Thaumcraft & Add-ons Questions

I know it is not ComputerCraft based :P/> but it is general :P/>.

Anyway there are a few questions I have and my friend isn't online to tell me :P/>

Thaumcraft 4:

1. How do you create more powerful nodes that store more power and aspects?

Thaumic Horizons:

1. What does a Node Monitor do?
2. What is the point of a Planar Vortex?

I will add more as time goes on :P/> Just wanted to make a thread so people can help me out :P/>.

Thanks guys!