Introduction to the Houses
1st House
~ (aka Ascendant/Rising Sign)
Birth, infancy, new beginnings, the physical body and constitution, things as they relate to self. The lens through which we perceive the world. The focus we bring into life. How we get things started and how we meet life in general. The effect we have on others.
2nd House
Separation of self from parents. Body-ego identity. Our sense of “I”. Capabilities and faculties from which we can develop further. Security issues. Values and self-value. Our desire nature. Our own resources.
3rd House
The separation of mind from body. Ability to distinguish subjective from objective. Siblings, relatives, neighbors, immediate environment. Daily communications (writing, speaking, information exchange), elementary education, the “lower” mind, concrete, left brain processes. Short journeys.
4th House
Self-reflection and assimilation from first three houses. Integration of mind, body & feelings. Inner base of operation. Our private lives. Home environment, conditioning, father’s (or the hidden parent) influence in ones life. How we end things. Conditions surrounding the end of life.
5th House
Creativity, procreativity, fun, enjoyment, romance and love affairs. The urge to distinguish ourselves as unique and special. Expansion of our territory of influence. The ability to produce. Artistic expression. Recreation, hobbies, pleasures. What kind of person ignites us romantically. The ability to attract others to us and please them. What our children are like, what we project onto them.
6th House
How we differ from other people. Discrimination and selectivity. How we use our power, energy and capabilities. Body-mind connection at work. The adjustment to necessity and living life within boundaries. Everyday reality, rituals & routines. Work arena, how we make a living, how we serve. Relationships of inequality. Attention to detail. Health issues; the nature of physical problems and underlying psychological significance of certain illnesses.
7th House
Partnerships, business and personal, bosom buddies. Connecting the “I” to the “not-I”. Relationships based on mutual commitment, legal or otherwise. What we project onto a partner. What we bring into relationship, the atmosphere in close relationships. Open enemies, what we see in other people that we don’t like in ourselves. How we meet society. Blending in vs. asserting our individuality.
8th House
Inheritances, heredity. Death and rebirth processes. Other people’s resources. That which is shared between people. How we fare financially in marriage or business partnerships. How our partner’s value system interacts with our own. Relationships as catalysts for change. Dissolving ego-boundaries and opening new ones. Bringing to the surface unresolved issues from early bonding relationships through present relationships. Sex as a means of transcendence. How we “die” and meet transitions.
9th House
The search for meaning, purpose, direction and guidelines in life. Seeking truth. Languages, foreign cultures, philosophy, religion, the occult, higher education, the “higher” mind. Intuitive thought processes, right brain activity. The symbol-making capacity of the psyche. What pulls us forward and how we view life at a distance. Travel and long journeys. Systems of collective thought, dissemination of ideas. Relationship to in-laws. Possible indication of career.
10th House
Career, advancement, reputation, mother’s (shaping parent) influence in ones life. Integration of the self into society. Profession, vocation, career – our office and status. The atmosphere and conditions we encounter in our career. How we wish to be seen in our work and what we wish to be remembered for in our contributions. Public image, ambition. What we perceive the world/mother requires or expects of us. Attitude to authority figures and the government.
11th House
Friendships, groups and organizations, community affairs. The urge to become something greater than we already are. Identifying with something larger than ourselves. Circles and types of friends. How we behave with friends and what we project onto them. Sensitivity to new trends and currents in the atmosphere. Social reform and causes. Goals, objectives, hopes and wishes. The global brain and group mind.
12th House
The subconscious, the collective unconscious. Hidden or repressed elements in ones life. The yearning to return to the original state of unity. Merging with something greater, yet fearing the dissolution of boundaries. Confusion, empathy, compassion. Immersion in escapist tendencies as substitute for wholeness. Meditation and prayer. Service – to others, causes, beliefs. Unconscious patterns and complexes. Hidden enemies, external or internal saboteurs. Life in the womb. Karma – what we “bring over” from past lives. Access to the collective unconscious, mythic images, imaginal realm. How we fare, or what we meet, in: hospitals, prisons, museums, libraries or other institutions.
