So far we have covered the elements, qualities, zodiac signs, and planets. We even tooks a stab at the asteroids. It's time to put these bad boys in their place. I'm talking about the astrological houses!
When you first take a gander at your birth chart, you'll see that it looks like a big old pizza, neatly divided into twelve slices, with the planets scattered about like spicy pepperoni bites. Yummy!
Here's Frank Sinatra's chart as an example.
Looks pretty delicious to me! Seriously though, all talk of pizza pies aside: the chart is a 360-degree circle containing twelve sections, called houses, that are 30 degrees each.
These houses represent different areas of your life. This is where stuff is happening. The first house begins to the left of the chart, and each house follows counterclockwise.
There's more! Each house is also associated with an element, quality, different sign of the zodiac, and at least one planet. Once again, you'll see the same patterns showing up because astrology is like that: a neat system where everything fits nicely like a Tetris game. As you begin to play around with the chart, you'll learn how this all fits together.
Here's what you need to remember thus far: the planets show what's operating, and the signs indicate how the energy is expressed. The houses show “where” stuff is going down. This means if a planet or asteroid shows up in a house, that area of your life is illuminated or activated in some way. The traits and things that matter to that particular house are getting attention, and this may impact your life or personality. In other words, if you have a planet occupying a house, pay attention, yo! Stuff is happening!
First: The cusp of the first house is your Ascendant or rising sign (more on that in a later chapter). This house rules how the world sees you. This is the image you present to others. That means how you look, act, dress, operate, lead, and view the world. This is your “persona” or ego. Sometimes we come off more like our Ascendant than our Sun sign. For example, my bestie is a Gemini, but she's as dark and serious as they come. No surprise then to find out that her Ascendant is Scorpio! Ruling sign: Aries. Ruling planet: Mars.
Second: This is your money sector. The second shows how you get money, hold on to it (or not), and how you acquire and care for your possessions. All the funky, sticky money stuff shows up here—from the greedy Gordon Gecko side to poverty consciousness. What you value is reflected in this house. Ruling sign: Taurus. Ruling planet: Venus.
Third: The third house is connected to learning, communication, education, and the mind. Here's where you see how your brain works and how you communicate. Genius, thought leader, or daydreamer? Look here to find which you are. Early education, siblings, neighbors, and short trips also hang in the third house. Ruling sign: Gemini. Ruling planet: Mercury.
Fourth: Home, family—your roots: all of that comes under the domain of the fourth house. This is where you came from and the early part of your life as well as your physical residence. It's also your Mom stuff (although some astrologers attribute that to the tenth house). The fourth house is also where the skeletons in your family closet reside. Ruling sign: Cancer. Ruling planet: Moon.
Fifth: The fifth house is concerned with self-expression, romance, and creativity. This can be the books you write, the classes you teach, or the children you create. Yep, matters about parenting—both having kids and what kind of parent you'll be—are fifth house stuff. This house shows what your romantic life might look like and whether fame is a possibility. Risks and speculation too—both real estate and the casino kind. Lastly, games, sports, and pleasure are contained in this zone. Ruling sign: Leo. Ruling planet: Sun.
Sixth: Work, health, and routines hang in this house. How you work, what kind of work you prefer, your working environment, and relationships with coworkers—it's all here. Also: your health regimes and physical well-being. Pets too. Yup, even your furry or feathered friends have a home in your chart! Ruling sign: Virgo. Ruling planet: Mercury.
Seventh: The seventh house is all about partnerships—not just romantic, but also your biz partners and closest friends. This shows how you approach relationships and care for them . . . or not. Ironically, it's also the home of the enemies that are out in the open. Frenemies? Yep, them too. Lawsuits, legal issues, conflicts, and contracts are in the seventh house realm as well. Ruling sign: Libra. Ruling planet: Venus.
