12 Houses In Astrology

A horoscope is just a diagram of the heavens exactly as seen from the Earth at any particular time and at any given location. Houses in astrology refer to the ARTIFICIAL way of dividing the heavens as seen from the Earth in 12 parts. Houses are known as the Bhavas in Vedic Astrology. Houses are one of the three essential tools for casting a horoscope other two being placement of planets and signs in the horoscope.

a) From this diagram and keeping in mind the above definition, we can have good idea about houses in astrology. We can only ‘see’ SIX of the TWELVE houses as other SIX houses are ALWAYS BELOW the horizon.

b) Houses 1 to 6 are ALWAYS BELOW the horizon and houses 7 to 12 are ALWAYS ABOVE the horizon.

c) The point which is exactly ON the horizon on EAST at ANY location on Earth is ALWAYS the starting point of the 1st house and is better known as the Ascendant or Lagna.

d) The point which is exactly over-head at ANY location on Earth is ALWAYS the starting point of the 10th house or the Medium Coeli or just MC.

e) The point which is exactly ON the horizon on WEST at ANY location on Earth is ALWAYS the starting point of the 7th house or the Descendant.

f) The point which is exactly OPPOSITE to the over-head point or the 10th house or MC is ALWAYS the starting point of the 4th house or the Imum Coeli or just IC.

g) We can only ‘SEE’ the planets which are placed in the 7th to 12th houses as these houses are ALWAYS ABOVE the horizon. We can never ‘SEE’ the planets which are placed in the 1st to 6th houses as these houses are ALWAYS BELOW the horizon.

h) Due to the ROTATION of the Earth – The planets SEEMS to RISE from the EAST (12th house), reach OVER-HEAD (10th house) and FALL or SET in the WEST (6th house).

With the help of the diagram below we can get further clear idea about houses and rise and fall of planets and how to predict time generally or how to predict the house position of Sun

As Sun ALWAYS rises from the EAST and from the point number (c) of the first diagram we know - “The point which is exactly ON the horizon on EAST at ANY location on Earth is ALWAYS the starting point of the 1st house and is better known as the Ascendant or Lagna.” On this basis we can say at the time of Sun rise (which is around 5 A.M. to 7 A.M. depending on the time of the year and location of place) Sun is MOVING FROM the FIRST HOUSE into the TWELFTH HOUSE.

As Sun ALWAYS is Over-Head during Noon and from the point number (d) of the first diagram we know – “The point which is exactly over-head at ANY location on Earth is ALWAYS the starting point of the 10th house or the Medium Coeli or just MC.” On this basis we can say at the time of Sun being Over-Head (which is around 11 A.M. to 1 P.M. depending on the time of the year and location of place) Sun is MOVING FROM the TEHTH HOUSE into the NINTH HOUSE.

As Sun ALWAYS is in WEST during setting and from the point number (e) of the first diagram we know – “The point which is exactly ON the horizon on WEST at ANY location on Earth is ALWAYS the starting point of the 7th house or the Descendant.” On this basis we can say at the time of Sun being setting (which is around 5 P.M. to 7 P.M. depending on the time of the year and location of place) Sun is MOVING FROM the SEVENTH HOUSE into the SIXTH HOUSE.

As Sun ALWAYS is at bottom most position during Mid Night and from the point number (f) of the first diagram we know – “The point which is exactly OPPOSITE to the over-head point or the 10th house or MC is ALWAYS the starting point of the 4th house or the Imum Coeli or just IC.” On this basis we can say at the time of Sun being at Bottom Most position (which is around 11 P.M. to 1 A.M. depending on the time of the year and location of place) Sun is MOVING FROM the FOURTH HOUSE into the THIRD HOUSE. Similarly, other house position of the Sun can also be predicted by knowing the time as mentioned in this diagram.

