The Houses of the Horoscope

A horoscope is, quite simply, a map of the heavens as seen from a particular place on Earth at a particular time.

The planets are observed and their positions in one of the twelve signs [which are "distant" and "cosmic" in nature] are plotted, and the signs themselves are located in the map according to their positions relative to Earth for that time and place.

A particular degree in one of the signs is seen to be exactly on the Eastern Horizon of the place. This is called the Ascendant, or Rising Degree. It is the point of beginning for the Houses of the horoscope.

The Houses are Earth-centered. As we said, the Signs are cosmic, distant. The Houses are terrestrial, "close at hand". They spring from the horizon of birth. So while the Signs speak of the essential nature of things, the Houses are concerned with the immediate circumstances surrounding us.

Different astrological traditions, and different astrologers, use a wide variety of House Systems to divide the sky. There are two basic groups into which this wide variety of systems can be divided.

The oldest house system is the Whole Sign system. The sign on the Ascendant, in its entirety, is taken as the First House, and each succeeding Sign corresponds to the following House. Thus, if Aries is rising, the whole sign is the First House, while Taurus is the Second, and so on.

Some astrologers divide the sky surrounding the Earth into 12 equal 30-degree segments. This is known as the Equal House System. If 22 Aries is rising, then each house begins at 22 degrees of the following sign.

There is another class of house division which divides the sky, first, into Quadrants using both the horizon and meridian as the points of division. The First House begins at the Ascendant with the 7th at the Descendant and the 4th and 10th cusps are at either end of the meridian. The horizon and meridian are both "observable and measurable" points. They can be determined by objective observation.

But the intermediate houses are subject to wide variety of methods of calculation, which depend mostly on the astrologer's point of view, philosophical orientation, or experience. These house cusps are derivative; they are calculated rather than observed.

The first of them was introduced by the Greek astrologer Porphyry just before 300 CE. The distance between the meridian and the horizon, measured along the ecliptic, is simply trisected and that value determines the house cusps.

Around 500 CE, Rhetorius published what is known as the Alcabitius System, in which the Right Ascension between the meridian and horizon is trisected and the resulting values used to determine the cusps. It is an equatorial rather than ecliptic system. This was the house system in vogue from around 1000 CE (when Alcabitius published his work detailing the system in Arabic) until the last half of the 15th century. It was first used by the Arab astrologers and only came into Europe (where astrology had been dead for some centuries) after the publication of the Latin translation of Alcabitius in the 12th century.

Campanus devised a house system based on the trisection of the prime vertical. It never came into widespread use because tables for it were not readily available. However, some modern astrologers, following the lead of Dane Rudhyar, do use it.

With the invention of printing, the Regiomontanus system became the system of choice in Europe. Tables were made readily available, thus ending the need for the very complex and tedious calculations necessary in the past. This is the house system that was used by such prominent renaissance astrologers as Lilly and Morin.

By the 19th century, especially in England, the Placidus system (based on a division of time rather than space) became popular. From England the system passed to America. Most western astrologers (I believe) use this system today. I do. The Placidus house cusps seem to me to "work". When a transiting planet moves from one house to another there is often a noticeable event or change. Also, cusps produced by this system are often brought into prominence in horary work; for example, I had a horary chart concerning the personal death of the querent one night. The degree of the cusp of her natal 8th House (Placidus) was on the Ascendant of the horary chart. [The 8th House is the house of death]. In my personal chart Saturn moved from the Second House into the Third. Within 3 days of this change (astrological) I paid off two outstanding debts and received a windfall that removed the financial burdens I had been experiencing for some time (while onerous Saturn occupied the 2nd House of money).

These sorts of "coincidences" between the astrological chart and real events are what an astrologer uses to test his methods and tools. The same coincidences can also be used in chart rectification (determining the actual time of birth based on life events). The day my mother died Pluto was on the cusp of my 5th house; if the 10th house is the "mother", then the 5th is the 8th of the 10th -- "death of the mother".

The Hindu astrologers use the Whole Sign system almost exclusively. Quadrant systems seem to be the choice of most western astrologers. Therefore the houses in the two traditions are usually quite different. A second source of difference comes from the fact that Hindu astrologers use the sidereal zodiac while most western astrologers use the tropical.

However, the "meanings" of the houses in the two traditions are generally the same. There are some differences [for example, western astrology traditionally places "the father" in the 4th House, while in the Hindu system he is found in the 9th. Foreign affairs are found in the western 9th house, but in the Hindu system they are in the 12th. But for the most part, the two traditions assign the same meanings to most of the houses.

