Astrology houses are heavenly sectors responsible for a specific area of human life.
This article gives the most detailed overview of astrological houses – what houses are in astrology, how to use them, what they look like, and what they are responsible for.
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How to use astrology houses?
Astrological houses connect planets to specific life events.
They do this in two ways:
- they assign a role to the planet if it rules the house and
- give meaning to the planet if it is in the house.
The planet as the ruler of the house in astrology
Each planet corresponds to a specific astrological house. In other words, the planet rules the house.
A planet-house correspondence depends on each specific horoscope. Mars may rule the 5th house in one horoscope and the 9th house in another.
I will explain this correspondence further.
Each house of the horoscope describes a whole class of objects — for example, the 10th house shows:
- an employer,
- a job position or profession,
- a boss,
- a president, or
- a mom.
If the planet becomes the ruler of the 10th house, it can signify any of these objects, but it cannot show anything else.
Planet within the house
When the planet is inside the house, the meaning of that planet is connected to a particular area of life.
Suppose Venus denotes friends in your horoscope, and Venus is in the second house, which shows money.
This means that your friends are closely related to your money. It may have different specific meanings, for example:
- Friends often borrow your money
- Friends lend you money
- You manage your friends’ money
- Etc.
The context sets the specific meaning of this connection. However, planetary location in the houses creates a relationship between objects in your life.
Astrological houses create a relationship between objects and people in your life.
Empty houses in astrology are still very important since their rulers are located in other houses. This means they also contribute to real life's relationship between objects and people.
What do the astrology houses look like?
Ascendant and Descendant
Imagine a celestial sphere with a zodiacal circle (as shown in the picture). The horizon line (marked in red) divides the zodiacal belt into two parts. The upper part is above the head, while the lower is under the feet.
- The Zodiac sign, located on the eastern horizon, is called the Ascendant.
- The opposite sign is called the Descendant.
For example, in the picture above, you see that Aries is descending.
IC and MC
Divide the celestial sphere mentally into two parts – right and left. Imagine a dividing line – from north to south via zenith. This line also cuts the zodiacal circle into two pieces (see the picture below).
The Zodiac sign, which happened to be on the cutting line, stands above all others. It is called the culminating sign or MC (from the Latin Medium Coeli – the middle of the sky).
On the other hand, the opposite sign is below all others. It is called a falling sign or IC (from the Latin Imum Coeli – the bottom of the sky).
In the picture below, the sign of Cancer culminates, and Capricorn falls.
The angles of the chart
These four essential points – Asc, Dsc, MC, and IC – form heavenly angles.
They divide the Zodiac circle into four unequal segments. Each of these segments, in turn, is divided into three further unequal segments. Altogether, these 12 sectors are called The Astrological Houses of the Chart (see the figure below).
Astrology house system
The way the space between the chart's angles is split is called the astrological house system.
Astrologers proposed their algorithms for dividing the zodiacal circle. The house systems are named after these astrologers.
As such, there is a system Placidus, Koch, Regiomontana, etc.
There is a common terminology:
- The 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th houses are called angular;
- The 2nd, 5th, 8th and 11th are called succedent, and
- The 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th houses are called cadent houses or “falling from angles of the chart.”
How does the planet become the ruler of the house in astrology?
Earlier, I promised to explain the connection between the planets and the houses they rule.
The borders between astrological houses are called the cuspids (or cusps). The house cusps fall into different signs of the Zodiac, depending on the horoscope’s time and place.
Each Zodiac sign corresponds to a planet. For example, Mars corresponds to Aries; Venus corresponds to Taurus, and so on. Here is a static table of such correspondence:
- Aries or Scorpio → Mars
- Taurus or Libra → Venus
- Gemini or Virgo → Mercury
- Cancer → the Moon
- Leo → the Sun
- Sagittarius or Pisces → Jupiter
- Capricorn or Aquarius → Saturn
The planet corresponding to the sign of the house cusp becomes the ruler of the house.
For example, in the picture below, the 10th house cusp (MC) falls into the sign of Cancer. It corresponds to the Moon. This makes the Moon the ruler of the 10th house in that particular chart. The Moon will show mom, the boss, the president, the job, and so on from now on.