Most of the Astrology House systems used are
Equal House, Whole House, Placidus, Koch, Porphyry, Campanus, Regiomontanus, Solar, Lunar, Morinus, Radiant, Zariel, Alcabitus, Meridian, Topocentric, Horizontal and Geodetic

Lagna Bhava or the first house commences from the point that just rises in the East and the whole area that is yet to rise next below horizon and extends up to 2nd house cusp. The point exactly opposite the East of 1st house cusp is the starting of 7th house. That part of sky which has risen just before birth and extends upwards in the Eastern horizon is the 12th Bhava or house. The top most point in the sky at any given location is the starting point of 10th house or the Midheaven and the opposite point below the earth is called the Nadir or the 4th house.

Thus we can understand from the above statements that the time from approximately two hours before sunrise till the exact time of sunrise, the Sun will be in the 1st house and the time approximately two hours before sunset till the exact time of sunset, Sun will be in 7th house. Similarly, from the time the Sun is exactly overhead at any given location and till approximately two hours after that Sun will be in 10th house.

The 1st, 10th, 7th and 4th house are main pillars of a horoscope. They are called the Angu­lar or Cardinal or Kendra (meaning center in Vedic Astrology) Houses. The next houses to the angles or Kendra viz. 2nd, 5th, 8th and 11th are called the Fixed or Succedent or Panapara (meaning material or money related in Vedic Astrology). The remaining four houses viz. 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th are called the Cadent or Mutable or Apoklima (meaning to decline, lessen or expense).

The houses can also be divided into four trinities:

Trinity of Dharma or Spiritual Action
Houses 1, 5 and 9
They relate to the Fire signs of Aries, Leo and Sagittarius (1) Body (5) Heart and (9) Higher Mind

Trinity of Artha or Wealth
Houses 2, 6 and 10
They relate to Earth sign of Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn (2) Possessions, (6) Comforts, such as food, servants and health and (10) Honor, fame and social standing.

Trinity of Kama or Relationships
Houses 3, 7 and 11
They relate to Airy signs of Gemini, Libra and Aquarius (3) Siblings (7) Marriage and Partnerships (11) Friends and close associates

Trinity of Moksha or Final Liberation of Soul
Houses 4, 8 and 12
They relate to Water signs of Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. (4) Environment at later part of life. (8) Regeneration and Death (12) Suffering and self-undoing.

The twelve Astrology Houses and their significance
All the matters regarding living and non living things are signified by the 12 houses, taken one or more than one house for any given matter. The astrologer has to judge a particular house or a few houses for any particular matter. For example, for marriage, the 7th house is the primary house to be analyzed but 2nd and 11th houses are also taken in consideration. This is because 2nd house denotes family and 11th house denotes gain, fulfillment of desires and happy social occasions.

Each house signifies certain matters regarding the individual but the same house can be extended to derive various matters regarding his or her relatives and even friends. This process of extending the affairs of any given house is known as derivative house. A house may be fortunate to the individual but at the same time it may be disastrous to a relative or friend. For example, the Lagna or the first house indicates the advantages gains and profit to younger brother as younger brother or sister is signified by the third house and first house is the eleventh house counted from the first house. The first house also indicates the fame and reputation of mother as it is the tenth house counted from the fourth house, higher studies, long journey, for the person's children especially the first child is judged from the Ascendant. Mundane Astrology is one of the branches astrology that generally deals with predictions related to countries, house meaning are more varied and somewhat different than birth or natal horoscope.

First Bhava or the First House
The first house or what is commonly known as the Ascendant or Lagna is the most important of the houses. In Vedic Astrology it is referred to as "Tanur or Tanu Bhava", which means literally, "the house of the body". It signifies the birth, beginning of life, personality, personal features, looks, body, character, temperament, individuality, self consciousness and constitution in general. The Ascendant is always an important factor in the matter of health as it also indicates the person's vitality and vigor, his natural disposition and tendencies and struggle for life, his success or failure in attempts, his fortune or misfortune, etc. It is the main factor in determining our orientation to life as a whole. Hence this is of supreme importance.

