When it comes to astrology, it turns out that knowing your zodiac (or sun) sign is only the beginning. When it comes to deciphering your personal chart, planets, transits, elements, sun *and* moon signs, and houses all come into play, and it’s all very complex. Each house is controlled by a corresponding sign, and the entire zodiac wheel is made up of 12 signs, 12 houses, and 10 planets. Your birth chart is determined by the signs and houses in which the planets were at the time, place, and date of your birth. The zodiac signs and houses are both based on the Earth’s 24-hour revolution around its axis, but the zodiac is based on the sun’s yearly rotation around the Earth, while the houses are based on the Earth’s yearly rotation around its axis. The rising sign in the east becomes your first house at the moment of your birth.
In This Article...
What does each zodiac house represent?
The fourth house is one of the four angular houses and is located at the bottom of the chart. It represents our relationship with our family and early childhood, hence it is a sensitive area where ancient childhood wounds can be discovered. You probably already know what your childhood was like, but it’s always wonderful to have astrology confirm what you already know. Furthermore, the beauty of astrology is that it provides you with a language through which you may better understand and describe some of the experiences you’ve had. You might have a Cancer-ruled fourth house if you were one of the lucky ones who had an excellent home life!
The house’s ruling sign can reveal information about the type of family you might desire to start in the future. It’s important to remember that family doesn’t have to be nuclear!
The 5th House: Self-Expression, Creativity, Pleasure, & Romance
This house has a pool, hot tub, bar, playground, paint, sidewalk chalk, a bubble wand, and a karaoke machine (do you mind if I come over?)
All things enjoyment and creative self-expression are ruled by the fifth house. This house will reveal how you prefer to play and have fun, as well as assist you in reconnecting with your inner child, which is likely important after plunging into the fourth house. This house isn’t just about inner kid enjoyment; it also deals with sexual interactions and dating. Before you become burned out and uninstall all the apps and opt to find love the old fashioned way, here is the fun and flirty side of dating (by waiting until a handsome person wakes you up from a deadly slumber by a kiss of true love).
The sign that rules your fifth house will reveal what brings you the most joy, so pay attention to this sector to figure out what you need to do to feel that happiness, baby. If your fifth house is ruled by Virgo or Capricorn, be aware that you may retain the lingering belief that all pleasures are guilty pleasures.
The 6th House: Work & Health
The sixth house is crucial because it is here that we learn about the day-to-day details of life; it is here that we develop our daily routines and habits. We find both business and health-related tendencies in this astrological house, thus someone with an Aries ruled sixth house usually loves to exercise but isn’t as much of a workaholic, whereas someone with a Virgo ruled sixth house is definitely highly concerned with both!
The sign that rules your sixth house might tell you which portion of your body you should pay special attention to during this lifetime. Did you know that each zodiac sign is in charge of a different bodily part? Taurus is the sign of the throat and neck, Gemini is the sign of the hands, Cancer is the sign of the breasts, and so on.
The 7th House: Partnership & Marriage
This residence can be compared to the master bedroom, where the parents not only sleep but also conduct adult conversations away from the children.
On the chart’s eastern horizon, the seventh house is the next angular house, falling precisely opposite the first house. It also marks the beginning of the interpersonal houses, which are houses 7-12 and are all about community and transformation. The seventh house is frequently misunderstood to be about dating, but this is not the case! No, serious partnerships and intimate ties are the focus of this home. Marriage, commercial partnerships, lifetime friendships, and all legal alliances are all under consideration. These are the significant one-on-one partnerships that we have.
Because your seventh house is ruled by the sister sign of your first house, the seventh house is all about collaboration, which is what we look for in others. Each of the 12 zodiac signs has a sister sign (also known as an oppositional pair), and these sister signs have similar goals but quite different approaches to achieving them. As a result, we seek out people who will complement us, people who will provide a different energy while still sharing a shared purpose or set of ideals.
