Houses (Western Astrology)
In Western Astrology, the horoscope is not only divided equally into twelve signs of the zodiac, but is also divided into twelve Houses. Each House represents an area of activity in the world and the cusps (starting points) of certain Houses are significant points in the chart. These are the Ascendant (Rising Sign), the Descendant, the Midheaven and the Nadir.
Depending on the system used for calculation, the Houses may or may not be equal in size, but all systems are based on both the time and place for which the chart is set up.
Like the fingers on a clock face, the cusps of every House are constantly moving, with the Ascendant changing 1° every four minutes. This is why an exact time is required for setting up an accurate chart.
The areas of life represented by the twelve Houses are:
First House
Personality
Physical attributes; body; health; where energies within are tansmitted outward; interface with world; self-image; the filter for the whole chart; how we appear to others.Associated sign: Aries
Second House
Attachment
Possessions; property; sustenance; resources; assets; where one identifies with objects, people or ideas so that they become necessary.Associated sign: Taurus
Third House
Mind
Communications of all kinds; early education; short journeys; everyday acquaintances; perception; learning skills; where we experience reality at a mental level.Associated sign: Gemini
Fourth House
Home
Family life; childhood; mother; home-town or country; the past; memories; traditions; inherited traits; where we return for our sense of security and protection; received family traditions.Associated sign: Cancer
Fifth House
Pleasure
Children; creativity; love affairs; places of entertainment; risk-taking; speculation; sense of self-esteem; innermost desires; where we do things for our own satisfaction; playing games; work for the joy of it.Associated sign: Leo
Sixth House
Home
Everyday work; fellow workers; personal efficiency; expectations; self-worth through giving or serving; where we work for the sake of something (to earn a living, get qualified, provide for others, etc); care and maintenance; hygiene; obligations; duties.Associated sign: Virgo
Seventh House
Partnerships
Business or marriage partnerships; close friends (and enemies); cooperative ventures; relationships; alliances; mutual aid; affection; where we experience harmony or conflict; people who reflect part of ourselves; acts as a sounding board for the First House ('me') - the Seventh House is 'them'.Associated sign: Libra
Eighth House
Transformation
Business or property belonging to other people or partners; critical situations which bring change; birth; death; separation; the mysteries of life; sexuality; where we learn to adapt to crises and shed past attachments (Second House); inner strength and capacity to reach below the surface.Associated sign: Scorpio
Ninth House
Higher mind
Higher education; profound thinking; long journeys (physical or spiritual); guides; gurus; prophets; philosophy; far horizons; where the mind seeks eternal truths; wisdom or foresight.Associated sign: Sagittarius
Tenth House (Midheaven)
Public life
Social status; reputation; career; the socialising parent (of either sex); those in authority; ambition; goals; desire for recognition; father figures; where the self identifies itself; creating a public image.Associated sign: Capricorn
Eleventh House
Communal spirit
Social groups; wider friendships; causes; ideals; organisations; where pleasures (Fifth House) become purposeful; joining groups for the sake of an ideal; joining a community of people (sometimes never met in person); progressive attitudes; adapting to society at large; social conscience.Associated sign: Aquarius
Twelfth House
Concealment
Isolation; retreat (chosen or enforced); institutions; care of others; hidden enemies; the personal unconscious; sacrifice or sublimation of personal desires; renunciation; withdrawal; where we can retreat from the everyday world.Associated sign: Pisces
The Ascendant (Rising Sign)
The Ascendant is the cusp (starting point) of the First House and is always found on the left-hand side of the chart.
Any planets approaching this point (they move clockwise round the chart) are rising and colour the energy you bring in to the world. Planets here affect the way you handle your personal energy.
The Descendant
The Descendant is the cusp (starting point) of the Seventh House. and is always directly opposite the Ascendant.
Any planets approaching this point (they move clockwise round the chart) are setting below the horizon and describe how you interact with others.
The Midheaven
The Midheaven is the cusp (starting point) of the Tenth House. and is always found near the top of the chart.
Any planets approaching this point (they move clockwise round the chart) give strength to your aspirations in the world.
The Nadir
The Nadir is the cusp (starting point) of the Fourth House. and is always at the bottom of the chart, opposite the Midheaven.
Any planets approaching this point (they move clockwise round the chart) indicate your roots or perhaps what 'skeletons in the cupboard' you may have.