A Guided Tour of the 12 Astrological Houses
When you’re ready to elevate your astrology from a cute parlor trick to something more substantial (and endlessly juicy), you’ll quickly find yourself face-to-face with a somewhat beguiling astrological term: Houses. But, unlike your late-night Zillow searches, the astrological Houses are not pipe dreams — they’re actually part of your life. And, in this case, you actually have 12 of them.
Your birth chart is structured around 12 Houses that reveal how you channel your energy, and where your intentions manifest, along with the strengths and weaknesses of your individual character. But what is a House? And who, or what, lives in it? Is it a fixer-upper? Read on, my friend, for everything you need to know about the 12 astrological Houses — no shiplap required.
What is an astrological House?
When you pull up your birth chart (I recommend the TimePassages app for iOS or Android, as well as Astro.com), you’ll notice that your 360-degree wheel is subdivided into 12 sections, like pie slices. Before you ask: Yes, the number 12 surfaces often in astrology; however, the Houses are not the same as the 12 signs of the zodiac. The Houses actually mirror planet Earth’s 24-hour rotation around its axis. Each House is equal to approximately two hours within a 24-hour period. The math is mathing!
On your birth chart, each planet, asteroid, and celestial point falls within a House, which illuminates the spot it occupied at the exact time, date, and location you made your earthly debut. The Houses activate these planets by revealing where that energy shows up in your life.
Okay, how do I find my Houses on my birth chart?
I recommend starting with your Ascendant, also known as the Rising sign. The Ascendant reflects the zodiac sign emerging over the eastern horizon at your exact moment of birth, which reveals your perspective on reality, along with the recurring themes that show in your life. What’s more, the Ascendant is not only what shapes our character, but the architecture to our individual birth chart. From the position of the Ascendant (which appears at the 9 o’clock position on the wheel), we read the chart counterclockwise, with the Ascendant’s horizontal line delineating the First House. From there, we read down and around the Houses — the bottom of the chart (the 6 o’clock position) marks the Fourth House, emerging on the west side of the horizon (the 3 o’clock position), which marks the Seventh House, the chart’s halfway part. Then, we make our way to the top of the chart (the 12 o’clock position), locating the Tenth House and, finally, concluding the cycle with the Twelfth House, the section that borders the Ascendant from the top.
The Houses anchor the birth chart by providing a framework for your lived experience. They offer depth and dimension, illuminating which spheres of influence are most meaningful in your life. You may notice that some Houses contain lots of different planets. Since many celestial bodies travel together based on the season, they often show up near each other in the birth chart. (By the way, three or more celestial bodies in a House is referred to as a stellium, which reflects a special concentration of energy relating to the themes of that House.)
What if a House is empty?
As you get to know your chart, you may also notice that some Houses are completely empty — and you may, especially if that House represents partnership or career, start to panic. But do not fear! Not having any planets or celestial bodies in a House doesn’t mean that House isn’t playing a major role in your life — it just means that it’s not one of your default domains where you store energy. When planets in the sky transit (a.k.a. move through) that area of your chart, it will bring that House to life … and some transits last a very long time! Jupiter (the planet of expansion) can spend close to two years in a House, while Pluto can be there for upwards of three decades!
What does each House of the zodiac represent?
The First House: Identity
As established by the Ascendant, the First House is, well, you. It symbolizes the body you were born with, physical appearance, and general recurring themes in your life. Likewise, planets that occupy the First House tend to show up in very obvious ways in our lives (for instance, someone who has the Moon in their First House will likely wear their emotions on their sleeve, or someone with Venus in their First House will care deeply about aesthetics and personal taste). This is also the House of manifestation, so when transiting planets move through this domain, we feel inspired to take action and set things in motion.
The Second House: Values
The Second House is related to all that we value, including personal finances and material possessions. Beyond its connection to money, the Second House also speaks to what we need in order to feel safe, protected, and supported. Natal planets located in the Second House are motivated by concepts of security, while planets transiting the Second House reveal changes in resources or perception of importance.
The Third House: Communication
Siblings, peers, and friends are governed by the third house, along with communication, transportation, and early childhood education. Natal planets in the Third House are anchored through dialogue and discussion, and when planets transit the Third House, we are likely to receive important information … especially juicy gossip.
