What Are the 12 Houses in Astrology? Discover How They Shape Your Birth Chart Reading

When you first start studying astrology, one of the most empowering moves you can make is casting your full birth, or natal, chart . While it can be tempting to find your moon sign, rising sign and other planetary placements from an app that presents them in a list format, checking out — and learning about — the full wheel chart will ultimately offer so much more valuable intel. And as you begin exploring this version of your chart, you’ll do well to familiarize yourself with the 12 houses.

This aspect of natal astrology can tell you more about the area of life in which certain strengths and challenges play out. For example, if your sun is in the third house of communication, your self-image, confidence and identity go hand-in-hand with how you express yourself, gather and share information. Read on to learn all about the basics of the 12 houses of astrology.

What is an astrological house?

Every birth chart is split into 12 pie slices, or houses — each associated with a particular area of life. You can think of them as a map of the stars and planets specific to when and where you were born. The top of the chart (houses seven through twelve) shows what was visible in the night sky when you were born and the bottom of the chart (houses one through six) show the planets and constellations (aka signs) that could be seen in the sky from the opposite hemisphere. As the Earth rotates on its axis over a 24-hour period, the sun, the moon, Mercury and all other planets and stars rotate clockwise through the houses.

Each house serves as a different stage backdrop in the script of your life. Once you have a general understanding of what each house means, you can then explore your birth chart with that knowledge in mind and get a better sense of how your planetary placements — aka your sun sign, moon sign, et al. — express themselves. In other words, in which area of life do they shine?

Here’s an example: Your moon sign speaks to your emotional personality, how you want to be nurtured and how you nurture. Say it’s in Virgo, the mutable earth sign known for being service-oriented, communicative and sensitive. By identifying which house it falls in, you can add in even more wisdom. If it is in the second house of income, for example, you likely feel most secure and nurtured when you’re on track with your moneymaking game plans, which may very well take on a Virgoan (aka pragmatic, thoughtful and information-gathering) tone.

And when it comes to reading your horoscope or understanding planetary transits (for example, a full moon or two planets harmonizing with one another by forming a pleasant trine), it can help to understand the 12 houses, because you’ll be able to identify the area of life that astrological event will be felt the most.

How to find the 12 houses in astrology in your birth chart

To read the houses in your birth chart, you can start with the ascendant or the cusp of the first house on the left hand corner of the chart. From there, the houses run counterclockwise up to 12.

You’ll notice that each is associated with one of the 12 zodiac signs. The sign on the cusp of the house characterizes that area of life.

Pro-tip: This is why, if you have conflicts or strong bonds with a particular sign (say you’re always clashing with Leos or frequently befriending Aquarians), you’ll do well to look at your chart and see where that sign falls. You might often click with a sign that’s overseeing your seventh house of partnership or eleventh house of friendships or have a tough time with a sign that’s associated with a more challenging part of your chart, like, say the twelfth house of spirituality, which involves secrets and fears.

What does each House in astrology mean?

Each house represents a particular area of life and is associated with a planet (called the natural planetary ruler) and one of the 12 signs. Here’s what to know about each.

First House of Self

Associated with Mars, the planet of action and Aries, the cardinal fire sign, the First House of Self deals with your identity and self-image. It also speaks to your outward personality, your physical body and appearance and how you’re viewed by others as well as how you deal with uncharted territory, beginnings and how you present yourself. If you’re curious about how you express yourself through beauty and style or how others perceive you at first blush, this is the house you’ll want to explore.

Second House of Income

Associated with Venus, the planet of beauty and relationships and Taurus, the fixed earth sign , the Second House of Income involves moneymaking, values, material possessions and self-worth. This sector deals with spending, earning, debt, contentment, your immediate environment and your five senses. It also colors how you want to be supported and what you need to feel secure. To better understand how you go about earning and how you think about your finances, you can look to the Second House.

Third House of Communication

Associated with Mercury, the messenger planet and Gemini, the mutable air sign , the Third House of Communication characterizes your cerebral energy and intellect, how you communicate and interact with others as well as how you process information and learn. It’s also the zone of siblings, neighbors and short-distance travel. To get a better sense of how you take in and share information as well as socialize and brainstorm, this is the house you’ll want to zero in on.