Eighth: The eighth house has a lot going on! Sex, joint finances, taxes, death, and intuition are all part of the eighth. Lots of psychics and cops have high placements here. Loans, legacies, and wills are also attributed to this house. Getting intimate with your body or your monies—it's an eighth house thing. Ruling sign: Scorpio. Ruling planet: Pluto and Mars.
Ninth: Higher mind and travel are the ninth house's gig. This is the house that favors the things that expand your mind—seeing the world, higher education, and spirituality. How big or far can you go? Religion, dogma, and crazy cult stuff are part of this house as well as your in-laws. Ruling sign: Sagittarius. Ruling planet: Jupiter.
Tenth: The Midheaven sits on the cusp of the tenth house, which means this house is concerned with career, honors, reputation, and recognition. If you have a lot of planets here, you might have a public job like a politician or actor. The tenth house is also connected to the father (although some astrologers say the mother—sigh—why can't astrologers just get along?). Ruling sign: Capricorn. Ruling planet: Saturn.
Eleventh: Where are your real friends? Right here! The eleventh house is the house of friends and social life. This is your social circle and the groups and associations you belong to. Are you in with the in-crowd, hanging with the wrong kids, or a lone wolf? That shows up here. The eleventh house is also the home for your goals and wishes. What do you want to come to fruition, and who's going to help you make that happen? Ruling sign: Aquarius. Ruling planet: Uranus and Saturn.
Twelfth: The trickiest house on the Zodiac wheel, the twelfth house is your “undoing” and karma. This is the inner stuff you need to work out. It's also the home of secret enemies, the subconscious mind, prison, hospitals, healing, meditation, and “service or suffering.” It's the stuff you hide from the world. If you've got a full twelfth house (many planets here), don't fret. Just remember: it's an “inside job.” Ruling sign: Pisces. Ruling planet: Neptune and Jupiter.
As you'll see, every aspect of the human life is contained in the astrological chart. Nothing has been left out. Those astrologers thought of everything back in the day!
In the blank wheel provided on page 49, fill in all the things that are associated with each house. I'll start the first house for you.
Now let's take a closer look at Frank Sinatra's chart so you can understand how to begin seeing what's happening in your chart.
First, notice that the Libra symbol is on the cusp of his first house. This placement indicates he's a Libra Ascendant. The number 28 above the symbol refers to the degree while the smaller number underneath is the minutes into the sign.
Now, notice the planets in the second house. You'll see the Mercury symbol, which is followed by a number, the zodiac symbol for Sagittarius, and a smaller number. This indicates that his Mercury is at 17 degrees Sagittarius in his second house. Now you see why you have to memorize those glyphs?
Look at the other two planets in Frank Sinatra's chart. Then fill in the blanks.
In Frank Sinatra's chart, his __________ is in the _________ house in the sign of ___________ at _____ degrees. His __________ is in the _________ house in the sign of ___________ at _____ degrees.
Next, grab your own natal chart (the one you had generated or purchased). Fill in the blanks.
My Sun is in the __________house in the sign of _______at _____degrees.
My Moon is in the __________house in the sign of _______at _____degrees.
My Mercury is in the __________house in the sign of _______at _____degrees.
My Venus is in the __________house in the sign of _______at _____degrees.
My Mars is in the __________house in the sign of _______at _____degrees.
My Jupiter is in the __________house in the sign of _______at _____degrees.
My Saturn is in the __________house in the sign of _______at _____degrees.
My Uranus is in the __________house in the sign of _______at _____degrees.
My Neptune is in the __________house in the sign of _______at _____degrees.
My Pluto is in the __________house in the sign of _______at _____degrees.
My Chiron is in the __________house in the sign of _______at _____degrees.
My North Node is in the __________house in the sign of _______at _____degrees.
My South Node is in the __________house in the sign of _______at _____degrees.
My Part of Fortune is in the __________house in the sign of _______at _____degrees.
In the blank chart on page 49, fill in your planets, signs, and degrees. Use colored pencils and a different color for each planet. Get creative. Go buckwild.
