The Houses of Astrology

Dear Yael,

I know that you usually write responses to relationship and personality queries, but I was interested in knowing more about the basics of astrology.  I have been trying to understand my own chart throughout the years, and I am a little confused when it comes to the subject of an astrological house.  Would you mind explaining what this is?  Thank you very much for your time. 

Curious Anne

Dear Anne,

This is a great question.  Firstly, there are 12 Houses in astrology.  Each House rules a particular aspect of one’s life.  The 1st House, also known as the Ascendant or Rising, represents the individual’s basic point of view towards life and external stimuli (i.e. the world).  This house also indicates one’s personality, character, physical attributes, and mannerisms.  Aries governs the 1stHouse, and its ruling planet is Mars.

The 2nd House deals with material resources and acquisition.  It describes how the person relates to money and possessions in general.  This house indicates the individual’s ability to earn money.  Taurus governs the 2nd House, and its ruling planet is Venus. 

The 3rd House rules with the mind and consciousness.  This house dictates how an individual operates, perceives, experiences, discriminates, assembles, processes, and circulates information.  This house governs all modes of communication; therefore, it describes how one interacts with other people (specifically brothers, sisters, and neighbors).  Gemini governs this house, and its ruling planet is Mercury. 

The 4th House deals with the environmental conditions we have created for ourselves, specifically within the domestic scene.  It relates to our relationship with the home, the family and family life in general, and our relationship with our roots and heritage (particularly the relationship with one’s mother).  The 4th House also explains environmental influences, experiences, conditioning, behavioral responses, and habits from our earliest years.   Cancer governs this house, and its ruling planet is the Moon. 

The 5th House rules creative expression and the inner child.  It relates to the arts (dance, theatre, music, painting, sculpture, creative writing, etc).  This house is also associated with other forms of expression and short-term love affairs.  It also deals with our attitude towards parenting children.  Leo governs this house, and its ruling planet is the Sun. 

The 6th House rules work, service, and health matters.  This house describes the type of work we are drawn to and our basic attitude towards it.  It also relates to our formal education, particular line of work, and the relationship we have with our colleagues and communities.  This house also deals with the physical body and health, specifically the attitude one has towards his body and how we look after and maintain it. It deals with food, diet, hygiene, health, and general self-presentation.  Virgo governs this house, and its ruling planet is Mercury. 

The 7th House describes our close relationships with others.  More specifically, it indicates our attitude towards committed relationships and what kind of partner we seek and to whom we are attracted.  It also deals with how we interact with the public, legal affairs, contracts and agreements, business arrangements and business partnerships.  Furthermore, this house relates to karma and the law of compensation.  In short, this house reflects the expression, “you reap what you sow.”  Libra governs this house, and its ruling planet is Venus.   

The 8th House expresses joint resources, corporate and inherited money, insurance and taxes, and money that belongs to the marriage or business partner.  This house also deals with energy returning to its source, death of the physical body, and the practical matters associated with death such as funerals and legacies.  This house also relates to the metaphysical, esoteric, occult, higher mathematics, and atomic physics.  It is concerned with internal mystical experiences and the realms beyond the five physical senses. It is associated with transformation and rebirth.  Scorpio governs this house, and its ruling planets are Mars and Pluto.

The 9th House deals with the higher and collective mind, travel, philosophy, religion and religious institutions, legal systems and laws, and institutions of higher learning.  This house describes our education, our attitude towards learning and gathering knowledge, and our personal beliefs and opinions relating to religious, spiritual, and philosophical matters. This house governs travel of the body as well as the mind. Sagittarius governs this house, and its ruling planet is Jupiter.

The 10th House deals with the individual’s base of operation with respect to society.  It focuses on our social responsibilities, professional and public reputation, honor and dishonor, and relationship to power structures.  It also reveals how one rises above, or falls below, the social and economic station one was born into.  It also relates to ambitions and how they are manifested.  This house indicates the degree of organization, self-discipline, hard work, and patience that the individual is willing to exercise in order to gain social and career positions.  This house also deals with one’s relationship to those in power.  Capricorn governs this house, and its ruling planet is Saturn. 

The 11th House reveals the individual’s capacity to form group associations, make friends, and work on ideas of universal concern.  This house describes the type of group, friends, or humanitarian cause one gravitates towards.  Aquarius governs this house, and its ruling planet is Uranus. 

The 12th House deals with the individual’s psychological health in relation to others, as well as the growth of society as a whole.  This house rules unconscious memories, emotional experiences, and attitudes.  This house also reveals emotional blocks, addictions, habits, and automatic responses.  This house also indicates the specific area in life in which the individual is most likely to deceive himself.  This house is also associated with higher states of consciousness and artistic creativity.  Pisces governs this house, and it’s ruling planet is Neptune. 

Source: Theenchantedland.com