The zodiac wheel used in Western astrology is divided into 12 sections, referred to as houses. Each house represents a separate area of life where the signs and planets express themselves.
In the same way that signs and planets are grouped and categorized, the houses of the zodiac are grouped into two categorizing systems. These systems are based on the elements and modes you read about in Chapter 2.
The difference between house cusps on a natural wheel and a birth chart (natal chart) wheel.
Regardless of what degree they start at, all houses are 30 degrees in size.
We categorize the 12 houses by elements: fire, earth, air and water. Instead of referring to these houses by element, however, we name them based on the area of experience they represent: life, substance, relationships and endings.
Element: Fire
1st House: Body, identity, physical appearance, personality, early childhood
5th House: Soul, creativity, amusement, romance, love given
9th House: Spirit/mind, aspiration, higher learning, ideals, distant travel
The Life houses are where you find inspiration, energy and motivation.
Element: Earth
2nd House: Possessions, values, financial affairs, inner talents and resources
6th House: Occupation/work, duty, community service, health, diet
10th House: Fame/recognition, honor, profession, how the world sees you
The Substance houses are where you find stability and practicality.
Element: Air
3rd House: Awareness, siblings, neighbors, short trips, communication
7th House: Cooperation, romantic and business partners, intimate one-on-one relationships, open enemies
11th House: Social consciousness, friends, platonic relationships based on shared interests, love received
The Relationship houses are where you find people you relate to on a regular basis.
Element: Water
4th House: Security, home, heritage, ancestry
8th House: Death, regeneration, support received from others, legacies, secrets
12th House: Subconscious, limitations, what is hidden from others, karma
The Endings houses are where you find sensitivity and soul awareness.
The 12 houses are also grouped by mode: cardinal, fixed and mutable. Again, we don’t refer to them by mode, but name the houses based on their placement within the zodiac wheel: angular, succedent and cadent. There are four houses per group.
Houses: 1, 4, 7, 10
Mode: Cardinal
The angular houses fall on the angles or axes of the zodiac wheel. These houses are where the action happens.
Houses: 2, 5, 8, 11
Mode: Fixed
The succedent houses follow (“succeed”) the angular houses. These houses are where there is stability and purpose.
Houses 3, 6, 9, 12
Mode: Mutable
The cadent houses are where there is adaptability and a friendly outlook.
The 12 houses of the zodiac, broken down by element and mode.
Now it’s time to take what you’ve learned about signs, planets and houses and look at how they all come together in a birth chart.