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The mysteries of the cosmos and how the planets, stars, and constellations impact our life has long been a source of fascination. Astrology plays such a major role in our lives from the moment of our birth to the beyond. If you want to unlock the secrets and understand how the planets, their passage, and your birth chart can gift you profound insight into your personality, life events, and your destiny - getting to grips with the twelve houses of astrology is a must. Let's delve in and discover what the 12 houses are, why they are significant, and what their stance in your natal chart can mean.
IN THIS ARTICLE
The Foundation of Astrology Houses
If we imagine the sky as one giant wheel with twelve spokes, each sector representing a different area of life - this is the core foundation of our natal chart and the astrological houses. Our natal chart is a blueprint of what was happening in the cosmos the moment we were born. The placement of planets, constellations, and celestial bodies at the time of birth are all believed to contribute to our life path - influencing everything from personality traits to strengths, shadows, and the ways in which we find our place with others and in the world.
A Tour of the 12 Astrological Houses
1st House (The House of Self)
The first house is the house of self and is connected to ideas of identity, self-expression, and the first impressions we make on people. It is linked to ideas around early experiences along with our physical appearance. The first house also has the energy of new beginnings. This house is ruled by Mars and connected to the zodiac sign of Aries.
2nd House (The House of Value)
The second house is the house of value, wealth, and personal resources. It is linked to our material wealth and personal possessions, dealing with themes around financial security. While it is connected to wealth, the second house is also concerned with our values and sense of self-worth and how this relates to the material world. It deals with how we find joy, comfort, and security. This house is ruled by Venus and connected to the zodiac sign of Taurus.
3rd House (The House of Communication)
The third house is the house of communication, intellect, and early education. It helps shape the ways in which we express ourselves, along with covering how we take in and process information and our early education. The third house is also connected to short journeys, our daily commutes, and our relationships with our siblings. Mercury rules this house and connectd to the zodiac sign of Gemini.
4th House (The House of Home)
The fourth house is the house of home. This house is connected to our family, our roots, our domestic setting, and how all of this plays into our emotional foundations and sense of security. It asks us to consider our relationship with ancestry, family dynamics, and any inherited traits. It also deals with our connection to a sense of home and the parts of ourselves that we keep private. This house is ruled by the Moon and connected to the zodiac sign of Cancer.
5th House (The House of Pleasure)
The fifth house is the house of pleasure. This house is connected to our personal passions, our creative spirit, and our sensuality and romance. It’s the home of crushes, art, music, games, and the raring-to-go energy of recreation - basically, anything that brings you sweet joy in life. It can also ask us to look at our relationship to pleasure, excess, and fears around our creative expression. This house is ruled by the Sun and connected to the zodiac sign of Leo.
6th House (The House of Health)
The sixth house is the house of health. This house is connected to daily routines, well-being, and how we service others. It deals with themes of healing, how we can implement positive changes into our daily lives to shift into wellness, and how this affects our mind, body, and soul. The 6th house is also the realm of caring for pets and small animals and dealing with debt and financial obligations. This house is ruled by Mercury and connected to the zodiac sign of Virgo.
7th House (The House of Partnership)
The seventh house is the house of partnerships. This house is connected to your relationships and not just your romantic connections but also your business partnerships. It is also the house of marriage, contracts, and agreements. The seventh house also deals with mirroring and what we look for in others. It also considers how we show up in relationships. This house is ruled by Venus and connected to the zodiac sign of Libra.
8th House (The House of Transformation)
The eighth house is the house of transformation. This house is connected to the mysteries of life and themes around rebirth, significant life changes, intimacy, shared resources, and death and legacy. Under the umbrella of the 8th house you will find everything from inheritance rituals to esoteric practices and facing our own complex relationship to death and change. This house is ruled by Mars and Pluto and connected to the zodiac sign of Scorpio.
9th House (The House of Philosophy)
The ninth house is the house of philosophy. This is the house that deals with higher learning, expansive thinking, far-flung travel, and your spiritual beliefs and personal philosophy. This is the house of big-picture thinking and also addresses how we shape our own values and beliefs. The ninth house also deals with wisdom and intuition. This house is ruled by the expansive planet of Jupiter and is connected to the zodiac sign of Sagittarius.
10th House (The House of Social Status)
The tenth house is the house of social status, career, ambition, and reputation. This house also deals with power and power structures - considering your relationship to authority and also how you wield your own power. In opposition to the 4th house of your private life, this house is also about public life and opinion and how you present yourself to the public eye. Within these themes, it also considers your societal contribution and the legacy you leave behind. This house is ruled by the planet Saturn and is connected to the zodiac sign of Capricorn.
11th House (The House of Friendships)
The eleventh house is the house of friendships. This house deals with your social circles, hopes, and communal affairs. It shapes who we surround ourselves with and the karmic connections we make. It also considers our hopes, dreams, aspirations, and how we fit in with societal norms and the collective as a whole. The 11th house is also concerned with how we manifest our dreams. This house is ruled by Saturn and Uranus and is connected to the zodiac sign of Aquarius.