The "circumstances" (that which 'stands around us') surrounding us, as shown by the astrological houses, include conditions, things and people. Each house of the horoscope describes particular "sets" of circumstances. The Second House is "money; our personal liquid and immediately available resources, and those things that can be used to further our desires. Thus, personal liberty." The Fifth is our children, basically in the sense of how they affect us personally. We might say then that the houses show different compartments of life, often closely interrelated, but each standing on its own too. A child has a serious chronic illness, shown in the Fifth primarily, which results in a reduction of personal wealth (shown by the Second). It is probable that a planet in -- or ruling -- the Fifth is in square (or other hard aspect) to a planet in -- or ruling -- the Second. The two "compartments" are separate, but one affects the other.

Enough for one post. I will continue this thread with further posts later. We will look at some of the meanings (or content) of each of the houses, and then look at how the "lords" of the houses are used to see what is going on in any individual's chart.

WOW! This is amazing information. Thanks Greybeard.

[LadyVirgoxoxo]

Thanks for this Greybeard!

The First House, whose cusp is the Ascendant in most house systems, is the house of all beginnings. It shows the moment of the first breath of life (at the Ascendant.) Because its cusp is the horizon itself, this house shows the native’s horizons in life, his perspectives. It portrays a person’s outlook on the world, how the native sees the world and is seen by it. It is therefore the persona, the mask we wear so that we can protect the inner self while getting what we need from the outer world. It is the role we will play in life, and the major issues we will face in broad terms. In fact, the Ascendant shows our whole life story, in potential. Our body, constitution, appearance, complexion, facial features and even hair are said to be shown by this house (aspecting planets and lord of the house must be put into the equation.) In all questions of life and death, sickness or the general fate of the native this house should be consulted. In horary astrology it is the querent, ships at sea and all things inquired after whose location or state are unknown, and describes the situation that brings on the question. Mercury is said to be in his joy in this house.

The First House, whose cusp is the Ascendant in most house systems, is the house of all beginnings. It shows the moment of the first breath of life (at the Ascendant.) Because its cusp is the horizon itself, this house shows the native’s horizons in life, his perspectives. It portrays a person’s outlook on the world, how the native sees the world and is seen by it. It is therefore the persona, the mask we wear so that we can protect the inner self while getting what we need from the outer world. It is the role we will play in life, and the major issues we will face in broad terms. In fact, the Ascendant shows our whole life story, in potential. Our body, constitution, appearance, complexion, facial features and even hair are said to be shown by this house (aspecting planets and lord of the house must be put into the equation.) In all questions of life and death, sickness or the general fate of the native this house should be consulted. In horary astrology it is the querent, ships at sea and all things inquired after whose location or state are unknown, and describes the situation that brings on the question. Mercury is said to be in his joy in this house.

The Second House is the House of Money. It shows the fluid and dependable resources of the native or of the issue at hand. This house describes personal possessions, wealth, and the concomitant power to influence affairs. Personal liberty is shown by this house insofar as substance brings the power to make things happen or bring desire into reality because it charts the totality of those resources which enable an individual to choose or act, or to maintain and sustain his own existence without leaning on any other participant in the social world where he finds himself. The house describes a person’s material strength and support. The term “a man of substance” portrays the meaning of this house of the material and tangible very clearly. The house shows “moveable things” and this idea gives an excellent picture of the essential barter nature of “money” itself as a social institution. The house also includes “assistance” and “reserves” that allow a person to extricate himself from any given predicament by allowing choice of alternative means. The house shows debt and credit. Gain and loss are shown by this house, in any matter at hand. Here are resources which are consumed in their use; one thing is traded for another. This house shows the self’s identification with substance; what I have becomes an extension of me and I become bound to my possessions. In Hindu astrology the Second is a house of personal death, and its lord “karaka of death,” (anareta). Jyotish also ascribes family relationships, eating habits, speech and eyesight to this house. In horary astrology it symbolizes all forms of personal wealth, fluid assets and readily available funds, debt and credit, and all things held for their value.

