Houses
Houses: Sectors in the Sky
The Ascendant and Midheaven Axes
• House Systems
• What Houses Show
• Meanings of the 12 Houses
The Planets in the Houses

Houses: Sectors of Sky

Houses are a scale for measuring where a planet is located in its daily cycle created by the rotation of the earth. Houses tell where a planet is from the standpoint of a particular spot on Earth. They will reveal if a planet is above or below the horizon, and if it is rising, passing overhead, setting, or passing underfoot on the other side of the Earth.

Houses make this local information even more specific by dividing the space (the horizon) surrounding a given point on Earth into twelve sectors. Unlike the signs, however, houses can be quite a bit more or less than 30 degrees in length. This is due to geometrical complexities, and it gets more pronounced the further north or south a birth is from the Earth's equator. The exact width of a house also depends on which method of house division an astrologer uses.

Back to Top

The Ascendant and Midheaven Axes

The Ascendant (or rising sign) is the point where the Sun's ecliptic path intersects the horizon in the east. At 180 degrees opposite to this, at the other end of the horizon axis, is the Descendant, where the ecliptic intersects the horizon in the west. In most methods of house division, these two points mark the cusps of the first and seventh houses.

The Midheaven or M.C. (abbreviation of medium coeli, "middle heaven" in Latin) is the point where the Sun's path (the ecliptic) intersects the meridian, a great circle in the sky that runs due north and south (directly over the Earth's north and south poles). The M.C. is where the Sun is located at approximately noon; this is the highest any planet can go in its daily cycle when seen from a particular spot on Earth. The I.C. (abbreviated from imum coeli, or "lowest heaven") is 180 degrees opposite the M.C.; it is the lowest a planet goes in its daily cycle and where the Sun is located at midnight. The I.C. is actually located on the other side of the Earth from the observer. Together, the M.C. and I.C. form the Midheaven, or meridian, axis of the horoscope. The M.C. and I.C. are usually the cusps of the tenth and fourth houses.

Back to Top

House Systems and Cusps

Cusps are the transition points between two houses. The beginnings or "cusps" of the first, fourth, seventh and tenth houses are not usually a matter of dispute because they coincide with the angles (Ascendant, Descendant, M.C., I.C.). Most astrologers take these cusps quite seriously if they are sure the birth time is reasonably accurate. The cusps of the other houses (two, three, five, six, eight, nine, eleven, and twelve) can be different depending on the house method used. Many astrologers regard these intermediate house cusps as only approximate; a planet near the end of one house is thought by many astrologers to partake somewhat of the qualities of the next house. Today, most English-speaking astrologers use the Placidus or Koch house systems; others use equal (30-degree) houses starting at the Ascendant.

Back to Top

What the Houses Show

The house in which a planet is located shows the area of life in which its influence is most likely to manifest. In astrological interpretation, the houses are used to determine the kinds of experiences that are most natural, appropriate, and likely to occur for the individual in each of the various areas of the life. Also, the sign on the beginning or cusp of a house indicates to the astrologer how the area of life associated with that house will tend to operate. To erect an astrological chart with accurate houses, we need to know the exact time of day that a person was born. For specific examples, see Bruce Scofeild's User's Guide to Astrology.

Back to Top

Meanings of the 12 Houses

Houses show the particular departments of life in which a planet is likely to have its strongest influence. Signs, on the other hand, are more like adjectives that further color or qualify the planets and houses. Houses show where (in life) the planets operate; signs show how they express.

The first house extends from the Ascendant (the cusp of the first house) to about thirty degrees below the horizon. Like the Ascendant, the first house also has much to do with the social identity and personality. Traditionally, it is said to define the natural self-expression, the physical body and appearance, mannerisms, temperament, and social attitudes. It also symbolizes self-awareness and the assertion of self.

The second house symbolizes the abilities we have that are worth something in a practical sense. It shows our resources, ownership, money, possessions, talents and skills.

