You’ve probably heard of the Twelve Houses if you’ve ever had your horoscope read or hung out with astrology enthusiasts. Horoscopes pique our interest in astrology for many of us. As we begin to adhere to them, we learn about and become interested in the various dynamic aspects of our birth charts. You may be familiar with concepts like zodiac signs and planetary positions, but what the heck is a House?
Each planet, asteroid, and celestial point has its own “House” in the horoscope, and knowing where these bodies are located may reveal a lot about not just your character but also how you interact with the rest of the universe. The Houses also provide a framework for analysing your life so far and planning for the future. Events, both material and emotional, take place at certain times and places when the planets in the sky pass through these zones. A distinct zodiac sign represents each of the houses. For example, Libra is the relationship sign and is all about harmony, love, and justice, thus it makes logical that the Seventh House of Partnership is ruled by Libra.
A birth chart depicts the sky as it appeared at the time of your birth.
For those who find this to be an exceptional tale, they would be correct. What makes the Houses particularly amazing in astrology. Each represents a different facet of existence, but the Twelve Houses as a whole also function as a unified entity, a network spanning the whole sphere. Their rhythmic geometry stands as a metaphor for a person’s whole universe. Follow along below once you’ve calculated your birth chart using astrological software (like what Astro.com provides) based on your specific time, date, and place of birth.
How do the astrological Houses work?
The Houses are a component of a natal chart that split the chart into 12 equal sectors. Given its perfection as a numeral, the number 12 appears often in astrology. Avoid any possible confusion by remembering that the Houses are not the same as the zodiac wheel, which is based on the sun’s monthly revolution. Instead, the rotation of the earth on its axis every 24 hours is reflected in the Houses. As a result, astrologers combine the two methods when interpreting a birth chart. If you want an accurate natal chart, you need to enter your actual time of birth since the Houses rotate every 24 hours. Two hours of the apparent daily motion of the sun correspond to each home. Make sure the time you got for your crush’s birth is accurate.
What’s the big deal about that? According to astrologer Lisa Stardust, as quoted by Allure, “the Houses in an astrological chart symbolise distinct aspects of your life, depending on the time and place of birth, and reveal the gifts or challenges you will experience in this lifetime.” In other words, everything about your astrological cosmos will be off if the birth time is wrong.
Communication in the Residences’ Native Tongue
It might be confusing to know where to start when first looking at your chart. Symbols populate certain places while others are completely blank. In other words, which way is up? What part is lower? Also, could you explain what all those signs mean?
Locating the Ascendant serves as a starting point. The Ascendant, or rising sign, is the zodiac sign that was just visible above the eastern horizon at the time of your birth. It is located at the far left end of the central horizon line.
The Ascendant shows the overarching themes we will face in life, just as the Sun and Moon reveal our innermost truth and emotions, respectively. The Gemini Ascendant, for instance, will have communication as a primary focus in life, while the Aquarius Ascendant will be characterised by invention, advancement, and nonconformity. The ascendant is also one’s public persona, the picture presented to the world, especially on social media.
The Ascendant also indicates the planetary ruler of the horoscope. For instance, someone with a Sagittarius Ascendant is influenced by the giving Jupiter, whereas someone with a Pisces Ascendant lives in the compassionate Neptunian realm.
The Ascendant serves as a barometer for our own landscape and a blueprint for the chart’s unique layout. The Ascendant is the horizontal line at the top of a birth chart that delineates the first house, which is read anticlockwise. To go to the top of the chart, we follow the divisions, or Houses, and begin on the right side of the horizon line at the Descendent. The Twelfth House, to the north of the Ascendant, is where the cycle comes to a close.
Once we’ve established the interplay between the planets and signs, we can next examine the Houses to pinpoint where this energy is materialising on Earth.
