Astrological Houses Explained
The 12 houses represent different areas of life experience. They show where planetary energies manifest and what life themes are most important for your growth and development.
House Categories
Angular Houses
Action-oriented houses that initiate and create. These are the most powerful house positions.
Characteristics:
Dynamic, Active, Cardinal Energy, Strong Influence
Succedent Houses
Stabilizing houses that consolidate and build upon what angular houses started.
Characteristics:
Stable, Resourceful, Fixed Energy, Building Power
Cadent Houses
Adaptive houses that distribute, communicate, and prepare for change.
Characteristics:
Flexible, Communicative, Mutable Energy, Distributive
The 12 Houses in Detail
1st House
House of Self
AngularKeywords
Self, Identity, Appearance, First Impressions
The 1st house represents your identity, personality, physical appearance, and how you present yourself to the world.
Life Areas Governed
Planets in the 1st House
Strong sense of self, natural leadership, confident personality
Emotional, intuitive, changeable appearance and mood
Quick-thinking, communicative, youthful appearance
Attractive, charming, diplomatic approach to life
Assertive, energetic, strong physical presence
Optimistic, generous, larger-than-life personality
Serious, disciplined, mature or restrictive self-expression
Unique, unconventional, rebellious self-expression
Intuitive, dreamy, unclear or idealized self-image
Intense, transformative, powerful personal presence
2nd House
House of Resources
SuccedentKeywords
Money, Possessions, Values, Self-Worth
The 2nd house governs your relationship with material possessions, personal values, and self-worth.
Life Areas Governed
Planets in the 2nd House
Strong desire for financial security, values creativity and self-expression
Emotional relationship with money, values comfort and nurturing
Intellectual approach to finances, values communication and learning
Natural ability to attract money, values beauty and luxury
Aggressive approach to earning, values independence and competition
Optimistic about finances, generous with money, values growth
Conservative with money, values hard work and discipline
Unconventional approach to money, values freedom and innovation
Idealistic about money, may be confused about values
Intense relationship with money, values power and transformation
3rd House
House of Communication
CadentKeywords
Communication, Siblings, Learning, Local Travel
The 3rd house governs communication, learning, siblings, and your immediate environment.
Life Areas Governed
Planets in the 3rd House
Confident communicator, leadership in local community
Emotional communication style, close bond with siblings
Natural communicator, quick learner, strong writing skills
Charming communication, diplomatic with siblings
Direct, assertive communication, may conflict with siblings
Optimistic communicator, teacher, benefits from siblings
Serious communication, structured learning, distant siblings
Unique communication style, sudden insights, unusual siblings
Intuitive communication, poetic expression, spiritual learning
Intense communication, transformative learning experiences
4th House
House of Home and Family
AngularKeywords
Home, Family, Roots, Private Life
The 4th house represents home, family, roots, and your most private, emotional foundation.
Life Areas Governed
Planets in the 4th House
Strong family identity, leadership in home, important father figure
Deep emotional connection to home, nurturing family environment
Communicative family, home as learning environment
Beautiful home, harmonious family relationships
Active home life, possible family conflicts, renovation projects
Large or multiple homes, generous family, family expansion
Structured family, conservative home, delayed home ownership
Unusual family, frequent moves, unconventional home life
Idealized family, spiritual home environment, unclear boundaries
Intense family dynamics, transformative home experiences
5th House
House of Creativity and Pleasure
SuccedentKeywords
Creativity, Romance, Children, Self-Expression
The 5th house governs creativity, romance, children, and joyful self-expression.
Life Areas Governed
Planets in the 5th House
Strong creative drive, confident in romance, leadership with children
Emotional creativity, nurturing in romance, intuitive with children
Intellectual creativity, communicative in romance, teacher to children
Artistic talent, charming in romance, loving with children
Dynamic creativity, passionate romance, active with children
Abundant creativity, optimistic in love, many children or joy with them
Disciplined creativity, serious about romance, responsible with children
Unique creativity, unconventional romance, independent children
Spiritual creativity, idealistic romance, compassionate with children
Transformative creativity, intense romance, powerful impact on children
6th House
House of Health and Service
CadentKeywords
Work, Health, Service, Daily Routine
The 6th house governs work, health, daily routines, and service to others.
Life Areas Governed
Planets in the 6th House
Leadership in work, vitality in health, service through identity
Emotional connection to work, health affected by moods
Detail-oriented work, intellectual approach to health
Enjoys work environment, health through beauty and pleasure
Energetic worker, potential health issues from stress or accidents
Success in service work, generally good health, helpful nature
Disciplined work habits, chronic health concerns, structured routines
Unconventional work, sudden health changes, innovative routines
Service-oriented work, unclear health issues, spiritual practices
Transformative work, intense health experiences, deep healing
7th House
House of Partnerships
AngularKeywords
Partnerships, Marriage, Open Enemies, Others
The 7th house governs partnerships, marriage, legal matters, and how you relate to others.
