The Twelve Houses (2007 Edition): Exploring the Houses of the Horoscope

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And who said the ancients didn't have a sense of humor? In the 7th House, we also find ‘open enemies,’ those folks who we can clearly identify from afar as our adversaries.

As with the other angular houses, any planets in this house are very important. Planets in the 10th house, the sign on the cusp of the 10th house, and its ruling planet will greatly influence your career and your general reputation in public. The House/planet associations were adjusted with the discoveries of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. The following table lists the current House rulers, along with the traditional rulers. The traditional rulers are still considered to be co-rulers of that House (along with the new planet that rules the House).

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Traditionally referred to as the 'Gate of Hades,' one might ponder whether or not the ancients were warning us against the slippery seduction of materialistic pursuits. Think you know your chart? You may have your planets — from the sun to Pluto — down. You keep a long-running list of your ex-lovers’ signs. You know all about the retrogrades under which you were born. But how well do you know the houses in your chart? And the Sun “emerged” from the underworld in the Second House. What else comes out of the ground? In ancient understanding, riches of course. Gold, silver or other precious things. Also, the crops that sustained our life. So it’s a house associated with wealth.

When we begin to study the houses, we bring the planets down to Earth and into our lives. What was once out of reach - the planets, twinkling in the sky so very far away - can now be seen at play in our lives. House Conundrums The most important houses are the 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th houses. These are called the " angular houses" because their cusps coincide with the 4 special angles: ascendant, I.C., descendant, and M.C.. Planets in the angular houses will influence you the most. 1st Astrological House Will you be working for the government or large corporations? Are you suited to work in an institutional setting like laboratory, hospitals, detective work, espionage, prison or a convent? What major illnesses should you watch out for? Who are your secret enemies? Do you tend to isolate yourself? What are your secret inhibitions?

The 5th House of Astrology: The House of Pleasure

This house is full of life-enhancing, boundary-bursting experiences that take us beyond the mundane and right into the heart of life's greatest questions. Who are we? What is God? And, what is the purpose of human life?

The 8th house is a house that rules over both life and death, sex, change, mystery and the occult The eighth house likewise rules other individuals' property and holdings, such as inheritance. Some other essentials to keep in mind: the first six houses form the bottom half of the chart, and deal largely with the self. Houses seven through twelve, meanwhile, represent the relational and public interface. The four angles of your chart (ascendant, IC, descendant, MC, as explained in our House Systems guide) act as the key compass points of your chart. Get to know whichever houses host them, as these will be some of the major metamorphic arenas of your chart.House themes: friends, benefactors, beneficial fate, groups, our social network, stepchildren and other people's children, hopes, aspirations, activism, groupthink, collectively-focused groups or hopes, clubs and societies, allies, helpers, parliament and Congress, the 'king's court', powerful people and VIPs, support, freedom, assistance. The 12th House - Bad Spirits Indeed, this house was known as 'Bona Fortuna' (Good Fortune) or 'The House of Pleasure.' Perhaps the only danger to this house is too much of a good thing; a loaded 5th House or strong transit to the 5th can make us carelessly ramp up the good times, leaving us skint and spent. It is, however, a definitively creative and fertile section of the chart, so it's equally able to generate artistic output, as it is fervent escapism. Planets in the 5th can describe one's experience of conception, childbirth, and children. Fourth House: This house represents your home or real estate, parents, and family roots. It’s symbolic of what you need to feel safe and secure in your life, as well as your heritage. On the darker side of things, it correlates with endings. The fourth house cusp represents the imum coeli, or IC, of your chart. From the perspective of health, your fourth house shows how you relate to your foundation in life.