Some houses in your birth chart may be quite populated with planets (in fact, four or more planets in a single house is termed a stellium), while others may be absolutely devoid of any planetary activity. What you’re experiencing is perfectly typical. Since most heavenly bodies move in groups, they tend to remain close together, and this is precisely what the birth chart depicts. The absence of objects does not indicate a lack, but the positions of the planets do provide useful data.
How to Read Your Own Houses on a Birth Chart
Once you’ve found your starting point at the Ascendant, you may begin to learn which Houses the planets inhabit in your natal chart. Consider the unique role that each planet plays to get started: The planet Mercury conveys messages, Venus brings people together, while Mars fights. However, the planet’s behaviour is affected by its astrological sign. For instance, Mercury in serious Capricorn will speak in a logical and sensible manner; Venus in elusive Scorpio enjoys a mystery romantic encounter; Mars in protective Cancer takes an indirect approach to conflict; and so on.
Once we’ve established the interplay between the planets and signs, we can next examine the Houses to pinpoint where this energy is materialising on Earth. Does a person have a strong preference for financially secure partners if Venus-Scorpio is located in the Second House of material possessions? Or maybe Venus-Scorpio is located in the adventurous Ninth House, suggesting a preference for long-distance flings. The planetary placements within the Houses provide light on our life journey and the intricacies of our character.
The planets in the sky are always moving throughout the various Houses, but our natal planets in the birth chart stay there. Although each planet travels around the solar system on its own timescale, each year on Earth we experience a full solar cycle of all the Houses. Thus, the energy of each house will permeate everyone’s lives at some point. Due to Cancer’s connection to the Fourth House of Home and Family, even if you aren’t a Cancer, you may find that domestic and familial concerns have a greater impact on your life than you would expect.
Now that you know why the Houses matter so much in astrology, we can go further into each one.
In-Depth Explanations of Each Astrological House
You, as defined by the Ascendant, are in the First House of Self. It’s a metaphor for the physical form and personality traits with which you were born. When a natal planet is located in the First House, it has a disproportionately large amount of influence on the native (for instance, Mercury in the First House is a sign of a chatterbox, while the moon in the First House reveals someone who wears emotions on their sleeve). When planets in the sky transit into this house, the first stop in the cycle, our ambitions materialise and new endeavours, ideas, or points of view take shape. The vitality of the Arian sign best describes this House.
Another Possessions Residence
Financial matters, possessions, and the evaluation of worth all fall within the purview of the Second House. This principle governs material wealth, but it also extends to the intangible realm of human feeling (and often affect us even more than money does). Those with natal planets in the Second House look for safety in worldly possessions. When planets move into or out of the Second House, we get insight into how our material circumstances or sense of worth are shifting. The power of Taurus is associated with this House.
Expression, or the Third House of Astrology
The third house deals with matters of communication, transportation, and the immediate neighbourhood. Planets in the Third House of a natal chart encourage communication and may point you in the direction of intimate friendships with people in your immediate circle of influence. In order to solve most difficulties and build healthy relationships, you should give this area of your chart the respect it deserves. The transit of the planets through the Third House is generally a time of revelation about our immediate social circle. The spirit of the Twins, Gemini, is associated with this House.
House Four, Domesticity and Offspring
The house and family are represented by the Fourth House, which is located at the very bottom of the chart. Planets in the Fourth House of a birth chart indicate a person’s distinct perspective on home life and how they relate to the mother figure in their life. When planets go through the Fourth House, we’re usually encouraged to put money into areas where we may feel secure, loved, and cared for by making improvements to our housing and other facilities. Family ties of any kind, whether biological or adopted, are within the purview of the Fourth House. The vitality of the Cancer sign best describes this House.
This is the Fifth Pleasure House.
The Fifth house, the area of play, is associated with the arts, love, and young people. Your innate creative expression is connected to the planets in your Fifth House of destiny, and we frequently have epiphanies that strengthen our self-assurance when transiting planets visit this house. Whether it’s a satisfying orgasm, the appreciation of others, or the completion of a creative effort, the Fifth House is all about the things that make you happy. The fire and passion of Leo signify this House.
