The 12 Houses

The Houses of the Zodiac are modes of expression. Stages if you will, that the planetary energies and Points can express themselves out upon. There are twelve houses of the Zodiac these houses are formed by the rotation of the earth on its axis, in a 24 hour period. All twelve signs rise over the eastern horizon per day. That is what constitutes your rising sign. That also is what begins your chart the first house your personal rising sign.

Houses that have planets and mathematical points in a particular house activate that house stronger and issues of that house will be pertinent in the natives life. Whatever sign is on a particular cusp, the ruling planet of that sign rules the house. For instance Libra on the 7th would be governed by Venus, so technically there isn't an empty house. Some houses are particularly strong. For instance we have angular, succedent and cadent. Angular being the 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th; Succedent being the 2nd, 5th, 8th and 11th; and Cadent 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th.

Each house is also associated with one of the four elements Earth, Air, Fire and Water the Building blocks of Astrology. The fire houses are considered houses of life; 1st, 5th and 9th governed of course by the element of fire. Then we have houses of substance governed by the Earth signs 2nd, 6th and 10th. We also have the air signs Gemini, Libra and Aquarius called the houses of relationship 3rd, 7th and 11th. Lastly, houses of endings 4th, 8th and 12th are the water signs also karmic houses ruled by Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.

I'll give a brief description of each house and it's function, please keep in mind they are very vast and would take up a book.

1st House

• Self awareness (approach to life)
• Physical Body
• Personality (How you wish to appear to others)

2nd House

• Personal resources (hidden talents, sense of self worth, self esteem)
• Money
• Movable possessions

3rd House

• Environment (community, neighbors, and relatives)
• Knowledge (Concrete Evidence)
• Early Education (Pre-school, Grade school and High school)
• Short Journeys
• Communications

4th House

• Personal Foundations (inner emotional security and self image)
• Mother
• Home
• New beginnings and end of life

5th House

• Personal interests (enjoyment and pleasure, such as parties , sports and love affairs)
• Creative self expression (your talents brought out for others to see and enjoy)
• Gambling (Involving risk)
• Speculation (Real Estate and new enterprises)

6th House

• Work (conditions of your work)
• Health ability to work
• Service given to others
• Pets
• Hygiene

7th House

• Group Awareness
• Cooperative Relationships
• Partnerships
• Marriage, Lovers , significant others

8th House

• Joint Resources (yours and others)
• Death and Regeneration (physical and Symbolic)
• Personal sacrifices (Your own and others for you)
• Taxes, inheritances
• Legacies

9th House

• Higher Education (college, graduate school, experiences)
• Understanding and wisdom (Abstract thoughts)
• Law (Societies laws, legal affairs,
in-laws)
• Long Journeys (Physical or mental)

10th House

• Social Foundations (recognition and respect)
• Professional career and personal Achievements (social standing and power)
• Father
• Authority figures (teachers, employer, police etc.

11th House

• Friends
• Social Groups (Platonic Friendships)
• Politics
• Hopes, wishes , goals and objectives

12th House

• Self Undoing
• Karma
• Service( for atonement out of love)
• Confinement (Instituitions, Hospital. Monasteries, etc)
• Hidden strengths and weaknesses
• Ultimate understanding (Oneness with humanity and God/dess)