As we’ve discussed previously, there is so much more to the study of astrology than just your sun sign. So far on this site, we’ve covered sun signs in-depth, as well as moon signs and rising signs. We’ve also taken a look at variables that play into compatibility, like elements and modalities. And today, we’re going even deeper and talking about astrological houses.
Each of the 12 zodiac signs rules an astrological house, as we’ll see below. Each of those houses corresponds to a different area of your life. And when you look at which planets fall into those houses and the signs that rule them in your birth chart, you can gain some valuable information.
For example, if Mars (which represents our motivation, drive, and energy) falls in Aries (an adventurer and go-getter who can be a bit rash at times) in our 10th House (which is the sector of career achievements and ambition and is ruled by no-nonsense Capricorn) we can get an idea of our strengths and weaknesses in our work lives. Then we’ll know where we should make adjustments for overall success.
Note: each House has a natural sign ruler and a personal sign ruler, which can be a little confusing. In the above example, the natural ruler of the 10th House is Capricorn, but the individual ruler is Aries.
Think of the natural ruler as archetypal energy that can help you remember the themes of a specific house. They’re always the same from person to person. Think of the personal ruler as a representation of how you show up in that area of your life. These are specific to you and your birth chart.
We’ll get into the specifics of planet rulerships soon, but today, let’s take a look at what each House represents and what sign they’re ruled by.
1st House
The 1st House is our sector of identity and self and is ruled by trendsetting Aries. The personal ruler of this House is always your rising sign, and it corresponds with the impression you give, your appearance, and your general outlook on life.
2nd House
The 2nd House is the sector of value and is naturally ruled by security-conscious Taurus. This House is all about stability and meeting our basic needs, and generally represents our finances, material possessions, our sense of self-worth, and other matters of the heart.
3rd House
The 3rd House is the sector of communication and is naturally ruled by playful and chatty Gemini. This House represents how we think as well as how we relate to our immediate community. It’s also connected to siblings, local travel, and technology.
4th House
The 4th House is the sector of domesticity and is naturally ruled by homebody Cancer. This House relates to our home, our family, and our traditions, as well as how we connect to others on an emotional level.
5th House
The 5th House is the sector of creativity and is naturally ruled by entertaining Leo. This House represents our creative fire as well as passion and romance. It also relates to how we express ourselves to the world.
6th House
The 6th House is the sector of systems and is naturally ruled by analytical Virgo. Our daily routines, work habits, and overall health are connected to this House. It also relates to how we can be of service in our communities.
7th House
The 7th House is the sector of balance and is naturally ruled by peace-loving Libra. This House concerns itself with both business and life partnerships, specifically marriage and what we look for in a partner.
8th House
The 8th House is the sector of transformation and is naturally ruled by intense Scorpio. This House can cover some heavy themes like intimacy, intuition, endings, and rebirth. It can also represent matters of shared finances.
9th House
The 9th House is the sector of philosophy and is naturally ruled by open-minded Sagittarius. This House often represents higher education, religion, beliefs, and travel, in addition to other expansive and adventurous pursuits.
10th House
The 10th House is the sector of ambition and is naturally ruled by career-minded Capricorn. This House concerns itself with status, achievements, legacy, long-term goals, public reputation, and business colleagues and employers.
11th House
The 11th House is the sector of community and is naturally ruled by humanitarian Aquarius. This House represents where you fit into your various networks and friend groups. It also can relate to the internet.
12th House
The 12th House is the sector of mysteries and is naturally ruled by dreamy Pisces. This House can cover themes like rest, introspection, healing, shadow work, spirituality, karma, and studying the occult.
