In Astrology, the 12 Houses are the basis of the study of the astral personality. They are the "where", each focusing on a particular area of life. It is in the Houses that the different energies of the planets work. The Zodiac Wheel symbolizes the journey that each one of us has to make in his passage on Earth. Each House represents a phase, a step, a step in this journey.
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Houses in Astrology, Planets and Signs
The horoscope is based on the analysis of three central elements: planet-sign-house. Houses are considered by some astrologers to be the truly individual element of the birth chart.
After all, all people born on a certain day have the same planets in the same signs while the placement of the Houses depends on the moment of birth of each one. This individuality makes them the central point of map reading.
House Division System
There are many systems for dividing Houses, that is, ways to artificially divide the space around the Earth in order to organize all the celestial elements in the birth chart.
The most popular was discovered by Placidus, around 1688, and is based on the time each degree of the ecliptic (imaginary or apparent movement of the sun around the Earth) takes to pass from the Ascendant sign to the Midheaven. It is, therefore, considered a time-based system.
Other systems used are Regiomontanus, Campanus, Porphyry, or Morinus, but the oldest is the Equal House System. In the latter, the Ascendant is defined as the cusp of House 1 and all Houses are the same size (exactly 30°).
The 12 Houses Journey
The 12 Houses are not astrological entities separate from each other, isolated, as independent segments of life. The life of each one of us begins with birth, in the Ascendant. Until that time, we are not aware of ourselves as a unique and individual being.
Gradually, House by House, through a series of steps, phases and changes, we build our identity, until we become part of a reality that transcends us. We reach the end of the cycle of personal growth and return to the origin of all things.
Symbolism of Houses in the Astral Map
Each of the twelve Houses represents a sphere of human life. Therefore, it is through the use of the Houses that Astrology discovers in which area of daily life the movement of the planets affects us.
- The Planets represent motivation;
- The Zodiac Signs show how we are going to direct or use this motivation;
- The Houses show in which sphere of life this motivation and effort will manifest itself.
In the interpretation of the birth chart, some Houses are more important than others and give more strength to the planets in them. The main focus is on the first, fourth, sixth, seventh, tenth and twelfth Houses and the one where the Midheaven is located. However, all Houses can reveal important information depending on the area of life under analysis and are, therefore, an object of study.
In the birth chart, Houses may be empty, unoccupied by planets. However, the spheres of life they cover are nevertheless important: the sign found in the House must be analyzed as well as the ruling planet of that sign. This information gives a good indication of how the person reacts to matters relating to the House in question.
What Houses Represent
The first six Houses have a traditional application while the rest relate to more external issues and to other people. The first House is the most personal, and the seventh, for example, represents the attitude of people towards their partners. The fourth house relates to the home and the tenth to matters outside the home, career and ambition. Each House is ruled by a sign and a planet.
House 2 or Second House
House 6 or Sixth House
- Domains/ Concerns - Health and service to others, professional relationships or another function that involves relating to the social sphere. Personal health and/or illness. It includes doctors and hospitals, as well as nutrition and health.
- Sign connected to this House - Virgo
- Planet connected to this House - Mercury
House 7 or Seventh House
House 8 or Eighth House
- Domains/ Concerns - Ability to share (particularly money and personal property). Sexual relationships, shared feelings and any kind of beginning and end, like birth and death. Major changes in lifestyle or ways of thinking.
- Sign connected to this House - Scorpio
- Planet connected to this House - Mars or Pluto
House 9 or Ninth House
- Domains/ Concerns - Expansion of horizons at all levels: spiritual, metaphysical, educational. Traditionally known as the "House of the Higher Mind".
- Sign connected to this House - Sagittarius
- Planet connected to this House - Jupiter
House 10 or Tenth House
- Domains/ Concerns - Status, career, personal goals. The ego is at the center of everything. In the birth chart, the cusp, or boundary, of this house is called the Midheaven (MC) and gives clues about the professional path.
- Sign connected to this House - Capricorn
- Planet connected to this House - Saturn
House 11 or Eleventh House
- Domains/ Concerns - Friendships, group activities, originality, eccentricity, unexpected events, surprises, invention, astrology, fiction, social values, political beliefs, social justice, rebellion and humanitarian causes.
- Sign connected to this House - Aquarius
- Planet connected to this House - Saturn or Uranus
House 12 or Twelfth House
- Domains/ Concerns - Loneliness, sacrifice, what is lost to us, mysticism, karma, ulterior motives, undisclosed intentions, secret enemies, ego destruction, ambushes. It rules the imagination, creativity, arts, newspapers and the subconscious.
- Sign connected to this House - Pisces
- Planet connected to this House - Neptune or Jupiter
The 12 Houses in Astrology
- First House - Our Cosmic First Impression (House of "Self")
- Second House - Material Goods, Money, Personal Resources
- Third House - Mind, Communication, Brothers
- Fourth House - Home, Roots, Family Life
- Fifth House - Creativity, Joy, Pleasure, Children
- Sixth House - Work, Health, Exercise
- Seventh House - Love, Romance, Marriage, Social Activities
- Eighth House - Birth, Death, Sex, Transformation, Mysteries
- Ninth House - Travel, Education, Religion, Philosophy
- Tenth House - Ideal Purpose, Career and Destiny (House of Midheaven)
- Eleventh House - Friendship, Electronics, Technology
- Twelfth House - Imagination, Subconscious Mind, Secrets, Mysteries
