A birth chart is divided into 12 sectors called Houses. Each house represents different aspects and areas of our lives. Each house builds on the previous and affects the next.
Understanding the rulership, planets, and signs that each house is assigned with is crucial to extending our knowledge about the houses. However, I will not go into technical details in this article.
The purpose of this post is to give you a quick insight into the houses. It is a simplified version of what each house signifies, but I hope it helps in understanding the journey of each house a little bit better before we dive deeper into it in separate posts.
First Quadrant — Your Building Blocks
12th House — The Subconscious / The Soul
This house is complex as it relates to the idea of spirituality. It represents the house of endings and beginnings. Most people don’t start the first quadrant from this house, but I believe it is appropriate to start here as the first quadrant talks about our building blocks, who we are at the very core — our subconscious. This is the essence of our being before taking on a human form.
This house represents our subconscious. It exists and operates beneath or beyond consciousness. It is the engine behind our thoughts and instincts, our dreams and intuitions, and our unconscious beliefs that lie in the depths of our psyche, which we are sometimes or most of the time not even aware of.
1st House — The Self
This house is the starting point of the astrological chart. This is where our journey starts in this world as a human. First impressions are often based on the energy and vibe we emit from the first house. This is our outer self, or also known as the Ascendant or the Rising Sign
The first house plays a major role in defining one’s attitude, first impressions, outward appearances, and demeanor. This is what the world sees before getting to know who you are.
The sign in this house describes the characteristics you naturally and sometimes instinctively express. It also influence our mannerisms, and overall approach to life. Individuality is the focal point of the first house.
2nd House — Defining Self
Now, we start asking questions in relation to the first house. What do we value? What brings value to me? What supports my individuality?
The second house is associated with values, self-esteem, and self-worth. It is no longer a subconscious matter like the 12th house or an instinctive nature like the first house. We define what matters to us in the second house — both tangible and intangible.
Personal finance and wealth are linked to this house as it is through these resources and what we do with them that help create a sense of stability and define us as viable human beings.
This is where our definition of “ego” starts to form because the nature of the second house is purely out of self-interest and the betterment of self.
Second Quadrant — Integration with Environment
3rd House — Developing the Tools of Trade
We become aware of the “self” in the first quadrant. Entering the second quadrant, we start to see a world outside of “self,” and to integrate our “self” with the environment, we need to develop the necessary skills. The focus of the third house is learning. Curiosity is often the driver of this house.
The third house deals with practical skills, with communication being one of them — writing, languages, and speaking are all part of this house. Many famous writers have notable placements in the third house, such as J.R.R Tolkien and Stephen King.
I like to think of this house as a baby who learns to utter their first word or take their first step. They learn best by actively engaging with their environment, and that is exactly the experience of this house.
In this house, we learn to adapt and interact with our immediate surroundings. That’s why this house is often linked to early childhood experiences, schools, and local neighborhoods. Siblings and extended family are also included in this house.
4th House — Roots and Foundation
The fourth house puts a heavy emphasis on foundation. This house is a representation of our definition of home. It’s a comfort zone. It describes all the things that make you feel comfortable and the place you go to feel safe and protected, both tangible and intangible.
The fourth house rules your heritage, ancestors, traditions, and family history. It is often associated with our parents or the nurturing figure in our life. This house is where a solid emotional and personal foundation is built before venturing out into the world.
This is a place we go back to. It’s a place that grounds you. This is where you put your roots down. It is home — whatever home means to you, or in this case, what sign your fourth house is in.
5th House — Self-Expression
You have understood the “self,” you’ve learned the necessary skills to communicate your “self,” and you’ve built a solid personal foundation. In this house, you express. The ego that started to form in the second house finally finds an outlet. Hopefully, a healthy one.
The fifth house is all about self-expression. This is the house of play, joy, and spontaneity. You are here to show the world who you are and what you are made of. Creativity is the byproduct of the fifth house. The energy knows no bounds in this house. This is the house of creation — and procreation. Hence, progeny is often represented in the fifth house.
This is the house where your inner child shines the brightest.
Third Quadrant — Building a Connection
6th House — Service & Sacrifice
Entering the sixth house after all the joy and freedom of the fifth house is not an easy feat. In the third quadrant, we learn that the world doesn’t revolve around us. This is where reality hits.
