(written in 2020)
In this channel, you’ll learn about houses and how to properly read and interpret them. They’re important in astrology because they allow for more specificity. They show which area of a person’s life is activated by a planet, acting through the expression of a sign.
CUSP: the verge of a new beginning
Houses are representations of earthly environments in a person’s chart. It’s the connection between the signs/planets located in the sky and the individual.
Houses are a major factor in what makes each natal chart different, and it’s determined by the ascendant, which is why your birth time is essential in astrology. The ascendant is the cusp of the first house. So while twins may have similar birth charts, their birth times are different and the manifestations of these small differences are actually incredibly large.
The houses should be considered as a journey of the individual throughout their life. Will you choose to walk it?
the first house is birth. who are you? how do you express yourself? what do you look like? it’s concerned with a person’s ego and sense of self. the very beginning of your personality and how you view the world. think of it as a baby first exploring themselves and their expression (usually through crying) and once they open their eyes, they look around to look at their environment.
this is then followed by how the baby, now toddler, interacts with their environment. this is the second house. what do i own? how do i feel? do i like this toy? a child has to learn to share their possessions and in this period of their life, they draw the line between what they own and desire, and what they don’t own and don’t want.
then in the third house, the exploration of the environment goes deeper than individual possession. this is the child’s education where they’re learning how to speak and communicate, especially with siblings and extended family. this is the person in relation to the neighbourhood. this is my house. where is your house? can you tell me your address? how do i travel there?
the third house curiosity is reigned in and the child is called home by their parents. this is the fourth house where the effects of the parents and early conditioning is made prevalent. siblings are a third house matter while parents are fourth as they have more influence over shaping their child as a person. did they tell you a bedtime story every night? or did they snap at you to brush your teeth?
eventually, every bird needs to leave the nest, and this comes with freedom to do whatever they wish to. nurturing, or the lack of it, breeds the desire to create something unique, whether that be easy or not. the fifth house surrounds creativity and risk, as well as sport and love. these themes are all within this house as they stem from this concept of birthing something individual that builds joy.
the next step in the journey is the sixth house which reminds the person in 5h that their excitement should be grounded. the sixth house is there with planning sheets and calendars to write down the desired 5h activities alongside mundane things such as vacuuming the house and doing the laundry.
this is followed by the seventh house of others. no one can exist in the world without interacting with another. once the chores are in order, you’re (traditionally) called to find a romantic partner and get married. this is where your one-on-one, committed relationships come into focus.
the eighth house covers what occurs after marriage. it surrounds what happens when two people merge and ‘become one’. this covers both mental and physical aspects including sex, money and loans. this is the house of transformation where you can go from the 2h of your own money to the 8h of other people’s money.
the next stage is to teach and share and expand knowledge— the ninth house. there is only so much we can keep to ourselves and this house documents the process by which we learn to expand our horizons and be excited about what’s to come. can you see both sides of the same coin? how about you tell me the context in which it was made?
authority is naturally formed as a person travels to teach and discover. this is the tenth house, where your reputation is built. maybe not all knowledge can be given freely. can you build an empire from what you have? and how much have you gathered since your origins (4h)? your trophies and awards are stacked on the walls and all that glitters is found in your room.
the eleventh house is reached when you no longer find yourself satisfied with accumulating power. you flee your castle to become a pauper and everyone around you is just another possible friend. how do you act when you’re around them? you can’t shake your riches nor your sympathy. there is a divide and everyone is so far away.
the twelfth house is the final destination and whether by choice or by force, you are alone. how do you act in solitude? have you learned from the lessons the universe has placed on your path? your true self is revealed and you are vulnerable to influence. there is nothing else left except to start again.
1: ego, self, appearance, perception 2: money, security, self worth, values 3: communication, logic, education, siblings, neighbourhood 4: home, family, childhood, private life 5: play, joy, romance, creativity, children, sport 6: chores, health, work, routine 7: relationships, marriage, commitments 8: other people’s money, sex, death, transformation 9: travelling, higher mind, philosophy, teaching 10: authority, recognition, social status, career 11: friends, groups, hopes, wishes 12: unconscious, karma, institutions, empathy
Like how signs are grouped into elements and qualities, houses are grouped into quadrants, three houses in each. Every quadrant begins with an angular house, followed by succedent, and is closed with a cadent. These quadrants allow for an easy first impression of a person’s chart. If someone has the majority of their planets in the first three houses, it can be assumed that they’re more self-oriented than most people, similar to how you can assume some characteristics of a person when you know they’re a fire dom.
In this lifetime, a lot of the attention will go towards the individual. Containing the 1h (self), 2h (values) and 3h (communication), the first quadrant highlights one’s awareness of self and identity, challenging the person to be true to themselves while growing as a person and being able to relate to others well.
The second quadrant highlights how relationships with one’s immediate environment gives them a foundation. There is a need for inner security and a push to move outside of themselves. The individual is (or needs to be) aware of their health and wellbeing, and how to express themselves more so than others.
With planets in the third quadrant, the native is learning to be more aware of others and the line that separates them from their relationships. They may long to be a part of someone else and tune into others, having a desire to relate to and play a part in society. Through others, this person expands their horizons.