| Ruler | ♈ Ari. | ♉ Tau. | ♊ Gem. | ♋ Can. | ♌ Leo | ♍ Vir. | ♎ Lib. | ♏ Sco. | ♐ Sag. | ♑ Cap. | ♒ Aqu. | ♓ Pis. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nat. | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th |
| ♑ | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| ♊ | 11th | 12th | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th |
| Personal Houses | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st: Self | 2nd: Possessions | 3rd: Comm. - Siblings | 4th: Home & Roots |
| Marked by the Ascendant. Self Awareness. Self Discovery. Persona. The behavior, temperament. appearance, health that is projected. House of the ego and physical self. Challenge is to develop unique identity and present it to the world. Being. | Personal Resources. Values. Skills. Possessions. Your material side. Security, gains, losses. House of property & financial matters. How generate resources. Challenge is to define and refine personal values, inner and outer talents and resources. Having. | Communication. Mental Activity. Learning. Immediate environment and day-to-day activity. Mental aptitudes. Early childhood & siblings. Short journeys. Early education. Challenge is to organize experiences to become unique and then to present them to others. Informing. | Home and Hearth. Inner World. Inner security. Domestic affairs. Family life. Parental influence. The past. Childhood. Deep rooted influences. Private thoughts. Challenge is to develop emotional closeness, feel secure, face past. Nurturing. |
| Social Houses | |||
| 5th: Creativity & Children | 6th: Service & Health | 7th: Partnerships | 8th: Death & Rebirth |
| Creative expressions of self. Children. Love affairs. Procreation. Luck and speculation. Romance. Enthusiasm. Motivation. Games. Feel special. Fun, Excitement. Challenge is to develop creativity and self-esteem and to find joy in living. . | Daily Life. Health. Work and job. Self Improvement. Employer/Employees. Routines. Hygiene. Hard work. Service to others. Material learning. Habit patterns. Pets. Food and Diet. Challenge is to be competent, efficient, in physical body and in one's work day . | Awareness of others. Relationships. Marriage partner. Business partners. Contracts. Joint endeavors. Significant Others. Social concerns and activities related to others. Attitudes of intimacy. Friends and public. Challenge is develop committed relationships. . | Depth interactions. Sharing. Letting go. Shared resources. Self-Mastery. Life/Death attitude. Possessions of others. Sex/Regeneration. Wills & legacies. House of change. The esoteric. Challenge is to face deep psyche and nourish new growth. . |
| Universal Houses | |||
| 9th: Mental Exploration | 10th: Career | 11th: Friends & Groups | 12th: Karma & Spiritual |
| Awareness of the Cosmos. Religion. Law. Travel & Quests. Journeys. Expanded horizons. Philosophy. Publishing. Higher learning. Foreign countries. Higher Mind. Challenge is to broaden the self and realize ones highest potential. Expanding. | Vocational Purpose. Taking Power. Career. Outer World. Contributing to society. Accomplishments. Reputation. Status. Fame (or lack of). Worldly standing. Your calling/future. Challenge is to earn respect and recognition in the world and contribute to society. Structuring. | Collective groups. Group creativity. Friends. Hopes & wishes. Teams. Clubs. Organizations. Acquaintances and contacts. Alliance/networking. Challenge is to establish group consciousness and contribute your gifts to the community Reforming. | Transcendence. Spiritual Life. Solitude. Search for unity and divinity. Subconscious mind. Hidden resources. Hidden problems. Social responsibility. House of secrets. Self undoing. Sacrifice. Challenge is explore inward, discern, let go, and grow Transcending. |
The Ascendant, also known as the Rising Sign, marks the beginning of the horoscope birth chart. It is the point of the ecliptic by sign and degree that was ascending or rising over the Eastern horizon at the time of your birth. You can locate your Ascendant at 9 o'clock on the zodiac wheel. The Ascendant is the most important angle of the chart and forms the cusp of the first house. The Ascendant marks your entry into this world at the moment of birth. The twelfth house is the house of confinement and all things that are hidden, so it is logical that emerging from the womb (the 12th house) you ascend into this world and make your first appearance.
In your personal horoscope, the first house represents the way we present ourselves to others and the first impression we make. Also known as your Astrological Mask; the first house can only be determined by knowing your exact time of birth. Without the exact time of birth, the first house and the true beginning point of your houses are merely speculation.
The first house of your horoscope represents your identity, physical characteristics, appearance, health and well-being, the physical body, vitality, attitude, temperament and the way you look upon the world. It also represents your self-image, outer personality and disposition.
Any planet placed within 8 degrees of the Ascendant will have a marked influence on the personality and will add to the characteristics and all things governed by the house in which it occupies.
♈ Aries is the sign that governs the 1st house in the natural zodiac.
The second house in your birth chart governs money, possessions, material assets, self worth, attitude towards security, bank and savings accounts, spending and how money is acquired. Emotional and financial security, personal values and principles are all 2nd house issues.
♉ Taurus is the sign that governs the 2nd house in the natural zodiac.
The third house of your horoscope governs all forms of communication and transportation. The style and manner of communications, neighbors, siblings and other relatives such as aunts, uncles, and cousins are representative of the third house. Additionally, letters, contracts, telephone calls, computers, early childhood education, documentation, papers, books, writing utensils, cars, the subway and all forms of short distance travel are found in the third house. Your mental attitude, learning style, opinions, the analytical mind, self-expression and speech are also 3rd house issues.