This house refers to the first sign of zodiac, the Aries or the Mesha or Mesh. The natural significator of the first house is the planet Sun. The parts of the physical body governed by 1st house are the head and the upper part of the face and all the organs there in. As per Mundane or State or Political Astrology, ascendant or first house signifies the people in the country and general state of the country. The common people, public health, overall condition and signifies the masses or a country or kingdom. It governs all the matters signified by the ministry of home affairs.

Second House
The 2nd house rules a person's finances, material resources, attitude towards and ability for earning money, family, speech and self worth. The second house is the house of money. It denotes the financial circumstances, fortune, profit or loss and financial prosperity of the person. This house shows what the person acquires by individual effort and the degree of prosperity which he will enjoy with all the possessions of extrinsic value bonds, stocks, cash and bank balance etc. It relates to earning capacity, one's ability to provide for self in life. It does not indicate career but indicate the financial success. In short, all that is acquired come under the purview of this house. This is not limited to what one own, in terms of tangible things but also one's feelings and emotions, as well as our inner selves, abilities, needs and wants in short our self worth. This house also deals with family. It includes all close relatives of the person without reference to any particular relationship. The immediate family likes grandfather, grandmother, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, etc. Another important influence of the second house is the one's ability to express his thoughts, the speech or the voice. It also represents the vision or the power of observation. It is also one of the maraka or death inflicting houses the other being the 7th house.

This house refers to the second sign of zodiac, the Taurus or the Vrishaba or Vrish. The natural significator of the second house is the planet Venus and Jupiter. The parts of the physical body governed by the 2nd house are the eyes (generally 2nd house rules the right eye and the 12th house rules the left eye), tongue, nose, teeth, cheeks, chin and all the neck and throat area. As per Mundane or State or Political Astrology, the second house signifies national wealth, exchequer, revenue, banks, commercial affairs, trade and activities and matters which concern revenue. It governs all the matters signified by the finance, food and family welfare ministry.

Third House
The 3rd house rules a person's communication and correspondence, short journeys, younger brother or sister, cousins, and neighbors, courage, heroism valor, thoughts, mental strength, inclination and ability, memory and the inherent propensities of the mind and intellect. The third house is the house of all types of communication, correspondence and information exchange that a person is engaged in by talking, letters, fax, email, television, radio, news, media, phone etc. It also governs short travel, inland journeys such as travel by cycle, bus, boat, rail and short air travel. It governs younger siblings, all cousins and even neighbors. It indicates the property of mind, its strength and weakness, thought power, mental interest and inclination, courage and valor. The third house also governs change of residence.

This house refers to the third sign of zodiac, the Gemini or the Mithuna or Mithun. The natural significator of the third house is the planet Mercury. The parts of the body ruled by the third house are ears (generally 3rd house rules the right ear and the 11th house rules the left ear), hands, arms and fingers, shoulder blade, collar bone, respiratory and the nervous system. As per Mundane or State or Political Astrology, the third house signifies neighboring countries and treaties with them. It rules over transportation and all the means of transit whether it is by land air or water, and the communication system like postal, telegraph, radio, telephone, television and all the media. It also represents libraries and public education generally. It governs all the matters signified by communications, information technology, broadcasting, transport, highways, railways and tourism ministry.

Fourth House
The 4th house rules a person's house and home, mother, one's roots, domestic affairs, acquiring of tangible assets and property like land, building, mines, farms and vehicles, happiness, learning, conditions at the end of life and the final resting place or the grave. The fourth house relates to one's home, residence, domestic environments and general condition of a person in the later part of his life. This house is also called the grave or womb thereby relating it to mother and all that it is concerned with hidden things such as private affairs and secrets. The fourth also shows one's landed or immovable property including those which one takes on lease or rent as well as those rented of leased out to other people. The fourth denotes whether one will have vehicles of one's own or enjoy others vehicles. All permanent possessions such as fields, farms, mines, real estate, gardens, buildings, dwellings, antiquities are influenced by this house. This house has a bearing on education and qualifications of a person. In this respect the fourth house may be taken to indicate school and college education.

