The houses in astrology represent all the areas of human existence in which our energetic potential and life purpose will unfold.
If our lives were a play, the planets would be the actresses and actors. The signs would be the costumes and props they wear. The houses are the stage and act on which the play takes place.
If you look at your birth chart, you will see that the houses are divided into four quadrants, further divided into three sections: the angular, the succedent, and the cadent houses.
Each has a different meaning and influence, and we’ll explore them in the following sections.
The Meaning of Houses in Birth Charts
As mentioned above, the houses represent the different life areas in which the planets will play their function. The houses where you have the most planets in your birth chart represent the dominant areas that will bring the most lessons, transformations, and experiences into your life.
- The angular houses are considered more powerful and relevant, as they drive us to take action and responsibility for our lives.
- The succedent houses are responsible for bringing a sense of stability to our life circumstances.
- The cadent houses represent the process of learning and communicating our experiences before embarking on a new cycle.
Angular Houses in Astrology
The angular houses are ruled by the cardinal signs: Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn. As a result, they inspire us to act while shedding light on how we deal with life’s challenges.
House 1
The first house (AKA rising sign or Ascendant) is ruled by Aries and represents how we present ourselves to the world. It speaks to our physical appearance as well as our sense of identity.
The sign and planets in this house are associated with our first impressions of others when they first meet us. At the same time, they represent the talents we are most likely to develop through our life experiences.
House 4
The fourth house in astrology is ruled by Cancer and speaks to our emotional makeup, childhood experiences, upbringing, and relationship with our caregivers, especially our mother.
The sign and planets in this house shed light on our emotional foundations and how we give and expect to receive affection. It also reveals the things we do to feel emotionally secure, as well as the unconscious mechanisms triggered when we deal with experiences that make us feel threatened or insecure.
House 7
The seventh house is ruled by Libra and represents the nature of our romantic and business partnerships. It sheds light on the qualities we like in others and our ability to mediate and find diplomatic solutions that make everyone happy.
The signs and planets in this house speak to our potential to commit to long-term relationships and the qualities and energies we tend to project onto our partners.
House 10
The tenth house is ruled by Capricorn and represents our professional life and public affairs. This house sheds light on how we approach our career path, our relationship with authority figures, and the mark we should leave in our society.
Most of the time, our father represents the first authority figure we encounter, so the sign and planets found there reveal our relationship with them.
Succedent Houses in Astrology
The succedent houses are ruled by Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius, the fixed signs. Therefore, these houses bring a sense of stability and confidence in our inner resources and life projects.
House 2
The second house is ruled by Taurus and is associated with our material gains, financial life, and inner resources. It speaks to our sense of self-worth, value, and ability to enjoy the pleasures of the physical world.
The signs and planets in this house shed light on our relationship with our bodies and bodily senses, as well as our ability to take care of ourselves financially and physically.
House 5
The fifth house, ruled by Leo, represents our creative identity and ability to express our talents and unique skills. The signs and planets in this house shed light on the hobbies and activities we are passionate about, our flirtation techniques, and spontaneous love affairs.
Our children are considered our most significant works of art, so this house also speaks to our relationship with parenthood. It is connected to our inner child.
House 8
The eighth house, ruled by Scorpio, speaks to our innermost emotions and connects to our subconscious. It is where all the secrets, taboos, and memories are stored, which is why it also relates to our approach to sex, intimacy, and death.
The sign and planets in this house shed light on our ability to uncover the world’s secrets and connect with our shadow selves. As a result, we emerge stronger and wiser, with the potential to heal ourselves and others going through difficult experiences.
House 11
The eleventh house, ruled by Aquarius, represents our connection to our community and society. It also speaks to our approach to groups, social circles, friendships, and our ability to work creatively in a team.
The sign and planets in this house are associated with a sense of originality and our future projects.
Cadent Houses in Astrology
Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces rule the Candent houses. These are mutable signs, and as such, they represent the experiences and knowledge we have gained before embarking on a new cycle of life.
House 3
The third house is ruled by Gemini and speaks to our communication skills, intellect, and thought process. The sign and planets in this house represent how we gather information, absorb new knowledge, and communicate it to those around us.
This house is also associated with our relationships with our siblings and extended family, such as our cousins. It also represents our short-term travels and sheds light on how we relate to our immediate environment, neighbors, and community.
House 6
The sixth house is ruled by Virgo and speaks to our approach to our daily routine, habits, and work environment. It sheds light on how we care for our health and how organized we are in our daily affairs.
The sign and planets in this house also indicate our relationships with our pets, colleagues, and employees.
House 9
The ninth house is ruled by Sagittarius and is associated with travel, higher knowledge, and our philosophy of life. It speaks of our faith and the experiences that will broaden our horizons.
The signs and planets in this house speak of our potential for long-term travel and our ability to connect with other cultures and ways of life.
House 12
The twelfth house is ruled by Pisces and represents our spiritual journey, psychic abilities, and connection to the subconscious world. It is associated with the unseen realm, so it also sheds light on old family secrets, self-sabotaging habits, and experiences from other lives.
The sign and planets in this house speak of the qualities and archetypes we are meant to give the world as a selfless service or inner calling.
What is the Dominant House in Your Birth Chart?
Knowing whether you have more planets in angular, cadent, and succedent houses helps you better understand which areas of your life will be more active or provide more opportunities to evolve.
Although angular houses are considered more impactful and relevant, each has a significant meaning that makes up our unique identity and reveals more information about our life path.