Horoscopes for the next year and the New Year are printed on natal charts decorated with delicate green plant branches and little yellow flowers.
In the Sixth House of Health
The Sixth House deals with matters of health and wellbeing as well as regular activities and errands. The First House represents the physical form you are born into, whereas the Sixth House represents the form you have developed over your lifetime of decisions. Let this home serve as a reminder that your physical and mental well-being are interconnected and dependent on factors outside of your control, such as self-care, a healthy work-life balance, and enough sun exposure. Those whose birth charts have many planets in this sector value structure and routine, and put a premium on keeping track of time and appointments. When a planet is in the Sixth House, it influences our routines and timetables. Virgo’s vitality is associated with this House.
Seventh House of Marriage & Partnerships
Directly opposite the Ascendant in the First House is the Descendent in the Seventh House, which is concerned with significant relationships. All the Houses up until this point have focused on the individual’s immediate environment, including their finances, residence, and circle of acquaintances. However, perspective is discussed in the Seventh House. The Seventh House represents your significant connections with those outside of yourself, including love partners. In general, people whose natal planets fall in the Seventh House are devoted to and motivated by the bonds of partnership. The Seventh House is about finalising agreements, formalising commitments, and making things official, all of which are facilitated by the planets when they transit through it. The astrological sign of Libra is associated with this house.
This is the House of Sexuality, the Afterlife, and Metamorphosis.
How are sexuality, mortality, and metamorphosis related to one another? All these behaviours, after all, stem from primal urges. Those who have planets in the Eighth House in their birth charts are likely to be fascinated by the esoteric, to have passionate love affairs, and to undergo a number of stunning transformations during their lives. The Eighth House advises us to indulge our whims from time to time (after all, we all die), but to be flexible and open to change at all times. When planets pass through this sector, they teach us to look under the surface and remind us of the intricacies of life. Scorpion vitality is associated with this House.
Saggitarius, or the Ninth House of Philosophy
The ninth house represents a person’s educational pursuits, thus it’s all about going to college and learning philosophy. It was believed in mediaeval astrology that this area had connections to the wider world outside your community. We now see this as both a real and a metaphorical frontier. Those whose natal planets fall in the Ninth House are naturally inquisitive and interested, with a strong desire to see the world. It’s common to start a new course of study, relocate to a new country, or develop a new worldview when planets transit the Ninth House. The Nines remind you to be adaptable and curious as the world around you evolves and grows. Sagittarian vitality is associated with this House.
Place in Society (Tenth House)
Your unique tale culminates in the Tenth House of your natal chart, which is also known as the “House of Fame.” The Tenth House is also in charge of one’s reputation, professional objectives, and professional successes. People with planets in their natal Tenth House are ambitious, and career shifts are common during planetary transits in this area. There is a lot of Capricorn energy here.
Ascend to the Eleventh Level of Friendship!
The Eleventh House, the first of the descending houses, reminds us why we work so hard and with whom we should share our success. The Eleventh House represents our social circle and charitable efforts. This includes our closest companions and the people who have been there for us through thick and thin. People born with planets in the Eleventh House are generally identified by their revolutionary ideas since technology and invention both fall within this zone. The passage of planets in this sector aids in the expansion of our sphere of influence as we establish our place in the social order. The influence of Aquarius may be felt in this House.
The Unconscious, or the 12th House
The Twelfth House, or the darkness before dawn, is the celestial location immediately below the horizon. The same is true of the Twelfth House, which rules over the intangible world of dreams, secrets, and emotions. Those who were born with planets in the Twelfth House are likely to have exceptional intuitive and perceptive abilities. When planets move through the Twelfth House, we meet fated companions; yet, it’s important to keep in mind that not every relationship has a chance to continue forever. The energy of Pisces is associated with this house.