The Twelve Houses
The Babylonians may have been the first to set out the twelve houses used today by the majority of astrologers. The houses were numbered from the east downward under the horizon, and represented areas of life on the following pattern with their areas of influence.
These are their traditional Latin names of the twelve houses, with their translations and other associated influences. This represents the basic outline of the houses as they are still understood today.
| House | Sign | Latin motto | Translation | Modern title of house | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Aries | Vita | Life | House of Self | Physical appearance, traits and characteristics. First impressions. General outlook into the world. Ego. Beginnings and initiatives. |
| 2nd | Taurus | Lucrum | Wealth | House of Value | Material and immaterial things of certain value. Money. Belongings, property, acquisitions. Cultivation and growth. Substance. Self-Worth. |
| 3rd | Gemini | Fratres | Brothers | House of Communications | Higher education and childhood environment. Communication. Happiness. Intelligence. Achievements. Siblings. Neighborhood matters. Short, local travel and transportations. |
| 4th | Cancer | Genitor | Parent | House of Home and Family | Ancestry, heritage, roots. Early foundation and environment. Mother or mothers as figure. The caretaker of the household. Cyclic end of matters. |
| 5th | Leo | Nati | Children | House of Pleasure | Recreational and leisure activities. Things which makes for enjoyment and entertainment. Games and gambling. Children. Love and sex. Creative self-expression. |
| 6th | Virgo | Valetudo | Health | House of Health | Routine tasks and duties. Skills or training acquired. Jobs and Employments. Health and overall well-being. Service performed for others. Caretaking. Pets and small domestic animals. |
| 7th | Libra | Uxor | Spouse | House of Partnerships | Close, confidante-like relationships. Marriage and business partners. Agreements and treaties. Matters dealing with diplomatic relations of all kinds, including open (known) enemies. Attraction to qualities we admire from the other partner. |
| 8th | Scorpio | Mors | Death | House of Reincarnation | Cycles of Deaths And Rebirth. Sexual relationships and deeply committed relationships of all kinds. Joint funds, finances. Other person's resource. Occult, psychic and taboo matters. Regeneration. Self-transformation. |
| 9th | Sagittarius | Iter | Journeys | House of Philosophy | Foreign travel and foreign countries. Culture. Long distance travels and journeys. Religion. Law and ethics. Higher education. Knowledge. Experience through expansion. |
| 10th | Capricorn | Regnum | Kingdom | House of Social Status | Ambitions. Motivations. Career. Status in society. Government. Authority. Father or father figure. The breadwinner of the household. One's public appearance/impression at large(audience). |
| 11th | Aquarius | Benefacta | Friendship | House of Friendships | Friends and acquaintances of like-minded attitudes. Groups, clubs and societies. Higher associations. Benefits and fortunes from career. One's hopes and wishes. |
| 12th | Pisces | Carcer | Prison | House of Self-Undoing | Mysticism. Places of seclusion such as hospitals, prisons and institutions, including self-imposed imprisonments. Things which are not apparent to self, yet clearly seen by others. Elusive, clandestine, secretive or unbeknownst matters. Privacy, retreat, reflection, and self-sacrifice. Unconscious/subconscious. Unknown enemies. |
Many modern astrologers assume that the houses relate to their corresponding signs, i.e. that the first house has a natural affinity with the first sign, Aries, and so on.
Read more about this topic: House (astrology)
Famous quotes containing the words twelve and/or houses:
“The ninth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Nine drummers drumming,”
—Unknown. The Twelve Days of Christmas (l. 53–55)
“I cannot go to the houses of my nearest relatives, because I do not wish to be alone. Society exists by chemical affinity, and not otherwise.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)