The sixth house is a house of modesty, discipline, and humility. The feelings it brings upon are not pleasant. Rebellion, anger, annoyance, and even a victim mentality can be byproducts of this house as our ego fights back. There is still a heavy inclination to act selfishly in this house.
Here, we have to learn how to put a restraint on our ego, to contribute and be a part of the community. We learn to be of service to others, and sometimes we have to sacrifice as well.
The sixth house rules all the things we don’t like to do but need to do. This is the house of routine, maintenance, and menial tasks. I like to use the word “adulting” to describe this house.
Since it is still an extension of the fifth house where the “self” is still heavily embedded, things pertaining to our bodily functions, such as health, are also part of this house. Taking care of ourselves requires discipline, and that is what this house is teaching us.
Through the experiences in the sixth house, we build an understanding and solid ground for our next journey, interpersonal relationships.
7th House — Partnership
The seventh house emphasizes the importance of collaboration, negotiation, and finding common ground in relationships. Through the lessons we learned in the previous house, now we understand how to navigate the give-and-take dynamics, cooperation, and compromise necessary for a harmonious and balanced partnership.
This house governs all types of partnerships, not just romantic ones. It encompasses friendships, business partnerships, and any significant one-on-one relationship. In this house, we seek equality and mutual respect. We recognize the unique qualities of both ourselves and our partners. We learn to understand and accept each other’s strengths, weaknesses, and differences.
Contracts and agreements are often associated with the seventh house. It represents the legal and contractual aspects that ensure fairness in a relationship.
8th House — Transformation
The eighth house is a complex house where we move beyond the surface level of partnerships and delve into the realm of trust and shared resources.
The eighth house governs shared resources, such as finances, inheritances, joint ventures, and possessions that are jointly owned. It represents the concept of “what is yours is mine,” indicating a blending of assets and responsibilities in partnerships. This can bring about both benefits and challenges, as it can create intense dynamics, including power struggles and control issues in relationships.
The eighth house is also associated with secrets and taboos pertaining your relationship with others. In this house, we either suffer or gain through our relationship with other.
The eighth house is heavy (and that’s probably an understatement), nevertheless the effect it has on us is transformative. Ego death is likely to happened in this house and it leads us to a profound personal growth and evolution.
It is a fitting final test before we finally enter the fourth quadrant.
Fourth Quadrant — Integration with Society
9th House — Expansion of The Mind
The ninth house is often called the House of Expansion for a reason. The topics covered in this house are often philosophical in nature. In this house, we seek higher meaning in life. God and religion are part of this house. Astrology is also a big part of the ninth house.
We seek to expand our mind and our knowledge of the world here. Educational institutions like universities are represented in this house.
Pilgrimage is the word used in traditional astrology. In the modern world, we call it traveling. We embark on a long journey. The main goal is still the same: to expand our horizons and learn more about other cultures aside from our own.
10th House — Social Recognition
The tenth house holds significance in shaping your identity. This is associated with your professional life, career aspirations, and public image. In this house, you seek to achieve.
It shows how the world perceives you through the contributions you make to society with all the knowledges you gained from the ninth house.
Unlike the fourth house, which is located at the bottom of the wheel and hidden from the world, the tenth house is located at the very top. This is a very public house where you showcase your skills, talents, and expertise to gain recognition.
It is also how you choose to present yourself for all the world to see. Unlike the first house that deals with first impression, in this house, you build your own image and how you chose to present it to the world.
11th House — Society
Finally, we entered the eleventh house, which is often referred to as the House of Society. It pertains to friendships, social networks, and our role as a part of a larger organizations or communities. It also reflects one’s ambitions, hopes, and dreams relating to the society or establishments.
Politicians, social activists, and community leaders often have a prominent eleventh house, as they strive to bring about positive change and betterment in society. This house represents our desire to contribute to the collective and to make a difference.
Additionally, the eleventh house is often considered the house of good fortune, as it relates to the tenth house of social recognition and career achievements. The gains and rewards we receive from the contributions we made in the tenth house are collected in the eleventh house. It symbolizes the positive outcomes and benefits that come from our active participation in society and our efforts to improve the lives of others.
It represents our aspirations for a brighter future and the fulfillment we find in contributing to the collective well-being.
If you found this story helpful, do give some love (or claps). I hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed writing it!