Life Areas Governed
Planets in the 7th House
Strong partnerships, attracts confident partners, leadership in relationships
Emotional partnerships, nurturing relationships, sensitive to others
Communicative partnerships, intellectual connections, multiple partnerships
Harmonious partnerships, attraction to beauty, diplomatic relationships
Dynamic partnerships, passionate relationships, potential conflicts
Beneficial partnerships, generous relationships, legal success
Serious partnerships, delayed marriage, structured relationships
Unconventional partnerships, sudden relationship changes, freedom needs
Idealistic partnerships, spiritual connections, unclear boundaries
Intense partnerships, transformative relationships, power dynamics
8th House
House of Transformation
SuccedentKeywords
Transformation, Shared Resources, Death/Rebirth, Occult
The 8th house governs transformation, shared resources, death and rebirth, and hidden matters.
Life Areas Governed
Planets in the 8th House
Leadership in transformation, inheritance potential, interest in mysteries
Emotional transformation, psychic abilities, family inheritance
Interest in research, communication about taboo topics
Benefits from others' resources, transformative relationships
Aggressive about shared resources, interest in dangerous topics
Benefits from inheritance, expansive transformation, spiritual growth
Restricted access to resources, fear of transformation, structured approach
Sudden transformation, unconventional approach to shared resources
Spiritual transformation, confusion about shared resources
Intense transformation, powerful regenerative abilities, occult interests
9th House
House of Higher Mind
CadentKeywords
Higher Learning, Philosophy, Travel, Spirituality
The 9th house governs higher education, philosophy, long-distance travel, and spiritual beliefs.
Life Areas Governed
Planets in the 9th House
Strong beliefs, leadership in education, confident about philosophy
Emotional connection to beliefs, intuitive understanding, travel for comfort
Intellectual approach to philosophy, communicates beliefs well
Attracted to foreign cultures, diplomatic about beliefs
Aggressive about beliefs, adventurous travel, missionary zeal
Natural teacher, expansive beliefs, benefits from higher education
Structured beliefs, conservative philosophy, delayed higher education
Revolutionary beliefs, sudden insights, unconventional philosophy
Spiritual beliefs, mystical experiences, idealistic philosophy
Intense beliefs, transformative education, extremist tendencies
10th House
House of Career and Status
AngularKeywords
Career, Reputation, Public Image, Achievement
The 10th house governs career, public reputation, achievements, and your place in society.
Life Areas Governed
Planets in the 10th House
Leadership career, strong public image, recognition for identity
Emotional connection to career, public nurturing role, changeable reputation
Communication-based career, intellectual reputation, teaching or writing
Artistic career, diplomatic reputation, public appeal
Dynamic career, controversial reputation, leadership through action
Expansive career, positive reputation, success in public life
Structured career, earned reputation, authority through discipline
Unconventional career, unique reputation, sudden career changes
Artistic or service career, unclear reputation, idealistic goals
Transformative career, powerful reputation, influence over masses
11th House
House of Hopes and Friends
SuccedentKeywords
Friends, Groups, Hopes, Social Networks
The 11th house governs friendships, group associations, hopes and dreams, and social networks.
Life Areas Governed
Planets in the 11th House
Leadership in groups, confident about dreams, attracts influential friends
Emotional friendships, nurturing in groups, changing hopes
Communicative friendships, intellectual groups, multiple social networks
Harmonious friendships, attractive to groups, artistic collaborations
Dynamic friendships, active in groups, fights for ideals
Beneficial friendships, expansive groups, optimistic about future
Serious friendships, structured groups, realistic about hopes
Unusual friendships, progressive groups, revolutionary ideals
Spiritual friendships, idealistic groups, unclear about goals
Intense friendships, transformative groups, powerful dreams
12th House
House of Spirituality and Sacrifice
CadentKeywords
Subconscious, Spirituality, Hidden, Sacrifice
The 12th house governs the subconscious, spirituality, hidden matters, and self-sacrifice.
Life Areas Governed
Planets in the 12th House
Hidden leadership, spiritual identity, may need to sacrifice ego
Deep intuition, psychic abilities, emotional sacrifice
Intuitive thinking, hidden communication, mental confusion
Hidden love affairs, artistic inspiration, sacrifice for beauty
Hidden anger, secret enemies, self-destructive tendencies
Spiritual growth, hidden blessings, beneficial sacrifice
Hidden restrictions, karmic lessons, necessary limitations
Sudden spiritual insights, hidden rebellion, unconventional sacrifice
Strong psychic abilities, spiritual sacrifice, dissolution of ego
Hidden transformation, powerful subconscious, death and rebirth themes
House Systems
There are different mathematical systems for calculating house cusps. The most common include:
Popular Systems:
- • Placidus: Most popular, time-based system
- • Equal House: Each house is exactly 30 degrees
- • Whole Sign: Each sign is one complete house
- • Koch: Birthplace-focused system
Key Points:
- • House cusps define where houses begin
- • Angular houses are most powerful
- • Planets near cusps have stronger influence
- • Different systems may change interpretations
Master House Interpretation
Understanding houses is essential for birth chart interpretation. Learn how planetary aspects create dynamic relationships between different life areas.