The third house traditionally rules communication, correspondence, neighbors, siblings, relatives, local mobility, and the local environment. It has to do with both the nature of our immediate environment, social and physical, and how we might best come to terms with it.

The fourth house rules the domestic home, the base of operations, parents, family, the ancestral tradition or roots, property, and internal personal security. It symbolizes the very personal and emotional experience of centering and securing oneself in the world.

The fifth house is the area of self-enhancement, usually expressed through children, artistic creativity, or game-playing. This house rules salesmanship, "show business," love affairs, and courtship -- all a kind of performance.

The sixth house is about work, crises, and adjustments, and it is says much about the daily routine and schedule. The mastery of specific techniques and service to others are also themes. It is also the house of mental and physical health -- our ability to make things (including the body) run smoothly and efficiently.

The seventh house signifies marriage, business partnerships, and other one-to-one relationships. It has to do with awareness of others in general and with the ability to participate and cooperate. It also indicates open enemies, those with whom we openly compete. In your Inner Child report, Gloria Star explores how this manifests itself.

The eighth house is the area of shared resources, of materials that are jointly owned or are used with other people. It covers inheritances and trusts, and any other type of financial entanglement. It is associated with shared rituals, including reunions, which function to revitalize relationships. The basic issue here is trust, a necessary ingredient in sexual matters and in sustaining relationships. The 8th house is the house of divorce, crisis, mystery, occultism, and death and the beyond.

The ninth house provides information about the search for meaning in life. It is associated with travel, education, religion, higher knowledge, philosophy, law, and deep mental comprehension. Promotion, publishing, and advertising, which involve extending ideas to many minds, all come under its rule.

The tenth house usually begins at the Midheaven, which, like the Ascendant, is in itself a very important personal point in the birth-chart. The tenth house has to do with life direction and career. It shows our vocation or calling in life, our reputation and status. It is our public persona and shows how we fit into our community. Like the fourth house, the tenth house is also associated with parents.

The eleventh house rules friends, groups, associations, and organizations. It symbolizes our activities within social units, our social aspirations, and the values held by our friends and peers.

The twelfth house rules personal spiritual crises. It is the area of hidden and secret things, psychic experiences, illumination, personal sacrifice, karma, solitude, and confinement. It symbolizes powers greater than the self, such as institutions and belief systems. Confinement is often the result of failing to conform to the rules or rituals of institutions or belief systems. The twelfth house is also the house of failures and defeats and how we deal with them.

Back to Top

The Planets in the Houses

Each planet has its own particular effect on the house in which it is located. Many planets in a house indicate an emphasis on the matters of that house; more than one trend may be discernible. The natural trend of a house's particular area of life is also symbolized by the zodiacal sign on the house cusp, especially when there are no planets in that house.

The Sun gives great emphasis to the house where it is located. There will be a need to center the life around that house's issues, and those issues will be strong and well-defined.

The Moon suggests that matters of the house it falls in are likely to be reactive, affected by emotions and moods, and characterized by fluctuations and frequent changes.

Mercury gives a pronounced mental or communicative tendency to the matters of its house. Such matters are usually handled rationally.

Venus emphasizes the emotional aspects of the area of life indicated by its house position. Venus stimulates the desire nature, but generally brings positive results.

Mars suggests activity and construction. It symbolizes both strife and a need to take initiative in the matters ruled by the house in which it is located.

Jupiter brings optimism, balance, growth and luck, usually making its house a noticeably successful area of life.

The house position of Saturn indicates the matters that need to be approached consciously and logically. These matters can be prone to delays and problems, which require patience, discipline, and organization to solve them.

Uranus tends to disrupt the matters of its house position, and suggests erratic and unstable patterns and a need for spontaneity and experimentation.

Neptune suggests blind spots and a tendency to dwell on ideals or the future. The areas of life indicated by its house position need to be handled intuitively, creatively, and sensitively.

Pluto often subjects its house's matters to shocks and deep transformations. Pluto intensifies things and suggests the need for changes and new beginnings.

Back to Top