When I previously described birth charts as wheels with 12 wedges, I maybe have been oversimplifying a tad… Picture it instead as an outer wheel with 12 wedges spinning around an inner stationary wheel with 12 wedges. The outer wheel represents the 12 signs of the zodiac, and the inner wheel represents the 12 houses of the zodiac. These houses remain fixed, and the signs and celestial bodies rotate through them.
Each of the 12 astrological houses refer to different areas of our life. When looking at a birth chart, the celestial bodies present in each house or the ruling sign of each house (the sign in which each house begins) can tell us a lot about a person and their life. In a way, these houses ‘ground’ astrology by translating celestial information into practical action.
Feeling overwhelmed about learning about the 12 houses? Don’t be! Here are some hot tips to help you avoid a housing crisis:
Each house is very similar to its ‘corresponding’ sign. What I mean by that is, each sign is associated with a number according to its order: Aries kicks off at 1 and Pisces closes out at 12. The first house and Aries share similarities, as do the second house and Taurus, and so on and so forth.
Learning basic numerology, or even how to read Tarot cards, can help you pick up astrology quicker. Generally, each number is associated with specific traits or aspects that are universal across astrology, numerology, Tarot, etc.
Just a note: You must know your exact time of birth to find out what signs and planets correspond to your different houses.
The 12 Houses of the Zodiac
Here I am going to give you a cheat sheet for what each house means, what sign it corresponds to, and an example of how to interpret placements as they relate to the houses.
1: The House of Self
The first house tells us about someone’s personality, self-image, and identity. It is always ruled by your rising sign, and if your Sun was in your first house, you’d likely come across as very Aries-like (the first sign of the zodiac). If someone’s Moon was in their first house, it would suggest that they are highly sensitive, that they tend to react emotionally, and that they may have a poor poker face. A strong emotional undercurrent would likely shape this person’s identity.
2: The House of Worth
The second house carries serious Taurus energy. It tells us about our worth in terms of both the material (money, possessions) and immaterial (self-esteem), and generally sheds light on our value systems.
If someone’s Venus (the planet of love and attraction) was in their second house, it would suggest that they are attracted to the finer things in life (read: fine wine, food, and art) and prioritize gifts as their love language; these people tend to be super sensual.
If someone ever asks for insight about their finances, the first place I would look is the second house.
3: The House of Learning
The third house and its counterpart Gemini remind me of the way a young child interacts with their world – curious, full of wonder, and eager to share. The third house tells us about the way we process new information and communicate our ideas.
If someone’s Sun was in their third house, it could indicate a passion for learning new things, mental agility, and shining communication skills.
4: The House of Home
Just like Cancer, the fourth house is all about home, stability, and comfort. The fourth house tells us about both the physical and emotional things that make us feel ‘at home,’ in our space and with others.
If someone’s Mars (the planet of energy and action) was in the fourth house, it would suggest that they put their heart and soul into their family or home, may naturally take a ‘head of the family’ position, and protect their loved ones passionately.
When someone asks me to interpret their chart for family, the fourth house can tell me about someone’s childhood, family structure, and relationship with their parents.
5: The House of Creativity
Just like with Leo, the fifth house is where self-expression and heart shines. Quite simply, the fifth house shows us where someone’s joy lives: in creative pursuits, romance, and even offspring.
If someone’s Mercury was in their fifth house, they would likely be an imaginative, talented, and entertaining communicator, using their ‘voice’ as their primary creative outlet.
If someone asks me about their love life, I will check out the fifth house for insight into their dating patterns and how they fall in love.
6: The House of Routine
Many Virgos find pleasure in the small, mundane aspects of like, like cleaning the fridge or getting all your errands done before noon (I can say this as a Virgo rising). It’s kind of the same for the sixth house, which refers to the way we approach our day-to-day routines involving life administration and wellness.
If someone’s Moon was in their sixth house, it could indicate that their emotional wellbeing is attached to if/how well they perform their daily habits, and that their productivity has a serious impact on their health.
If someone asks me about their health, the sixth house is the first place to look for how people take care of themselves and what issues they may face.
7: The House of Partnership
The seventh house refers to the different partnerships in our lives, including marriage and work relationships. Just like with Libra placements, this house can tell us how well we play with others.
People with their Sun in the seventh house are those people who never do things alone – they are always looking for someone to go through life with.
This house is another good place to look if you want to interpret a chart for love and relationships.
8: The House of Regeneration
Just like Scorpios, this house can be kind of confusing… (I can also say that, as I am a solar Scorpio!) It relates to the ways in which we transform ourselves, the ways in which we transform other things, and the ways in which we interact with others and transform as a result. It’s related to birth, death, sex, secrets, the occult… Basically all the fun stuff.
If your Jupiter (the planet of expansion and good fortune) was in the eighth house, you’d likely find a talent for research or handling money (especially other people’s) to be very profitable.
The eight place is another great place to look if someone asks for insight about money, as it can tell us investments about inheritances.
9: The House of Understanding
If Gemini and the third house are the inquisitive children of the zodiac, Sagittarius and the ninth house are kind of like sage elders. The ninth house takes the learning of the third house to a deeper level, delving into our philosophy and morals.
When Venus is in the ninth house, it indicates an attraction to people who can teach you something, especially about different cultures or ways of life.
10: The House of Status
Just like our Capricorn placement, the tenth house tells us about our ambition and professional work. If the first house tells us how we see ourselves, the tenth house provides insight into how others see us, especially in a public arena (think coworkers, neighbours, etc.).
Mars in the tenth house sets people up to be hellbent on success and eternally focused on propelling their career forward. These people are often self-starters (and control freaks, but don’t tell them I said that…).
If someone asks me about their career, I immediately look at the tenth house for insight into the kind of work they may excel at, and how they could approach that work.
11: The House of Community
The eleventh house, like Aquarius, relates to how we relate to communities and society and, more specifically, who we choose to identify with. Our social circles, teams, clubs, and other groups are all represented here.
A Sun in the eleventh house would suggest someone is a humanitarian at their core. They probably find great fulfillment from helping other achieve their goals and being a part of something larger than themselves.
The tenth house is the place to look when you are analyzing a chart specifically for friendships.
12: The House of the Unseen
Just like how Pisceans can seem to be living in a dream, the twelfth house is a bit of a cloudy veil as well. This house relates to our subconscious, dreams, intuition, and thing we keep hidden – even from ourselves. It’s the part of Self that is most murky to us.
If your Moon is in the twelfth house, you’re probably very good at reading other people’s emotions but very bad at interpreting and handling your own. You probably require lots of alone time to sit with yourself and sort through the ways you are feeling and why.
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