The zodiac wheel is a circle (symbolizing no beginning and no end) divided into
twelve segments called houses that represent different areas of life.
Every house provides a home for the planets residing there – giving that planet
a place to act out its particular energy.
The horizontal line that connects the 1st and 7 house cusp (the cusp is the
beginning of the house, marked by a new line) represents Earth’s horizon.
The 1st house cusp is the eastern-most point and the 7th is the western-most
point. Planets near the 1st house cusp are called “rising” because they are
coming up over the eastern horizon at the moment of birth.
The 1st house affects the appearance and the personality, as it is
perceived by the outside world. The rising sign is the degree and sign
that marks the cusp of the 1st house and coincides with the first
independent breath we take. This is why exact birth time is so critical in
casting a natal chart – the chart’s very structure depends on the time
and location of birth.
The Ascendant and 1st house symbolize the process of beginning and
initiation. Once you grasp this concept, you “get” what the 1st house is
all about in a birth chart. Planets here will be easily available to the world
and we will use great energy in the expression of those planets.
The 2nd house is the house of values and possessions. It determines
one’s level of self-esteem and also indicates personal talents and
abilities. Our relationship to money and possessions as well as our
attitude towards them can be understood from studying this house.
Lastly, this house represents what we hope to gain in life – what we
desire.
The 3rd house has to do with siblings, neighbors, youth, early school
experiences and relationships with those who live nearby. Perhaps the
most significant meaning of this house is communication – it tells us
about every aspect of communication and all mental endeavors. This is
also the house having to do with short distance travel. Keywords to this
house include growth and exploration.
The 4th house rules home, family, roots and the end of all matters.
Ancestors, heritage and parents – particularly the nurturing parent,
usually mother, are represented by this house. It is called the house of
the soul and the sign on the cusp of this house as well as any planets
here can help us understand the qualities and elements of ourselves we
keep guarded.
The 5th house is the house of romance, sex, conception, children,
creativity, self-expression and risks. Most importantly, this house is all
about self-fulfillment – doing as one pleases. It is the house of the inner
child as well as your own childhood.
The 6th house is all about work and service, our daily routine, jobs, and
health. The keyword to this house is “duty”. Our level of dedication to
maintaining details that result in knowledge and wisdom is expressed
through this house. It symbolizes the mind-body connection and as a
result, health matters can be understood from this house as well.
The 7th house (or Descendant) is the house opposite the 1st house of self
and identity, and thus it is concerned with the awareness of others. The
sign placed on the 7th house cusp describes how we approach a
relationship and also indicates what we are attracted to in a partner.
Indeed the 7th house is the house of marriage, partnerships, and open
enemies. Through these significant relationships the lession of being
aware of others is learned.
The 8th house is the house opposite the 2nd house of possessions and
concern for what is “mine”, what “I value” and “my abilities”. Thus the
8th house is concerned not with what “I” have, but what “you” have,
what “you” value and other people's talents and abilities. The 8th house
will tell you about the financial status of your marriage partner, since it is the 2nd house from the 7th. It will tell you about any investment you
have concerning other people’s money such as stocks, venture capital,
taxes and inheritance. It is called the house of “sex, death and
regeneration” because this house forces us to explore our most intimate
and hidden depths by sharing ourselves with others.
The 9th house is the house of long distance travel, higher education,
philosophy, religion and politics. Opposite the 3rd house of accumulating
knowledge, this house teaches us how we can share this knowledge
gained through the 3rd with the world. This house asks the deep
questions and helps us find the meaning and purpose in life. The 3rd
house is where the journalist gets the information, but the 9th house is
where he publishes it.
The 10th house (or Midheaven) is the most elevated point in the chart.
This explains why the 10th house is concerned with career, status,
honors and recognition. It is also traditionally associated with our
authority parent – most likely the father. The 10th house shows your
reputation – the public image you present to the world. The very nature
of our contribution to society is shown through the 10th house and it is
one of the places you can look to determine your true calling.
The 11th house is the house of friendships, hopes, wishes, and dreams.
It talks about the relationship we have with the community and humanitarian issues. It is the most social of houses, indicating our
involvement with groups, clubs and organizations. In the 11th house we
find that dreams come true only when we consider society’s needs as
well as our own.
The 12th house is the most hidden house of the zodiac. It is where we
seek to transcend the humanness of ourselves but at the same time
where we fear to do so because of the uncertainty as to what we will
find. Nevertheless, the ego is lost in the 12th house whether we like it or
not in order to delve deep into our most unconscious issues and perhaps
even take a peek at the collective unconscious. Once we get past the fear
of losing the self, we find a treasure in the 12th house that teaches us
our great potential for compassion and universal love. The 12th house is
obscure, giving it the reputation of being the “house of self-undoing” and
is also assigned to hidden institutions such as prisons or mental facilities.