Spirit of Astrology

Our western astrological map consists of a circular disc with the twelve divisions, each of 30° called ‘Houses.’ These areas each indicate a facet of your personal life and character. They also relate to the circumstances and conditions that you will be encountering in your life adventures.

The segment that touches the horizon from below on the left hand side, is the Rising Sign that occupies the first house. In their natural sequence, and going anti-clockwise, the rest of the twelve zodiacal signs follow to find their placement.

When beginning to search for indications about yourself, it is of course best to do so in consulting a profession and experienced astrologer, one who has had some years of study of the subject.  However, even with elementary knowledge, we can learn a few points if we become familiar with the traditional meanings, qualities and circumstances related to these twelve areas of the heavens and the planets that occupied them at our time of birth.

This map registering our Natal Chart influences remains a constant reference throughout our lifetime, although of course must be changed and modified as time goes by and we ourselves determine our life course and make personality changes.

The First House will indicate a strong factor regarding our body, general appearance and type of personality expression.

 Not only the zodiacal sign (your Rising Sign) that is coming above the horizon at your time of birth but also any planet in that 30 degree segment of the circle will influence interpretation and so must also be considered. For example, if your Rising Sign happens to be Aries which is strong and wilful, and you also have the planet Mars situated in that sign, you will be bound to be a very active or even combative person, and your appearance will tend to be dark and body slim. There will be an element in your nature that may be either courageous and strong in adversity, or you may express it differently in an aggressive, selfish tendency.

 As Astrology is a science that deals with energies and its language is not one that claims to judge human choices, none but the finest astrologers will make prediction concerning any individual’s ultimate decisions or outcomes.

So we must approach self analysis through our chart as just a discovery of one piece in the jigsaw after another as we seek for the complete picture that represents us.

 Second House (going anti-clockwise, remember) is an indication of your type of possessions, material estate, your investments – finances – building – collecting -physical destiny or karma -  inherent good fortune – emotions – desires 

Third House by its ruler and planet will show your intellectual interests and studies, or lack of same and your inclinations to travel in your mind as well as physically- brothers and close relatives- early schooling – writing – speech – adaptability- short journeys -electronic age education and interests – activity – intellectual talents, wit

Fourth House is your home or place of security, early upbringing and comfort zone -your home – parents- domestic situations- real estate and property-home life- inheritance -environment – harmonious factors in life- also family matters and environment in latter years – inherited tendencies

Fifth House points to your choice of pleasures – sexual appetites -creative talents – entertainment- offspring – children – speculation – risk taking- gambling – education – teaching of all kinds – disappointments in friendship – or regarding children

Sixth House relates to matters of health and good or bad indicators may tell of any weaknesses – service – dedication – devotion to duty – work- sense of responsibility-nursing – medical – rectification – adjustments – healing – relationships with family aunts and uncles

Seventh House shows partnership in marriage or in business enterprises and is important when considering any wisdom that astrology may offer regarding compatibility issues… (before any commitment is best!) spouse – marriage – partnerships – individuality – enemies -sharing bonds – public in general – litigation – contracts and agreements

Eighth House will register your type of long term life path and any material or intellectual legacies you may inherit – matters related to death – endings and finalities -regeneration- payments-losses – fatalities –consciousness -  reflections on meaning of life and seeking answers

Ninth House is the area to look for your innate philosophy and religious or spiritual beliefs and whether you have any intensity or lack of interest in deeper issues – long journeys and travels of the mind – aspiration -imagination – expansion -  philanthropy – legal profession- visionary -science

Tenth House points to career and your success, reputation and acclaimed status in the world- worldly achievements – citizenship – honour – profession – reputation- work – standing in the community – power in the social order – public affairs

Eleventh House points to our enduring friendships and our social inclinations- ambitions – altruism – sympathies – sense of brotherhood- step children – social affiliations – attitude towards people – inner hopes and wishes

Twelfth House It is the area that tells of loneliness and suffering- secrets- inhibitions-negative karma – any withdrawal from the world – exiles – hurt by secret enemies.  It deals with the restricting factors in circumstances, failures, limitations and difficulties.

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From the blank circular map with its twelve divisions looking like slices of a pie, we begin to mark the unique factors and influences that converge upon the individual in question. These divisions denote areas of the heavens and are known as the ‘Houses’. Although the planetary bodies move position, the House divisions remain constant in the birth chart.

Each House is of 30 degrees or one twelfth of the circle. In the system known as the ‘Equal House Division’ the houses are numbered anti-clockwise from the horizon point on the left of the circle with the first being the 30 degree or part thereof appearing on the horizon at your time of birth. Each House is important as it relates to a different aspect of your life and influences the reading and interpretation of your horoscope.

First the Rising Sign is placed on the left horizon showing the zodiacal signature and its degree. The Rising Sign has influence or rulership over the First House. Then we can enter the rest of the zodiacal Signs in natural sequence which runs anti-clockwise.  For example, should your Rising Sign be Cancer and influences matters associated with the First House, the next Sign, Leo, will be ruler over the Second House.

After you have placed all the zodiacal Signs, it is time to enter the placements of planets. If you accept that your place in the universe is represented as the dot in the centre of the chart, each House represents a particular area of the total sky, both above and below the horizon, in which the located positions of the sun, moon and planets at your birth are then recorded. These planetary placements are accurately calculated and recorded in the official astronomical ephemeris that serves as the astrologer’s guidebook.

We begin by entering the Sun symbol in its familiar zodiacal Sign. This may occur in any of the twelve houses. It establishes a firm beginning to know, if it turns out that the Sun, which is considered a bountiful influence, is placed in your Second House it will certainly have a positive affect upon your possessions and material circumstances as it will have a strong influence upon partnerships if placed in the Seventh House.

Into its appropriate position is placed the Moon, followed by all the other planets. The planets occupying each of the houses influence matters traditionally associated with that House. This will have a direct affect in modifying or intensifying some of the assessments to provide yet another important factor in a complexity of influences. All factors are taken into consideration in the very demanding and complex art of ‘reading’ a horoscope a task that at its best, is both a science and an art.

Only experienced astrologers trained to interpret the so called ‘progressions’ can indicate the changing circumstances and possible forecasts of future conditions to which we will respond.

For quick reference regarding the concerns of each House –

1^st          refers to appearance and personality

2^nd          possessions and finance

3^rd          family, mental interests and travel

4^th          domestic and property

5^th          pleasures and education

6^th             health and service

^7th          marriage and partnerships

8^th           life plans and legacies

9^th          philosophy and religion

10^th        career and worldly status

11^th         social life and friendships

12^th        limitations and karmic difficulties

Ask your astrologer to tell you more!

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