Our House(s)

If you are deep into Astrology (or not), you may have heard someone mention 'houses' at one point or another. No, this is not the trailer you come home to, a house in Astrology is a much more interesting aspect of your birth chart. Like a clock, the zodiac is divided into 12 segments, or houses, each one ruled by a different sign. When planets visit a house, they light up that part of your chart, and energize that house's traits. Each house is associated with a set of traits, beginning from the self, and expanding outward into society and beyond. At the moment you were born, the planets were all in specific signs and houses. When an astrologer interprets your chart, they focus on the meaning of each planet, the house it’s in, and the sign it’s in, to map the obstacles or gifts you’ll face in this lifetime. Whether you are passionate about Astrology or only like to occasionally view your horoscope, learning about each individual house and its traits can be a fun and interesting way to gain insight into your personality.

First House (Ruling Planet: Aries)
Quite fittingly, the first house is all about firsts. First impressions, fresh starts, new beginnings, the self and your appearance. The planet in your first house will affect your demeanor (outgoing, introverted, ect) how you behave in groups, and how you view the world on a day to day basis.


Second House (Ruling Planet: Venus)
The second house has to do with how you experience the material world and your physical surroundings. In short, the planet in this house will relate to how you deal with money, as well as, your senses of sight, sound, and smell. While these planets affect your financial standing they will also affect your sense of self-worth.

Third House (Ruling Planet: Mercury)
The third house is concerned with communication. This covers communication in all its forms, talking, thinking, and communication through devices. This house also covers your early life, community, siblings, and where you feel the most comfortable.

Fourth House (Ruling Planet: Moon)
The fourth house, positioned at the bottom of the zodiac wheel, fittingly rules the foundation of all things. This includes your home, privacy, your basic security, your parents (particularly your mother), children, and nurturing abilities.

Fifth House ((Ruling Planet: Sun)
The fifth house is all about what makes you feel good. The fifth house governs self-expression, drama, creativity, color, attention, romance, fun and play. Romance and attraction rule this house in terms of relationships. The planet in your fifth house can also indicate your desire for drama and attention.

Sixth House (Ruling Planet: Mercury)
When you think of the sixth house, it is accurate to think of health and service. Planets in the sixth house reveal how you maintain your well-being in your everyday life — and how you support the well-being of the people around you.

Seventh House (Ruling Planet: Venus)
Where the fifth house indicates romance and attraction, the seventh house is more concerned with longer-term, binding partnerships. Think of this house as the sector of meaningful relationships and people. Keep in mind that this house governs all partnerships, both business and personal, and relationship-associated matters, like contracts, marriage, and business deals.

Eighth House (Ruling Planet: Pluto)
This is the house that can give you insight into the mysteries of life, or at least how you will deal with them. The eighth house covers all major experiences: birth, growth, sex, and death.

Ninth House (Ruling Planet: Jupiter)
This house is all about exploration, adventure, and belief. The ninth house covers the higher mind, expansion, international and long-distance travel, foreign languages, inspiration, optimism, publishing, broadcasting, universities and higher education, luck, risk, adventure, gambling, religion, philosophy, morals and ethics.

Tenth House (Ruling Planet: Saturn)
The tenth house is at the very top and most public part of the chart. This is the house of public image, career, and structure.  The cusp, or border, of the tenth house is also called the midheaven, and it clues astrologers into your career path. It's also believed that, in the same way that the fourth house is linked to the maternal, the 10th house is rooted to paternal figures in our lives.

Eleventh House (Ruling Planet: Uranus)
This is the most expansive house on the wheel as it  indicates how you relate to the rest of humanity. The eleventh house rules teams, friendships, groups, society, technology, video and electronic media, networking, social justice, rebellion, and humanitarian causes. It also rules your originality and eccentricity.

Twelfth House (Ruling Planet: Neptune)
As this house completes the zodiac, it is only appropriate that this is the house that rules endings. This is the most spiritual house as it rules inner growth, vulnerability, and conclusions. It is suggested that you look to this final house to learn how your subconscious mind makes itself known.

Now that you know what each house is ruled by it would be helpful to know which planet you have in each house. You can do this by reading your birth chart. You can get your free interactive birth chart reading here. To get an accurate reading you need to know the time you were born along with the location of your birth. Once you get your birth chart, you will know which planets are in each of your houses. If you are curious to know what each planet means in each different house you can learn more here. Happy soul searching everyone!