The Meaning of Caput Draconis

This page serves as an outline of the meaning of Caput Draconis – the Geomantic Figure. This page is partly a summary of my thoughts and feelings about a particular figure, but it’s also a collection of notes and references. I will update this page over time with more information – a one-stop shop! I hope that it serves other students of Geomancy.

To view one of the other figures, click here to go an article on the 16 figures of Geomancy:

The Geomantic Figure of the Dragon’s Head…

This is the geomancy figure of Caput Draconis:

Overview of the Meaning of Caput Draconis

Caput Draconis is associated with the North Node of the Moon, and the element of Earth. It is an odd figure, and thus cannot be a judge. The figure is stable and entering, which is perfect as the North Node of the Moon in Astrology is seen as ‘entering’.

In Astrology, the North Node can represent the energy you need to ‘harness’ in order to feel accomplished, happy and to flourish. In Vedic Astrology, the nodes of the moon are linked to a mythological story. The North Node is called ‘Ratu’ meaning Dragon’s Head, and the South Node is called ‘Ketu’ which translates as Dragon’s Tail. This ‘Dragon’ was a demon who desperately wanted immortality. In his pursuit to live forever, he tricked the gods and thus angered them. To teach the Dragon a lesson, the gods cursed him to live forever with both the past (the tail) and the future (the head) to always be part of him. In this way the dragon was cursed to never escape himself or what he had done for all eternity.

As such the North Node is about what someone is moving into – what we are entering – or what is beginning. This is what the Head of the Dragon (Caput Draconis) means in Geomancy. It represents the beginnings of things. As a figure of earth and a stable figure, this figure is slow moving – so it’s not necessarily a quick and fast start to things, but it does represent the instant moment that things begin.

Caput Draconis tends to be a pleasant figure, but it is highly influenced by figures nearby. Older writers comment that it is a neutral figure, and tends to be ‘good with good’ and ‘evil with evil’.

Caput Draconis is favourable for:

Anything that requires a new beginning, beginnings in general or profits. As an earthy figure, it’s good for planning those new things and gathering the things needed to kick things off. The figure is also favourable for change – as something new beginnings when something old ends.

Caput Draconis is unfavourable for:

Caput Draconis isn’t a great sign when you want something to end or finish. For example, it is not a good figure for sickness and illness – demonstrating that the person is unlikely to get well for the time being. In health charts, it can indicate the sickness is caused by the evil eye or djinn too.

Reflections on Geomantic Figure of Caput Draconis

Looking at the ‘patterns’ which can be created by the points in the figure of Caput Draconis, we can see:

• The symbol of a horn-headed serpent – this is the head of the serpent-like dragon. In Astrology, Caput symbolises the North Node of the Moon. You can see this as the ‘mouth’ end of the dragon, which looks on new things to feed on – nourishing it and keeping it going.
• The symbol of a seed drill – A seed drill is a long spike-like tool which has a perpendicular handle. It’s used to create holes to plant seeds into the ground. As such, a seed drill represents beginnings and new starts – which is a perfect symbol for Caput Draconis.
• The symbol of footsteps walking towards a door – Walking towards a door yet to be opened symbolises new beginnings. Other names for this figure include ‘entering threshold’ and ‘stepping inside’, which is why many writers refer to the figure as looking like footsteps approaching a door.

Caput Draconis is the Latin phrase for “Head of the Dragon”. This phrase is used to refer to the constellation of stars known as ‘Draco’, but also the ascending, or North, lunar node. This refers to the point in the sky where the moon intersects the ecliptic (the sun’s path). With the North node, we are referring to the point at the ecliptic the moon crosses when ‘ascending’/rising or moving North.

The nodes of the moon are used to predict and note eclipses, as an eclipse can only happen when one of the nodes aligns with the sun. A solar eclipse is caused when the full moon is near a lunar node, whilst a solar eclipse occurs when a new moon is near a lunar node.

Originally, in medieval Arabic astrology, the nodes were seen as an eighth planet which was the cause of eclipses. The planet was split into the two ‘nodes’ – head (ra’s) and tail (dhanab).

In Hellenistic Astrology, the North Node points towards desire or increase. This is the head, and thus mouth, of the dragon – so it’s looking at what it can consume. The Dragon is looking at taking in what can benefit or strengthen it, and what will expand it. This is the node that moves into the moon being higher than the sun in the sky. At this point the moon will elevate itself above the prime luminary.

In Arabic traditions, the figure can be referred to as ‘Atabaht al-dākhil, meaning ‘Inner Threshold’. This refers to the threshold of a door way, which it is said to look like: the two dots representing the doorway or threshold, and the three single points are footsteps leading up to the door.

The figure is made up of a double, passive point in the ‘head’ row, with all other rows being active. Caput is therefore made up of all elements except fire. This is an interesting one because in Western occultism we usually see ‘fire’ as an element about starting new things. But here, we have the figure that represents beginnings with no active fire.

Elemental Ruler:

Planetary Ruler:

Zodiac Ruler:

Given to the sign Libra