♊ Gemini is the sign that governs the 3rd house in the natural zodiac.
The fourth house of your horoscope governs areas related to home, family and property. Your roots, family background, childhood, inner emotions, immovable possessions, domestic life, the end of life and endings in general are covered by this house. Psychological foundations and conditioning are also found in the 4th house.
There is some controversy as to whether this house covers the Father or the Mother. One might say that the parent with the most influence is covered by this house. In my practice, the Mother is found in the fourth house and the Father in the tenth house. Given that females are ruled by the moon in your chart and the moon is the natural ruler of the fourth house, I use the fourth house as a significant factor of the mother. This house also covers the one that nurtures, which is primarily the mother.
The 4th house cusp is formed in your chart by the IC, the Imum Coeli. This is the lowest point of the chart, the nadir, found at 6 o'clock on the zodiac wheel. This is why it is described as being our roots, our foundation of life. This point is directly opposite the Midheaven (MC) or the tenth house.
♋ Cancer is the sign that governs the 4th house in the natural zodiac.
Children and how one relates to them are found in the fifth house. Also, romance, love affairs (the type that will not lead to commitment or marriage), pleasures, enjoyment, fun, amusement parks, playgrounds, sports of all kinds, games, arts, leisure activities, creativity, entertainment, concerts, holidays, games of chance such as, gambling, speculation, financial risks, stocks and investments are found in the 5th house. This is the house of self-expression through creativity.
♌ Leo is the sign that governs the 5th house in the natural zodiac.
The sixth house of your horoscope is the house of health and service. General well-being and illness are found here. Proactive measures you take for your health such as diet and exercise are also found in the sixth house. Hygiene, work (not career, as that is a tenth house matter), service, employees, relations with employer, anyone who provides a service to you in whatever capacity, domestic pets and your daily routine are related to the 6th house.
♍ Virgo is the sign that governs the 6th house in the natural zodiac.
The Descendant
Serious committed relationships are found in the seventh house. Traditionally, this was the house of marriage as marriage is a contract you have with another person. Your spouse, contractual partnerships, one-on-one relationships, business partnerships including verbal commitments, rivals, justice, law, opponents (adversaries) are included in this house. Whereas the 5th house governs romance and love affairs, the seventh house is about the deep commitment of love. It also shows what you need in a relationship and partner.
The cusp of the 7th house is also known as the Descendant and is formed by the horizon line directly across from the Ascendant (1st house). It is the sign that, like the sunset, was setting in the west at the time of birth. It is found at 3 o'clock on the zodiac wheel.
♎ Libra is the sign that governs the 7th house in the natural zodiac.
Traditionally known as the house of rebirth and regeneration, this house is symbolized by the Phoenix rising up from the ashes. The eight house covers birth, death, decay, surgery, healing, wills, gifts, inheritance, credit, legacies, other people's money, your partner's money, child support, taxes, investments, the clearing away in order to make room for the new, reincarnation, sex and attitudes towards sex. As sex is a gift of giving one's self to another, so sex is found in the 8th house.
♏ Scorpio is the sign that governs the 8th house in the natural zodiac.
Traditionally the ninth house is known as the house of long distance travel. Travel of distances greater than 500 miles would be found in this house. Voyages, foreigners, foreign countries, journeys into the unknown both physical and mental, church, religion, theology, philosophy, beliefs, divination, languages, higher learning, college education, literature, books, publishing, media, law, lawyers, truth, justice, prophecy, expansion and broadening of one's horizons in all ways are covered by the 9th house.
♐ Sagittarius is the sign that governs the 9th house in the natural zodiac.
The Midheaven or MC
The tenth house is the house of career and status. Ambitions, aspirations, attainments, success, occupation, recognition, reputation, prestige, identity within the community, public image, duty, responsibility, superiors, authority and the father within a family are found in the 10th house. Since the tenth house focuses on ambition and career, it makes sense that it would be the house that appropriately symbolizes the father.
The cusp of the tenth house is formed by the Midheaven (MC) and is the highest point of the chart. It is one of the major angles and a very sensitive point found at the tip top of your horoscope chart, or at 12 o'clock.
♑ Capricorn is the sign that governs the 10th house in the natural zodiac.
Traditionally known as the house of hopes and wishes, the eleventh house is where dreams do come true. If you don't think your dreams can come true, just wait until you have a significant planet transit this house. They do! Friends, group activities, your role in your community, social life, acquaintances, associates, societies, volunteering, leagues, clubs, other cultures and how we relate to them, humanitarian causes and charity are 11th house issues.
♒ Aquarius is the sign that governs the 11th house in the natural zodiac.
Things that are hidden are found in this house. Seclusion, secrets, occult activities, psychic matters, escapism, drugs, alcohol, sorrow, confinement, imprisonment, prisons, restraint, institutions, hospitals, anywhere that you might be detained for whatever reason, exile, the unconscious self, dreams, hidden fears, paranoia, self-undoing, something behind the scenes, the subconscious mind, spirituality, faith and psychological problems are covered by the 12th house. This is the last house of the horoscope and the end of a complete cycle.
♓ Pisces is the sign that governs the 12th house in the natural zodiac.