The Houses 7-12

Once we move into the upper half of the birth chart – houses 7-12 – we become less concerned with the self and more concerned with others and our role in society.

The 7th house or Descendant is the house opposite the 1st house of self and identity and, in oppositional fashion, is concerned with the awareness of others. The sign placed on the 7th house cusp describes how we approach a relationship and also indicates what we are attracted to in a partner. Indeed the 7th house is the house of marriage, partnerships and, also, open enemies. Through these significant relationships the lesson of being aware of others is learned.

The 8th house is the house opposite the 2nd house of possessions and concern for what is “mine”, what “I value” and “my abilities”. Thus the 8th house is concerned not with what “I” have, but what “you” have, what “you” value and other people's talents and abilities. The 8th house will tell you about the financial status of your marriage partner, since it is the 2nd house from the 7th. It will tell you about any investment you have concerning other people’s money such as stocks, venture capital, taxes and inheritance. It is called the house of “sex, death and regeneration” because this house forces us to explore our most intimate and hidden depths by sharing ourselves with others.

The 9th house is the house of long distance travel, higher education, philosophy and religion and politics. Opposite the 3rd house of accumulating knowledge, this house teaches us how we can share this knowledge gained through the 3rd with the world. This house asks the deep questions – “why am I here?” “Where is God?” - this house helps us find the meaning and purpose in life. The 3rd house is where the journalist gets the information, but the 9th house is where he publishes it.

The 10th house or Midheaven is the most elevated point in the chart. This explains why the 10th house is concerned with career, status, honors and recognition. It is also traditionally associated with our authority parent – most likely the father. The 10th house shows your reputation – the public image you present to the world. The very nature of our contribution to society is shown through the 10th house and it is one of the places you can look to determine your true vocation or calling in life.

The 11th house is the house of friendships, hopes, wishes and dreams. It talks about the relationship we have with the community and humanitarian issues. It is the most social of houses, indicating our involvement with groups, clubs and organizations. In the 11th house we find that dreams come true only when we consider society’s needs as well as our own.

The 12th house is the most hidden house of the zodiac. It is where we seek to transcend the humanness of ourselves but at the same time where we fear to do so because of the uncertainty as to what we will find. Nevertheless, the ego is lost in the 12th house whether we like it or not in order to delve deep into our most unconscious issues and perhaps even take a peek at the collective unconscious.

Once we get past the fear of losing the self, we find a treasure in the 12th house that teaches us our greatest potential for compassion, universal love and service. The house is obscure, giving it the reputation of being the “house of self-undoing” and is also assigned to hidden institutions such as prisons or mental facilities

Back to Astrological Houses 1-6