Astrology Houses

The Houses of an astrology chart are the twelve “pie pieces” that define the areas of life for humanity. They have natural Sign and Point rulers, shown in the image above. However, an individual chart is cast using the time of birth, which rarely places the Signs and Points in their natural Houses. One person can be born with Gemini “managing” the 1^st House while another person is born with Scorpio there. That Gemini 1^st House individual might have his Sun in the 4^th House, while the Scorpio 1^st House individual might have her Sun in the 10^th House.

What Area of Life Does Each House Rule?

Each House, also known as a Domicile, rules a certain aspect of human life. In short:
House 1 – Identity
House 2 – Needs
House 3 – Communication
House 4 – Family
House 5 – Creativity
House 6 – Service and Health
House 7 – Partnerships
House 8 – Intimacy
House 9 – Mastery of Knowledge and Belief
House 10 – Prosperity
House 11 – Community
House 12 – Purpose and Spirituality

House Systems

Over the history of astrology, numerous ways to calculate the starting degree of a House in a Sign, and with certain degrees contain therein, have developed. While the twelve Houses exist as twelve data units, there are numerous different House systems, which represent different ways to calculate the Houses when casting a chart. Here is a list of twelve different House systems: Alcabitius, Campanus, Equal, Koch, Meridian, Morinus, Placidus, Porphyry, Regiomontanus, Topocentric, Vehlow, and Whole Sign.

If you buy a current book on beginning astrology or use an online program to get your chart cast, including our Birth Chart Calculator, the chart will be cast using the Placidus system. As more astrologers, namely Chris Brennan and Demetra George, explore and write about Hellenistic astrology, the Whole Sign system is making a comeback. Regiomontanus is the first choice for astrologers who specialize in horary astrology, like Ema Kurent. Regardless of the system used to cast the chart, the values assigned to the Houses do not change with the different House systems.

Influence of the Signs on the Houses?

As the name suggests, these segments of the chart “house” (or contain) different aspects of human experience, which will be discussed below. When you look at a chart, you will see the Houses laid out counter-clockwise, with the 1^st House on the left and the 2^nd House below it. Not only do Houses represent aspects of human experience, but they also have default elements, Zodiac Signs, ruling points, and types. For example, the 1^st House is ruled by the element of fire, the Sign Aries, the point Mars, and is an “angular” type.

The Sign/House alignment changes based on the time of birth, which is a necessary piece of information to get the correct assignment of the Houses for your individual chart. The time of birth and the date of birth provide the specific information for which Sign the Sun is in and which Sign it will cross when it rises (if the person is born before dawn) and which Sign it was in (if the person was born after dawn).

Getting to Know More about the Houses

Below are descriptions of each House, with links to more detailed information.

First House – The Quest for Identity

The First House is the House of the Self. It is “home” to your personality, character, manners, style, temperament, and (in classical astrology) physical characteristics. Since this House leads the chart, it has a special designation and is also known as the Ascendant and/or Rising Sign. If Scorpio “rules” your First House, then you have a Scorpio Ascendant or Scorpio Rising. The Point that rules the Sign of your First House is known as the Chart Ruler. In the case of the Scorpio Ascendant, the Chart Ruler is Pluto (modern) and Mars (Hellenistic).

The First House in astrology reveals the individual, the Self that goes out to meet the world. Depending on the Sign of your Ascendant, astrologers can interpret how you present yourself to others and how they perceive you. The Air Signs will use their intellect and communication to quest for their identity. Fire Signs will use creativity and action. Earth Signs will be practical and conservative. Water Signs will invest their emotional energy and use close connections to learn about themselves.

Since the Sign of the First House determines the Signs for all the other Houses, this House receives extra attention in astrology.

Second House – The Quest for Resources

The Second House in astrology reveals your energetic disposition to safety, security, and your home. Depending on the Sign of your 2^nd House, astrologers can interpret how you work, act, and make choices to feel secure and get your needs met. The Air Signs will use their intellect and communication to get their needs met. Fire Signs will use creativity and action. Earth Signs will be practical and conservative. Water Signs will invest their emotional energy and use close connections to be safe.