This house refers to the fourth sign of zodiac, the Cancer or the Kark, or Karkat. The natural significator of the fourth house is the planet Moon. The parts of the body ruled by the fourth house are chest, breasts and lungs. As per Mundane or State or Political Astrology, the fourth house signifies the weather, agriculture, mines, public buildings and the opposition party to the government. It governs all the matters signified by the natural resources, agriculture, petroleum, gas, mining, and housing ministry.

Fifth House
The 5th house rules a person's creativity and self creation, self-expression, children, poorva punya or virtuous act done in past lives, romance, love affairs, speculation, hobbies, favorite activities, games and sports. The fifth house is the house of creativity and includes everything one creates including progeny. It denotes whether one will have children or not. The fifth house signifies the conception of pregnancy. The fifth house presides over pleasure and social inclinations. It deals with tastes and fancies artistic talents. The type of recreation, entertainment, amusements, sports, romance and similar interest that appeal to a person is denoted by this house. It is connected with all material and physical pleasures like games, sports, cinema, opera, drama, music, dance and amusements of all sorts. The fifth house being a trine house, indicating poorva punya shows what meritorious deeds one could have done in the previous birth. It is also concerned with speculative affairs and all matters of enterprise prompted by the desire nature. All games of chance like cards, crossword puzzles, dice, horse, shares, lottery, gambling or betting come under the domain of the fifth house. The native's love affairs, the degree of success or failure achieved in love affairs, courtship and licentiousness, the legitimate and illegitimate attraction prior to wedlock or after marriage come under this house. It may be said to represent the seat of the physical and magnetic attractions between the opposite sexes.

This house refers to the fifth sign of zodiac, the Leo or the Simha. The natural significator of the fifth house is the planet Jupiter. The part of the body ruled by the fifth house is the heart and upper and middle part of back or spine. As per Mundane or State or Political Astrology, the fifth house signifies matters relating to national affairs, envoys and ambassadors. All places of entertainment and speculation like theaters, music halls and places of amusement, education, stock exchange and race course. The child population and birth rate of the country is also denoted by this house. It governs all the matters signified by the youth affairs, entertainment, sports and education ministry.

Sixth House
The 6th house rules a person's health and sickness, diet, debt, labor, service, work, daily routine, co-workers, maternal uncles and aunts, sin, wicked act and fear. The sixth house indicates disease and sickness, the real state of the disease, recovery from it and whether it is of a long or short duration. This is also related to food, dietary habits and daily routine as most of ill-health is often due to improper management of these. The sixth house is also connected with work and the service rendered by the individual. It also denotes his employees, subordinates or servants —whether he is in the service of others or he has others as his employees. The condition and faithfulness of his inferiors is to be ascertained from this house. The sixth house is the house of debt or borrowing. This house also governs pet animals and small cattle, domestic creatures, tenants, dress and hygiene, sanitation, dietetics, food and clothing.

This house refers to the sixth sign of zodiac, the Virgo or the Kanya. The natural significator of the sixth house is the planet Mercury. The parts of the body ruled by the sixth house are the pancreas, stomach, intestinal tract, duodenum and the digestion process. As per Mundane or State or Political Astrology, the sixth house rules the working class, sanitation and public health. It signifies the army, navy and air forces, which are the main line of defense of a country. It governs all the matters signified by the ministry of health, defense, labor, employment and human resource development.

Seventh House
The 7th house rules a person's relationships and partnerships, marriage, wife or husband, legal bondage, lawsuits, quarrels, divorce, open enemies. The 7th house rules any person with whom the one interacts that is 'the other' it can be colleague, client, layer, doctor or any one, the opponent. It also governs the niece and nephew. The seventh house is the "house of union or earthy ties", it mostly means the marriage. Besides the life partner, the partner in business and the degree of success achieved through such partnership is also shown by this house. The seventh house also refers to all those with whom the native enters into any contract or agreement, those with whom the native is engaged in quarrels and comes into conflict, the native's competitor in any undertaking, his rival in any contest. In a nut shell, the seventh house is said to indicate all those with whom the native transacts or deals in any manner. Fines, divorces, legal bondage, agreements, contracts etc. are other matters which are ruled by the seventh house. The 7th house shows break of journey. It is also one of the maraka or death inflicting houses the other being the 2nd house. For common signs Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces, the 7th house is also the bhadhak or life obstructing house.