The 8th House: Transformation & Sexuality
Hear me out when I say this house reminds me of a bathroom… Transformation, sex, money, joint resources, authority figures, death and rebirth are all covered under the eighth house. We frequently enter the bathroom soiled and emerge clean; we go in there to get away from the party or to gain some privacy from our parents; we even go in there to have sex! Like the ninth house, it’s a potent, solitary, and transforming space.
The sign that rules your eighth house will reveal information about your own life transition. Use this knowledge wisely; wisdom may not come to you right now, but take a long hot shower and think about it.
The 9th House: Belief Systems & Higher Learning
You may imagine this house as a large library or even a stunning rooftop observatory with a telescope.
The ninth house is where we form our personal ideologies and views. Because it’s where we widen our minds and break free from the paradigms we were born into, this house reflects our relationship to higher education, other languages, and long-distance travel. Basically, this is the house that will “blow your mind wide”! So, someone with Gemini ruling their ninth house may enjoy learning about religion but never commit to one dogma, whereas someone with Taurus ruling their ninth house may believe that they have discovered the one true definitive meaning of life, and someone with Sagittarius ruling their ninth house may believe that they must travel the world as a means of education.
The house’s ruling sign will reveal if you’re open-minded or closed-minded. The earth sign controlling the ninth house will be closed-minded, whilst the air sign will be open-minded; the water and fire signs could go either way, but will feel strongly.
The 10th House: Career/Profession, Responsibility, Reputation, & Standing
The tenth house is the final of the angular houses, and it governs our professional life and public image. Because the tenth house is at the very top of the chart, it’s like the tip of the iceberg, which is why everyone knows you for it. When you first meet someone, they ask, “So, what do you do for a living?” That’s the iceberg tip of the tenth house in action. Your tenth house, like the exterior appeal of a house, teaches us about first impressions.
The sign that rules this house can reveal information about your job title, but not so much about the actual labor you’ll be doing (remember the second and sixth houses?). and more importantly, the field in which you will be most successful.
The 11th House: Aspirations & Personal Goals, Groups
The eleventh house is all about the individuals we associate with and with whom we link ourselves. Imagine this house as a large potluck supper with all of your friends and the most inspirational people in your life. Everyone brings a dish to share, everyone nourishes each other with food and conversation, and you leave feeling satisfied and inspired.
The zodiac sign that rules your eleventh house will reveal the types of friendships you form. If your eleventh house is ruled by an earth sign, you’ll seek foundation in friendships, whereas air signs will be drawn to others out of curiosity.
The 12th House: Soul Growth & Undoing, Privacy & Secrets
Consider this dwelling to be the basement of our make-believe home, with a secret door that only you know how to use.
Because the last house in the zodiac wheel is so private, it can either be a location of self-undoing or significant spiritual progress. We prefer to hide things in the twelfth house, much like we do in the basement, allowing them to rot or decay, but if we take the time to unpack the things we try to hide, it can lead to personal progress.
The zodiac sign that rules your twelfth house can reveal your proclivity for mediumship or psychic talents. If you were born under the sign of Pisces, Scorpio, or Cancer, you most certainly inherited these abilities.
In an astrology chart, what are the houses?
The houses in astrology are the cosmic equivalent of a crystal ball, only far more reliable. There are 12 houses in the Tarot, each symbolizing a different aspect of life, such as health, money, relationships, and everything in between. Consider the wheel of houses as a sky map, with planets traveling from house to house all the time. Each planet was in a different house when you were born, and those houses may be seen in your birth chart. Because the homes are based on the time you were born rather than the date, you may need to text your parents to find out.
The positions of the planets at the time of your birth (or throughout your life) might reveal important information. For example, if Jupiter (the planet of luck) was in your second house (which governs wealth) at the time of your birth, making money will most likely come easily to you. (Could you please share the love?)
What is the function of astrology houses?
If you’ve ever looked at your birth chart, you’ve probably seen a picture of a zodiac wheel with twelve sections. You probably simply scrolled down to a list version of your placements because all the glyphs and aspect lines are bewildering. The zodiac wheel, on the other hand, is the actual birth chart! It’s where you’ll get all the juicy details. The 12 astrological houses, each representing a distinct aspect of your life, are represented by those 12 portions of the chart.
