Every human chart features the placement of ten primary planets as well as a House division, another scientific way by which individual personality can be dissected. Houses and their placements vary from person to person, since they are calculated according to the perceived time and geographic location of you birth.

What are houses, exactly? Typical chart is divided into twelve sections – that’s what astrological houses are. They all represent a pathway to the Sun and exact divisions of your birth map for analytical and interpretive purpose. Each of your planets (and it’s respective sign) falls in one of twelve houses giving it a very exact and personal meaning.

1st House (Ascendant) – The individual personality, early childhood, outlook on life

Together with the Sun and Moon, the ascendant is one of the most important factors in a horoscope. The sign at the beginning of the first house tells us a lot about someone’s personality, temperament and constitution. This house gives us an insight into a character type and appearance tendencies.

2nd House – Money, possessions, self-esteem

The second house and its occupants tell us about the material circumstances, the acquisitive urge and how we deal with possessions and material means. This includes the relationship to our own body and basic values.

3rd House – Communication and day-to-day affairs

The third house and any planets occupying it tell us of our siblings, the manner in which we communicate on an everyday level and the relationships that determine our daily life. Interestingly, early education is a key component to developing these virtues.

4th House – Roots, family background, end of life

This house describes our origins, the parental home and the circumstances influencing childhood and youth. It describes how we relate to “family”, our attitude towards “hearth and home”. Maternal bonds are crucial here.

5th House – Pleasure, creativity, love affairs, hobbies

Sexuality and eroticism are at home here, along with play in general and all types of creative expression. This house also describes how we relate to children, pleasure and simple fun.

6th House – Work, service, health issues, small pets

The sixth house describes the circumstances surrounding us in our daily lives, including the work environment and daily routine. This includes our behavior towards subordinates. Bodily hygiene and care also belong here, including diets and other health limitations.

7th House (Descendant) – Relating, marriage, partnerships, court trials

The descendant sign and planets occupying the seventh house tell us about how we select our partners. Often we are involuntarily attracted to people whose horoscopes carry a strong emphasis of the sign in our seventh house. Here, courts and legal affairs are highlighted as well.

8th House – Loss, common property, other people’s resources, sex

The eighth house shows how we relate to communal goods and how we deal with material loss like heavy taxation. Traditional astrology maintains that this house has an affinity to death and all things metaphysical. Death would then be the ultimate material loss. Amongst other things, the study of metaphysics can be a very differentiated way of dealing with this loss, which inevitably comes to us all.

9th House – Philosophies, travel, higher education, advertising

The ninth house describes our spiritual leaning, life philosophy and our world view. In fact, these are often influenced by journeys to foreign countries. The attitudes cultivated and formed in this house can greatly influence matters of the 10th. (see below). Individuals who work in publicity or advertising tend to possess high percentages of the 9th House.

10th House (MC) – Occupation, status, reputation, authority, father

This house is of particular importance, since it affects not only our choice of profession and our sense of calling – it also has a bearing on our general development, what we become. In fact, some of the world’s most dominant leaders and tyrants have had an abundance of this house in their chart.

11th House – Friends, groups, hopes and wishes, rewards from hard work in 10th house

The eleventh house describes how we relate to friends, benefactors and teachers – people who wish us well or from whom we can learn. It also shows us in these roles. This house shows how we relate to the society in which we live in.

12th House – Hidden, enemies, personal secrets, hospitals, medicines, jails

This house represents those spheres of life in which the individual no longer plays a part, where we step back for a greater whole or lose ourselves in one. Traditional astrology sees hospitals, prisons and psychiatric institutions in this house. It is also associated with monasteries and any other secret retreats. This is where we face our demons, enemies, and often the worst human fears.