The Fourth House: Family
The Fourth House is delineated by an angle referred to as the Imum Coeli — IC for short — which directly translates to “bottom of the sky.” At the base of the birth chart, the Fourth House symbolizes home, family, childhood experiences, and the way we metabolize our upbringing. Natal planets in the Fourth House are largely influenced by our parents (specifically the mother figure), while transiting planets moving across the Fourth House will inspire us to reconsider our relationship with private, domestic space.
The Fifth House: Pleasure
The Fifth House is associated with creativity, romance, artistry, and children. This is the area of the birth chart that invites us to connect with inspiration and joy. Natal planets in the Fifth House illuminate play, imagination, performance, competition, and theatricality. When planets transit the Fifth House, we’re encouraged to find new outlets for our artistic expression, especially through love and romance.
The Sixth House: Health
The Sixth House corresponds with health, wellness, schedules, and daily routines. While the First House speaks to the body you were born with, the Sixth House reflects the body you create through your choices. Those with natal planets in the Sixth House are often motivated by organization, structure, and calendar management, while transiting planets moving through this domain enable us to pay closer attention to how we’re spending our time.
The Seventh House: Partnership
The Seventh House is demarcated by an angle referred to as the Descendent — the opposite of your Ascendant. Likewise, this House is located directly across from the First House of Self and exposes life-changing partnerships. The Seventh House introduces the concept of perspective: It’s you relative to outside circumstances that go beyond your immediate circumstances. When natal planets are located in the Seventh House, they tend to focus deeply on relationships, both romantic and professional. When transiting planets move through the Seventh House, we may find ourselves closing deals, signing contracts, or defining relationships.
The Eighth House: Transformation
Traditionally called the House of “sex, death, and transformation,” the Eighth House is associated with deep psychological experiences and hidden passions. Those with natal planets in the Eighth House may find themselves attracted to supernatural or esoteric subjects and drawn to passionate relationships, and will likely reinvent themselves many times throughout their lives. Additionally, the Eighth House has to do with “other people’s money,” so those with planets in the Eighth House may unearth unexpected assets throughout their life — both by way of their own inheritances and unearthing others’ hidden treasure. Planets transiting this area often signal a powerful emotional phase that prompts us to reimagine wants, needs, and expectations.
The Ninth House: Philosophy
The Ninth House is the area of the chart associated with travel, philosophy, higher education, and theology. Those born with natal planets in the Ninth House are often defined by their wanderlust and curiosity as they pursue an insatiable quest for knowledge. When transiting planets move through the Ninth House, we can find new inspiration by being exposed to individuals and concepts that exist beyond our day-to-day realities.
The Tenth House: Legacy
The Tenth House is delineated by an angle referred to as the Medium Coeli — MC for short — which translates from Latin to “top of the sky.” The Tenth House, located at the very top of the birth chart, is the apex of your unique story: It’s your legacy, reputation, and how you’ll be remembered in this lifetime. The Tenth House is associated with public image, career ambitions, and professional accolades. Natal planets in the Tenth House reveal a deep desire to succeed, and — when planets transit this domain — we can expect meaningful changes to occur for how we’re viewed and perceived by others.
The Eleventh House: Humanity
The Eleventh House is linked to humanitarian pursuits. Technology, innovation, medicine, and social media also exist within this zone, which helps us understand the large-scale, macro influence of this domain. Those born with planets in the Eleventh House are on a perpetual mission to save the world, and these folks often have revolutionary, groundbreaking, and even radical ideas for how to shape society. Transiting planets through this domain inspire us to broaden our reach and help others outside our immediate community.
The Twelfth House: Psyche
The Twelfth House is considered the “unseen realm.” This domain — the last House in the cycle — contains all things that exist without physical form (dreams, secrets, emotions … along with affairs, addictions, and psychological ailments). The Twelfth House is considered the most psychic, spiritual, and mysterious area of the birth chart, so those born with planets in this area are often highly intuitive individuals who encounter psychic and spiritual experiences. Planets transiting the Twelfth House invite us to release what is no longer working; take a deep look at our emotional truths; and find time alone to rest, recover, and recuperate.
How do these astrological Houses play a role in my horoscopes?
Keep in mind that although our natal planets in the birth chart don’t change, the planets in the sky are constantly moving across our different Houses. These are called the “transiting planets,” and the placement of the transiting planets moving across the Houses in our birth chart is actually how horoscopes are calculated. In other words, your daily, weekly, monthly, and even annual horoscopes are determined based on which Houses are being activated in your chart — so Houses aren’t just about personality, they can help illuminate your future!