The Houses in Astrology

The 12 House System 

There are 12 Houses in Astrology and each House governs a different area of life.
For example, the 1st House (aka the Ascendant House) is the House of Self. While the 10th House (aka the Midheaven House) is the ​House of Public Reputation. 

The 12 Houses

Components of a House

Each House has a natural ruler (one of the 12 Zodiac signs), a planetary ruler and each house is associated with one of the elements. 

• Zodiac signs: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces 
• Planetary rulers: 
  • Traditional Astrology: the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter & Saturn
  • Modern Astrology: now includes Uranus, Neptune & Pluto as co-rulers
• Elements: fire, earth, air and water

Horoscopes 

A Horoscope is essentially an astrological chart which is cast using a point in time, a date and a location (geographical coordinates). Once cast, we are presented with a chart which incorporates the 12 Houses, the 10 planets and a different Zodiac sign which is assigned to each House (aka the cusp line). Whichever sign appears on the 1st House Cusp line is interpreted as the Ascendant. 
​
In the example below, we can observe ​some of the following details about this chart: 

• The Ascendant (ASC) is in Capricorn
• Jupiter is exactly conjunct the Ascendant 
• The Midheaven (MC) is in Virgo
• The Sun is in Leo and the Sun happens to be in the 8th House 
• Scorpio is on the 11th House cusp line, so we can refer to Scorpio as being the ruler of the 11th House 

Birth Chart example

Does everyone have a Horoscope? 
Yes! In fact, everything in existence has its own Horoscope:

• Humans (eg. Birth Chart) 
• Animals
• Events of all kinds (eg. a marriage, starting a new job)
• Governments, rulerships etc 
• Places
  
• Structures (buildings) 

In this day and age, calculating a Horoscope is as easy as clicking a button! You can use the Free Birth Chart calculator on my website to calculate your Birth Chart. Calculating the chart is the easy part, however, interpreting your chart is where things get tricky!
If you are interested in having your Birth Chart interpreted, you can book a 30 minute or 60 minute reading below.

Book Astrology Reading

The 12 Houses 

The 1st House - House of Self (Ascendant) 

• Rules:
  • ​Physical appearance
  • How you present yourself (hair, clothing etc) 
  • Sense of self
  • The first impression you make on others 
• Natural ruler: Aries 
• Planetary ruler: Mars
• Element: Fire 

*This is the most important House in your Birth Chart! 

The 2nd House - House of Money & Possessions

• Rules:
  • Your resources 
  • ​Possessions
  • Values
  • Self-esteem
  • Finances (how you make money)
• Natural ruler: Taurus 
• Planetary ruler: Venus 
• Element: Earth​

The 3rd House - House of Communication

• Rules:
  • Communication
  • Siblings & extended relatives (cousins, aunts & uncles) 
  • Early childhood learning
  • Community/neighbourhood
  • Day-to-day travel
  • Business contacts 
• Natural ruler: Gemini
• Planetary ruler: Mercury 
• Element: Air ​

The 4th House - House of Home (Imum Coeli) 

• Rules:
  • ​Childhood 
  • Relationship with your parents 
  • Home life (living circumstances)
  • Real estate 
• Natural ruler: Cancer 
• Planetary ruler: the Moon 
• Element: Water​

The 5th House - House of Creativity

• Rules:
  • Creativity
  • Hobbies
  • Gambling
  • Children 
  • Sex
  • Love affairs 
• Natural ruler: Leo
• Planetary ruler: the Sun
• Element: Fire ​

The 6th House - House of Service & Health

• Rules: 
  • Health
  • Work (the daily work you do)
  • How you serve others
  • Charity
  • The imbalance of power in relation to work (people in a position of authority above you and your subordinates)
• Natural ruler: Virgo 
• Planetary ruler: Mercury 
• Element: Earth ​

The 7th House - House of Partnerships (Descendant) 

• Rules:
  • Friendships (one-on-one)
  • Business partner
  • Marriage partner (1st marriage) or long-term partner 
  • ​Contracts 
• Natural ruler: Libra
• Planetary ruler: Venus
• Element: ​Air

The 8th House - House of Death & Rebirth 

• Rules: 
  • Death & rebirth
  • Transformation/regeneration
  • Taxes & debts 
  • Traumas 
  • Your partner's resources 
  • Inheritances 
• Natural ruler: Scorpio
• Planetary ruler(s): Mars (traditional) and Pluto (modern) 
• Element: Water

The 9th House - House of the Higher Mind 

• Rules:
  • Higher education
  • Mentors of all kinds (teachers, professors, gurus etc) 
  • Your faith (religious, anti-religious, spiritual etc) 
  • Long-distance travel 
  • Publishing 
• Natural ruler: Sagittarius
• Planetary ruler: Jupiter
• Element: Fire

The 10th House - House of Public Reputation (Midheaven) 

• Rules: 
  • Career
  • Public reputation 
  • Profession/vocation 
• Natural ruler: Capricorn
• Planetary ruler: Saturn
• Element: Earth​

The 11th House - House of Networks 

• Rules: 
  • Networks 
  • Friendship groups 
  • Social media 
  • Long-term goals & plans (hopes/ideals) 
• Natural ruler: Aquarius
• Planetary ruler(s): Saturn (traditional) and Uranus (modern) 
• Element: Air​

The 12th House - House of Fantasy 

• Rules: 
  • Dreams
  • Fantasies
  • Hidden enemies 
  • Isolated places
  • The ways in which we sabotage ourselves 
• Natural ruler: Pisces
• Planetary ruler(s): Jupiter (traditional) and Neptune (modern) 
• Element: Water ​

The Houses can be categorised further by hemisphere (north and south), quadrant and House type (angular, succedent and cadent), however, that is a more advanced branch of chart interpretation, which I will delve into in one of my future blog posts! 

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