Third House – The Quest for Understanding

The Third House in astrology reveals your energetic disposition to communication and knowledge. Depending on the Sign of your 3^rd House, astrologers can interpret how you work, act, and make choices to interpret the world around you and try to get others to understand you. The Air Signs will use their intellect and communication to establish understanding. Fire Signs will use creativity and action. Earth Signs will be practical and conservative. Water Signs will invest their emotional energy and use close connections to communicate.

Fourth House – The Quest for Roots/Family

The Fourth House in astrology reveals your energetic disposition to family and your emotions. Depending on the Sign of your 4^th House, astrologers can interpret how you work, act, and make choices to navigate the family you come from and build the one you will parent or lead. The Air Signs will use their intellect and communication to bind the family. Fire Signs will use creativity and action. Earth Signs will be practical and conservative. Water Signs will invest their emotional energy and use close connections to make the family whole.

Fifth House – The Quest for Creativity

The Fifth House in astrology reveals your energetic disposition to creativity and activity. Depending on the Sign of your 5^th House, astrologers can interpret how you work, act, and make choices to enjoy yourself and have fun with others. The Air Signs will use their intellect and communication to be playful. Fire Signs will use creativity and action. Earth Signs will be practical and conservative. Water Signs will invest their emotional energy and use close connections to enjoy themselves.

Sixth House – The Quest for Service

The Sixth House in astrology reveals your energetic disposition to support, service, and health. Depending on the Sign of your 6th House, astrologers can interpret how you work, act, and make choices to take care of yourself and others. The Air Signs will use their intellect and communication to serve. Fire Signs will use creativity and action. Earth Signs will be practical and conservative. Water Signs will invest their emotional energy and use close connections to support others.

Seventh House – The Quest for Guidance

The Seventh House in astrology reveals your energetic disposition to other people. Depending on the Sign of your 7th House, astrologers can interpret how you work, act, and make choices to feel find equilibrium with each person you meet in life. The Air Signs will use their intellect and communication to analyze and connect. Fire Signs will use creativity and action. Earth Signs will be practical and conservative. Water Signs will invest their emotional energy and use close connections to make relationships work.

Eighth House – The Quest for Transformation

The Eighth House in astrology reveals your energetic disposition to change and disruption. Depending on the Sign of your 8th House, astrologers can interpret how you work, act, and make choices to bring about transformation in your life and the lives of others. The Air Signs will use their intellect and communication to catalyze people and situations. Fire Signs will use creativity and action. Earth Signs will be practical and conservative. Water Signs will invest their emotional energy and use close connections to bring or force change on situations and other people.

Ninth House – The Quest for Mastership

The Ninth House in astrology reveals your energetic disposition to scholarship and worldly experience. Depending on the Sign of your 9th House, astrologers can interpret how you work, act, and make choices to become an authority about some aspect of life. The Air Signs will use their intellect and communication to attain mastership. Fire Signs will use creativity and action. Earth Signs will be practical and conservative. Water Signs will invest their emotional energy and use close connections to assert their expertise.

Tenth House – The Quest for Career

The Tenth House in astrology reveals your energetic disposition to goals, achievements, and success. Depending on the Sign of your 10th House, astrologers can interpret how you work, act, and make choices to contribute to society in a productive way. The Air Signs will use their intellect and communication to produce. Fire Signs will use creativity and action. Earth Signs will be practical and conservative. Water Signs will invest their emotional energy and use close connections to make themselves valuable to society.

Eleventh House – The Quest for Community

The Eleventh House in astrology reveals your energetic disposition to your role in your community and society. Depending on the Sign of your 11th House, astrologers can interpret how you work, act, and make choices to find your place locally, nationally, and in the world. The Air Signs will use their intellect and communication to find their place of belonging. Fire Signs will use creativity and action. Earth Signs will be practical and conservative. Water Signs will invest their emotional energy and use close connections to discover their role and contribute.

Twelfth House – The Quest for Spirituality

The Twelfth House in astrology reveals your energetic disposition in your search for purpose. Depending on the Sign of your 12th House, astrologers can interpret how you work, act, and make choices to connect with the divine. The Air Signs will use their intellect and communication to understand their spirituality. Fire Signs will use creativity and action. Earth Signs will be practical and conservative. Water Signs will invest their emotional energy and use close connections to find their connection to divinity.