The 12 HOUSES of Astrology

The HOUSES of astrology number 1 through 12 and correspond to the 12 ZODIAC SIGNS in order of their numbering. The ruling PLANET of each ZODIAC SIGN is also the ruling PLANET of the HOUSE ruled by that SIGN. So, the first ZODIAC SIGN of ARIES rules the 1st HOUSE, and as MARS is the ruling PLANET of ARIES so it is also the ruling PLANET of the 1st HOUSE. This continues around the WHEEL until the 12th HOUSE is ruled by the ZODIAC SIGN of PISCES which is ruled by the PLANETS of JUPITER and NEPTUNE. The ruling ZODIAC SIGN and PLANET(s) govern how the department of life represented by each HOUSE will be expressed in the life of the individual.

The HOUSES represent the various departments of human life. Astrological HOUSES indicate how the vibratory energies of the alignment of the PLANETS and ZODIAC SIGNS influence the AURIC FIELD of the Earth. All 12 HOUSES work together as a single unit that represents the cosmology of an individual… sort of sets the stage for the play of the life of an individual in which he serves as the hero of his own story.

The uniqueness of an individual is determined by calculating a Natal/Birth Chart using the birth date, birth time, and birth location in which a snapshot is taken of the sky at the moment of the person’s birth. Understanding the energetic properties of the ZODIAC SIGNS, their planetary rulers, the locations of the HOUSES, and the positioning of the PLANETS in this “snapshot of the sky” will give insight to how an individual will express personality and character in their lifetime as well as indicate areas of particular strengths and weaknesses. Being armed with this information will allow a person to know where the area(s) of most work and attention are needed and allow for being able to respond to life rather than react to it and evolve to higher vibratory frequencies of spirit. Better tools for better living.

The HOUSES are defined by Earth’s 24-hour rotation on its axis, while the ZODIAC SIGNS are defined by Earth’s yearly revolution around the SUN. The CONSTELLATIONS of the ZODIAC represent the sky, while the HOUSES represent life on Earth… What is above, so below.

The HOUSES, like the ZODIAC SIGNS, are divided by a line called a “cusp”. The CUSP of the 1st HOUSE marks the ASCENDANT—that point in space where the eastern horizon intercepts the ECLIPTIC at the time of birth of an individual. It naturally follows that the DESCENDANT (CUSP of the 7th HOUSE) will be 180° of the ASCENDANT. The most important of the HOUSES are the CARDINAL (or ANGULAR):

• 1st HOUSE CUSP: ASCENDANT (rising SIGN)
• 4th HOUSE CUSP: NADIR
• 7th HOUSE CUSP: DESCENDANT
• 10th HOUSE CUSP: MIDHEAVEN

How the CARDINAL HOUSES (1st, 4th, 7th, 10th) are determined is standard no matter the choice of methodology for calculating the intermediate HOUSES (2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 11th, 12th). There are many methods for doing this calculation of the HOUSES. The most popular one used in online websites that offer the service of calculating a Natal/Birth Chart is PLACIDUS. (The author Mike Grabarek recommends use of the more recently introduced Krusiński House system. See Info Sources.) Depending on method chosen for the calculation of the HOUSES, the outcome of an individual’s Natal/Birth Chart may show some variances, especially when PLANETS appear near the CUSP of a HOUSE, in which case, that PLANET will ultimately have an influence in the HOUSE on each side of the CUSP anyway, so little is changed vibrationally.

NOTE: Since this blog is interested only in providing a general understanding of astrology, no futher detail will be given on this topic here. The reader is encouraged to continue the study on their own, if greater understanding is desired. Warning: this topic can be quite involved and ultimately a great deal of math and geometry is going to be included! Just sayin’!

The various departments of human life represented by the HOUSES are as follows:

• 1st HOUSE: the ego/sense of self
• 2nd HOUSE: material possessions/security
• 3rd HOUSE: local community/communication
• 4th HOUSE: home/family
• 5th HOUSE: creativity/romance
• 6th HOUSE: day jobs/schedules & routines/health
• 7th HOUSE: partnerships/marriage
• 8th HOUSE: death/sex/transformation & regeneration
• 9th HOUSE: philosophy/higher education/religion/law/foreign culture & travel
• 10th HOUSE: public image/career/legacy/social status
• 11th HOUSE: humanitarianism/technology
• 12th HOUSE: collective unconscious/psychic abilities

 

The first six HOUSES deal with the individual’s personal inner world… it’s all about “me”. Houses 7 through 12 deal with the outer world… how the “me” deals with others. Each HOUSE from the inner self corresponds to an opposite outer self. For example, the 1st HOUSE deals with the ego of the self, while the 7th HOUSE (opposite) deals with how that self relates with others in partnerships. The 2nd HOUSE deals with how the self manages their own money, while the opposite 8th HOUSE deals with how the self manages the money of others. So think “inner six HOUSES are ‘self’, outer six HOUSEs are ‘other’.” 

The Fundamental Components of Astrology

Most people are familiar enough with astrology to be able to name the 12 ZODIAC SIGNS, know the general birth date ranges that determine a SIGN, and even possess a bit of knowledge as to the typical characteristics seen in the personality of at least the ZODIAC SIGNS of those people with whom a continual association is shared. (I even had a dog once, that though I did not know his exact birth date, he most assuredly HAD to be ARIES!)

My journey in the study of astrology has left me thinking of Shrek and onions! There are LAYERS to astrology... start on the outside and peel the layers away to a more complete understanding of this science! There is far more to it than meets the untrained eye, and it can be complex and confusing... until one day it isn't anymore! 

So far, I've basically covered that which is mostly generally known... the 12 ZODIAC SIGNS. There are actually four components to astrology, including:

• PLANETS
• ZODIAC SIGNS
• ASPECTS
• HOUSES

A theater analogy can be applied to these components of astrology... the PLANETS are the actors in the life of a person, the ZODIAC SIGNS give these actors character and personality, and the HOUSES are the stage in which the actors give their performances.

I smacked into a brick wall when reading about the HOUSES. I did what I typically do in life and began building moutains out of molehills when reading material concerning the HOUSES from several different sources. Turns out there are numerous methologies for determining the HOUSES in an individual's HOROSCOPE. With so many online sources available for use in generating a Natal/Birth Chart, there is no need for anyone to go to the trouble of calculating HOUSE cusps unless insanity-by-math-and-geometry is viewed as an enjoyable pastime. I recommend using an online service to generate your Natal/Birth Chart, and save the advanced study for learning how to calculate for yourself the HOUSE CUSPS when you decide to become a professional astrologer. 

What I have learned these many months in reading astrology books and websites is sufficient for my original intent, which was to study TAROT. I'm getting there and I have to say that the process is well worth the anticipated outcome, so onward and upward, Yall....