12th House (The House of Subconscious)
The twelfth house is the house of the subconscious and deals with everything that sits beneath the surface. It is a place of secrets, the mysteries of the subconscious, and karmic lessons. The 12th house is also linked to spirituality and the unseen, so can be a place of meditation, astral projection, dreaming, and coming to terms with the cycles of life and death. This house is ruled by Neptune and Jupiter and is connected to the zodiac sign of Pisces.
Personal Houses vs. Interpersonal Houses
The first six astrological houses are known as personal houses, whereas the last six are known as interpersonal houses. Personal houses rule our private lives and have an impact on our immediate environment and our sense of self-perception. If we have plenty of planets lighting up our first six houses, this may mean that we keep close to our home comforts, stay within our friendship circle, and like our bubble.
The interpersonal houses deal with our relationships with others, external factors, and how we connect with society at large. It also deals a lot with transitions, such as relationships starting and ending, career leaps, travel, leaving the past behind, and even moving toward the end of life. If you have lots of planets in these houses, it may mean that you are more connected to your adult life, friends, and actions rather than your early experiences.
The Angular, Succedent, and Cadent Houses
There are three different kinds of houses - angular, succedent, and cadent.
Angular houses refer to the 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th houses in the chart. These houses are considered to be the four pillars and are connected to your core identity. The first house is the house of the self and the ascending sign. Angular houses are considered to be hugely important and powerful as they shape our sense of self, our home life, our career path, and our romantic connections.
Succedent houses refer to the 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 11th houses in the chart. These houses are considered to be the supportive houses. They deal with themes around personal resources, creativity, transformation, and collective energies. While they may not be as powerful as the angular houses, they add plenty of spice and flavor to your life experience.
Cadent houses refer to the 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th houses. These houses are connected to the lessons we learn in life and how we leap higher. They are also the houses that encourage adaptability as they deal with themes around communication, health, learning, and higher spirituality. They are important houses, but they are also softer in their power as they are driven by learning through flexibility rather than pushing you forward with force.
Planetary Influences on the Houses
Different planets affect different areas of life governed by each house. Each planet can be seen as a force or a messenger and it brings its unique energy into your house. For example, if you have Mars in your first house you may be dynamic and bold, whereas if you have the Moon in your first house, you may be sensitive and spiritual. Venus in the 7th house may make you a magnet for beautiful harmonious relationships and Mercury in the 10th house may mean that you were born to be a public speaker. Familarity with the energy of each planet and the meaning of the houses can help you when determining your birth charts and what the impact and influences of the planets are.
The Rising Sign and the Houses
The rising sign (also known as the ascendant sign) is one of the most important signs when mapping out the layout of your twelve houses. This is because it marks the cusp of the first house and all subsequent houses run on from this. The rising sign sets the scene and then will also color the rest of the houses too. For example, if your ascendant sign is Libra, this will not only form your characteristics and shape your personality in the first house, but will also bleed into the other houses - for example, how you show up in relationships (the 7th house) and so forth.
Transits and Progressions Through the Houses
Everything is always moving and how the planets pass through the sky and through each of the houses can have a direct impact on our life path and speed up or slow down the shifts we are making. Not all planets are perfect matches for certain houses and therefore, you have benefic planets that are considered to be harmonious matches and malefic planets that can throw up challenging moods. For example if Jupiter moves into your house of communication, it may signify a period where you can be expansive in your chats with people.
Progressions also play their role. Progressions refer to the gradual shifting of planets rather than the regular transits. These progressions can activate different houses and mark significant shifts. For example, if the progressed sun moves into your house of partnerships, you may enjoy a period of raised self-respect and a vibrant connection.
When we can understand transits and progressions we can even use them to our advantage when timing big decisions or changes we want to implement. Turn to the crystal guide and find gemstone bracelets, zodiac bracelets, gemstones by month, gemstones by astrological sign, and birthstones to help assist you in this cosmic journey.
Conclusion
The twelve houses are an essential part of understanding the impact astrology can have on our lives. Knowing your rising sign and which planets light up each of your houses gives you the chance to know yourself better. Explore your birth chart and see which houses of astrology are busy and which may be quieter for you. Knowing what is happening in your houses can help you understand, forecast, and overcome challenges so you can climb to the highest peak of your spirtual growth.
FAQs
What is the most important house in astrology?
The first house is considered to be one of the most important houses in astrology as it gives us insight into our rising sign. The rising sign sets the scene for all our other houses to unfold and this is believed to be the most important piece of information for understanding our birth chart.
How do I find out which house or planet is in my chart?
There are many online resources that help you to unlock your birth chart. Understanding the houses and the meaning of the planets, along with your birth time and your rising sign are all essential elements.
Can a house in astrology be empty, and what does that mean?
If a house is empty in your birth chart, it just means that no planet was residing there during the time of your birth. It can just mean that whatever theme that house represents won't be as challenging or significant as some of the houses with more planets.
How do transits through the houses affect us?
Transits of planets through the houses can impact our thoughts, actions, and also the outcome of things.
