familiar. Noel Tyl was born on December 31, 1936 at 3:57 pm EST in West Chester, Pennsylvania; Rising 00 Cancer 03. In Noel’s natal horoscope, the Sun-Moon Mix in Capricorn-Leo suggests that the powerful energies of ambition are fueled by the need to be center stage, to be respected, loved and honored particularly within your work. “The social evaluation of what one does is taken very personally as an evaluation of personality.”

When we calculate Noel’s draconian chart, the Sun moves into the sign of Aries and the Moon into Sagittarius. Noel’s soul or higher self enters this life with the pioneering forces of Aries, to guide and motivate, to strive as hard as possible. He is fueled by a reigning need to influence thought and have respected opinions of him. In this combination, “the scope of opportunity can extend to the entire world, affecting forms of society, of literature, learning, teaching, publishing, etc. Popularity commanded! Independence valued” . Noel lectures around the world, has published thirty-five astrology textbooks, serves an international clientele of individuals and corporations, and manages his worldwide master’s correspondence course and his educational website.

In Noel’s natal horoscope there is no final device. However, in his draconic card there are two. Draconic Venus in Taurus rules over your draconic Libra Ascendant and 9th house affairs. His intuitive soul identity reaches out to the world through social outreach, to give structure to the ‘art’ of astrology, to build and maintain value and importance through teaching and publication.

Draconic Pluto in Scorpio rules the 3rd house. His soul enters this life with the strength to transform people’s perspectives through the power of communications as a researcher, author, and teacher. The final devices in Noel’s draconic chart confirm the paramount importance of the 3/9 axis. These areas of life should be ‘on fire’ and they are!

We see these themes repeated once again throughout Noel’s draconic chart: his draconic Midheaven in the sign Gemini, his draconic ruler Mercury in Taurus in the 8th house building structure through the healing arts. Draconian Saturn in Gemini, elevated in the 10 career and ruling the 5 teaching, adds an academic communicative drive to the ambition.

The analysis can be further enriched in the synastry between the draconic and the natal chart, placing the draconic on the outer wheel and the natal on the inner wheel.

The most important contacts in the synastry are the draconian planets conjunct the natal angles. A draconian planet falling on the Ascendant/Descendant axis suggests dominant planetary forces entering at the time of birth. Their influences will be extremely important to the soul’s entry into this lifetime in terms of identity awareness, projection, and interaction with the world.

Consider Noel’s prominent Neptune-Saturn natal opposition. In synastry, Draconian Neptune in Sagittarius sits precisely conjunct your natal North Node and Descendant! Draconic Saturn in Gemini looms very closely over your natal Ascendant. This clearly speaks to Noel’s commanding presence and soul-consciousness of him to authoritatively educate and interact with the world in esoteric spiritual matters, as well as through the arts (Noel’s proficiency with music).

The powerful T-square in Noel’s natal horoscope with Mars driving the Pluto-Mercury opposition has now aligned perfectly in the draconic chart with natal Uranus! This undoubtedly highlights the importance of Uranus, its rulership of the natal ninth house, and its inherent symbolism with Astrology. Draconic Pluto also in synastry forms a precise semi-square with natal Neptune, once again confirming the supernatural, spiritual and occult.

By studying the draconic card, we gain a greater understanding of what we are here to accomplish and where we need to act. The draconian card in no way replaces the native one! Our soul cannot be personified without a physical body, without a natal horoscope.

By drawing attention to the draconic card, we can take off more about the mystery of life and begin to discover the main intention of our soul. The dragon chart offers astrologers a wonderful tool to improve intuition. There is plenty of room for exploration and investigation of this fascinating dimension of astrology and its extraordinary depth. Allow your higher self to speak to you through the dragon card.