Your house is assigned to you depending on the precise time and location of your birth. House systems were devised in modern times to split the zodiac on the horizon line from east to west, metaphorically portraying the sun’s journey through the sky each day. On the zodiac wheel, your rising sign is always on the left-hand side. It signifies the eastern horizon, or, to put it another way, the location where the sun rises each morning. The rising sign always falls in the first house, no matter what house system you’re using (or, the house of the self). The houses are then recognized by turning the wheel counterclockwise from the second to the twelfth dwelling.
Consider a birth chart in the same way you would a tarot spread. The form is provided by the houses, which are similar to the card positions. The content is determined by the moment of your birth and the planets and signs that fall within each house. The houses provide context for the planets and signs, allowing for interpretation.
What is your ascension?
The majority of us are aware of our own and our friends’ star signs, also known as sun signs. Isn’t it how we all make passive aggressive judgments while bigging ourselves up on Instagram with zodiac memes? Our moon signs are also known to us. But did you know you have a RISING SIGN that’s just as important?
The planetary influence that was rising, i.e. on the Eastern horizon, when you were born is your rising sign. It usually reflects how others perceive you in real life and can predict your gut reactions to situations. It is, however, yet another potential personality flaw to consider.
Because of its connection to the rising sun, your rising sign is also known as your ascendant, and many people associate it with your social nature, it’s possible that if someone is guessing your sign, they will get your rising sign before your sun sign! It’s how other people perceive you, which is something you’ll never have. This makes it a fascinating aspect of your birth chart to investigate: discovering who you are in the eyes of others.
What does my horoscope say about me?
If you check your horoscope every day, have CoStar and The Pattern downloaded on your phone, or dabble with tarot cards, you probably think you’ve got astrology down pat. But, according to personal astrologer Hedy (also known as Nymph of Neptune), your birth chart is where it all begins and ends. “Reading a birth chart may really expose areas of your life that you may not be aware of, both conscious and unconscious,” she explains. “It’s about finding psychological equilibrium and taking charge of your life so you can better regulate your tendencies,” says the author.
Do you want to learn more? We turned to Nymph of Neptune for all of the answers to this ostensibly complicated process.
What exactly is a birth chart?
In a nutshell, your birth chart depicts the position of the planets in the sky at the time of your birth. Nymph of Neptune explains, “It’s a snapshot or map of the position of the planets or stars at the time you were born.” “Each planet has a unique impact on a different part of our lives, as this demonstrates.”
In essence, this means that we all have personality traits from numerous zodiac signs in our horoscopes, and these traits correspond to different aspects of our lives. Venus, for example, regulates relationships, so if your Venus is in Scorpio, it implies you embody those qualities in your relationships, such as passion, intensity, loyalty, and sexuality.
How do you read your birth chart?
You’ll need the date, exact time (to the minute, if possible), and location of your birth to get your birth chart.
You can use an astrology app online or utilize apps like The Pattern and CoStar to get the details of your birth chart and make horoscopes based on that information. However, Nymph of Neptune strongly advises that you have yours read by a personal astrologer first. “Apps don’t give the whole story,” she says, adding that having your chart reviewed by an expert can reveal all of your behavioral tendencies. “Astrologists are able to see everything that is put out in front of them, including patterns, needs, and actions. And I believe that many have problems in relationships because they are chasing someone who will not meet their requirements. Seeing an astrologer, on the other hand, may assist someone in identifying their wants, which may be something they aren’t aware of.”
What are the key components of a birth chart?
A birth chart, as Nymph of Neptune explained, shows where each planet was at the moment of your birth, and each planet governs a distinct part of your life. When you read your horoscope, you refer to your sun sign, which essentially represents who you are at your heart. Your moon sign, on the other hand, is significant since it relates to your emotional self and the type of nurture you had as a child. Nymph of Neptune explains, “It connects to your relationship needs and what you need in your adult life.” Your rising sign is determined by the constellation that was visible in the sky at the moment of your birth, and it describes how people see you when they meet you for the first time: “basically, what external features you present to the world.”
