The Houses: The Twelve Locations in the Sky
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In the previous lesson we studied the key indications
of the planets in depth. We are now ready to discuss the
planet's domains of influence: the houses. You'll notice
that we're beginning the study of the planets, houses,
and signs with a lesson on the essential meaning of each.
This is because a primary objective of the course is to
develop our ability to think astrologically, to use our
logical reasoning powers. Why? It’s because you'll
learn and absorb astrology at a much deeper level. You
won't need to rely on textbooks. You won't need to rely
on textbooks. You'll understand how the indications for
the planets, houses, and signs are derived, which will
make you much more versatile in chart interpretation.
For example, I once gave a reading to a client who had
the Moon in the 3rd house and who started his life in
a Moon period in the vimshottari dasha planetary period
system. I asked him if he had lost his mother early in
life and he said, “Yes, she died when I was 2 months
old.” How did I know that? You won’t find
many text books on Vedic astrology that list the Moon
in the 3rd house as representing the loss of the mother.
But if you understand that the 12th house from any given
house represents the loss of the indications
of that house, and you know that the 4th house and the
Moon relate to 'mother,' then you can logically understand
that the Moon in the 3rd house (the 12th house from the
4th house) can relate to loss of the mother, especially
in a Moon period. If I had been dependent on the indications
given in books then I would not have been able to come
up with that specific interpretation. This ability to
think astrologically is invaluable for becoming an astute
astrologer, which is why it's a primary objective of this
course.
This lesson is designed to teach the essential building
blocks, or logic behind the indications for the houses.
The Houses in Reference to the Sun
A house is a place of residence as we discussed in Lesson
3 on essential astronomy. The houses, also called bhavas
(states of being) or sthanas (dwelling places)
in Sanskrit, are segments of the sky, where the planets
reside. The sky is divided into 12 houses consisting of
30 degrees each, like pieces in a pie, that encircle the
earth: 30 degrees x 12 houses = 360 degrees. These are
fixed locations beginning with the 1st house on the eastern
horizon, followed clockwise by the 12th house, 11th house,
etc. as shown below.
The planets in their respective signs take one day to
pass through each of the 12 houses as the earth rotates
on its axis. It takes approximately 2 hours for one sign
to pass through a house: 12 signs x 2 hours = 24 hours.
However, in Lesson 3 we saw how the latitude of a location
entirely determines the length of time a sign stays in
a house.
Each house represents a different domain of activity in
our lives as we shall see in this and the next lesson.
A planet's placement in a house will therefore energize
that domain of life with the qualities of that planet.
We can begin our discussion on the meaning of the houses
by first taking a lesson from the Sun and considering
its position in the sky throughout the day. For instance,
at sunrise the Sun gives birth to the day as it enters
the 1st house on the eastern horizon. The 1st house therefore
represents the beginning of life, the birth of the body,
one's physical appearance, self, identity, and character
traits. It's the foundation of one's life and sets the
tone for the entire lifetime.
As the Sun continues to rise it passes through the 12th
and 11th houses, and reaches its zenith directly overhead
at midday when it enters the 10th house. This is the time
when we are the most active and engaged in our work in
the world. It's the time when we accomplish the most and
exert the most effort toward our goals. The 10th house
therefore represents career, achievements, and outer public
life.
After midday, the Sun begins to makes its descent towards
the end of day as it passes through the 9th and 8th houses.
When it sets on the western horizon it enters the 7th
house marking the beginning of nighttime. It's the time
when our day's work is finished, and we're able to be
social with friends, and family. Sunset is typically considered
the most romantic time to be with a spouse or intimate
partner. The 7th house is therefore a social house that
represents relationships, particularly intimate relationships
and marriage.
As the night continues, the Sun passes through the 6th
and 5th houses, and reaches its nadir directly beneath
the earth at midnight when it enters the 4th house. This
is the time when we're the least active and the most internal.
Most people are at home either sleeping or preparing to
sleep doing quiet, indoor activities. Nighttime is typically
when we are the most reflective, and connected to our
thoughts or feelings. The 4th house therefore represents
home, domestic life, family, the mind (not intellect)
and emotions.
The Powerful Angular Houses (Kendras)
These four prominent regions in the sky - eastern and
western horizons, zenith, and nadir - mark the angular
houses, or kendras in Sanskrit, 1, 4, 7, 10.
They represent the four areas in our lives that we are
typically the most preoccupied: self/body, mind/home,
spouse/relationships, and career/work. If you understand
these four houses then it will be much easier to understand
the other eight houses. You can see that they form two
sets of polarities:
1st house (Self) <-->
7th house (Other)
10th house (Outer Public Life) <--> 4th house
(Inner Private Life)
These are the four pillars of the chart. They represent
strength, protection, and power. They are called Vishnu
Sthanas (places of Vishnu), because Vishnu
is the 'preserver' who protects and sustains all creation.
If a chart has natural benefic planets in the angular
houses, like Jupiter or Venus, then it will give overall
protection to the chart. This alone will help to minimize
the negative effects that may be indicated in the chart,
while maximizing the positive effects. The person will
generally be protected against ill health, have positive
character traits, progress well in his or her lives, be
influential etc.
For instance, Mahatma Gandhi had four benefic planets
in angular houses. Of course, there are other planetary
positions that can reveal these qualities, but benefics
on angles is a primary way.
Natal Chart of Mahatma Gandhi with 4
benefics in angular houses
If there are malefics on angles then the person will generally
experience ill health, have negative character traits,
misuse his or her power by dominating others, thereby
provoking conflict and opposition.
For instance, Adolf Hitler had three malefic planets on
angles. Again, there are other planetary positions that
can reveal these qualities, but we should look for malefics
on angles as sources of potential difficulty and conflict.
Natal Chart of Adolf Hitler with 3
malefics in angular houses
How can the power of angular houses be explained? The
1st house, as we've shown, represents the 'self' in the
natal chart. From the 1st house, the 4th house and the
10th house form 90-degree angles and are squared to 'you.'
Think of a karate master who can break a board in two
with his bare hand when he hits the board at a perfect
90-degree angle. He’s able to be that powerful because
he’s hitting the board precisely at a 90-degree
angle. If the angular position is off then the board will
not break. Likewise, the houses that form a precise 90-degree
angle to the 1st house, the 4th and the 10th houses, represent
power in relation to 'you. That power can either be used
to protect or harm.
The 7th house also becomes powerful in relation to the
1st house because it’s exactly 180 degrees in opposition.
Think of two magnets held exactly opposite one another.
They are either attracted or repelled when they are in
exact alignment. This forms a very powerful polarity of
opposites.
Consider also how the angular houses form a cross, which
is a universal symbol of protection and power that pre-dates
Christianity. You will find the cross symbol employed
by firefighters and other organizations, like the Red
Cross, that protect the people. The diagram above resembles
a Maltese cross, used by the military order of the Knights
of Malta. This further illustrates the concept that the
angular houses are places of power and protection.
The north Indian chart style displays the angular houses
prominently in the center of the chart, with boxes twice
the size of the other houses, as shown to the right below.
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