This house refers to the seventh sign of zodiac, the Libra or the Tula. The natural significator of the seventh house is the planet Venus. The parts of the body ruled by the seventh house are kidneys, middle and lower back and vertebras. As per Mundane or State or Political Astrology, the seventh house is considered in matters pertaining to foreign affairs, relations with other countries, wars and international disputes, foreign and international trade, enmity as well as treaties and alliances, public reaction, the laws relating to partnerships, marriage and divorce. It governs all the matters signified by the external and overseas affairs ministry.

Eighth House
The 8th house rules a person's longevity, defeat, insult, sorrow, scandal, obstacles, impediment, transformation, regeneration, sexuality, unearned money, occult matters and death. The eighth house is considered to have a direct bearing upon one's longevity or span of life as this house conveys the type of death, whether a natural death or an unnatural one such as by drowning, fire, accident or suicide or to chronic diseases and whether it is a slow or sudden and violent death. All that is related to inheritance, legacies, taxes, wills, insurance etc. The eighth house is related to his unearned wealth or share of profit or money that comes through inheritance. The eighth house is also know as the house of mystery and misery, it has to do with misfortune and mental anxiety, sorrow and strife, worries, delay, dejection, disappointment, defeat, loss, obstruction, blame and ill-repute etc.

This house refers to the eighth sign of zodiac, the Scorpio or the Vrischik or Vrischika Rasi. The natural significator of the eighth house is the planet Mars. The parts of the body ruled by the eighth house are the prostate gland, reproductive system and the colon. As per Mundane or State or Political Astrology, signifies matters relating to public mortality, the death rate, major accidents and calamities like flood, fire, famine, disease, earthquake, the nation's exports and imports, tax department, debts due from foreign countries, surrender or loss of territory to another country, public loans, debts and interest rates, deficit budget, surgeons, medical officers, health inspectors, slaughter houses and butchers. It governs all the matters signified by the ministry of pensions and atomic energy.

Ninth House
The 9th house rules one's teacher or preceptor, higher education and higher knowledge, long journeys, luck, fortune, publicity, grand children, worship, penance, dharma, prayer, spiritual initiation and inclination. This is the house of faith, wisdom and worship. The 9th house rules religious and philosophical beliefs, weather a parson is religious, devoted, charitable, orthodox or meditative all is to be ascertained from this house. It is considered to be an auspicious house as it shows one's fortune in the present life as a result of past actions. The ninth is the house of intuition and pure reason it rules the higher education, higher knowledge and higher thought. The degree of knowledge one may develop whether collegiate, academic, philosophical, religious, literary, artistic or scientific - is to be deduced from this house. The ninth house presides over research, invention, discovery and exploration. The ninth house governs publishing and all forms of advertising, long journey, sea voyage, air travel, etc. It determines the amount of travel in far-off places or countries and the success achieved there. We can say this is the house related to broadening one's horizons.

This house refers to the ninth sign of zodiac, the Sagittarius or the Dhanu or Dhanush. The natural significator of the ninth house is the planet Jupiter. The parts of the body ruled by the ninth house are the thighs, hip and the buttocks. As per Mundane or State or Political Astrology, the ninth house signifies law courts, judges, clergy, religious majority, legal departments, matters relating to religion, temples, churches, publishing, universities and those connected with them, emigration and immigration, import and export of the nation. It governs all the matters signified by law and justice ministry.