Fourth House of Home Life

Associated with the moon, the emotional compass of astrology and cardinal water sign Cancer , the Fourth House of Home Life oversees family and where you nest, your inner life, childhood, security, roots and genealogy. It also speaks to what you need to feel like you belong, how you nurture and how you want to be nurtured. If you want to get a sense of how your family life functions and how you might behave as a parent — or a child to your parent(s) — you can check out your Fourth House.

Fifth House of Romance and Self-Expression

Associated with the sun, which is associated with self-image and confidence and the fixed fire sign Leo , the Fifth House of Romance and Self-Expression involves how you own and share your voice, create joy and experience pleasure and playfulness. It’s the house that speaks to your creative impulses, relationship and interactions with children and young people and how you have fun. It’ll also characterize how you flirt and date, because it’s the sector that oversees the early beginnings of a new relationship.

Sixth House of Wellness and Daily Routine

Associated with information-gathering Mercury and the mutable earth sign Virgo , the Sixth House of Wellness and Daily Routine has to do with your everyday life and health, your everyday hustle and how you tend to self-improvement and being of service to others. It’s also the zone that we look to for intel about pets, nutrition and organization. For a sense of how you manage your day-to-day life and care for well-being, this is the house to examine.

Seventh House of Partnership

Associated with romantic Venus and the cardinal air sign Libra , the Seventh House of Partnership is all about one-on-one relationships and bonding, whether romantic, platonic or professional. It’s also the zone of companionship, negotiations, mediation and marriage. It’s worth looking at the Seventh House in relation to the First House of Self, as the two sit opposite one another. What can you learn about yourself through your relationships with others?

Eighth House of Intimacy and Joint Resources

Associated with Pluto, the planet of transformation and the fixed water sign Scorpio, the Eighth House of Intimacy and Joint Resources involves sex, emotional bonds and the income you share with others — be that a significant other or family member. (That’s why it’s the house that deals with inheritances.) It’s a complex, nuanced sector that also speaks to transformation, taboos, death and rebirth — not necessarily literal sense but more so how patterns, behaviors, relationships die and are reborn as well as our experience of grief.

Ninth House of Adventure and Higher Learning

Associated with Jupiter, the planet of philosophy and fortune and the mutable fire sign Sagittarius, the Ninth House of Adventure and Higher Learning is the zone of knowledge, education and long-distance travel. It also characterizes personal beliefs, languages and different cultures as well as publishing, truth, religion and morals. Look to this sector for a sense of how you step out of your comfort zone and seek to broaden your horizons.

Tenth House of Public Image and Career

Associated with Saturn, the planet of boundaries and limitations as well as hard work and the cardinal earth sign Capricorn, the Tenth House of Career is the sector that speaks to your professional path and reputation. It also colors your sense of authority, achievement and relationship with authority figures — such as higher-ups and father figures — plus how you go about obtaining material success and status. To better understand how you aim to be recognized professionally, this is the house to familiarize yourself with.

Eleventh House of Networking and Friendships

Associated with Uranus, the planet of sudden change and innovation and the fixed air sign Aquarius, the Eleventh House of Networking has to do with your platonic relationships, such as with friends, colleagues and even acquaintances or other members of your community. It involves group activities and team endeavors, organizations you’ll associate with and humanitarian pursuits. It’s also the house of long-term wishes related to your life’s purpose. And if you’re selling a good or service, performing in a play or running for local office, it’s the house you’ll do well to check out, because it offers intel on your target audience.

Twelfth House of Spirituality

Associated with Neptune, the planet of illusion and the mutable water sign Pisces, the Twelfth House of Spirituality is the zone of the unconscious and everything that lies beneath the surface, such as emotions, intuition, empathy, endings, mysticism, karma and dreams. For a sense of how you go about pursuing spiritual growth and managing secrets, fears and your shadow self, this is the zone to explore.

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