Astrological Houses

There are twelve Houses in the art of Astrology. Each House is associated with one of the twelve Sun Signs, as well as one or two of the astrological planets. In a birth chart or other astrological reading, the Houses are arranged in a circle, and the depending on the date, the Sun Signs revolve around them, influencing them. The planets are also each placed in one of the Houses, further affecting them. The Sun Signs and planets represent the influences and actions in a birth chart or other astrological reading, and the Houses are the fixed points representing the areas in which these influences create actions to affect them. For example, if Mars is in the Second House, it means that the war god’s intense activity and driving identity manifest themselves in one’s personal possessions, perhaps indicating that one prides oneself in their material possessions, is a collector of goods, or use their personal possessions in ways suiting the war god.

The Twelve Houses are below:

The First House: The House of Self

The First House of Astrology is known as the House of Self. It bears the greatest resemblance to the Sun Sign of Aries, and the planet Mars. It is associated with identity, with an emphasis on how others perceive you. The House of Self is one’s identity projected outward onto others, and when planets and Signs appear in this House, they are acting in the realm of appearance, image, and one’s personality as perceived by others. This House governs the affairs of personal interaction and the image one projects onto others.

The Second House: The House of Value

The Second House of Astrology is the House of Value. It is associated with the Sun Sign Taurus and the planet Venus. When Sun Signs and planets appear in this House, they are acting in the realm of material possessions and resources, such as money, belongings, houses, and the like. The House of Value is focused, like its associated Sun Sign, on the material, and represents actions in terms of physical resources owned personally by the querent.

The Third House: The House of Communications

The Third House of Astrology is the House of Communications, associated with the Sun Sign Gemini and the planet Mercury. This House is associated with interpersonal interactions on a larger scale; social connections and networking, learning, and giving out information. It is the sum of and the parts of one’s communications and interactions with others. Any Sun Signs or planets found in this House are acting in the realm of  interactions between people, and the exchange of knowledge and ideas.

The Fourth House: The House of Home and Family

The Fourth House of Astrology is the House of Home, or the House of Family, or the House of Home and Family. It is associated with the Sun Sign Cancer, as well as the planets of the Moon and Ceres. Actions in this House take place in the sphere of one’s home and family, as well as the deepest levels of oneself. While the First House of Self is associated with one’s outward self, the House of Home and Family is associated with one’s inner self, as seen by one’s family in the home, where one is most comfortable. Planets and Sun Signs acting in this House make actions in the realm of one’s personal space, family members, and one’s inner self.

The Fifth House: The House of Pleasure

The Fifth Astrological House, the House of Pleasure, is associated with the Sun Sign Leo and the planets of the Sun and Pallas. Actions taking place in the Fifth House are taking place in the realm of creativity, entertainment, and luxury. This is the House of the arts, as well; Sun Signs and planets in this sphere act in the realms of creativity, children, entertainment, and leisure.

The Sixth House: The House of Health

The Sixth House of Astrology is the House of Health. It is associated with the Sun Sign of Virgo and the planets Vesta and Mercury. Actions taking place in this House take place in the spheres of one’s daily well-being, the services and actions one performs on a daily basis, and one’s own state of mental and physical health. In these ways, the House of Health also covers those areas associated with one’s own sense of belonging and integration, as those are important aspects of mental health.

The Seventh House: The House of Partnerships

The Seventh Astrological House, or the House of Partnerships, is strongly associated with the Sun Sign Libra and the planets Juno and Venus. Like the name implies, the House of Partnerships covers the realms associated with one-on-one interactions and relationships. While the House of Communications focuses on social interactions on a broader scale, this House focuses on communication among individuals, but in terms of an aspect of one’s relationship (as opposed to interactions only) to others. The actions of the planets and Sun Signs in this House affect relationships between significant others, close friends, business associates, and, of course, diplomats and other meetings of equals.

The Eighth House: The House of Reincarnation

The Eighth House of Astrology is known as the House of Reincarnation, and is associated with the Sun Sign of Scorpio and the planet Pluto. Actions taking place in this House affect the realms of shared physical, emotional, and elemental possessions and resources. While the Second House of Value covers personal possessions, this House focuses on communal ones, such as shared homes, community parks, pooled resources, and the like. Planets and Sun Signs in this House also affect deep unions between multiple people with the potential to transform them; the act of sex, marriage, close friendships, monetary unions, and the like.

The Ninth House: The House of Philosophy

The Ninth Astrological House is associated with Sagittarius and the planets Jupiter and Chiron. It is known as the House of Philosophy, and actions taking place in this House cover the realms of mental unions and the development of one’s mental faculties and viewpoints. The House of Philosophy is concerned with the development of the mind and the broadening of one’s viewpoints through any means available, including spirituality, travel, academics, and asking questions.

The Tenth House: The House of Social Status

Associated with Capricorn and the planet Saturn, the Tenth Astrological House is the House of Social Status, and is concerned with, unsurprisingly, one’s social status and place in life and society. Events occurring in this House affect the realms of one’s occupation, social class, respectability, public image, and role in society.

The Eleventh House: The House of Friendships

The House of Friendships is the Eleventh Astrological House, and is associated with Uranus and the Sun Sign of Aquarius. This House covers the realm of social relationships on a broader scale than covered by the Seventh House of Partnerships, and also includes in its spheres social goals and group memberships, such as those in clubs, worker’s unions, and the like. Actions taking place in this House also affect friendships that are not close enough to be included in the House of Partnerships.

The Twelfth House: The House of Self-Undoing

The Twelfth House in Astrology, the House of Self-Undoing, is associated with the Sun Sign Pisces and the planet Neptune. It is the House of the mystic, and is associated with actions taking place in the realm of spirituality, the powerful influences of the past, the collective world/universe/community as a single soul, one’s devotion to higher realms of thought, existence, and being, and service done for others or higher goals. Actions in this House are in the realm of the universe as a whole, and spirituality and higher ideas.

The Astrological Houses have the same progression as the Sun Signs they identity with. For more on this, see my post on Astrological Progression.