The Third House is the house of pure depersonalized instrumentality (things or people we commonly use in a more or less automatic way, without much thought), movement or communication in all direct forms, and personal relationships which are normally taken for granted. In this last regard it is the house of siblings, neighbors and our family members or blood relations in general apart from parents or children. It signifies tools, whether of the body or mind. It is those things which can be used to accomplish our ends without themselves being consumed or used up in the process. In the sense of tools are included inventions designed to make life easier, more automatic, more consistently dependable. This house contains the “useful arts”, such as skilled work using highly developed machines, or editorial and manuscript work; that is, those things that are required to bring a project to a finished state but are not considered artistic expression. It is our immediate environment with the things in it that are available for our use. The medieval astrologers said that it signifies “change in general,” which would include the normal moving around or rearrangement of our immediate situation. “Short journeys,” or normal movement in our accustomed environment are located here. Here we may expect to find failures of routine operation or inadequacy in the taken-for-granted performance of normal and expected functions. This house embraces the infrastructure that serves us and the utilities it provides, and all other forms of “conveniences” that are normally expected to be available. The house rules conveniently available places for routine group activities, such as meeting halls, church buildings and even festivals and pageants when these are considered as community affairs. It is gatherings of the people. News, rumors and gossip are found here. In horary art, a question such as “Is the news true?” will be located here. This house also describes “personal skill” as well as the practice or rehearsal needed to keep it sharp and ready for use when needed. The Moon is said to be in her joy in this house.

The Fourth House has its origin, or cusp, at the Nadir, the point where the Sun is at midnight. It is the Dark House. At the bottom of the chart, it is the foundation and the root of all matters, what underlies any situation and what it grows out of. This house signifies the final outcome of anything, and is “the end of the matter.” It is therefore a house of death, and of our old age or latter years. It is the tomb, and rules cemeteries and graves. It is the collective unconscious, and often holds deep and fearsome things. The house shows our “heritage,” the family name, inborn and inbred traits, our tribe or clan. Medieval astrologers gave rulership of the father to the Fourth House, while some modern astrologers hold it to rule the mother primarily because of its connection with the Moon; in any case it is a parental house, and is the parent of final appeal. Inheritance is ruled by this house in the sense of money, property, or whatever has come to us from the past. The surviving influence of the past in the present is shown here. It certainly depicts the home and family, both as a child and as an adult. This house rules the actual physical residence, whether a house, a castle or a rented tenement. It has dominion over all forms of real estate or property, including estates, parks and fields. It rules the resources on and under the land, and natural resources in the more general sense as well. Note that if land is bought and held primarily as a vehicle for speculative investment, it falls under the Fifth House and not the Fourth. But real property that forms a part of the patrimony belongs to this angular house. Wells, springs, lakes and rivers are in this house, as are mines and quarries. In horary charts it is the foundation, the basement, the lowest level, what is hidden or buried. It is the direction north in question charts. In a natal chart it shows what happened very early in life and has become very deeply rooted and permanent. It shows what is private and hidden within a person. The Fourth House represents places and feelings of safety, privacy, protection and retreat. It can portray both that which in the present moment or relationship so partakes of the element of the ultimate as to be beyond change, or that which by the complexion of the total relations at issue is inevitable in the practical sense. In other words, it is both those things which cannot be changed and those which surely must change.

The Fifth House is the house of our creations. Known primarily as the house of children, it also rules the early or primary education, up to the point where education leaves off being the study of what others can teach us and becomes the exploration and deep study of the Ninth House. The Fifth is also the house of entertainment, whether given or received and includes the theater, sporting events, popular concerts and time spent pleasing the self without much concern for others. It also portrays our competitive urges and is the house of testing the self against the competitor. It is shows the demonstration and refinement, before the world, of our definitely individual capacities proved in open competition. Here is the ability to resist outside pressures and remain true to the self and its vision, values or goals. Persistence and endurance in the striving to reach what we have set as goals for ourselves is shown here. It charts a person’s “strength in resistance,” and shows the extent to which he will remain true to himself despite pressures to change his course. Ambassadors are shown by this house, that is those people who attempt to convince a third party on our behalf. We might say that the Fifth House holds those things that we love and for which we are willing to sacrifice ourselves. This house rules jewelry, amulets and such things as are worn or used for personal adornment or as signs of our stature or character. This is the house of self-discovery as we find and develop our inherent personal skills and talents. On the negative side it can show prodigal self-expenditure, ranging from dissipation to wild speculation and high-risk gambling. Toys come under the dominion of this house, as well as the things of children. It is the house of self-indulgence, and often shows sexual relationships outside the marriage.

The Sixth House essentially describes unequal social relationships where one person is obligated to serve another. It is the house of servants, employees, slaves, those who perform repairs or other services on an occasional basis, members of the armed forces and those who attend the sick and infirm as well as the infirm themselves. This house shows what we must do as our duty although we would not; it is the onerous and unpleasant tasks that one is required to carry out. It portrays the readjustments a person must make as he comes to grips with his social station. Here are the maladjustments, the things out of balance in our lives, which often manifest as sickness. It is the house of health – or lack thereof, and the things we do to recover or maintain our health including diet, rest and recuperation, exercise and other regimens, enforced or requiring self-discipline.