(Note: everything you have learned from this article is just a small extract from our astrology course. But if you want to learn more about astrology and make accurate predictions, take a free preview of the course.)
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Astrology houses meaning
As I mentioned, each astrological house shows a whole class of objects, but they all have something in common – a unifying meaning. It is called the archetype of the house.
For example, the archetype of the 3rd house is close or familiar territories. In particular, it can be
- Neighbors and nearby neighborhoods
- A familiar route from home to work
- Etc
The opposite, the 9th house, has the archetype meaning of distant or unexplored territories. In particular, it shows:
- Distant countries and foreign people
- Pilgrimages
- Discoveries that you make
- Etc
Archetypes of opposite houses always have opposite meanings. Therefore, it is more convenient to consider them in pairs.
House archetypes are closely related to the maturation of the human psyche, as you will see further.
Houses 1 – 7. “Me vs. others.”
When a baby separates mentally from his mother, the first thing that he begins to realize is himself.
Later he becomes aware of other people around him.
The archetype of houses 1 – 7 shows “other people and me.” Therefore;
- The 1st house shows you and everything related to your body while
- The 7th house shows all other people (everyone who interacts with you on equal terms and is not your blood relative).
If you want to read further about these houses, check these articles:
- The 1st House in Astrology (coming soon)
- The 7th House in Astrology (coming soon).
Houses 2 – 8: “My possession vs. another’s.”
The way a child explores the world is through toys and play. The concept of “my stuff” arises. Later, he realizes that there are other people’s things that he cannot touch.
Therefore
- The 2nd house shows everything that belongs to you, all your movable property, while
- The 8th house represents everything that belongs to other people.
If you want to read further about the particular meaning of these houses, check the links:
- The 2nd House in Astrology (coming soon)
- The 8th House in Astrology (coming soon).
Houses 3 – 9; “Close vs. far territory”
The child begins to explore the nearest territories when he
- goes out into the yard,
- gets acquainted with the neighbors’ children.
He will later discover new territories when he goes out into the big world, gains new knowledge, and perhaps move to another city.
The concept of “close and familiar” and “new, unexplored” appears in the human psyche.
Therefore,
- The 3rd house shows familiar territories and the essential skills we learned in childhood.
- The 9th house denotes all the distant lands and new knowledge we discover in adult life.
If you want to learn further about the meanings of the particular houses, read the articles:
- The 3rd House in Astrology (coming soon)
- The 9th House in Astrology (coming soon).
Houses 4- 10; “Career jump vs. springboard.”
When a young man enters adulthood, he looks for his place in society.
His home and roots largely determine the profession he chooses. He may follow the traditions of the family or rebel against them. In any case, the family roots influence his choice.
Therefore,
- The 10th house shows your place in society, your realization while
- The 4th house shows your roots – your family tree from which you grew.
If you want to learn further about the particular houses’ meanings, read the articles:
- The 4th House in Astrology (coming soon)
- The 10th House in Astrology (coming soon).
Houses 5 – 11; “Personal vs. common hobbies.”
We often choose our profession when we are young. However, our profession does not necessarily match what we enjoy or what suits our personalities as we mature.
Over the years, people find their hobbies and common interests group people together and create the foundation for our friendships.
The concepts of “my hobbies” and “my friends” appear in the human psyche. Therefore
- The 5th house is associated with creativity and pleasure
- The 11th house shows friends.
If you want to learn further about the particular houses’ meanings, read the articles:
- The 5th House in Astrology (coming soon)
- The 11th House in Astrology (coming soon).
Houses 6 – 12; “To control vs. to be controlled.”
Over the years, the psyche becomes less flexible. One becomes set in his way, often falling into the captivity of their prejudices.
Moreover, the less a person is free, the more he seeks to control others.
Therefore
- The 12th house shows everything that secretly controls us – physically or mentally
- The 6th house (as opposed to the 12th) shows difficult times due to a lack of freedom. It also represents everything that we seek to control.
If you want to learn further about the particular meanings of these houses, read these articles:
- The 6th House in Astrology (coming soon)
- The 12th House in Astrology (coming soon).
P.S. everything you have learned from this article is just a small extract from our astrology course. If you would like to explore these topics more on a deeper level and make your accurate prediction, take a free preview of the course by clicking below.
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