What are the Astrological Houses?

April 12, 2022

For those unfamiliar with the house system, it's like a lens that sits over the natal chart, dividing it into twelve "pie slices." Each house corresponds to an astrological sign and changes the way the planets express their energies.

To explain this further, here's a useful analogy I came across years ago: if you imagine the natal chart is like a theater, the planets are the actors, the signs are the costumes they wear, and the houses are the stages they act upon--that is, the areas of life in which they play out.

Some houses amplify the expression of the planets, while others suppress or distort them. For instance, planets that fall in the first house of personal expression are notoriously loud, but planets that fall in the seventh or twelfth houses may be difficult to relate to.

If you have a planet in the twelfth, you may not relate to this planet at all. If your moon falls there, for instance, it may feel as though that part of you has fallen into a black hole and you may need to use meditation, time spent alone, or making art, poetry, or music to get in touch with your true feelings.