It is not hard to think of the Earth as the center of our Universe. Astrologers picture the relationship between the Earth and the Zodiac like a wheel that turns as it marks an individual’s life journey. The Earth is the hub, the Zodiac is the rim, and the spokes are cusps that delineating twelve houses. Each house encompasses specific attributes, activities, parts of the body, and people close to us.

The 1st House describes your personality (temperament, attitude); your physical body’s stature, complexion, facial features, and coordination; your impressions of your early home environment; the impression you make upon (give to) others. It is the first impression you emote to others—what they notice about you at first glance or meeting.

The 2nd House describes how you handle your natural abilities and inner emotions. It rules the neck and throat areas of the body. It describes how you give and receive, how you value your possessions, how you earn and spend money. Your personal system of values.

The 3rd House encompasses your basic communication patterns (speech and hearing), your conscious and rational mind, brothers and sisters, daily routine, early education (K-12), transportation (eg. your car). It describes what you write, how patient or impatient you are, your receptivity to others’ ideas. It rules your arms, wrists, hands, fingers, shoulders, lungs and nervous system.

4th House rules your home and its environment, and your parents (specifically the more nurturing parent). It describes your need for security, and how you terminate or end things. Living conditions at the end of life. It rules the stomach, digestive organs, rib, breasts and breast bone. It can describe how you deal with losses in competitive sports or love affairs. It describes a man’ mother-in-law, and a woman’s father-in-law.

5th House deals with love affairs and romantic partners, speculation, entertainment, and natural children. It shows income from real estate. It rules your heart, sides, and back between the shoulders. It describes what you are willing to share, what turns you on, what intrigues you, what you like to indulge in. The 5th house rules friends of your marriage or business partner.

6th House rules the services you provide to others. It covers co-workers, employees and employers, your attitude toward doing a job. It describes your love of animals and your relationship to small domestic pets. It describes your body’s health and health vulnerabilities, and how you treat your body through nutrition, hygiene or personal care. It rules your memory, military associations, and life-saving services rendered by fire, police or first-responders. It describes how you discharge your debts and obligations, your wardrobe and how you dress, and how you handle the problems that you face. It rules the diaphragm, bowels, solar plexus, intestines and liver.

7th House covers your marriage and business partners, his/her personal attributes. It represents your doctors, lawyers, brokers, agents, astrologers—those with whom you consult. It rules the outcome of lawsuits and illnesses, entertainment while on short trips, and interest received on money loaned. It rules the kidneys, small of the back, loins, groin area, bladder.

8th House rules matters related to death, sex, taxes, esoteric studies, and regeneration. It describes the finances and holdings of marital or business partners, how you are inclined to handle and treat the resources of others, and sixth sense matters, whether occult, spiritual or mystical. It governs the muscular system, external sex organs, sex force and drive, venereal diseases, creative energies, excretory function.

9th House describes your religious or philosophical views, higher education, lessons learned from life’s experiences, in-laws, grandchildren, foreign dealings and long journeys. It rules all forms of higher thought, logic and judgment, and charitable donations. It defines your interest in foreign lands, people and travel, as well as your prospects for publishing and winning in courts of appeal. It governs the hips, thighs, lower back, sciatic nerve.

10th House rules reputation, credit and standing in your community or profession. It represents the extension of yourself into the world—what amount of authority you carry; the degree of tact and diplomacy you employ in your business dealings. It describes your bosses or superiors, including government officials, and the honors you can receive. It rules your skeletal structure, skin conditions, and parent of the opposite sex.

11th House deals with friendships, hopes and wishes, and the desire to participate in social and group activities. It describes income from business and professional activities, and the societies, clubs, and social organizations to which you belong. It rules your ability to overcome obstacles. It governs the shins, ankles and calves of the legs, and the oxygenation process of your body’s blood stream.

12th House describes the things we do not wish to face. It governs sorrow, confinements, restraints, self-undoing, troubles, worry, suffering, losses, pain, seclusion, exile, handicaps, chronic diseases, and hidden places. It deals with how you come to terms with yourself without outside help, and rules the subconscious mind, cosmic consciousness, and ability to relax and sleep. The 12th House holds your greatest inner strength, what you need to activate and embrace to overcome your secret fears. It rules the feet, toes, phlegm, mucous, and poisoning.

To be continued.

Share on Facebook

Practical Astrology for an Imperfect World 1.2

Brigid’s House invites you to submit questions about astrology. Questions may be general or specific, but please do not use personal names. Watch for your answer in the next week’s astrology column.