The 12 Astrological Houses and Their Meanings
Updated 2024.10.25
Astrology can be a great way to dive into self realization. It’s a framework of divination that serves as a way to understand your soul’s expression in the world.
The placement of planets at the moment of your birth, along with their alignment to the zodiac signs and houses, can tell you a lot about your purpose on Earth and how you’ll express it.
A major piece of this astrological puzzle are the astrological houses.
The astrological wheel consists of 12 houses that flow along a 360 degree circle that is read counterclockwise.
The first house begins the wheel at 9:00 o’clock and from its cusp (beginning border) and onward, as we move around the astrological wheel.
Each house is known to rule over a certain area of your life and they are each governed by a certain planet and zodiac sign, but the planets and zodiac signs in certain houses vary continuously, since the celestial bodies are in constant motion.
Some of your houses will have a lot of action in them, and some of them may not have any placements. Don’t worry about the empty houses; a house that was empty at the time of your birth may be very full today.
The houses that are full of action at your birth can be thought of as major thematic areas of your life.
The zodiac houses aren’t the same as the zodiac signs, but they do overlap.
Each zodiac sign has a house it governs, though the zodiac houses are aligned to Earth’s 24-hour rotation around the Sun, with each house being approximately 2-hours of that rotation.
Comparatively, the zodiac signs are based on a yearly rotation around the wheel.
The first 6 houses are known as personal houses, and the following 7-12 houses are known as interpersonal houses.
Why do the astrological houses matter?
As William Shakespere has been quoted, “All the world’s a stage.”
Think of the planets as the characters in the play and the zodiac signs as the costumes they wear. The houses are the area on the stage where they act out their shared purpose.
For example, on your astrological chart, let’s say your Moon is in Aquarius in the fifth house.
Your feelings and desires (Moon) are set on making the world a better place (Aquarius). This progressive energy aims to achieve that goal with pleasure, love, romance, inspiration and joy (fifth house).
The houses give you a way to identify the areas of influence for the energies that are played out by the planets and zodiac signs, so you know what sector of your life their shared energy will be influencing the most.
Below are the 12 astrological houses and their meanings -
The first house of Identity and Self
The first house is ruled by Aries and Mars. It covers all things first - impressions, beginning, and leadership.
The zodiac sign that lays along the cusp of this house at the time of your birth (the starting edge) is your Ascendant or Rising Sign, which gives you clues as to how you express yourself in the world.
The second house of Income, Value and Possessions
The second house is ruled by Taurus and Venus. If you have a full house here, you may find that attaining material security is very important to you.
This house rules your material possessions including income and money, but it also governs what you need to feel safe, protected, supported and secure.
The third house of Communication
The third house is ruled by Gemini and Mercury. It governs communication with those you hold close, like siblings, family, neighbors and schools. It includes your perception of your childhood experiences.
It rules over speaking, including written words, teaching, lecturing, journalism, contracts, and documentation. It also covers courier mail, making appointments and negotiations.
The fourth house of Home
The fourth house is ruled by Cancer and the Moon. It governs your residence, family, ancestral patterns and where you put down your roots.
This house covers the building blocks that create your foundation for life, and it represents physical structures like your house, but also your traditions, parents and cultural history.
The fifth house of Pleasure
The fifth house is ruled by Leo and the Sun. It represents love, romance, play and fun. This house connects you to inspiration, imagination, performance and the act of creation.
This house includes sports and hobbies. Ask the questions, Does this feel good? Is it pleasurable? If you answer Yes, it falls under the fifth house.
The sixth house of Work and Routines
The sixth house is ruled by Virgo and Mercury. It’s related to your sense of duty and service - giving yourself in service to others and giving to yourself. The placements in this house can indicate your life’s work.
This house also covers your day to day routines. This includes the daily dealings of life and preventative health, the way you take care of yourself to ensure you stay strong.
The seventh house of Partnerships
The seventh house is ruled by Libra and Venus. This house covers formal cooperation and partnerships, both business and personal.
This includes marriage, business deals, contractual agreements and any partnership where an implied confidentiality exists, for example, accountants and doctors.
The eighth house of Intimacy and Transformation
The eighth house is ruled by Scorpio, Mars and Pluto. It governs death, rebirth, sex, and shared resources.
It covers surgeries, rejuvenation, new chapters and psychic experiences (the eighth and twelfth houses tap into intuition). It also rules over gifts and other people’s money - inheritances, investments, royalties, and windfalls.
The ninth house of Philosophy and Adventure
The ninth house is ruled by Sagitarrius and Jupiter. It governs travel, wanderlust, learning, curiosity about life, optimism and higher education.
This house oversees all forms of expansion, truth-seeking and mental exploration.
The tenth house of Career and Social Status
The tenth house is ruled by Capricorn and Saturn. It is at the very top point on the astrological wheel of houses, it governs your acclaimed contribution to the world and where you attain your social status.
It clues astrologers into your career path and can indicate where you’ll see fame, awards, authority and make a legacy for yourself.
The eleventh house of Friendships and Innovation
The eleventh house is ruled by Aquarius and Uranus. It rules over what you aspire to be in life and all things futuristic, humanitarianism, revolutionary, and social justice related.
The beauty and warmth of platonic relationships are featured here. This house highlights the gathering together for a mutual goal that can happen with the organization of groups in networking and private clubs.
The twelfth house of the Subconscious
The twelfth house is ruled by Pisces and Neptune. It governs dreams, spirituality, compassion, instinct and psychic ability.
It also rules over endings, positive transformations, creativity, and the arts. Anything hidden, mysterious or secret is covered in this house, as well as prayer and meditation.
Which house is astrologically the most important?
The first house of identity and self. This house provides insight into how you project yourself into the world - your personality, behavior and sense of self. It can determine how you navigate your life.
How do astrological houses play a role in life?
Each house offers insight into how the planets and zodiac signs along the great astrological wheel are expressed in your life.
Houses allow you to be more specific about the astrological transits happening in your life and gain a deeper understanding of how you’ll be influenced by these events today.
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