Solara

CALM GUIDANCE FROM THE LIGHT

Back to Learn Center
ASTROLOGY BASICS
10 min read
Beginner

Houses 101

The 12 houses as life areas. Where things happen in your chart.

Houses: Where Life Happens

If planets are the "what" and signs are the "how," then houses are the "where." Each of the 12 houses represents a different area of life.

When a planet sits in a house, that psychological function (planet) expresses itself in that life area (house).

Houses are determined by your birth time and location. The house system divides the sky into 12 sections based on the horizon at your birth.

The 12 Houses Overview

1st

Self & Identity

Your appearance, first impressions, how you approach the world. The mask you wear.

2nd

Resources & Values

Money, possessions, self-worth, what you value. Your relationship with security.

3rd

Communication & Learning

Siblings, neighbors, short trips, daily communication, early education, how you think.

4th

Home & Roots

Family of origin, home life, emotional foundation, private self, endings.

5th

Creativity & Joy

Self-expression, romance, children, hobbies, fun, what you create for pleasure.

6th

Work & Health

Daily routines, service, health habits, coworkers, pets, how you maintain yourself.

7th

Partnerships

Marriage, business partners, close one-on-one relationships, open enemies, what you seek in others.

8th

Transformation & Shared Resources

Other people's money, intimacy, death/rebirth, psychology, hidden matters.

9th

Expansion & Beliefs

Higher education, travel, philosophy, religion, publishing, your worldview.

10th

Career & Public Image

Profession, reputation, authority figures, achievements, what you're known for.

11th

Community & Future

Friends, groups, social causes, hopes and wishes, your role in the collective.

12th

Unconscious & Solitude

Hidden patterns, spirituality, isolation, self-undoing, what you keep from yourself.

The Four Angles

Four house cusps are especially important — they're called the "angles":

  • Ascendant (ASC) — 1st house cusp. Your Rising sign. How you meet the world.
  • IC — 4th house cusp. Your roots, private self, home base.
  • Descendant (DSC) — 7th house cusp. What you seek in partners. Opposite your Rising.
  • Midheaven (MC) — 10th house cusp. Your public role, career direction, reputation.

Reading "Planet in House"

To interpret a house placement, ask: "Where does this planetary function show up in my life?"

Venus in the 10th House

  • Venus = love, beauty, values, attraction
  • 10th house = career, public image, reputation
  • = May be drawn to careers in art, beauty, or relationships. Often seen as charming publicly. Values professional harmony.

Key Takeaways

  • Houses = life areas where planetary energy plays out
  • The four angles (ASC, IC, DSC, MC) are the most sensitive points
  • Empty houses aren't "missing" — the ruler still activates that area

Try This

Find your Sun, Moon, and one other planet in your chart. Note which houses they're in:

  • "My Sun is in the ____ house, so my core identity expresses in the area of ____."
  • "My Moon is in the ____ house, so I find emotional comfort through ____."

Common Misconceptions

  • "I have no planets in my 7th house, so I'll never have relationships."
    Empty houses are still active. Look to the sign on the cusp and its ruling planet for information about that life area.
  • "The 12th house is scary/bad."
    The 12th house rules solitude, spirituality, and the unconscious. It's where you do inner work — challenging, but not inherently negative.