The 12 Houses in Astrology
The 12 houses in astrology – what do they mean?
The 12 houses in astrology reveal specific areas in your life that are impacted by astrological energies. The zodiac wheel is cut up into 12 slices, like a pie. Each slice or house represents a certain area of your life, for example, identity, relationships, family, money and taxes, to name a few. The sign and planets that fall in the different houses of your chart reveal the area in your life that are influenced by those energies.
In this article you will learn:
- Understanding your birth chart and how to find your birth chart
- What each of the 12 houses represent in your life
- What it means if planets fall in your houses
- What empty houses mean
what is my birth chart and how do i find it?
Your birth chart is a snapshot of the sky the moment you were born. It is your energetic blueprint of the celestial energies you embody in this lifetime. Your birth chart is found by taking your location of birth, date of birth and time of birth and creates your own zodiac wheel. Click here to find your birth chart.
Once you have your birth chart you will be able to see what zodiac signs your houses are in as well as any planets that fall in your houses. Both signs and planets give a certain flavor and expression to the houses which relate to certain areas of your life.
what do the 12 houses in astrology mean?
Your house placements in astrology are a great tool to understand what areas of your life are influenced by different energies. Each house relates to a different area of life:
1st house – identity
2nd house – money
3rd house – communication
4th house – home
5th house – creativity
6th house – health
7th house – personal relationships
8th house – sex/death/transformation/inheritance/taxes
9th house- travel/learning
10th house – career
11th house – friendships.community
12th house – subconscious
the 12 houses
1st house
The First house represents our identity of self and the mask that we show the world and how we act in the world. It is also known as our ascendant and is one of the most important aspects of our chart. The ascendant is our physical traits which are expressed through the sign the house is in. For example, a leo rising will often have long luscious hair – like the mane of a lion. The ascendant is our desires and how we get from A to B. Any planets that fall in this house will have a strong influence on the life of the native, more so than in any of the other houses.
2nd house
The second house represents money as well as what we value, including our self esteem. Depending on what zodiac sign your second house falls in will determine how you make money, how you spend money, what you value in your life and your inherent feelings of self worth. Our need for survival is determined by the second house and our need for safety and security in this lifetime. Any planets that fall in this house will highlight these themes of financial security and self esteem.
3rd house
The third house represents communication in all forms – verbal, written, thinking, talking. It also represents how we communicate – through devices and media. The zodiac sign that the third house falls in will shape the way in which communicate. Planets that fall in this house will also amplify the way in which we communicate with the outer world and our preferences for communication. The third house also relates to brothers and sisters and short journeys.
4th house
The fourth house relates to home and the maternal parent. It relates to your roots and family history as well as the physical home and the way you decorate and style it. The zodiac sign that falls in this house will determine these physical characteristics of your home and can also indicate emotional experiences from early childhood. Planets that are placed in this house will emphasize the expression of our domestic and private lives.
5th house
The fifth house represents creativity in our lives and how we express ourselves and have fun. It also represents romance – although not long term romance like the seventh house but more casual flings and how you like to flirt. The zodiac sign that falls in the fifth house will indicate how you express yourself creatively and have fun. Any planets in this house will show what you like to do in order to express this creativity.
6th house
The sixth house is all about health, well being and routines. Depending on what zodiac sign the sixth house falls in will show you how you like to take care of your body and mind and what kind of routines you like – whether you are consistent or inconsistent and the conscious decisions you make to maintain your health and well being. Any planets in this house will show you what kind of activities would be best for you to maintain these health and well being routines.
7th house
The seventh house is all about romantic partnerships, marriages and business partnerships. It shows you what you look for in a partner as well as what your emotional needs are in a relationship. The zodiac sign that this house falls in will reveal what those needs are for you in this lifetime. Any planets within this house will show a strong emphasis on relationship themes in this lifetime. Note that if this house is empty, it does not mean you are unsuccessful in relationships.
8th house
The eighth house represents sex, death, transformation and other people’s money (inheritance and taxes). This is an intense house that looks at those topics which are often kept hidden or not discussed in public. The zodiac sign that falls in this house will show you how you relate to these topics in this lifetime and how deep you can go in the world of transformation. Those with planets in this house may experience more transformation in this lifetime as they are more willing and open to these experiences.
9th house
The ninth house is all about travel, religion and higher education. This house is seeking experience of all that life has to offer. The zodiac sign that this house falls in will show how you like to travel long distances (if you do like to travel long distances). It shows your quest for a deeper understanding of life. Any planets that fall in this house will amplify the lessons of travel, religion and higher education and will potentially influence your desire for seeking all of life’s experiences.
10th house
The tenth house aligns you with your career and public image. It tells the tale of desire for achievement and status. The zodiac sign that falls in this house will show you how you direct your energy towards your career and public image in this lifetime, it shows your ambition and how you take charge of your life. Any planets in this house will express what you do to achieve your success or career in this lifetime.
11th house
The eleventh house rules community, humanitarian causes and technological revolutions. The eleventh house shows you how you want to connect with your community of like minded friends and your connection to humanitarian causes. The zodiac sign this house falls in will show you how you like to connect with your community and may give clues to which revolutions you will be drawn to in this lifetime. Planets in this house will show you what drives your desires for revolution and connection.
12th house
The twelfth house is the last in the zodiac and represents everything unseen – your subconscious, dreams and emotions. The zodiac sign that falls in this house will show you how you relate to your subconscious, dreams and emotions and how deep you can go into these spaces. Any planets in this house will represent what past karmas you might be dealing with in this lifetime.
frequently asked questions
what do empty houses mean?
Not all of your houses will have planets within them. This does not a “bad” thing or that you are unsuccessful in this area of your life. The house is still activated by a zodiac sign, which brings that area of your life to life. If you have an empty house it often means there is not a huge emphasis on the lessons you need to learn in this lifetime in that area of your life.
what is the most important house in my chart?
The most important house in your chart is your first house/ascendant as this house expresses your unique self and outward expression as well as your chart ruler – the planet that rules your chart and influences your energy in this lifetime.
What is the dominant chart in my house?
Aside from your ascendant sign, any houses that have multiple planets (called a stellium) will be your dominant house. This is the area of your life that you have lessons to learn from in this lifetime. For example, the fifth house in Leo with 4 planets – the fifth house will be your dominant house.