The other planets reflect other elements of your life as well.
Venus represents relationships, Mercury represents communication, Mars represents action and aggression, Jupiter represents expansion, Saturn represents self-discipline and fears, Uranus represents innovation and progress, Neptune represents the subconscious and healing, and Pluto represents power and intensity. You’ll be able to detect your traits, habits, and actions if you know which sign each planet belongs to. This will show you both your strengths and areas where you need to improve.
The houses, which symbolize the earth’s rotation around its axis, are another feature of your birth chart. “There’s a 12-house system,” Nymph of Neptune explains, “and each house represents a distinct life topic or sector.” Depending on whatever planet and sign they’re in, the houses provide greater insight into each part of your life.
The first house represents your ego and sense of self; the second house represents material possessions; the third house represents community and communication; the fourth house represents home and family; the fifth house represents creativity and romance; the sixth house represents health and work; the seventh house represents partnerships; the eighth house represents death, sex, and transformation; the ninth house represents travel and philosophy; the tenth house represents public image and career; the eleventh house represents death, sex, and transformation; the twelfth house represents death
Does it appear to be difficult? Consider the following scenario: Your birth chart uses the formula “planet + sign + house,” which helps you comprehend your patterns when added together.
How would your birth chart differ from someone else’s?
Quite a bit, actually. Your personal planets, like as the moon, Venus, rising, Mercury, and Mars, can change signs every few hours to days, which is why your horoscope might differ dramatically from someone born only a few days later.
Pluto, Uranus, and Neptune, on the other hand, are quite sluggish, changing signs only every few years or so. As a result, these planets recognize generational shifts and qualities, and they will be comparable to your peers of a similar age. “Pluto was in Scorpio at the time, which regulates sex, which explains why people born in the 1990s are hypersexualized. This suggests that this generation is more sexual than past generations “Nymph of Neptune opined.
What can a birth chart teach you?
Reading your birth chart, according to Nymph of Neptune, can reveal areas in your life that need improvement and help you understand why you act the way you do in all facets of your life. She claims that it “illuminates all of our behavioral patterns, both good and harmful.” “It allows us to emphasize the positive aspects while highlighting the negative ones. You can stop them in their tracks once you grasp why they happen.”
Consider the following scenario to see how that works in practice: “If you have Mercury and Mars in your horoscope, you’re more likely to have angry outbursts. However, if they realize this and perhaps take up a sport like boxing, it may be possible for them to regulate their fury in this way “Nymph of Neptune opined. “Or it could simply make them more aware of the fact that they’re doing it.”
Can you read your birth chart multiple times over?
Yes, and depending on what’s going on in your life, you might even find yourself yearning to return to it. “There’s more depth in your birth chart every time you look at it,” says Nymph of Neptune. “I go back and check what I’ve missed when things happen. It gives me a mental boost and clarifies what I’ve been missing because we all go through stages of spiritual development. So, in January, we may be really focused on how we express anger and how we deal with our feelings, but by June, we may need to be reminded of that.” For example, let’s say your chart indicates that you overlook your personal needs in a relationship and that you’re having relationship problems. Reading your chart can then serve as a reminder of this propensity, allowing actual transformation to take place.
How would each year be affected by your birth chart?
The planets are constantly moving and hence appear in different positions at different times throughout the year. This implies that a planetary retrograde or transit into a particular sign can have an impact on your life in ways you may not be aware of unless you have your birth chart to show you which sign and house each planet is in. This is why the Nymph of Neptune recommends year-ahead chart readings so you can see what the following year holds for you.
Mercury retrogrades, which occur three times a year, are an excellent example of this. Mercury is traditionally associated with communication and technology, but you may experience a retrograde if Mercury is in your home sector, for example. “Mercury could show up during the retrograde in this situation by causing a leak on your roof, which is completely different. It could be happening in a less visible area, or it could be happening in a more internal setting, such as your intimate home. It won’t effect your work, house, or travel in this situation, but it could suggest that you’re thinking about some things more and processing them differently “Nymph of Neptune opined.