Tenth House
The 10th house rules a person's work, commerce, trade, business, success, fame, rank or position in outer world. The 10th house is related to all matters affecting one's name, fame, honor and recognition; it is described as the house of honor, dignity and public esteem. The chief influence of the 10th house is on one's profession, occupation or business. It is rightfully called the apex of the horoscope, since it denotes a person's worldly attainments achieved through name and fame, power and prestige, credit and conduct, success and status, rank and renown, respect and reputation, and ambition and authority. One's public life and popularity, his worldly standing in terms of material success and his connection with people in high position should be judged from an examination of the strength of the 10th house.

This house refers to the tenth sign of zodiac, the Capricorn or the Makar or Makara. The natural significator of the tenth house is the planet Saturn and Mars. The parts of the body ruled by the tenth house are the gallbladder and the knees. As per Mundane or State or Political Astrology, the tenth house deals with government and its affairs and its chief executive. It signifies the head of the State, whether monarch or president or prime minister, also royalty, nobility, the party in office, the national leaders, the upper level of society and those in authority, eminent and distinguished persons and the aristocracy. It governs the nation's honor, integrity, credit, power and status among the community of nations. This house provides the clue to the political situation prevailing in a country. It governs all the matters signified by the industries, public enterprises and commerce ministry.

Eleventh House
The 11th house rules a person's friends, social circle, profit, gain, income of all kinds, acquisition, desire and wish fulfillment. The 11th house is related to friends. It stands for all those who are allied to the native by likeness or sympathy of interest in society, community, clubs etc. It includes well-wishers and close acquaintances. It also includes one's hopes, wishes and aspirations and their realization. The 11th house governs success in any undertakings, whether it is in profession or business, higher studies or election, litigation, speculation, health, etc. It indicates varieties of income; the 11th house is commonly referred to as 'Labha-sthana' denoting profit or gain. It is through this house that incoming wealth is to be expected. One has to investigate the 11th house to ascertain how far one will succeed in social and financial matters and whether at all he will succeed. This house reflects the native's attitude towards society and his interest for social activities as distinct from personal aims and ambitions. It also relates to reformative and unconventional activities. It governs elder brother or sister, paternal uncle. The 11th house is the bhadhak sthana or the house determent to longevity for persons born in movable signs or chara rasis viz. Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.

This house refers to the eleventh sign of zodiac, the Aquarius or the Kumbh or Kumbha. The natural significator of the eleventh house is the planet Sun. The parts of the body ruled by the eleventh house are calves and ankles. As per Mundane or State or Political Astrology, the eleventh house signifies the parliament, House of Commons, legislation, associates or allies of the nation.

Twelfth House
The 12th house rules a person's bondage, confinement, imprisonment, expenses, loss, poverty, misery, phobia, staying abroad, final emancipation, left eye and let leg. The 12th house shows final emancipation from the chain of births and deaths and his merger with the divine and the future state of his existence. The 12th house deals with loss and impediments, restraint and limitation, waste and extravagance, expenses and loss. Whether such expenses will be pleasant and expected or unpleasant and unexpected will depend upon this twelfth house and transits and planetary periods in operation. It governs all types of purchases, investments, donations, charity and association with philanthropic institutions. Sorrow, sins, obstacles and impediments in one's way, misery and misfortune, poverty and persecution, intrigue and imprisonment, phobia, secret toil of mind, inferiority complex, anxiety, suspicion, silent suffering, self-undoing, secret working of the mind, secret enemies, plots and schemes, conspiracy, cunningness, envy, malice, fraud, treachery, and deception all come under the influence of the 12th house. This is also the house of the self-sacrifice and shows unselfish deeds.

This house refers to the twelfth sign of zodiac, the Pisces or the Meen or Meena. The natural significator of the twelfth house is the planet. The parts of the body ruled by the twelfth house are the feet. As per Mundane or State or Political Astrology, the twelfth house signifies prisons, hospitals, asylums, reformatories, charitable institutions, criminals, spies, secret forces and secret enemies. It governs all the matters signified by the ministry of planning.